William Huntington (Mormon)
Encyclopedia
William Huntington was an early leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), most prominently during the time the Mormon pioneers were moving from Nauvoo, Illinois
to Salt Lake City.
Huntington was born in New Granthan, Cheshire County
, New Hampshire
. In 1804 he and his parents moved to Watertown, Jefferson County, New York
In 1806 Huntington married Zina Baker and they became the parents of nine children. From 1816 to 1832 Huntington was a member of the local Presbyterian Church. In the winter of 1832–1833 he first read the Book of Mormon
and was baptized a member of the Church of the Latter Day Saints in 1835.
In 1836, Huntington moved to Kirtland, Ohio
in a company of Latter Day Saints from upstate New York led by Orson Pratt
and Luke S. Johnson
. Huntington was one of the investors in the Kirtland Safety Society
, in which institution he lost about $500. In 1838 he moved to Missouri
and settled in Adam-ondi-Ahman
. As the Latter Day Saints were forced to leave Missouri in the winter of 1838–1839 Huntington was appointed by Brigham Young
to be one of the men to supervise the removal of the poor.
On 8 July 1839, Huntington's wife Zina died in Nauvoo
. In October 1840, Huntington was appointed a member of the Nauvoo Stake High Council. While at Nauvoo, he married Lucy Partridge, the widow of Edward Partridge
. Huntington left Nauvoo on 9 February 1846.
On 21 May 1846, Huntington was made the presiding authority of the church in Mount Pisgah, Iowa
. His counselors were Ezra T. Benson
and Charles C. Rich
, both of whom would later be called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Huntington died on 19 August 1846.
Huntington's daughter Zina D. H. Young
would later serve as president of the LDS Church's Relief Society
. His son Dimick B. Huntington
was a major figure in relations between the Mormon settlers and the Native Americans
in Utah Territory
.
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...
to Salt Lake City.
Huntington was born in New Granthan, Cheshire County
Cheshire County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 73,825 people, 28,299 households, and 18,790 families residing in the county. The population density was 104 people per square mile . There were 31,876 housing units at an average density of 45 per square mile...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. In 1804 he and his parents moved to Watertown, Jefferson County, New York
Jefferson County, New York
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,229. It is named after Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States of America, and president at the time the county was created in 1805...
In 1806 Huntington married Zina Baker and they became the parents of nine children. From 1816 to 1832 Huntington was a member of the local Presbyterian Church. In the winter of 1832–1833 he first 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 was baptized a member of the Church of the Latter Day Saints in 1835.
In 1836, Huntington moved to 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:...
in a company of Latter Day Saints from upstate New York led by Orson Pratt
Orson Pratt
Orson Pratt, Sr. was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles...
and Luke S. Johnson
Luke S. Johnson
Luke Samuel Johnson was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from 1835 to 1838. He served in the Quorum with his younger brother, Lyman E. Johnson and Orson Hyde, his brother-in-law.Johnson was born November 3, 1807, in Pomfret,...
. Huntington was one of the investors in the Kirtland Safety Society
Kirtland Safety Society
The Kirtland Safety Society was a quasi-bank organized in 1836 by leaders and followers of the Church of the Latter Day Saints. According to KSS's 1837 "Articles of Agreement", it was intended to serve the banking needs of the growing Mormon community in Kirtland, Ohio...
, in which institution he lost about $500. In 1838 he moved 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...
and settled in Adam-ondi-Ahman
Adam-ondi-Ahman
Adam-ondi-Ahman is an historic site along the east bluffs above the Grand River in Daviess County, Missouri. According to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , it is the site where Adam and Eve lived after being expelled from the Garden of Eden...
. As the Latter Day Saints were forced to leave Missouri in the winter of 1838–1839 Huntington was appointed by 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...
to be one of the men to supervise the removal of the poor.
On 8 July 1839, Huntington's wife Zina died in Nauvoo
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...
. In October 1840, Huntington was appointed a member of the Nauvoo Stake High Council. While at Nauvoo, he married Lucy Partridge, the widow of Edward Partridge
Edward Partridge
Edward Partridge was the grandson of Massachusetts Congressman Oliver Partridge, Esq., and a member of a family noted for commercial, social, political, and military leadership in Western Massachusetts. One of the first converts to the Latter Day Saint movement, he was baptized in or near Seneca...
. Huntington left Nauvoo on 9 February 1846.
On 21 May 1846, Huntington was made the presiding authority of the church in Mount Pisgah, Iowa
Mount Pisgah (Iowa)
Mount Pisgah was a semi-permanent settlement or way station from 1846 to 1852 along the Mormon Trail between Garden Grove and Council Bluffs. It is located near the small community of Thayer in Jones Township, Union County, Iowa. This site is now part-of the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail....
. His counselors were Ezra T. Benson
Ezra T. Benson
Ezra Taft Benson was as an apostle and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Early life:Benson was born in Mendon, Massachusetts, the son of John Benson and...
and Charles C. Rich
Charles C. Rich
Charles Coulson Rich was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and served as an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
, both of whom would later be called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Huntington died on 19 August 1846.
Huntington's daughter Zina D. H. Young
Zina D. H. Young
Zina Diantha Huntington Jacobs Smith Young was an American social activist and religious leader who served as the third general president of the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1888 until her death...
would later serve as president of the LDS Church's Relief Society
Relief Society
The Relief Society is a philanthropic and educational women's organization and an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It was founded in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, USA and has approximately 6 million members in over 170 countries and territories...
. His son Dimick B. Huntington
Dimick B. Huntington
Dimick Baker Huntington was a leading Indian interpreter in early Utah Territory. He also commissioned the Church History Panorama of C. C. A. Christensen to use in his presentations of the gospel to the Native Americans....
was a major figure in relations between the Mormon settlers and the Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
in Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
.
Sources
- Ray L. Huntington. "William Huntington: The Iowa Experience" from the Mormon Historic Sites FoundationMormon Historic Sites FoundationThe Mormon Historic Sites Foundation is an independent organization that seeks to contribute to the memorialization of sites important to the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
website.