Dates

• Existence: 1841 - 1936

Biography

Joseph Faulkner Parker (1841-1936) was a farmer in throughout Utah and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Joseph Faulkner Parker was born on April 7, 1841, in Palmyra, Missouri to Martha Ann Nelson and Thomas Bryant Parker. He was the fourth of eight children. His family was baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1844. They were forced out of Missouri with the other members of the Church and arrived in Winter Quarters in July 1848. He father died when Joseph was nine years old, and his dying wish was that his family go to the Rocky Mountains. In the spring of 1852, the family continued west with a company of gold-seekers headed to California. They took the turn in northern Utah toward Salt Lake. They found home and safety in Spring City, then Manti, and later Provo. While attending school in Provo, Joseph met his future wife Mary Elizabeth Ross. He married Mary on June 30, 1861, at her father's home in Center Creek. They settled in Heber City, Utah and together had eleven children. In the winter of 1864, the Black Hawk War broke out near Gunnison, Utah. Joseph was a scout and helped protect Heber during the war. Joseph moved his family to Kanosh, Utah where they lived for eight years. Joseph set up ranches and cattle in each place they moved. His farming and ranching efforts comfortably cared for his family. From Kanosh the family moved to Joseph City, Utah in Sevier County. Joseph was among the first settlers to plant an orchard in Joseph. In March 1887, he received a call to serve a mission for the Church to the Northwestern States mission. After his return he was advised to take a plural wife. Joseph and Mary prayerfully decided to enter a polygamous marriage by having a second wife. Joseph married Adelia Cooley on June 11, 1889, in Salt Lake City, Utah. The families maintained separate houses, in part to avoid authorities. Authorities arrested Joseph on polygamy charges and sentenced him on December 5, 1893, to four months imprisonment. Joseph had many hobbies including blacksmithing, horseshoeing, dancing, and reading. After the death of his wives, Joseph remarried on September 4, 1929, to Louise Katrine Jorgensen. Joseph died on January 14, 1936, in Joseph City, Utah.

Citation:

FamilySearch, December 19, 2024 (Joseph Faulkner Parker; b. April 7, 1841, in Palmyra, Missouri to Martha Ann Nelson and Thomas Bryant Parker; fourth of eight children; family baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1844; forced out of Missouri with the other members of the Church and arrived in Winter Quarters in July 1848; father died when Joseph was nine years old; his dying wish was that his family go to the Rocky Mountains; spring of 1852, the family continued west with a company of gold-seekers headed to California; took the turn in northern Utah toward Salt Lake; found home and safety in Spring City, then Manti, and later Provo; While attending school in Provo Joseph met his future wife Mary Elizabeth Ross; married Mary on June 30, 1861, at her father's home in Center Creek; settled in Heber City, Utah and together had eleven children; winter of 1864, the Black Hawk War broke out near Gunnison, Utah; a scout and helped protect Heber during the war; moved his family to Kanosh, Utah where they lived for eight years; set up ranches and cattle in each place they moved; farming and ranching efforts comfortably cared for his family; From Kanosh the family moved to Joseph City, Utah in Sevier County; among the first settlers to plant an orchard in Joseph; In March 1887, he received a call to serve a mission for the Church to the Northwestern States mission; After his return he was advised to take a plural wife; Joseph and Mary prayerfully decided to enter a polygamous marriage; married Adelia Cooley on June 11, 1889, in Salt Lake City, Utah; families maintained separate houses, in part to avoid authorities; arrested on polygamy charges and sentenced on December 5, 1893, and sentenced to four months imprisonment; hobbies including blacksmithing, horseshoeing, dancing, and reading; remarried on September 4, 1929, to Louise Katrine Jorgensen; died on January 14, 1936, in Joseph City, Utah)

Found in 1 Collection or Record: