Thomas Levi Whittle

Thomas Levi Whittle was born May 21, 1812 in Mersea, Ontario to Thomas and Elizabeth Levi Whittle. Thomas was one of the first missionaries to the Hawaiian Islands. Thomas is a Pioneer of Richmond. Thomas was a veteran of the Indian Wars. Thomas served as one of the first city council members when the city was incorporated in 1868.

Early Life and Conversion

Little is known about Thomas's early life, other than he lived in Mersea, Ontario for many years. While there, he married Mary Amelia Fulmer in 1833. They had nine children together, with three being born in Canada.

Thomas and Mary raised their home centered around religious beliefs of Christianity. In 1837, Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints paid a visit to the Whittle family, and they were baptized that same year. Between 1837 and 1840, the Whittle family moved from Mersea to Quincy, Illinois, then moving to Nauvoo, Illinois between 1840 and 1843 to be closer to the Church.1

Westward Journey

After the assassination of Church President Joseph Smith, the Whittle family joined the other Saints to move out to the Rocky Mountains. The family were a part of the Zera Pulsipher Company. They arrived in Salt Lake City in 1848.2

First Missionary to Hawaii

Thomas's first mission was to go to California in 1849 with many other missionaries to find gold to help boost the economy in Salt Lake City. Though the missionaries worked hard, nothing came out of it. Church President Brigham Young discontinued the effort and made calls to these missionaries to go elsewhere. In 1850, Thomas was called to go to the Islands of Hawaii along with eight other missionaries, one of which being George Q. Cannon who would later be called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

The missionaries did their best to speak to the Caucasion population of the islands, but it was very difficult to find them, and once they did, these individuals were not interested in the messages of the gospel. As such, these first missionaries left the islands to continue their lives in Utah.3

Life in the Salt Lake Valley

After his return to Utah, the Whittle family moved to Harriman. While there, he entered into the practice of polygamy and married Mary Jane Butterfield Aug 7, 1855. Afterward, the Whittle family moved to Grantsville, Utah for just a short time.

Life in Richmond

In 1860, the Whittle family moved to Richmond and were part of the Richmond Fort. Not much is known about his time in Richmond other than his farming and working. He was able to obtain a home on the northeast corner of 100 West and 100 South.

Indian Wars Service

After the construction of the Richmond Fort in 1860 and other forts in Cache Valley, the Territory of Utah created the Cache Military District on Oct 15, 1861 with Church Apostle Ezra T. Benson as Colonel. Richmond was organized as the 5th Battalion Infantry, with Thomas L. Whittle as Major, David P. Rainy as Adjutant, and Robert M. Kerr and Dana Walton as Captains.4.1

On June 16, 1863, Richmond was organized into two companies of Infantry and two squads of Cavalry. Thomas was appointed Captain of Company K.4.2 

City Council Member (1868)

William D. Hendricks served as the first Mayor of Richmond after it was incorporated as a city in February of 1868. He was sworn into office on May 28, 1868 with the first City Council members: Stillman Pond, Henry E. Gibson, David P. Rainey, Neriah Lewis, and Thomas L. Whittle with William Beers as City Recorder. They were in charge of hiring individuals to fill in the necessary appointments for the city. Such were Christopher M. Olsen, City Treasurer; William F. Fisher, Assessor and Collector; William T. Van Noy, City Marshall; Christopher M. Funk, Supervisor of Streets.

Thomas Levi Whittle holds the record for the shortest tenure as a City Council Member of only one month and 6 days. He was succeeded by his son John Casper Whittle.

Epilogue