Autobiography of William Gallimore Dunn

Stubbs Nelson Hart Pickett Home Tervort Wride Davis Bradshaw

 

William Gallimore Dunn born February 16, 1812. Elizabeth Howells Dunn, his wife, was born June 15, 1817, were married at Prestwich, England, October 2, 1837, and there children were:

Elizabeth Howells Dunn died May 28, 1872 at American Fork, Utah.  Elizabeth was baptized June 1844.  William was baptized July 7, 1844, by John Dunn.  William was ordained a Priest July 26, 1846 by D. Gandland, an Elder, May 1847 by M. Sirrine, a Seventy, April 16, 1853, by Harrison Burgess and received his Endowment, March 22, 1853 at Salt Lake Endowment House.

William Gallimore Dunn was born in the village of Tean, Staffordshire, England, Feb. 16, 1812.  At the age of sixteen he was hired out to live with Dr. William Bourne, at Cheadle in said shire.  Later went to work as a bricklayer, after which he went to live with a merchant at Liverpool, but through the death of his wife and they having no children.  William being a commission Merchant, commenced to travel, and I went home to my parents in Feb. 1832.  I started to Manchester, walking the distance of forty-six miles and carrying my wardrobe, and arrived at six o’clock in the evening.  Worked at several jobs, before getting a job at a factory where he worked for fifteen years until 1847, then as warehouseman in a lead mill, devoted to manufacture of sheet, lead and pipe, Laboring there until a few weeks before sailing for America.  William left Manchester on the 9th day of November 1850, and arrived in Salt Lake City, June 5,1851, His labors were very extensive in England, having preached some in Manchester, also in Yorkshire, Derbyshire and in Cheshire, while in Manchester presided for some time over that branch, after which was appointed to preside over Radcliff, Whitfield and Eccles branches, and then organized a branch at Wosly Common with 13 members, on May 7, 1848 and presided over that branch.  Ordained John Owens, Priest, August 12, 1848, John Stones, Teacher, May 7,1848, Richard Greenhalgh, Priest, May 7, 1848, William Stone, Teacher, October 11, 1848, John Stones, Priest, October 11, 1848, William Mort, Teacher, April 2, 1850, and in the same branch, baptized William Greenhalgh on December 16, 1849.  John Burr, March 17, 1850, Elizabeth Clare, June 8, 1850, age70 years and before leaving Manchester, baptized Mary Hindley, March 3, 1848, Deborah, August 13, 1848, Rebekah Dilworth, Sept 8, 1848, John Hindley, Sept. 8, 1848, Mary Heaton, Sept. 12, 1848, Mary Scott, Sept 27, 1848, James Turner, Sept 27, 1848, Mary Ann Flemming, June 30,1849, William Carr, July 31, 1 849, Elizabeth Dunn, October 15, 1848, Isabella Gribbons, Sept 6, 1849, Alfred Shaw, October 1850, my son, James Dunn, October 27,1850, and at different dates, Betty Hadock, Mrs. Barlow, Elizabeth Dunn Sr. John Dunn, William Gribbon, Mrs. Downes, Sr, and Emma Merrill, Baptized John Roberts, at American Fork, Utah, 1866, He being confirmed by James Clark and myself at that time.

We sailed from Liverpool, England on the 21st day of November 1850, on ship Jane of Liverpool, commanded by Thomas Hunter; there were 350 passengers, all of who were Irish, except 22 or 23.  The steam tug towed them out and left them at sundown on the 22nd, they remained rolling about the Irish Channel for 21 days, on the 13th day of December, and they left the channel and sailed with some degree of pleasure, while in the channel, William was very sick, but soon revived.  The filth, disorder, and cursing of some of the Irish made it very unpleasant, there were squalls, storms, headwinds, rain with thundering, lightening, sea heaving her billows caused fearfulness to seize hold on them that worshiped the God without body parts and passions, when arriving within the latitude of the West Indies, the greater part of the ships crew and also the passengers were sized with a fever, several dying there from raving mad.  William escaped, excepting as to seasickness, at the commencement of the voyage.  With few exceptions the remainder of the voyage was favorable a very heavy storm in the Gulf of Mexico, lasting twelve hours, striking every soul on board with horror and awe.  They arrived at New Orleans on the 15th day of January 1851.  The next morning William got his trunk off the ship and placed it on the steam boat, Nee-plus-ultra, and sailed up the Mississippi River for St. Louis that same evening.  Arriving at St. Louis on the 25th of January 1851, and was sick for four weeks, worked one week in the Blacfords lead mill on the levee and four days thereafter went up to the town of Independence, once occupied by Saints, while at St. Louis, stayed at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Hindley who were very kind to William in his illness, William started across the plains on the 5th day of June 1851, and on July 1 made a contract with Brigham Young to send for his wife and children, left in Manchester, not having sufficient means to bring them on with his lack of finances.

William received his Endowment on the 22nd Day of March 1852, being called to explore the mountains south of Salt Lake City to search out locations for settlements, they passed through dry creek, willow creek, American Fork, Battle creek now Pleasant Grove, Provo, Hobble Creek, now, Springville, Spanish Fork, Pete- ne-nete, now Payson, Salt Creek now Nephi, Manti down through Sevier Valley, through Fillmore, Red Creek, Beaver valley, Parowa- Thence to Clo Creek now Ceder City,

WILLIAM GALLIMORE DUNN

I was born in a village called Tean in Staffordshire, England, February 16, 1812 at the age of sixteen, I was hired out to live with Dr. William Bourne at Cheadle in the same county.  Later, I went to work with a bricklayer, after which, I went to live with a Merchant in Liverpool, but through the death of his wife and they having no children, he commenced to travel I then went home to my parents.  In February 1832, I started to Manchester and walked the distance of forty miles and carried my wardrobe, and arrived about six o'clock in the evening.

I got a job at a factory and worked there for fifteen years, until 1847.  Then I was engaged as a warehouseman in a lead mill, where they manufactured sheet lead and pipes.  I labored there until a few weeks before I immigrated to America left Manchester on the 9th day of November 1850, and arrived in Salt Lake City June 5th, 1851.

My labors were not very extensive in England.  I preached some in Manchester, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and in Cheshire.

While I remained in Manchester, I presided a short time over the Branch after which I was appointed to preside over Ralclifff, Whitefield and Eccles branches, after which I organized a branch at Mosley Commons with 13 members.  May 7th, 1848, and presided over said branch until I immigrated to Salt Lake City.

In Mosely Commons Branch, I ordained John Owen, Priest, August 12,1849.  John Stones, Teacher, May 7th 1848, Richard R. Greenhalgh, Priest, May 7th, 1848, William Stones, Teacher, Oct 11, 1848, John Stones Priest, Oct 11, 1848, William Mort, Teacher, April 2, 1850.  In the same branch, I baptized, William Greenhalgh on 16th Dec 1849, John Parr, March 17th, 1850, Elizabeth Clare, June 8th 1850 age 70 years.  Before leaving Manchester, I baptized Mary Hindly, March 3rd, 1848, Joseph Dilworth, August 13, 1848, Rebecca Dilworth, September 18, 1848, John Hindly, September 12, 1848, Mary C. Heaton, September 12, 1848, Mary Scott, Sep 24, 1848, James Turner, September 27, 1848, Mary Ann Fleming, June 30, 1848, William Parr, July 31, 1848, Elizabeth Dunn October 15, 1848, Isabella Gribbons, September 6th, 1849, Alfred Shaw, October 1850, James Dunn, (my son) October 27th 1850, Betty Haddock. Mr. Barton, Elizabeth Dunn, John Dunn, William Gribbon, Jane Downes (son), Erman Merrile, I forget the dates for these.  I baptized John Roberts at American Fork, July 3rd, 1866, confirmed by James Clark and myself at the same time.

I sailed from Liverpool, England on the 21st day of November 1858 on the ship Jane of Liverpool, commanded by Thomas Hunter.  There were 350 passengers all Irish, except 22 or 23 the steam tug towed us out and left us at sun down.  On the 22nd, we entered the Irish Channel and remained rolling about the channel for 21 days.  The 13th of December we steamed out of the channel and sailed with some degree of pleasure.  I was very sick while in the channel but then I began to revive.  The filth, disorder, cursing exhibited by some of the Irish passengers made it very unpleasant.  We had squalls, storms, head winds and rain with thunder and lightening, the sea heaving her billows, caused fearfulness to sense those that worship the God without body, parts or passions.  When we came within the latitude of the West Indies, the greater part of the ships crew and passengers were seized with a fever, 7 or 8 of whom died, raging mad.  I escaped except at the commencement of our voyage.

We had a good voyage the rest of the way with few exceptions.  We had a very heavy storm in the Gulf of Mexico, which lasted 12 hours. Horror and awe struck every soul on board.

I arrived in New Orleans on the 15th of January 1851.  I got my trunk off the ship the next morning and put it on a steamboat Le-Plus-Ultra and sailed up the Mississippi River for St. Louis, on the 25th of January 1851.  I was sick in St. Louis four week’s, worked one week in Mr. Blackfords lead mill on the levee and 4 days later I went up to the town of Independence, once settled by the Saints.  While in St. Louis I stayed with Mr. and Mrs. John Hindley.  They were very kind to me while I was sick at their house.

On the 21st day of March, I started across the plains for Salt Lake, where I arrived in good health and spirits on the 5th day of June 1851.  On the 1st day of July, I made a contract with Brigham Young to send for my wife and children; I had left behind in Manchester, not having the means to bring them with me.  I received my Endowments on the 22nd of March 1852.  I was called to go with an escort to explore the mountains south of Salt Lake City, to search out locations for settlements.  We passed through Dry Creek, Willow Creek, American Fork, Battle Creek (now Pleasant Grove), Provo, Hobble Creek (now Springville), Spanish Fork, Petele Nete (now Payson), Salt Creek (now Nephi) Manti, down Sevier Valley through Fillmore, Red Creek, Beaver Valley, Parowan, thence to Cole Creek (now Cedar City).  We found many curiosities of Nature, we had meetings at Provo, Fillmore, Manti, Hobble Creek, Parowan and Cole Creek, some very interesting and excellent teachings were given by President Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, George A. Smith and others on various subjects pertaining to the Kingdom of God and the well being of his people.  We ended our journey and arrived back in Salt Lake City on the 21st day of May.  The company consisted of 87 persons, 35 wagons, and one span of horses to a wagon, except the Bandwagon, which had 2 spans.  On the 15th day of August, I started east to meet my family that was coming by the Emigration Company.  A1. O. Smoot, captain.  I met them about 4 miles west of Green River; I took my wife and children in my wagon, with the widow and one child of my Brother John.  My Brother John having died on the road and several of his children who died of Cholera and were buried in Kansas.  We arrived in Salt Lake City on the 30th of August.  The company arrived on the 30th of September.  An escort of horsemen with Brigham Young in a carriage led them into the city headed by the Nauvoo Brass Band; they were received by the citizens with rejoicing and firing of cannons.  Elizabeth Howells Dunn and I received our endowments and were sealed November 2nd 1852 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Sarah Bradshaw Dunn was sealed to me by Heber C. Kimball, November 25th 1852.

I was ordained in the 36 Quorum of Seventies under the hands of Harrison Burgess and Elijah F. Sheets, February 18th, 1853 in the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. I joined the Nauvoo Brass Band a few days after arriving in Salt Lake City in 1851 and belonged to the Cavalry of the Nauvoo Legion.  I was orderly Sergeant.  I went with the Nauvoo Brass Band to meet the 1st Handcart Company that ever crossed the plains to Salt Lake City.

The first week after arriving in Salt Lake, I was ditching West of the city for the Church.  My living was chiefly bread and water out of the Jordan River and I slept on the ground at night wrapped in my Buffalo robe.

My next work was making Adobes; in 1854 I went to work in William Nixon’s store.  I worked in said store, except for a short interval, about six years.  I then moved my family to American Fork, Utah County.  There I obtained some land.  After farming on shares for a time, I commenced to farm for family, having purchased some land, I with another man or two, and myself organized the 1st Brass Band in American Fork.

(This is as far as William wrote in his diary.  The papers I have are very old, torn and hard to read, the handwriting is very spidery, I'm glad we have this much).

Cleo R. Monroe.  Item-- He lived at American Fork until last two years of his life, and that at Provo with his daughter, Elizabeth Stubbs.  He died on Christmas Day, 1894 at the age of eighty-two and ten months.

Item- Information from an old ledger written by William in possession of Ruth Hart, Seattle, Washington.  William Gallimore Dunn born February 16, 1812 in Staffordshire, England. Baptized in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on the 7th of July 1844, by Elder John Dunn, was ordained to the office of Priest under the hands of David Candland, July 26th 1846.  Also ordained to the office of Elder under the hands of Mephebosheth Serrine, May 2nd 1847 and appointed to preside over the Manchester Branch June 11th, 1847.  Ordained in the Quorum of Seventies on the 16th of February 1853 in Salt Lake City.  Elizabeth Howells Dunn, his wife, was born June 15, 1817.  Were married at Prestwich, England, October 2nd, 1837, and there children were:

Elizabeth Howells Dunn died May 28, 1872 at American Fork, Utah.  She was baptized June 1844.

They found many curiosities of nature.  Held meetings at Provo, Fillmore, Manti, Hobble Creek, Parowan, and Cole Creek. Some very interesting and excellent teachings were given by President Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, George A. Smith, and others, on various subjects pertaining to the Kingdom of God and the well being of the people.  They ended their journey and returned to Salt Lake City on the 21st day of May.  The company consisted of 87 persons, 35 wagons, one span of horses to the wagon, except the Bandwagon, which, had two spans.  On August 15th, William started east to meet his family that was coming by the Emigration Company, A. O. Smoot, Captain.  William met them about four miles west of Green River.  William took his wife Elizabeth Howells Dunn and children together with the widow and one child of his brother John into, Williams brother John and several of his children died of cholera and had been buried in Kansas, arriving in Salt Lake City on the 30th of August and the remainder of the company arrived in Salt Lake City, September 30, and an escort of horsemen headed by Brigham Young in carriage, led them into the city.  Headed by the Nauvoo Band, they were received by the citizens with rejoicings and firing of cannons.

Elizabeth Howells Dunn and William received their endowments in the Endowment House and were sealed November 2, 1852.  William was ordained into the 36th Quorum of Seventies under the hand of Harrison Burgess and Elijah F. Sheets, February 16, 1853 in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City.  William joined the Nauvoo Band a few days after arriving in Salt Lake City, 1851 and belonged to the cavalry of the Nauvoo Legion, was orderly Sargent therein.  William went with the Nauvoo Brass Band to meet the first handcart company that ever, crossed the plains to Sa1t Lake City.  Williams first work after arriving in Salt Lake City was that of ditching west of the City on behalf of' the Church, living chiefly on bread and water drawn from the Jordon River, sleeping at night on the ground wrapped in his buffalo robe; next to that was making adobes.  In 1854 went to work in William Nixon’s store and except a Short interval, worked in said store for six years.  Then moved with; his family American Fork, Utah County, and there obtained some land, and after farming on shares for a time commenced for himself, together with one or two others, he organized a Brass Band in American Fork.

Item

He lived at American Fork until last two years of his life, and that at Provo with his daughter, Elizabeth Stubbs.  He died on Christmas Day, 1894 at the age of eighty-two and ten months.

Item

Information from old ledger written by him, in possession of Ruth Hart 3237 56th SW, Seattle, Washington.

William Gallimore Dunn born February 16th 1812 in Staffordshire, England in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on the 7th July 1844, by Elder John Dunn, was ordained to the office of Priest under the hands of David Candland July 26th 1846.  Also ordained to the office of Elder under the hands of Mephebosheth Serrine, May 2nd 1847 and appointed to preside over the Manchester Branch June 11, 1847.

Ordained in the Quorum of Seventies on the 16th of February 1853 in Salt Lake City.