Bigler, Henry William, 1815-1900

Henry William Bigler was born on August 28, 1815, in what is now West Virginia. He converted to Mormonism at the age of 19 and traveled to Far West, Missouri, with his family in 1838, although they soon departed for Illinois. In 1846 he helped lead the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo to Utah and was also a member of the Mormon Battalion. Following his service Bigler spent some time at Sutter's Fort, and was present when gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill in 1848. He returned to Utah but was soon sent back to California as an unsuccessful "gold missionary" and also served on two missions to Hawaii in the 1850s. He died in St. George, Utah, on November 24, 1900.

From the description of Diary of Henry William Bigler, c.1837-1899. (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 690649897

Bigler was a Mormon pioneer and missionary.

From the description of Diary, 1846-1899. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 82321135

Henry William Bigler (1815-1900) was born in Shinnston, West Virginia on August 28, 1815, the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Harvey Bigler. He first heard of Mormonism in 1834 after a neighbor had returned speaking of the new religion of Joseph Smith (1805-1844). Bigler was baptized into the faith in July of 1837. As a faithful servant to the church, Bigler helped build the temple at Nauvoo, served as a missionary to the Hawaiian Islands, enlisted in the Mormon Battalion in 1846, and worked in the endowment house at the temple in Saint George. Despite these worthy accomplishments, Bigler is best known for being at Sutter's Mill when gold was first discovered in California on January 24, 1848 and for recording its discovery by James Wilson Marshall (1810-1885) in his diary.

From the description of Diaries of Henry William Bigler, 1846-1900. (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 122354191

Member of the Mormon Battalion, at Sutter's Fort when gold was discovered.

From the description of Diary, Journal, and Memoirs. (Utah Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 86172049