Mini History - Shadrach ROUNDY

Shadrach helped build the Kirtland Temple
began 1833 completed 1836

Shadrach Roundy
(from a history written in the Deseret News)
Prepared by Joseph F. Buchanan

Shadrach Roundy, first Bishop of the Sixteenth Ward, Salt Lake City, Utah (from 1849 to 1856), was born Jan. 1, 1789, in Rockingham, Windham county, Vermont. When about twenty-five years old he married Betsy Quimby, of Essex county, Vermont, who bore him ten children--four sons and six daughters. He moved with his family to Onondago county, New York, and there heard of the gospel being revealed to Joseph Smith. In the winter of 1830-31 he left his home and traveled on horseback to see the Prophet Joseph, who then resided at Fayette, Seneca county, New York. After having an interview with the Prophet, he was baptized and became an honorable member of the Church. His wife and those of his children who were old enough also embraced the gospel about the same time. April 16, 1836, in Kirtland, Ohio, where the main body of the Church was then in conference assembled, he received a license to preach the gospel, having previously been ordained an Elder. Subsequently, he removed to Missouri, where he shared with the Saints in their persecutions, and afterward located temporarily in Warsaw, Ill. About the year 1840 he removed to Nauvoo, where he served as captain of police. In times of imminent danger and persecutions he acted as special guard around the person of the Prophet Joseph. On several occasions he was on duty without intermission, for many days and nights, without sleep or rest. His love for the Prophet was so great that he would have given his own life freely in defense of his beloved friend and brother. On one occasion, when the Prophet had been forewarned that he was in danger, he sent for Bro. Roundy and told him to pick a trusty man to be on guard with him at his house, as a party was coming that night by water to kidnap him. Bro. Roundy selected Josiah Arnold and placed him on guard at the gate, with orders to admit no one, while he himself took his beat by the river, but on hearing a noise he hastily repaired to the gate and found William Law inside the gate and others in the act of entering. Bro. Roundy, who had a hickory walking cane in his hand, quickly took hold of it at each end, and pressing it against the men forced them back outside, and then fastened the gate. William Law endeavored to explain that the men who were with him were gentlemen merchants, who wanted to see the mummies. Bro. Roundy replied that if they were gentlemen they should come at gentlemen's hours. William Law insisted that Brother Joseph would admit them; the admission fee was 25 cents for each. On their agreeing not to try to enter while he was gone, Bro. Roundy went to Joseph's room. The Prophet, who had overheard the conversation, told Elder Roundy to go back and tell the strangers as a message from him what he (Roundy) had already told them himself. Thus was the Prophet's life and property preserved by the courage and fidelity of Elder Roundy and associate. Elder Roundy came to Great Salt Lake valley as one of the pioneers of 1847, and was one of the three men who plowed the first furrow in Great Salt Lake valley.

An Enduring Legacy, Volume One, p.60
No. 4584. Large White Sugar Bowl with Lid. Belonged to Ann Hagerty, who was born November 28, 1819. She married [p.61] Robert James Wright and while they were in Nauvoo, Lydia Ann Wright was born. The family departed Nauvoo while Lydia was a baby, arriving in Utah in October, 1850. Just two weeks after their arrival both parents died. Lydia was taken into the home of Bishop Shadrack Roundy and here is where she lived until she was sixteen years of age and capable of earning her own living. At the time of her departure from his home, Bishop Roundy presented her with this sugar bowl, the only preserved possession of her mother.

History of the Church, Vol.6, Ch.6, p.149 At four p. m., I met with the city council. Having selected forty men to act as city policemen, they met with the Council, and were sworn into office to support the Constitution of the United States and the State of Illinois, and obey the ordinances of this city and the instructions of the Mayor, according to the best of their ability. Names of police called by Captain Jonathan Dunham: Jonathan Dunham, High Policeman, Charles C. Rich, 1st Lieutenant, Hosea Stout, 2nd Lieutenant, Shadrack Roundy, 3rd Lieut., John Pack, Ensign, Jesse P. Harmon, Orderly Sergt., John D. Lee, 2nd Sergeant, Daniel Carn, 3rd Sergeant, Josiah Arnold, 4th Sergeant, James Emmett, 1st Corporal, Alexander Mills, 2nd Corporal, Steven H. Goddard, 3rd Corporal, William Pace, 4th Corporal, Abraham C. Hodge, Pioneer, Levi W. Hancock, Fifer, Daniel M. Repsher, Fifer, Richard D. Sprague, Drummer, Samuel Billings, Drummer, Abraham O. Smoot, Dwight Harding, John Lytle, Simeon A. Dunn, Andrew Lytle. Appleton M. Harmon, Howard Egan, James Pace, Benjamin Boyce, Francis M. Edwards, Lorenzo Clark, William H. Edwards, Davies McOlney, Moses M. Sanders, Abram Palmer, Warren A. Smith, Isaac C. Haight, George W. Clyde, John L. Butler, Vernon H. Bruce, Elbridge Tufts, Armsted Moffet, Truman R. Barlow, Azra Adams.

see also: Biography of Shadrack Roundy. 1 vol.
Location: Springville Public Library Manuscripts Div., Springville, Utah, 84663. 1. Roundy, Shadrack 2. Biographies. File 3 Fd 42 ID: UTSW89-A3502 Guide to Archives and Manuscripts Collections In Selected Utah Repositories Autobiography titled "Great and Obvious Travails of Shadrack Roundy in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." Written at age eighty. Cursory. Conversion to Mormonism, move to Ohio, move to Missouri, move to Illinois. Counselor in bishopric. Captain of police force. In Nauvoo Legion. Westward move with pioneers, 1847. Member of state legislature. Bishop of Sixteenth Ward. Captain of militia company. Recrossed plains five times.

Roundy, Shadrack 1 Jan 1788 - 4 Jul 1872 The Revelations of The Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of The Doctrine and Covenants by Lyndon W. Cook. [Provo, Utah: Seventy's Mission Bookstore, c1981.] p.273

Roundy, Shadrack 1 Jan 1789 - Book of Remembrance of Sixteenth Ward -- Riverside Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [Salt Lake City, 1945.] p.134 The City In-Between: History of Centerville, Utah, Including Some Biographies and Autobiographies of Some of Its Original Settlers. First edition. [Centerville, Utah: Mary Ellen Smoot and Marilyn Sheriff, c1975.] p.255

Roundy, Shadrack 1789 - 1872 Mormon Manuscripts To 1846: A Guide To The Holdings of The Harold B. Lee Library compiled by Hyrum Leslie Andrus and Richard F. Bennett. [Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University, 1977.] p.144 Biographical sketch. Typescript. 3 pp. Born in Rockingham, Windham County, Vermont, son of Uriah Roundy. Marriage and family; removal to Onondaga County, New York; interview with Joseph Smith at Fayette, New York, in the winter of 1830-31; baptism and brief sketch of his life in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois; captain of police at Nauvoo, Illinois. Roundy, Shadrah 1 Jan 1788 - 4 Jul 1872 Pioneers of 1847 by Susan Ward Easton. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University, 1980. @ p.13 Wiggins, Marvin E. Mormons and Their Neighbors Wiggins, Marvin E. Mormons and Their Neighbors (Supplement) Later immigrants of 1847 Heart Throbs of the West, Vol.8, p.445 When this company of Fifty met the Pioneers, Capt. Lorenzo Roundy returned with them to Winter Quarters and his father Shadrach Roundy, who was returning eastward with the Pioneers took Capt. Roundy's place as captain of the first ten and returned to the valley.