By train to Chicago

April 29-1907-Monday

            To-day I have enjoyed very much.  Our train, which is going over the Denver and Rio Grande route, is five hours late.  This threw us at the best time in the canyons of Grand River, Little Grand River, and the Colorado River, which are noted for their scenery.  I, with the other boys, took the parlor car through the canyons and enjoyed the ride fine.  For comforts sake we arranged for a sleeper tonight.

                                                April 30-1907-Tuesday

            About seven a.m. we were awakened in Denver, Colorado, where we had been resting for several hours.  The weather was cold, but having a nine hour wait, we “took in the town”. Denver left a good impression on me.  I rather like the city.  It is clean.  At 4:35P.M we took the Burlington Limited from the Denver Union Depot, and are now on our way further east.  Our party from Salt Lake  City to Chicago consisted of: E.B Harris- A.B. Worsley, Geo. M. Taylor- Geo. Stahili and myself.

                                                May 1-1907- Wednesday

            We passed through Burlington and Omaha Neb. and entered Chicago at 8:45P.M.  The ride from Denver was fine and we saw a great deal.  We did not take sleepers during this run so we were all very tired when we entered Chicago and therefore went to bed early.  We slept in two bedrooms with a bath and toilet connected, at the Majestic Hotel. In each state and principal city I have sent leather and picture post cars home and to Emma.

May 2 1907- Thursday

            Today we visited, together, Lincoln Park and arranged for further transportation.  Taylor and Worsely here left us and I hunted up cousin Geo. D. Parkinson who is attending the University of Chicago.  We visited together the Chicago University grounds, the Montgomery Ward tower, and the City Free Library.  The University grounds were very beautiful.  The tower is the highest in Chicago going up 25 stories or 394 feet, and affords a very fine view of the city and lakes.  

      

(Tallest building in Chicago in 1907- shown through the years.)

The Library is built of gray granite lined with white marble and decorated in the inside with mother-of-pearl in various colors.  The reading rooms are large and well equipped with all kinds of reading matter.  There is also a small museum in connection with the library.

            Geo. and I here left the boys and went back to the university where I stayed with him for the night.  Before retiring, however we paid Aunt Nettie and Hazel a short visit.  Preston Nibley and George have rooms together so we had lots of fun.

(Chicago's State Street in 1907)

 

F.N. Parkinson Leaving on a mission to Germany April 26, l907

 

Franklin Stuart Nuttall Parkinson, age 21- From his missionary journal.                                          

April 26-1907- Friday
    I arrived in Salt Lake City in good time, leaving Ogden at 8:30A.M., and reported at the Presidents office to arrange for transportation.  After a few moments spent there, I arranged, through a letter from Bishop John Watson, Ogden fifth Ward, addressed to Jos. W. McMurrin, to be set apart a Seventy in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Bro McMurrin set me apart and gave me a license to act in that office.
    I went from his office to Patriarch Jno. Smith’s residence, where I received a blessing which is very good and promises much.    At 1:30 P.M. I met with the balance of the missionaries to leave within the next few days, at the temple to be set apart for my mission.  I was set apart by Apostle Teasdale, who gave me a very impressive blessing.  He promised me success and a good mission, friends and good health.  Apostle Grant was then asked to give us the necessary instructions.  He has, for the past few years been president of the European Mission and knew just what instructions were for our best good.  He impressed upon us that “work-work-work” was the only sure cure for homesickness and invited us to try it, that we should avoid women and wine, that we should never enter a house of vice, avoid anything of an evil nature.  Bro. McMurrin then spoke of how necessary it is for a Mormon Elder to have good manners.  He spoke of etiquette on the train, at the hotel, on the ship and at any place we might go.  He told us that prayer was our only way to commune with God, and that God is our very best friend, that we should be extremely prayerful and exhort other to be the same, that our last kiss, for the next three years should be upon our mother, sister, wife or sweetheart, and Jno. Smith told me not to allow a woman to take hold of my arm, that even that was too great a liberty to allow any woman while in the field.  Bro. McMurrin further blessed us and gave a great deal other advice of which holding down expense and not going for pleasure was the greater part.
    After securing all necessary tickets and advice I arranged for a room and went to bed, it being only 7 P.M.  I consider to-day very important in my history.
                April 27-1907-Saturday
    After making sure all arrangements for my trip were complete I met cousin Annie Parkinson, who is studying in Salt Lake City, and we spent the day enjoyably together. She arranged with me to send a few things to Leo, her brother, who is doing missionary work in Switzerland.  Of course I was pleased to act as agent in taking such blessings, because I know the Elders love to get things from home.
    I returned to Ogden in the evening and spent my time with Emma.
During the past ten days we have had grand weather.  Crops are up and growing nicely.  
                April 28-1907-Sunday  
After spending a pleasant day with friends, Emma the chief one, and doing the last preliminary work necessary, I boarded the D. & R.G.W. train.  The sun was just going down as I kissed the few friends who had come to the depot to see me off.  Of course, I did not like to leave friends to go to a land of strangers but being called I desire to go willingly and therefore leave with a hope of doing much good both to myself and others.