Bleak, James G. (James Godson), 1829-1918

James Godson Bleak was born on November 15, 1829, in Surrey, England. Following the deaths of his parents and younger brother, Bleak joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1850 and became president of the Church's Whitechapel Branch in 1854. In 1856 he left England for Utah, and in 1861 was called by Brigham Young to join the Southern Utah Mission (later the St. George Stake). Bleak served as St. George's clerk and chief recorder of the St. George Temple, and kept a record of the Stake's history from 1861 until 1900. Bleak died in St. George on January 29, 1918.

From the description of Annals of the Southern Mission, Book B, 1869-1877. (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 669982901

Historian of the Southern Utah Mission.

From the guide to the MS 318 Annals of the Southern Utah Mission circa 1903-1906 (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Church History Library)

From the guide to the MS 5730 James G. Bleak collection 1866-1904 (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Church History Library)

Bleak was the first recorder of the St. George Temple.

From the description of Correspondence. 1877. (Utah State University). WorldCat record id: 26435308

James G. Bleak (1829-1918) was a Mormon pioneer, scholar, and accountant in St. George, Utah. He was among the first settlers of St. George, and served as a clerk and historian for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the region.

From the guide to the James G. Bleak family papers, 1980, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)

Recorder of the St. George temple, pioneer organizer of Cotton Mission and cooperative manufacturing, post master of St. George, editor of "Millenial Star."

From the description of Collection. (Utah Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 82355657

Mormon Church leader, missionary, and pioneer who lived and worked in southern Utah.

From the description of Diaries and letters received, 1864-1895. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86171793

From the guide to the James G. Bleak diaries and letters, 1829-1918, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)

James Godson Bleak (1829-1918) was born in Southwark, London, England to Thomas and Mary Godson Bleak. He married Elizabeth Moore in 1849 and both were converted by Mormon missionaries a year later. In 1856 they began their journey to Utah, where they first settled in the North Ogden area. They were then called by Brigham Young (1801-1877) to the join the Cotton Mission and move to southern Utah. Two weeks before their departure, Bleak took a plural wife, Jane Thompson. In his service to the church Bleak would be appointed counselor to the Bishop of the Third Ward, serve as the city recorder for Saint George as well as its postmaster, go on a mission to England, edit the "Millennial Star," and in 1909 be ordained as a Patriarch in the Saint George Stake.

From the description of Diary of James Godson Bleak, 1873. (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 122545840