ANSON CALL;
Excerpts from his Autobiography
 

Anson Call is my wife's great, great, grandfather. He moved to George County Ohio when he was seven years old. In his small autobiography he states, "I was sent to school in early life but after removing to Ohio there were but little opportunities for schools owing to the newness of country." (Call, Anson, "Autobiography of Anson Call", p. 1)

Anson's father raised a large family of fourteen children. Anson's brothers and sisters were Harvey, Anson, Salomon, Samantha, Fanny, Lucina, Josiah, Mary, Lavora, Rosaline, Sarah, Mallissa, Omer, and Homer. Anson married, on October 3, 1833, in Madison, Ohio to Marry Flint. Marry had been born on March 27th, 1812. She was the youngest in her family. "In consequence of our joining the Latter Day Saints previous to his, Arson's father-in-law's, death he altered his will, (a farm) and Hannah, Arson's sister-in-law, and Marry (Arson's wife) and Anson were all  disinherited." (Call, p. 2) Anson's first son was Anson Vasco Call, born July 9, 1834. Mary Vashti was born March 27, 1836. The autobiography contains Anson's conversion story from his personal journal:

Face the world in Mormonism is exactly what he did. He returned after his baptism and preached in the Methodist church on every occasion possible. Within a few months he had raised a branch of twenty members.  The next event in Anson's life starts out quite normal for an early Latter Day Saint. He sold a part of his farm and removed to Kirtland. He remained there until he received general orders to go to Missouri. While in route to Missouri he again faced up to the fact of being a Mormon. In conversation with Colonel Wilson of Jackson county who had been bragging of driving out the Mormons, told them not to go to far west because he was going to drive the Mormons out there too, (as he did), on a steam boat Anson replied that if you will stop a moment or two I will tell you the way it can be done, (stopping Joe Smiths career) for there, is but one way of accomplishing it. "What is that, Sir?" Wilson said. Anson answered, "Dethrone the almighty and Joe's career is ended and never until then." Shortly after this incident Anson recorded something in his journal that he almost forgot. Anson faced more persecution as the Mormons were driven out of Missouri. It is interesting to note Anson's acquaintance with the prophet and others. Next Anson finds himself and his family as recipients of persecution. Before they were able to travel to Di Ahman Anson faced death by a Missourian, and his family faced death by the weather. Anson traveled back towards Far West, stopping at a farm house of a neighbor who fed him supper. He slept next to the back door so that he could escape through the corn field if the mobers were pursuing him. The nice lady made him breakfast. The next journal entry is brief but filled with pathos. Anson did not take the advice and returned to reclaim his land from George Washington O'Neil and Mr. Culp. They were not at his home but were visiting a neighbor.  The following is penned in Anson's journal. Anson next relates an incident where Lyman Cowdery, William Mclellin and others that Anso refered to as apostates try to get Anson to testify in court against Joseph Smith. If he doesn't, they threaten to send him to the penitentiary. Shortly after this a mare that was taken from Anson by the mob, returned home to Anson's great surprise, which completed a team of horses. About the middle of February he took up a march for Illinois.  The weather was cold and severe, with snow to the depth of one foot. The first night his wagon tipped over into the creek.  The second day he had to cross a long prairie and they were not able to reach the settlement.  It was a very cold and blustering night. He raised the wagon tongue, put some clothes over it, placing their beds underneath. They arrived at their destination the 25th of April.

Almost the last journal entry that Anson makes shows his love and his respect for Joseph Smith by as indicated by the following:

Anson moved West with the rest of the saints. He was assigned by Brigham Young to settle Bountiful. He settled down on a 300 acre farm and raised 18 children with the help of four wife's. He was the bishop of the Bountiful Ward. He built the Bountiful First Ward by order of Brigham Young.

One of the most lasting contributions that Anson made, other than his prodigious posterity, are a few tibbits of  historical information that he recorded. One of which is the prophecy that Joseph Smith made of the saints moving west.

The "Life Sketch" has the same text as the "Autobiography", but it is written in 2nd person, with the exception of this quote.)

A rare recollection concerning Joseph Smith's views of the creation of man was years later recorded by Anson Call. This is the text as recorded by document preserver John M. Whitaker


BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Call, Anson, "Autobiography of Anson Call" pp. 1-19.

2. Burton, Alice Maud Call, "Life Sketch of Anson Call 1810-1890".

3. Whitaker, John M., "Reflections of John M. Whitaker, B.Y.U. Lib. Call # Mor. M270.1 W58r.

4. In March Perry L. Porter and Renee Call Porter went to Bountiful to visit Lyman Call, whose grandfather is Anson Call. We talked with him for several hours that evening and heard many interesting stories. We then proceeded to Anson Call's house and took several pictures of it. They are included with this paper. ( See Appendix I. ) A short genealogy of my wife's ancestors. Her father is Rodney F. Call, His father is Lyman Call, his father was David Call the youngest son of Anson Call, as told to me by Lyman Call who resided in Bountiful, Utah, blocks from Anson's house.


APPENDIX I

Bountiful Area Historic Site

Anson Call Home

This home was part of a large complex of older homes, barns, granaries, sheds, gardens and orchards, all belonging to Anson Call, early pioneer and colonizer. It was built about 1861 of sandstone and adobe faced with red brick and was one of the finest of its day. Originally the house was topped by a decorative beehive surrounded by a captain's walk. Later the beehive was replaced by a small room called the "Prayer Room" and was reached by a secret stairway behind a bedroom closet. The home was the gathering place for family and visitors. In 1863 during the dedication of the Bountiful Tabernacle, 150 guests and their horses were cared for in the Anson Call home and complex. The other buildings have long since been torn down, but this structure still stands as a monument to the man who built it.


BOUNTIFUL-AREA HISTORIC SITE

ANSON CALL HOME

This home was a part of a large complex of older homes, barns, granaries, sheds, gardens and orchards, all belonging to Anson Call, early pioneer and colonizer. It was built about 1861 of sandstone and adobe faced with red brick and was one of the finest of its day. Originally the house was topped by a decorative beehive surrounded by a captain's walk. later the beehive was replaced by a small room called the "Prayer Room" and was reached by a secret stairway behind a bedroom closet. The home was the gathering place for family and visitors. In 1863 during the dedication of the Bountiful Tabernacle, 150 guests and their horses were cared for In the Anson Call home and complex. The other buildings have long since been torn down, but this structure still stands as a monument to the man who built it.
 

Front view.  Note that the 1st photo of the house, comes from the plaque indicated by the arrows on this photo.

Rear view.

Side view.  Photographs taken by Perry L. Porter 5-15-1979
 
 


From the LDS Vital records:

Call, Anson (Male)

Birth: Call, Anson (Male) Date: May 13, 1810 Place: Fletcher, Franklin, VT, USA

Parents: Call, Anson (Male) Father: Call, Cyril Mother: Tiffany, Sally

Death: Call, Anson (Male) Date: August 31, 1890 Place: Bountiful, Davis, UT, USA

Marriage Information: Call, Anson (Male) Spouse: Flint, Mary Date: October 3, 1833 Place: Madison, OH, USA

Children: Call, Anson (Male)

Name: Birthdate: Place:
1. Call, Anson Vasco July 9, 1834
2. Call, Mary Vashti March 27, 1836
3. Call, Moroni February 6, 1838
4. Call, Chester (twin) May 13, 1841
5. Call, Christopher (twin) May 13, 1841
6. Call, Hyrum December 3, 1845

Marriage Number 2 Call, Anson (Male) Date: April 16, 51 Alternate Date: April 1918 Place: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, UT, USA
Marriage 2 Children:
Name: Birthdate: Place:
1. Call, Vilate July 27, 1852
2. Call, Israel July 2, 1854
3. Call, Vententia February 14, 1856
4. Call, Viola June 16, 58      Alternate Birth Date: June 1918
5. Call, Anson Bowen October 20, 1863
6. Call, Harriet Louisa April 8, 1866

Marriage Number 3 Call, Anson (Male) Date: February 7, 1857 Place: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, UT, USB
Marriage 3 Children:
Name: Birthdate: Place:
1. Call, Mary May 24, 1858
2. Call, Cylista April 9, 1860
3. Call, Samantha E. November 28, 1861
4. Call, Cyntha February 20, 1864
5. Call, Willard April 25, 1866
6. Call, Aaron July 3, 1868

Marriage Number 4 Call, Anson (Male) Date: February 24, 1857 Place: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, UT, USC
Marriage 4 Children:
Name: Birthdate: Place:
1. Call, Ann March 15, 1858
2. Call, Fanny August 11, 1860
3. Call, Lucina April 8, 1862
4. Call, David June 20, 1868
5. Call, Sarah December 8, 1870

Marriage Number 5 Call, Anson (Male) Date: March 9, 1861
Marriage Number 6 Call, Anson (Male)
Church Ordinance Data: Call, Anson (Male) Baptism Date: May 21, 1834
 Baptism Date: December 21, 1836
 Baptism Date: May 20, 1836

Temple Ordinance Data: Call, Anson (Male) Baptism Date: September 6, 1975 Temple: Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona
 Endowment Date: October 8, 1975 Temple: Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona
 Endowment Date: December 22, 1845 Temple: Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois
 Sealed to Parents Date: November 5, 1975 Temple: Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona
 Sealed to Parents Date: October 1, 1886
 Sealed to Spouse Date: January 24, 1846 Temple: Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois

Places of Residence: Call, Anson (Male) Caldwell, Clinton,Ray, MO, USA 1838; Far West, Caldwell, MO, USA
 1840-1846; Nauvoo, Hancock, IL, USA
 1848; UT, USA
 1850-1890; Bountiful, Davis, UT, USA

Vocations: Call, Anson (Male) Merchant & Farmer- Probate Judge
 1851; Millard, UT, USA

Comments: Call, Anson (Male) Anson served a mission to Ohio.
Anson was a member of the Kirtland Camp.  Anson covenanted to help the Saints leave Missouri.   Anson was beaten by mobs.   A statement was made by Anson on Rocky Mountain Prophecy.

In fulfillment of a prophecy of the prophet Joseph Smith in Montrose, Iowa, July 14, 1843, that, "He would come to the Rocky mountains, and that he would assist in building cities from one end of the country to the other," Anson Call built a home in Bountiful, then North Canyon ward, at which place he served as bishop 1849-50 and again 1873-77.   In 1852, Anson represented the Millard county section in the legislature.  In 1854 he founded Call's Fort, Box Elder county.  In connection with his wife Maria he pioneered Parowan, Fillmore, Pauvan valley and Carson valley, built warehouse at Callville 1864, the head of navigation on the Big Colorado river.  With his sons Anson V. and Chester, took part in the Echo Canyon campaign.  At the organization of the Davis stake, June, 1877, he was made counselor to President William R. Smith.  Anson was also promoter of the Davis and Weber Co. Canal company.

Anson In 1850, Anson had a household of 6 people.  He owned $3000 in real wealth.   In 1860, Anson had a household of 26 people.  He owned $10000 in real wealth and $3000 in personal wealth.   In 1870, Anson had a household of 5 people.  He owned $55000 in real wealth and $2000 in personal wealth.



 
 

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