Presiding Elder 1867-1872

Archibald McFarland, a son of William McFarland Sr., and Margaret McCormich was born in 1832 in Scotland. He joined the church when ten years of age. He was married to Isabella Mitchell in 1854. They were the Parents of nine children, seven sons and two daughters.

Soon after his marriage, he with his father's family started for Utah, arriving, September 25, 1855. After living in American Fork, for a few years he sold his property and settled in what is now known as West Weber.

Those first few years were very hard for the people of the new settlement. They had homes to build, fences to erect and water to take from the river to irrigate the parched land.

Brother McFarland was called to be Presiding Elder of West Weber in the spring of 1867. His counselors were: John Martin, Hans D. Petterson and Edmund Ellsworth. He was released in 1872.

Archibald served two foreign missions; the first to England from 1873 to 1875, and to Scotland from 1886 to 1887 about 16 months. He served two terms in the state Legislature. He was chairman of the Board of Trustees in Weber County Schools. In 1912, he was chairman of the Genealogical Society in the Stake. He was Justice of the Peace in West Weber for ten years. He was a polygamist and had four wives.

Source:

In The Bend Of The River

History Of West Weber 1859-1976

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