
Date Unknown
- Birth Date
- 4 July 1808
- Death Date
- 19 August 1890
- Gender
- Male
William Adam Empey
Initially, William traveled to the Salt Lake Valley in the Brigham Young Pioneer Company in 1847. While traveling with the company, William was in pursuit of a group of antelope, when he stumbled upon about 300 Indians. He was able to warn the company.
On June 15, 1847, Brigham Young decided that a group of brethren should stay at the North Fork of the Platt River Upper Ferry, near Casper, Wyoming, where a commercial ferry could be established. The hope was that they could assist all companies with ferrying across the river in order to collect provisions that could be used to sustain the next company of saints. William, along with nine others, was chosen to stay and help operate the Platte River Ferry. They were instructed to join the next company of Saints on into the Salt Lake Valley. Thomas Grover was appointed as the captain of those staying behind.
Many diaries of those in the company indicate the above findings. His travel to Utah is also mentioned in his wife's obituary.
It appears that William remained at the Platte River Ferry until a group of pioneers from Utah returned, heading east to Winter Quarters. He joined them.
In 1848, he traveled with Brigham Young’s Company from Winter Quarters to the Salt Lake Valley, as indicated in Alexander Neibaur’s journal. The obituary of is daughter, Diantha, mentions that she was born as the family was immigrating to Utah.
In 1852, William left on a mission to England. In 1854, he traveled back to the Salt Lake Valley as captain of the William Adam Empey Company as indicated in Peter Sinclair’s journal.
Brigham Young Vanguard Company (1847)
- Age at Departure: 38
William Empey Company (1854)
- Age at Departure: 46
- Company Captain
Sources
- A Mormon chronicle: the Diaries of John D. Lee, 1848-1876 edited and annotated by Robert Glass Cleland and Juanita Brooks (1955), 1:30-79.
- Albert P. Rockwood journals, 1847-1853, Journal, 1847 April-July.
- Alexander Neibaur journal, 1841 February-1862 April, 26-38.
- Amasa M. Lyman collection, 1832-1877, Journal, 1847 April 8-September 10, 1-26 and 1-10. Events recorded by Albert Carrington.
- Appleton M. Harmon diary, 1847 April-July.
- Charles A. Harper diary, 1847 April-August.
- "Death of Mary Ann Empey," Deseret News [Weekly], 7 Mar. 1891, 826.
- "Death of a Pioneer," Deseret News [Weekly], 30 August 1890, 341.
- Early Missionary Database
- Empey, William, Autobiographical sketch, in St. George Stake, High Priest Quorum Genealogical Records, 1872-1906, reel 6039, 40, in Record of Members Collection 1836-1970.
- Find a Grave (Website)
- "Funerals," Salt Lake Telegram, 6 July 1928, 17.
- Heber C. Kimball journal in Heber C. Kimball papers, 1837-1866.
- Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, Supplement after 31 December 1854, 16.
- Howard Egan, Pioneering the West, 1846 to 1878, edited and compiled by William M. Egan (1917), 21-105.
- "Immigration," St. Louis Luminary , 2 Dec. 1854, 6.
- John S. Higbee reminiscences and diaries, 1845-1866. Transcriptions from volumes 1 and 2.
- Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia [1971], 4:701.
- Millen Atwood journal, 1847 April-July.
- Norton Jacob reminiscence and journal, 1844 May-1852 January, 47-85.
- Perpetual Emigrating Fund, Financial Accounts 1849-1886, Ledger A, p. 109.
- Peter Sinclair journal, 1853-1854, 167-270.
- Robert Campbell company report, 1854 August 22.
- Thomas Bullock journals, 1843-1849, Journal, 1847 April-June.
- Wilford Woodruff journal, 1847 January-1853 December, 25-77.
- William A. Empey, "The Journal of William A. Empey, May 7-August 4, 1847," edited by Dale L. Morgan, Annals of Wyoming (July-October 1949), 124-33.
- William Clayton diaries, 1846-1853, Folder contents: (2) Volume 2, 1847.