Public Workers: Joseph C. Kingsbury

PUBLIC WORKERS.

JOSEPH CORDON KINGSBURY. Joseph Cordon Kingsbury, one of the early and well-known builders of Utah, and pioneers who entered Salt Lake valley in 1847, was born in Enfield, Hartford county, Connecticut, being a descendant of one of the two Kingsbury brothers who came from England with John Winthrop, in 1630, to Salem, and from Governor Bradford, of Plymouth colony. His great- grandfather, Joseph Kings- bury, was a member of the Connecticut assembly, in the revolu- tionary period; and his grandfather, Lemuel Kingsbury, was an officer in the fifth regiment of Connecticut light horse artillery at the time the British army, under Lord Howe, occupied New York. When about four years old, his father moved to Painesville, Ohio, and engaged in merchandising and building, being also judge of the county court for several years. Joseph's mother dying when he was but two years old, he did not know what it was to have the tender and loving care of a mother; and yet his father did what he could to make his family comfortable. Joseph was compelled to live out, here and there, and had an opportunity to go to school only one winter before getting married. When seventeen years of age he was employed by the Geauga Iron Co., where he received iron ore and coal, and receipted for them. Remaining here about one year, he left for Ashtabula to take a position as clerk in a Mr. Reed's store, where he labored for one year, when he returned to Painesville. While in this place, his father was stricken down with typhoid fever, and died Sep- tember, 1831. After the death of his father, he went to Willobee, living with his brother-in-law, Piatt Card, for a short time, and then

found his way to Kirtland, obtaining employment in Mr. Knight's Newel K. Whitney. store, and soon thereafter in the store of In January, 1832, while in the employment of Mr. Whitney, he became familiar with the doctrines of the Latter-day Saints, and embraced the gospel on the 15th of January, 1832. On the 15th of July, the year following, he was ordained an Elder by Joseph Smith, Jr., and was one of the twenty-four elders that as- sisted in laying the corner stone of the Kirtland temple, on the 23rd day of July, 1833. On the 13th of November, of the same year, he was ordained a High Priest, and also a High Councilor. In 1837, he filled his first mission, laboring in Connecticut for about a year. His second mission was performed in 1843, his labors being in the New England States, and lasting for about a year. Joseph C. Kingsbury passed through many troubles, and ex- perienced great privation together with his family, for they shared the tribulations of the Latter-day Saints in all their driv- ings from pillar to post. On July 13, 1851, he was ordained Bishop of the Second ward, Salt Lake City, holding the position until his removal to Ogden. With Thomas Moore, and three other men, in 1852-53, he made considerable means in ferrying emigrants across the Green river. For thirty years he was employed in the General Tithing store, twenty-four years as superintendent. He was always in- dustrious, simple in his mode of living, temperate in habits, an early riser, and continued his labors up to within four or five days of his death. Among his noble qualities may be mentioned these, that he was prayerful, honest, and in every respect a gentleman; a kind father and husband; nothing prevented him from doing what he considered his duty, and in every respect he was trustworthy to the duties assigned him. He died October 15, 1898, in his 87th year, a Patriarch in the Salt Lake Stake, an old and faithful veteran of the Church.