William Madison Wall facts for kids

William Madison Wall (born September 30, 1821 – died September 18, 1869) was an important person in the early history of Utah Territory. He was a Mormon pioneer, an explorer, and a leader in towns like Provo, Heber, and Wallsburg, Utah. He also served as a military officer and a church leader.

Early Life and Challenges

William Madison Wall was born in North Carolina on September 30, 1821. His parents were Isaac Wall and Nancy Duncan. When William was only seven years old, his mother passed away. His father then placed William and his three siblings with different relatives.

William was sent to live with an uncle who treated him very poorly. He was so unhappy that he ran away. He was later found in Wayne County, Illinois. There, a kind family called the Haws took him in and treated him like their own son.

Joining the Pioneers

In 1842, William and the Haws family learned about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and decided to join. William helped to build an early settlement for the Latter-day Saints called Ramus, near Nauvoo, Illinois.

William was known for being a very strong and large man. The church leader, Joseph Smith, even called him "the most expert wrestler in Ramus." This showed how powerful he was.

William also served as a lieutenant in the Nauvoo Legion, which was like a local militia. He worked closely with other important leaders like Brigham Young and John Taylor. He faced some legal challenges but was eventually allowed to go free.

In 1850, William Wall traveled across the plains to Utah with a group of pioneers led by Warren Foote. William was a leader in this group, guiding a section of 50 people. During the journey, a child in the company died from a sickness called Cholera. William himself became very sick with cholera a few days later. The usual treatment was to avoid liquids, but William drank a lot of water and surprisingly recovered quickly.

Building New Communities

After arriving in Utah, William Wall moved to Provo. There, he continued to be a leader. He was called to be an early Bishop in Provo, which is a local church leader. He also served as a military captain for the community. Later, he became the City Marshall of Provo, helping to keep order in the town.

William was also a licensed attorney in Utah. He served as a prosecuting attorney and was the second sheriff of Utah County, Utah.

Challenges and Journeys

In 1853, a conflict known as the Walker War began. Brigham Young asked William Wall to travel south. His job was to warn other settlements and deal with some traders who were causing problems. William and his group traveled far south, checking on settlers and meeting with Native American chiefs. The conflict ended without William's further involvement.

William was later asked to go on a mission to Australia. After about a year, he was told to return to Utah because of a possible war with the United States. He sailed back with the people he had taught. This long trip took about 118 days. When he landed in California, he faced some danger but was able to continue his journey to Utah.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1855, a company was formed to build a road through Provo Canyon to Heber Valley. William Wall was put in charge of overseeing the construction of this important road. He also started a ranch in the south end of Heber Valley.

William spent the last two years of his life working hard to improve the road and develop his ranch. One day, he was shot in the chest, but the bullet hit his watch and was deflected, saving his life. He was shot twice during his lifetime, but neither time did he suffer serious harm, which was something he had been told would happen in a special blessing.

Even though his health began to decline, William continued to work on the road. He became very ill and passed away on the road at the age of 47.

William Madison Wall was buried in the Provo City Cemetery. One of the towns he helped to establish was later named Wallsburg in his honor, remembering his contributions to the area.