Archives West Finding Aid

Thomas Leishman was born 26 September 1843 in Johnston, Renfrew, Scotland. At the age of nine, ca. 1852, his family emigrated from Scotland to the territory of Utah. They were able to emigrate through the Perpetual Emigration Fund which was set up by the LDS Church to help people immigrate to Utah. For much of the journey from the eastern United States to Utah, Thomas walked barefoot. In 1863, he joined a company that escorted LDS immigrants from Nebraska to Utah. On the day after Christmas in 1864, Thomas married Elizabeth Adamson in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. They raised a family that grew to twelve children, although their first child died in infancy. Thomas helped lay out the city of Wellsville, Utah. He assisted in the building of every public building there as well as serving the town in numerous other capacities. In 1897, he was called by the LDS Church to serve a mission in England and Scotland. He remained for two years in Great Britain before returning to Utah. He also served the church in various priesthood positions, as well as being a member of the local quorum of Seventy. He helped build the Logan Temple and was present for the laying of the cornerstone and dedication of the Salt Lake Temple. Thomas died on 11 June 1930 in Wellsville from natural causes.