Bishop William Haney Hickenlooper Obituary

At a quarter past 2 o’clock this morning (Jan. 14,1888), Bishop William H. Hickenlooper, of the Sixth Ward, breathed his last at his home in this city, at the advanced age of 83 years, 3 months and 23 days. The announcement of his death comes suddenly, even to his most intimate friends, the sickness which was the immediate cause of his demise having attacked him but yesterday morning. At the time of his death he was the oldest Bishop in the Church, and for over forty years he had held the position now made vacant. His long term of service, genial and mild disposition, kindness of heart, and the uprightness of his life, have won for him the love and veneration of those over whom he has exercised a father’s care, and his absence will be keenly felt by the entire ward , and by hundreds of others outside of his family and relatives.

Until about three years ago, he had enjoyed generally good health but in the spring of 1885 he passed through a protracted sickness, from which he never thoroughly recovered. Again in 1886 and 1887 his health suffered, and for the past few months he has been failing physically, while his mind was more bright and active than might naturally have been expected. Up to Thursday evening he performed the duties of his Bishopric. On Friday, at about 3 a.m., he was the subject of a bilious attack which so prostrated him that in the forenoon he was unable to bear his weight on his foot. In the afternoon it was apparent to those who were attending him that he was stricken with death, and he sank into a comatose condition, from which he never rallied.

The following biographical sketch of his life was written about three years since by a friend, the date being obtained from the Bishop himself.

William Hainey Hickenlooper was born in Westmoreland County, State of Pennsylvania, Sept. 22, 1804. His father was Andrew Hickenlooper, who, with his wife, came to York County, Pennsylvania, at an early date, and afterwards moved to the western frontier of Pennsylvania, near the present site of Pittsburgh; they were of German descent. His mother was Rachel Long, daughter of John (of Scotch descent) and Rachel Long. His father was a farmer and was a soldier in the Revolution, serving three terms of enlistment, in the American army.

William H. remained on the farm until he was about seventeen years of age when he started out to earn his own livelihood; he followed various occupations for a number of years.

On the 29th of August, 1829, he married Sarah Hawkins, of Indiana County, Pennsylvania (daughter of Caleb and Sarah Hawkins, formerly from Maryland) by whom he had three children; one son and two daughters.

In the winter of 1838–9, William and family were then residing in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, at the time the Latter-day Saints were being bitterly persecuted in Missouri, rumors were current throughout the country that the ‘Mormons’ were burning and pillaging the houses of the citizens in that State; these rumors having been spread by the enemies of the Saints to draw public attention from their own horrible crimes and provide a temporary excuse for the infamous treatment of the ‘Mormons.’

At this time many of the Saints who had remained in New York were emigrating to Missouri, going by raft down the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers, then traveling up to the gathering place. One of these rafts, containing three families, on its way down, was anchored on the Allegheny River for the night, about two miles from William’s farm; that night it froze so hard that the raft could not be got loose, and the voyagers were compelled to land. Although many similar rafts passed down during the winter, this was the only one frozen in. Elder Freeman Nickerson, or Father Nickerson, as he was familiarly called, was the leader of the detained company, and he at once began to preach the new and everlasting Gospel to the people in the vicinity.

One day, shortly afterward, William met Father Nickerson at a neighbor’s house and invited him home, being anxious to see a Mormon´ a real, live Mormon´ — although he looked very much like an ordinary mortal and appeared to be an intelligent man, and to learn of the principles of Mormonism,´ about which so much was being said, and which many thought was a Yankee trick.´ Father Nickerson accepted the invitation, and was introduced to William’s wife and mother-in-law as a Mormon´ preacher. The whole family were of the Baptist persuasion.

Supper was provided, and Father Nickerson, consented by the urgent request of William, to remain all night. When William asked what was the difference between the Mormons´ and other religious sects, the Elder answered, “We believe the Bible, they do not.” William disputed this, but was forced to yield point after point to his opponent, throughout a long argument. During the evening, the remainder of the family treated the Elder so coldly that William felt ashamed, and when the latter went out late in the evening to attend to some outside chores, Father Nickerson departed, to the no little annoyance of his host.

Shortly afterward the Elder called and told William that he was going to preach at a certain time and place, and gave him an invitation to be present. His wife objected, however, saying if he went his horse would fall and he would have his neck broken. The night before the meeting it stormed, and the road being so slippery, William decided to stay at home. Again Father Nickerson called, and announced another meeting, and William’s wife insisting that if he attended she would go with him, they both went. William took his Testament along, intending to expose every error, but found no use for it; learned that the Elder was strictly truthful in his statements and correct in his references.

Father Nickerson’s daughter who had recently lost her husband, and was in mourning, exercised the gift of tongues in the meeting. This puzzled William considerably; at first he though it ridiculous, but the more he reflected the more he was forced to the conclusion, by the appearance of the lady and other circumstances, that she was at least sincere, and there might be something in it after all.

Mrs. Hickenlooper borrowed the Book of Mormon for a week, and William read it through to discover whether it was an imposition. When Elder Nickerson asked what he thought of it, he answered that if he was going to write a fraud he would make it more mysterious, the was book was too plain. The Elder replied, “The Lord delights in plainness”; which fact William had to admit. Mrs. Hickenlooper partially believed the first sermon she heard preached, but her husband had met a number of impostures and though be would be wary.

Mrs. Hawkins was at this time severely afflicted with rheumatism and Father Nickerson, who had made another visit to the family, told her if she had faith she could be healed, and after some argument, she began to think of the matter. One day the old lady was lying on the bed, fully awake; suddenly she sat up and began to repeat, William and family being present in the room, and hearing plainly every word, the fifty-fifth chapter of Isaiah. Going through the entire chapter, she followed with the chapter immediately preceding, and then with some from the Book of Mormon. William was greatly surprised at this, for he remember the part which came from the Book of Mormon; he knew well the lady had never read the book, or had an opportunity of learning its contents. When asked to explain she declared she had had a vision; that the Bible had been presented to her, and she had read the two chapters in their order; that the letters in the Bible were very plain and seemed as large as her thumb, while those of the Book of Mormon were much smaller and could not be seen so easily. She was conscientious woman, and was very careful in her statements.

The next morning Father Nickerson again came to the house, and was told of the events of the day before. He knelt down with the family and prayed, then laid hands on Mrs. Hawkins, rebuking her sickness in the name of the Lord; the rheumatism immediately left her body, as did also a pain which she had felt for some time in her side. The old lady at once expressed a desire to be baptized. Mrs. Hickenlooper did the same; and William, who had by this time thoroughly investigated the claims put forth, was convinced of the divinity of the message, and the following Sunday was appointed to attend to the ordinance in the Allegheny River, then frozen over. On going down to the river, where they expected to have to cut the ice on Sunday, they found that that very morning the ice had broken, and they, with five others, were baptized. This was in February, 1839. A branch of the church numbering about forty members was organized, and William was ordained to the office of an Elder by Elder Freeman Nickerson, March 24, 1839, and was appointed to preside over the branch, which shortly increased to about 100 members. A few days after this organization, the river opened, and Father Nickerson proceeded with his company.

In the year 1842, William paid a visit to Nauvoo, purchased a lot, and had a house built on it. Here he first saw the Prophet Joseph Smith. One day the Prophet said to him when they met, “You’re the man I want to see. I want some money to send up the river for lumber for the Temple.” William loaned the amount desired which was all he had with him, and went off wondering how the Prophet knew he had any money. Some of the people tried to discourage him, saying he would never get it back, but it was returned according to agreement. In April, 1844, he moved with his family to Nauvoo, and was there at the time of the martyrdom of the Prophet and Patriarch and during the eventful scenes that followed.

On the 2nd of November, 1844, William was ordained a Seventy, and was a member of the Fifth Quorum. August 31st, 1845, he was ordained to the office of a High Priest, at Yelrome, or what was generally known as the Morely Settlement, and was made a member of the High Council of that Stake, of which Solomon Hancock was President.

In the following spring he was driven with the Saints into Nauvoo, twenty-eight miles, leaving house, lot, farm and all. He left Nauvoo for the west in obedience to President Young’s instructions, and was about thirty miles distant at the time of the battle of Nauvoo; passed through Garden Grove, Mount Pisgah, and crossed the plains in Daniel Spencer’s hundred; Ira Eldredge’s fifty, Samuel Ensign’s ten, and reached the Great Salt Lake Valley, then in Upper California, on Sept. 19, 1847. He built a log cabin half a block south of the Old Fort, near his late residence, into which he moved with his family.

At the time of the organization of the Forts into five wards, William was appointed to preside over what was then called the Fifth, having been previously ordained a Bishop by President John Smith in 1847 by direction of the High Council, with Joseph Stratton and Jacob Houtz as his counselors.

In 1848, President Brigham Young organized the city into wards, commencing at the First, as at present, and William was appointed to preside over the Sixth. That season, when the destitute members of the Mormon Battalion arrived in Great Salt Lake Valley, he went around among the people to gather something for their relief; some gave a pint of wheat, and a few gave more; but the people were very poor, and provisions scarce.

On the 9th of November, 1850, in Salt Lake City, he married Sarah C. Ward, daughter of W. and Susanna Ward, of England, by whom he had one son and three daughters; Sarah Cordelia, Susan Angeline, William and Rebecca H. McEwan. She was born July 8th, 1819, in Keyham, Leicestershire, England; emigrated to Utah in 1850.

On the 16th of November, 1856, in Salt Lake City, he married Ann (Sparks) Ham, grand-daughter of John and Sarah Ham, of England, by whom he had three sons and two daughters, Orson Hyde Hickenlooper, Rachel A.H. McLane, Charles A., Olive Jane, and George; she was born Jan. 1, 1825, in Dunkeswell, Devonshire, England; emigrated to Utah in 1856; crossed the plains with Captain Ellsworth’s hand-cart company.

On the 29th of March, 1866, Sarah, his first wife, died. Her children were Jane H. Thornton, Melinda H. Wade and John T. Hickenlooper.

On the 9th of July, 1860, President Young directed Bishop Hickenlooper to take charge of the Fifth Ward also, Bishop Winter having resigned; he did so, and presided over both wards until June 12, 1877, when the Fifth Ward was reorganized, and Richard Brimley, then his second counselor, was chosen as its Bishop. His present counselors are James C. Watson and Jesse West.

At the time of his death, Bishop Hickenlooper was survived by two wives, Sarah C. Ward and Ann (Sparks) Ham; nine children, three children had died in infancy; thirty-eight grand children and fifty-two great grandchildren.

The funeral services will be held on Monday, Jan. 16, 1888, commencing at 11 a.m. in the Sixth Ward Meetinghouse; the cortege will leave for the cemetery at 1 p.m. This house has been selected to give an opportunity for his family to reach this city from the various parts of the territory where they reside.

Obituary from Deseret News, 14 Jan. 1888