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Subject: [HANDCART-L] William Paxman
Date: Wed, 8 May 2002 01:16:07 EDT

Here's a little something on William Paxman....I'm sure there is a great deal
available.

Michele

LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, Andrew Jenson, Vol. 1, p.515
Paxman, William, fourth president of the Juab Stake of Zion, was the son of
James Paxman and Esther Reynolds, and was born Oct. 25, 1855, at Hempstead,
Essex, England. At an early age he went to London and entered into the
service of a tinsmith, working his way up from errand boy to first hand in
the large establishment in which he worked. While in London he made the
acquaintance of Father Kemp, so well known to the [p.516] early London
Saints, by whom he was converted to the faith, and was baptized June 15,
1852, by Edward C. Brand. He married Ann Rushen Keyes in 1855, who embarked
with him on the ship "Horizon" for America in 1856, and his first son,
William Reed Horizon Paxman, was born on the good ship off the banks of
Newfoundland on June 12th of that year, and was named after Captain Reed and
the ship he commanded. On reaching Boston Bro. Paxman concluded to remain
there and work for the necessary means to prosecute his journey to Utah. Here
he accepted a position as salesman in a large stove warehouse; and in 1861
came on to Utah, arriving in Salt Lake City Sept. 13, 1861. He moved to
American Fork, Utah county, in 1862, where he followed his trade of tinsmith
for some time. At American Fork the innate powers and executive skill in
doing good unto others, which exemplified his whole life, commenced to shine
forth with great lustre, and was acknowledged by the people residing there in
electing him to official positions in their city government. He was also
superintendent of the American Fork Co-operative Mercantile Institution. But
where his great love in blessing humanity shone the brightest at this time of
his life was in the organization of the Sunday school of American Fork; in
this his zeal and love shone forth in such power that in a short time he won
to his side a corps of teachers, who, catching the fire of his zeal and love
for his work, made the Sunday school cause of American Fork for many years
the center of strength of that place, and from which emanated the best
thought and action for the promotion of the union and happiness of that Ward.
The love and respect in which he was held by his co-laborers in this great
cause found voice in a beautiful testimonial presented to him by the teachers
and officers of the school, on his departure to fill a mission to England in
1875. During his mission in his native land he presided over the London
conference and returned from there in 1877, bearing with him the love of all
who came under the influence of his kind ministry, as witnessed by the
testimonials of the different organizations of the Priesthood of London then
existing, that subsequently adorned the walls of his home at Nephi. After his
return from England he filled the position of Bishop Edward Hunter's agent
for Utah Stake, for which purpose he was ordained a Bishop and served in this
position for several years. Next we find him installed as president of Juab
Stake of Zion, Jan. 28, 1883, and in March, 1886, he was on his way to New
Zealand to fill a mission in that far distant land, where he presided for the
term of three and one-half years. The Book of Mormon was translated into the
Maori language under his presidency and supervision. In this mission again
shone forth the virtues and love of this truly good man, which endeared him
to the hearts of the brethren and fellow servants in the mission field. The
love and admiration in which he was then held is best told in the language of
Brother Amasa Aldrich, a co-laborer with him there: "Humble and kind to a
fault, his patience knew no bounds. The eternal sunshine of life radiated
from his very person and the storms of adversity were dispelled by his calm
and peaceful demeanor. He braved the perils of sea and land; he traveled
through sunshine and storm, to bring the heart of man to more fully know his
Maker. In all the varied vicissitudes of life in that land he was ever the
same. He had a kind word and a hearty God-bless-you for every man, woman and
child. No hardship was too difficult for him to surmount, and no peril too
severe to endure. In the midst of affliction he never murmured [p.517] or
complained. In him the rich and the poor had a true and devoted friend, one
whose friendship was as deep as the ocean and as enduring as the everlasting
hills." Returning from New Zealand in September, 1889, he again resumed his
duties as president of the Juab Stake and its Sabbath schools. He attended
the St. Louis Irrigation congress, as a delegate from Utah, and subsequently
represented Utah in all the Irrigation conventions held up to the time of his
death, also served as delegate to the Trans-Mississippi Commercial congress
of 1895. He died Oct. 12, 1897, at American Fork, Utah county, from the
effects of injuries received while repairing the roof of his house. A
numerous family survived him, consisting of three wives, by whom he had
twenty-two children, eighteen of whom were living at his demise, and also
forty-two grandchildren (thirty-three living). His funeral services were
attended by Presidents Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith
and several of the Twelve Apostles, together with many other prominent men of
the Church. In the course of his remarks at the funeral services, Pres.
Cannon said: "The name of Wm. Paxman was seriously considered in connection
with the filling of one of the vacancies which had recently existed in the
quorum of the Apostles. Brother Paxman was a man not illustrious for his
mighty achievements, as the world generally views the lives of men, but he
was enshrined in the hearts of all who knew him, for the noble, pure and
virtuous life which he has led." Honored and proud are those who claim the
closest relationship with this one of God's noble sons.—Albert Jones.

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