Peter Maughan facts for kids
Peter Maughan (born May 7, 1811 – died April 24, 1871) was an important early leader and settler of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He helped establish the Cache Valley area in Utah. He did this under the guidance of Brigham Young, a well-known leader of the Church.
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Peter Maughan's Early Life
Peter Maughan was born in Milton, Cumberland, England. He was the sixth child of William Maughan and Martha Wilson. When he was young, he worked in the lead mines in Alston, England.
On October 1, 1831, Peter married Ruth Harrison. They had six children together.
Joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Peter and Ruth became members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Alston in 1838. They were very active in their local church group. Sadly, Ruth passed away on March 26, 1841, shortly after their sixth child was born.
Following advice from Brigham Young, who was serving a mission in England, Peter and his children sailed to America. They arrived on May 19, 1841, aboard the ship Rochester. Seven of the nine important church leaders, called apostles, who had been serving in England, also sailed with them. During the journey, Peter faced another sadness when he had to bury his baby daughter, Ruth, at sea.
Life in America and Moving West
Peter and his family first went to Kirtland, Ohio, for a few weeks. There, he met Mary Ann Weston Davis, a young widow. When Peter decided to travel to Nauvoo, Illinois, Mary Ann and her friend were in the same wagon train. This allowed them to get to know each other better.
After arriving in Nauvoo, Peter and Mary Ann decided to marry on November 2, 1841. They had eight children together.
Working in Nauvoo
In Nauvoo, Peter worked as a stonemason. He helped build the Nauvoo Temple, an important church building. The family lived in Nauvoo for about two and a half years. Then, Peter was sent to Rock Island, Illinois, to mine coal. This coal was used by families in Nauvoo.
When problems arose in Nauvoo, and many Church members began to leave, Peter's family was told to close the mines. They were to prepare for a long journey to the West.
Journey to the Salt Lake Valley
In April 1846, Peter's family moved to New Diggings, Wisconsin. Peter and his two older sons worked in the lead mines there. Money was very hard to come by. Supporting a large family and buying two wagons for the journey was expensive. Because of this, the family stayed in New Diggings until April 1850.
They found lead ore on their own property, which helped them greatly. They were able to earn the final $800 they needed in just eight weeks. This allowed them to buy all the equipment and supplies for the long trip to the Salt Lake Valley.
They arrived in Salt Lake City on September 15, 1850. After resting for a week, they were sent to Tooele.
Settling Cache Valley
The next five years in Tooele were full of challenges. The soil was poor, and there wasn't enough water. They also faced problems with grasshoppers and local Native American tribes. Despite these difficulties, Peter Maughan served in the local government. He worked as the county clerk and assessor.
Leading the Cache Valley Settlement
In July 1856, Brigham Young asked Peter Maughan to lead a group of men from Tooele. Their goal was to find a good place for a permanent settlement in Cache Valley. After looking over the area, they decided to settle the valley. Peter Maughan was chosen to lead this new group.
They arrived at what is now called Wellsville on September 15, 1856. They began to build a settlement first known as Maughan's Fort. The settlement of Wellsville soon grew larger. Other communities in the area were also founded.
Peter Maughan was called to be the main local leader, or presiding bishop, of Cache Valley. He oversaw the different local church groups in the valley. In 1860, following directions from Brigham Young, he moved his family to Logan.
Public Service and Later Life
Peter Maughan served as the president of the Cache Valley local church district, called a stake. He was also a judge for local legal matters in Cache County. He was a member of the territorial legislature, which was part of the government that made laws for the area. He also held the rank of colonel in the Nauvoo Legion, a local defense group in Utah.
For a time, Peter Maughan also served as the regional presiding bishop in Cache County.
Peter Maughan married Elizabeth Francis Preator on December 8, 1866, in a special church building. Peter and Elizabeth had three children: Frances Mary, Heber Chase, and Ada Lucille.
Peter Maughan became sick with pneumonia and passed away on April 24, 1871, at the age of 60. He was buried in the Logan cemetery.
