Orson Pratt Huish (September 5, 1851 – December 4, 1932) was a British-born American hymnwriter and artist, associated with the

Latter Day Saint movement The Latter Day Saint movement (also called the LDS movement, LDS restorationist movement, or Smith–Rigdon movement) is the collection of independent church groups that trace their origins to a Christian Restorationist movement founded by ...

. He is particularly notable for writing the words and music to "Come Unto Jesus", as well as a few other hymns found in the 1985 English edition of the hymnal of

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Restorationism, restorationist Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, denomination and the ...

. His hymns have been widely sung by many choirs in many locations.

Early life

Huish was born at

Blaenavon Blaenavon () is a town and community (Wales), community in Torfaen county borough, Wales, high on a hillside on the source of the Afon Lwyd. It is within the boundaries of the historic county of Monmouthshire (historic), Monmouthshire and the Pr ...

Monmouthshire Monmouthshire ( ; ) is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South East Wales, south east of Wales. It borders Powys to the north; the English counties of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire to the north and east; the Severn Estuary to the s ...

to James W. Huish and Helen Niblet. He was named after Orson Pratt, who was then the

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

of the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

Mission of the LDS Church. At age nine, Huish went with his mother and siblings to join his father in

St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an Independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Miss ...

. In 1861 the family went to

Utah Territory The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah, the 45th st ...

with the Job Pingree Company of

Mormon pioneers The Mormon pioneers were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), also known as Latter-day Saints, who Human migration, migrated beginning in the mid-1840s until the late-1860s across the United States from the ...

. They settled in Payson, where Huish worked in farming and ranching as a youth.

Career

In 1880, Huish formed the "Huish Band" with his brothers Edward A., Joseph W., Frank, James W. Jr., Frederick A. and his sister Florette. They traveled throughout Utah Territory, often performing for dances. Huish had been trained to perform in a band with another resident of Payson, John D. Stark. Huish operated general stores at various times in

Moab, Utah Moab () is the largest city in and the county seat of Grand County in eastern Utah in the western United States, known for its dramatic scenery. The population was 5,366 at the 2020 census. Moab attracts many tourists annually, mostly visitor ...

Eugene, Oregon Eugene ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Lane County, Oregon, United States. It is located at the southern end of the Willamette Valley, near the confluence of the McKenzie River (Oregon), McKenzie and Willamette River, Willamette rivers, ...

and

Albuquerque, New Mexico Albuquerque ( ; ), also known as ABQ, Burque, the Duke City, and in the past 'the Q', is the List of municipalities in New Mexico, most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico, and the county seat of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Bernal ...

. He also opened Huish Drug. Orson Pratt Huish Landscape Oil Painting

Huish was not only a writer of music but he was also trained in commercial photography . Huish made some contributions in this field, operating the firm Huish and Hinshaw. They did most of their work in Utah and

Arizona Arizona is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the nort ...

. Huish was also a painter and is listed in 1999's "Artists of Utah" by Olpin, Seifrit, and Swanson. Huish wrote a total of more than 300 songs, most of which are unpublished. In the 1948 LDS Church hymnal three of his works were included. These were "Come Unto Jesus", "Jesus, My Savior True, Guide Me to Thee" and "Utah, the Star of the West". In the 1985 English hymnal only the first two of these hymns were retained. However, the hymn "Come All Ye Sons Of God" (hymn #322) has music by Huish and was in both the 1948 and 1985 hymnals. Other noted works by Huish are the Payson High School song, "The Silver and Green" and the funeral hymn, "Blessed Are the Dead". Huish's music remains widely available, both on its own and in medlies.

Later life

Huish died on December 4, 1932, in

Payson, Utah Payson is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo– Orem Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 21,101 at the 2020 census. History Pioneers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints led by ...

Personal life

In 1872, Huish married Ann Marintha Pickering.Ancestral File on Orson and Ann Huish
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Notes

References

*Cornwall, J. Spencer. ''Stories of Our Mormon Hymns'' (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Company, 1975) pp. 98–100. {{DEFAULTSORT:Huish, Orson Pratt 1851 births 1932 deaths American Latter Day Saint hymnwriters Mormon pioneers People from Blaenavon People from Moab, Utah People from Payson, Utah Welsh Latter Day Saint hymnwriters Welsh emigrants to the United States Welsh Latter Day Saint writers British Latter Day Saint hymnwriters