The strength of this collection consists of the
rich family correspondence, especially with Pearl Udall Nelson; biographical
and genealogical information about the Udalls; and the Mormon settlement of
Saint Johns, Arizona. David K. Udall is substantially portrayed in his mission
diaries, in his trial and imprisonment, and in his business
activities
Collection Number:
MS 294
Repository:
University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections
University of Arizona
PO Box 210055
Tucson, AZ 85721-0055
Phone: 520-621-6423
Fax: 520-621-9733
URL: http://speccoll.library.arizona.edu/
Biographical Note
David King Udall was born on September 7, 1851 in Saint Louis, Missouri,
as his parents emigrated to Utah from their native England. He grew up in
Nephi, and married Eliza Luella Stewart (1855-1937, known as Ella) of Kanab. He
then took up his first mission for the Mormon Church by laboring in England
from 1875 to 1877. Returning to Utah, he moved to Kanab in 1878 where he
engaged in business with his wife's family.
Ordained a Bishop in June 1880, he was called to lead a colony of
Mormons to Saint Johns, a small settlement of Americans and New Mexican
Hispanics in northeastern Arizona Territory. There he engaged in a wide variety
of activities to provide for the development of the community and his
homestead. He married his plural wife, Ida Hunt (1858-1915), in 1882.
Jailed on a sham perjury charge in 1885, he returned to serve his
community by developing better roads, contracting mail service, establishing a
local school, and representing the area as a member of the 20th territorial
legislature. Until his death in 1938, David K. Udall, together with Ella,
served his church in Arizona in many capacities, as president of Saint Johns
Stake and as President of the Arizona Temple in Mesa.
His children by Ella were Stewart, Pearl, Erma, Mary, Luella, David,
Levi, Paul, and Rebecca. His children with Ida were Pauline, Grover, John,
Jesse, Gilbert and Don. For additional information on his life see
Arizona Pioneer Mormon: David King Udall his story and his
family.
Scope and Content Note
The strengths of this collection consists of the rich family
correspondence, especially with Pearl Udall Nelson; biographical and
genealogical information about the Udalls; and the Mormon settlement of Saint
Johns, Arizona. David K. Udall is substantially portrayed in his mission
diaries, in his trial and imprisonment, and in his business activities.
There is less documentation on his life before 1880 and after 1930, on
his roles as President of the Arizona Temple, as developer of schools and
roads, as legislator, and as voice for his autobiography. There is little
information on the endeavors of Ella and Ida Udall, and on the lives of many
family members. There are few photographs of either family gatherings or of
scenes from Apache County.
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish
from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record,
the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The
user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Arizona Board of Regents for the
University of Arizona, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all
claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of
copyright.
Contains biographical and genealogical information on members of the
Udall family, beginning in the early 18th century, but focusing on those
descended from David Udall (1829-1910). Also includes information on family
reunions; certificates awarded to David Udall and David K. Udall; photographs;
comments from Elma Udall and Rex Lee at the presentation ceremony of the papers
to the University in 1988; and miscellaneous historical files relating to the
Saint Johns Stake and surrounding Apache County, Arizona.
box
folder
1
1
Family Tree, pedigree charts, and research notes by Elma
Udall and Geoffrey Copus.
, ca.
1974-1977
1
2
David K. Udall.
, 1920s-1930s
1
3
Eliza Luella Stewart Udall.
, 1920s-1961
1
4
Children and 50th Wedding anniversary.
, 1920s-1970s
1
5
Estate papers of Joseph Udall.
, 1941-1948
1
6-8
Family reunions and organizations.
, 1934-1988
1
9
Certificates.
, 1877-1922
1
10
Presentation of Udall Papers.
, 1988
1
11
Photograph: David and Eliza Udall.
, 1850
1
12
Photograph: First group of ordained workers, Arizona
Temple, Mesa, includes David K. Udall; Lyman Dam overflow.
, 1927,
1932
1
13
Historical materials: Saint Johns Stake.
, ca.
1940-1970
1
14
Historical Materials: St. Johns / Apache County.
, 1940-1970
Correspondence.
, 1847-1949
Contains handwritten, typed and photocopied letters to D.K. and Ella
Udall mostly from their siblings, children and extended family members in
Arizona and Utah.
The most detailed family correspondent is Pearl Udall Nelson
(1880-1950). Her letters to home recount her daily experiences from childhood
through adulthood including visits to her grandparents home in Kanab;
attendance at church services and meetings; visits with relatives; travels and
education in Utah, Arizona, and California; her osteopathic practice in Mesa
and Salt Lake City; and her life with husband Joseph Nelson and
stepchildren.
Other correspondents include members of the Pace, Stewart, Tenney,
and Wimmer families, John D. Lee, David Udall, Ida Hunt Udall, and cousin Alice
White.
Of interest also are letters from leaders of the Latter-Day Saints
church, including Francis M. Lyman, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, George
Reynolds, Lorenzo Snow, Heber J. Grant, and Joseph F. Smith, to Bishop David K.
Udall relating to the settlement and management of the Saint Johns Stake in
Arizona.
Additional correspondence is found in the Biographical, Trial, and
Business Files.
box
folder
2
1
Nelson, Pearl Udall.
, 1918-1946
2
2
Callisson, Maud Pace.
, 1897-1923
2
3-7
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
, 1875-1935
Contains seven handwritten diaries of D.K. Udall. The first briefly
outlines various jobs such as stock deliveries or construction work, and
recounts an 1878 trip to Kanab. The next four are detailed accounts of his
activities while on mission for his church in England from April 1875 to June
1877, and his return to Utah. The 1876-1877 volume lists his priestly endeavors
of baptisms and confirmations, some family genealogical information, and
several clippings from English newspapers about Mormon meetings. The sixth
diary is sporadic and covers his farming activities in Apache county in 1898,
and then has short entries for 1921 and 1933.
The seventh diary is a record of his trial in Prescott, imprisonment
in Detroit, and return home in December 1885. There is a typescript copy titled
"Brief Journal in Prison" which was prepared by Pearl Nelson in 1932. Her copy
varies slightly in places from the originals.
There is also a microfilm copy (from the Latter-Day Saints, Archives
Division) of David Udall's diary in Box 8 which documents in brief entries his
marriage, emigration to Utah from England, and family, church, and farming
activities from 1851 to 1910. A typescript copy of this diary, supplied by Elma
Udall, is also present.
Contains handwritten letters, statements, trial transcript,
presidential pardon, and clippings. The letters are from Udall's lawyer, John
A. Rush; prison superintendent, John Nicholson; and several Mormon friends. The
trial and pardon statements are by D.K. Udall, his attorneys, the prosecuting
attorney, and the clerk of the 3rd district court; also present are notes on
the trials by Levi S. Udall. The pardon was granted by Grover Cleveland.
Contains typewritten and handwritten recollections by D.K. Udall and
others. Udall's concern his mail contracts between 1881 and 1920, and his
memories of William Paxman, Lot Smith, and John W. Young. The remaining
narratives and notes relate to the Berry family; Evans Coleman on cowboy
chuck-wagons; J.N. Heywood's childhood in Alpine, Arizona; Don Lorenzo Hubbell;
and "a Trip to the Grand Canyon" by George A. Udall.
box
folder
6
6
Udall, David K.
, 1932-1935
6
7
Berry, Rachel, Evanss Coleman, and others.
, 1930s-1960s
Contains handwritten and photocopied correspondence, legal records,
financial records and related materials involving D.K. Udall. The general file
covers mainly his bankruptcy case, and the formation and operation of Lyman
Reservoir Company, Lyman Land Company, and Lyman Irrigation Company.
The townsite documents relate to the Mormon settlement near Saint
Johns, including the bill of sale and deed to property and water rights to
Ammon Tenney and Udall from the Barth brothers. Also present is a letter
protesting the Mormon settlement from Marcos Baca y Padia, Lorenzo Hubbell and
others, and Udall's reply. There are also two ledgers, with indexes, to D.K.
Udall's business and mail accounts; and a minute book and stock book to the
Hunt Irrigation Company.
box
folder
6
8
General.
, 1897-1934
6
9
Udall homestead and land applications.
, 1872-1912
An early Mormon catechism, and a biographical yearbook with
photographs, autographs, and general information of the Arizona state
legislature in 1899.
box
folder
7
6
Catechism for children exhibiting the prominent doctrines of
The Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints by Elder John Jacques.
Liverpool: F.D. Richards.
, 1855
7
7
Arizona's Twentieth Legislature, by James H.
McClintock, Phoenix, Arizona.
, 1899
