Dates

• Existence: 1816 - 1883

Biographical History

Leonard E. Harrington (1816-1883) was a pioneer, politician, and ecclesiastical leader for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah.

Leonard Ellsworth Harrington was born on January 27, 1816 in New Lisbon, New York to James Harrington and Polly Evans. He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1840 and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois. While there he was elected justice of the peace in August 1843.

He joined the Saints in the exodus of Nauvoo and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in the fall of 1847. He then helped settle American Fork, in Utah County. There he was called as the bishop, a position he held until his death. He also served as a member of the Utah House of Representatives (1852-1882) and as mayor of American Fork (1853-1882). In these political positions he was an early advocate of free public schools. In 1877 he was selected to serve as a member of Brigham Young Academy Board of Trustees.

Harrington was married to Lois Russell in 1840, and they had six children. He later married polygamously to Mary Jones (1855) and had two children, and to Harriet Noon (1858) and had five children.

Leonard Harrington passed away on June 21, 1883 in American Fork, Utah.

Citation:

Journal of Leonard E. Harrington, 1940: t.p., etc. (Leonard Elsworth Harrington; b. 1816; d. 1883)

Latter-day Saint biographical encyclopedia, 1941: vol. 3 page 799-800 (Leonard Ellsworth Harrington; first Bishop of American Fork, Utah; b. Jan. 27, 1816, in New Lisbon, New York; parents: James Harrington and Polly Evans; baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1840; elected justice of the peace in Nauvoo, Ill., Aug. 1843; emigrated to Salt Lake in Fall 1847; one of first settlers of American Fork; member, Utah House of Representatives, 1852-1882; mayor of American Fork, Utah, 1853-1882; d. June 21, 1883 in American Fork, Utah; promoted free schools beginning in 1866; served as member of Brigham Young Academy Board of Trustees; m. Lois Russell, six children; m. 1855 to Mary Jones, two children; m. 1858 to Harriet Noon, five children)

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