Chauncey W. West

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Chauncey Walker West (1827-02-06 – 1870-01-09) was a Mormon pioneer and was a leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah Territory. He was among the first Mormon missionaries to preach in Sri Lanka.

West was born in Venango, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. He and his family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints when he was 16. In 1844, he moved with his parents to Nauvoo, Illinois to join the gathering of Latter Day Saints. In 1847, West's company of Mormon pioneers left Nauvoo for Winter Quarters and then to Salt Lake Valley, arriving on 1847-09-29. Both of West's parents died along the way, and as the oldest child West assumed responsibility for his siblings.

In 1852, West was sent on an LDS Church mission to Asia. West preached in India, Ceylon, and Hong Kong. With his companion Benjamin F. Dewey, West was the first Mormon missionary to preach in what is now called Sri Lanka.^[1]

When he returned to Utah Territory in 1855, West was appointed the presiding bishop of Weber County, Utah Territory, and West moved to Ogden. West was involved in co-ordinating the employment of Latter-day Saints in the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad for Central Pacific in Utah Territory, and on 1869-05-10 he was present as a representative of the LDS Church at the golden spike ceremony at Promontory Summit, Utah.

West practiced plural marriage and had nine wives and 35 children.

West died during a business trip to San Francisco, California and is buried in Ogden, Utah.

The city of Farr West, Utah, was named to honor West's contributions to Weber County, Utah.

[edit] See also

• Elam Luddington

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Franklin L. West (1965). Chauncey W. West: Pioneer—Churchman. (Salt Lake City, Utah)