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Note: Lewis Dunbar Wilson Sr. A short sketch of the life of Lewis Dunbar Wilson after he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints until he arrived in Salt Lake Utah in 1853 written by himself.
I, Lewis Dunbar Wilson Sr, born in Chitten,Co., Vermont, 1805, was the son of Bradley and Mary Wilson. Bradley was the son of Deliverence Wilson and Sarah Smith. Deliverence was the son of Joseph Wilson. I married Nancy Ann Wagoner. She was the daughter of David and Irene Wagoner, David. was the son of John and Nancy Wagoner, My wife and I were baptized on the 23 of May 1836. I became a deacon and was ordained a priest in September. A little later, I was ordained an elder by Elder Joseph Smith. Later I was ordained a seventy, 24 of September 1839, I labored in Kirtland, Ohio for two months then returned home. We visited Kirtland to attend the solemn assembly in April. I preached by the way on my return home. On May 15, 1837, Elder George Wilson and myself started a short mission to the west.
On the 30 of August 1838, we started for the land of Zion. On the 14 of October, we were at Caldwell Co., Missouri, On the 21st of October, we landed on land of our own. I built a cabin, On November 20, the Saints were in great confusion, as Governor Boggs had ordered the Saints to leave Missouri. We were mobbed and driven from our homes. We started for Nauvoo and reached there on the 26. I was chosen as one of the high counselmen at the corner stake of Zion at the October 6 conference. After the organization of the church, I was chosen in the same revelation the Apostles were chosen D, C, section 121. I was ordained to the high counsel by Hyrum Smith, patriarch, I worked faithfully in that office until the Saints were driven from Nauvoo. On September 20, 1844, my wife and I received our sealings and blessings in the everlasting covenant. On, September 20, I baptized Willard Darrow into the church. After I baptized some weeks in the temple, January 19, 1846, Nancy and I were sealed in the house of the Lord. I then worked for several weeks longer in the temple. After enduring all the trials of Nauvoo from the rise to the down fall, my wife, family and myself left Nauvoo in the first company. We had a dreadful, tedious journey of about two months. We passed through more rain and mud than I had ever seen in my life before. We reached Garden Grove February 7.
We were the parents of nine children at this time. Lavina was born in Richland Co., Ohio, October 22, 1832, Alvira was born in Green Town Ship, Richland Co., Ohio, April 21, 182.4. Oliver Grange was born in Green Town Ship, Richland Co., Ohio, July 1. Almeda was born in Caldwell Co., Missouri, April 12, 1838, Lewis Dunbar Jr. was born September 21, 1840 in Nauvoo city Illinois. David was born June 22, 1842, Nauvoo, Illinois. Mary Malinda parted this life November 8, 1846 at Garden Grove, living one year 9 months and 18 days. Malissa was born at Garden Grove 22 of February 1847. Lavina was baptized July 26, 1840 at Nauvoo, Illinois, in the Mississippi river. George Miles was born at Garden Grove the 13 of May, 1849 in the midst of afflictions and distress, While we were fleeing out of civilization on account of our religion, I was chosen captain over ten men at Garden Grove. To organize the Saints in that place and plant crops for the Saints that were to follow.
We also went back to Bonaport and labored among the farmers to procure a load of bread stuff. Five of my children did not have shoes or a change of clothing. We returned to Bonaport and obtained another load of flour. In the winter of 1848, we commenced to make clothing, September 1850, Lewis Dunbar Jr, and David were baptized in the church by their father, They were baptized in the Mississippi river.
Lewis Dunbar Jr. was 10 years old at this time. May 13, 1851 we left Garden Grove for Counsel Bluff a distance of 160 miles, crossed six streams and endured more hard rains than was ever heard of in that time since the flood, and such thunder and lighting until the Saints fasted and prayed that the heavy rains would cease. After that the rains were light. We settled on Michito Creek, planted corn and potatoes and started to build a house. I went twelve miles to get a load of lumber. When I returned, I found my wife very ill, after giving birth to a son July 19, 1851, who was named Samuel. His Dear Mother only lived ten hours after his birth. She had been in the church 15 years, and had been a member since she was 26 years old. During this time she had attended every ordinance of the Gospel offered in her day. She did the work for her father's family in the Nauvoo temple. She received her washings and annointings to become queen and priestess, after which she attended one other ordinance which was the washing the feet of her husband that she night have claim of him at the resurrection. She knew and died in triumph of faith in the Gospel of the Son of God after having lived and obeyed all the laws and ordinances of the church that had been given in her day. She died full in the faith of a glorious resurrection with the Just and was buried on the Missouri Bluff, just above Kainsville. She left a husband and nine children to mourn her loss.
Being left with a family of children, I married Sarah Waldo, September 28, 1851, she, being the daughter of Samuel and Alpha Waldo. A son was born to us in 1852 who we named James Perry Wilson.
On June 6, 1853, we started across the plains in the company of Captain Daniell Miller and John Cooley from Winter quarters, After many hardships and experiences with the Indians, the landed in Salt Lake August 29, 1853.
We settled west of Ogden for a little while. Wilson Ward was named after the Wilson families. We soon moved to Ogden where we built a comfortable home and commenced to gain in the way of property.
[Lewis Dunbar Sr. died on March 11, 1856 after a strenuous life. But he lived and died a faithful Latter Day Saint and his family was left in the care of Lewis D, Wilson Jr., the oldest one at home, The wife he married on the way deserted the family after his death and went east to her people.]
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