William Huntington diary and autobiography
Scope and Contents
Contains two handwritten diaries by William Huntington (1784-1846). The first diary starts around January 15, 1842, with a retrospective life sketch of Huntington's life. The diary continues on with updated life entries dated from 1843 to 1846. Huntington writes about his early life, his conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his experience as a Latter-day Saint in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. He also writes about the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith, his service in the Nauvoo Legion militia organization, and preparations of Latter-day Saints to migrate to the mountains. The second diary contains narrative entries about Huntington's life from 1846, but also contains notes about finances and goods sold from 1842 to 1845. A third volume in the collection is a compiled transcription, likely of the diaries, by O.B. Huntington, the son of William Huntington, dated January 1855. O.B. Huntington notes that this is a history of his father, which he has made some amendments and additions to, including letters written to William Huntington by the Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Dates
- Creation: approximately 1842-1855
Creator
- Huntington, William, 1784-1846 (author, Person)
- Huntington, Oliver Boardman, 1823-1907 (transcriber, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Open for public research.
Conditions Governing Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Please direct any questions to Reference Services at specialcollections@byu.edu.
Biographical / Historical
William Huntington (1784-1846) was an early member and leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
William Huntington was born to William and Prescindia Lathrop Huntington on March 28, 1784, in New Grantham, New Hampshire. The family later moved to Watertown, New York. William married Zina Baker on December 28, 1806, and they later had ten children. William joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1835, and joined the Saints in Kirtland, Ohio, in 1836. William was an investor in the Kirtland Safety Society. He moved with the Saints to Missouri and then Nauvoo, Illinois. Zina passed away in 1839 in Nauvoo. William was a member of the Nauvoo Stake High Council. He left Nauvoo on February 9, 1846, and became a presiding authority in Mount Pisgah, Iowa. William died on August 9, 1846, in Mount Pisgah, Iowa.
Biographical / Historical
Oliver Boardman Huntington was born in Watertown, Jefferson County, New York in 1823. When his father joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Church in 1835, his family relocated to Kirtland, Ohio. Following this move, Oliver and his family continued to move across the country with the Church, finally establishing themselves in Utah. Huntington was ordained an elder in the Latter-day Saint Church in 1843 and served a mission to the western state of New York. He later served a mission in 1846 to England.
In Utah, Huntington worked as a farmer, schoolteacher, miner, and beekeeper. He settled with his family in Springville, Utah, where he remained active in the Church. He died in Springville, Utah, on February 7, 1907.
Biographical / Historical
Oliver Boardman Huntington was born in Watertown, Jefferson County, New York on October 14, 1823. When his father William joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Church in 1835, the family relocated to Kirtland, Ohio. Following this move, Oliver and his family continued to move across the country with the Church, finally establishing themselves in Utah. Huntington was ordained an elder in the Latter-day Saint Church in 1843 and served a mission to the western state of New York. He later served a mission in 1846 to England.
In Utah, Huntington worked as a farmer, schoolteacher, miner, and beekeeper. He settled with his family in Springville, Utah, where he remained active in the Church. He died in Springville, Utah, on February 7, 1907.
Extent
2 folders (0.3 linear ft.)
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
One of the diaries is inscribed: "Presented to BYU Original Manuscript Library by Mrs. Hannah M. Clyde, a great granddaughter."
Appraisal
19th Century Western and Mormon Manuscripts.
Processing Information
Processed; Karen Glenn; October 2024. Item-level description added.
Subject
- Huntington, William, 1784-1846 (Person)
- Title
- Register of William Huntington diary and autobiography
- Status
- Under Revision
- Author
- Abe Austin; Karen Glenn
- Date
- 2024 October 16
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English in Latin script.
Repository Details
Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States