Joseph Holbrook facts for kids

Joseph Holbrook (born January 16, 1806 – died November 14, 1885) was an important Mormon pioneer in the U.S. territory of Utah. He also served as a judge in his county and was a member of the Utah Territorial Legislature, which was like the state government at the time.

Joseph Holbrook was born in a place called Florence, New York. This area later became known as Annsville, New York. His father, Moses Holbrook, had moved there from Massachusetts. When Joseph was only seven years old, his father passed away. After this, Joseph moved to Massachusetts to live with his grandfather. This move helped him get a better education. When he turned 19, he went back to Annsville. However, his mother had remarried, so he returned to Massachusetts after a few weeks. For the next two years, he worked on his grandfather's farm. Then, he moved to Nassau, New York, where he continued to work as a farm laborer.

Early Life and New Beginnings

In the winter of 1827-1828, Joseph Holbrook worked as a school teacher in Annsville for three months. After teaching, he went back to Sturbridge, Massachusetts. There, he worked for a farmer near his grandfather's home. In December 1828, he started working in the lead mines of Sturbridge. He was injured while mining, so he returned to farm work. This time, he worked for a man named Hezekiah Allen.

Finding Love and Starting a Family

Hezekiah Allen had also hired a young woman named Nancy Lampson. She helped his wife with chores like making cheese and spinning. Joseph fell in love with Nancy. He then traveled west to Genesee County, New York, where his mother had moved. There, he bought a farm in Wethersfield, New York. This area later became part of Wyoming County, New York in 1841. After buying the farm, he went back to Massachusetts and married Nancy Lampson. In 1830, they settled down as farmers in Wethersfield.

Joining the Church

In 1832, Joseph Holbrook met members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the first time. The first missionaries he met were Evan Greene and Lorenzo D. Young. They did not have a copy of the Book of Mormon, which Joseph wanted to read. He eventually got a copy from his cousin, Mary Ann Angell. Joseph was baptized into the Church by Leonard Rich in January 1833.

Serving as a Missionary

In April 1833, Joseph Holbrook went on a mission trip. He traveled through parts of New York, then to Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. His cousin, Truman O. Angell, joined him on this mission. While serving, they helped organize a Church branch in Providence, Rhode Island.

Moving West with the Saints

In 1834, Joseph Holbrook decided to join a group called Zion's Camp. This group was traveling to Missouri to help Church members there. He sold his farm in Wethersfield and moved his family to Kirtland, Ohio. He then left them there and continued his journey west to Missouri.

Life in Missouri and Illinois

After Zion's Camp, Joseph started farming in Clay County, Missouri. He then served another mission in eastern Missouri and near Quincy, Illinois. His wife and children joined him in Missouri later in 1834. In 1837, Joseph moved to Caldwell County, Missouri. He settled near Plum Creek, about three miles west of Far West, Missouri. Besides farming, he also worked as a builder. He built an office for Bishop Edward Partridge, a schoolhouse, and several homes. He also became a lieutenant in the local militia.

After Church members were forced to leave Missouri, Joseph Holbrook settled in Quincy, Illinois. He worked there making fence rails. Joseph Smith, the Church leader, then asked him to buy corn from areas north and east of Quincy. Joseph Holbrook processed this corn and gave it to the Church members who were fleeing Missouri. He then served as a leader in the Church branch at Ramus, which is now Webster, Illinois. Joseph also helped organize a company of the Nauvoo Legion in Ramus. In the summer of 1842, he moved to Nauvoo, Illinois. Soon after, his wife passed away. A few months later, he married Hannah Flint. She ran a school from their home in Nauvoo.

Settling in Utah

Joseph Holbrook traveled to Utah in 1848 with Brigham Young's group of pioneers. In 1850, he moved to Bountiful, Utah. From 1851 to 1859, he served as a judge in Davis County, Utah. He was also a member of the Utah Territorial Legislature in 1857 and 1859. This meant he helped make laws for the Utah Territory.

Joseph Holbrook passed away in Bountiful, Utah Territory.