Great Salt Lake City, December 1st. 1854.
Dear brother Joseph,
With much pleasure at the request of your honored father, I embrace a few moments to give you the current items of news of this part of our mountain land. Well your father has sent to St Louis for a 10 horse power Steam Engine for the "Timely Gull" a boat for the Lake of the building of which you have been informed; this is to be brought out next season. Another item of news is the completion of the walls of an Endowment house erected on the N. W. Corner of the Temple Block which will be finished as we have ability to go ahead, for it is much wanted; it is about the size of the Council House, which is now nearly prepared for the assembling of the Legislature, who you will remember meet on the second Monday of this month.
Col. Steptoe & his men, some 200, you know are wintering in the City; he is quite gentlemanly in his deportment, and anxious that his men should conduct themselves with propriety, not making themselves an annoyance to the good citizens of Salt Lake; he wished the Mayor, in consequence of their appearing drunk so much in the streets to assist him in his endeavors to debar them from liquor, Beer drinking & whiskey drinking also having become so frequent & so much more extensive - - - -by some of those who would be good brethren than should exist in our lovely city the City Council repealed every license to sell, & before this it was announced from the Stand by Elder Kimball that all members of the Church who did not return their licenses for making the article during the following week should be cut off. All but one promptly replied with their licenses returned. So we shall have a quieter time with the soldiery than they would love, had their palates been consulted.
The mail arrived this evening; we have word that the last mail from here was destroyed by the Indians near Laramie, and the carriers killed Charley Kinkead, along, was left for dead, but was subsequently picked up by some party from the Fort; has recovered pretty much.
By a letter from A. S. Siler on Oct 3/54 he requests to be kindly remembered to you; he was then at St Louis having returned from Georgia.
Bro. Carrington is now reading your letter of to Mary; here in the office to President, Squire Wells, G A Smith, & others in the office. We are all amused. & gratified at your description of the difference twixt the Mr. & the Elder Jos. Young.
Promising to endeavor to keep you informed of such items of interest as would be interesting to you, from time to time, as I may be directed,
I have the pleasure to subscribe myself
Truly your brother in the Covenant
G. W. Ellerbeck.
My Dear son Joseph
It is now late at nigh,, the male has arrived this evening and I have heard your letter red , and it rejoice my hart to here sush good knews from you may the Lord Bles you for ever and ever, is my Prayr for you. we are gest movin in to our new house, I suepose Mary and the chldren will give all the famely knews. you can hardly emagen the joy it gives me to have such good knew from you, my sole leapt for joye, be faithful my son and the Lord will Bles you and I bles you. remember you are my oldest son the are of the famely, I want you to be faithful that you may worthe of your stashon in my Kingdom give my love to all the Brethern God Bles you
Brigham Young