The following article is about Edward Hunter, the third Presiding Bishop in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was an amazing man from Chester County, PA, right outside of Philadelphia. I am copying an article from the July 2004 Ensign Magazine, archived at lds.org. Elder Elisha Hildebrand Davis is mentioned in the first and third sections. He was my great-great-great-grandfather.
Edward Hunter:
Generous Pioneer, Presiding Bishop
By LaRene Porter Gaunt
Prior to serving as Presiding Bishop for 30 years, Edward Hunter
opened the way for missionaries in Chester County, Pennsylvania.
When the schoolhouse in
Chester County, Pennsylvania, burned to the ground in 1833, wealthy Quaker
Edward Hunter offered to replace it on land he would donate if residents “would
allow all persons and persuasions to meet in it to worship God.” 1 This requirement was included in the
articles of agreement for the donated land and building. The finished building
was called the West Nantmeal Seminary.
Quaker and Scotch-Irish
Presbyterian farmers populated Chester County, which is located about 12 miles
west of Philadelphia. In the spring of 1839, Latter-day Saint missionaries
Elijah H. Davis and Lorenzo Barnes arranged to use the West Nantmeal Seminary
building to teach the gospel. When residents became outraged, Edward Hunter
reminded them of the agreement made in 1833 allowing people of every religion
to have the privilege of meeting there to worship God. He told the people that the “Mormons” would
have their rights or he would take the building back. Such were the
circumstances that surrounded the first visit of the missionaries to the valley
that would eventually become known as “Mormon Hollow,” circumstances that
prepared Edward Hunter to be an advocate for these early Saints.
An Ancestor’s Influence
Born on 22 June 1793 in
Newtown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Edward Hunter was the second
son and seventh child born to Edward and Hannah Maris Hunter (p. 227; see note
1 for complete reference). As a youth, he was strongly influenced by stories of
his stalwart ancestors from England and Ireland. Of particular influence was
the story of his second great-grandfather, Robert Owen of North Wales, also a
man of wealth and power. Ancestor Robert was imprisoned for five years because
he refused to take the oath of allegiance when Charles II was restored to the
British throne. After his release, Robert immigrated to America and purchased
land in Philadelphia amid other Quakers such as himself.
As an adult,
strong-willed and tenacious, Edward Hunter was fond of referring to this
incident in the life of his ancestor. He would tell the story and then end by
repeating, “Oath of allegiance—yes, yes—refused to take it—imprisoned for five
years.” Then, lifting up his hands, throwing back his head, and half shutting
his eyes in a sort of dreamy ecstasy, he would exclaim, “Beautiful! beautiful!”
(p. 228).
No doubt Edward drew
upon this example of integrity shown by his ancestor when he stood firm in
behalf of the Latter-day Saint missionaries in 1839.
Light Filled the Room
Soon after the
missionaries taught the gospel in 1839 in the West Nantmeal Seminary building,
Edward heard that missionary Elijah H. Davis was going to speak in Locust
Grove, a few miles away, and that there were plans to treat him badly. He
mounted his horse and rode over to Locust Grove. Of Elijah Davis and his
teachings, Edward said: “He was a humble young man, the first one that I was
impressed was sent of God. … He spoke well on the subject [of the Atonement],
but before he was through [Robert] Johnson interrupted him and ordered him to
quit preaching. I sprang up and said: ‘He is a stranger and shall have justice
shown him and be respected; we will hear him and then hear you speak.’ I was
informed that there were many present opposed to the ‘Mormons,’ but I resolved
as I lived that Mr. Davis should be protected, if I had to meet the rabble on
their own ground. I kept my eye on them and determined to stand by him at the
risk of person and property. I had friends, though Mr. Davis had none. Mr. J.
Johnson, brother to Robert Johnson, came to me as I was going out and
apologized for his brother’s conduct. I walked out of the crowd, got on my
horse and rode home alone” (p. 229).
After going home and
retiring for the night, Edward lay awake for some time thinking about what had
taken place. “My reflections were,” he said, “why have I taken such a decided
stand for those strangers, and I asked the Lord: ‘Are those Mormons thy
servants?’ Instantly, a light came in the room at the top of the door, so great
that I could not endure it. I covered my head with the bed-clothes and turned
over to the wall. I had exerted my mind and body much that day and soon fell
asleep” (p. 229).
Baptisms in Chester County
On 8 October 1840,
Edward Hunter was baptized by Elder Orson Hyde. Edward’s wife, Ann, was also
baptized. Of Edward’s baptism,
neighbor H. W. Vallette said, “I only felt that if a man like Edward Hunter,
whose name was a synonym of upright probity, of sound sense and discernment,
could be brought to believe in these things, what right had I or others of less
understanding to … ridicule them.” 2
Hearts were softened
among these Quaker residents, and soon about 200 were baptized, sometimes at
the rate of eight to ten a week. The Prophet Joseph Smith stopped
in “Mormon Hollow” for about two weeks in January 1840 in connection with a
trip to Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The Prophet spoke to the Saints at
the West Nantmeal Seminary and stayed with the Hunter family. During the autumn of 1840, Hyrum Smith
visited Edward. They attended conference in Philadelphia, and Brother Hunter
“subscribed liberally to the building of the Nauvoo House and the Temple” (p.
229).
On a subsequent visit,
Hyrum walked with Edward along the banks of the Brandywine River, and Edward
told Hyrum about the death of his young son George Washington Hunter. Hyrum
taught him of the plan of salvation. This brought great comfort to Brother
Hunter, who had been “devotedly attached” to his son. About a year later,
Brother Hunter had a dream wherein he saw his young son. “In appearance he was
more perfect than in natural life—the same blue eyes, curly hair, fair
complexion, and a most beautiful appearance,” said Edward. Edward begged him to
remain, but George said “in his own familiar voice” that he had many friends in
heaven (p. 230).
Exodus to Nauvoo
Edward had found
financial success from the time he was a young man because of his hard work and
good business sense. But he was also generous. In September 1841 Brother Hunter
visited Nauvoo, Illinois, and purchased a farm and several town lots. He then
returned to Chester County and sold two of his farms. In June 1842 the Hunter
family moved to Nauvoo. Once there, he cheerfully donated $7,000 in cash and nearly
$5,000 in goods to the Prophet Joseph for the building of Zion. He continued to
donate generously, so much so, that the Prophet Joseph Smith told him he had done enough and
to reserve the rest for his own use (p. 230).
In Nauvoo, as
persecution against the Saints began to mount, Brother Hunter was arrested with
others on the charge of treason and taken to Carthage Jail in June 1843. Now
Edward had been wrongfully imprisoned as had his ancestor. Fortunately, the
imprisonment was short, and all were soon sent free.
When the Prophet was put
on trial in Springfield, Illinois, Brother Hunter was there. After the
Prophet’s acquittal, Edward offered his home to the Prophet as a place of
safety. Loyal and devoted, Edward became one of Joseph’s bodyguards. During
this time, Brother Hunter enjoyed the confidence and friendship of the Prophet.
Among the revelations
the Prophet received in the Hunter home were sections 127 and 128 of the Doctrine and Covenants concerning baptism
for the dead. Of this time, Brother Hunter said, “The two years I
was in Nauvoo with Joseph, it was one stream of revelations.” 3
As a member of the
Nauvoo City Council, Edward voted to put an end to the Expositor, a
libelous paper created by apostates and enemies of the Saints to encourage mob
violence. Soon after the destruction of the press, the Prophet Joseph asked
Brother Hunter to go to Springfield to represent the Church’s position to the
governor.
“You have known me for
several years,” said the Prophet to Edward. “Say to the governor, under oath,
everything good and bad you know of me” (p. 230).
Brother Edward and two
other men did so. They returned to Nauvoo late in the afternoon on 27 June
1844—about the same time Joseph and Hyrum were killed at Carthage Jail. Of the
events following the Martyrdom, Edward wrote: “Next day, [Joseph and Hyrum’s]
bodies were brought from Carthage to Nauvoo. We formed two lines to receive
them; I was placed on the extreme right, to wheel in after the bodies, and
march to the Mansion. As we passed the Temple, there were crowds of mourners
there, lamenting the great loss of our Prophet and Patriarch. The scene was
enough to almost melt the soul of man. Mr. Brewer, myself and others took
brother Joseph’s body in to the Mansion House. … At midnight [we] carried the
body of Joseph from the Mansion House to the Nauvoo House, and put him and
Hyrum in one grave. Their death was hard to bear. Our hope was almost gone, not
knowing then that Joseph had prepared for the Kingdom to go on, by delivering
the keys to the Twelve and rolling off the burden from his shoulders on to
theirs” (p. 231).
Ordained a Bishop in Nauvoo
Five months after the
Martyrdom, President Brigham Young, assisted by Elder Heber C. Kimball and
Presiding Bishop Newell K. Whitney, ordained Edward Hunter a high priest. He
was then set apart as a bishop of the Nauvoo Fifth Ward. When he was promised
that he should “have power to raise up the drooping spirit,” he felt simultaneously
“a remarkable sensation thrilled through his being, confirming the truth of the
speaker’s words” (p. 231).
Elder Orson F. Whitney
wrote of Bishop Hunter’s character: “Honest, straightforward in his dealings,
and candid even to bluntness in his speech, his heart overflowed with kindness
and he enjoyed the love and confidence of all. Childlike and humble, he was
nevertheless shrewd and discerning. He was charitable and open-handed to all. …
He was a great exhorter to faithfulness, particularly in the payment of tithes
and offerings. His familiar speech at the Bishop’s meetings: ‘Pay your tithing and be blessed,’ has passed into a proverb” (p.
232).
When the Saints were
forced from Nauvoo, Bishop Hunter and many of the “Mormon Hollow Saints” left
together in the spring or summer of 1846 and joined the main body of Latter-day
Saints in Winter Quarters. Bishop Hunter had suffered from sickness in Iowa,
but upon arrival at Winter Quarters, he again served as bishop.
Winter Quarters to Salt Lake Valley
As the hard winter of
1846–47 ended and the exodus to the Salt Lake Valley began, President Young
appointed Bishop Hunter captain of 100 wagons. The group arrived on 29
September 1847. Once in the valley, Bishop Hunter again served as bishop.
In the fall of 1849
President Young sent Bishop Hunter back to the Missouri River to supervise the
immigration of the poorer Saints to Zion. Bishop Hunter played an integral part
in the implementation of the Perpetual Emigrating Fund (PEF). Under the
direction of the First Presidency and as a member of the PEF committee, he
helped “set in motion the vast emigrating enterprise which has peopled with
souls from two hemispheres the mountain vales of Utah” (p. 231). Bishop
Hunter’s generous donation of $5,000 of his own money literally helped build
Zion.
On 7 April 1851,
following the death of Newell K. Whitney, second Presiding Bishop, Edward
Hunter was sustained as the third Presiding Bishop of the Church. At the time,
“they were responsible for Church temporal affairs, for local bishops, and for
stake Aaronic Priesthood quorums. Bishop Hunter met every two weeks with
northern Utah bishops to coordinate efforts regarding public works, tithes,
resources, immigration and immigrants, and the needy. However, the First
Presidency, not the Presiding Bishopric, made finance and resource policy and
called and released bishops.” 4
Two years later, during
general conference on 6 April 1853, he laid the southwest cornerstone of the
Salt Lake Temple.
Bishop Hunter’s Death
For 62 years Bishop
Hunter watched over the temporal workings of the Church. He succeeded in his
desire to magnify his calling in the Church and was a loyal and loving husband
and father to his wife and children. He once said he hoped his life’s work was
acceptable “in the sight of God and those who preside over me in this
Latter-day work” (p. 232).
Bishop Hunter died on 16
October 1883 after a long illness. According to Elder Whitney: “His health had
been feeble for a long time, though his mind was unimpaired, and for the last
month he had frequently been absent from his office. Among those who visited
his bedside during his illness were President John Taylor and Apostle Erastus
Snow. So passed from this stage of action, where for over 90 years he had acted
well and faithfully every part assigned him, a man of God as noted for his
uprightness and integrity, as for his genial nature and overflowing kindness of
heart. His memory will live as long as the great work with which he was
identified, and which he labored so long and faithfully to establish” (p. 232).
