ONE OF THE EARLY WOMEN PIONEERS WRITES FROM EARLY SALT LAKE CITY: “WE HAVE BEEN MUCH PROSPERED SINCE WE FOUND OUR MOUNTAIN HOME.  WE HAVE PLENTY OF THE BEST THAT THE VALLEY AFFORDS.  THE EARTH BRINGS FORTH IN ITS STRENGTH WHEN IT IS CULTIVATED WITH AN EYE SINGLE TO BUILDING UP THE KINGDOM OF GOD UPON THE EARTH…THERE HAS BEEN A GREAT INCREASE OF POPULATION WITHIN THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS AND OUR CITY HAS IMPROVED VERY FAST.  A GREAT MANY BEAUTIFUL HOUSES HAS BEEN BUILT AND IS NOW IN BUILDING…I FEEL AT HOME IN THIS PLACE”

(EARLY WOMAN MORMON PIONEER).  ALS. 3pg. 8” x 10”. Great Salt Lake City. March 27, 1854.  An autograph letter signed “Elizabeth Vance” and with a postscript signed “Martha J. Vance”, her daughter.  The Mormon women wrote to their family Martha Campbell and Jane Lucas back in McDonough County, Illinois.  Elizabeth Vance wrote the first part of the letter (for the sake of legibility, I cleaned up much of the phonetic spelling): “Beloved Sisters Martha and Jane after a long silence I set down to write you few lines.  We are all well at present and enjoy life first rate.  We received a letter from James R. Campbell last fall which gave us much pleasure to hear from so many of the relations and was pleased to hear of his marriage and would like very much to be…and become acquainted with my new sister Martha.  Jane has wrote since we received James’s letter but has got no answer and I have not had a line from either of you which thing I cannot account for as you promised to write when we parted.  We still live in the City.  John and the little girls myself and Mr. Vance and William and Ann McNicols a niece of ours.  She is living with us at present.  Ann Wardsworth and family is well.  She has three children a son and two daughters.  Margaret and family was well when he heard from them last.  James is married and is living in Utah valley 35 miles from here he married a Miss Benson a neat tidy girl.  We have been much prospered since we found our mountain home.  We have plenty of the best that the valley affords.  The Earth brings forth in its strength when it is cultivated with an eye single to building up the Kingdom of God upon the Earth.  We have raised 2 hundred & 8 bushels of onions and sixty of parsnips and a hundred and fifty of potatoes with many other things are melons, cucumbers, tomatoes and a great variety of flowers all which is good to please the eye and gladden the heart and make the desert blossom as rose.  There has been a great increase of population within the last twelve months and our City has improved very fast.  A great many beautiful houses has been built and is now in building.  The streets has been improved very much and the side walks adorned with shade trees which look very romantic and beautiful in a mountainous and barren country.  Some talk of a railroad through this mountain country.  I should like that very well.  I should then except that you would visit us and we might visit you also as it would not take many days to make the trip.  The old prophets spoke about a highway which should be cast up so that the Sansom of the Lord might come to Zion but we know that these things will…the right time and in the right place for he rules.  Whose right is it to rule and in that I do rejoice.  I feel at home in this place.  I have enjoyed myself well both in body and mind.  My health is good and my mind is composed.  I have passed through many scenes and some trials, made some sacrifices but that has given me an experience that is necessary in order to my Salvation for as Christ our Elder brother…perfect through suffering and the saints and prophets of old met with these things in this probation.  We need not think it strange when traveling the same road and we might feel quite…when introduced to their society if we had went along on flowery beds of ease under those considerations.  I have given up my house and…all my relations according to the flesh and as far as locality was concerned I would not then given our home for the Garden of Eden but it is all right and I actually the hand of the Lord in the Same.  Now what do you think about these things Jane.  You have sons and perhaps daughters your own natural children that you love no doubt now what shall I say.  Will you believe me when I tell you that without they are adopted to you by the order of the priesthood that will not be your children in the resurrection.  Now think on these things.  Sister Martha I should be glad if you would come and live with us as James is married and can do without you.  If it meets you mind and feelings we have plenty of house room and a good healthy country.  Martha Jane and Mary Elizabeth has been going to school this winter.  They love to hear from you all and talk about you.  They have been studying…arithmetic and geography…”.  Below this, her daughter Martha Vance wrote a postscript: “Mother wishes me to state in relation to the crop when it was made, the boys were all from…Father made the crop.  I wish you would write to us oftener than you…I hope to see you here when the railway is completed if not before.  I send my love to all my relation and friends.  Tell Susan Ann Walker to write to me…”.  Elizabeth Campbell (1801-1884) married John Vance in 1837 in McDonough, Illinois.  She had three children, Martha, Mary and Lehi.  She traveled to Utah in 1847 in one of the first caravans.  Vance participated in the Great Salt Lake Relief Society in the year this letter was written, and was president of the Seventh Ward Relief Society from 1854 to 1861.  Salt Lake City was not connected to the national rail system until 1870, a year after the Transcontinental Railroad.  The letter is postmarked from Salt Lake City with a handstamped “5”, and it is addressed to “Miss Martha Campbell or Jane Lucas McDonough Cty Illinois”.  The letter is written on light blue, lined paper.  Some of the writing is light, but it is legible, although the address panel is faint.  There are some holes where fold lines intersect and it affects a few words, these is some yellowing to the paper and a seal tear on the last page.  The overall condition is good.  A terrific early Salt Lake City letter by a woman pioneer.