William A. GARNER

                       William was in the Church and left it.
    Birth: FGR of LGO and Anc. File; (Garner's disc info gives birth
    info as
    Fayettville, Cumberland, N.C.)
    Marriage: 1993 IGI; info also shows marriage in Rowan Co. N.C.
    Death: FGR of LGO; Anc. File;
    Baptism: FGR of LGO, shows William rebaptised 3 Nov 1964; Anc. File;
    Source-S. Black and L. Porter, BYU, Biographies, Mor
    Battalion-for
    brother, David, said the family united with the church in 1839.
    Endowment: FGR of LGO; Anc. File;
    Sealing to Parents: FGR of LGO; Anc. File gives 9 May 1944;
    Sealing to Spouse: 1993 IGI (earliest date); another date also given
    Other marriage: (2) Elizabeth Ann Dunn

DEATH:  at age 75

HISTORY:

1)  "William resided in North Carolina until 1834, when he migrated to Adams
County, Illinois.  In Quincy, Adams County, he was married to Sarah Workman by
Reverend John A. Bristow, a Methodist clergyman (Pension File).  He and his
family untied with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  On 20 June
1844 William signed an affidavit stating:  'On 15 June 1844 at the Morley
Settlement in Hancock County, Illinois, three farmers came to him and asked
[him] to take up our arms and join with them in going to Nauvoo, to take Joseph
Smith and others prisoners; second, to remove with our effects to Nauvoo
immediately; or, third, to give up our arms to Col. Levi Williams and remain
neutral (HC 6:511).  He also declared that neighborhood mobs forced him to
leave his home in order to save his life (HC 6:511).

William and his family removed to Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois, where he was
ordained a high priest and endowed on 22 December 1845 in the Nauvoo Temple.
On 3 February 1846 William was sealed to his wife, Sarah, and also obeyed the
law of plural marriage with Elizabeth Ann Dunn in the Nauvoo Temple (TIB;
Nauvoo Temple Register).  He and his families fled from religious persecution
in Nauvoo to safety in Iowa Territory.

In Council Bluffs, William and his brothers Phillip Garner and David Garner
enlisted in the Mormon Battalion.  At the time of his enlistment he was 6' in
height, having a light complexion and blue eyes (Pension File).  He marched
with the Battalion from Council Bluffs to Ciudad de los Angeles.  He was the
only one of the three brothers to complete the battalion trek to California.
On 14 April 1847 in California he officiated at the first Latter-day Saint
baptism (Life Sketch, William Garner).

William and three battalion companions made 40,000 bricks in San Diego (Diary,
Philip [sic] Garner).  He was discharged on 16 July 1847 in Ciudad de los
Angeles.  After his discharge he worked in California to earn money for
migration to the Salt Lake Valley.  After removing to the valley he continued
his journey to Florence, Douglas, Nebraska, in 1848.  In Florence he joined his
family and relocated with them in a walnut log cabin in Pattawattamie County,
Iowa (Life Sketch, William Garner).

His life was interwoven in the settlement and development of Pottawattamie
County.  His ability in agriculture was recognized by Iowa state officials, who
honored him by naming the township of 'Garner' after him.  William owned
approximately five thousand acres of land, and in 1857 he built a gristmill in
Garner township.  In 1868 he erected a woolen mill, owned seven hundred sheep,
and built the Ogden House Hotel at Council Bluffs.  When the hotel was
destroyed by fire, William and his partners sold the site (Field,
Pottawattamie).

He was a Democrat and served on the board of supervisors for Pottawattamie for
several years.  He was known for his charitable contributions to the less
fortunate and was affectionately called 'Uncle Billy' (Field, Pottawattamie,
832-35).  William died on 29 March 1892 at his residence.

His widow, Sarah, was present at his death and attended the funeral.  She
resided in Council Bluffs and by age 70 was 'quite infirm' but financially
independent (Pension File).

S. Black and L. Porter, BYU, Biographies, Mormon Battalion

MILITARY:

Enlisted 16 July 1846 at Council Bluffs, Iowa Territory (age 29) in the Mormon
Battalion, Private in Company B.  Discharged 16 July 1847 at Ciudad de los
Angeles; Bounty Land Claim 70700-160-47; Survivor's Pension 7 June 1887, Iowa;
Widow's Pension 30 March 1892, Sarah Workman Garner, Pottawattamie County,
Iowa.  S. Black and L. Porter, BYU, Biographies, Mormon Battalion