Henry William Miller (1807-1885)
1 May 1807–9 Oct. 1885. Carpenter, builder, farmer. Born in Lexington, Greene Co., New York. Family resided at Windham, Greene Co., 1810. Son of James Miller and Ruth Arnold. Moved to Illinois, ca. 1829. Married first Elmira Pond, 19 June 1831. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sept. 1839, in Adams Co., Illinois. Ordained an elder, 5 Oct. 1839, in Commerce (later Nauvoo), Hancock Co., Illinois. Resided in Adams Co., 1840. Appointed to preside over Freedom stake, 27 Oct. 1840, near Payson, Adams Co. Ordained a high priest by Hyrum Smith, Nov. 1840, in Nauvoo. Resident of Nauvoo, ca. 1841. Instructed in Joseph Smith revelation to buy and sell stock for Nauvoo House and assist in its construction, 20 Mar. 1841. Assisted in obtaining timber for Nauvoo House and Nauvoo temple, 1841–1842. Appointed major in Nauvoo Legion, 1 Mar. 1842, and aide-de-camp, 7 May 1842. Nauvoo Masonic Lodge met in assembly room above his home, Jan. 1843–Apr. 1844. Council of Fifty organized in his home, 11 Mar. 1844, in Nauvoo. Established Miller’s Hollow, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa Territory, which was later renamed Kanesville (later Council Bluffs), ca. 1846. Appointed bishop in Pottawattamie Co., 24 July 1846. Member of high council at Miller’s Hollow. Directed construction of tabernacle to hold church meetings, 1847. Elected first representative from Pottawattamie Co. to Iowa General Assembly, 1850. Migrated to Salt Lake Valley, 1850, and brought his family to Utah in 1852, settling in Farmington, Davis Co., Utah Territory. Hired with Daniel A. Miller as contractors to construct courthouse in Davis Co., Aug. 1853. Served mission to Indian Territory, 1855–1857. Went to Missouri River to lead emigrant company back to Salt Lake City, 1862. Married second Fanny Gunn, fall 1862. Went on colonizing mission to present-day southern Utah, Nevada, and Arizona, Jan. 1863–1867, and settled at Millersburg (later in Mojave Co., Arizona), which was named after him. Moved to St. George, Washington Co., Utah Territory, 1867. Chosen as one of the directors of St. George United Order, 15 Mar. 1874. Appointed to high council of St. George stake, 14 July 1877, and served on council until his death. Died in Farmington, Davis Co.
Retrieved with permission from The Joseph Smith Papers.