Henry William Miller 1807-1885

Henry William Miller Henry and Elmira

THE LIFE STORY OF HENRY WILLIAM MILLER - via Ancestry.com

Compiled by Arnold D. Miller Jr., his grandson, Transcribed by Douglas B. McKay (doug@kd7lrj.net) 04-05-2010 from a poor photocopy of a hand-typed original. Annotations marked with “[DBM: ...]” From the personal archive of Beverly Rainsdon Larsen (a descendant through Ruth Ann Miller Henry's daughter). Spelling has been standardized. Scanned copy of the original document is attached to Henry William Miller's record on my public Family Tree on Ancestry.com at the following address: http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/1146894/person/-1987702497Also includes annotations marked with “[DH: ...]” (where significant differences were present) taken from another transcription found on the Howarth Family web site (http://home1.gte.net/res06fxh/HWMiller.html – dhowarth@att.net) which included most of the first two pages of the photocopied manuscript. This transcription was credited as: “Arnold D. Miller, Jr., “The Life Story of Henry William Miller,” typescript, LDS Church Archives. Grammar has been standardized.

“Henry W. Miller was born May 1, 1807, at Lexington, Greene County, New York. The fifth child and first son of James Gardner Miller and Ruth Arnold. He was nine years old when his mother died, September 7, 1816. As a young man he learned the trade of carpentry and joiner, which served him well all through life.  When he became of age along with his brother Daniel Arnold, two years younger, he started West. They passed through Chicago when it was just [DH: first] a trading post. 

Here they were employed and did well, aiding them to purchase property farther down state. They finally settled near Quincy, southwest Illinois. Here he purchased land and built a large mill, deeds for same being still among family papers. Here he married Elmira Pond [DH: on June 19, 1831. She was born February 14, 1811, and had come there with] her parents Thadeus Pond and Levisa Miner who had come from Barlow, Washington County, Ohio. When Elmira Miller’s first child was born, September 25, 1832, her sister Clarissa came to take care of her. Here she met Daniel A. and some time later they were married. The two bothers, having married sisters, they have been [DH: were] together working as partners most of their lives, or until 1863 [DH: 1862], when Henry was called south to settle at the Beaver Dam in Arizona. Here he did farm work and is credited as being the first white man to do farming in Arizona, as stated in Arizona history.

When the Mormons were driven out of Missouri, on Governor Boggs exterminating order of October 1838, these unfortunate people found exile in Illinois, and [DH: at] Quincy. Governor Carlin in a public meeting asked the good people of Adams County to assist them. It was during this time that Abel Lamb spoke in their [DH: the Miller] home and his teaching of Mormonism appealed to Elmira Miller, and she asked for baptism  at once. She [DH: Elmira] was of a religious nature, and had wondered if she should marry Henry Miller, as he did not appear religious to her, but said she in her journal, I loved him at first sight. Elder Lamb told her to wait and that her husband would join her, which he did in September 1839. (Vol.1, page 13, Documentary History of the Church, “Henry W. Miller and Daniel A. were ordained elders”. History records that they proved faithful members all through their lives.

James Gardner Miller and his younger son James David came from their home in New York and joined Henry W. and Daniel A. near Quincy Illinois. Here James David died August 30, 1839. As a result of over exertion cradling grain. He left a wife and two daughters and one son, Benjamin. Due to his early passing he enters very little into the Miller history.1807 Henry William Miller Page 2 

On October 27, 1840, a stake was organized in Adams County with Henry Miller as its President. When the Saints began centralizing at Nauvoo, Henry and Daniel sold their mill they had operated at Quincy and moved there. Henry settled at Nauvoo and Daniel on a farm some distance away. They had realized good returns from the sale of their mill and being asked to assist in the temple building at this time, Henry Miller gave the church four thousand ($4,000) dollars towards its construction [DBM: Worth about $2,000,000 today using the nominal GDP per capita formula]. This was March 20, 1841.

 

On his moving to Nauvoo, he was made a member of the building committee of the Temple. In the fall of 1841, he was called to go into the [DH: Wisconsin] pineries and get out timber for the Temple and the Nauvoo House. On this trip they encountered stormy weather. Grandmother relates in her journal how the men had to go ahead of the teams (oxen) and break trails so the oxen would follow. At night they would shovel away the snow, fixing a place to make their beds. During the winter (the family) ran out of provisions and were out of bread for some time. At one time, Hyrum Smith [DH: Joseph Smith] her (Grandmother) [DH: made Elmira] the promise her children should never cry for bread. Through this ordeal, they lived up to this promise. She had cooked and cared for the extra men. But when flour finally came the children asked for dough before it was baked.  

 

James Gardner  Miller died at Nauvoo August. 27, 1845, and just before his death, he was 

ordained a High Priest under the hands of his son Henry W. James Gardner Miller's father was Henry, born in Connecticut, 1744. His wife was Elizabeth Gardner, born 1750, during the revolution, and during this time Henry served as a Sgt. in Saterlees company from Connecticut. (Reference: Cornwall, Military Division page 196, biographical div., page 489.) During the war of 1812-1814 he served under General Ethan Allen, and was Captain under his command. Henry's father, supposedly William, [DBM: actually John] came from Alsac and settled in Boston. (Reference: Note from Jacob Miller [DBM: b. 10 Nov 1772 brother of James Gardner Miller]).

(Note: Reference to James Gardner Miller. He was born March 15, 1771 [DBM: 15 May 1771] at Cornwall, Connecticut in Litchfield County. He married Ruth Arnold there on August 27, 1798 [DH: August 17, 1798] [DBM: 27 Oct 1798]. Their first child was born 7th of March, 1800.

 

Ruth was born July 31, 1768 at East Haddam, Connecticut a daughter of Daniel and Ruth Arnold. Daniel, 1; Gideon, 2; John, 3; Joseph, 4; John Arnold, 5 (1585) in England, came to America and was made a free man at Cambridge, Mass., 1635).

Daniel Arnold was born 1731, son of Gideon Arnold and Abigail Brainard. His wife was Ruth Arnold [DBM: Hale]. They were parents of ten children; seven girls and three boys. He united with the Church, February 14, 1762; died May 27, 1774, aged 43 years. He was elected Deacon November 27, 1771, First Congregational Church of Haddam. His wife was appointed guardian of their children. (Ref; Probate Court records of Middlesex County, Connecticut, vol. 4, [DH: page 66, vol. 3 page 66.])

Gideon Arnold was born at East Haddam, Connecticut., about 1702. He married Abigail Brainard, May 14, 1724. She was born June 18, 1702. He died before June 3, 1772 [DBM: 10 Feb 1772]. His father was John Arnold. (Ref: the two hundredth anniversary of the First Congregational Church of Haddam, October 14-17, 1900, History Catalog of Members of the Church, No. 18). He was a deacon from 1740 to 1772. The Arnold Family by Homer W. Brainard. Transcript, Brochure in the Library of the Connecticut Historical Society. Abigail Brainard was daughter of Elijah Brainard and Mary Bushnell. They were parents of eleven children.1807 Henry William Miller Page 3

John Arnold, father of Gideon, was son of Joseph Arnold and Elizabeth Wakeman. He was born 1664, at East Haddam. We have not been able to determine if his wife was Mercy Hulburt or Hannah Meakin.

Joseph Arnold was born 1625 in England. He died October 22, 1691. He was the son of John and  Susanna Arnold. He was one of the original settlers of East Haddam. Two men in 1662 bought a strip of land from the Indians on both sides of the Connecticut river. This was taken over by twenty-eight settlers, of which he was one. Daniel Brainard was another. The land on the west side was called Haddam, that on the east side was called East Haddam. (Ref: “Haddam and East Haddam” by D.D. Fields, and Connecticut Genealogy, vol. 3, page 1439.)

Here the Arnolds raised their families and they inter-married with the Brainards.  John Arnold was born 1585 in England. He came to America and was made a free man at Cambridge, Massachusetts 1635. He then moved to Hartford, Connecticut and was one of the original proprietors of Hartford in 1639. (Ref: Second Church of Hartford, page 24). He acted on a Church committee, and (page 28 [DH: 48]), Susanna, his wife, was reported in full fellowship. (Connecticut Genealogy, vol. 3, page 1359 [DH: 1349])

When the Saints were driven from Nauvoo February 1847 [DH: 1846], Henry left a two story brick house with its furniture and fixtures. He and Daniel made their way westward across Iowa.  When the battalion was being organized under the directions of Colonel Thomas L. Kane, they both offered their services but the leaders decided it was best for them to remain with the Camp of Israel, which proved to be a wise decision. On reaching the western borders of Iowa, he [DH: William] secured a tract of land on the east side of the river just opposite winter quarters, between the two bluffs, later known as Council Bluffs (see Early days of Council Bluffs by Charles H. Babbit, page 16). Continuing it says; "Henry W. Miller settled a short distance from the Old Block House where a village soon took form and was given the name of Miller's Hollow." It is evident from this that he was a pioneer settler of Council Bluffs. When the apostles 

returned from their pioneer trip to the Salt Lake Valley, Henry Miller, through Brigham Young their  leader, was requested to build a log tabernacle in Miller's Hollow; and in this building December 27, 1847, Brigham Young was sustained as President of the Church, with Heber C, Kimball and Willard Richards as Councilors. (Ref: History of the Church, Vol. 7, page 620-21). 

Eight apostles participated in this meeting. (Compare this with sec. 107, verse 22, Doc. & Cov.)  Henry Miller was the bearer of a petition to the Iowa Territorial Legislature, asking for a Post Office at Kanesville (Miller's Hollow and Kanesville are one and the same place) and the creation of a county. (See Life of Wilford Woodruff, pages 23 [DH: 27] & 28). In this he was successful and Pottawattamie County was created. (Quoting from pages 21-24 and 94 we find he was elected first representative of the General Assembly for the county, 1851). Reading from history of Pottawattamie County page 91 regarding the settlement of Council Bluffs, it has this to say: “Henry Miller, a prominent Mormon squatted [DH: squatter] on a tract of land...... which included the ground now occupied by the Pacific House and the Park on Pearl Street.” This he told [DH: sold] to Samuel S. Bayles. The claim bought from Henry Miller by Samuel S. Bayless was laid off into town lots. January 15, 1893 [DH: 1863]. This included the Pacific House and all lots west of main street and southward from Broadway on both sides of Pearl Street. Including that now known as Bayles Park. Kanesville Post office was changed to Council Bluffs, January 

19, 1853 [DH: 1858]. (See page 98, History of Pottawattamie County). Daniel A. Miller and family crossed the plains to Utah in 1848 [DH: 1847] settling at Farmington, Davis County.  Henry W. Miller was directed and counseled by President Brigham Young to remain at the Bluffs and assist in raising crops for Church use. Grandmother's Journal says it was a good 1807 Henry William Miller Page 4

country and that he did well in crop raising. In 1851 he went to his old home in New York, and on his return, James B. Wilcox his sister Susanna's son came with him. In 1852 he left with his family for Utah, acting captain of the train. In crossing the plains emigrants, Mormon or non Mormons, in that day organized themselves in companies, over each of which a captain was elected or appointed, The Latter-day Saints were counseled and commanded to do this and their emigrants were organized into companies with a captain in charge or command. These captains had a multitude of duties--the company must at all times be safe from attack. Army posts are few. Indians and renegades are numerous. The company's health must be protected it's livestock guarded, camp sites with sufficient grass and water must be had. Every wagon and every draft animal ox, mule, or horses, has been loaded to capacity. There are hundreds of miles to travel grass, water and wood are not always to be had, particularly water. The foresight, judgment and care of the company captain has much to do with the welfare of the members

Upon reaching Utah, Henry W. took up his residence at Farmington, at which place his brother Daniel A., [DH: who had preceded him across the plain,] was already residing.  In the fall of 1852, Henry W. was elected as a member of the second legislative assembly of Utah territory, serving in the lower house. He was also elected and served in the Third Assembly.  (Minutes of the Utah Legislature, vol. II).  In the spring of 1862, six companies or trains were called to go back to the states for emigrants.  Henry W. was elected as one of the captains, and his train consisted of forty-seven wagons, with four yokes of oxen to the wagon, made up by Cache and Weber counties. At Blacksrock, they were over fifteen days receiving assistance from Fort Bridger. At Greenriver, the cattle were forced to swim while the wagons were ferried over. Some oxen were drowned. He returned to Salt Lake, October 17, 1862, the fifth company in order. (Church Carenciligh [DBM: spelling? -can't make out the letters], second edition). This was his seventh trip across the plains, the others being in 1850, 1852, 1855 and 1857. He acted as captain on five of these trips. Thus was afterward called, Captain Henry W. Miller.  Henry W. Miller was called at the April Conference 1855, to open up mission in Indian territory and parts of Texas. It was to this latter place that Lyman Wight (The Wild Man of the Mountains) had led a few of the saints some years before. Henry W. was blessed and set apart as President of this mission, under the hands of Wilford Woodruff. This proved to be a hard mission, as so many of the elders were sick with ague and fever. Two died from its affects.  Reaching Jacob Croft's place, July 4, 1855, which place later became his headquarters, he took up his labors and in less than two weeks commenced baptizing and organizing a branch. Other branches followed and they gathered up many saints who had been led into that country by Lyman Wight. Members of Wight's family including his wife were baptized. In summarizing this work, November 8, 1856 he says: “We went one company of 65 souls to the mountains, all whites, which were baptized in the Cherokee nation. Besides there were three branches left and among them were ten or twelve native elders who had been ordained and were preaching.”  In a weakened condition, Henry W. started for home in November 1856, and on his way back visited his old home and relatives in Quincy, Illinois. On his return to Adams County in the winter of 1856, his journal of Feb 19 records; “He witnessed the marriage of nephew Benjamin Miller, who was the son of his brother James, who had died there in 1839. It was bitter cold winter, and he was week from sickness. His brother-in-law, Allen Pond took him to Quincy, where he took a boat up the Mississippi River to Burlington, Iowa, and stayed there sometime 

with Captain Hawley. He left Hawley's place May 29, 1857 and intended to go across Iowa to Council Bluffs, but hearing of the assassination of Parley P. Pratt, he concluded to go down the 1807 Henry William Miller Page 5

river to St. Louis. On reaching there, he met Erastus Snow and Horace Oldridge, the former said: “Brother Miller you have come in answer to a prayer. We want you to go into Clay County Mo., and buy oxen for the St. Louis Company. You can do it, and I have no one here who could.” The people of Clay County were bitter against the Mormons, and from his dress they took Henry to be a Californian. He wore a long beard, a red shirt, and a belt with a revolver on one side, and a bowie knife on the other. He carried a jug of whiskey in his back pocket to treat them with, then he was all right. He bought one hundred yoke of cattle, and delivered them to John Taylor and Erastus Snow at Florence, Nebraska.  In the spring of 1850, when the move was on to the South, he had charge of all loose stock of his ward. They stayed on Salt Creek just north of Nephi. Before leaving, he and his brother had stored 500 bushels of wheat in one mill and 500 in another mill, south of the city. During the spring of 1858, with his brother and Quince Knowlton, they explored Fremont, afterward called Miller's Island, in the Great Salt Lake. They had at once built a boat for carrying sheep and the island became a range for them. In 1860 Davis County was to build a court house, receiving a contract, but nothing further is said. Henry Miller was called south in 1863 to make a settlement at the Beaver Dam in Arizona. He had married as a second wife in 1862, Fannie Gunn, and it was she he took with him, leaving Elmira at Farmington. Here he did farm work and is credited by Arizona as being the first white man to do plowing in that state. A settlement called Millersbourgh was made there, and later was destroyed by a flood, and he moved to St. George, 

where he took an active part both financially and spiritually. His wife Elmira, and children Sarah Jane and Arnold D. came from Farmington and joined him in St. George. In the spring of 1885, he and his wife Elmira, started north to visit their children, hoping to improve his health. On October 9, 1885, he died at the home of his son William at Farmington, and was buried by the side of his brother Daniel who had died Oc. [DBM: This is where page three of the manuscript ends. According to my records, Daniel Arnold Miller died 4 Dec 1881 in Farmington, Utah]

 

FYI - Kristina Park (blog owner/author)

Henry William Park is buried in Farmington City Cemetery, Davis County, Utah, plot F-54-4.

Findagrave.com - http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=108011&ref=acom