William Sisson Champlin

William Sisson Champlin was born 1794 in either VT or NH. He died at Lehi, UT, in 1861. An early convert to Mormonism, William took part in the great migration to the Promised Land (Utah) along with Brigham Young and John Smith. He married Mary Ring in 1826. Mary was born MA in 1794 and died in UT in 1871. William and Mary had 9 children: Sophronia, Reuben Alonzo, Angeline Alvida, William Jefferson, Joseph Albert, Mary Jane, Margaret Emma, Maria Laverna and Erastus.The Champlin family were among the group of Mormons who were attacked in the Haun's Mill Massacre in Missouri. The Mormons had voluntarily disarmed the day before, then the soldiers came back the next day and opened fire. The Champlin's were the only family to escape without injury. It had been no battle but a massacre. Women sobbing, children crying loudly, dogs howling over their dead masters, cattle terrified with the scent of blood.

William and Mary Polly's daughter, Mary Jane Champlin was born 1830 in PA and died in ID in 1906. She married Stuart Dickson in 1849 in IA. Stuart was born 1827 in Canada and died in ID in 1911. Stuart and Mary Jane had 8 children: William Stewart, Mary Sophronia, Sarah Maria, Adelaide Avilda, Albert Henry, Samantha Jane, Lucy Helen and Joanna Susanna. In 1853 Stuart and Mary Jane, with infant son William Stuart, made the trek from Kanesville, IA, to the Salt Lake Valley in Utah.