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Biography
William Huntington (March 28, 1784 – August 19, 1846) was an early leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), most prominently during the time the Mormon pioneers were moving from Nauvoo, Illinois to Salt Lake City.
Huntington was born in New Grantham, New Hampshire. In 1804, he and his parents moved to Watertown, Jefferson County, New York. In 1806, Huntington married Zina Baker and they became the parents of nine children. From 1816 to 1832 Huntington was a member of the local Presbyterian Church. In the winter of 1832–33 he first read the Book of Mormon and was baptized a member of the Church of the Latter Day Saints in 1835.
In 1836, Huntington moved to Kirtland, Ohio in a company of Latter Day Saints from upstate New York led by Orson Pratt and Luke S. Johnson. Huntington was one of the investors in the Kirtland Safety Society, in which institution he lost about $500. In 1838, he moved to Missouri and settled in Adam-ondi-Ahman. As the Latter Day Saints were forced to leave Missouri in the winter of 1838–39, Huntington was appointed by Brigham Young to be one of the men to supervise the helping of the poor.
On July 8, 1839, Huntington's wife Zina died in Nauvoo. In October 1840, Huntington was appointed a member of the Nauvoo Stake High Council. While at Nauvoo, he married Lydia Partridge, the widow of Edward Partridge. Huntington left Nauvoo on February 9, 1846.
On May 21, 1846, Huntington was made the presiding authority of the church in Mount Pisgah, Iowa. His counselors were Ezra T. Benson and Charles C. Rich, both of whom would later be called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Huntington's daughter Zina D. H. Young would later serve as president of the LDS Church's Relief Society. His son Dimick B. Huntington was a major figure in relations between the Mormon settlers and the Native Americans in Utah Territory.