Where was
the largest U.S. Army Base located in 1858?
a.
Washington
D. C.
b.
Philadelphia,
Pa.
c.
New York
City
d.
Salt Lake
City
Yesterday’s answer:
a.
$500
The
following from the journal of William C. Rydalch: For some time previous to the
spring of 1860, my wife and I had been endeavoring to save means whereby we
might obtain a team, harness and wagon. By the greatest thrift, economy and
careful management, we finally found ourselves in possession of five hundred
dollars, of which we were both justly proud, as money was much harder to obtain
then than now. I immediately went to Salt Lake City, with this sum in my
pocket, to purchase the much coveted outfit, but said nothing to anyone of my
purpose, so that no one but my wife was aware that I had the money with me.
Soon after I
arrived in the city I met President Heber C. Kimball on the sidewalk just below
the Deseret News Office He shook hands with me and then said ‘Brother Rydalch,
will you loan me the five hundred dollars you have in your pocket?”
I looked at him with astonishment and dismay,
as the thoughts ran swiftly through my mind of the sacrifices made by my wife
and myself to save this amount; of the months of toil and industry it
represented; but knowing him to be a man of God, I hesitated only for an
instant, and then told him he could have it. At the same time I took from my
pocket the twenty-five twenty-dollar gold pieces and handed them to him.
He blessed me and then said: “Brother Rydalch,
I promise you that in less than three months this amount will double in your
hands.”
He turned
and walked away leaving me marveling at the strangeness of circumstance, and
thinking of the possibilities of the promise being fulfilled, which he had made
me. I returned home feeling confident that all would come out right, but I felt
rather doubtful of convincing my wife of this fact, as I knew it would be a
great disappointment to her.
About two
weeks after this occurred I again went to Salt Lake, and upon meeting Brother
Kimball he informed me that he had a span of mules in his stable that he had
taken on a debt; and asked me if I would look at them and take them on the five
hundred dollars if they suited me.
I went and looked at them and found them to be
just what I wanted. I returned to the house and told him I would take them. He
then asked me what I would allow him for them. I told him I did not wish to put
a price on another man’s property. He wanted to know if two hundred dollars was
too much. I answered that it was not, and took them. He also said he had a set
of lead harness which could go with them at forty dollars. This was a pretty
good price, but I took it. He then spoke of the running gears of a new wagon,
the box of which had been demolished by an accident while crossing the Bog
Mountain. He said I could have it for eighty dollars.. This I agreed to take without any hesitation
whatever, as it was a good bargain. He thought his son Heber P. had an extra
box that would fit it. This he obtained for me and it fitted exactly. I went
home as proud a man as could be found anywhere, as I had now the very articles
which I had been saving my money to buy, all first-class, and Brother Kimball
was still owing me one hundred and eighty dollars.
In about
three weeks from this time I received a letter from James Lemmons who lived at
Bountiful, Davis County, desiring me to look out for a good pair of mules for
him that would do for leaders in crossing the plains, as he was going East to
purchase goods for Hooper and Eldredge. I informed him by return mail that I
had just the animals he wanted, and that he must come to Grantsville
immediately, or they might be sold. He came, was well suited with them and
offered me four cows, five heifers and a fine Durham Bull. These cattle I had
then in my possession, as I was talking care of them for him. They were all
good condition, and some of the cows had calves.
We soon
closed the bargain, he talking the mules and turning over the stock to me the
same day. These cattle I considered will worth five hundred dollars in cash and
I would not have sold them for that amount.
Soon after I
went back to the city and met Brother Kimball at his home, but said nothing
about what had taken place. He said Brother Henry Houtz was owing him one
hundred and fifty dollars and he had a good horse which he wanted him to take
for that amount. He asked me if I wanted him, I did not want a horse, but as he
rather insisted on my going to see it I went, I found it to be an excellent
animal, and decided to take him. I turned him into a good pasture and let him
remain about two weeks, when an officer named Calapsey, from Camp Floyd,
belonging to the commissary department, and who happened to be at Grantsville
buying hay and grain, rode up to my horse and inquired of me if I knew where he
could purchase as a good cavalry horse. I informed him that I was in possession
of just what he was looking for. In a short time I sold him the animal for
three hundred dollars, it being just what he wanted.
Several days
after this I met President Kimball again at his home, and while there he
mentioned the thirty dollars we was still owing me. He said he would like to
pay me out of his store. This met with my approval and he gave me goods which
were well worth seventy-five dollars, including s shawl worth at least fifty
dollars, which was in constant use for twenty years. It had been two months
since President Kimball mad the prediction which had been literally fulfilled,
and I had fully realized one thousand dollars through the transaction.
Preston
Nibley, Faith Promoting Stories (Salt
Lake City, Bookcraft, 1977), 159-162.
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