Edward Bunker (Mormon)
Encyclopedia
Edward Bunker was a Mormon
pioneer and community founder of Bunkerville, Nevada
.
, the youngest of Silas and Hannah Berry Bunker's nine children. As a teenager in the fall of 1841, he struck out on his own with his brother-in-law John Berry to Wisconsin
"to see the country."
, he and John decided to visit a friend in Kirtland, Ohio
. There, they met Martin Harris.
John and Edward both read the Book of Mormon
and Parley P. Pratt
's A Voice of Warning. John eventually went to see members of his family in Pittsburgh
, while Edward remained in nearby Cleveland
, attending meetings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and being baptized in April 1845.
In the spring, Edward and John finally made it to Wisconsin, but they soon left for Nauvoo, Illinois
with a letter of introduction to George A. Smith
.
, Joseph Smith
, and the saints were busily preparing to abandon Nauvoo. He worked briefly across the river in Montrose, Iowa
, where he met Emily Abbott. They were married in Nauvoo in February 1846, just before the pioneers began their first long trek across Iowa
.
Edward and Emily soon left Nauvoo and traveled halfway across Iowa, helping to found the settlement at Garden Grove
. He and a friend built a one-room log cabin and moved their wives into it. Edward then went to Missouri
with the intention of earning enough money to buy a team, a wagon, and supplies for the journey.
. He returned to Garden Grove and was one of the first to volunteer.
The Battalion marched to Santa Fe
, Tucson
, San Diego
, and finally to Los Angeles, where Edward finished the six months he had left in his tour of duty. He was discharged in July 1847.
He then traveled north with other Battalion members to Sutter's Mill
, where gold was discovered, and then to Salt Lake City, arriving on October 16, 1847. They stayed only briefly, and then set out for Winter Quarters, Nebraska
to rejoin their families.
They had a very difficult journey, having left so late in the season. The Platte River
was frozen, and they were reduced to eating rawhide saddles and a mule that fell through the ice before they reached Winter Quarters on December 18. Edward spent the night with some friends, not realizing that Emily and their son had moved from Garden Grove to Winter Quarters and were nearby.
in Iowa, where he raised corn. He bought a team and wagon for his family, and with his mother-in-law and her two small sons, they emigrated in 1849. They settled in Ogden
, and he served on the first Weber Stake High Council of the Church and Ogden's first city council.
When polygamy
began to be lived openly in 1852, he took a second wife, Sarah Ann Browning Lang, a widow with two daughters.
He was called on a mission to England
in 1852, and he presided over the Bristol
, Sheffield
, Bradford, Lincolnshire
, and Scotland
conferences of the Church.
On the way home from his mission, he led a handcart company
to the Salt Lake Valley
in 1856, arriving just before the early winter set in that trapped the Martin and Willie handcart companies in Wyoming
.
He returned to Ogden, serving as a bishop there for several years. In April 1861, he married a third wife, 14-year-old Scottish immigrant Mary McQuarrie.
He pioneered again in Santa Clara, Utah
. This was one of the most difficult settlements because the pioneers were repeatedly washed out by floods of the Virgin River
and the Santa Clara River
. They also had to deal with extremes of heat and drought. He served as the bishop in Santa Clara for 12 years.
Bunker, on his own initiative but with permission from Brigham Young
, moved his large polygamous family 25 miles southwest to Bunkerville after the settlers in Santa Clara had failed to live the communitarian United Order. The residents of Bunkerville, so named by Brigham Young, shared the work and the fruits of their work, with all land being held in common.
In 1890, Bunker was called before a Mormon High Council in St. George to discuss his public opposition to the Adam-God doctrine, which seemed to equate Adam with God. After submitting his arguments to the Council (and eventually, the President of the Church), he was told to leave the "mysteries" alone and to stop creating contention in the community. Despite this period of defiance, by 1900, he had been ordained a patriarch in the Church.
In October 1901, at the age of 79, Bunker went to help found the Mormon colony
at Colonia Morelos, Sonora, Mexico. He died there on November 17, 1901.
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
pioneer and community founder of Bunkerville, Nevada
Bunkerville, Nevada
Bunkerville is an unincorporated town in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population was 1,014 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the census-designated place of Bunkerville has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is...
.
Early life
He was born in Atkinson, MaineAtkinson, Maine
Atkinson is a town in Piscataquis County, Maine, United States. The town was named after Judge Atkinson, a landholder. The population was 323 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, the youngest of Silas and Hannah Berry Bunker's nine children. As a teenager in the fall of 1841, he struck out on his own with his brother-in-law John Berry to Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
"to see the country."
Conversion to Mormonism
Bunker did not make it to Wisconsin that winter. Because the rivers and lakes were frozen by the time they reached OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, he and John decided to visit a friend in Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland is a city in Lake County, Ohio, USA. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census. Kirtland is famous for being the early headquarters of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Origins of Kirtland:...
. There, they met Martin Harris.
John and Edward both read the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
and Parley P. Pratt
Parley P. Pratt
Parley Parker Pratt, Sr. was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from 1835 until his murder in 1857. He served in the Quorum with his younger brother, Orson Pratt...
's A Voice of Warning. John eventually went to see members of his family in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, while Edward remained in nearby Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, attending meetings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and being baptized in April 1845.
In the spring, Edward and John finally made it to Wisconsin, but they soon left for Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
with a letter of introduction to George A. Smith
George A. Smith
George Albert Smith was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and served in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and as a member of the church's First Presidency.-Childhood:Smith was born in Potsdam, St...
.
Nauvoo and Iowa
Bunker arrived in Nauvoo nearly a year after the martyrdom of the ProphetProphet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
, Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith was founder of what later became known as the Latter Day Saint movement or Mormons.Joseph Smith may also refer to:-Latter Day Saints:* Joseph Smith, Sr. , father of Joseph Smith...
, and the saints were busily preparing to abandon Nauvoo. He worked briefly across the river in Montrose, Iowa
Montrose, Iowa
Montrose is a city in Lee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 957 at the 2000 census. The town is located on the Mississippi River. It is part of the Fort Madison–Keokuk, IA-MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, where he met Emily Abbott. They were married in Nauvoo in February 1846, just before the pioneers began their first long trek across Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
.
Edward and Emily soon left Nauvoo and traveled halfway across Iowa, helping to found the settlement at Garden Grove
Garden Grove, Iowa
Garden Grove is a city in Decatur County, Iowa, United States. The population was 250 at the 2000 census.-History:On April 24, 1846, emigrants affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under the direction of Brigham Young established a way station halfway into their trek...
. He and a friend built a one-room log cabin and moved their wives into it. Edward then went to Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
with the intention of earning enough money to buy a team, a wagon, and supplies for the journey.
Mormon Battalion
While he was in Missouri, Edward heard about the call for volunteers to form the Mormon BattalionMormon Battalion
The Mormon Battalion was the only religiously based unit in United States military history, and it served from July 1846 to July 1847 during the Mexican-American War. The battalion was a volunteer unit of between 534 and 559 Latter-day Saints men led by Mormon company officers, commanded by regular...
. He returned to Garden Grove and was one of the first to volunteer.
The Battalion marched to Santa Fe
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
, Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, and finally to Los Angeles, where Edward finished the six months he had left in his tour of duty. He was discharged in July 1847.
He then traveled north with other Battalion members to Sutter's Mill
Sutter's Mill
Sutter's Mill was a sawmill owned by 19th century pioneer John Sutter in partnership with James W. Marshall. It was located in Coloma, California, at the bank of the South Fork American River...
, where gold was discovered, and then to Salt Lake City, arriving on October 16, 1847. They stayed only briefly, and then set out for Winter Quarters, Nebraska
Winter Quarters, Nebraska
Winter Quarters was an encampment formed by approximately 2,500 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as they waited during the winter of 1846–47 for better conditions for their trek westward. It followed a preliminary tent settlement some 3½ miles west at Cutler's Park. The...
to rejoin their families.
They had a very difficult journey, having left so late in the season. The Platte River
Platte River
The Platte River is a major river in the state of Nebraska and is about long. Measured to its farthest source via its tributary the North Platte River, it flows for over . The Platte River is a tributary of the Missouri River, which in turn is a tributary of the Mississippi River which flows to...
was frozen, and they were reduced to eating rawhide saddles and a mule that fell through the ice before they reached Winter Quarters on December 18. Edward spent the night with some friends, not realizing that Emily and their son had moved from Garden Grove to Winter Quarters and were nearby.
Pioneer
He moved his family to Missouri to earn money for an outfit, and then to Mosquito CreekMosquito Creek
Mosquito Creek may refer to:*Mosquito Creek , a California tributary of the North Fork Feather River*Mosquito Creek , a tributary of the Missouri River*Mosquito Creek , a California tributary of the Feather River source...
in Iowa, where he raised corn. He bought a team and wagon for his family, and with his mother-in-law and her two small sons, they emigrated in 1849. They settled in Ogden
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
, and he served on the first Weber Stake High Council of the Church and Ogden's first city council.
When polygamy
Polygamy
Polygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...
began to be lived openly in 1852, he took a second wife, Sarah Ann Browning Lang, a widow with two daughters.
He was called on a mission to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1852, and he presided over the Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, Bradford, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, and Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
conferences of the Church.
On the way home from his mission, he led a handcart company
Mormon handcart pioneers
The Mormon handcart pioneers were participants in the migration of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Salt Lake City, Utah, who used handcarts to transport their belongings...
to the Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley is a valley in Salt Lake County in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Utah. It contains Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs, notably West Valley City, Murray, Sandy, and West Jordan; its total population is 1,029,655 as of 2010...
in 1856, arriving just before the early winter set in that trapped the Martin and Willie handcart companies in Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
.
He returned to Ogden, serving as a bishop there for several years. In April 1861, he married a third wife, 14-year-old Scottish immigrant Mary McQuarrie.
He pioneered again in Santa Clara, Utah
Santa Clara, Utah
Santa Clara is a city in Washington County, Utah, United States. The population was 4,630 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.9 square miles , of which, 4.9 square miles of it is land and 0.04 square miles of it...
. This was one of the most difficult settlements because the pioneers were repeatedly washed out by floods of the Virgin River
Virgin River
The Virgin River is a tributary of the Colorado River in the U.S. states of Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. The river is about long. It was designated Utah's first wild and scenic river in 2009, during the centennial celebration of Zion National Park.-Course:...
and the Santa Clara River
Santa Clara River (Utah)
The Santa Clara River is a river whose three forks join above Pine Valley in the Pine Valley Mountains in Washington County, Utah, United States. It flows west, then south, then briefly southeast before joining the Virgin River just south of St. George...
. They also had to deal with extremes of heat and drought. He served as the bishop in Santa Clara for 12 years.
Bunker, on his own initiative but with permission from Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
, moved his large polygamous family 25 miles southwest to Bunkerville after the settlers in Santa Clara had failed to live the communitarian United Order. The residents of Bunkerville, so named by Brigham Young, shared the work and the fruits of their work, with all land being held in common.
In 1890, Bunker was called before a Mormon High Council in St. George to discuss his public opposition to the Adam-God doctrine, which seemed to equate Adam with God. After submitting his arguments to the Council (and eventually, the President of the Church), he was told to leave the "mysteries" alone and to stop creating contention in the community. Despite this period of defiance, by 1900, he had been ordained a patriarch in the Church.
In October 1901, at the age of 79, Bunker went to help found the Mormon colony
Mormon Colonies in Mexico
The Mormon colonies in Mexico are settlements located near the Sierra Madre mountains in northern Mexico which were established by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints beginning in 1885. Many of the original colonists came to Mexico due to federal attempts to curb and...
at Colonia Morelos, Sonora, Mexico. He died there on November 17, 1901.