Charles Walker

1832 (age 72)

Leek, Stafforshire, England

His family moved to Manchester when he was seven. He left England bound for Utah Territory in 1849. He traveled as far as Saint Louis that year, but many who he was with suffered from cholera. He later returned to Saint Louis where he served as second counselor in the bishopric of a ward there. In 1855, Walker obtained a job as a teamster transporting merchandise to Salt Lake City. Walker then became a blacksmith. In August 1862, Walker was called to go to Saint George, Utah, as part of the Cotton Mission. lieutenant was here that Walker"s gift for writing songs was first utilized. According to J. Spencer Cornwall, many said that Utah"s Dixie was settled with "faith, toil, and Charley"s songs". In times of death or other distress, Erastus Snow, the presiding church authority in Southern Utah, would come to Walker and ask, "Charley, write a song to lift our sadness". Walker also kept a daily journal of his life in Saint George. A version of Walker"s diary was published by Utah State University Press in 1980. This diary was edited by Karl Larson and Katherine Larson. In 1893, Walker recorded in his journal that John Alger had reported in a sacrament meeting in Saint George a childhood memory of the account of the First Vision that Joseph Smith had told with Alger present. This is the last recording of a First Vision account given by someone who had heard Smith tell of the event firsthand. Walker—along with Orson Pratt, Junior., Joseph Orton, and George A. Burgon—published the first newspaper in Saint George. Besides marginally successful attempts at growing fruit trees and successful work as a blacksmith, Walker also worked as a stonemason on both the Saint George Temple and the Saint George Tabernacle. Walker was the Assistant City Marshall and a lieutenant in the local contingent of the Nauvoo Legion. He also served as a counselor in a bishopric in Saint George. In 1877, Walker took a plural wife, Sarah Smith.

Charles Walker

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Background

Walker was born in Leek, Stafforshire, England. He joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Latter- Day Saints (Mormons) Church) in 1845 when he was baptized by his father, William Gibson Walker.

Career

His family moved to Manchester when he was seven. He left England bound for Utah Territory in 1849. He traveled as far as Saint Louis that year, but many who he was with suffered from cholera.

He later returned to Saint Louis where he served as second counselor in the bishopric of a ward there.

In 1855, Walker obtained a job as a teamster transporting merchandise to Salt Lake City. Walker then became a blacksmith.

In August 1862, Walker was called to go to Saint George, Utah, as part of the Cotton Mission. lieutenant was here that Walker"s gift for writing songs was first utilized.

According to J. Spencer Cornwall, many said that Utah"s Dixie was settled with "faith, toil, and Charley"s songs".

In times of death or other distress, Erastus Snow, the presiding church authority in Southern Utah, would come to Walker and ask, "Charley, write a song to lift our sadness". Walker also kept a daily journal of his life in Saint George. A version of Walker"s diary was published by Utah State University Press in 1980.

This diary was edited by Karl Larson and Katherine Larson.

In 1893, Walker recorded in his journal that John Alger had reported in a sacrament meeting in Saint George a childhood memory of the account of the First Vision that Joseph Smith had told with Alger present. This is the last recording of a First Vision account given by someone who had heard Smith tell of the event firsthand.

Walker—along with Orson Pratt, Junior., Joseph Orton, and George A. Burgon—published the first newspaper in Saint George. Besides marginally successful attempts at growing fruit trees and successful work as a blacksmith, Walker also worked as a stonemason on both the Saint George Temple and the Saint George Tabernacle.

Walker was the Assistant City Marshall and a lieutenant in the local contingent of the Nauvoo Legion.

He also served as a counselor in a bishopric in Saint George. In 1877, Walker took a plural wife, Sarah Smith.

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Charles Walker

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