William Budge

History

The following data is extracted from Illustrated History of the State of Idaho.

Bishop Budge, of Paris, state senator representing Bear Lake County, Idaho, one of the most widely known and influential men in the state as a citizen and as a Republican, and a power for good through his administration of the affairs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in his stake and throughout Idaho, is a native of Lanark, Lanarkshire, Scotland, and a son of William and Mary (Scott) Budge, born May 1, 1828. His father was of Highland Scotch ancestry and was born in Edinburg. His mother came of the Scotts, of Douglas Castle, Scotland. They were of the highest respectability, of good social status and members of the Presbyterian Church. Bishop Budge's father died in the sixty-third year of his life, and his mother at the age of forty-seven. They had eight children, of whom Senator Budge was the second born. He attended school in Scotland, but the education he gained in that way was so meager that he may truly be said to be a man selfeducated, as he is undoubtedly selfmade in the best and most creditable sense of the term. At twenty he was converted to the faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and, almost immediately became one of its missionaries and labored in its behalf, in England, Scotland, Switzerland and Germany, with such great success that he sent many hundreds of converts to the headquarters of the church in America, and he was for some years second counselor of the president of the church in Europe. Much of this work he accomplished before he was thirty. In 1860, when he was thirty-two, he brought about six hundred men, women and children to America on the sailing vessel William Tapscott. Their destination was Salt Lake City. They arrived at New York in July and were there joined by other converts, making a devoted band which, as its captain. Bishop Budge led in a long journey across the plains. Seventy-two ox wagons were required. A few of the company died en route, and Bishop Budge lost his own little child by death on the plains. Once when they were encamped they were visited by a large party of Indians, whom they fed and who departed without molesting them in any way. The overland journey consumed three months, and the party reached Salt Lake City on October 5, 1860. Upon their arrival the church made provisions for those who were needy, and the others soon secured work-here and there, or engaged in business if they had the means, and became permanent settlers. As for William Budge, he located at Farmington, Idaho, and while he did not abate his work for the church, labored for his material support at whatever his hands found to do. After a time he was ordained a bishop of the church, and removed to Cache valley, where he engaged in farming and was for six years county assessor and collector of taxes. Later he was sent abroad as president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Europe and fulfilled the responsibilities of that high office with signal ability for some years. In 1870 he came to Paris, Idaho, as bishop of the church in Bear Lake County and became prominent in the affairs of the church in Idaho. This office also he has filled with marked ability, and under his management the church has had a steady and substantial growth. A splendid tabernacle has been built at Paris by the Bear Lake Stake, at a cost of forty-seven thousand dollars, which is much the finest house of worship in the state of Idaho. A large building is being erected for a pretentious educational institution under the church auspices, at which it is intended to fit students for college. These extensive building operations have been carried on under the Bishop's general supervision, which has provided for the payment of all expenses as they have become due and has not created any debt, direct or indirect.

For many years the Latter Day Saints took little interest in politics, but about the time of the admission of Utah to statehood they began to side with different parties in different localities as they believed their church and personal interests dictated. Bishop Budge inclined to the Republican view of public questions and affiliated with that party. He was twice sent to the national capital to exert his influence with congressmen in the interests of his people, and was twice elected to the Idaho territorial legislature from Bear Lake County and made a favorable reputation for himself with the public men with whom he came in contact. In 1898 he was elected a member of the Idaho state senate, in which body he has served with ability, dignity and true devotion to the best interests of his constituency.

When Bishop Budge came to the territory now known as Bear Lake County, it was a poor country, sparsely settled and offering little encouragement to investment or enterprise. His life and that of his associates was in a sense the life of the pioneer. In all the trials through which the people have passed. Bishop Budge has stood by them manfully and has used his great ability and personal influence to silence opposition and remove obstacles. He has devoted so much of his time and labor to the church that he has been debarred from prospering financially as he might have done otherwise, and he has not acquired a large amount of property, but he has a pleasant home at Paris and a good ranch upon which he farms and raises stock successfully, and he is slowly but surely laying the foundation for a comfortable competence. He was married in 1856 to Miss Julia Stratford, a native of England. Five of their children have grown to maturity: Julia, who married Charles W. Nibley; Annie, who is postmistress at Paris: Mary, who married H. Smith Wooley: Jesse, now a student in the law department of the University of the State of Michigan; and Rose, who married Joseph R Shepherd.

Source: Illustrated History of the State of Idaho

http://www.accessgenealogy.com/scripts/data/database.cgi?ArticleID=...

• Census: 1880 -  Paris, Bear Lake county, Idaho
• Residence: Paris, Bear Lake county, Idaho - 1880
• Census: 1900
• Updated from MyHeritage Family Trees by SmartCopy: Nov 1 2014, 22:22:20 UTC

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From the Logan Republican of March 20th, we take the following account of the life of the late President William Budge. "President William Budge passed away at his home in this city Tuesday evening shortly after seven o'clock. Death was due to old age, President Budge being ninety years, ten months and seventeen days of age. with the passing of this well beloved citizen the Latter Day Saint church loses one of its stalwarts, who from the time of his conversion to Mormonism and his baptism in 1848, dedicated his life to the service of the Master. President Budge was born May 1, 1828, at Lanark Lanarkshire Scotland, the son of William Budge and Mary Scott. After he joined the church he was engaged for about three years in assisting as a member of the local priesthood in the work of the branches of the church at Glasgow. In that he was called to missionary labors in Northumberland County England, the first Mormon missionary in that section of the country. He continued his labors throughout England and Scotland until 1854, when he was sent to Switzerland. opposition to the church was so violent that within three months he was on thirteen occasions placed under arrest and imprisoned for short periods, and finally was obliged to return to England. He was next sent to the city of Dresden in Saxony where he met and preached to the late Dr. G. Measer. By reason of this teaching Dr. Maeser applied for baptism but as President Franklin D. Richards of the European mission was about to visit Dresden on his way to Italy, President Budge, out of respect for President Richards, deferred the baptism so that he might officiate. The teachings of Dr. Measer was carried on secretly owing to the bitter ill feeling against the church and shortly after the baptism was performed President Budge returned to England and resumed his labors in that country. he was continuously in the mission field without purse or script from 1851 to 1860, when he emigrated to America on the sailing ship William Tapscott, which was six weeks at sea. On board was a large company of Saints and when they reached Florence, Nebraska, President Budge was appointed captain of the last train of ox teams to cross the plains in that year, there being seventy-two wagons. the company arrived in Salt Lake City, October 5,and established camp on the block where the city and county building now stands. shortly after his arrival President Budge took up his residence in Farmington, but in 1864 was called to be bishop of the Providence ward. In 1870 he was called to be bishop of the Bear Lake Stake and seven years later was chosen president of the stake. The following year, 1878, he succeeded President Joseph F. Smith as President of the European mission with headquarters in Liverpool and remained abroad in this work for two and one half years. In 1906 after thirty-six years residence in Bear Lake Valley, President Budge was appointed President of the Logan Temple, which was the last office held by him. President Budge had three wives, Julia Stratford, to whom he was married in England in 1856; Eliza Pritchford, married in 1861 and Ann Hyer, married in 1868. Julia died in 1912, and Eliza in 1908. The third wife, Ann resides in this city. All these women were faithful, devoted wives and mothers. By his three wives President Budge had thirty-six children, twenty-five of whom are living and there are 80 grandchild. President Budge though chiefly active in church work was always interested in affairs of government and all matters for the benefit of the people. He was beloved and honored and he will be long remembered for his good deeds and exemplary life.

Budge, William (4 Apr 1919) Star Valley Independent

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Apr 11 2018, 15:49:43 UTC