Henson Walker, Jr.

"...Walker, Henson – (11th Ten) Born March 13, 1820, in Manchester, Ontario Co., N.Y., to Henson and Matilda Arnell Walker. The family moved to the Michigan frontier in 1835 where he became a skilled hunter. In 1840, he was baptized and a year later he married Martha Bouk. They moved to Salem, N.Y., where he was ordained a teacher. The following year they moved back to Michigan and visited Nauvoo, and met Joseph Smith. In 1843, his wife died and he moved to Nauvoo and he lived with his father-in-law. Here he became well-acquainted with Joseph Smith and once in 1843, as a member of the Nauvoo Legion, took part in a rescue effort when the Prophet was kidnapped. After the martyrdom, he worked on the Nauvoo Temple and was married there to Elizabeth Foutz on April 10, 1846. In May, they began the exodus to Winter Quarters. He returned briefly to Nauvoo to help defend the remaining, and then moved on to Winter Quarters. He volunteered for the Mormon Battalion, but was released. He joined the first company in the spring of 1847 as a hunter, though ill with a sever fever. He left his wife near death. After arriving in Salt Lake Valley, he started back to Winter Quarters but met his wife, now healthy, and father-in-law Bouk at the Sweetwater River in Wyoming. He returned to spend the first winter in Salt Lake Valley. That summer the crickets came and were devouring the crops. Promised by Jedediah M. Grant that "this present calamity will pass off," Walker and his family stopped fighting the crickets that came thicker than ever. That evening the miracle of the gulls occurred. "I wept for joy, as I saw how miraculously we had been saved from starvation," he said. In 1849 he was in a skirmish with Indians. In 1850 he went to the Platte River with others and operated a ferry, earning enough that he paid $75 in tithing. He settled at Pleasant Grove, Utah Co., Utah, where he was appointed presiding elder and later bishop. When the community was incorporated, he was its first mayor. In 1863 he was called on a mission to England and presided over the Scottish Mission until returning in 1865. He later filled two missions to the Northern States, and was president of the high priests of the Alpine Stake. He died in Pleasant Grove Jan. 24, 1894, at age 73..."

SOURCE: http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58061/Biographies-of-the-orig...

GEDCOM Note

Perry Walker's will, "Henson Walker Family History" Sexton records of Pleasant Grove, Utah, Church records for Alpine stake, Pleasant Grove Ward, Utah Stake and Timpanogas stake, TIB, IGI, 1850 census of Utah, 1880 census of Utah, early church membership files which show his name spelled Henederson, Henson, Hynson, Handsen and Hensone; probate records of Utah County. Sealing to Elizabeth Foutz 10 June 1851 Pres. Office. Own Endowment 21 Jan 1846 in Nauvoo, Illinois. He and Elizabeth were married in the Nauvoo Temple by Apostle Orson Hyde 10 April 1846 Pioneer map of Salt Lake City shows Henson and family living on the back of Jacob Foutz's lot. Found marriage date while in Nauvoo to Martha Bouck. Have found a record of her and their son's death in Nauvoo!! Ordained a teacher by Elder M. Sirrine (the Elder that baptized him in Michigan and performed the marrage to Martha) Moved to Nauvoo 1841 and was made an Elder in 1843 Nauvoo temple builder in 1842; a major in the Nauvoo Legion Ordained a 70 by Joseph Young and in Qurom 17, Seventies Record, 17th Quorun, Biographies, LDS Church Archives, pg. 56 states he was Baptized by Elder M. Sirrine May 25, 1841 and was ordained a teacher by Elder M. Sirrine. One of the first band of pioneers in 1847 to arrive in the Valley of Salt Lake. When Utah celebrated its 150th birthday the Salt Lake Tribune ran a day by day account of the Mormon pioneers original trek from Winter Quarters to the Valley. On July 19th 1847 (in the Tribune on July 19th 1997) the following was given by Albert Carrinton, another member of the party "Henson Walker wandered off and apparently was out all night before finding his way back to camp." Ordained a Bishop and High Priest in 1853 by Pres. Brigham Young, served previously (July 1852) as Presiding Elder in Pl. Grove. Mayor of Pleasant Grove--1855 1863 called as a missionary and went to Great Britain and was president of the Scotch Mission; returning home in 1865. He later served two missions to the Northern States. Dad told the story of Henson joining the church thus: Henson went to a revival meeting looking for something to satisfy his thirst for a correct church. He left the meeting feeling very discouraged with what he had seen and heard. He would later in the day be approached by a man with a new scripture whcih he bought and read. Then he had to search out the church for himself and he joined. He wasn't told about Joseph Smith until he found the church, but the Book of Mormon testified to him that it was true. Roots Web World Connect Project: Ancestors and Cousins of Emily Wilde In his Patriarchal blessing he gives his birth year as 1819 with the same day and month as listed here