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When Charles was four (1843), his parents were converted
to Mormonism by William Hyde. Three years later they moved from Ossian,
New York to Park Centre, Michigan, to care for Charles's widowed grandmother—his
grandfather having died there en route to Nauvoo. Illness continued to plague
the family throughout the next year, and they moved back to Ossian. |
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In 1856 the Card family, equipped with two yoke of oxen
and a wagon, joined the first Mormon hardcart company traveling across Iowa.
Charles was sixteen. He performed guard duty and became a buffalo hunter
for the camp. When his father and uncle became sick he became responsible
for two wagons and four yoke of oxen, as well as camp duties. |
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Shortly after arriving in the valley in the fall, the Cards
moved to Farmington, then, in 1860, to Logan. From December 1864 to April
1866 he attended school in Ogden. During the winter of 1871 he proselyted
friends and acquaintances in the east. From 1879 to 1884 he served as second
counselor to stake president William B. Preston, then as stake president
until August 1890. |
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During the 1870s and 80s he supervised
the construction of the Logan Tabernacle (1873–1877) and Logan Temple
(1877–1884). |
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Charles married four women, including a daughter of Brigham
Young and Zina Huntington, Zina Presendia Young Williams; and another woman,
who turned against him and tried to have him arrested for polygamy. |
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In September 1886, Card asked President Taylor for permisison
to move to Mexico to avoid federal marshals, but Taylor suggested Canada,
and in the following spring, the Cash Valley stake president led eight families
across the border to Lees Creek in southern Alberta, where, on April 27,
1887 they founded a little colony later known as Cardston. |
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The following year, Card and apostles Francis M. Lyman
and John W. Taylor called on Prime Minister John A. MacDonald, requesting
the government allow Mormon polygamists to move to Canada and practice their
religion freely. The request was denied. |
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In Cardston, the expatriate introduced the first steam
saw thresher, directed the first saw mill, and helped establish the first
dairy, grist mill, and store. He helped build a canal, four meeting houses,
and a two-story school house. |
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