William Huntington diary [photocopy]

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: MS 0017

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The William Huntington diary [photocopy] (1835-1845) details his life and his affiliation with the LDS Church. It records details of the persecutions and mob actions in Kirtland, Far West, and Nauvoo; of his work as a stone cutter and building the Nauvoo Temple; the destruction of the press; and the assasination and trial of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. It also tells of the institution of the ordinances for baptism of the dead, baptism for the remission of sins, and tithing.

Dates

1835-1845

Creator

Huntington, William, 1784-1846 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Conditions Governing Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Biographical Sketch

William Huntington Sr. was born 28 March 1784 in New Grantham, Cheshire County, New Hampshire. He married Zina Baker in 1806. By 1811, he was a man of considerable property, but the War of 1812 was declared and he was "reduced low as to property." By 1816, he had begun to rebuild his holdings, and when he joined the LDS Church in 1835, he again was a prosperous man. In 1836, he sold his farm for $3,500, disposed of his stock and farming utensils, closed out his business, and left for Kirtland, arriving there in October 1836. He left Kirtland, moved to Far West, and then to Nauvoo in 1838. Huntington helped lay the foundation of the Nauvoo temple and later became one of the stone cutters. He was a member of the High Countil until the expulsion of Nauvoo and then presided over the settlement of Mt. Pisgah with Charles C. Rich and Ezra Taft Benson until his death on 19 August 1846.