John W. Hess and Emeline Bigler Grandparents of ... - Bateman Family

Across Three Centuries Alfred John Bateman & Clara May Hess Familytheir westward journey, his father’s family remaining at Mt.Pisgah, he enlisted in the Mormon Battalion, in CompanyE, Captain Daniel C. Davis, his wife Emeline Bigler whomhe had married in Nauvoo, November 2, 1845, also enlistingas one of the four women to accompany each companyas laundresses. After his return, in 1848, to Mt. Pisgah, hefound his father had died June 22, 1846. In the spring of1849, he arranged for the westward journey, taking himwith his father’s family, and arriving in Salt Lake ValleyJuly 27, settling shortly thereafter in Farmington. In March1865, he was ordained a bishop serving in this capacityfor 27 years, until he was ordained, September 22, 1882,counselor to President W.R. Smith, upon whose death hewas made President, January 15, 1894. This position heheld until his death. He served three terms in the Territoriallegislature, in 1858, 1860, 1876; was commander ofthe Davis County Militia for many years, and a delegate in1895 to the Omaha Trans-Mississippi Congress. He filleda mission to the Lamanites and to Pennsylvania. On February8, 1900, he was ordained a patriarch by Elder FrancisM. Lyman, and remained an active worker in his calling tothe day of his going to rest.A MANIFESTATION THAT I BOTH SAW &HEARDAbout September 15, 1900, during my late illness, onSunday morning about 9 o’clock, while lying upon mybed, and my brethren of the Priesthood were out amongthe people performing their various duties, I was thinkingover my helpless condition not being able to be with themin the performance of my own duties; I began to pour outmy whole soul in prayer. My prayer finally resolved itselfinto a lamentation, asking the Lord what I had done orWife Emily Card and John W. Hess.what I had not done that I should be so seriously afflicted,that I should be deprived of the privilege of going forthwith the rest of my brethren and performing my duties.I was told that it was not for any great sin of commissionor omission that I was thus afflicted, but it was because ofmy long and faithful labor and the many hardships that Ihad passed through during my long life that had weakenedmy faculties and brought me to my present condition. Iwas told that the Lord accepted of my labors and that mycareer on earth would, in the near future, be brought to aclose.About this time I saw, sitting on a box at the foot of mybed, a personage that looked familiar to me, in the fullbloom and vigor of life. I gazed upon it with great earnestnessand finally came to the conclusion that it was my ownvisage in every form and feature except for age.About this time I heard a voice saying, “this is the bodyof your spirit, you see that it is in the exact form of yourtemporal body.” He repeated again with great earnestness,“this is the body of your spirit,” and then remarked, “now,let this suffice for the present.”Now, I do declare in all soberness, and in the fear of Godwhile writing, that the above statement is true, and shall bea testimony to all who read it.John W. Hess, Farmington, Davis County, Utah, 13January 1902Tribute to John W. Hess by Wendell HessLike most of the descendants of John W. Hess, I takegreat pride in my heritage for a number of reasons, someof which I will enumerate: 1. He had to be a great man tolive the life of domestic tranquility which he did, to loveand care for seven wives to guide, teach and provide for63 children; and to do so with such a high degree of success.Great men and women are common among his vastposterity. 2. He was frequently called on both church andpolitical leaders to assist with matters requiring great wisdomjudgment and interpersonal people skills. All I havelearned of him tells me he was a man of deep convictionsand with the courage and character to do what he saw asright. 3. He was a dedicated servant to God and his fellowmen as attested by a life time of service to both. His rolein formulating and initiating the Primary program is justone monument to his service. There are thousands of livingmonuments whose lives are better because of lives hetouched. That kind of heritage is worth preserving and Ibelieve that the efforts of all men and women who haveworked to make John W. Hess come alive to those whodidn’t know him have been well worth it. I got to knowhim through the many stories and first hand experiences Iheard and it is easy for me to say my great grandfather Hess.I am not looking forward to leaving this life real soon, butwhen I do I’m going to express to him my eternal gratitude326