John Jasper Loveless (1807 - 1880)

Born 24 Jun 1807 in Ross County Ohio, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Rachel Mahala (Anderson) Loveless — married 25 Jan 1826 in Perry Township, Fairfield, Ohio, United States

Descendants

Died 6 Dec 1880 at age 73 in Payson Utah County Utah, USA

Biography

He and Rachel lived in Ross county, Ohio until 1829 when they moved to Fountain county, Indiana on the Wabash river near Attica and located on a farm. In all they had 12 children and became active in the Morman church. He was ordained an Elder. After many hardships in Ohio, Narvoo, Illinois, and Mo., he moved on with his family to Salt Lake City, Utah Sep 15, 1851. He was asked to settle Provo City, West Jordan, Payson, Utah where he died on one of the best farms and nicest homes in Payson,

John Loveless, 1807-1880 Affidavit on forced sale of Missouri lands, depredations on Loveless farm.More About John Jasper Loveless: Church: Elder in Morman Church Residence #1: June 24, 1807, Ross Co., Ohio. 1829 moved to Fountain Co., In. near Attica on farm. Residence #2: September 15, 1851, Salt Lake City, Utah.

From my earliest recollection until I was ten years of age, I lived and worked on a farm with my father, and my opportunities for education were very limited. My growth was rapid; at 18 years I was six feet tall in my stocking feet. I was always anxious to obtain information and embraced any opportunity that came my way of obtaining useful books, especially history, and storing my mind with useful knowledge. In my nineteenth year January 25, 1826, I was married to Rachel Mahala Anderson, daughter of James and Priscilla Anderson, who were both natives of Virginia. Mahala was born in Virginia, Hampshire County, August 25, 1805, but was a resident of Perry, Fairfield County, Ohio, when we were married. On July 5, 1827, our first child was born, a daughter whom we named Sarah Ellen, in Pickaway County, Ohio. Our second child, a boy, James W. Loveless, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, December 25, 1828. In 1829, I moved from Ohio to Attica, Fountain County, on Wabash River, Indiana, located myself on a farm and continued my old vocation. In June, 1831, our second son, and third child was born in Fountain County, Indiana. We named him Joseph J. Loveless.

On July 4, 1831, two Mormon elders, Simeon Carter and Solomon Hancock came into the town and on the 5th of July, I heard them preaching and on July 7th, 1831, I was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Solomon Hancock and confirmed by Simeon Carter. The elders remained preaching four or five days longer and built up a branch of some thirty members. I was ordained a teacher under their hands. Three or four weeks later, Thomas B. Marsh and Seeley J. Griffin came and preached to us and ordained me a Priest. Sometime in the month of October, Simeon Carter returned from his tour to Zion in Jackson County, Missouri, and on his return found me prostrated with a burning fever of five days standing. He prayed with me, administered to me and I was immediately healed. I arose from my bed and joined with them in returning thanks to God. This was the first miracle that I had witnessed. About two weeks after this Solomon Hancock returned from his tour to Zion and baptized my wife.

About the first of November, 1831, the Church was compelled by the mob to leave. I stayed until the 13th and witnessed the great falling of the stars; during the excitement on the 11th of September, 1833, my third son, Nephi Anderson Loveless, was born. When he was about three weeks old the mob gathered against a branch of the Church about two miles from where we lived; I went with others to fight them. On my return I found my wife had been forced to flee to the woods in company with other women and children and hide and was not found until some time later in the night.

From this expulsion I went into Lafayette County, and remained there until 1837. On March 15, 1835, our fourth son was born whom we named John Thomas Loveless. About the first of October, 1837, I moved to Caldwell County, where the Saints were gathering; August 1, 1837, my second daughter, Mary Elizabeth, was born. In the fall of 1838, the mob arose and we were expelled from the State of Missouri, and compelled to sign over all our property by force of arms. In this, I was an eyewitness to scenes, that, until this day, make my blood run cold and would almost make me fight a legion; women ravished, men murdered, houses burned, property destroyed, the Prophet and Patriarch, with many others, taken and cast into prison. On March 5, 1839, I left the State of Illinois, located myself in Adams County, and again went into farming.

On the 1st day of September, 1839, my fifth son, Parley Pratt Loveless, was born. My third daughter, Rachel Priscilla Loveless, was born February 16, 1842. In the spring of 1842, I moved into Hancock County, Illinois, six miles east of Warsaw, bought me a farm and began farming again. On January 6, 1843, my sixth son, William Duncan Loveless was born. In the spring of 1844, in company with Elder Milo Andrus, I went on a mission to Ohio. While preaching there we heard of the disturbance at Nauvoo and immediately left our place of labor and returned in haste to the Saints in Nauvoo. About one hundred and fifty miles below we met our boat coming down that gave us the news of the Prophet's death. A loud shout was sent up by the devils incarnate on our boat, who were on their way to Nauvoo to fight the Mormons. Had I possessed the strength of Sampson, I would, like him, have sunk the whole mass in one gulf of oblivion and sent them to their congenial spirits, the howling devils of the infernal region. On the morning of the 19th of June we arrived at Nauvoo and went to the Mansion House, saw the bodies of the Prophet and Patriarch, lacerated and mangled with gunshot wounds, which they had received while prisoners under the protection of the law. They were surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of Saints crowding to get a last glimpse of those they dearly loved. Soon after witnessing this scene I returned to my home and found my family well in physical health but a great deal excited and in deep mourning at the events that had recently taken place. I went to work on my farm, attending to my usual business.

On May 16, 1845, our seventh son, Hyrum S. Loveless was born. A state of excitement still continued. I raised some good crops and prepared to build me a brick house, early in the fall. The mob again commenced burning, pillaging, destroying and driving the Saints from their homes, to take shelter in the woods or anywhere to save their lives. The whole country was almost one entire conflagration. On the 9th of September, 1845, I went to Nauvoo with a load and on returning the next day, found that my family had fled into the wilderness for safety; my things scattered in every direction and my neighbor's buildings in flames. The whole mob could be seen within a short distance of my home, with firebrands in their hands. A short distance from my home I overtook Sheriff Backenstos with a large posse. I drove through them and went home. They soon came up and the sheriff said, "Keep your family at home and fight!" He directed me to guide them to the mob which I did and we drove them like sheep before wolves, sent some of them to their account and effectually stopped the burning. The same day I took my family and a few things and went to Nauvoo. Up until the 24th day of December my time was employed in gathering my property and moving it to Nauvoo and in guarding the brethren from the fury of the mob. On this day I received my endowments in the Temple.

From this time on my occupation was preparing to move west. When the pioneers left I was chosen one of the quorum that met in the Temple in room No. 1, to offer up our prayers for the benefit of the pioneers, which we did every evening until April 27, 1846, during which time the glory, power and mercy of God was made manifest in a most powerful manner. On many occasions our prayers and requests were answered in full as soon as asked. On April 27, 1846, I left the city of Nauvoo.

We arrived at Council Bluffs about the first of June. At this time I witnessed the afflictions of the Saints in obeying the call of the United States Government for 500 men to fight her battles in Mexico. (A thing never heard of before, an exclusive religious association called upon for a battalion of soldiers, but so it was), and the call was obeyed, myself being chosen to stay and assist in taking care of those left; I witnessed scenes of suffering, destitution and heartrending distress that would have melted the heart of (the) adamant, and caused a man, yes, even the Saints of God to curse and swear eternal vengeance against the perpetrators of all this horrid misery. Here I located myself on the waters of the Little Pigeon River, 7 miles from Kanesville, in the vicinity of which I stayed and continued in my old occupation of farming until I left for the Great Salt Lake Valley.

On August 30, 1848, my eighth son was born, John Oscar; On the 15th of December 1850, my fourth daughter Charlotte Lucretia was born. On the 1st of the same month, I crossed the Missouri River and again, as on former occasions, I seated myself on the bank of the river and reviewed my past life experience and suffering, and as well, called to mind all the blessings and knowledge I had received from the associations and counsels of my brethren and above and over all the instructions of the Prophet, yes, the Prophet of the living God. He who was chosen and set apart to create a new era in Christianity, to proclaim the everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; to bring to life and light and knowledge unto the world and to build up the Kingdom of God and to hold the keys of the everlasting Priesthood and to show the people the way, the only way to heaven. The night before crossing the river we experienced the most severe hailstorm I had ever witnessed, the suffering from the cold and exposure, tongue or pen cannot describe; but what cannot the Saints of God endure while in the discharge of their duties. On the 24th, I was taken sick with inflamation of the lungs and was near unto death. The brethren, notwithstanding they had administered to me, thought that my labors were over and while collected, a number of them in a body around my tent, conversed about my being consumed by the wolves. I heard them and made up my mind that I would be buried six feet deep in order to cheat the ravenous wolves of their prey. I called to Brother Morton to make known to him my wishes, but could not make him hear. My wife came in and I told her what I wanted. She began crying and said she could not get along without me and that I must not die. I studied a moment and then told her that I would not. I immediately began to recover and in four days was driving my team. How plain was the power and mercy of God that manifested unto me.

On arriving near the Elk Horn River, we found a perfect sea of water. That year, 1851, almost the entire country was flooded with water, consequently we had to go around the Elk Horn River and explore an entirely new route, traveling north so far that we got into the bluffs and hills of deep sand, sagebrush, and greasewood. But our most serious difficulties were in encountering enormous herds of wild buffalo. It seemed sometimes as if the whole face of the country was covered with them. We had to send men ahead to disperse them in order that we might drive through with our teams. We succeeded in doing so without serious accident and after traveling as near as we could judge about three hundred miles, we again struck the road about one hundred miles from where we had left it about two months after having done so. We continued our journey for Great Salt Lake City, blessed in every undertaking and a good spirit prevailing all of the time. All enjoyed good health, met with no losses of consequence and on the fifteenth day of September, 1851, we arrived in Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City; I have not language to express my gratitude to God when first I entered thy sacred precincts. There I met with the pioneers, those holy and indomitable spirits led by Brigham Young their Prophet and Seer, the successor of the immortal Joseph, with Heber, the beloved and noble spirit, the Saints of God, who had taken the burden and bourne it, given to them by God, that the ancient prophecy might be fulfilled and the Saints find a home. How sweet the word. Here again was my family united, and here the union with old and tried brethren, the grasping of hands, the shedding of tears and shouting, rejoicing and praising God by the President, friends, family and all. Salt Lake City. Can it be wondered that I call thy precincts sacred, can I ever cease to love and praise God as long as memory holds her seat upon its throne? Soon after I arrived in Salt Lake City, I was counseled to settle in Provo City and on the 14 of October, I unloaded my conveyances in that city. There I built me a home and again went to farming. I continued in that city until January 29, 1853. I then moved into Salt Lake County, in West Jordan, fifteen miles from Salt Lake City. Here I again built a home and continued farming. On June 30, 1855, my ninth son, John Martin (Martin E.) Loveless was born. At eight days old he was blessed.

This year the grasshoppers destroyed nearly all of the crops in almost every part of the territory. In consequence of which, I left that place on the 13th day of November, and on the 17th day of same month arrived in Payson, and here I have remained carrying on the same business up to the present time, March 11, 1859. Signed (John Loveless) Note: John Loveless died Dec. 6, 1880, at Payson Utah. —Madge Loveless Garner

Sources

• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=28129695

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNSL-CBX : 15 January 2022), John Loveless, Payson, Utah, Utah Territory, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .