More on the early Giles fam!

A few of you have commented that you enjoyed the information I accidentally posted on William Giles. I just found more today. This is taken from an early History of Utah, written about 1880, I think. Thomas H. Giles is the oldest of the children of William Giles, the brother of our Fredrick. Interestingly, this one answers Sally's question about how and when the first Giles joined the church--in pretty good detail. Enjoy!

JUDGE THOMAS H. GILES
Tullidge’s Histories vol 2, p 204

Thomas Huskinson Giles of Wasatch County, is the son of William Giles and Sarah Huskinson Giles. He was born August 6th, 1821, at East Bridgeford, Nottinghamshire, England. His father was born January 1st, 1797, at Gunnerson, Nottinghamshire. His mother is a native of East Bridgeford. She was born in May, 1800.
The parents of Thomas H. Giles, were not formally connected with any religious body of worshipers previous to their joining the Mormon Church; but they were strictly moral, honest in their intercourse with all persons. They were firm believers in a supreme Being, and also believed it was the unquestioned right of all men to worship that Being as their consciences dictated. They sometimes attended the Methodist Church, but more frequently they attended the church of England.
Thomas was brought up in the observance of these same principles. He attended the Sabbath school regularly, and was instructed to regard the Sabbath day as being holy, and that it was sinful to violate it.
Father Giles was, by trade, a brick and tile manufacturer, vast quantities of which were used for the erection and covering of dwelling houses and other buildings in England. He also made drain tiles which were used extensively by farmers in draining their agricultural land. Thomas H . Giles learned the same trade under the instructions of his father, with whom he worked until he was about thirty-three years old.
Thomas was a reader of and believer in the scriptures, but like many others he did not understand them in his youthful days. Having grown to man's estate, Thomas H. Giles began to think of matrimony. He became acquainted with Miss Elizabeth S. Moore. Their acquaintance developed into mutual love, and on the 13th of February, 1845, they were united in the bonds of wedlock.
Some time after this event Thomas read in a newspaper an account of a peculiar
people, who had embraced a new religious creed, and that as soon as possible after they embraced it, they emigrated to America. He knew nothing of their doctrines, and the matter soon passed out of his mind.
In the month of December, l849, in company with his wife and his mother, he went to Hull, in Yorkshire, to visit and spend the Christmas with his wife's sister, whose name is Mrs. Sarah Goodwin. This lady had embraced Mormonism, and was an advocate of its doctrines. She preached it to her sister, her brother-in-law and to his mother. She loaned them several books, among which were the Book of Mormon and P. P. Pratt's "Voice of Warning." They read them. Thomas thought that the Doctrine and Covenants — which he had perused — was an imposture. He had less objections to the Book of Mormon; when he had read through the "Voice of Warning," however, he was convinced that Mormonism was true. So, also, were his mother and his wife. And he was satisfied, too, that the Mormons, as they were called, were the peculiar people of whom he had previously read.
On the 23rd of December these three were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at Hull. Shortly after their baptism they returned to their home in Lincoln, to which the family had removed. They were the only Latter-day .Saints at that time in Lincoln. In the following year, 1850, Elder Joseph K. Taylor went to Lincoln to preach the gospel. He found these three Saints by whom he was kindly received. They hired a room. He expounded the principles of Mormonism, made new converts, and baptized them into the Church. Among these was William Giles, the father of Thomas H. Thus the happiness of the family was very great, they all being of one religious faith.
In the fall of this year Thomas H. Giles went to the village of Walkingham, and there, in the month of November, he was ordained a priest. In 1851, he removed to another village called Gringley. At this place there were a few Latter- day Saints. After his arrival there they met together and held meetings. Giles preached the gospel and baptized quite a number of new members into the Church. There had formerly been a branch of the Church in this place, but nearly all the members had emigrated and the organization was broken up.
In the summer of this same year, a new branch was organized, and was called
the "Gringley Branch of the Sheffield conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Sainte. " Priest Giles was ordained an elder by John Albiston, and appointed to preside over the new branch. He presided over this branch of the Church three years, during which time many were added to their number through his ministerial labors. He conducted all the affairs of the Church there to the entire satisfaction of the authorities who presided over him. He was much beloved by his co-religionists for his integrity, his uprightness and fidelity during his residence among and his presidency over them.
In the month of March, 1854, Elder Giles was released from his presidency, when he, with his family and parents, left Gringley, and went to Liverpool, the port from which the Mormon people sailed for the United States. Shortly after arriving in Liverpool they embarked on board the ship Old England, and left their native land for America. After a passage of seven weeks on the stormy ocean, they landed in New Orleans.
At New Orleans they took passage on the steamboat, and went to Quincy, Illinois. At this place Thomas H. Giles obtained employment in a flour mill, where he continued to work nearly the whole of the time he remained in that place. At Quincy there was quite a number of the Mormon people. A branch of the Church was organized there, over which Elder Giles was appointed to preside, an office which he was eminently qualified to fill by his experience and fidelity during his ministerial labors in his native land. He remained in that place two years.
In the spring of 1856, Elder Giles with his family, went to Florence. This was the outfitting post of the Mormon emigrants. Here they assembled from all parts of the United States as well as from Great Britain, and other parts of Europe. And here Thomas H. Giles, completed his outfit, consisting of ox team and wagon, etc. When the preparations were finished he started on his overland journey across the great western plains in the company of Captain 1'. ('. Merrill. Nothing of more than ordinary interest occurred while traveling over the wide stretch of prairies, through the woods, and over the mountains to Utah. The trip occupied about ten weeks. They arrived in Salt Lake City in August, in good health and much pleased that they had come to the place where the body of their co-religionists were located.
From Salt Lake City he went to Provo. At that place, in 1857, Elder Giles' mother died, at the age of fifty-seven years. Her remains were placed in the silent tomb, where they will remain until the resurrection of the just when she will again be restored to the society of her family and forever dwell with them in peace. At Provo Thomas H. Giles purchased a small farm, also a city lot. On this lot he erected his dwelling house. His leisure time, aside from cultivating his land, he occupied in making adobies, or sun dried bricks, and for which he found ready sale, for building purposes.
In 1860, he sold his house and city lot (but he retained his farm) in Provo, and removed with his family to Heber City, in Wasatch County. This city is located in the beautiful Provo Valley. At that place he acquired more valuable real estate, consisting of upwards of one hundred acres of farming and meadow land. The greater part of this land is under cultivation and yields profitable returns for the outlay of capital, and for labor spent upon it. In addition to his farm he also owns an excellent city lot on which he has erected the family residence. His home is supplied with the bounties of earth which he has procured by his industry and economy.
In 1862, he was appointed superintendent of district schools in Wasatch County. So efficiently and faithfully he discharged the duties of that responsible office, that he was retained in that position until 1870, making one long term of thirteen years.
In 1863, Mr. Giles was appointed assessor and collector for Wasatch County; the obligations of which offices he fulfilled with credit' and honor to himself, and with satisfaction to the people. He held this office eleven years, which showed how truly his public services were appreciated.
He served t\vo sessions in the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Utah.
He served one session in 1867, and the other in 1868.
In 1874, he was appointed by the Legislature, Probate judge of Wasatch County, which important and responsible office he held for ten years. At the end of that time he retired.
In 1879, he was chosen and set apart as first counselor to Abram Hatch, President of the Wasatch Stake of /ion. which position he holds at the present writing. On January 9th, 1885, he was solicited to fill the unexpired terms of county clerk, and county recorder. These places had become vacant by the death of Mr. Charles Shelton. Mr. Giles consented, and on the date above named be was appointed.
In August 1886, he was elected by unanimous vote, to again fill those offices, of which he is still the incumbent.

From this brief biographical sketch, it will be seen that Thomas H. Giles has been connected with the Mormon people for more than a third of a century. He has been a prominent and serviceable man among them from the time he first became a member of the Church. He has held numerous responsible positions in the community both ecclesiastical and civil leader in the Church to the end of his life, died at Heber City on the 15th of December, 1874.
Judge Giles has had six children, five sons and one daughter. He has also twenty grandchildren by whom he is deservedly loved, and to whom he is devotedly attached.
He is highly respected by the community in which he lives. We will now leave him, in his year, to enjoy during the remainder of his life, the tranquility and rest which he has merited by his industry, and his integrity in every position he has occupied.


The first volume of Tullidge's histories was apparently published under title: "The history of Salt Lake City and its founders, Utah, 1884" (reprinted from Tullidge's Quarterly magazine) cf. Bancroft, H. H., Hist of Utah

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