Henry Allen Beal and Anna Kristine Bjerregaard

 

 

Source:   https://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=1378699&disp=Henry+Allen+Beal+and+George+Washington+B

Pictures from a fantastic book on Henry Allen Beal:  

Henry Allen Beal

and

George Washington Bean

Pioneers on the Utah Frontier

Located here (and accessible from the above link if the following doesn't work):  https://dcms.lds.org/view/action/ieViewer.do?dps_pid=IE207422&dps_dvs=1361151455206~823&dps_pid=IE207422&change_lng=en

Henry A Beal and Beal Family

From an interview of a Beal descendant who was a professor at Ricks.

HF: Now Dr. Beal, in going back on the Beal name, could you kindly comment a little about your ancestry on your father’s side?
MB: My father’s family came from England in the late 1830’s and they lived for a time in Syracuse, the Syracuse, New York area. There missionaries of the L.D.S. Church found them, and they were converted and moved to Illinois. So they were at Illinois during the time of persecutions and at the time of exodus from that state.
HF: Did your father or parents have a family which they brought with them into the intermountain area then?
MB: My grandfather, Henry Allen Beal, and a brother named William, were the sons of John Beal and his wife. And they were converted to the church. My grandfather, Henry A. Beal didn’t join the church until the Florence or Omaha situation on the Missouri. He was baptized in the Missouri River when he was about twelve years of age. And subsequently, 1852 was the year when that family crossed the plains by ox team and came to Utah. Grandfather’s mother died on the way.
HF: What area of the Utah Territory did the Beal family settle?
- 2 -
MB: After being in the Salt Lake Area for a short time, they moved to a newly established settlement at Manti in what came to be Sanpete County. And so my grandfather, as a young man, became actively engaged in pioneer work. In fact, he was one of twenty-five who moved from Manti to a settlement within seven miles called Ephraim and established that settlement, building a fort block in 1854. As a young man, he at least has this distinction, he married Mary Thorpe Morris. Later he married two other wives upon the advice and consent of the brethren. And altogether there were twenty-four children. Grandfather Beal was very active in the church; he held various offices. He became a member of the stake presidency of Sanpete Stake in 1877, and held that position until 1902. The rest of his life, for ten years, he served as patriarch in that place. He was active in the development of Snow Academy, as it’s known, Snow College today. In fact, his role in reference to education in that part of Utah is quite comparable to the role of Thomas E. Ricks in reference to the establishment of Bannock Stake Academy later properly named Ricks College in his honor.
HF: Dr. Beal, the name Beal is spelled B-E-A-L, is this correct.
MB: That’s correct.
HF: And from your grandfather, descendants from him and his three wives, pretty much constitutes the Beal’s that are in the church today. Would you say or are there other sources of Beal’s?
MB: I think this is the only Beal family; this is the foundation family of Beal’s in the L.D.S. church.
HF: Now before we just temporarily leave the Beal ancestry, could you comment on any particular physical characteristic and also a mental talent or some type of a talent characteristic that has perhaps followed down through the family tree?
MB: Well, Grandfather was a very sturdy, rugged type of person. Farr Beal Isaacson is one of his grandchildren; we’re full cousins. He was a husky man as I am, and the Beal’s, the Beal men that I have known generally have been quite healthy, rugged people. That’s one characteristic. Another that Grandfather had and he developed it considerably was a forthrightness in public speaking. He was a very strong speaker of the word. And this has characterized his sons and a number of descendants. I think there have been a number of teachers in the Beal Family. Two of my uncles, two of his sons, were professors at the University of Utah, and there are quite a few Beal’s who have gone into education. I think another characteristic of grandfather Beal’s descendants has been an interest in public affairs. I don’t know of any special talent. There are some who have skills in music and various other fields, but that, I think, describes the principle characteristics.

Source:  http://abish.byui.edu/specialCollections/Manuscripts/Collections/Voices%20From%20the%20Past/Merrill%20Dee%20Beal.pdf

John Henry Tuttle and his mother, Eleanor Mills Tuttle

ON TO MANTI
Leah B. Lyman
Manti, Utah
First Place

Azariah Tuttle stopped his wagon in front of Fort Utah. The barking of dogs announced their arrival but the team paid no attention. The unexcitable oxen relaxed and drooped their heads in sheer exhaustion. The family was also tired. The mountain roads had been more suggestive than real and walking uphill and riding down had been the family custom. Whenever it was safe Azariah’s aging mother, Eleanor Mills Tuttle, drove the team so that he could walk with his wife, Ann Mabbot Tuttle, and their two children, thirteen-year-old Alexander and Elizabeth Ann age nine. Often they had to push with all their might to surmount a rough hill or cross a gully. Only when they came in sight of the fort did they all get into the wagon. Ann sat in the spring seat with her husband while his mother and the children sat just behind to catch the view.

The Tuttle’s had not been prepared to come west with the first company of 1847. Both Azariah and John had found work among the farmers of Missouri, taking their pay in produce, wagons and oxen. Now the summer of 1852 found them traveling with Bishop Howell’s wagon train. They had left their youngest brother, Luther Terry, busy but happy. After he was mustered out of the Mormon Battalion, he had joined some trappers for a season. From this he obtained enough means to assist in building a flour mill needed badly by the Saints. When the wagon train reached Salt Lake City, President Young directed some to Fort Utah in Utah Valley where the city of Provo was being settled.

John drew his wagon up beside his brother’s. “I guess this is home,” he exclaimed as he jumped from the wagon.

His wife and children remained silent as did those in the other wagon. All were enraptured with the scene before them. They breathed deeply of the fresh mountain air and looked about. The golden rays of the setting sun showed the valley at its best. It was mid-September, harvest time, and farmers were still in their fields. The steep mountains, such as they had never before seen, formed a protective custody. In spite of the fact that a fort had been necessary to protect the settlers from Indians who resented the white men moving in to take their lands, they felt serenity such as they had never known.

People from the fort came out to welcome them and they were guided to a camping place where there was wood for camp fires and water for their animals and camp use. Their simple evening meal was soon over and as they were packing their things again into the “grub-box,” their old friend, Isaac Morley, known to them as Father Morley, strode into camp. He it was who had taken them to his home after the mob had burned their little home at Lima.

Greetings over, Father Morley asked about their activities since they last met. “That is all in the past and can wait for a more fitting time,” said Azariah. “Our future is here and we would like to know what is going on.” “I have much to tell,” said Father Morley, and they all settled down to listen.

“I will make it brief and to the point,” he said. “On June 14, 1849, there rode into Salt Lake City a delegation of Ute Indians led by Chief Walker. At their request they were conducted to the office of President Young. With many grunts and motions the Mormon leader was made to understand that the Indians wanted some Mormons to come to Sanpitch Valley to teach the Indians how to build homes and till the soil. In August and exploration party of four men, with Chief Walker as guide, set forth. They found a beautiful valley through ran a creek of good water. They found the soil good and the surrounding mountains gave promise of plenty of timber both for fuel and for building. Within a few day they returned reporting that everything was favorable for the building of a community.”

For a moment the speaker hesitated. So far he had only told of things in general, but when he spoke again it was in a reminiscent mood, for he was recounting experiences in which he had played a major part. “A company of some fifty families,” he continued, “was organized as soon as possible, with Seth Taft, Charles Shumway, and myself as commanders. We three were set apart to govern in Church Affairs, keep law and order, and advise in the things pertaining to the building of a new town. It was late in the fall when we left Salt Lake. We had to clear roads and build bridges as we went. We reached the chosen valley November 22, 1849, too late to make much preparation for the winter that was upon us. We camped near the creek in our wagon boxes and in a few days it began to snow. Soon it was more than three feet deep and still coming down. We were forced to seek the shelter of the south side of the hill that projected out into the valley. Some of the saints made dugouts in the hillside, while others used tents and wagon boxes for shelter.”

The recounting of these events was painful, his voice choked and tears flowed down his cheeks. “I hope I never see another winter such as that,” he went on. “The men and boys shoveled snow daily, piling it into win rows to provide shelter for our horses and cattle, and also to uncover the dry grass for our starving animals. We even sharpened the horns of our cattle to make it possible for them to break through the crusted snow and find feed for themselves and also to help them to protect themselves from wild animals.

“We lost many of our horses and cattle that winter, but it was not a total loss. We gave them to the starving Indians camping nearby and they greedily devoured them to ward off starvation. Even they had never seen snow so deep. It was as if the almighty God was testing our faith in every possible way.

“Spring of 1850 arrived. With the warm weather came a new terror. Myriads of rattlesnakes came from crevices in the hill. Hissing their way into the homes of the saints, they wriggled and writhed about in their boxes, beds, cupboards, or anywhere they could get. With the aid of pine knot torches, we killed nearly five hundred of the reptiles in one night and soon had the country rid of this latest menace. The remarkable thing was that not a soul was bitten. In spite of everything we had endured we all came through the winter in good health.”

There was a sigh of relief but no one made a comment. When the narrative was resumed it was in a lighter vein as if the crisis was past.

“In August of that year President Young visited us and christened our town Manti, in honor of one of the notable cities told of in the book of Mormon. He also named the county, changing the name of Sanpitch to Sanpete. To make sure that we did not neglect the education of our children, he furnished part of the money for the erection of a school house. Jesse W. Fox was our first teacher. Our only method of making flour was with a huge coffee grinder which was passed from home to home. So President Young helped me to make possible the erection of a small grist mill in the canyon east of town.

“On the 9th day of September 1850, by an Act of Congress, Utah Territory was organized and Brigham Young was appointed Governor. Charles Shumway and myself represented Sanpete County in the First Legislative Assembly in Salt Lake City. On the 5th of February 1851, an Act was passed incorporating the three towns now existing outside of Salt Lake City. Brownsville on the Weber River was incorporated under the name of Ogden. The town here in Utah Valley known as Fort Utah was incorporated under the name of Provo. Third was our own town of Manti. We were proud when we returned home. Soon the city of Manti was laid off, ten miles square, and divided into city lots. The settlers soon chose their lots and moved from the hillside to start homemaking in earnest.” Father Morley looked about as if trying to read their thoughts. “Well, that is about all there is to tell, only that there are plenty of city lots left. How about joining us?”

Azariah had been toying with the thought all during the recital. Turning to his brother he said, “What do you say, John?”
After a quiet conversation with his wife, John said, “Let Mother decide.”

Mother Tuttle was proud that her boys still sought her counsel, but she was not ready to commit herself yet. Instead she said, “This narrative reminds me of one of Christ’s stories. One of the last parables he gave was shortly before his crucifixion. He wanted his disciples to know that he would not be with them much longer and they would be sorrowful, but their sorrow would turn to joy when he triumphed over death, and he likened it to the most common thing in the world, the birth of a baby. Birth pains would be forgotten when the mother realized that a man had been born into the world. Likewise, the people of Sanpete went safely through their travail and a city is born. I think they need us to help care for this child. I say, ‘ ON TO MANTI’.”

Source: http://sanpete.com/downloads/saga/Saga_of_the_Sanpitch_1.pdf

A Story about Henry Beal

It was a Sunday morning in the summer of 1875. Though it was still early in the morning, heat already crept on the little settlement of Ephraim. A neat little family, scrubbed glowing pink, emerged from a door of a small adobe home. An anxious mother herded her brood.
“Now son, don’t get your shirt dirty,” cautioned mother as a youngster bent over a curious kitten. “That goes for you, too, Bishop Dorius,” she called to her husband. He looked up from the weed he had just pulled and smiled at her.
Bishop Dorius dusted his large, capable hands on his homespun trousers, and then proudly led his family down the walk. He turned toward the old stone chapel where he met with his fellow worshipers every Sabbath morn. The good people of Ephraim gathered toward the church. Many an anxious mother fretted over her spouse and offspring. After only one block, would they still be clean?
The great, staunch figure of Henry Allen Beal led the flock. He was a mighty leader of the Church and town. He was a big man with a big voice, which he could, and quite often did, turn up to terrific volume. He was a favorite speaker at church meetings and never minced words in his sermons.
Mrs. Dorius shooed out her last little son and was just closing the white picket gate when she noticed a pair of boots dangling over the edge of the hammock in the garden. She cleared her throat and marched right over. Underneath a huge straw hat lay the hired man. She snatched the hat away and, with hands on hips, she tapped her foot in the dust. The shaggy haired young man blinked in the sun, and grinned sheepishly, at Mrs. Dorius.
“Jens, are you not going to meeting?” she demanded.
“No,” replied the young man calmly.
“Why for?” she inquired, becoming angry. She gripped his oversized ear. “Why for you lay here when you should be to Church?”
“Vel,” drawled the hired man in his heavy Danish accent. “I heard Henry Beal vill preach today an’ I ken hear him yust as good from here as if I vas to meeting.’”

SOUND FORTH THE WORD Lora Nielson Ephraim, Utah Honorable Mention

Source: http://sanpete.com/downloads/saga/Saga_of_the_Sanpitch_1.pdf

The story of Annie Bjerregaard Beal.

Annie K. Bjerregaard
Born: 08/02/1844 in Nordjylland,Denmark
Married: 03/28/1863 in Salt Lake City, Utah
Died: 03/23/1906 in Salt Lake City, Utah
Notes: Buried: 03/26/1906 Ephraim, UT

Annie was 13 yrs. old when here family came to Utah from Denmark, and early twenties when her parents moved to Missouri. Annie is the second of three wives of Henry Beal and are the parents of the children listed below. (Will come later) Anna was medium in stature, and slender. Her complexion was fair, her eyes were violet blue.
Anna became pregnant during the time of the so called persecution over polygamy by the U.S. Government. The agreement was that no children were to be born after a certain time. If this happened, the husband would have to give his wife up, or go to jail for certain time.
Henry would not give up Anna. Therefore, Anna left Ephraim and went to Brigham City and stayed for about one and one half years with her sister Elsie and her husband Larus C. Christensen. Elsie lived out of town in Brigham Utah, up in the hills, where Anna could hide in the bushes.
This is where Violet Bardella, her youngest daughter, was born. Elsie and husband wanted to keep her so that Anna could go home, but Henry refused, and went to court instead. Henry had already served a three month sentence beginning on October 24, 1887. This hiding procedure was called the Under Ground Railroad.

Her husband Henry Allen Beal

Other names found --- Thomas, Tom, Henery, John. Henry is the second son of John and Ann Deacon Beal, married 1822. Henry was a polygamist and had three wives. The other's are #1 Mary Thorpe, Born: 05/27/1827, Mar: 07/04/1854 Ephraim, Utah, Died: 09/12/1905. #3 Mary Ann Tompson, Born: 04/07/1850, Mar: 04/25/1868 Salt Lake City, Utah, Died: 01/14/1924.
Henry came to Utah in 1850 and was very resourceful and successful. With help he built homes for each of his wives. He farmed, built beds for the railroad tracks, was President of Snow Academy (now Snow College), Mayor of Ephraim, and held many high positions in the Mormon Church.
In the Fall of 1864, twenty Ephraim families were called on missions to locate a settlement in Circle Valley on the head waters of the Sevier River. Henry took his second wife, Anna Christena Bjerregaard, on this mission.
Following is a short story out of a book on Henry Allen that expresses but one of the few problems encountered in a polygamist marriage. ------
Henry and Mary Ann Thompson were married on April 25, 1868. In due course, a nice house was built for her on north Main Street. However, Mary Ann's first domicile was in juxta-position to Mary Thorpe's home. This provided a setting for a comical event. Henry had been telling Mary Thorpe what a wonderful help young Mary Ann was proving to be. He was simply delighted ... As Mary Thorpe pondered upon this matter early one summer Sunday morning, the pigs began to squeal.
Without arising from Mary Ann's bed next door, Henry shouted in a loud voice: "Mary Thorpe, go slop the hogs!" Obediently she filled her pail at the barrel and started for the pig pen, but overwhelmed with indignation at the circumstance, she changed her course and the reclining couple found themselves suddenly showered with the contents of the bucket.
The life history in complete detail of Henry is in a book called, "Henry Allen Beal a Sanpete Valley Pioneer". This book is not published any more. I, Devere Byergo have a copy made from a book owned by Beals, who are descendants of one of the other wives, who live in Leeds, Utah.
While looking for new information and checking old records at the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints (Mormon) Genealogy department, I found Henry having four polygamist wives. This according to my records was incorrect. In checking records I found that Mary Ann Tompson and Marianne Nielsen are the same person. Born: 04/07/1850 at Lyuga, Aarhus, Denmark; Married: 04/25/1868 Salt Lake City, UT. and Died: 01/14/1924 Ephraim, UT..

Her Child Mary Ann Beal

Child: Mary Ann Beal
Born: 01/22/1866 in Ephraim, Utah
Married: 12/14/1887 in Logan, Cache, Utah
Died: 04/09/1913 in Ephraim, Sanpete, Utah
Notes: Buried: 04/13/1913 Ephraim, UT, Birth Date may be 01/26/1866.

Her Child Alice Beal

Child: Alice Beal
Born: 01/16/1868 in Ephraim, Utah
Married: 12/23/1891 in Manti, Sanpete, Utah
Died: 01/02/1933 in Price, Carbon, Utah, May have died: 01/02/1934.

Her Child Sarah Ann Beal

Child: Sarah Ann Beal
Born: 03/27/1872 in Ephraim, Utah
Married: 12/23/1891 in Manti, Sanpete, Utah
Died: 01/11/1915 in Ephraim, Sanpete, Utah, Sarah may have been born: 03/28/1872. Sarah lived at the Salt Lake City home of a Aunt Rose for several years.
The following was written by Ida Caroline Larsen Frandsen the mother of Edna Frandsen Bjerregaard who gave this excerpt to me, Devere Byergo.
This excerpt is very much a part of the Bjerregaard/Byergo history due to the fact so many of the people mentioned are in our history. I went to Ephraim and worked for my board at Sarah Ann Hansens. Mary & Lydia Matson a girl from Mt. Pleasant were boarding at Mrs. Hansens and then there was Mrs. Hansen and her two boys Apollo and Glen.
I got along very well in school & the teachers were very friendly & encouraged me in every way. Especially JY Jensen also Thomas Beal, one of Mrs. Hansens brothers.
Mrs. Hansen was very good to me and I loved her very much. Mary Christensen taught piano at the Academy & Mrs. Hansen taught sewing. (Mary Christensen was a friend of Mrs. Hansen from Mt. Pleasant. Lived at Mrs. Hansens & taught music at the Snow Academy)
Mary persuaded Mrs. Hansen to get a Musical instrument for her boys to play. She got an old organ for them to begin with and many times I used to play hymns & a piece or two I knew for them. When I Think back it makes me smile. Those boys became accomplished musicians. Glen lives in Ogden and has really accomplished things in Music. Appolo lives in Price & teaches Piano. They were grandsons of the late Henry Beal a pioneer & influential leader in Ephraim.
Mrs. Hansen had a sister Mary Ann Folster whom I loved very much. She was so good to me. She had a lovely family and for a number of years we visited until we became widely separated. I have been fortunate enough to keep in touch with her son Allen through the years and learned what the others were doing. Allen was called on a Mission to England a year or two after I finished school. He married Zeretta Breinholt before going and it was fortunate he did as his mother passed away while he was gone and Zeretta took care of the family for some time.

Her Child Thomas (Tom) Andrew Beal

Child: Thomas (Tom) Andrew Beal
Born: 07/20/1874 in Ephraim, Sanpete, Utah
Married: 06/13/1901 in
Died: 01/03/1948 in
Educated at Cornel Univ., President of Bank at Ephraim. He was a teacher at Snow and Weber Academies, respectively. He was a professor at the University of Utah. Thomas established and became Dean of the Department of Commerce and Finance. He achieved expertise in the field of Utah tax matters.
While visiting Forrest Byergo in the summer of 1997 I, Devere Byergo, was informed by Forrest that Andrew Bjerregaard paid for the education of Thomas (Tom) Beal at Cornel Univ. Forrest also said that Andrew made Tom President of the Bank of Ephraim. Family history information indicates that this is incorrect.
Andrew died before Tom became or if he did become President of the bank. It must be remembered that this information was verbally passed on and could be incorrect. Andrew's history names the first six Presidents. Andrew was the third and Tom was not one of them.
Information from Ephraim History in Ephraim Library. Tom may have became Bank President after Ephraim History was written.

Her Child Orsen (Orse) Henery Beal

Child: Orsen (Orse) Henery Beal
Born: 11/07/1876 in Ephraim, Sanpete, Utah
Married: 02/08/1910 in
Died: 07/19/1950 in
Notes: Another birth date 11/06/1876, Divorced from Della Davey. May have been born: 11/06/1876.

Her Child Elinora Christena Beal

Child: Elinora Christena Beal
Born: 02/13/1879 in Ephraim, Utah
Married: 02/20/1904 in Manti, Sanpete, UT.
Died: 03/10/1937 in Richfield, Sevier, UT.
May have been born: 02/10/1879.

Her Child Owen Franklin Beal

Child: Owen Franklin Beal
Born: 07/12/1882 in Ephraim, Utah
Married: 06/04/1913 in
Died: 12/14/1963 in Ephraim, Sanpete, UT.
May have died: 12/14/1953. Owen became a teacher at Snow and Weber academies and a professor at the University of Utah. Marriage date may be 01/04/1913.

Her Child Violet Bodella Beal

Child: Violet Bodella Beal

Born: 12/03/1891 in Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah

Married: 09/12/1914 in Salt Lake City, UT.

Died: 07/1982 in Ogden, Weber, UT.

Name may be Burdella or Bardella. Violet was born in Brigham City because her mother was staying with her sister, Elsie Christensen, so that she could hide from the law during pregnancy and child birth. This was done so that Henry, her polygamist father, would not go to jail. Elsie and husband wanted to keep and raise Violet but Henry would not hear of this. Because Henry would not give up his child he went to jail anyway. More about this in Annie's memo. 

Source: http://www.bjerregaard.us/Annie_Bjerregaard.htm

Henry Allen Beal

 

 

Birth:	Apr. 30, 1835 Syracuse Onondaga County New York, USA
Death:	Feb. 21, 1911 Ephraim Sanpete County Utah, USA
Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, 1847–1868 Beal, Henry Birth Date: 30 Apr. 1835 Death Date: 21 Feb. 1911 Gender: Male Age: 15 at time of crossing Company: Warren Foote Company (1850) Departure: 17 June 1850 Arrival: 17-18, 26 September 1850 Company Information: About 540 individuals and 104 wagons were in the company when it began its journey from the outfitting post at Kanesville, Iowa (present day Council Bluffs). Family that traveled with him: Beal, Ann Deacon (53) Mother Beal, John (13) Brother Beal, John (48) Father Beal, William (16) Brother Son of John Beal & Ann Deacon. OBITUARY: The Manti Messenger, Friday 24 February 1911: LAST CALL OF HENRY BEAL Well Known Ephraim Man Called Last Tuesday. Funeral Today Henry Beal one of the best known pioneers of the county, closed a long, busy useful career on this earth Tuesday morning at his home in Ephraim. He was 76 years old the last 57 of which he spent in Sanpete. He was born in New York where his parents joined the Mormon Church, emigrating to Nauvoo and on to Utah in 1850. He lived in Manti from 1850 till 1854 when he moved to Ephraim where he has since lived and has exerted an influence in the upbuilding of that city having served in nearly every public office the city could give him. He has also been a very energetic worker in the Church and was one of the most active in the building of the Snow Academy, of which he was president when he died. The funeral will be held at 2 o'clock at the Snow Academy this afternoon. Family links: Parents: John Beal (1800 - 1896) Spouses: Mary Thorpe Beal (1827 - 1905)* Mary Ann Thompson Beal (1850 - 1924)* Children: George A Beal (1859 - 1936)* Henry Thomas Beal (1861 - 1917)* David Nelson Beal (1864 - 1946)* Mary Jemima Beal Isaacson (1866 - 1930)* Emma Rosabell Beal Waite (1868 - 1926)* Anna Marie Beal Thompson (1875 - 1947)* Mary Matilda Beal Olsen (1878 - 1939)* Ellen Christine Beal Harden (1881 - 1948)* Martha Beal Hansen (1888 - 1953)* *Calculated relationship
Burial: Ephraim Park Cemetery Ephraim Sanpete County Utah, USA
Maintained by: Loose Moose Originally Created by: VaunaMri Record added: Apr 12, 2009 Find A Grave Memorial# 35797926 Source: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=35797926

Eleanor Turner and Charles William Willden

 

 

 

THE HISTORY OF CHARLES AND
ELEANOR TURNER WILLDEN
{My Great-Great-grand Parents}
By Shirley Willden Olsen

Charles William Willden was born to Jeremiah and Betty Reville Willden on July 27, 1806 in Anston, Yorkshire, England. Charles married Elenor Turner on January 21, 1833 in Laughton, Yorkshire, England. Eleanor was born to Thomas and Ann Whitman Turner on April 9, 1810 in Laughton, Yorkshire, England.

Charles and Eleanor Willden lived in Laughton, Yorkshire, England where Ellott and Eleanor were born. In 1836 they moved to Sheffield, Yorkshire, England where two year old Eleanor died and five other children were born, Charles Turner, John, (my great-grandfather), Feargus O'Connor, Ann and Maria.

Charles worked as a laborer and also in the steel mills where he discovered a way to refine steel. He was active in politics at the time of Ireland's fight for freedom. On August 27, 1839 Charles joined the LDS Church, four years later Eleanor joined the Church.

On October 25, 1849 Charles Willden and his family left Sheffield bound for Liverpool where they were to sail by ship for America. Charles and his family slept on the docks five days before boarding the ship. On November 10, 1849 the Ship "Zetland" sailed. They landed in New Orleans two months to the day from the day they left their home in England, December 24, 1849, with only one farthing (about half a cent) and a few hundred lb. of oatmeal which they sold for one cent a pound. Which was a little help toward paying for their passage up the river to St. Louis, Missouri. (When) Charles went to pay for their passage up the river they did not have enough money. Charles and his sons carried wood and odd jobs in order to earn the fare. A week later on December 29, 1849 they left New Orleans on the steamboat "Ben West" and arrived at St. Louis January 11, 1850. During the journey Maria Willden age 2 died January 4, 1850 and was buried at "Council Bain", Arkansas.

They stayed three months in St. Louis where, no doubt Charles and his older sons worked to get funds to continue their Journey to Utah. The Willdens left St. Louis April 12, 1850 on the steamer, "Correy", and arrived in Council Bluffs, Iowa, a new settlement, May 4, 1850. Charles bought a farm from a man named Solomon Walker, a farm consisting of 50 to 60 acres and two houses for the sum of $20, as Walker was going west. It left the family with $2 to buy necessities but they were able and willing to work. The family worked the farm for two years, planting corn and wheat. Most of the work was done by hand as they had no team or machinery. Feargus and Ann went to school for about 6 weeks while the family lived in Council Bluffs. Mary Ellen Elizabeth was born there on November 5, 1850.

In the spring of 1852, the Willden family along with others gathered wagon timber to have a wagon made. They left their homestead and some corn in the cribs for Utah, on June 2, 1852. While traveling, the weaker members of the family rode in the wagon while the others walked. They walked over half the way. The driving of the animals, gathering of firewood, taking care of the oxen, and carrying water was the job of Feargus and John. Charles Jr. drove the wagon and helped his father. Ann helped her mother with her little sister and other chores. During the trip one time Charles went hunting with the other men, he didn't return with them. The train couldn't wait for him. That night a lantern was hung on a tall tree and guns were fired in intervals at about 3 in the morning an answer shot was heard. Charles had found the train. Charles Jr. was lost for 4 days. He had gone to help another family that had taken the wrong road. On one day ann was in the wagon when John asked her to drive the sheep, while she was getting out of the wagon on the wrong side the oxen kicked her under the wagon, a wheel struck her back, she was badly hurt. While passing through Echo Canyon the children found it to be a very wonderful place, for the great rocks and high cliffs were the first we had ever seen. They shouted and there came back the mysterious voices echoing from the rocky cliffs.

They arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah on September 13, 1852 and stayed there for four weeks. Charles was dealing with Lorenzo D. Young, a farmer, but as soon as he heard the name Willden he told Charles his brother Brigham Young wished to speak to him. Charles went to Brigham Young, who wanted them to go to Cedar City, known as Coal Creek, to work in his trade as a steel refiner.

The Willden family left for Cedar City in the late fall, en route they camped one night at Cove Creek and as Charles looked over the valley he remarked what a lovely place it would be to settle. They arrived on Friday October 29, 1852 in Cedar City. They took with them a herd of cattle and ten sheep. It was a hard winter for them they lived in the wagon box and camped under the stars until they could build a dugout where the family slept, ate and cooked in one room. There was little food and they existed on bread, roots, and grass roots until spring of 1853. "After the second harvest" they built a grist mill. Everybody helped to build the mill before the cold weather came.

On December 15, 1853 Louise Willden was born. Shortly after her birth Eleanor was taken very ill. Ann at the age of 8 took over her mothers duties.

In the spring of 1853 an additional 100 families were sent to Cedar City the people decided to build a much larger and better fort, which was to be 100 rods square. The work on the 10 feet high walls and 3 feet thick was very slow. When the Walker Indian War broke out, work on the fort was pushed. In the spring of 1854, every one moved into the new Fort Cedar which was a mile northwest of Cedar City. In 1856, the town was laid out in blocks and lots, the men drew lots. Charles Sr. drew lot 7, block 39. Charles Jr. and Ellott drew lots 3 and 4 in block 22, these two lots totaled 9-3/8 acres. Charles Sr. built a four room house and in each room was a fireplace. In the back yard was an adobe granary, with a cellar underneath. Charles planted two apple trees south of the house. Ellott sold his lot to Charles Jr., where he built his home. In 1856 the Indians took so many of the settlers cattle that the losses were very heavy. After these losses the authorities in Salt Lake sent men down to gather up the cattle left by the Indians. They were taken to Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake for safety. This was to be voluntary but some of the men sent from Salt Lake forced the settlers to send their cattle north. Charles Willden's losses were $190 worth of Cattle.

By 1859 the iron works had become a failure thus the Willden family moved to the badlands or sinks southeast of Beaver, then called lower Beaver. They arrived there Sunday, March 4, 1859. Here Charles Willden and his sons Ellott, Charles, John and Feargus each took up 20 acres of land. Many times Charles had thought of making a home on Cove Creek and as their land in Beaver proved to be poor, Charles bought 160 acres of land there.

In 1860 on July 19th Charles and his family moved to Cove Creek, where they buita adoby house on the south bank and enclosed it with a corral and cedar post stockade. The posts were 8 to 10 feet high and placed so close together that they formed a solid wall. This stockade was called "Fort Willden", in the vicinity of "Old Cove Fort" which still stands today. "In march 1861 the family moved in to the fort. During this time weary travelers would receive food, rest, and protection from the indians. Seven years later Charles and his sons and son inlaw, helped laying the rock fort which stands on the site known as "Cove Fort". On april 24, 1861 Ann Willden Johnson's first child, Hanna Jane Johnson, was the first child born there. In 1862 John married Margaret McEwen of Beaver, and brought her to live at Fort Willden.

Indian depredations were becoming more prevalent the serious by 1865. The Willden moved back to Beaver, where they made there home again. On March 19, 1864 Charles Willden took another wife, Sarah Smith, later she divorced Charles and remarried.

At this time Charles still claimed the land at Fort Willden.

In 1867 Brigham Young asked Ira N. Hinckley to head the building of a rock fort on the land at Cove Creek, Charles and his sons worked hard and diligently on the rock fort, living in their old home while doing so. Eleanor cooked for the men working on the fort. From a search through the records Charles Willden was never paid for this land. The last remains of Willdens Fort were leveled of in 1948 or 49 by the Kessler family, who owned the land and fort since 1904. Information From Ellott Willden showes the location of Fort Willden to be some 500 feet east and 300 feet north of the southeast corner of the present of Cove Fort. At this time a cottonwood tree still marked the site.

In 1869 Charles Willden was called on a mission for the Church back to his native land, England.

At one time, according to the Indogents Records of Beaver County, Charles Willden kept a poor man for the county "quote from the County Court Minutes Register A. Page24 By order of the court and the choice of Charles Willden, that he agrees to wash and mend the clothes, lodge and board mr. Fisher for 6 months at the rate of one dollar and twelve and a half cents per week." Page 65. "Charles Willden, Sr., bill for stationary for the county amounting to $1.50 was presented and the court ordered a warrent be issued in favor of that amount. Also Charles Willden's bill for boarding Joseph Fisher 7-4/7 weeks at $1.12 1/2 per week amounting to 3- 45/60 bushels of wheat."

On the 22nd day of August, 1883, Charles and his son Feargus were hauling hay. Eleanor at the house upon hearing a commotion looked out and saw the team and wagon coming from the field toward the house as fast as the team could go. Eleanor told Louisa to run down the lane and open the gate. They soon learned that while Charles and Feargus had been loading the wagon in the field that Charles han had a stroke, causing him to fall from the top of the load. He was dead when they reached the house so he had apparently died instantly. he must have been active until the time of his death at the age of 77 years. He was laid to rest in the Mountain View Cemetery in Beaver.

OBITUARY OF ELEANOR TURNER WILLDEN

Willden--
At beaver, Utah, 30 April 1893, Eleanor Turner Willden, wife of the late Charles Willden. Deceased joined the LDs Church in Sheffield, England, in the year 1843, emigrated in 1849, has lived in Utah nearly 40 years. She leaves 4 sons and 2 daughters living, 52 grand-children and 66 Great-grandchildren. She lived and died faithful.

 

Sources:

http://www.handfamily.org/02360004.htm  (The warning about Mormons here quite amuses me.  :) )

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=103013

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=103012

 

There is much more to be had on Eleanor and Charles Willden, but only so much time to be spent on this.  More to come later. 

A Note

I have decided to add information on my husband's family here, as well.  I want my children to know their heritage and that includes this whole other branch of the family.  Besides, even if they aren't my blood, they are my family by marriage and that is still family. 

Again, I do not have the time at this stage of life (still raising my little ones..) to be doing a lot of writing on my own about these forefathers, but will use this as a place to store the information I find online.  It also makes it easy to share with family. 

And, I must say, a fantastic benefit to this blog that I didn't foresee at the beginning are the connections I make with distant (and not so distant) relatives as we both research our family lines.  I've greatly enjoyed hearing from all of you!