Early Years

[The oldest child of Stephen and Mary Ann Hales, Charles Henry Hales wrote his biography which is recorded on page 208 of the record of the Second Quorum of Seventies as follows:]

I, Charles H. Hales, was born in the parish of Rainham, county of Kent, England on the seventeenth of June 1817. I was educated and raised under the doctrines of the Church of England. I was baptized in infancy and had godfathers and godmothers to stand responsible for my conduct until I arrived at the age of fourteen. At this age they were no longer held responsible since those being confirmed took the responsibility upon themselves. I did not receive this ordinance myself, since I was not quite old enough to when the bishop visited our parish for confirmation it was established by law that the bishop should visit each parish twice in seven years. At this time all those who had arrived at the age of fourteen were confirmed while the remainder waited for the next term. I was one that had to wait on account of my age, but before the next term my father with his family emigrated to upper Canada in North America. This was in the year 1832.

Missionaries Come to Canada

My father was a boot and shoe maker by trade and he taught me the same business until I was fifteen years of age. I was somewhat adverse to this trade, and when we came to Canada I was permitted to follow any occupation I chose. Accordingly I chose to follow farming which I did until after the time I embraced the everlasting gospel. My father was a professor of religion. He was called a Wesleyan Methodist when we came to Canada, and continued the same faith until Elder Parley P. Pratt came into the providence of Upper Canada and proclaimed the everlasting gospel. I had never embraced any of the systems of the present age, but had been greatly addicted to the reading of the old and new testament. I was subject to many serious reflections and wonderings as to why we had not apostles and prophets on the earth at the present age as was true in former ages. Since I was destitute of the priesthood I could not understand the scriptures. I always endeavored to be honest in my dealings with my fellow men. I had been trained to observe the sabbath very strictly and to be upright and honest in all things; principles which I always endeavored to inculcate and practice according to the knowledge we had of right and wrong.

I embraced the everlasting gospel in the month of June 1836. I was baptized by Parley P. Pratt and confirmed by Elders Orson Hyde and Parley P. Pratt in the fall of the same year. After embracing the truth I went on a visit to Kirtland, Ohio where the church as a body was located. Here I first became acquainted with Joseph Smith the Prophet and Seer of this last dispensation. I also became acquainted with his father, Joseph Smith, Sr., the Patriarch of the Church for I received my patriarchal blessing. I stayed in Kirtland till spring, and then returned to Canada. I was well pleased with my visit, and had heard many good instructions in the house of the Lord. The same year I left Kirtland, I was ordained a priest in the Aaronic priesthood at conference held in Scarborough Township in December 1837. I was then sent out to preach with Brother Eli Maginn who had been ordained a priest at the same conference. We continued to preach until spring at which time the word of the Lord through his servant Joseph was for the saints to sell their farms and move to the state of Missouri. Accordingly, we gathered a small company together, and after selling our farms, started our journey on the twentieth of March in 1838.

Life in Missouri

We had a very tiresome journey since we started just as the roads were breaking up in the spring. We arrived in the state of Missouri in the early part of June, coming to a place called Huntsville. We stayed a short time, since we found quite a big branch of the church there. Some of our company concluded to buy and settle there which they did. I stayed with my father, and went to work for a few months here. I first became acquainted with Julia Ann Lockwood at this place. She was the daughter of Joseph and Annis Lockwood, and was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Sometime in the month of September, I started for Far West, but on coming to DeWitt I was requested to stay by George M. Hinkle, who was president of the Branch. I was asked to assist them in defending the place as they were threatened with the mob. I did so, although the first time the mob came to make an attack on us we were but 23 in number while they numbered from 150 to 175. I stayed in DeWitt until the brethren were counseled to leave. Joseph Smith, Hyrum-his brother, and many other brethren came to assist us from Far West. I did not leave DeWitt quite as soon as the rest of the brethren as I stayed behind to assist one of my Canadian brethren, who was not quite ready when the rest were. We, however, calculated to overtake them soon, but one of his horses gave out, and he was compelled to stay. I was then under the necessity of going to Far West on foot, and alone, since he, himself, gave up the idea of going.

The first day I lost my way as I crossed the prairie of the Big Mound. I continued traveling till night, not knowing but that I was on the right road. On coming to a cultivated field I found a man putting up corn. I inquired if I could stay with him for the night. He made no reply, but asked me if I was a Mormon. I replied in the affirmative. He then told me that I could not stay with him, and further told me that I was greatly out of my way for Far West. I then told him that I was a perfect stranger in the county, that I had lost my way, that my feet were much torn by my boots, and that it was now sunset, and I could not go any further. He then said, as a reason for not keeping me, that during our difficulties in DeWitt, he had himself entertained seventeen of the mob, and that he had sworn never to keep a Mormon. He did, however, tell me where I could stay for the night.

The Crooked River Battle

In the morning I started again for Far West, and arrived there in October. I arrived just a few hours before the Crooked River Battle. I was one of the company engaged in that affair, although I was lame and tired. I borrowed a horse and a gun, (for I had neither) and went to defend my brethren. I saw Brother [Patrick] O’Banion when he fell. Soon after the battle the governor’s troops came to Far West, and demanded every man that was engaged in the Crooked River Battle. At this time, we were under the necessity of having our houses and grain burnt and our cattle driven off, or else if we stood up for our rights and defended ourselves like men and saints of the Most High we must be hunted by an authorized mob and be driven from our homes and families, or be killed, just as they pleased.

As soon as we learned their intentions were to take every man that was in the Crooked River Battle we all started for Illinois, going by the way of Diahman, [Adam-ondi-Ahman] since we were surrounded on every other side. Before we arrived at Diahman my horse gave out, so the brethren counseled me to stay in Diahman as I was not known by any of the mob in that county. Accordingly I stayed till the arms were given up and the brethren returned again to Far West.

Marriage, Mission, and Move to Nauvoo

I then went to Fort Leavenworth and worked until spring. Then I left the fort and came to Quincy, Illinois. Here I married Julia Ann Lockwood on the last day of October 1839. On the following year on the twenty-seventh of November, my eldest daughter was born which we called Eliza Ann.

The next April I left Quincy and went on a mission in company with Elder Andrew Hamilton to the southern part of the state of Illinois. We baptized some and left quite a number believing. After I came back I continued to live in Quincy till next spring when I moved with my family to the city of Nauvoo.

As soon as I arrived in Nauvoo I joined the brass band and continued to play with them at every public festival. We played for the Nauvoo Legion, for the dedication of the Seventies Hall, and for the laying of the capstone of the Lord’s House. The first summer after I arrived at Nauvoo, in the month of June, my second daughter was born which we named Julia Ardena. This was June 1842 and in the month of March 1844 my wife delivered of a son which we called George.

In the fall following, at the October conference, I was ordained one of the Seventies and was organized in the Second Quorum. On the twenty-third of December 1845 we were called to go into the temple to receive our endowments. We were fully satisfied that the present organization of the church is as it should be, and that the priesthood is again restored to man on the earth with all its attendant gifts and blessings as in ancient days, that all men must sooner or later bow to that priesthood, held by the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We knew that Joseph Smith was the instrument in the hands of God in bringing forth the fullness of the gospel and that he lived and died a prophet of the Most High God, sealing his testimony with his blood as did the ancient prophets and apostles.

(After crossing the plains with the saints, Charles Henry Hales made his home in Spanish Fork, Utah where he became a prominent builder and farmer. He married a second wife, Frances E. Brunyer, on October 31, 1856 at Salt Lake City. He was the father of twenty-five children by his two wives and is the ancestor of the Spanish Fork branch of the Utah Hales family. Charles Henry Hales and his two wives are buried in the Spanish Fork, Utah cemetery.]