This biography was among the papers given me by my Grandma May Donaldson
West. No author is listed. It was too faded to scan well, so
I will transcribe it instead.
I typed it as originally typed, no
corrections or updates made.
Charles Henry John West was born in St. Lukes, Middlesex County, England, on
the 12th of Jan 1833. He was the third son of John and Lydia West.
His father was a native of the same place. He was born the 12th day of
June 1799. His belief is that he is of American and English descent
because a Delaware American was named after Thomas West (Lord Delaware), one of
his ancestors.
His mother was a native of London, Middlesex County, England. She was
born on the 14th of February 1801. His father by trade was a Vellum
binder and his mother a silk weaver. They were married after teh ceremony
of the English church at St. Matthews, Bethnel Green on the 25th of April 1823.
Their issue were 8 children, five sons and three daughters. Their
names were John Francis, John, Charles Henry John, Benjamin, William, Lydia,
Elizabeth and Maria, respectively. John Francis died July 20, 1828.
Charles Henry John followed the occupation of stationer with his father till
sixteen years of age which time, being of a religious frame of mind and member
in a Church Sunday School, he began to think of an existence in another
state. His parents were independent his oldest brother a latter day
saint, his sister Lydia a Baptist. He did not know which to join but by
the help of the Lord he was determined to find out. He went with his
companions to the Latter day saints meetings in the old road branch. He
found no fault with them after hearing what they said at the meeting.
About this time he was keeping company with a young woman, Elizabeth
Dangerfield, the third daughter of Thomas and Caroline Buckwell
Dangerfield. Her father was a leather cutter. He was also a Deacon
in the Baptist Church.
One day while visiting John Hyde, a cousin, also a member of the church of
Jesus Christ, they invited him to attend that church and read their works,
which they did. They both felt convinced of the truth and thanked God for
making them known. They were accordingly baptised on Oct. 16, 1849 in the
Pentonville Baths, by Elder John Hyde and confirmed the following Sunday.
John Hyde confirmed Elizabeth Dangerfield and Orson Pratt confirmed Charles
Henry John.
He continued in the church and rejoiced in the signs following. He
felt he had become a member in the church and kingdom of God and that he was
not to be idle, but to be up and doing. On Friday evening, Dec. 21, 1850
he attended Castle street Meeting in Clerkenwell.
Elder Wallace being present spoke upon the subject of young men going on missions
to preach the gospel. Towards the close of his remark he asked if there
were any young men who would offer their service upon so glorious
undertaking. Elder John Hyde, President of the branch, pointed out John
West and Charles Henry John West as suitable and asked their feelings about
going. They said they felt weakness, but had no objections. This
same evening Charles Henry John was ordained an elder by brother Wallace and
called to leave homea nd go out and preach the gospel.
His parents were willing for them to go and did their best to help them
out. His young lady's parents had no objections but thought it advisable
for them to get married. Accordingly, on the 25th day of Dec. 1850 they
were married at St. Andrews church, Hebborn, England by Rector J.J.
Toogood. After this he introduced the gospel to this father in laws
house. A few of them after proving for themselves felt convinced of the
truths. They were baptized although the mother had been a member of the
Baptist church for 30 years, she knew her sins had not been remitted during
that time, Charles Henry John West felt glad that so many had joined the
church, five in all.
On the 28th day of Dec. 1850 he started on his mission. Took the train
at Easton Station. Arrived at Bedforn the same day, went to the house of
elder Squires was well received by the saints, he could not (pg. 2) forget his
feeling when he arrived there. He was 62 miles away from home, he had
only been away from home one night in his life, and was away now to preach the
gospel of Jesus Christ.
He had never stood up before a number of people to speak, by determination
and the assistance of teh Lord he did the best he could. On the following
Sunday he spoke to the Saints in Bedford about ten minutes and bore his
testimony to the truth of the work. In the evening he went to the house
of one of the saints, had some singing and found the saints on hand to assist,
next he visited Evershalt Worborn, went through the park and admiring the
beauty of it a man stepped up and gave him some money.
He stopped at a house in Evershalt and was well received by the saints they
had to entertain him on the quiet as the place was resist ridden and they would
be discharged from the Duke service if it was well known. He stayed there
two or three days then walked to Benford a distance of 11 miles, there he met a
brother Job Smith, got permission from President Squires to labor in Stony
Stradford as his wife had friends there. He stayed at Mr. Brown's was
well received by them but they had no accommodations for sleeping so he had to
sleep in the town.
He went on to Duesary Branch, three miles across the fields, being night
time was very much startled to hear a voice say good night. There he
received a letter from his wife stating his father-in-law had sent a overcoat
as he thought it would be cold there. He found roads very muddy and very
bad walking. Visiting the villages around about and felt himself very
backward in talking to the people, as he did not have that gift.
He called at a man’s house who was bedridden for
some years, he was the only preacher in the village, after reading and talking
to him for some time, he said that his religion was the best and to come again.
After this he went to Wolven Hampton did not visit
any one there as they could not get into any of the houses, then went to
Buckingham Seighton, at Fenny Stratford visited three of the saints, held
meetings in the evenings, after meetings slept at the house of a nurse, sister
Jan who was very kind gave up her bed and staying up all night herself, which
he did not know of until the next morning.
After doing all he could under the existing circumstances at Bedford he
and his partner agreed to write to the president of their intentions of
returning home, after three weeks absence he returned home and reported himself
to the president of the London conference, said he did not feel competent to
the task of a preacher and teacher, and was well received, and was invited out
to a supper which was accepted at the table was Orson Pratt, one of the twelve
apostles which he said he would never forget his feelings about being there in
the presence of an apostle. He felt that
he had not done his duty, first of all getting married before going and not
relying more on the arm of the Lord. And
felt as though he could crawl in a nut shell but he was spoken to very highly
by those who were present.
After supper he went home and next day began looking
for a situation through the day he would help his wife at night at box
work. After a few weeks they got a
situation at William Coopers and Co. Stationers at West St., Smithfield.
He started to work Monday Feb. 16, 1851, as cutter
and folder of cloth and paper, working by piece at 2 shillings per 20 reams,
cut into eights put up in 6 sheets, by working hard he was able to earn from
15-17 shillings a week.
He continued with this work for 8 or 9 months after
which his employer gave him a job as under warehouse man, with a salary of 15
shillings per week, and assisted his father-in-law as leather cutter.
His wife doing all she could to make things
comfortable at home, making fancy box work.
Considering all these things he thought that he was greatly blessed by
the Lord.
On Sunday they attended meeting which was held at 23
Radcliffe Terrace presided by elder Cook of Jewin St. on account of not
continuing (page 3) on with his mission he was suspended from his office for a
short time buy his good conduct he soon regained his former position.
As he continued in his employment and attended his
duties he felt the Lord was blessing him all the time.
On the 5th day of December 1851, his wife
gave birth to a fine girl (Mrs. Greenway was midwife). Mother and child did well, and received great
kindness from her mother Caroline Dangerfield.
The child was blessed and named at the Gosell road
branch, bu Elder Jacob Gates, from Salt Lake City, Utah (America.) She was named Caroline Eliza and was promised
she would gather to zion and be a mother in Israel, which has all been
fulfilled and witnessed by the writer.
Nothing particular occurred during the next two
years until Oct. 16, 1853, when his wife gave birth to a son, at 20 Forston St.
Hoxton, (Mrs. Thompson was midwife). He
was blessed Nov. 8, 1853, by Elder MC Laughie and named Thomas Charles.
On the 20th of August 1854, Charles Henry
John had the privilege of BAptising Mary Ann Eagle at the Baths in Cuberland
St. In the year his father died (John
West) and was buried in the Illford Cemetery.
Charles Henry John, continued to do all he could to
help build up the kingdom by preaching and acting as Sunday school teacher,
paying tithing and other calls.
On the 1st day of May 1856, another girl
was born, and named and blessed in the Goswell Road, named Ann Lydia.
He continued working at the William Coopers with an
increase of salary of 2 shillings per week.
On the 14th day of May 1858 another son was born at Brewer ST
Clerkenwell, Parish. He was blessed at
the Goswell Road Branch, Jabez William on the 22nd day of May
daughter was born, she was blessed and named Mary Ann Young.
He continued working for William Cooper and Co. and
received an advance of wages with the birth of every child. On the 6th day of April 1862, he
attended a conference in St. George.
On his return home another child had been born a
girl, she was blessed and named Eliza Alice at the Goswell Branch.
Shortly after he had a visit from two elders from
America, brother John Brown and Bro. Gleason, he was very much pleased to see
and hear them talk. During their remarks
they brought up the subject of immigration which was always on his mind. He said the children came faster than they
could save the means for the purpose.
They had been trying to save means for immigration since 1853 but up to
this time only had 13 pounds in the fund and thought it would be some time
before the way would be opened to go.
Bro. Brown suggested they send 2 children to the
valleys in the following spring, said he wouldn’t not tell them to do so but
promised if they did they would follow them in the next spring. So upon the promise they looked for some one
to take the children. They found a
brother and sister King who were going and had no family.
They agreed to take them so he sent two daughter
Caroline and Annie age 10 and 6.
Brother and sister King started in April 1862 and promised
to take care of them as if they were their own children. They went from London to Liverpool by
railroad. From there across the ocean in
a sailing vessel “Captain Fapstock”, arrived at New York, then took cars for
Florence where they met Utah Brothern with ox teams to take them across the plains,
Brother King lost his mother and wife and they had to bury them out on the
prairie, the children were left at Provo, Utah with Bishop William Miller who
took good care of them. After the
children safely arrived Charles Henry John thanked God for it and strove with
all his might to gather means together to make the trip.
His wife being of the same mind worked hand in hand
with him and took council of the brothern, although they had incurred a debt of
5 pounds to send the two children. They
tried to lived within their means and believed the Lord was good to his word
and would help them.
(Page 4) They
found through economy and using wisdom in what means they had they were able to
clear their debt and save enough to take themselves and four children as far as
Florence, names of children were:
Thomas, Mary Ann, and Eliza. They
also had charge of two other children.
His employer, Mr. Cooper made him a present of 30
shillings in gold for good conduct while being in his employee.
They spent a week before leaving visiting some of
the principle places.
They left England, June 1, 1863 on the ship “Amozon”. His wife’s sisters Mary Ann, Martha, Marie
and her mother (Dangerfield) took “Tea” with them before leaving the
docts. Her father gave her 2 shillings
and 6 pence as a present. They had a
brass band on board composed of Welsh brothern.
After leaving the Clifts of Dover they felt seasick,
the saints on board were divided into wards.
Grandfather had his turn at night to stand guard and had nothing but
head wind all the way across the Atlantic.
They had one very stormy night in which some sails were lost also one
death on board. The body was wrapped in
canvas with a large shot at its feet and was buried at sea.
They saw some large whales and other fish. After 42 days sailing they arrived at New
York. Stopped one night at Castle
Gardens. The next morning went to Steam
barge and went to the pier landing of the Hudson River Railroad. They traveled rail cars day and night for 7
days then took a steamer up the Missouri River as far as St. Joseph and a few
days at Florence before starting on the plains by ox teams.
They consisted of three yoke of oxen to one
wagon. In some instances two families
travelled together with one team. The
provisions were flower, bacon, dried apples, quite different to what they had
on board ship, also salt, beef, peas and oatmeal crackers. Those that brought luxuries were more
fortunate.
After traveling 10 weeks on the plaines they arrived
in Salt Lake City Oct., 1863.
