WILLIAM “GUNLOCK BILL” HAMBLIN, 1830 — 1872
William Haynes Hamblin was born October 28, 1831, in Bainbridge, Ohio to Isaiah Hamblin and Daphney Haynes. His ancestors emigrated from St. Lawrence, England to Barnstable, Massachusetts a few years after the Mayflower. Over the years the family moved to Ohio and resided there until 1839. In Ohio, William worked in the mines. In 1845 the family moved to Iowa. When the family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints they moved with the Saints westward.
Apostle George Albert Smith requested William to drive one of his wagons across the plains. Upon arrival in Salt Lake City, William lived with the Smith family. During this time William’s proclivity in shooting and repairing firearms became well known. Apostle Smith put the “Gunlock Bill” moniker upon William and raved about William’s ability to repair guns of any kind, a skill rare among the saints. William lived with the Smiths until he married Mary Amelia Leavitt December 10, 1850. He and his new wife moved to Tooele, Utah where his four oldest children were born. He married Mary’s sister Betsey Jane Leavitt in 1855.
From Tooele, William was called to serve a mission to the Indians in the Elk Horn Mountains north of Salt Lake City. The Indians of this area were vicious, and the purpose of this mission was to attempt to establish better relations between the saints and the Indians.
Upon returning to Tooele, William took his family to Southern Utah to live with his brother, Jacob Hamblin. While there he opened a store and maintained a small trade with people in the area. Later Apostle Smith arrived to warn them of the approaching Johnston’s Army. He asked William what he had named the place where he lived. William replied that he had not thought about it. When questioned further he replied, “Well, I guess the Upper Santa Clara Creek.” Apostle Smith replied, “Well everyone seems to be calling it Gunlock Hamblin’s place, we’ll name it after you. Thus, the town of Gunlock, Utah received its name.
In 1858, Jacob Hamblin was instructed to take a small group of men, to travel across the Colorado River to meet with the Moquis tribe. This small group of men became the first white men to use “Crossing of the Fathers” since Father Escalante.