Archibald was February 9, 1830, in Lexington, Kentucky and with his parents joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1835 amid much persecution of the saints. In 1837 the family traveled to Caldwell County, Missouri, then into Quincy, Illinois, and finally found refuge in Lima, Illinois. Then, in 1839 his father, John, died leaving nine-year-old Archie fatherless. For safety the family then moved to Nauvoo. There he became acquainted with the prophet Joseph Smith and remembered the tragedy of the martyrdom. Archibald was present at the meeting in the grove when it was made manifest to the saints that the leadership of the Church had fallen upon Brigham Young.

Leaving Nauvoo, they came west in the Howells’ Company arriving in Salt Lake City on September 13, 1852. Along with other saints they were sent to Manti to help colonize that area. Archie farmed and acted as guard against the Indians, later serving in the Black Hawk War.

On August 22, 1855, he married Helen Amelia Whiting. She was born on August 21, 1836, in Nelson, Ohio. After joining the Church with her parents, they were driven to Missouri and then to Nauvoo where her father joined the Nauvoo Legion. The family then settled for a time in Lima, Illinois, where her father had a wood working shop making chairs.

Helen’s brother, William, heard the shots when the prophet Joseph Smith was martyred in the Carthage Jail. Mobs ravaged every household, so they were forced to flee across the river in the night, looking back at their beautiful temple. Cold, homeless, and hungry an “Elijah blessing” of quail fed them which was truly a miracle. They continued on to Garden Grove and then to Mt. Pisgah preparing to cross the plains in 1849 when Helen was only 13 years of age. Upon arriving in Salt Lake City President Brigham Young assigned them to move to Manti in the cold of November. Their home was a mere dugout in the hill for protection from the deep snow. In the Spring, untold numbers of rattlesnakes came out of hibernation in the stone quarry. It was a blessing from God that no one was bitten by them.

Polygamy was initiated and in addition to Helen, Archie accepted three additional wives. In 1871 he took his young family to Glenwood, Sevier County, and bought a small farm and planted grain. As a high priest he was called to be Presiding Elder for some time.

In 1874, President Brigham Young called this fledgling group in Glenwood to establish and live the Law of the United Order. Each man was assigned dutiesaccording to his abilities and each family was to maintain their own home and draw from the general supply according to their needs.

“By far the most successful effort ever put forth at any time in Mormonism was found in the settlement, also in the southern part of the territory, which went by the name of Glenwood.” The Order there answered perfectly to what Joseph Smith must have had in mind when he instituted the United Order. “It shows the idea at its best.” (Quote from the book Joseph Smith, an American Prophet written by John Henry Evans on page 246).

While in Glenwood Archibald was Branch President from 1871-1873 and then was called on a mission to the Indians. He learned their language and spoke it fluently. They loved and respected him and gave him the name of Unca-Kib-er-e-Wach which means Red Mountain Chief. This could be because of his sandy red beard.

The United States Government was disturbed over the fact that many of the Mormon men had more than one wife. The government enacted laws to prohibit this practice; and those who refused to quit practicing it were arrested and sent to prison to serve a term of at least six months. Archibald, like many others, would not desert his families; therefore, he moved from place to place trying to keep his presence unknown. He ended up moving to Mexico with his family. Before they could cross the border into Mexico, the Mexican official at the border checked everything they had. Within days they arrived at Dublan which was their destination. The country was new, and there were hardships to endure; but no doubt it was a relief for Archibald to feel free and know the Marshalls were not on his trail. He remained in Mexico until about 1894 when he returned to Glenwood. A short time later he moved to Venice, a few miles northwest of Glenwood. There he spent the remainder of his life. Oh May 7, 1915, he passed away and was buried in the Glenwood cemetery. He was the finest of patriarchs. His family respected and loved him and looked to him for counsel. He fathered 27 children. He loved every one of them and saw that they were all in Church.

Sources:

• Histories of Aletta Hackett Barlow (a granddaughter)
• Phyrn Baker (a granddaughter)
• Carrie Buchanan Brugger (daughter)
• History of Sevier County