Biography
Oliver DeMille was born 30 March 1830 in Colesville, Broome County, New York, United States to Freeborn DeMille (1795-1881) and Anna Knight (1804-1878) and died 8 July 1908 Rockville, Washington County, Utah, United States of unspecified causes. He married Rachel Gifford (1829-1846) 14 February 1845 in Hector, Schuyler County, New York, United States. He married Emily Almina Beal (1839-1905) 13 May 1855 in Endowment House, Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. He married Fidelia Winget (1847-1931) 3 June 1865 in Endowment House, Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. He married Rebecca Jane Allred (1849-1899) 10 October 1865 in Endowment House, Salt Lake County, Utah, United States.
Early Life
When Oliver DeMille was just one year old he was so close to death with a fever that his parents asked Oliver's Uncle Newel Knight (1800-1847) to give him a blessing of healing. Soon the baby's fever broke and he became well. When Oliver was 9 years old he was baptized. He later wrote in his journal that he saw lights and felt a powerful spiritual feeling at this time and did not even seem to be touching the ground as he walked back home with his family. This special feeling stayed with him the rest of the day.
Geese in Church
Dec 2001 Friend Magazine
By William G. Hartley - A true story
Thou shalt give heed unto all his words … which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them (D&C 21:4).
Oliver DeMille (age 13) liked to go to church with his parents on Sundays because church was held outdoors. Nauvoo had no church buildings yet, so for sacrament meetings, the Prophet Joseph Smith met with the Saints in one of the groves of trees. People sat on plank benches, on blankets on the ground, or in their wagons or carriages. Speakers had to shout sometimes, especially when wind rustled through the trees.
One warm summer Sunday, Oliver, about thirteen, was trying to listen to Joseph Smith preach. The Prophet said that he had had a revelation, and he began to tell it to the people.
“Just then,” Oliver said, “a flock of geese flew over where the meeting was held.” The geese made honking noises, “and most of the people turned their eyes to look.” Oliver did not look but “kept my eyes on the prophet.”
Joseph Smith was concerned because the people turned their attention from him to the geese. He said, “If you care more for the quacking of a wild goose than for the revelations of the Almighty God, I’ve no more to say to you at present.” He stopped preaching and sat down. The people did not get to hear about the revelation that he wanted to share with them.
Oliver was disappointed. But he remembered the lesson the Prophet taught that day—we should pay attention whenever the servants of God speak to us.[1]
After the martyrdom, Oliver attended another outdoor church meeting and heard Sidny Rigdon and Brigham Young speak. He wrote in his journal that he saw the mantle of Joseph come upon Brigham Young as he looked and sounded like Joseph Smith.
St. George Pioneers of 1861-62
This person is listed on the Encampment Mall Memorial - a list of over 300 LDS Pioneer Families that helped to settle St. George, Utah in 1861. They were part of the "Dixie Cotton Mission" called by President Brigham Young to raise cotton and other southern crops in the warmer climate of Washington County, Utah.
The DeMille family was living in Sanpete County, Utah in early 1862, when they were called by Brigham Young (1801-1877) to join the group to help settle the Dixie area of Southern Utah.
Shonesburg Settlement
Oliver DeMill, among others, left Sanpete County and settled in January 20, 1862 in a place they called Shonesburg named after the Indian chief, Shones, who Oliver bought the land from. The pioneers built dams and tried to tame the unpredictable Virgin River but it wasn't until 1865 before they finally had a good harvest of corn, cane and cotton. In 1866, the settlement was abandoned due to Indian troubles, but in 1868 some of the original settlers returned. Over the years the flooding of the river washed away farmland and by 1897 there was not enough children to hold school.
By the year 1900 only Oliver DeMille was left and then he even moved to Rockville, Utah. The little settlement of Shonesburg was left abandoned with little to show that for forty years the pioneers had worked and toiled hard on this area. All that was left was a rock house, a few chimney's and a derelict cemetery. Oliver was called to serve a mission in 1893.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Olive Emily DeMille (1857-1913) | |||
| Oliver DeMille (1859-1938) | |||
| Orpha Almina DeMille (1862-1909) | 1 April 1862 Manti, Sanpete County, Utah, United States | 22 March 1909 Alamo, Lincoln County, Nevada, United States | Joseph MIllett (1858-1931) |
| Ozro DeMille (1863-1942) | |||
| Oscar DeMille (1866-1946) | |||
| Ida Sylvina DeMille (1868-1941) | |||
| Ira DeMille (1871-1918) | |||
| Benjamin Franklin DeMille (1873-1944) | |||
| Levi Garrison DeMille (1875-1950) | |||
| Anna Mariah DeMille (1878-1960) | |||
| Roswell DeMille (1882-1955) | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Ada Elvira DeMille (1869-1948) | |||
| Melvina DeMille (1872-1872) | |||
| Almeda DeMille (1874-1902) | |||
| Melbourne DeMille (1877-1950) | |||
| Adlinda DeMille (1878-1963) | |||
| Jesse DeMille (1882-1964) | |||
| Adelia DeMille (1885-1906) | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Mary Jane DeMille (1868-1936) | |||
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Mariah DeMille (1820-1889) | |||
| Orpha DeMille (1822-1846) | |||
| Lora Ann DeMille (1828-1870) | |||
| Oliver DeMille (1830-1908) | 30 March 1830 Colesville, Broome County, New York, United States | 8 July 1908 Rockville, Washington County, Utah, United States | Rachel Gifford (1829-1846) Emily Almina Beal (1839-1905) Fidelia Winget (1847-1931) Rebecca Jane Allred (1849-1899) |
| Adelia DeMille (1832-1917) | |||
| Elias DeMille (1838-1905) | |||
| Lovina Esther DeMille (1843-1880) | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Orrin Richardson DeMille (1858-1859) | |||
| William Edmund DeMille (1860-1865) | |||
Residences
See Also
- Oliver DeMille
- DeMille Family
- DeMille in Washington County, Utah
References
- ^ Dec 2001 - Friend Magazine - LDS Church. By William G. Hartley