Mormon History, Aug 1, 1849

[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] Aug 1st A rainy day. We spent the day at Br Maxfields. I found Prince Edwards Island A beautiful farming country to Appearances but with all its Grand appearance the people are nearly in a state of Starvation. The Crops have failed for two years past And the Merchants are taking all the Money out of the Country. All the Colonies seem to be in a deplorible state. Hundreds of Miles of the Country has been burned over this year with fire sweeping many millions of acres of forest farms fences barns dwellings Mills Lumber & Lumber yards. And in some instances the inhabitants have had to flee into the sea or on the beach to escape the flames. Evry branch of business seems to be dead. People are fleeing to the States evry possible way.
I met with the Saints At the House of Brother Wm Maxfield for the purpose of organizing the Branch of the Church. There were present W Woodruff of the Twelve Joseph Russell Elder Wm Maxfield Priest.
Conference opened by singing & prayer. Remarks from W Woodruff on the importance of the Organization of the branch. It was then Moved And Carried that Br Maxfield be ordained to the office of an Elder & preside over the branch And also that John Maxfield be ordained to the office of Priest. They were both ordained under the Hands of Elders Woodruff & Russell.
Elder James Skerry who formerly presided over this branch of the Church was Accused of Adultery & Drunkenness. He was 42 miles distant & not present but from the abundant testimony of witnesses present He was Cut off from the Church by the unanimous vote of the same.
The President then gave much useful teaching upon Emigration, meeting & family duties. Also gave information upon the travels of the pioneers the location of the Saints in the valley of the salt Lake & order of Zion. Then the saints spoke most of them. Elder Russell Addressed the Meeting. The President then followed for an hour. Then Blessed 5 Children Healed 2 that were sick. The meeting was lengthy. The President W Woodruff spoke 3 Hours or more.

[source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]