Samuel Francis (politician) facts for kids

Samuel Francis (1830–1906) was an important leader in both politics and religion in Utah Territory during the 1800s. He helped shape the community as a farmer, a lawyer, and a church leader.

Early Life and Joining the Church

Samuel Francis was born in 1830 in a town called Trowbridge, in Wiltshire, England. When he was 17 years old, in 1847, he decided to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His family did not agree with his choice.

Serving as a Missionary

In 1850, Samuel took on a leadership role for church missionaries in Sherborne, Dorset, England. He was given the title of an Elder. For a few years, he worked as a missionary in England, sharing his faith with others.

In 1854, he was asked to serve in the Swiss Mission. Soon after, he was put in charge of all Latter-day Saint activities in Italy. While there, he met Esther Charlotte Emily Weissbrodt, who was a school teacher. He taught her about his faith, and she decided to be baptized.

In February 1856, Samuel was moved to Geneva, Switzerland. His new job was to help Latter-day Saints from Switzerland move to the United States. He and Esther got married in Geneva in 1857. They had 10 children together, and all of them grew up to be adults. In 1858, he went back to England to work with another church leader named William Budge.

Moving to a New Home

Samuel Francis finished his missionary work in 1861. He and his family then moved to the United States. They arrived in Salt Lake City in the Utah Territory that fall.

In 1863, they moved to Morgan County. There, Samuel mostly worked as a farmer and a rancher, raising crops and animals.

Church Leadership in Morgan County

When the Morgan Stake (a local church area) was formed in 1877, Samuel Francis became a counselor to the stake president. He held this important position until 1900. At that time, he was honorably released from that role and was given the title of a Patriarch in the church.

Public Service and Law

Samuel Francis also served his community in many government roles. At different times, he worked as the county clerk (who keeps records), the county recorder (who records documents), the county attorney (who represents the county in legal matters), a justice of the peace (who handles minor legal cases), and a probate judge (who deals with wills and estates).

In 1886, he was chosen to be part of the Territorial Council. This was like the legislature, or law-making body, for the Utah Territory. For one two-year term, he represented a large area that included Morgan, Summit, Wasatch, and Uintah Counties.

After his time in the council, he became a lawyer in 1888. He continued to practice law for the rest of his life. He was also a member of the State Constitutional Convention, which was a group that helped write the rules for Utah when it became a state.