Life History of Erastus Bingham, Sr.
the son of Sarah (Sally) Perry [and Elisha Warner Bingham],
who was the daughter of Capt. David Perry [and Anna Bliss]
-----------
History of Erastus Bingham
(pages 1-9 of The Descendants of Erastus Bingham and Lucinda Gates,
lst Edition, June 1970,
Erastus Bingham Family Corp., Ogden, Utah)
Electronic Edition 1999 Richard (Dick) Bingham
NOTE: Erastus Bingham was the son of Sarah (Sally) Perry
[and Elisha Warner Bingham], who was the daughter of
Capt. David Perry [and Anna Bliss] --DGJ
Erastus Bingham and Lucinda Gates had fond hopes that their posterity
would carry on the standards they had established for themselves. The
standards which they tried to maintain and tried to instill in their
progeny included good citizenship, service to fellowman, and reverence
for God and for all that is sacred.
Erastus Bingham and Lucinda Gates
Erastus - Son of Elisha Warner Bingham and Sarah or Sally Perry -
b. 12 Mar 1798 at Concord, Essex, Vermont - m. 20 Mar 1819 at
St. Johnsbury, Cldn, Vermont - d. 2 May 1882 at Ogden, Weber, Utah -
bur. at Ogden, Weber, Utah - bap. 11 Nov 1833 - end. 1 Jan 1846.
Lucinda - Daughter of Thomas Gates and Patty Plumley - b. 19 Sep 1797
at Ackworth, Chshr, New Hampshire - d. 3 Jan 1874 at Ogden, Weber, Utah
- bap. 11 Nov 1833 - end. 1 Jan 1846 -
sealed to hus. 22 Jan 1846.
Bingham Children:
1. Mary
2. Sanford
3. Erastus, Jr.
4. Thomas
5. Lucinda
6. Maria Louisa
7. Willard
8. Edwin
9. Jacob
10. Brigham Heber
Erastus Bingham was born in Concord, Essex County, Vermont
12th March 1798 and baptized 11 November 1833, at St. Johnsburg, Vermont,
a direct result of early day missionary work in New England.
With his wife, Lucinda Gates Bingham, his eight children and Willard Snow,
Joel Harvey and their families, and others, he traveled to Far West, Missouri,
via Kirtland, Ohio, arriving in Far West the 4th of November 1836.
After the Extermination Order of Governor Boggs, the Bingham family moved to
Hancock County, Illinois, on a rented farm between Carthage and La Harpe,
remaining here from April 1839 until the Spring of 1845.
Erastus had exercised the faith of a true Latter-day Saint as evidenced by his
elevation in the Priesthood.
According to family records, the martyrdom of the Prophet and his brother,
Hyrum, caused great concern to the Bingham family, and like other Saints in
the Carthage area, desired to situate closer to Nauvoo. It is evident from
circumstances and conditions at this time that a Mormon family was in grave
danger of being mobbed. With this and the fact that the Brethren were pressing
a speedy completion of the Temple, it gave motive enough for Erastus to move
his family to a spot near er Nauvoo.
"In the spring of 1845 Erastus bought a farm of 160 acres about 20 miles West
of Nauvoo, Illinois, which was extensively cultivated during the spring and
summer. After the crops were all harvested, he labored night and day with
others to complete the Nauvoo Temple. (Bingham, Belnap, and Scoville, Life of
Erastus Bingham and Family, p. 8.)
Little is known of the activity of the Bingham family while at Nauvoo except
evidences of their assistance with the Temple and records showing that some of
them received their endowments.
"The following members of the Bingham family . . . received their endowments
[gifts from God received by covenants in the Gospel of Christ] in the Nauvoo
Temple during December, 1845 and January, 1846: Erastus Bingham and Erastus
Bingham, Jr., on January 3, 1846, Sanford Bingham, January 20, 1846; Louisa
Maria Bingham, January 24, 1846; and Mary Bingham Freeman, January 25, 1846."
(Bingham, Belnap, and Scoville, Life of Erastus Bingham and Family, p. 8.)
Then in January 1846, the family records show that one of Erastus' sons,
Erastus, Jr. , was chosen to go with an advance group "to make roads, build
bridges, and plant crops at various points", assisting those to follow in the
general migration from the city.
The remainder of the Bingham family followed on the 6th of May, (the 160 acre
farm, improvements, etc., were sold for enough 'to buy a team of horses'.) and
continued to Mt. Pisgah, Iowa, arriving in mid-summer.
From here we pick up the movement of the family "in a company of about 200
wagons in command of Bishop (George) Miller." Erastus' eldest son, Sanford
(25 years old at this time) later recorded in a sketch of his father's life:
"Erastus Bingham was made Captain of one hundred. They traveled Westward
until they reached Council Bluffs, Iowa. Prior to their arrival at Council
Bluffs, the United States Government asked for 500 volunteers to fight in
the war with Mexico. Two sons and a son-in-law of Erastus Bingham volunteered,
Erastus, Jr., Thomas and Elijah Norman Freeman, husband of his (Erastus')
daughter, Mary; and they were recruited in the Mormon Battalion in Council
Bluffs, Iowa.
(Erastus, Jr., who had been chosen for the advance company from Nauvoo had
shortly before joined his family and now enlisted with the Battalion. He
traveled as far as Santa Fe with the main group and under orders from Col.
P. St. George Cooke retired to Pueblo, Colo., remaining there to give
assistance to the sick during the ensuing winter. He entered the S.L. Valley
July 29th 1847 with the "Mississippi Co." and the others from the Battalion
who wintered at Pueblo. On August 26th he set out with the Brigham Young
Company returning to Winter Quarters and met his family, on the Sweetwater,
returning with them to the valley.
Thomas Bingham, Erastus' third son was unable to continue on to California
with the Battalion and wintered in Pueblo, Colo. The strenuous march to
Santa Fe caused a reoccurrence of the ague and fever. He, with his brother
Erastus, Jr., arrived in S.L. Val1ey on July 29, 1847.
Elijah Norman Freeman married Erastus' eldest child, Mary, in Nauvoo in 1843.
According to Church Chronology, page 32 by Andrew Jensen, "He was buried, four
miles south of Secora on the Rio Grande," having succumbed to the strain and
hardship of the march with the Battalion to San Diego.)
Erastus Bingham had the care of the families of these volunteers. After
resting a few days until two companies were organized, one called Brigham's
Co. , and the other Heber's Company, they started traveling westerly
according to the directions of the Twelve Apostles . . . . They traveled
up the Platt River until they came to Loop Fork, Nebraska, where they overtook
Bishop George Miller and his company. When they arrived at Loop Fork, a
messenger on horseback brought word from the president of the Twelve, Brigham
Young, that they should not venture farther for fear of deep snow or hostile
Indians, but should locate a good camping ground for the winter.
The captain, Bishop Miller, was not in favor of obeying this order. He was
anxious to push on, as the prospect of several months delay in the journey
was not a pleasing one.
They remained three days considering and discussing the problem. At this
juncture a number of Indian chiefs of the Ponca Tribe passed by on their way
home from an Indian Council. They were very friendly and invited the travelers
to go with them to their camping ground to a place called Swift Water near the
Missouri River about 150 miles above or north of winter quarters . . . . The
Indians said the camping ground was good, with plenty of water and wood and
feed for the animals which the white men were welcome to share.
Erastas Bingham stood up on his wagon wheel and talked to the Saints, telling
them that he proposed to obey the council of President Brigham Young, that he
and his family would remain until spring and invited all to join with them in
accepting the invitation of the Indians to share their camping ground. About
one half of the company remained with Erastus Bingham; the others decided to
attempt the journey westward with their commander, Bishop Miller.
They pushed on westward but met with a great many losses. The Indians stole
some of their animals; and they suffered considerably from cold and lack of
food and were finally compelled to return, some of them camping near Erastus
Bingham's camp. The Ponca Indians were very kind to the families who were
sharing with them their camping ground, even bringing meat for the most
destitute families.
In the spring of 1847 Erastus Bingham and his family returned to Council Bluffs
where he was chosen a member of a committee to go into Missouri and secure
wagons and supplies for the journey west and across the plains. He bought
provisions to last his family eighteen months. On the 11th of June, 1847,
they left Council Bluffs; and after getting across the Elkhorn River, they
started on their journey westward. They traveled up the North side of the
Platt River in a company of 666 wagons consisting of Daniel Spencer's group
of 100, Ira Eldridge's 50, Jedediah M. Grant's 50 and Erastus Bingham's 10,
together with other groups. The company was so large that it was organized
with captains of tens, fifties, and hundreds to maintain and guarantee the
best of order. Yet it was very unpleasant because it would be so late before
the last wagon could start from camp in the morning and so late at night before
it could get into camp. Two wagons traveled abreast, making two roads.
The company divided near Laramie, Wyoming, and Erastus Bingham and family were
with those in the lead.
They arrived in Salt Lake Valley on the 19th of September, 1847, much sooner
than some of the others. Erastus built a log house and made preparations for
the winter. In the spring of 1848 he was allotted a farm in the Holiday
district; and in addition to the farm, he acquired a grazing permit in what
is now known as Bingham Canyon, Utah.
An interesting story in connection with these grazing activities, is told of
Sanford Bingham and his family:
"In August, 1848, together with his brother Thomas, he (Sanford Bingham) took
charge of a public cattle herd about 18 or 20 miles South West of Salt Lake City,
in Bingham Canyon. September 1, 1848, his first child was born in Salt Lake
City, Utah, and from the first of October, 1848 to July, 1849, his wife and
baby resided with him at the herd house. In the spring of 1849, a band or
tribe of Indians came and camped near the herd house. one day while he and
his brother Thomas were out with the cattle, there being no one in the house
with his wife and baby except one of his younger brothers, a couple of young
Indians carrying guns came into the house and sat down on a bench. The bench
was by the side of the bed, on the side of which she had spread some clean
clothes to air, that she was ironing. The Indians laid back on her clean
clothes. She tried by signs and motions to tell them to get off the clothes,
but they would not move; so she caught them by the hair of their heads and
yanked them off and then went about her ironing. The Indians cocked their
guns and made some threats in their own language which she didn't understand,
but when they found they could not scare her they went away and never came
back into the house again." ( Bingham, Belnap, and Scoville, Life of Erastus
Bingham and Family, pp. 21,22.)
While tending the herds in this area these two brothers found some copper ore.
On discussing this find with President Young, they were advised "not to attempt
to pursue mining, as the lives of the people depended upon farming and stock
raising."
Expansion into other parts of the region followed very shortly after the
entrance of the first companies into the valley, however it was not until
April 1850 that the Bingham family moved from Great Salt Lake City. They
"located on the property where the City (Ogden) and County Building now stands,
farming the property as far south as 28th Street and North to 22nd Street.
"Sunday, January 26, 1851, President Brigham Young and party held meetings
in the South Fort of Ogden, Utah. . . Erastus Bingham was made Bishop of the
North Ward (Weber Stake) . . . " He remained in this capacity in this ward
and later the First Ward for 17 years.
In the same year the City of Ogden was laid out and the Bingham property
purchased. They then moved to a spot north of the Ogden River known as
Farr's Fort. Later, in the spring of 1851 they situated in a spot known
as the "Lynn District, " and here "Bingham's Fort" was built and occupied,
the homes being on the inside of the walls for protection and the farms in
the immediate vicinity for easy access.
Besides functioning as a Bishop, Erastus was called to other jobs, of a
civic nature. The following are copies of some of his official appointments.
State of Deseret
G S L County
This Certifies that Erastus Bingham has this day, appeared before me,
filed his Bonds, and taken his Oath of office, as Associate Judge of the
County Court of Weber County in said state, to which office he was
appointed by the Governor of said State, on the Fourteenth day of January
last past, and that he is fully authorized to officiate in all the official
Acts relating to said Office.
G S L City
(Signed) W I Appleby Clerk of the Supreme Court
of Said State
April 7th 1851
=========
Territory of Utah
Weber County
August 12th 1852
Mr Erastus Bingham
Sir
You was duly Elected on the second day of the aforesaid Month by the qualified
voters of Weber County to the office of Select Man in and for said Weber County.
In testimony of the same I do
Witness my hand
(Signed) D. Moore
County Clerk W. Co.
This is to certify that Erastus Bingham has had the following Recorded as his
Brand, to wit 2 1/2 Inches Long by 3 3/4 Inches wide To be placed on the Left
Shoulder.
G. S. L. City Wm Clayton
Jany 26th 1851 Recorder.
Fees 50 Paid
======
This small trunk ([image] 28 x 14 x 13") was part of the possessions of
Erastus Bingham and family as they crossed the plains. It was once covered
with leather but age has left but a few patches. This contained many vital
records and receipts.
He also had a seat with the first Territorial Legislature, (1854) and was a
member of the Deseret Agricultural and Manufacturing Society. A copy of his
admittance into the society is presented below.
One of the more serious problems that faced every early Bishop in the valley
was the collection of Tithing and personal debts to the Church. The General
Authorities constantly stressed this collection, because on this rested the
building power of the church.
[This history was written by Neil D. Bingham, son of Thomas S. Bingham,
President of the Erastus Bingham Family Organization.]
The following pages have been photographed [images included in the book and
on the CD: ] from a record contained in a
small brown leather booklet 4 3/4" x 7 5/8". This record started in 1834
contains many parting thoughts and sentiments expressed to Mrs. Sally Bingham,<1>
the mother of Erastus Bingham. Only the pages containing birth and death dates
have been reproduced for this history, with the exception of the title page.
This book is in the possession of Thomas S. Bingham, Ogden, Utah, [as of
3 July 2000 a microfilm of the book is in the archives in the LDS Church
Office Bulding], as are all of the original documents used in this history
of Erastus.
A rekard of Erastus Bingham Sen family Erastus Pearry Bingham sen born in
Concord Essex Co State of Vermont March the 12th 1798
___________________________________
Lucinda Gates Bingham
born in Ackworth Cheshire County New Hampshire. Sept the 19, 1797
___________________________________
Mary Bingham
born Saturday St Johnsbury Caladona Co State of Vermont April the 1, 1820
___________________________________
Sanford Bingham
Born Thursday May the 3, 1821 in Concord Essex Co State of Vermont
___________________________________
Erastus Bingham
born Monday Sept the 30, 1822 in [srike out: Concord] St Johnsbury Caladonia
Co State of Vermont
___________________________________
Thomas Bingham
born Monday July the 19, 1824 in Littleton Grafton Co State of Newhampshire
__________________________________
Lucinda Bingham
born Saturday April the 15, 1826 in Littleton Grafton Co State of Newhampshire
__________________________________
Maria Bingham
born Monday June the 23, 1828 in Littleton Grafton Co State of Newhampshire
__________________________________
Willard Bingham
born friday feb the 19, 1830 in Concord Essex Co. State of Vermont
__________________________________
Edwin Bingham
born Saturday May the 5 1832 in Concord Essix Co State of Vermont
________________________________
Jacob Bingham
born August the 23, 1834 in Concord Essex Co State of Vermont died June 1835
________________________________
Brigham Heber Bingham born Dec friday 15, 1841 in Layharp Hancock Co State of
Illinois
___________________________
Sarah Chesnut
born Sept the 1, 1845 in the State of Mosura [Missouri.] <2>
==================
Erastus passed away 2 May 1882 in Lynn, Weber, Utah, in January 1874. Erastus
and Lucinda are buried in the Ogden City Cemetery.
=======END=========
Notes:
<1> The “Sally [Perry] Bingham Notebook” is (year 2000) on microfilm in
the LDS Church Archives, Church Office Building, SLC, UT.
<2>
Sarah Chesnut was not adopted but was taken care of by Erastus and Lucinda
Bingham when her parents died in Coalville, Summit, Utah, in 1849. (Source:
Richard C. Bingham, 290 East Casa Loma Drive, Centerville, Utah 84014, 801-298-2019
Notes added by Denise G. Jones, 2001
deniseagj@juno.com
See The Capt David Perry Web Site (Sanford Bingham's great-grandfather):
Information on Sanford Bingham is given at:
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~dagjones/docs/texts.html#lifestories
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~dagjones/captdavidperry/descendants.html#B
and
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~dagjones/captdavidperry/pafg03.htm#1459