History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 775
invested in the concern. In the Biography and Family Records of Lo
Snow, Written and Compiled by his Sister, Eliza
/.'. Snow Smith (S. L. City,
1884), we have an account of his travels and missionary labors, together
with a description of various incidents in the early career of the saints." The
book was written, however, as the authoress states, for the purpose of being
handed down in lineal descent from generation to generation, to be preserved
as a family memorial.
Erastus Snow, who, with Orson Pratt, was, as the reader will remember,
the first of the pioneer band that entered the valley of Great Salt bake,
joined the Mormon church in 1833, and two years afterward was ordained an
elder, though at this time only 17 years of age. Bidding adieu to his parents
at St Johnsbury, Vt—his birthplace— he journeyed to Kiitland, and thenceforward
became prominently identified with the church, sharing in all its
tribulations. In the winter of 184S-9 he was chosen an apostle, filling,
with Lorenzo Snow, F. D. Richards, and C. C. Rich, the vacancies caused
by the reorganization of the first presidency, and the apostasy of Lyman
Wight. Soon afterward he was sent on a mission to Scandinavia, and
through the branches of the church which he established in that country it ha I
been claimed that nearly 20,000 converts were gathered into the fuld. Aftei
the close of his missionary career his labors were directed to the founding and
development of various settlements in southern Utah, over which he presided as
their spiritual head, being also a member of council in the territorial Legislature.
Like Heber C. Kimball, Charles Coulsou Rich came of puritan stock,
though a native of Kentucky, where he was born in 1809. He was baptized
into the church in 1832, receiving his endowments at Kiitland, where he was
ordained a high-priest by Hyrum Smith. Moving to Far West in 1836, he
rendered good service during the persecutions in Missouri, being afterward
forced to flee for his life through the wilderness, and making his way to
Nauvoo, where he was appointed a member of the high council. In the winter
of 1846-7 he was president of the stake at Mount Pisgah, and set forth
from Winter Quarters in June of the latter year in charge of a company of
saints. In 1849 he was chosen an apostle, ami set out on a mission to California,
returning in Nov. 1850, and the following year taking charge of the
Sau Bernardino colony. His first mission to Europe was in 18(30, when he
labored for two years in England, again reaching Zion in 1803, when he settled
in Bear Lake Valleys where he resided for the most part until his decease
in 18S3, serving for several terms as a member of the legislature. Contributor.
Dec. 1883, 114-15.
Albert Carrington, a native of Royalton, Vt, and a graduate of Dartmouth
college, joined the Mormon church in Wiota, Wis., in 1811, and remove. to
I
Nauvoo in 1844, a few weeks before the prophet's assassination. A member
of the pioneer band, he returned with Brigham Young to gather up the main
body of the saints, and journeyed with them to the valley in 1848. After the
admission of Utah as a territory, he was several times elected a member of
the council until 18G8, when he was sent to England to preside over the European
missions. For twenty years, when not on some mission, he acted a*
private secretary to Brigham, and his ability gained for him among auti-
Mormous the sobriquet of 'The Mormon Wolsey.' In 187 be was ordained
an apostle, and for several years afterward presided over the British mission.
Elias Smith, nephew to Joseph Smith, the prophet's father, was born at
Royalton, V T t, near the birthplace of the former. Joining the .Mormon faith
in 1834, being then 30 years of age, he removed in 1836 to Kirtlaud, and
thence to Nauvoo, where he was business manager of the Times ami Seasons
and Nauvoo Neighbor, filling the same position on the staff of the Deseret
News after his arrival in Salt Lake City. In IS.'.l he was appointed probate
judge of Salt Lake county, which office he retained tor many years; and
throughout his public career it may be said that he was almost without an
enemy; in such respect were his decisions held, both in law and in equity,
while his private life was also beyond reproach.
In connection with the judiciary of Utah may be mentioned Alexander