He was born in his grandparents home to his mother, Margaret Littlewood, January 29, 1833 in Saddleworth, England, a small town near the manufacturing city of Manchester.
He was a factory worker and farmer, pioneer and missionary, civic leader, and statesman. He lived in a world of contrasts. An energetic worker who never put off any task however daunting it may seem, his list of accomplishments are impressive. He helped establish over fourty-four communities in Utah and Idaho. He built up households, ranches, nurseries, sawmills, mercantiles and waterways in three different states. He served time in the Idaho State Legislature. For seventeen years he was bishop in Newton, Utah. He served another seventeen years in the Bannock Stake Presidency of Idaho, one of the largest stakes in the Church at the time.
He served a mission in his native country, England, for the Church. A short time after returning from his mission he served some time in the penitentiary for his practice of polygamy.
He had homesteads in Idaho, Wyoming and Utah. In the latter part of 1900 his health began to fail and he went back to Utah to spend his last days. He made his last visit to Rexburg to attend the November presidential election which was more that his strength allowed. He returned to Utah and was confined to his room in the space of a few weeks.
On March 13, 1901 at Logan, Utah, the spirit of this remarkable man left its earthly tenement and southeastern Idaho lost one of its best citizens. Rigby, Idaho was named in his honor.
He was the husband of the following wives, Mary Clarke, Louisa Bacon, Sarah Haslan, Sophia Eckersley, Ann Yates, Mary Ann Eckersley, and Elizabeth Eckersley. He was the father of 38 children and grandfather to 157.
He was buried in the Newton Cemetery.