George Osmond was a native of England, convert to the LDS Church, emigrant to Utah, pioneer of Bear Lake Valley, Bishop of Bloomington Ward, and President of Star Valley Stake.
George Osmond was born in London, England, on May 23, 1836. He was the son of George and NancyAnn (Canham) Osmond.
When he was 14 years of age, he was apprenticed to learn the ship-building trade at the government dockyard in Woolwich, near London. It was while he was there that he was invited by a friend to attend an LDS meeting. He heard the gospel message, believed, and was baptized on November 27, 1850, six months before his 15th birthday.
When he was 18 years of age he emigrated to America with the object of joining the Saints in Utah. He sailed to New Orleans and then traveled by steamboat to St. Louis. At St. Louis, in June 1855, he married Mary Georgina Huckvale (b. 1835), a convert to the LDS Church whom he had known in England. Together they crossed the plains and arrived in Salt lake City in September of 1855.
The first home of George Osmond was in Bountiful, where he operated a small farm and was employed as a school teacher. He then moved to Willard and obtained a homestead. In 1865, he movedto Bear Lake Valley and settled at Bloomington, Idaho. He became presiding elder of the Bloomington Branch in 1871 and in 1875 Bishop of the ward. When Bear Lake Stake was organized in 1877, George Osmond was chosen as second counselor to President William Budge. He served with diligence in this capacity and assisted in building up the settlements in Bear lake Valley.
On September 8, 1881, George Osmond married his second wife, Christena Serina Amelia Jacobsen (b. 1862).
In 1884, George Osmond was called on a two-year LDS mission to England, where he served as assistant editor of the millennial Star. In 1890, he was again called on a two-year LDS mission to the British isles, where he served as president of the Scottish and London Districts.
When the Star Valley Stake was organized in August 1892, George Osmond was chosen as the first president. He moved to Afton the same year and there established a permanent home with his second wife, Amelia. He met all the problems incident to the establishment of L.D.S. communities in the fertile valley. He also took part in civic life and served as Justice of the Peace, Probate Judge, and as State Senator in the Wyoming Legislature for two terms. he died in Afton, Wyoming, on March 25, 1913
Monday, April 13, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
