Charles Crismon

Charles Crismon (December 25, 1805 – March 23, 1890) was an American miller who helped establish the city of Mesa, Arizona. He was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the age of 32 and contributed to the growth and development of the church. Crismon died on March 23, 1890, aged 84 in Lehi, Mesa.

Early life Charles Crismon was born on December 25, 1805, in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, as the 10th child of George A. Chrisman and Elizabeth Hagler, whose ancestors were from Germany and France. He had two sisters and 10 brothers.

In 1830, Crismon moved to Jackson County, Illinois, where he purchased an 80-acre homestead. He then started building mills and farming, and married his first wife, Mary Hill.

Conversion and early church service In , Crismon was baptized and joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. that would slowly break down the grains by grinding them against stones in the mill.

Family Crismon's parents were George A. Chrisman and Elizabeth Hagler. George was born around 1765 and died in 1850, while Elizabeth was born around 1772 and died in 1848. Crismon brought all of his milling equipment with him so that once they made it to the Salt Lake Valley, he could start building mills.

Founding of Mesa

On September 26, 1877, Crismon left for Arizona, and arrived in early 1878 with the First Mesa Company, which consisted of 25 wagons and a large herd of livestock. Despite being invited to join the pioneers in the Lehi settlement, the First Mesa Company settled just south on a mesa that contained the old canal systems.

In 2024, one of Crismon's descendants, Mark Freeman, was elected Mayor of Mesa in the mayoral elections.