Thomas William Whitaker

(Taken from a pamphlet issued at Whitaker Family Reunion July 18. 1953)

Thomas William Whitaker was the only son of Thomas James Whitaker and Mary Betts.  He was born 16 May 1822 at Rotherhithe, Surrey, England.  His family were gifted artists and musicians and were especially adept at the mechanical skills.

His family members were of the Church of England.  Thomas was baptized as an infant into that church.  His mother reportedly was slender and beautiful with a lovely, clear complexion.  She died when he was 16 years old.

Thomas received his education in English schools where his chief interests were music and art.  While yet in school, he painted a portrait of himself in oils by looking in the mirror.  This is now hanging in the Utah State Capitol (1953) and is a good likeness of him at the age of 16.  For six years, he was apprenticed as a shipbuilder and here learned boat construction and navigation.

In his home, the Bible became as much a part of the family routine as the daily meals.  Here he received the basic concepts which guided him throughout his life.  Later on John Seamon said of him, “His word was his honor and as good as his bond.  It did not have to be put down in ‘black and white’.”

With his mother gone and his home broken, it was quite natural that Thomas became restless.  When his brother-in-law, who was in charge of a sailing vessel, suggested an ocean voyage, he readily accepted.  Thence began a series of journeys that took him three times around the globe and lasted 11 years.  He tells of hazardous expeditions into northern waters going so far north as to be in darkness for five months.  His journal recounted the excitement and perils of whale hunting with harpoons in small boats.  However, his eyes and thoughts ever turned to the South Sea Islands where he landed on his first voyage.  He learned the Tahitian language and made boats for the natives.  He received the deeds to a small plantation in reward.  He often spoke of these beautiful islands with a heartfelt longing.  He requested that should it be the privilege of any of his family to be called on a mission there, they should take the deeds to this land.  Unfortunately, during a family siege of small pox, all the papers in the house were burned including the deeds.

Early in 1849 when he was 27 years old, he came to California and worked as a joiner and builder.  He built the first six homes in San Bernardino.  He made a gold washing machine called a “cradle” and sold it for $16.00.  He could make one a day.

It was in California that he first heard the gospel from Thomas Grouard, Charles C. Rich, and Amasa Lyman.  Shortly thereafter, convinced of its truth, he joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 16 September 1849.  In the same year, he was called on a mission to the Society Islands where he spent the next two years.  He taught the language to the other elders and translated part of the Church works and a number of pamphlets into the Tahitian language.  He built boats for the elders, the natives, and also one for the General Authorities.  This was later used for general traffic through the Islands.

On his return to California, he brought with him a little native girl three years of age.  Her parents had died of small pox and had requested that Brother Whitaker become her guardian.  She was raised as one of the family and later married Alfred Slater of Huntsville.

He considered himself still doing missionary work when he again returned to San Bernardino and built “gratis” the homes of Charlie C. Rich and Amasa Lyman.  His comment was, “I can never repay those men for bringing me the Gospel.”

In 1856, he was called by Brother Rich to leave California and go to Salt Lake to look out after the Rich interests.

Soon the Johnson’s Army incident came to a head, and Thomas was summoned to join the Militia.  They made their way to Echo Canyon to guard the approach against the Army then encamped at Fort Bridger.

On his return to the Salt Lake Valley, he met Elizabeth Mills Oakden.  After a brief courtship, they were married 16 September 1858 by President Brigham Young in the Endowment House.  Their first house in Centerville was made of logs.  Later Thomas built a six room adobe house making the brick and carving, from raw lumber, the cupboards, tables, chairs and all the furniture items.  Thomas planted mulberry trees to feed the silk worms previously obtained from England.  President Young encouraged them to build a silk business, but lack of finances became the hindering obstacle.

Ten years after their marriage, after consultation with his wife Elizabeth, Thomas took Hannah Waddoups as a second wife.  Hannah lived in the front part of the house for two years, after which Thomas built a house for her on the upper mountain road.

Thomas made his living principally by building and carpentry.  He built many homes, churches and places of business including the Centerville Meeting House, Wells Fargo Stage, Baptist churches in Salt Lake City and in Idaho.  He took an active interest in the affairs of the town and in all community enterprises.  He formed a band which played for local dances and celebrations.  He was ever active and faithful in the Church.

On April 28, 1866, he died of a strangulated hernia.  He passed away acknowledging the goodness of the Lord to him and asked that his family follow the Gospel’s precepts.  He left a family of 20 to mourn his death.

TAKEN FROM JOURNAL OF THOMAS WILLIAM WHITAKER

“In consequence of my having a knowledge of the Tahitian language, I was sent on a mission to the Tahitian Islands.  Stayed nearly two years with Brother B. Grouard.  Imprisoned and tried for treason; but as nothing could be proved against us, our case was dismissed.  This circumstance was due to the French Catholic rule which held away in Tahiti at that time.  After meeting with much opposition, we returned again to California and soon arrive in San Bernardino – myself, my native wife, and a little girl we took to raise and named her Anne.  Anne was about 14 months old when I took her from her parents for adoption.  I took her to save her from the Small Pox of which her family were suffering and dying.  Anne was a native of Ana, one of the Barota Islands, Tahiti.’