Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-04-28

SAMUEL wAosTArr.

Samuel Wagstaii, the subject of this
sketch, died of dropsy nj his home In
Americ N Fork city, April ID, 1897, after
protracted illness and considerable
suffering, and was buried the following
day at p. III. His remaius were laken
to the nesting house about noon, whore
large assembly had gathered TO pay
their last respects TO him, and to hear his
funeral sermon preached. The speakers
were VIM. Bramhall OF Springville, VIM.
Paxman, president VI Juab Stake. VIM.
NJ. Bromley, VIM. X. Webb. Thomas
Barratt ana Bishop VIM. b. Robinson,
all OF whom spoke in the highest terms
of the deceased and his many admirable
qualities.
Samuel Wagstafr was born Oct der 20,
1920, in the village OF Caldicot, parish OF
NOrthill, county Of Bediordshire, Eng
land, He was ono OF ~ family OF eleven,
seven OF whom obeyed he Gospel, and
six OF them emigrated to Utah. His
mother also came te this country, and
died in 1885, AZ Lehi, Utah county. He
married Lucy Maria Webb in England
on December 70, 1910. She bore him
nine children, ali of whom survives. OK
cop one. He embraced the Gospel in
1919, and immigrated 10 Utah in 1867.
On mis- arrival he came direct TO Amerl-
can Fork, and STAYED there continually
VII us bcNbhNsA
wives, two OF them are dead, and the
o,her two survive him. One OF tho
Las or Is blind and was in this sad state
when married. He served II term of inn
prisonment in the Utah peni entiary, in
1888, for conscience sake. and
it Is from a sketch OF his
life written while there, mat this snm-
mary, in parI, is prepared. He leaves
eleven children, tif.een grandchildren
and aiIhL -UTanhph lid
Brother Ways All was prominent and
active worker ia the Church OF Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints from the
time oil his CONVERSION and baptism up
TO the day OF hi. dea h., and thought no
sacrifice 90 great in the discharge of his
dudes. He presided for q good many
years over branch OF tho Church IN
| his native land, and through his un-
, wavering faith and kindness won the
| love and confidence of ali its members.
| Soon after he settled In American Fork
| he was appointed by Bishop l.. t. Har-
| rington 10 act as one of tho pre-
siding Teachers of the ward, which posi-.
| uon he has allied with marked success
ever aimee. He WAS an active Sunday
| school worker up 10 a lew years ago,
when tue Bishop released him from shat
capacity, SO that he might have more
| time 10 lend his energies IN other ncees-
slry direc ions. III his position "a pre-
| siding ward Teacher he was eminenlly
successful and was great help 10 the
| Bishopric OF the ward, as he seldom
| failed 10 Satisfactorily adjust difficulties
between discoTdant and refractory nom
! bers within the purview OF his jurisdic.
| tiOn. For the last few years of his life,
he made H. his especial business to yisii
the homes OF the afii cted md do wncast
| and TO administer words OF cheer and
comfort 10 them; he would arrange to
go TO the homes OF the old and feeble
and admins or the Sacrament 10 them
on tho sabbath day, aud when he
could get lew OF them together at their
homes, he would hold a shorJ meeting
with them, and give them chance u
| speak Of Gods goodness II they felt sc
inclined. Thus many a poor old soul
was made TO reIoica who was unable 10
| go to the public meetings.
Like many more OF the Latter day
Saints who have ga hered from The Old
World, Brother Ways at was entirely
OUT OF taste with the prevailing dogmai
OF aeciarianism and VAS anNlously look
ing and waiting for something better
| and higher 10 appeasc his soul which he
found 10 his great joy In the Gospel mes
sage delivered To him through tho in.
slfumentali,y OF Joseph Smith tho groa,
| Prophet Of the nineteenth century. In
1910, the year in which the deceased
oDeyed the Gospel, the tide of prejudice
ran high in England against tho Latter
day Saints and their missionaries, and
1t was hard for them TO get places
III which to hold their meet
ings. Brother "agstan opened
his house 10 them for this purpose, and
US he lived In rented house, wa