The Life Story of Charles Goulding Shill

Contributed By

as told by his son, Wright Painter Shill.

Father and Mother were born in Gloucester County, near Cheltenham, England. Father on 12 February 1821 and Mother on 16 March 1848. although they were born and spent their early childhood in the same neighborhood, they were not acquainted in England.

Father married when about 21 years of age to Harriet Webb. he worked at various types of employment in the area until about 1850, when he joined his brother, John, in London where his brother had a contract on the Crystal Palace. While in London father received a letter from his Mother expressing her gratitude and love to him for his love and help toward his Father and Mother and other members of the family. The Lord told Moses in the Ten Commandments, "Honor your Father and Mother that thy days may be long upon the land." This promise was surely fulfilled in Father's behalf, living into his ninetieth year.

Father worked in London with his brother, John, in the early 1850's and devoted much time to preaching the restored Gospel. He was appointed president of the branch, and through his labors was able to pay a considerable debt the branch owed. While in London his Mother died, and his Father came to London to live with him. While working there he contributed to the Perpetual Emigration Fund, which was to provide means for the Saints to come to America. When Father had contributed sufficient money to this fund to pay for his, his wife's and Father's way to America, he was released from the branch presidency and moved to Liverpool, where he took passage on the sailing vessel Zimberozo, landing at Philadelphia in 1855.

From Philadelphia, Father and family went by train to Pittsburgh, then by boat down the Ohio River and up the Mississippi River to St. Louis where he worked for two years on the river boats. The first year he was in St. Louis his Father died. He traveled by ox team across the plains, and served as chaplain of the company. He arrived in Salt Lake valley in the early fall of 1857, at the time when Johnson's Army was preparing to march on Salt Lake Valley. He and others were sent out to Morgan County in the mountains to intercept this march.

President Brigham Young had all the families in Salt Lake City move to Provo in case Johnson's army did come into the valley, they would find it deserted. When Father came back to Salt Lake City his family was in Provo so we walked the forty miles to bring his family back to Salt Lake.

The Pacific Railroad was being built into Ogden, Utah and Father moved to Croyden, Morgan, Utah, where he settled on a 40 acre farm and worked on the railroad. He met Mother in Salt Lake City in 1866 who emigrated from England and they were married in the Endowment House. They lived in Croyden until 1880 when they moved to Arizona settling on land in Lehi Valley. They came by railroad to Maricopa, then freighted by wagon to Tempe. Thomas Piercy Biggs hauled the family from Tempe in his wagon to Lehi. He later became their son in-law. They lived in Lehi the remainder of their lives, Father died 19 June 1910 and Mother 20 June 1931.

Father and Mother were very much attached to each other. They had their little differences but there was a deep love between them. Father always gave Mother a good night kiss as they retired for the night. Mother always provided a cup of tea and small lunch in mid-afternoon which Father enjoyed. They were wonderful parents and I honor and revere their memory.

Wright P. Shill (28 march 1970)