William B. Preston (Mormon)
Encyclopedia
William Bowker Preston was the fourth Presiding Bishop
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) between 1884 and 1907.
Born in Halifax
, Franklin County
, Virginia
, Preston was raised on a farm but at age 19 became a store clerk. He traveled to California by the Panama route in 1852.
He shortly afterward became a farmer in Yolo County, California
. It was here that he joined the LDS Church. Preston was baptized by Henry G. Boyle in February 1857 and shortly afterward was ordained an elder by George Q. Cannon
. Preston then served as a missionary
in northern California until later that year when he led a company of Latter-day Saints to Utah Territory, responding to the call to gather in anticipation of the Utah War
. Among those in Preston's company gathering to Utah was Moses Thatcher
. Thatcher's sister Harriet A. Thatcher was also in this company, and the following February Preston married Harriet Thatcher. In 1859 Preston was among the first settlers of Logan, Utah
. He was made bishop of Logan in November 1859.
Beginning in 1862, Preston served as a member of the Utah territorial legislature.
From 1865 to 1868 Preston served as a missionary in England. The next winter he spent as a sub-contractor working on the Union Pacific Railroad
. He served as a member of the territorial legislature again from 1872 to 1882 and continued to serve as bishop of Logan after his return from England. In 1871, he became presiding bishop over Cache County, succeeding Peter Maughan
, the first holder of this office, who had just died. Preston served as vice-president of the Utah and Northern Railway
(the president was John W. Young), which was key to further economic development of Cache Valley. In 1877, Preston became first counselor to Moses Thatcher in the presidency of the Cache Stake. From 1879 to 1884 Preston served as president of the Cache Stake.
Preston also served as a director of the Logan Cooperative Mercantile Institution, and he also served on the board of trustees of Brigham Young College
and as chairman of the executive committee of that college. From 1870 until 1882 Preston served as mayor of Logan.
Preston was a member of the Utah State Constitutional Convention in 1895.
Preston was called to be the Presiding Bishop
of the LDS Church by Church President John Taylor
on 6 April 1884. Preston served until ill health forced him to resign his position on 4 December 1907. He died of pneumonia
in Salt Lake City, Utah
and was buried at Logan
City Cemetery.
Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)
The Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a priesthood calling with church-wide authority. The Presiding Bishop is the highest leadership position within the church's Aaronic priesthood.-Presiding Bishopric:...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) between 1884 and 1907.
Born in Halifax
Halifax, Virginia
Halifax is a town in Halifax County, Virginia, United States, along the Banister River. The population was 1,389 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Halifax County.-Geography:Halifax is located at ....
, Franklin County
Franklin County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,286 people, 18,963 households, and 13,918 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile . There were 22,717 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, Preston was raised on a farm but at age 19 became a store clerk. He traveled to California by the Panama route in 1852.
He shortly afterward became a farmer in Yolo County, California
Yolo County, California
Yolo County is a county located in the northern part of the U.S. state of California, bordered by the other counties of Sacramento, Solano, Napa, Lake, Colusa, and Sutter. The city of Woodland is its county seat, though Davis is its largest city....
. It was here that he joined the LDS Church. Preston was baptized by Henry G. Boyle in February 1857 and shortly afterward was ordained an elder by George Q. Cannon
George Q. Cannon
George Quayle Cannon was an early member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and served in the First Presidency under four successive presidents of the church: Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow...
. Preston then served as a missionary
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
in northern California until later that year when he led a company of Latter-day Saints to Utah Territory, responding to the call to gather in anticipation of the Utah War
Utah War
The Utah War, also known as the Utah Expedition, Buchanan's Blunder, the Mormon War, or the Mormon Rebellion was an armed confrontation between LDS settlers in the Utah Territory and the armed forces of the United States government. The confrontation lasted from May 1857 until July 1858...
. Among those in Preston's company gathering to Utah was Moses Thatcher
Moses Thatcher
Moses Thatcher was an apostle and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
. Thatcher's sister Harriet A. Thatcher was also in this company, and the following February Preston married Harriet Thatcher. In 1859 Preston was among the first settlers of Logan, Utah
Logan, Utah
-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names...
. He was made bishop of Logan in November 1859.
Beginning in 1862, Preston served as a member of the Utah territorial legislature.
From 1865 to 1868 Preston served as a missionary in England. The next winter he spent as a sub-contractor working on the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
. He served as a member of the territorial legislature again from 1872 to 1882 and continued to serve as bishop of Logan after his return from England. In 1871, he became presiding bishop over Cache County, succeeding Peter Maughan
Peter Maughan
Peter Maughan was an early Mormon pioneer who settled the Cache Valley of Utah under the direction of Brigham Young.-Life:...
, the first holder of this office, who had just died. Preston served as vice-president of the Utah and Northern Railway
Utah and Northern Railway
The Utah and Northern Railway is a defunct railroad that was operated in the Utah Territory and later in the Idaho Territory and Montana Territory in the western United States during the 1870s and 1880s. It was the first railroad in Idaho and in Montana....
(the president was John W. Young), which was key to further economic development of Cache Valley. In 1877, Preston became first counselor to Moses Thatcher in the presidency of the Cache Stake. From 1879 to 1884 Preston served as president of the Cache Stake.
Preston also served as a director of the Logan Cooperative Mercantile Institution, and he also served on the board of trustees of Brigham Young College
Brigham Young College
Brigham Young College was a college and high school in Logan, Utah. It was founded by Brigham Young on 6 August 1877, 23 days before he died. He deeded several acres of land to a board of trustees for the development of a college. This was just two years after he founded Brigham Young Academy in...
and as chairman of the executive committee of that college. From 1870 until 1882 Preston served as mayor of Logan.
Preston was a member of the Utah State Constitutional Convention in 1895.
Preston was called to be the Presiding Bishop
Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)
The Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a priesthood calling with church-wide authority. The Presiding Bishop is the highest leadership position within the church's Aaronic priesthood.-Presiding Bishopric:...
of the LDS Church by Church President John Taylor
John Taylor (1808-1887)
John Taylor was the third president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1880 to 1887. He is the only president of the LDS Church to have been born outside of the United States....
on 6 April 1884. Preston served until ill health forced him to resign his position on 4 December 1907. He died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
in Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
and was buried at Logan
Logan, Utah
-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names...
City Cemetery.
See also
- Council on the Disposition of the TithesCouncil on the Disposition of the TithesThe Council on the Disposition of the Tithes is a leadership body in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, composed of the First Presidency, the Presiding Bishopric, and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The Council determines how the tithing funds of the church will be spent...
- John Q. Cannon
- Leonard W. Hardy
- Robert T. BurtonRobert T. BurtonRobert Taylor Burton was a member of the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1874 until his death...