Farnsworth, Philo T., Sr. (Philo Taylor), 1826-1887
Dates
- Existence: 1826 - 1887
Biography
Philo T. (Philo Taylor) Farnsworth, Sr. (1826-1887) was an early pioneer of the Utah area and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Philo T. Farnsworth, Sr. was born on January 24, 1826, in Burlington, Ohio to Lucinda Kent and Reuben Farnsworth III. He was one of eleven children. Farnsworth was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1843. After being disgraced by his father, Farnsworth moved to Nauvoo, Illinois where he would later help with the erection of the Nauvoo Temple and a member of the Nauvoo Legion. In 1848, he took charge of Franklin D. Richards’ team crossing the plains to the Salt Lake Valley. Philo married Margaret Yates, a member of his trekking company, on October 29, 1848, in Salt Lake City. They settled at Pleasant Grove in 1851. Together they had nine children. Farnsworth was later called to Fillmore, Utah and assisted in the erection of the State House there. In 1856, he and his family moved to Beaver, Utah. In 1857, he was ordained a bishop and assigned to preside over the Beaver ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He married Margaret Adams on August 24, 1857, and together they had seven children. He married his third wife, Agnes Ann Patterson, on December 10, 1858, and together they had ten children. On June 15, 1860, Farnsworth married his fourth wife, Mary Priscilla Griffith. Together they had four children. Farnsworth was a probate judge of Beaver County and a member of the Territorial legislature where his knowledge of non-English languages was used. He was able to function as interpreter for the Piute tribe. Farnsworth made his living as a farmer and a freighter. Farnsworth died July 30, 1887, in Beaver, Utah at the home of his first wife, Margaret Yates.
Citation:
FamilySearch, August 9, 2024 (Philo T. Farnsworth, Sr.; b. January 24, 1826, in Burlington, Ohio; parents were Lucinda Kent and Reuben Farnsworth III; one of eleven children; baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1843; disgraced by his father; moved to Nauvoo, Illinois; help with the erection of the Nauvoo Temple and a member of the Nauvoo Legion; In 1848, took charge of Franklin D. Richards’ team crossing the plains to the Salt Lake Valley; m. Margaret Yates, a member of his trekking company, on October 29, 1848, in Salt Lake City; settled at Pleasant Grove in 1851; had nine children; called to Fillmore, Utah and assisted in the erection of the State House there; In 1856, he and his family moved to Beaver, Utah; In 1857, ordained a bishop and assigned to preside over the Beaver ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; m. Margaret Adams on August 24, 1857; had seven children; m. Agnes Ann Patterson, on December 10, 1858; had ten children; June 15, 1860, m. Mary Priscilla Griffith; had four children; a probate judge of Beaver County and a member of the Territorial legislature; knowledge of non-English languages was used; functioned as interpreter for the Piute tribe; made his living as a farmer and a freighter; d. July 30, 1887, in Beaver, Utah at the home of his first wife, Margaret Yates)Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:
Utah Territorial Militia (Nauvoo Legion) Iron County Militia roster
Utah Territorial Militia (Nauvoo Legion) Iron County Militia roster. 12.5 inch by 4 inch, 24 page booklet made from six folded leaves, bound with string. Written in dark ink, possibly partly written in the hand of James H. Martineau. Dated June 1857. Includes the companies and platoons to which approximately 450 men were assigned. Some changes have been made in the manuscript; some indicate promotions in their company or platoon.
Brigham Young and Daniel H. Wells letter to Philo Farnsworth
Handwritten and signed letter from Brigham Young and Daniel H. Wells addressed to Philo T. Farnsworth, bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Beaver, Utah. Young writes to Farnsworth about the declaration of martial law. Materials dated September 14, 1857.