Cantwell, James Sherlock, 1813-1887

Mormon pioneer. James Sherlock Cantwell was born in Ireland. His parents died when he was still young, in 1821 and 1825, leaving him an orphan. Cantwell was taken in by relatives, but soon left to find his own living. He married Elizabeth Cotterell Hamer on April 27, 1838. Cantwell joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1842, and subsequently emmigrated to the United States. The Cantwell family crossed the plains with the 1856 Willie Handcart Company. His wife died in 1858, leaving Cantwell with seven children. Later a fire in his temporary home in Provo, Utah forced Cantwell to leave his children in foster homes. By 1862 conditions had improved enough for Cantwell to purchase a farm in Smithfield, Utah, and he moved there with his older children. In Cache Valley, he served as one of the earliest school teachers, postmaster, war clerk, etc. A few years prior to his death, Cantwell was unable to continue his diary, and gave it to his son, James Cantwell, to continue.

From the description of The journal of James Sherlock Cantwell / edited by Blair R. Holmes. [1869-1917] (Utah State University). WorldCat record id: 53924712

...