Zimri Harford Baxter

Zimri was born February 14, 1807 in Vasselboro, Kennebec, Maine. He was the son of William Baxter and Rebecca Priest. William enlisted in the United States army in 1814 in the War of 1812 against England. In 1815 William contracted typhoid fever and died. Two years after William died, his wife, Rebecca, with five children moved back to Maine. They had moved to Gnore, Synga, New York, just before William joined the army. Zimri, the oldest, went in 1817 to live with his Uncle John Robertson until he was of age, and then he married Eunice Seavey (born March 1, 1811 in Cornish, York, Maine) on May 2, 1832 in Milton, York, Maine. The first three children were born in Milton: Benson Edgley, June 3, 1833; William Franklin, September 6, 1834; and Henry Priest, February 19, 1836.

In August of 1836 Zimri and Eunice moved to Lucas, Richland, Ohio, where Zimri worked as a carpenter and joiner. Henry died on December 12, 1836, and William died on December 19, 1836. Zimri and Eunice had another child, John, on July 10, 1837, who died the same day. All four children were dead by July 20, 1837.

Zimri and Eunice moved to Maumee, Lucas, Ohio in the spring of 1838, and they had another child, Laura St. Clair on May 11, 1837. In the spring of 1840 they moved to Dayton, Illinois. Emily Abigail was born on February 20 1841 and Alma was born on December 3, 1842. In 1843 they moved to Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois, and in August 1843 Alma died. Zimri Seavey was born on August 27, 1844. Sometime in 1845 Laura St. Clair died, on April 6, 1845 Zimri Seavey died, and on April 10, 1845 Emily Abigail died. In 1846 they moved back to Dayton, Illinois, where Eunice Seavey was born on April 7, 1846. In the spring of 1847 they moved back to Nauvoo, Illinois and Joseph was born to them. Joseph died the same year. They had to move so much because of the persecution of the Saints.

Zimri was presented as an Elder on May 19, 1844, and was ordained on May 21, 1844 by Wilford Wudruff, George A. Smith, and Ezra Thayer. Zimri was selected as a carpenter to build the Nauvoo temple. He worked on the temple until it was finished. Zimri and Eunice received their endowments and sealed in the Nauvoo temple. Zimri also married two other women while there, but they became dissatisfied and left Zimri. Zimri and his family were in nearly all the troubles and trials of Nauvoo. They had to leave their homes, land, and belongings and got across the river before the people were driven out by the mob. They moved to Council Bluffs and crossed the plains with Ezra T. Bensons' 5th company. During the journey to Utah at Independence Rock, on the Sweet Water, Eunice gave birth to twins - Charles Albert and Clarissa Adelaide. Charles died the same day. They stopped one day and then continued the journey. They owned two yoke of oxen and one yoke of cows.

They arrived in Salt Lake in good condition, located in Big Cottonwood Canyon, built a little home and set out some apple trees, some of which still stand and bear fruit. While there, Zimri built a grist mill and woolen mill for Brigham Young. In 1851 Brigham Young called Zimri to move to Salt Creek (later named Nephi), where he built small log homes and a grist mill. Zimri and Eunice had a child, Rozilla, in 1854, who died the same year. About that time Zimri married Ann Jackson. Ann had a boy, Joseph William, and then Ann left Zimri. Eunice had a boy named Zimri Harford Baxter on September 1, 1857. Eunice and Zimri had 14 children, only three of which lived to maturity - Eunice Seavey, Clarissa Adelaide, and Zimri Harford.

In 1871 Zimri married Alice Ashworth, and three children were born to them: Eliza Jane, August 3, 1872; Philander, November 19, 1873; and Alice Rebecca, October 5, 1875. Alice died March 28, 1877. In 1874 Zimri joined the United Order, which broke up in the second year. Zimri also was the overseer and architect of the building of the Juab Stake Tabernacle and did much of the carpenter work on it. While working on the tabernacle in 1877 Zimri fell from the rafters, injuring his head, from which he never completely recovered. Zimri died on December 8, 1887, and Eunice died on March 10, 1900. They were both buried in Aurora.