William Kelsey RICE

                   Nauvoo Resident

Seventy

Emigrated in the Edward Hunter Company

Private

Farmer

Emigrated to Farmington

He assisted others who were emmigrating

Farmer

Utah Federal Census

Joined the Mormon Insurrection

Assisted other settlers from the Indians

gravesite in Farmington City Cemetery

William's character

William had great faith


William emigrated to Northville in 1826.

He became a Nauvoo Resident in 1842.

'William was mentioned on the Daily Log of Persons at Nauvoo.  Reference: Nauvoo:  Early Mormon...Series 1839-46.  Platt, Lyman 1980

The year of 1842 was determined by the History of William Kelsey Rice.

He became a Seventy about 1842 in Nauvoo.

He was part of the Edward Hunter Company in 1847.

Company organized:
John Young (brother of Brigham Young) - immediate command
John Van Gott - marshal
Edward Hunter - Captain of one of the hundreds
other captains of 100s:  Daniel Spencer, Jedediah M. Grant, and Abraham O. Smoot
Joseph Horne, Captain

'As usual the divisions of fifty were divided into tens..... John Taylor [traveled] with Edward Hunter's.'

He arrived in 1847 in Salt Lake City

William was a Private in 1847

'In the spring of 1848 William Kelsey planted wheat at Farmington, Utah, and although the crickets almost devastated the field he raised seventy five bushels of the choicest wheat.'

'In the spring of 1849 William Kelsey moved his family to a log cabin he had built below the road in Farmington where he set up making a home for them.'

'In the Spring of 1949, they moved to Farmington, Utah.'  - Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitute pg 2539

In 1849, 'He gave a good team, harness and wagon to assist in bringing emmigrants to the valley.'

His occupation in 1850 was a farmer.

This information is also in the Utah Federal Census 1851

William is found living in Utah County as per the Utah 1850 Federal Census

William received his patriarchal blessing on August 7, 1855 in Farmington, Utah by Patriarch J. Morley

'William K. took up a homestead south of Farmington , part of which he gave to the town of Farmington for a cemetery.'

'At the time that Johnson's army  was sent by the US Government to put down the "Mormon Insurrection" William K. sent both his wives south while he joined the company led by Captain Lot Smith.

About 1860, 'At one time William K. was called with others to go to Parowan, Iron County, Utah to assist in defending the settlers from the Indians.  The Indians were fighting both among themselves and with the white settlers in the area.  While there he found that a little Indian boy, about six and a little Indian girl about three, were about to be killed.  He gave the Indians a black whip and a good lariat for them and brought them home with him.'

William received a patriarchal blessing on January 5, 1887 by Patriarch John Smith

William is buried in the Farmington City Cemetery.  Melissa Davis visited the site and took pictures.  Grave in the South section.

'William K. Rice was often consulted when there was a bridge or a similar project in the community to be built.  In case of fire in the twon he was always mong the first to respond.  He was a member of the first choir organized in Farmington and also the first band.  In April and October his yard was always filled with wagons and horses of people going to or coming from conference.'

'Brother Rice had great faith in the power of the priesthood.  One time, Hiram Bybee, who was subject to fits, had one in front of the Rice home.  Brother Rice administered to him, rebuked the disease and promised him that through faith he would be healed.  Mr. Bybee was never bothered with fits again.'