Chauncey W. West

Who was Chauncey W. West?

Chauncey Walker West was a Mormon pioneer and was a leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah Territory. He was among the first LDS missionary to preach in Sri Lanka.

West was born in Venango, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. He and his family joined the LDS Church when he was 16. In 1844, he moved with his parents to Nauvoo, Illinois to join the gathering of Latter Day Saints. In 1847, West's company of Mormon pioneers left Nauvoo for Winter Quarters, Nebraska and then to Salt Lake Valley, arriving on September 29, 1847. Both of West's parents died in Florence, Nebraska. West, now married and father of one, assumed responsibility for his younger sister. His older brother, Ira, followed them a year later to Utah Territory.

In 1852, West was sent on an LDS Church mission to Asia. West preached in India, Ceylon, and Hong Kong. With his companion, Benjamin F. Dewey, West was the first LDS missionary to preach in what is now called Sri Lanka.

When he returned to Utah Territory in 1855, West was appointed the presiding bishop of Weber County, Utah Territory and moved to Ogden.