Udall, David King, 1851-1938

Settler, farmer, legislator, and Mormon leader in Saint Johns, Arizona.

From the description of David K. Udall papers, 1847-1988 (bulk 1875-1930) (University of Arizona). WorldCat record id: 28015056

Bishop of the St. Johns Ward in Arizona, 1880-1887, and president of the St. Johns Stake, 1887-1922.

From the guide to the MS 4561 David K. Udall correspondence 1880-1924 (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Church History Library)

Arizona pioneer, businessman, and local Mormon Church official.

From the description of Papers, 1879-1880. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122605047

From the guide to the David King Udall papers, 1879-1880, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)

David King Udall was born on September 7, 1851 in Saint Louis, Missouri, as his parents emigrated to Utah from their native England. He grew up in Nephi, and married Eliza Luella Stewart (1855-1937, known as Ella) of Kanab. He then took up his first mission for the Mormon Church by laboring in England from 1875 to 1877. Returning to Utah, he moved to Kanab in 1878 where he engaged in business with his wife's family.

Ordained a Bishop in June 1880, he was called to lead a colony of Mormons to Saint Johns, a small settlement of Americans and New Mexican Hispanics in northeastern Arizona Territory. There he engaged in a wide variety of activities to provide for the development of the community and his homestead. He married his plural wife, Ida Hunt (1858-1915), in 1882.

Jailed on a sham perjury charge in 1885, he returned to serve his community by developing better roads, contracting mail service, establishing a local school, and representing the area as a member of the 20th territorial legislature. Until his death in 1938, David K. Udall, together with Ella, served his church in Arizona in many capacities, as president of Saint Johns Stake and as President of the Arizona Temple in Mesa.

His children by Ella were Stewart, Pearl, Erma, Mary, Luella, David, Levi, Paul, and Rebecca. His children with Ida were Pauline, Grover, John, Jesse, Gilbert and Don. For additional information on his life see Arizona Pioneer Mormon: David King Udall his story and his family .

From the guide to the David K. Udall papers, 1847-1988, (University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections)