Lyman Wight
Born: 9 May 1796
Called to Quorum of the Twelve: 8 April 1841
Excommunicated: 3 December 1848
Died: 31 March 1858
Called to Quorum of the Twelve: 8 April 1841
Excommunicated: 3 December 1848
Died: 31 March 1858
Biographical Articles
Biographical Encyclopedia, Volume 1
Biographical Encyclopedia, Volume 4
Improvement Era, January 1954, Lyman Wight - In Early Texas
Biographical Encyclopedia, Volume 4
Improvement Era, January 1954, Lyman Wight - In Early Texas
Jenson, Andrew. "Wight, Lyman." Biographical Encyclopedia. Volume 1. pg. 93-96.
WIGHT. Lyman, a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles from 1841 to 1849, was the son of Levi Wight and Sarah Corbon and was born May 9, 1796, in the township of Fairfield, Herkimer county. New York. He served the Republic in the war of 1812-15 with Great Britain. He united with Isaac Morley and others in forming a society in Kirtland, Ohio, conducted on the common stock principle, being one phase in the rise and progress of the Campbellite Church. He was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints by Oliver Cowdery in 1830, and was soon afterwards ordained to the office of an Elder. He was ordained to the office of a High Priest by Joseph Smith, at a conference held at Kirtland, in June, 1831. While at that conference he testified he had a vision and saw the Savior. He went to Missouri in 1831, by revelation, and soon after went to Cincinnati on a mission to preach the gospel. On arriving in that city he called at a hotel and engaged his board for several weeks. The landlord asked him what his business was. He replied he was a preacher of the gospel after the order of Melchisedek. He created so much curiosity that they wished to hear him preach. He told them that was his business, and if they would open the court house he would do so willingly. They obtained the house, and he delivered a series of lectures and built up a branch of the Church, and baptized upwards of one hundred. The family of Higbees were among the first baptized; they were fishermen, and Wight would fish with them through the day and preach at night. One evening he went from the fish net to the court house, and stood on the top of a stove barefooted with his trousers. rolled up to his knees, and his shirt sleeves up to his elbows, and preached two hours. Some of the people remarked, "He preaches the truth, though he does not look much like a preacher." Many that he baptized went to Jackson county, Missouri, and were with him through the persecutions of 1833. During that persecution he was a dread to his enemies and a terror to evil doers, and his life was often sought after. He commanded the brethren in Jackson county In their defense against the mob. In one instance he was chased by seven men about six miles; they were fully armed and came upon him so suddenly that he had to mount his horse with a blind bridle, without any saddle or arms, except a pocket knife. His horse being fleet, he escaped by out-running them and leaping a deep wide ditch, where none of his pursuers dared to follow. July 23, 1833, he signed an agreement with others that the Saints would leave Jackson county before the first day of January, 1834: but before that time they were all driven out. After the Saints were driven out of Jackson county into Clay county, volunteers were called for to go and visit the Prophet at Kirtland. Several of the Elders were asked by Bishop Partridge if they could go; but they made excuses. Lyman Wight then stepped forward, and said he could go as well as not. The Bishop asked him what situation his family was in. He replied, his wife lay by the side of a log in the woods, with a child three days old. and he had three days' provision on hand; so he thought he could go very well. Parley P. Pratt next volunteered, and they went together to Kirtland in February, 1834. On their arrival at Kirtland, the Prophet obtained the word of the Lord and they were commanded to gather up the strength of the Lord's house to go up to Zion, and it was the will of the Lord that there should be five hundred men, but not to go up short of one hundred. In fulfilment of this commandment, Lyman Wight went through Pennsylvania, and he attended a conference at Avon, New York, March 15, 1834; he also went through Michigan, northern Indiana and Illinois, and assisted Hyrum Smith in gathering up a company of eighteen, who joined Zion's Camp at Salt river. Missouri. June 8, 1834, where the camp was re-organized, and Lyman Wight was appointed the second officer. He walked the whole journey from Michigan to Clay county without stockings on his feet. By the appointment of Joseph Smith he gave a written discharge to each member of the camp when they were dismissed. July 3, 1834, he was ordained one of the High Council of Missouri. He was one of the signers of an appeal to the world, making a proclamation of peace in Missouri, in July, 1834. and spent the summer of 1834 in Clay county, Missouri. He took a job of making 100.- 000 bricks, and building a large brickhouse for Col. Michael Arthur in Clay county; Wilford Woodruff, Milton Holmes, Heman T. Hyde and Stephen and Benjamin Winchester labored for him through the season. Being counseled to go to Kirtland and get his endowment. Elder Wight started in the fall of 1835, and preached his way through to Kirtland, baptizing such as would receive his testimony. While on the journey he called at the city of Richmond. Indiana, and gave out an appointment to preach in the court house. He walked through the city, and, being a stranger, was unknown: but wherever he went the people were blackguarding the "Mormons," and many declared they would tar and feather the preacher when he came to meeting that night. At the time of appointment Elder Wight was at hi? post. There being no light provided, he went and bought candles and lighted the room. The house was soon filled with men who brought tar and feathers for the "Mormon" Elder. He preached about two hours, reproving them most severely for their meanness, wickedness and mobocratic spirit. At the close of the meeting he said, "If there is a gentleman in this congregation, I wish he would invite me to stay with him over night," whereupon a gentleman stepped forward and tendered him an invitation, which he willingly accepted. His host said, "Mr. Wight, it is astonishing how you have become so well acquainted with the people here, for you have described them very correctly." He was kindly entertained and furnished with money in the morning to aid him on his journey. He spent the winter of 1835-36 in Kirtland. and received his endowment. He returned to Missouri in 1836. David W. Patten having preferred a charge against Elder Wight for teaching false doctrine, he was tried before the High Council at Far West, April 24, 1837. It was decided that he did teach false doctrine. He made the required acknowledgements. He opposed the selling of land in Jackson county. Mo., and considered Wm. W. Phelps and John Whitmer in transgression for selling theirs. June 28, 1838, he was chosen and ordained second counselor to John Smith, president of the Stake at Adam-ondi-Ahman, by Joseph Smith. Sheriff Morgan, of Daviess county, had agitated the people of the surrounding counties, by asserting that he had writs against Joseph Smith and Lyman Wight, which he could not serve without endangering his life. He invited the people to assemble together in Daviess county, with their arms, so that he could summon them as a posse comitatus to make the arrest. The real design was to murder Joseph Smith and Lyman Wight, as they had not offered any resistance; neither had the sheriff made any attempt to arrest them. They went before Justice Austin A. King, at Ragland's farm, to allay this excitement, and gave bonds in the sum of $250 for their appearance in court. Elder Wight subsequently went before three mobocratic magistrates, under the protection of General Atchison's militia, and gave bonds for his appearance in court, in the sum of $1,000, on a charge of misdemeanor. This examination was had in Atchison's camp at Netherton Spring, Daviess county, surrounded by several hundreds of the mob, and about one hundred militia. His life was repeatedly threatened, and it required the energy of Generals Atchison and Doniphan to prevent his murder. At the close of this examination, he asked for thirty writs against members of the mob, but was refused. He was commissioned a colonel in the militia of Caldwell county, previous to his removal to Daviess county, and in that county he commanded his brethren while defending themselves against the mob. In October, 1838, after learning that Far West was surrounded by a mob. he raised fifty-three volunteers in Adam-ondi-Ahman, (25 miles distant), and repaired immediately to Far West to aid in its defense, where, with Joseph and Hyrum Smith and others, he was betrayed into the hands of his enemies, by Col. Geo. M. Hinkle, on the 31st; and was sentenced by a court-martial to be shot next morning (Nov. 1st) at 8 o'clock. During the evening. Gen. Moses Wilson took him out by himself, and tried to induce him to betray Joseph Smith, and swear falsely against him; at which time the following conversation took place: General Wilson said, "Col. Wight, we have nothing against you, only that you are associated with Joe Smith. He is our enemy and a damned rascal, and would take any plait he could to kill us. You are a damned fine fellow; and if you will come out and swear against him, we will spare your life, and give you any office you want; and if you don't do it, you will be shot tomorrow at 8 o'clock." Col. Wight replied, "Gen. Wilson, you are entirely mistaken in your man. both in regard to myself and Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith is not an enemy to mankind, he is not your enemy, and is as good a friend as you have got. Had it not been for him, you would have been in hell long ago, for I should have sent you there, by cutting your throat, and no other man but Joseph Smith could have prevented me, and you may thank him for your life. And now, if you will give me the boys I brought from Di-ahman yesterday. I will whip your whole army." Wilson said, "Wight, you are a strange man; but if you will not accept my proposal, you will be shot tomorrow morning at 8." Col. Wight replied, "Shoot and he damned." This was the true character of Lyman Wight; he was true as the sun to Joseph Smith, and would die for his friends. He was taken to Jackson county, with Joseph, Hyrum and other prisoners. They were chained together and fed on human flesh in prison by their Christian guards, and he continued to suffer with his brethren until April 15, 1839, when he started with Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Alex. McRae and Caleb Baldwin and guard, to go to jail in Columbia, Boone county, but on the night of the 16th, the sheriff fell asleep, the guard got drunk, and the prisoners left them, and went to their families and friends in Illinois. Oct. 20, 1839, Lyman Wight and Reynolds Cahoon were appointed counselors to John Smith, president of the Saints in Iowa Territory. In January, 1841, El der Wight was called by revelation to be one of the Nauvoo House Association. At the April conference following he was called and appointed to be one of the Twelve Apostles, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of David W. Patten. He was chosen and sustained in that position on April 8, 1841. He was also commissioned a brevet major-general of the Illinois militia, by Gov. Carlin. In 1842 he went to Kirtland, and rebaptized about two hundred of the cold, dead members of the Church, and brought many of them to Nauvoo. July 1, 1843, he was examined as a witness before the municipal court of Nauvoo, and gave a plain, unvarnished account of the persecution against the Saints in Missouri, and of the sufferings of Joseph Smith and his fellow prisoners. During the winter of 1843-44, he was employed in the Pine country, at Black river, Wisconsin Territory, superintending the procuring of lumber for the Temple and Nauvoo House. In a letter directed to the Presidency and Twelve, dated Black River Falls, Feb. 15, 1844, he wrote his views about preaching to the Indians and going to Texas. In the spring of 1844, he started on a mission through the Eastern States, and was appointed one of the delegates of the Baltimore Convention. He delivered a speech on Bunker Hill, on Gen. Joseph Smith's claims to the presidency of the United States; and on hearing of the death of Joseph, he returned to Nauvoo with the Twelve. After his return to Nauvoo, he said, "I would not turn my hand over to be one of the Twelve; the day was when there was somebody to control me, but that day is past." When the Church removed to the Rocky Mountains, Lyman Wight and Geo. Miller, who both rebelled against the authority of Pres. Brigham Young, went to Texas with a small company of Saints, and settled a short distance south of the present site of Austin. Wight and Miller subsequently dissolved partnership, and Miller returned 130 miles north with a part of the company. At a meeting held in the Great Salt Lake City fort, Dec. 3, 1848, fellowship was withdrawn from both Wight and Miller. Mr. Wight remained in Texas until his death, which occurred March 31, 18.S8, in Mountain Valley. He died very suddenly of epileptic fits, having been sick only five hours. The company of Saints who went with him and Miller to Texas had been scattered to the four winds. Some of them, however, were subsequently received back into the Church by rebaptism. (See also "Millennial Star," Vol. 27, p. 455.)
WIGHT. Lyman, a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles from 1841 to 1849, was the son of Levi Wight and Sarah Corbon and was born May 9, 1796, in the township of Fairfield, Herkimer county. New York. He served the Republic in the war of 1812-15 with Great Britain. He united with Isaac Morley and others in forming a society in Kirtland, Ohio, conducted on the common stock principle, being one phase in the rise and progress of the Campbellite Church. He was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints by Oliver Cowdery in 1830, and was soon afterwards ordained to the office of an Elder. He was ordained to the office of a High Priest by Joseph Smith, at a conference held at Kirtland, in June, 1831. While at that conference he testified he had a vision and saw the Savior. He went to Missouri in 1831, by revelation, and soon after went to Cincinnati on a mission to preach the gospel. On arriving in that city he called at a hotel and engaged his board for several weeks. The landlord asked him what his business was. He replied he was a preacher of the gospel after the order of Melchisedek. He created so much curiosity that they wished to hear him preach. He told them that was his business, and if they would open the court house he would do so willingly. They obtained the house, and he delivered a series of lectures and built up a branch of the Church, and baptized upwards of one hundred. The family of Higbees were among the first baptized; they were fishermen, and Wight would fish with them through the day and preach at night. One evening he went from the fish net to the court house, and stood on the top of a stove barefooted with his trousers. rolled up to his knees, and his shirt sleeves up to his elbows, and preached two hours. Some of the people remarked, "He preaches the truth, though he does not look much like a preacher." Many that he baptized went to Jackson county, Missouri, and were with him through the persecutions of 1833. During that persecution he was a dread to his enemies and a terror to evil doers, and his life was often sought after. He commanded the brethren in Jackson county In their defense against the mob. In one instance he was chased by seven men about six miles; they were fully armed and came upon him so suddenly that he had to mount his horse with a blind bridle, without any saddle or arms, except a pocket knife. His horse being fleet, he escaped by out-running them and leaping a deep wide ditch, where none of his pursuers dared to follow. July 23, 1833, he signed an agreement with others that the Saints would leave Jackson county before the first day of January, 1834: but before that time they were all driven out. After the Saints were driven out of Jackson county into Clay county, volunteers were called for to go and visit the Prophet at Kirtland. Several of the Elders were asked by Bishop Partridge if they could go; but they made excuses. Lyman Wight then stepped forward, and said he could go as well as not. The Bishop asked him what situation his family was in. He replied, his wife lay by the side of a log in the woods, with a child three days old. and he had three days' provision on hand; so he thought he could go very well. Parley P. Pratt next volunteered, and they went together to Kirtland in February, 1834. On their arrival at Kirtland, the Prophet obtained the word of the Lord and they were commanded to gather up the strength of the Lord's house to go up to Zion, and it was the will of the Lord that there should be five hundred men, but not to go up short of one hundred. In fulfilment of this commandment, Lyman Wight went through Pennsylvania, and he attended a conference at Avon, New York, March 15, 1834; he also went through Michigan, northern Indiana and Illinois, and assisted Hyrum Smith in gathering up a company of eighteen, who joined Zion's Camp at Salt river. Missouri. June 8, 1834, where the camp was re-organized, and Lyman Wight was appointed the second officer. He walked the whole journey from Michigan to Clay county without stockings on his feet. By the appointment of Joseph Smith he gave a written discharge to each member of the camp when they were dismissed. July 3, 1834, he was ordained one of the High Council of Missouri. He was one of the signers of an appeal to the world, making a proclamation of peace in Missouri, in July, 1834. and spent the summer of 1834 in Clay county, Missouri. He took a job of making 100.- 000 bricks, and building a large brickhouse for Col. Michael Arthur in Clay county; Wilford Woodruff, Milton Holmes, Heman T. Hyde and Stephen and Benjamin Winchester labored for him through the season. Being counseled to go to Kirtland and get his endowment. Elder Wight started in the fall of 1835, and preached his way through to Kirtland, baptizing such as would receive his testimony. While on the journey he called at the city of Richmond. Indiana, and gave out an appointment to preach in the court house. He walked through the city, and, being a stranger, was unknown: but wherever he went the people were blackguarding the "Mormons," and many declared they would tar and feather the preacher when he came to meeting that night. At the time of appointment Elder Wight was at hi? post. There being no light provided, he went and bought candles and lighted the room. The house was soon filled with men who brought tar and feathers for the "Mormon" Elder. He preached about two hours, reproving them most severely for their meanness, wickedness and mobocratic spirit. At the close of the meeting he said, "If there is a gentleman in this congregation, I wish he would invite me to stay with him over night," whereupon a gentleman stepped forward and tendered him an invitation, which he willingly accepted. His host said, "Mr. Wight, it is astonishing how you have become so well acquainted with the people here, for you have described them very correctly." He was kindly entertained and furnished with money in the morning to aid him on his journey. He spent the winter of 1835-36 in Kirtland. and received his endowment. He returned to Missouri in 1836. David W. Patten having preferred a charge against Elder Wight for teaching false doctrine, he was tried before the High Council at Far West, April 24, 1837. It was decided that he did teach false doctrine. He made the required acknowledgements. He opposed the selling of land in Jackson county. Mo., and considered Wm. W. Phelps and John Whitmer in transgression for selling theirs. June 28, 1838, he was chosen and ordained second counselor to John Smith, president of the Stake at Adam-ondi-Ahman, by Joseph Smith. Sheriff Morgan, of Daviess county, had agitated the people of the surrounding counties, by asserting that he had writs against Joseph Smith and Lyman Wight, which he could not serve without endangering his life. He invited the people to assemble together in Daviess county, with their arms, so that he could summon them as a posse comitatus to make the arrest. The real design was to murder Joseph Smith and Lyman Wight, as they had not offered any resistance; neither had the sheriff made any attempt to arrest them. They went before Justice Austin A. King, at Ragland's farm, to allay this excitement, and gave bonds in the sum of $250 for their appearance in court. Elder Wight subsequently went before three mobocratic magistrates, under the protection of General Atchison's militia, and gave bonds for his appearance in court, in the sum of $1,000, on a charge of misdemeanor. This examination was had in Atchison's camp at Netherton Spring, Daviess county, surrounded by several hundreds of the mob, and about one hundred militia. His life was repeatedly threatened, and it required the energy of Generals Atchison and Doniphan to prevent his murder. At the close of this examination, he asked for thirty writs against members of the mob, but was refused. He was commissioned a colonel in the militia of Caldwell county, previous to his removal to Daviess county, and in that county he commanded his brethren while defending themselves against the mob. In October, 1838, after learning that Far West was surrounded by a mob. he raised fifty-three volunteers in Adam-ondi-Ahman, (25 miles distant), and repaired immediately to Far West to aid in its defense, where, with Joseph and Hyrum Smith and others, he was betrayed into the hands of his enemies, by Col. Geo. M. Hinkle, on the 31st; and was sentenced by a court-martial to be shot next morning (Nov. 1st) at 8 o'clock. During the evening. Gen. Moses Wilson took him out by himself, and tried to induce him to betray Joseph Smith, and swear falsely against him; at which time the following conversation took place: General Wilson said, "Col. Wight, we have nothing against you, only that you are associated with Joe Smith. He is our enemy and a damned rascal, and would take any plait he could to kill us. You are a damned fine fellow; and if you will come out and swear against him, we will spare your life, and give you any office you want; and if you don't do it, you will be shot tomorrow at 8 o'clock." Col. Wight replied, "Gen. Wilson, you are entirely mistaken in your man. both in regard to myself and Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith is not an enemy to mankind, he is not your enemy, and is as good a friend as you have got. Had it not been for him, you would have been in hell long ago, for I should have sent you there, by cutting your throat, and no other man but Joseph Smith could have prevented me, and you may thank him for your life. And now, if you will give me the boys I brought from Di-ahman yesterday. I will whip your whole army." Wilson said, "Wight, you are a strange man; but if you will not accept my proposal, you will be shot tomorrow morning at 8." Col. Wight replied, "Shoot and he damned." This was the true character of Lyman Wight; he was true as the sun to Joseph Smith, and would die for his friends. He was taken to Jackson county, with Joseph, Hyrum and other prisoners. They were chained together and fed on human flesh in prison by their Christian guards, and he continued to suffer with his brethren until April 15, 1839, when he started with Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Alex. McRae and Caleb Baldwin and guard, to go to jail in Columbia, Boone county, but on the night of the 16th, the sheriff fell asleep, the guard got drunk, and the prisoners left them, and went to their families and friends in Illinois. Oct. 20, 1839, Lyman Wight and Reynolds Cahoon were appointed counselors to John Smith, president of the Saints in Iowa Territory. In January, 1841, El der Wight was called by revelation to be one of the Nauvoo House Association. At the April conference following he was called and appointed to be one of the Twelve Apostles, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of David W. Patten. He was chosen and sustained in that position on April 8, 1841. He was also commissioned a brevet major-general of the Illinois militia, by Gov. Carlin. In 1842 he went to Kirtland, and rebaptized about two hundred of the cold, dead members of the Church, and brought many of them to Nauvoo. July 1, 1843, he was examined as a witness before the municipal court of Nauvoo, and gave a plain, unvarnished account of the persecution against the Saints in Missouri, and of the sufferings of Joseph Smith and his fellow prisoners. During the winter of 1843-44, he was employed in the Pine country, at Black river, Wisconsin Territory, superintending the procuring of lumber for the Temple and Nauvoo House. In a letter directed to the Presidency and Twelve, dated Black River Falls, Feb. 15, 1844, he wrote his views about preaching to the Indians and going to Texas. In the spring of 1844, he started on a mission through the Eastern States, and was appointed one of the delegates of the Baltimore Convention. He delivered a speech on Bunker Hill, on Gen. Joseph Smith's claims to the presidency of the United States; and on hearing of the death of Joseph, he returned to Nauvoo with the Twelve. After his return to Nauvoo, he said, "I would not turn my hand over to be one of the Twelve; the day was when there was somebody to control me, but that day is past." When the Church removed to the Rocky Mountains, Lyman Wight and Geo. Miller, who both rebelled against the authority of Pres. Brigham Young, went to Texas with a small company of Saints, and settled a short distance south of the present site of Austin. Wight and Miller subsequently dissolved partnership, and Miller returned 130 miles north with a part of the company. At a meeting held in the Great Salt Lake City fort, Dec. 3, 1848, fellowship was withdrawn from both Wight and Miller. Mr. Wight remained in Texas until his death, which occurred March 31, 18.S8, in Mountain Valley. He died very suddenly of epileptic fits, having been sick only five hours. The company of Saints who went with him and Miller to Texas had been scattered to the four winds. Some of them, however, were subsequently received back into the Church by rebaptism. (See also "Millennial Star," Vol. 27, p. 455.)
Jenson, Andrew. "Wight, Lyman." Biographical Encyclopedia. Volume 4. pg. 333.
WIGHT, Lyman, president of the Eastern States Mission from 1843 to 1844. (See Bio. Ency., Vol. 1, p. 93.)
WIGHT, Lyman, president of the Eastern States Mission from 1843 to 1844. (See Bio. Ency., Vol. 1, p. 93.)
Booth, C. C. "Lyman Wight - In Early Texas." Improvement Era. January 1954. pg. 26-27, 62-63.
Lyman Wight In Early Texas by Major C C. Booth FORMERLY PRESIDENT, WEST DALLAS BRANCH EDITOR'S NOTE Major C. C. Booth, the author, was born in Texas about thirty miles from Webber's Prairie, site of Lyman Wight's first colony. Both of his grandfathers were ex-Confederate officers, so he attended many of the Confederate reunions with them as a boy. He remembers well having a body of men pointed out to him as "those Mormons." He reports that they were looked upon rather with awe than with contempt. Major Booth has a colorful record as a soldier, having served under five different flags and governments. He is a convert to the Church and for a number of years has been president of the West Dallas L.D.S. Branch. The author wishes to acknowledge the assistance of J. Marvin Hunter of the Bandera, Texas, Museum; of Noah Smithwick, author of The Evolution of a State; of Don H. Biggers and his book, The German Pioneers in Texas; also of Dean T. U. Taylor's writings regarding these people and times; of his good wife for her aid in securing and compiling this data and taking pictures, and of all others who have assisted in any way. Four miles south of Fredericksburg, Texas, is a lonely monument erected by the Lone Star State to a town which was deserted over a hundred years ago, a man whose mortal remains have lain there since 1858, and a people who ceased to exist as an organized group upon the death of that man. Inscribed on the monument are the words, "Site of Zodiac, a Mormon settlement established in 1847 by 150 Mormons under the leadership of Lyman Wight. Abandoned in 1851 when floods destroyed their mill." Except for marking the grave of Lyman Wight, the monument might just as logically have been placed in any one of several other locations, for Lyman Wight and his followers established settlements and built homes and mills only to abandon them when the mills were washed out. Another monument, erected by the state of Texas to Lyman Wight and his followers, is located at the site of a settlement on Hamilton Creek. The inscription on the monument reads: "Site of a settlement made in 1851 by 20 Mormon families under the leadership of Lyman Wight 1796- 1858. Here they built homes, lumber mills and shops, for the manufacture of furniture. Abandoned in 1853." The story of Lyman Wight and his followers and their struggle to build a colony in Texas is an interesting if pathetic one. Lyman Wight was born in Fairfield, New York, May 9, 1796, and saw valiant service in the War of 1812. He was married to Harriet Bradley in about 1826. They moved to Cuyahoga County, Ohio. It was while living in Ohio that Lyman Wight became converted to the Church and was baptized by Oliver Cowdery in 1830. Eleven years later, April 8, 1841, the Prophet Joseph Smith ordained him an Apostle and set him apart as a member of the Council of the Twelve Apostles. Wight was called to head the Black River Lumber Company, created for the purpose of securing lumber for the new temple at Nauvoo. He was in Wisconsin cutting lumber for the temple, then under construction, at the time of the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum, the Patriarch. Wight was a man of almost fanatical love for the Prophet and had faced death to defend him. But after the Prophet's death he decided to go to Texas, taking with him what followers he could recruit. Selling the mills in Wisconsin and some lumber that had already been sawed, in 1845, Wight headed the Black River Lumber Company southward down the Missouri River in four homemade boats. Between 150 and 200 people were in his party. On April 13 they landed just north of Davenport, Ohio, where they remained until May 12 preparing for the overland journey. In the summer of 1846 the company arrived at Webber's Prairie on the Colorado River about sixteen miles southeast of Austin, Texas. Here they built homes, a dam, a gristmill, woodworking factory, and erected a two-story frame building. This structure was used as a storage house on the first floor and as a "temple" on the second floor. Wight also built himself a large log house in which he lived. This house still stands today after more than one hundred years. When the milldam washed out at Webber's Prairie, Wight took his colony about twenty miles west to the foot of Mount Bonnell, also on the Colorado River and about four miles west of Austin. He again erected a milldam and started to build another "temple" out of native rock. Ruins of this settlement and temple site could still be seen several years ago when the author was last there. While living at Mt. Bonnell, the men of Wight's colony built the county jail at Austin which still stood, when the author was a small boy. While here, Wight was elected justice of the peace by his people who comprised the majority of the voters of the precinct. During Wight's tenure of office it is reported that he had two members of his colony hanged for horse theft, this crime at the time being considered very serious. The site of his colony is known to this day as "Horse Thief Springs." Wight, called by Joseph Smith "The Wild Ram of the Mountains," was well-named. He ruled his little colony with an iron hand, and his word was law to his people. The dam on the Colorado River at the foot of Mount Bonnell also washed out, so in 1847 Wight moved his colony to a point on the Pedernales River about four miles south of Fredericksburg in Gillespie County. He called his settlement Zodiac, constructing here a gristmill, woodworking factory, and other buildings. While at Zodiac, Wight was again elected chief justice or county judge of Gillespie County, but he was defeated at a later election. After his defeat, however, he refused to turn the records over to the county commissioner's court, so Christian Gartner, a constable of German extraction, was sent with a warrant ordering Wight to attend court and turn over the records. Wight reportedly kicked the constable out of his mill and ran him off with a whip, thus severing all his connections with the county courts and politics. Wight and his colony seemed to have congenial relationships with the other citizens as far as business and social matters were concerned, but locked horns on questions of politics. Zodiac was probably the most successful of all Wight's settlements. Its streets were laid out on the square as was Nauvoo, Illinois, and the town at one time had a population of several hundred persons. Nothing is there today but Wight's grave and the monument erected by the state of Texas. During Zodiac days Brigham Young sent two elders, William Martindale and Preston Thomas, to Texas to invite Wight and his followers to rejoin the Saints in their westward trek. The two elders left their homes near Keg Creek, Iowa, on November 8, 1848 and proceeded by land to Weston, Missouri. They traveled by steamboat to St. Louis, Galveston Bay, and Houston, and then made their way three hundred miles across the trackless country infested by Indians and wild animals to Wight's settlement. The invitation of Brigham Young to Lyman Wight that he and his followers rejoin the main body of the Saints in their trek westward, fell on deaf ears. Lyman Wight's heart still had not been softened. The elders returned to Galveston, Texas. Then they took a boat back to New Orleans and to Independence, Missouri, later rejoining the Saints on their westward trek. The Pedernales River proved to be no more friendly than the Colorado, and when the milldam at Zodiac washed out, too, Wight took his colony northeast to Burnet County where on Hamilton Creek he built another milldam and erected another mill and other buildings, including a "temple." Here they ground corn and wheat and had a woodworking factory and sawmill with which they cut cypress trees into lumber and shingles. Still they were not to succeed in their endeavors, and when the dam on Hamilton Creek washed away as did the others, Wight moved his colony southwest to the Medina River near Bandera in what is now Bandera County. Once more the stalwart group of pioneers built a dam, a sawmill, a gristmill, and woodworking shop, making shingles and lumber from the large cypress trees that abounded in that area. When this Medina River dam washed out, in desperation Wight turned the efforts of his colony to raising cattle, sheep, goats, and farm crops. They were pioneers in these efforts in this area and seemed to meet with some little success. It was in the spring of 1858 that Lyman Wight planned to take his people out of Texas and back to Missouri, but died before getting out of Texas. Historians report that the decision to leave Texas met with considerable opposition, particularly from members of his own family. His son, Levi Lamoni Wight, gives the following account of the death and the break up of the colony. "In the spring of 1856 [1858] my father planned another move. Of course, we must all go. Here came quite a test of faith in the technicalities of his religion. I told my wife that I was not going to follow those wild moves any longer. We consulted about the matter for several days and came to the conclusion that we would rebel, and arrange to stay where we were and risk the consequences, and went to plowing. I thought over the matter seriously. My father and mother were getting old and feeble and we could not tell what might happen to them, and finally thought it our duty to follow them once more, so we arranged to go along. On the second day after our start on the projected move, my father suddenly died. The emigration moved on north as far as Bell County, forty miles south of Waco. My two brothers concluded to drop the project and remain in Texas. My mother, of course, dropped out with us; the immigration moved on and we finally drifted back as far as Burnet County." But before the company broke up, Lyman Wight's followers carried his body back to the old settlement at Zodiac near Fredericksburg and buried him in the village burial ground. Part of the colony returned north to the state of Iowa. Some of the others returned to the western part of Texas and some remained in Bandera County. A number of the families went to California. But of those who went to Texas with Lyman Wight many left names famous in Texas history for bravery and attainment. Many served in the Confederate ranks during the Civil War and some were with Pickett in his immortal attack at Gettysburg, when they charged the Yankee guns and accomplished such tragic destruction, returning to Texas after the war, to become honored citizens. The Galveston, Texas, News commented upon the death of Lyman Wight as follows, "We believe we have omitted the notice of the death of Mr. Lyman Wight, who, for some thirteen years past, has been the leader of a small and independent Mormon settlement in Texas. As far as we have been able to learn these Mormons have proved themselves to be most excellent citizens of our state, and we are no doubt gratefully indebted to the deceased leader for the orderly conduct, sobriety, industry, and enterprise of his colony. Mr. Wight first came to Texas in November, 1845 (1846) and has been with his colony on our extreme frontier ever since, moving still further west as settlements formed around him, thus always being the pioneer of advancing civilization, affording protection against Indians. He has been the first to settle five new counties and prepare the way for others. He has at different times built three extensive saw and gristmills, etc." Josiah Clifton, grandfather of the writer who was a free-will Methodist minister and a soldier of the Mexican and Civil wars, knew Lyman Wight well and admired him, although he felt he was "warped" on many subjects pertaining to religion. According to Mr. Clifton, Wight was a very handsome man, over six feet in height, weighing more than two hundred pounds, and having black hair and dark beard. He told many times of seeing Bishop Wight, as he was called, coming to Austin, the capital of Texas, while Wight had his colony at Mount Bonnell. He rode in a fine French carriage drawn by two coal-black mules with a coachman dressed in black. The harness on the mules were ornamented with black tassels and silver buckles and bells of Mexican silver. Wight himself dressed in black broadcloth with highly polished boots and a black hat. In fact, he was by the frontier standards of the time termed a "dude"—not that anyone dared call him this to his face. He was a real spectacle of a man, heavily armed with two navy pistols in silver-mounted holsters, one on each hip, and a fine silver-mounted rifle in the boot in his surrey or carriage. He always had from two to six heavily armed and mounted riders or personal bodyguards on each side of his carriage, all on fine horses. Mr. Clifton commented that Bishop Wight's visit with the governor was always a welcome and colorful one. It seems from the life and the death of this remarkable man that we can draw further testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel. Lyman Wight possessed many of the qualities of a great leader—courage, intelligence, foresight, and perseverance—but he lost the spark of the gospel when he refused to follow the Lord's anointed. His people enjoyed no permanent prosperity or increase, and although, as individuals and the frontier pioneering group, they are highly honored on the records of the state of Texas, as a religious organization, they had nothing to hold them together after the death of their leader. |
The author at a monument marking the site of Zodiac and the grave of Lyman Wight.
Old frame house at Webber's Prairie, built by Lyman Wight's colonists in 1846, upon their arrival in Texas. Lower floor was used as community storeroom, upper floor as a "temple." Major Booth, the author, is in the foreground.
Ruins of "temple" and mill built by Lyman Wight's colony at Hamilton Creek, nine miles south of Burnet, Texas.
Hamilton Creek Cemetery after it was cleaned off. Notice the lone oak tree to the left and the crude grave markers of sandstone.
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