Larkin, Elijah, 1829-1905
Dates
- Existence: 1829 - 1905
Biographical History
Elijah Larkin (1829-1905) was a pioneer, policeman, and farmer. He worked as a gatekeeper for Brigham Young, second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and managed the Church's tithing sheep.
Elijah Larkin was born April 20, 1829, in Chesterton, Cambridge, England to Thomas Larkin and Sarah Southwell. He was baptized a member of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in November 1845 by his brother-in-law William Goates. Elijah married Sarah Parfey on December 18, 1847, and they had two sons: George William and Joseph Smith Larkin. While in England, he worked as a baker, and later entered the policy force in Cambridge, eventually becoming private detective for the Crown of England for twelve years. Elijah worked as a teacher, missionary and Presiding Elder in the Cambridge Branch of the Church. In 1863, he immigrated to America with his family aboard the ship "Amazon," and he served as captain of the guard on this journey. Upon arrival in Florence, Nebraska, Larkin and his family joined the Daniel D. McArthur Company to make their journey to Utah. They arrived in Utah in October 1863. After arriving in Salt Lake City, Elijah was employed by Brigham Young as gatekeeper. In November 1863, Elijah was sealed to a second wife, Ruth Coe, and they had six children together, although five of the six passed away in infancy. From 1867-1869, Elijah was placed in charge of the tithing sheep for the Church. In 1870, he moved with his wife Ruth to Ogden where he was employed with the railroad. Sarah Larkin stayed behind for health reasons, and passed away in 1872. Elijah moved his family to Tooele County in 1875, where was engaged in farming and market gardening. In 1897, he was ordained a high priest by Hugh Gowans of the Tooele Stake. The family lived in the St. Johns (Utah) Ward in Tooele County where Elijah served in the bishopric and Ruth in the Relief Society. Elijah died on January 4, 1905, in St. Johns from kidney failure.
Citation:
D. Colleen Coult Peery, A History of the Life of Elijah Larkin (1829-1905) (Elijah Larkin, b. Apr. 20, 1829 in Chesterson, England, to Thomas Larkin and Sarah Southwell; baptized Nov. 1845 by William Goates; married Sarah Parfey in 1847; had two son: George William and Joseph Smith Larkin; worked as a baker and in police force in Cambridge; worked as private detective for the Crown of England for twelve years; was a teacher, missionary, and Presiding Elder in Cambridge Branch; immigrated to America in 1863 on ship Amazon and served as captain of the guard; joined Daniel D. McArthur Company in Florence, Nebraska; arrived in Utah in Oct. 1863; employed as gatekeeper for Brigham Young; married Ruth Coe in Nov. 1863, and had six children, only one of which reached adulthood; managed Church's tithing sheep for over two years, 1867-1869; in 1870 moved to Ogden and worked with railroad; first wife Sarah passed away in 1872; moved to Tooele County in 1875; worked in farming and market gardening; in 1897 was ordained a high priest; lived in St. Johns Ward in Tooele County, where Elijah served in bishopric and Ruth in Relief Society; d. Jan. 4, 1905, in St. Johns)FamilySearch, via WWW, Oct. 17, 2013 (married Sarah Parfey on Dec. 18, 1847)