- Veteran of Mexican-American War
- Pvt Co A - Mormon Battalion
- Diarist of Gold Discovery at Sutter's Mill (24 Jan 1848)
- Hawaii Missionary 1850-54
- President of Hawaii Mission 1857-58
Biography
Henry William Bigler was born 28 August 1815 in Shinnston, Harrison County, West Virginia, United States to Jacob Bigler (1793-1859) and Elizabeth Harvey (1795-1827) and died 24 November 1900 St. George, Washington County, Utah, United States of unspecified causes. He married Cynthia Jane Whipple (1835-1874) 18 November 1855 in Provo, Utah County, Utah, United States. He married Eleanor Parthenia Emett (1848-1927) 6 March 1878 in St. George, Washington County, Utah.
At age 19 he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and in 1838 migrated with his family to Far West, Missouri and then fled with the group to Illinois during the bitter winter of 1838-1839. Henry first took a job there as a night watchman on a riverboat in Quincy and was affectionately nicknamed Picayune by the crew. In Aug 1839 he was called on a mission to preach in western Virginia. After he returned to Nauvoo, he worked as a stone cutter to help build the temple there. In Aug 1842 he went on another mission across Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Virginia. Hearing of the death of the prophet Joseph Smith (1805-1844), Henry returned to Nauvoo where he affiliated with Brigham Young's followers. On Feb 9, 1846 he was in the advance group that led the westward exodus from Nauvoo.
Mormon Battalion
Participant in the march of The Mormon Battalion. This unit of the US Army served in the Mexican-American War and was the only religiously based infantry unit ever created by Presidential order. It consisted of nearly 500 men recruited exclusively from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the Mormons). They undertook the longest infantry march in U.S. military history (as of 1847) and in the process marked out and creating the first continuous wagon road to California which linked the future states of New Mexico, Arizona, and California to the United States. Most members served an initial 12 month term (Jul 1846- Jul 1847) with some members re-enlisting for an additional 12 months afterwards.
Later, he was impressed into the Mormon Battalion by Brigham Young (1801-1877) as part of the "Army of the West" sent to occupy Santa Fe during the Mexican American War. From Santa Fe, the Battalion traveled across southwestern New Mexico, Mexico, Arizona, and San Diego. After he was mustered out in "The City of Angels,"
Sutter's Mill Gold Discovery
A large number of discharged veterans worked in the Sacramento area for James W. Marshall at Sutter's Fort and a small contingent up at Sutter's Mill to construct a sawmill. Henry Bigler recorded the actual date, 24 January 1848, in his diary (now on display at the Huntington Library in San Marino, CA) when gold was discovered. This gold find started the California Gold Rush the next year. $17,000 in gold was contributed to the economy of the Latter-day Saints' new home by members of the Mormon Battalion returning from California.
Missionary
Henry Bigler worked regularly at the St. George Utah Temple.
After rejoining his family in Utah, he was sent back to California, as a "gold missionary", which ended in failure. He served two more missions to Hawaii between 1850-54 and 1855-58. At age 40 he married Cynthia Jane Whipple, aged 20. After her death, he married Eleanor Emett when he was 62. Henry faithfully served as an ordinance worker at the St. George Utah Temple from 1877-1900.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Elizabeth Jane Bigler (1856-1926) | 4 October 1856 Farmington, Davis County, Utah, United States | 24 December 1926 Connor Creek, Cassia County, Idaho, United States | Henry Lemon Wickel (1848-1925) |
| Charles William Bigler (1859-1922) | |||
| Henry Eugene Bigler (1862-1927) | |||
| Jacob Edwin Bigler (1865-1921) | |||
| Emily Elvira Bigler (1869-1869) | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Maud Bigler (1879-1932) | |||
| Eleanor Bigler (1880-1962) | |||
| Edna Catherine Bigler (1882-) | |||
| Henry William Bigler (1884-1920) | |||
| Adelbert Bigler (1887-1938) | |||
| Myrtle Ivy Bigler (1889-1960) | |||
Siblings
Residences
Vital Records
Utah Gravestone
- Location : St. George City Cemetery, Washington County, Utah
- PLOT B_7_10_4
- William H Bigler at Find A Grave
See Also
- Autobiography of Henry Bigler - c/o Washington County Historical Society
- Henry Bigler
- Bigler in Harrison County, West Virginia
- Bigler in Washington County, Utah
- Bigler in Utah County, Utah
- Henry Bigler - LDS Church History
- Henry Bigler - Washington Co Historical Society
- This profile prepared courtesy of World of Scouting Members, helping to preserve our shared heritage.
Notes