Solomon Wixom
Solomon Wixom was the son of Reuben Hiram and Clarissa Walker Wixom. He was born at Hector New York, on 26 March 1809. He had two older brothers Nathan born 22 November 1804 and Jesse Atwater 17 January 1807.
The year 1810 the family moved to Franklin County, Ohio, near Columbus. Here he lived in the timbered area for about seventeen years. The boys enjoyed hunting, fishing, and trapping in the wilderness. Father Reuben was handy at making items for the household. He made wheels for the spinning wheels, and weaving looms, which he sold. He also made chairs and bedsteads as well as other articles to sell to others. The families prospered but were never really satisfied because the ground was not conducive to farming. More children were added to the family. Justin Dishen 25 July 1811, Reuben Hiram 25 December 1813, Abraham 19 February 1816, Urban Doctor born 5 April 1818, Henry Walker born 27 September 1820, Chancy Smith 27 August 1822, Clarissa born 12 July 1826.
In 1827 the farm was sold for five hundred dollars and the family moved to Springfield, Illinois, by oxen team. They arrived on Christmas Day of 1827. For two years they cultivated the land, raised a large garden, and fed domestic animals. Mr. Wixom took training in medicine from a Samuel Thompson. He and his wife, who was a skillful midwife, built up a good practice. Soon they were in such demand they could not stand the physical strain. They decided to move beyond calling distance of his practice. They moved north to Tazewell County after selling his farm in 1830. Here he found a good productive farm. The boys worked hard on the farms wherever they lived.
It was now that Solomon went out on his own. While in Tazewell, he became acquainted with missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Saints were trying to build up a new Zion in the western part of Missouri. It was here in 1832, on 22 September in Clay County, that he was baptized. The next few months he worked as a missionary for the church. He met and married Matilda Johnson 24 January 1833 in Eugene Indiana. He continued preaching. He held meetings in homes. He laid his hands on the sick and healed many. It was a sad day when his wife died 21 February 1834, perhaps from childbirth. They had a son born 11 February 1834 named Reuben Wesley, who died 3 July 1834 in Indiana.
During the year of 1835 he continued preaching. From his journal of August 1835 we read, "Then on Thursday I held a meeting at George Bennett's. After I was done, John Jenkins, a Methodist priest, arose full of malice and opposed my discourse and in the most abusive language stated that I was an imposter and for proof of the same, brought up the paper of the day concerning Jo Smith and railed against the Book of Mormon and against the ordinances of the Gospel, saying that they were not essential for salvation and thus the people became discussed with him, so all became confusion. I made a short reply, and so the meeting closed. But honor be to God and the Lamb; truth will out its way and over all will prevail."
Again from his journal, "On Sabbath, the 7th of February 1836, I held meeting at William Avery's then labored in the shop at chair making, off and on, from time to time when I had no meetings to attend to through the winter before this time as well as after; on Wednesday I held meeting at Father Avery's and the next day at J. Owen's and on the next Sabbath, the 14th, I had no meetings appointed; and the next day Monday the 14th of February 1836,1 was married to Sarah Avery; the Wednesday following I was called to go visit a woman that was sick. She was the wife of Luke Owen. I prayed for her and laid hands on her and through faith she was healed."
Solomon and Sarah had their first child 13 November 1836 while in Schuyler Illinois. He was named Hiram Daniel. He died 26 April 1844 in Nauvoo.
Continuing from his journal, "On the next Thursday I started to Quincy to enter a piece of land, and arrived home on the 28th of the same. On the next day I began to cut logs for my house, so I labored that week at my house, and on the next Sabbath being the 6th of March, I held meeting at Mr. Comb's. This week I spent working at my temporal concerns."
"April the first I went to Brother J. T. Earl's to help him to move, brought one load. And on the 3rd (being the Sabbath), I held meeting at Owen's. Then I built a house for B. Earl, and helped him move to my house, and on the 10th (Sabbath) I held meeting at Ira Owen's."
"I held meeting at G. Butterfield's. The Wednesday following I laid hands on Brother William Avery's child. It was scalded very badly. The fire came out and in the morning it was perfectly well. Also, I laid hands on Mother Avery. She was afflicted, and on my wife and child. They all recovered immediately, and on Friday Elizabeth and Mariah Butterfield brought their children to me. They were afflicted. One had lost the use of her arm, the other had never been well from its mother's womb. They both recovered immediately, to the astonishment of all that knew the circumstances. This was affected by the prayer of faith and the laying on of hands in the name of the Lord. The following Saturday I held meeting at Father Avery's at 12 o'clock, and at Rhine's in the town of Rushville at evening."
Solomon tells of selling his property at an auction on the 12th of April. On the 10th of May 1837 he started for Missouri. Along the way he was holding meetings and baptizing. He arrived at Farr West on May 23, 1837. Here he bought 40 acres. He went right to work clearing and planting a garden. He tells of more meetings and preaching, and of helping dig the foundation of the Temple in Farr West in July of 1837.
Now back to his Journal. "Then I heard of the excitement in Caldwell and Davies counties. I immediately moved back to Caldwell so as to be on hand for whatever might come. The excitement continued to increase till it broke out in war between the mob and the Saints. I had the ague and was unable to do anything, but I prayed to the Lord to give me strength that I might be able to defend His cause and His people. I was healed by the God of Israel so I went forth with the army of Israel."
Solomon's journal then tells of the mobs destroying the farms and settlements, forcing the Saints to go into Farr West for protection. He tells of the battle at Crooked River and the death of Apostle David Patten. A few days later the mob came near Farr West and pitched their tents on Goose Creek. They were surrounding a house where five or six women and children were staying. Among them was his wife Sarah and two year old child. Farr West was to be given up the next day. Brother Hiram Smith advised him to leave the state. He went for his wife who was soon to deliver her second child. She said to him, "Go make your escape, leave me in the hands of the Lord and the brethren." Sadly he left not knowing if he would ever see his loved ones again. He went to Schuyler County, Illinois, among his wife's family. He immediately made arrangements for Green Butterfield to go back for his wife. He writes, "In the time she was absent from me she was delivered of a son near Farr West, but the Lord brought us together again, although we were robbed of almost everything we had of an earthly nature, yet we felt rich and happy that our lives were spared till we met again."
Their second child was born 3 December 1838, named Justus Chauncy, near Far West, Missouri. The next child was born in Schuyler, Illinois, 21 February 1841, given the name Matilda Octavia. She died 27 April 1844. Another child, Pauline Mirilla, was born 14 November 1843 while living in Schuyler, Illinois. She died soon after birth.
In the autumn of 1844 he moved from Schuyler County to Nauvoo. He tells of the mob actions again. Solomon was in Carthage on the 24 of June and watched the Carthage Grays march the Prophet and prisoners to the courthouse. He witnessed the cursing and swearing of the multitude. And spitting on the prisoners. He said "They looked like devils in human form." It was truly a sad day in his life when news of the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith came.
The fifth child William Hiram was born 21 June 1845 while in Nauvoo. He, too, died soon after birth.
Two years later the Saints were beginning to head west. Work was being hurriedly done on the Temple. The Wixom families were also preparing to leave. As soon as possible Solomon took his family to the village of Farmington, Iowa, about 25 miles from Nauvoo. Their last child Solomon Avery was born here 6 August 1846. The family stayed there while he went on to Council Bluff on the Missouri River. He had been sent ahead to help build houses and prepare shelters and settlements for the Saints. He helped build the settlement of Winter Quarters. He brought his family there where they stayed for more than three years. Here he took a plural wife. He married Harriet L. Teeples 16 January 1846. A year later on 15 January 1847, a son Seth James was born.
In 1848 Harriet's parents were leaving for the west. She was anxious to leave with them. Solomon's first wife Sarah was not well enough to travel, but he let Harriet and her year old son go on ahead. He would stay with Sarah and her two young sons until she was strong enough to travel. That was the spring of 1848. A year passed. Sarah did not recover. She died 3 January 1849.
As soon as weather would permit Solomon and his two little sons joined a company to go west. Justin Chauncy was ten and Solomon was three. The boys rode in a wagon when possible. Solomon walked. They arrived in the valley in summer of 1849.
On 20 February 1851 he married Hannah Montgomery. The 21 October that year, a little girl, Catherine, was born and died 26 October. They were living near Union Fort. Sometime in 1853 he married his wife's sister Catherine. On April 7, 1853, Mary Matilda was born to Hannah, at Little Cottonwood, Salt Lake City, Utah. On 21 May 1854 Catherine gave birth to a son they named David Carlos. Little Solomon Montgomery was born 22 January 1855 to Hannah, near Union Fort Utah. He died 9 October 1855. Because of family friction Catherine left Solomon. So he wasn't a polygamist very long.
For some time he lived in Lehi, Utah. He was engaged in raising sheep and later cattle. He enjoyed living in the wilderness. A son Joseph Morgan was born there 10 November 1856. And a daughter, Hannah Marie was born 31 March 1859 at nearby Springville, Utah.
About 1860 he moved his family to the Brigham City, Utah area. He was probably still in the ranching and farming business. There he had two more children, John Stephen born 24 September 1861 and Orson Charles born 27 October 1863.
In 1864 Solomon was called by Brigham Young to go help settle the beautiful Bear Lake area. At the time it was in the Utah territory. Later it became part of southeastern Idaho.
In the Wixom Family History book compiled by J. H. Wixom and Ruth S. Widdison we read about this move. (Page 41) "This was another chance for Solomon to help build a new settlement, and he promptly responded to the call. He performed his part in building the Mormon Empire. In purchasing tools and supplies for use in the new settlement that he was getting ready to move to, Solomon purchased a coffee mill, which was thought strange at the time, for the Mormons did not drink coffee. But he made the remark that it might come in handy in the new home, and he was wisely prophetic in the act: for that coffee mill afterward became an important weapon in the battle against hunger. For sometime later when supplies were sent into the pioneer settlement wheat was sent instead of flour, and com instead of meal. There was no mill there to grind the grain; but Solomon Wixom's coffee mill was put in action and running double shift for a long season.
"In every place where he made his home, and they were many, Solomon used his Ohio education to good advantage. That education he had acquired under the instruction of that master mechanic of the frontier, Reuben Hiram Wixom, and he could make everything in woodwork that a settlement needed. After the settlement became somewhat developed, Solomon moved onto a newer place and plied his trade. He was always a pioneer, and he had his workshop wherever he had his home."
Four more children were born at Paris, Idaho. Nathan Franklin born 29 January 1855; Lorenzo born 28 June 1868; Sarah Jane born 19 October 1870; Hyrum Augustus 10 May 1873. His wife Hannah was the mother of eleven children They lived together nearly thirty years and she survived him. The census of 1860 listed Solomon with a household of six, with real wealth of $150 and personal wealth of $625.
During his life he had five wives. Only for short periods of time he lived in polygamy. He was the father of twenty children. Several died as babies or in their youth. Two had died in consecutive days while in Nauvoo. Only ten grew to adulthood and married. He had been a faithful servant in the Church, anxious to answer any call. He died 1 March 1879 at Paris, Idaho.
The book Wixom Family History above mentioned tells more about Solomon. (Pages 41&42) "Solomon Wixom has been described as rather tall and spare of build, with a thin face and blue eyes. His hair was light brown, and curly and rather thin. He wore a full beard, rather thin and clipped short.
"He was a man of stern countenance and of stern mind. When he made up his mind to anything, he was immovable. No one could change him. If he undertook a task of any kind, he completed it. He had great physical courage. He never carried a weapon of defense of any kind, even in places where there was occasionally a desperate character, for he feared no man. When he received a wicked threat, he would quietly answer, “The worst you can do is to kill me, and I can stand that. No, I am not afraid of you.”
"He was a great lover of children. At times all of the children of the settlement would gather at his home to hear him tell stories and riddles and jokes. But during the later part of his life he seemed to enjoy being alone, communing with himself and with nature.