William Cameron Dunbar

27 October 1822–8 June 1905

Born 27 Oct. 1822 in Inverness, Inverness-shire, Scotland.[1] Son of James Dunbar and Ann Cameron.[2] Baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 28 Dec. 1840.[3] Married first Helen Reid, 30 Sept. 1845, in Edinburgh.[4] Served as a missionary in England, June 1846–Jan. 1852.[5] Emigrated from Liverpool, Lancashire, England, to New Orleans with his wife, daughter, and son, 10 Jan.–19 Mar. 1852.[6] Traveled on the riverboat Saluda, which exploded on the bank of the Missouri River, killing his wife, daughter, and son, 9 Apr. 1852.[7] Migrated to the Salt Lake Valley with the John Tidwell pioneer company, arriving 10 Sept. 1852.[8] Married second Hannah Hales, 29 Oct. 1852, in Salt Lake City.[9] Ordained a seventy; served a mission in England, July 1854–July 1856; president of the French mission, 1854–1855.[10] Returned to Utah Territory, 1856.[11] Cofounder and business manager of the Salt Lake Herald, June 1870–1883.[12] Accompanied EBW and others on the train to Ogden, Weber Co., Utah Territory, for the dedication of a new Relief Society building, 9 Apr. 1876.[13] Known for singing while playing his bagpipes, he entertained at a birthday celebration for President and Sister Woodruff with EBW, 26 Feb. 1894.[14] Played the bagpipes at a celebration held in Mantua, Box Elder Co., Utah Territory, attended by EBW, 23 June 1894.[15] Invited by EBW to play the bagpipes at a Great Saltair excursion, 11 Aug. 1896.[16] Died 8 June 1905 in Salt Lake City.[17]

 

[1] “Sealings of Couples, Living and by Proxy, 1851–1889,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. C, 1856–1861, p. 60, no. 365, William Cameron Dunbar and Hannah Hales, 13 Feb. 1857, microfilm 1149514, DGS 7226455 (restricted access), FHL. “Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org, accessed 10 May 2021), William Cameron Dunbar (KWJH-GCQ). 

[2] Church of Scotland, Parish Church of Inverness, Parish Registers, 1602–1854, Baptisms, vol. 10, 1820–1821, p. 36, William Dunbarr, microfilm 990670, DGS 7903916, image 258/528, FHL.

[3] Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, vol. 4 (Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History, 1936), 335. 

[4] Church of Scotland, St. Cuthbert’s Church, Edinburgh, Parish Registers, 1573–1855, Marriages, 1842–1849, p. 20, William Dunbar, microfilm 1066766, DGS 7908849, image 390/675, FHL.

[5] “General Conference: Monday Morning,” Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, 1 June 1846, 191. Franklin D. Richards, “Editorial: Elder Richard Rostrum,” Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, 1 Jan. 1852, 10.

[6] “William C. Dunbar,” Saints by Sea (https://saintsbysea.lib.byu.edu/, accessed 1 Mar. 2021). Perpetual Emigrating Fund, Company Ship Passenger Lists, 1852–1864, 1874, F. D. Richards, Passengers in the Ship Kennebec to Sail, 8 Jan. 1852, William C. Dunbar, CR 376 7, image 11/20, CHL.

[7] Abraham O. Smoot, “Terrible Accident,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 5 May 1852, 59. 

[8] “William C Dunbar,” Pioneer Database (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/overlandtravel/, accessed 1 Mar. 2021). 

[9] “Sealings of Couples, Living and by Proxy, 1851–1889,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vols. A-A1, 1851–1854, p. 69, line 879, William Cameron Dunbar and Hannah Hales, 29 Oct. 1852, microfilm 183393, DGS 5270317 (restricted access), FHL. 

[10] British Mission, Manuscript History and Historical Reports, 1841–1971, vol. 1, 1837–1900, Part 1, 1837–1878, p. 1854, line 12, LR 1140 2, image 11/189, CHL. “Appointments,” Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, 22 July 1854, 458. “Appointments,” Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, 2 Dec. 1854, 763. France Paris Mission, Manuscript History and Historical Reports, 1849–1977, vol. 1, 184–1899, Part 2, 1851–1899, p. 133, LR 2978 2, image 105/159, CHL. 

[11] “Release,” Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, 19 July 1856, 458. “Arrivals,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 8 Oct. 1856, 245.

[12] “The Salt Lake Herald,” Salt Lake Herald, 6 June 1870, 1. “Birth and Growth of the Giant of the Rockies,” Salt Lake Herald, 3 June 1900, 1. Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, vol. 4 (Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History, 1936), 335. 

[13] EBW, Diary, 19 Apr. 1876.

[14] EBW, Diary, 26 Feb. 1894. “Birthday Serenade,” Salt Lake Daily Herald, 6 June 1885, 8. “Wi’ the Lads and Lasses,” Sunday Herald (Salt Lake City), 23 June 1889, 5. 

[15] EBW, Diary, 23 June 1894.

[16] EBW, Diary, 11 Aug. 1896.

[17] “Utah State Archives Indexes,” database and images, Utah State Archives (https://archives.utah.gov/research/indexes, accessed 5 Mar. 2021), Department of Health. Office of Vital Records and Statistics Death Certificates, series 81448, file no. 599/516 (1905), William Cameron Dunbar. “William Cameron Dunbar,” Salt Lake City Cemetery, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT, Find a Grave, memorial no. 20374006 (https://findagrave.com, accessed 5 Mar. 2021).