Shadrach Roundy

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Jan. 1, 1788 - Jul. 4, 1872

When about twenty-five years old he married Betsy Quimby, of Essex county,  Vermont, who bore him ten children -- four sons and six daughters. He moved with his family to Onondago county, New York, and there heard of the gospel being revealed to Joseph Smith. In the winter of 1830-31 he left his home and traveled on horseback to see the Prophet Joseph, who then resided at Fayette, Seneca, New York. After having an interview with the Prophet, he was baptized and became an honorable member of the Church. His wife and those of his children who were old enough also embraced the gospel about the same time. April 16, 1836, in Kirtland, Ohio, where the main body of the Church was then in conference assembled, he received a license to preach the gospel, having previously been ordained an Elder. Subsequently, he removed to Missouri, where he shared with the Saints in their persecutions, and afterward located temporarily in Warsaw, Illinois.

About the year 1840 he removed to Nauvoo, where he served as a captain of police. In times of imminent danger and persecutions he acted as special guard around the person of the Prophet Joseph. On several occasions he was on duty without intermission, for many days and nights, without sleep or rest. His love for the Prophet was so great that he would have given his own life freely in defense of his beloved friend and brother.

On one occasion, when the Prophet had been forewarned that he was in  danger, he sent for Brother Roundy and told him to pick a trusty man to be on guard with  him at his house, as a party was coming that night by water to kidnap him. Brother Roundy selected Josiah Arnold and placed him on guard at the gate, with orders to admit no one, while he himself took his beat by the river, but on hearing a noise he hastily repaired to the gate and found William Law inside the gate and others in the act of entering. Brother Roundy, who had a hickory walking cane in his hand, quickly took hold of it at each end, and pressing it against the men forced them back outside, and then fastened the gate. William Law endeavored to explain that the men who were with him were gentlemen merchants, who wanted to see the mummies that Joseph Smith had purchased from Michael Chandler. Brother Roundy replied that if they were gentlemen they should come at gentlemen's hours. William Law insisted that Brother Joseph would admit them, as they would pay $10 in pocket money, there being about forty of them; the admission fee was 25 cents for each. On their agreeing not to try to enter while he was gone, Brother Roundy went to Joseph's room. The Prophet, who had overheard the conversation, told Elder Roundy to go back and tell the strangers as a message from him what he (Roundy) had already told them himself. Thus was the Prophet's life and property preserved by the courage and fidelity of Elder Roundy and his associate.

Elder Roundy came to Great Salt Lake valley as one of the pioneers of 1847, and was one of the three men who plowed the first furrow in Great Salt Lake valley. He was a member of the first High Council in the Salt Lake Stake of Zion, and also a member of the first Territorial legislature. He crossed the plains five times to bring poor emigrants to the Valley, was a captain of the "Silver Greys," and one of the first settlers in the 16th ward, where he presided as Bishop from April 14, 1849, until 1856. He had previously been called to the Bishopric by revelation (D&C Sec. 124, Verse 141). Bishop Roundy died a true and faithful member of the Church.

Biography from Tracy Stocking

Photo of grave marker stolen from Findagrave.com until I can get out and take my own photo.
Grave marker and map to follow.

Alma Bailey Dunford

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Alma Bailey Dunford was born in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England on August 19, 1850, son of Isaac and Leah Bailey Dunford.  In 1853 his parents brought him to America and settled in St. Louis.  In 1856, this family came to Salt Lake City, but were soon afterwards called to settle Bear Lake County, Idaho.  In 1864, A.B. Dunford came to Salt Lake City to live and has ever since counted this city his home.

Almost immediately upon his arrival in Salt Lake City, he began to study his dentistry with late Dr. W.W.H.H. Sharp.  In his profession, Dr. Dunford developed almost marvelous skill and soon became not only Dr. Sharp’s partner but the most trusted of Utah’s early dentists.  He made many trips from St. George to Bear Lake, carrying his instruments in his buggy and waiting on his patients in the pioneer settlements.

Alma was married to Susan Young, daughter of Brigham and Lucy Bigelow Young, on December 1,  1872.  They had two children, Leah Eudora , born February 24, 1874, and Alma Bailey, Jr., born August 13, 1875.  In early 1877 Alma was called to serve a mission in England and made arrangements for “Susie” and the children to spend time with Alma’s family.  Two weeks later Brigham Young died, and shortly after that Susie wrote to Alma saying that she no longer loved him and wanted a divorce.  Alma returned home from his mission and in August of 1879 he reopened his dental office.

On February 27, 1882 Alma married Lovinia Tricilla Clayton, a daughter of William and Margaret Moon Clayton.  They had eight children, two of whom died before adulthood. 

Alma died on February 1, 1919 in Salt Lake City.

Photo by Emily Joyal

Additional Help needed

Despite my best intentions, I just don't have the time to complete this blog as often as I'd like.  If any of my readers would be interested in co-authoring this blog, please shoot me an email.  Thanks!

Archibald Gardner

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Archibald Gardner was one of Utah's earliest entrepreneurs, made history in the state of Utah as a mill builder, canal builder, irrigation developer, bridge builder, bishop and as husband to 11 wives, father of 48 children and grandfather to 201.

Archibald, born in Scotland, immigrated to Canada as a young man. There he built his first mill. There he met and married his first wife, Margaret. Together, they traveled with Utah's early pioneers, crossing the plains from Missouri River to the Great Salt Lake Valley, arriving there in 1847.

In his lifetime, he built more than 36 mills, as well as canals and bridges. He was also instrumental in the building of the Salt Lake Temple. Gardner provided the valley with valuable irrigation water through his canals.

In 1858, in the face of the threat of Johnston's Army and the Utah War in the Valley, he and his family moved to Spanish Fork, consisting of nine wives, fifteen children, seven step-children and an adopted Indian girl, Fanny. Archibald left behind a homestead at Mill Creek, the mills in the canyon above, a grist mill and carding machine on the Big Cottonwood stream, a grist mill and saw mill on the Jordan River, and the "big hay field" of about 1,000 acres in the river bottoms in the southern end of Salt Lake Valley. Archie began to build a large home for his family in Spanish Fork. However, in 1859, he was called to return to the Valley as bishop of the West Jordan Ward, a position he held for 32 years being released in May of 1891.

Archibald built the original mill in West Jordan in 1853. In 1877 the mill was dismantled and moved to Fairfield. Archibald then built what he referred to as a "bigger and better" mill on the West Jordan site, with a stone basement. Surrounded by a mattress factory, a broom factory and a blacksmith shop, the flour mill became the center of activity in the area. A general store was located just west of the mill (where the Gardner Monument now stands) and supplied goods to settlers from miles around.

He also built the Red Rock Church, which is still standing, near his mill starting construction in 1861. People were poor, and when it was ready for roofing, the money was gone. It was decided to hold a ball as a fund raiser. A tarp was stretched overhead and officers from Fort doublas arrived in uniform adding a military touch. Many church officials were present including President Brigham young and George Q. Cannon. The church was completed in 1867.

Archibald served two terms in the territorial legislature and was also instrumental in the discover of ore in the area. The first location claim in Bingham Canyon is signed by Gardner, Ogilvie and others. The document is dated Bingham Kanyon, Sept 17, 1863.

In 1886 he spent several months in Mexico to escape the federal marshals, who were on the trail of polygamists. In 1889 he moved to Star Valley, Wyoming, to escape the persecution. From this time his family were spread across three locations - Spanish Fork, Utah; West Jordan, Utah; and Afton, Wyoming.

Each of Archibald's wives had a home and acreage in West Jordan. Some of those houses are still standing. There are more than 20,000 descendants of Archibald and wives, living in every state except Delaware and in 22 countries.

Excerpts from Eagle Newspapers, 17 Nov 1994 by Olga Milius

Hey, merry Christmas, everyone.

I've already written down daily blogging in my New Year's resolutions.  So more items of interest are yet to come!

Jonathan Golden Kimball

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One of the most colorful and beloved of the General Authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was one of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies.

A native of Salt Lake City and son of LDS apostle Heber C. Kimball and Christeene Golden Kimball, J. Golden served as a missionary in the southern United States in 1883, spending part of his service in the area that includes present-day Buena Vista. Despite facing many hardships, serving at a time when anti-Mormon sentiment was strong in the South and when the missionaries were often subject to persecution and even violence, he served faithfully until he was honorably released in the spring of 1885.

He became best known for his unique speaking abilities he had picked up during his wild years as a drover and cattleman, which came to the fore to the embarassment of some and the amusement of many. Many a "hell" and "damn" came from his lips during the stake conferences at which he was called upon to speak and even occasionaly from the pulpit at General Conference. But while some may have felt him crude, no one ever doubted that Elder Kimball could drive home a point with the best of them. In fact, the other Authorities of the Church often critisized him that he did not more utilize his gift of prophecy that he possessed as his father did. After a long and colorful career as a General Authority during which he rose to become the Seventh (senior) President of the Seventy, he died as a result of injuries incurred in an automobile accident September 2, 1938 near Reno, Nevada. The Salt Lake Tribune editorialized on the occasion of Elder Kimball's death: "The Church, of which he was an honored member and high official, may never have another like him." 

Brother Kimball is buried in the W section of the cemetery.

 

Harold Bingham Lee

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March 22, 1899 - December 26, 1973

Eleventh President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He died young, after only a year as President, which surprised the whole Church.
As a Stake President it was he that began to organize the now worldwide Church Welfare Plan. (bio by: Chad Stowell) 

The Map is, of course, here.