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Show HUNTINGTON'S FIRST BISHOP PASSES TO HIS REWARD I "Uncle Elias" as he was familiarly called, was born Jan. 15lh, 1835, in I'utnam county, Indiana.. Me was bab-tized bab-tized Oct. 7th, 1844, and has therefore had the privilege of spending his long, useful and inoffensive life a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was one who was proud to speak of his acquaintance with the Prophet Joseph Smith, he ; having had the privilege of dwelling in that beautiful city Nauvoo. Hts people were among the first to start westward for the Rocky Mountains Moun-tains and while camping on the plains I of Iowa, his one brother volunteered his services in the Mormon batallion. The family made their way up to Win- ter Quarters on the Missouri river and ! there spent one year. In the spring of '-IS ihey again pulled for the west, arriving in the Salt Lake valley in the latter part of that summer. They made their home at Union Fort for about 10 years, after which they moved to Fairview and engaged in farming and stockraising. While at Union, in 1855, young Elias married Martha Richards. This union was blessed with one child, and when the latter was about four years old, the mother died leaving the grandparents to care for him. The father Elias took to the saddle and spent most of his lime with the stock. In '65 the Indians became troublesome, trouble-some, led by the noted Black Hawk. Mere again Elias became useful helping help-ing to trail the red men for their depredations, de-predations, which were frenquent, killing the people and driving off the stock. In this way he became an Indian In-dian war veteran, helping to guard and protect the homes of his friends during the '70's. After the Indians became peaceable, he took to ranch life and stockraising in Thisile creek canyon, which he continued con-tinued until '79, when he and some others were called to move into what is now known as Emery county and locate a. new settlement on the Huntington Hunt-ington creek. This he did and, in the summer of '80, he was made its first bishop. This obligation required a helpmate, so he and one of the young women of the ward. Miss Mary E. Sherman, made a trip to Salt Lake City and returned as husband and wife. This proved to be a long and happy union, making his last days the best part of his life. They had a family fam-ily of 11 children 7 boys and 4 girls all good and honorable members of society. The whole family of mother and 11 children were alive when he passed away and all but one. were .at his bedside. Luring the. 'SO's the town was building build-ing up and was prosperous under his management as a bishop. He served the people for about eight years when he was released from presiding over the ward. He again settled down to a quiet home life of farming and stock raising as before. He was a member of the high council for over 20 years and his good judgment was often utilized uti-lized for the betterment society, and, at ripe old age of S2 years, 3 months and 23 days, he passed quietly away. He had been somewhat feeble for some time but he kept choring about the place until less than a week before he took to his bed. He was an Indian war veteran and on the 6th day of May signed his own name to the paper asking for a pension from the government a debt they had owed for 50 years. On that day his comrades of the war held a jhort service at the grove a last hon- or they felt his due. His resting place was' dedicated by Comrade Wm. A. Guyition sr. Te funeral services were conducted By Bishop D. Heber Leonard. A fair audience, was in attendance although it was very muddy weather. Trie .;peakers were: John F.- Wakefield Peter Nielson, J. W. Xixon, and President Presi-dent Lars P. Oveson. All had good words to offer for his long useful life and encouragement for his sorrowing bereaved ones. |