GEORGE WEBB. The subject of this sketch. George Webb, was born at Studham. Bedfordshire. England. May 6. 1839. He is the third son of William Webb and Emma Stokes Webb. His early life was spent on a farm and working in a flour mill. In the year 1856, he joined the Mormon Church. In March, 1861. he was called on a mission by Elias Blackburn and assigned to labor in the Norwich conference, where he worked for 3 years and 3 months. In 1864. he married Julia Cushing.

On June 3, with his father's family, he left England for Utah, sailing on the ship " Hudson." They were six weeks on the sea. On the plains his wife died. They arrived in Salt Lake City November 2. of the same year. After staying there a few days they came to Lehi where he has resided ever since.

On May 30, 1865, he married Mary Ann Ward. While living in Lehi he has followed several occupations; running flour mills; working in American Fork canyon; farming; running the Lehi Banner, of which he was one of the promoters and finally editor and owner.

He has held the following .offices: attorney for Lehi City; alderman; precinct justice; mayor; member of the legislature; delegate to two constitutional conventions; school trustee for 19 years; Utah County commissioner; president Lehi Irrigation Company 10 years; and director Utah Banking Company.  At the present time, he is vice president of the People's Co-operative Institution and justice for Lehi City. He has also held the following positions in the Mormon Church: Assistant Superintendent of Sunday School; Assistant Superintendent Utah Stake Sunday school; one of the presidents of the 127^th quorum of Seventy.

His life has been a busy one and he his always stood for the building up of Lehi

MARY ANN WARD WEBB, daughter of Robert and Isabella Watford Ward, was born at Walpole,   St.   Peter's, Norfolk. England, October 24, 1840, and joined the Mormon Church in November, 1851. Her early life was spent on the farm with her parents. When she was twenty-one, she went to London, where she lived for three years. On June 3, 1864, she and her sister left London for Utah, sailing on the ship. "Hudson," which landed in New York on July 20. From there they sailed up the Hudson   River  to  Albany, and came thence by rail to the Missouri River. They left the river on August 12. crossing the plains in Captain Snow's company, walking much of the way. They arrived in Salt Lake City on November 3. She lived there until May 30, 1865, when she married George Webb and moved to Lehi, where she has lived ever since.

She is the mother of nine children, seven of whom are living. She has been a very active worker in religious and secular affairs and during a busy life has filled the following positions: member of Lehi choir for twenty years, president of Primary, Sunday School teacher for thirty years, counselor in Primary Association, Relief Society teacher, and first president of Lehi branch of the Woman's Suffrage Association. At present she is stake board missionary in the Relief Society. Besides her public work she has done a great deal of work among the sick in her neighborhood, always being ready to help in time of need.

The names of her children are: Walter L;, Bernard G., Arthur F., Laura (Mrs. F. Salzner), Angie (Mrs. C. L. Warnick), Maud (Mrs. Jos. Glover), and Dulcie (Mrs. J. L. Francom).

JOHN  STOKES WEBB. who was the son of William Webb, and Emma Stokes, was born in Whipsnade, Bedford, England, on the 20th day of November, 1831. He was engaged as a farm laborer  until the time of leaving his native land. His father's family did not belong to any denomination and when in 1847, elders of the Church came to Studham, his mother and sister became converted to the gospel.     His   father was very bitter toward the elders and made many threats against them, but was finally persuaded to go and hear them, and was in due time converted and baptized. John was baptized on the 17th day of April, 1848, and soon after was ordained and sent out as a traveling elder.

He was married to Hannah Grace on February 18, 1854, in Studham and, in company with his wife, left his home on March 10, 1854, for Liverpool, where they were detained for nearly a month and then set sail on the steamship "Marshfield" in company with 366 other Saints under the direction of William Taylor, on April 8. 1854. After a long and tiresome journey they arrived in Salt Lake City in the fall of 1854.

He was engaged to work for President Brigham Young for one year, coming to Lehi in the fall of 1855. His family lived for the following five years in a dug-out on the west side of what is now Block 18. Plat "A," Lehi City Survey of building lots, where his three oldest children were born. Food and clothing being very scarce, they endured many hardships in the early history of Lehi. He followed the occupation of farming and was quite successful in this line. He was also a director and general water master in the Lehi Irrigation Company.

Mr. Webb was a block teacher and a Sunday School worker for a great many years and held the office of a seventy at the time of his death.

John Stokes Webb was a strong Democrat, and was a great student of history, being familiar with the names of all the Presidents and leading Senators of the United States. He was the father of nine children, a quiet, unassuming man, and respected by all. He died January 27. 1899.

HANNAH GRACE WEBB, who was the daughter of John Grace and Sarah Mathews, was born in Wipsnade, Bedfordshire, England on the 9th day of May 1831. She, with other members of her father's family, were among the first to receive the gospel in Bedfordshire and she was baptized on April 19, 1846. in Whipsnade, England. She learned the art of braiding in her girlhood and followed this occupation   until   her marriage. selling the braid to the great straw hat factories at Luton, England.   

She was married to John S. Webb February 18, 1854, in Studham, England, and became the mother of nine children; five sons and four daughters, their names being: Sarah Emma Webb, (who became the wife of Wm. F. Gurney, she being now deceased), John William Webb; George Grace Webb, Hannah Elizabeth Webb, (now Mrs. John Bone), Harriet Jane Webb, (now Mrs. Samuel A. Smith), Rachel Ann Webb, (now Mrs. Edward Southwick), all residing at Lehi, Utah; and Oren James, Edwin David; and Wilsie Stokes, all of whom died in Lehi before marriage.

She passed through many trying ordeals in the early history of Lehi, but was always cheerful and faithful to every trust and passed away Sunday, April 24, 1904, at the age of 72 years. 11 months, and 14 days.

WILLIAM AND HARRIET WEBB. William Webb was born August 6, 1843, in the town of Studham, England. His father's name was William Webb and that of his mother Emma Stokes Webb. Harriet Webb, wife of William  Webb, was born June 29, 1841, in Bedfordshire, England. Her father's name was John Grace and her mother's name Sarah Mathews Grace.

William and Harriet were married May 9, 1864, and left London June 2 of the same year, forsaking relatives, friends, and a good home to come to Utah for the sake of their religion. They crossed the ocean in one of the old time sailing vessels, the "Hudson," which was six weeks making the trip. They came across the plains with ox teams in 1864, William Webb driving one of the teams all the way. The wagons were loaded so heavily with freight that his good wife was compelled to walk nearly the whole distance. Their arrival in Lehi dated November 4.  1864, and they have resided here ever since.

A family of twelve children was born to this couple, ten boys and two girls. They have always been faithful members of the Mormon Church. Harriet Webb died November 5, 1911.

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ROBERT JOHN WHIPPLE. Was born in Salt Lake City November 13, 1869, and is a descendant of old New England stock. His father. Nelson Wheeler Whipple, was born July 11, 1818, in Sanford, Broom County, New York, and belongs to the same family as William Whipple, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, he came to Utah in 1851. His mother, Susan Gay Whipple, was born June 13, 1841, in Dekalb, Kemper County, Mississippi, and came to Utah in 1850.   She died September 29, 1911.

Until he was 16 years of age, Robert John attended school in the Nineteenth Ward Meeting house during the winter and in the summer worked with his father in Big Cottonwood Canyon running a saw mill. His father died July 5. 1887, when for a number of years he worked at the carpenter trade and contracting.   In 1892 he came to Lehi to work on the sugar factory, and

He was married to Susie Winn June 24, 1896. He labored as block teacher in the ward and as assistant to the bishop in the priest quorum from 1898 to 1903, as second assistant in the Sunday school in 1902, as second counselor in the presidency of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association from 1900 to 1903, and as president of the Y. M. M. I. A. in 1903. When the Lehi Ward was divided, he was selected as first Counselor to Andrew Fjeld in the Bishopric of the Lehi First Ward, which position he still holds. In 1910 and 1911 he served as a member of the City Council.

Mr. Whipple is one of Lehi's progressive citizens, deeply interested in the growth and welfare of the community.

SUSIE WINN WHIPPLE. Daughter of William Henry Winn and Martha Evans Winn, was born in Lehi February 10, 1874. She was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the age of 8 years. During girlhood she took an active part in the social, religious, and political affairs of the town. She was graduated from the district school with the first class receiving diplomas of graduation in 1892, and then took a special Sunday School and Mutual course in the B. Y. Academy.

She served as secretary in the Y. L. M. I. A. for two years and was for a number of years secretary of the Democratic party. She also acted as secretary of the Woman's Suffrage Association, with  M. M. Gaddie as its president. She assisted in passing a petition to the State Legislature asking for woman's franchise, which was granted. She was a delegate to the first state convention of the Democratic party in 1896, held in Salt Lake City.

She was married. June 24. 1896, to R. J. Whipple. She is the mother of six children, as follows: Ora, Winnie Leath, Essie June, Byron John, Mildred, and Miriam, the latter two being twins.

 

 

 

 

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IRA JONES WILLES, son of Eleazar and Achsah Jones Willes, was born January 21, 1812, in New York. Ira joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in its early history. He volunteered and was enlisted as a private in Company B of the Mormon Battalion on July 13, 1846, and was .successful in making the long, perilous journey to California.

After his arrival from the march to California he was married at Salt Lake City, May 13. 1849, to Malissa Lott Smith, a young widow of the Prophet Joseph Smith. They moved to Lehi. purchased a farm, and became actively engaged in farming. This he made his principal business and became an incessant worker as a pioneer.

He was killed while crossing Dry Creek, by a load of wood overturning and burying him in the ice, together with his 9-year old son, Cornelius.

MALISSA LOTT SMITH WILLES. daughter of Cornelius P and Permelia Darrow Lott, was born January 9. 1824, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Her parents were born in New York and were staunch members of the Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints. Malissa was baptized into the Church at the age of 14 years.

She was married to the Prophet Joseph Smith September 20, 1843, by Hyrum Smith, at Nauvoo. At this time she was 19 years and 9 months of age. She lived with the Prophet until his death, which occurred nine months after their marriage.

Malissa crossed the plains with her parents one year following the arrival of the pioneers in Utah. She was married  to  Ira Jones  Willes May 13, 1849, after his return from the Mormon Battalion. She was the mother of seven children, as follows: Ira Pratt (deceased), Cornelius John (deceased), Achsah Permelia (deceased), Polly Malissa (Mrs. Wm. W. Clark), Lyman Benjamin, Stephen Eleazar, and Sarah Amanela (Mrs. Albert K. Mulliner). She died July 13, 1898.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WILLIAM SIDNEY S. WILLES, son of Eleazar and Achsah Jones Willes, the sixth child of a family of seven children, five sons and two daughters, was born in Jefferson County, New York, March 18, 1819. His ancestors in the direct line emigrated from England to New England prior to the Revolutionary War. He and his brother, Ira, were the only ones of his father's family who joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

They were with the Mormons when the call was made upon the Church for a battalion of men to go and fight in the war with Mexico. They volunteered and were mustered as privates in Company B of the Mormon Battalion and made the long and perilous journey overland to California.

Arriving in California, Sidney, as he was commonly called, secured work at Sutter's Mill at the time that gold was first found there.   Later, he dug gold at the Mormon Island with the Mormon boys. A great deal has been said among his friends to the effect that he was actually the first discoverer of gold, instead of James W. Marshal. The facts as related by him to his wife, and by her to the writer of this sketch, are as follows: He found some particles of yellow metal and suspected their true character, but decided to say nothing until he could verify his suspicions, thinking he would put them to the test after his day's work was ended. In the meantime Marshal had also found some of the same metal and confided his belief that it was gold to Henry W. Bigler and others, and thus the great discovery was made known to the world.   Being urged, at different times, by his friends to press his claim to the honor of being the first discoverer of gold in California, he invariably answered that he did not care for the honor.

He was married April 23, 1852, to Alzina L. Lott, daughter of Cornelius P. and Permelia Darrow Lott, in Lehi, Brigham Young performing the ceremony. They established their home in Lehi, where were born to them nine children, two sons and seven daughters.

Their house was the first one in Lehi with a board floor. With the assistance of a man whom he hired, he sawed the lumber with a pit saw, first taking off a slab which he used for the roof, next, a board for the floor, the balance of the log was used in the construction of the walls with the sawed side inside.

March 10, 1855, he was commissioned, under the hand of Governor Brigham Young, captain of Company A, Lehi Post, of Utah Military district of the Nauvoo Legion and of Utah Militia, having been elected to this office May 11, 1854.

On the organization of the 68th quorum of seventy, November 28, 1862, he was appointed one of its presidents. April 13, 1863, he was called upon a mission to England and assigned to labor in the Norwich district; he was absent nearly three years. December 21, 1866, he was elected Major of the Second Regiment, First Brigade, Second Division, Nauvoo Legion, Utah Militia. This commission as such was issued by Governor Durkee March 27, 1868. In the fall of 1866 he was sent out to assist the immigrants and was captain of a train of ox teams which arrived in Salt Lake City November 29 of that year.

He participated in the various Indian wars of the Territory except the Black Hawk War, being absent in England during the greater part of this war. He took part in the Echo Canyon War, 1857, and was captain of a company which left Lehi to go to the relief of settlers at Salmon River. He brought the first bees to Lehi, consisting of three hives, one for himself and one each for two other men. He was several times elected to the City Council of Lehi. Although his opportunities for an education were meager he was an ardent supporter of education.

Sidney Willes was a man well adapted to pioneer a new country, because he was able to turn his hand to almost any line of work, being an excellent gun-smith, carpenter, machinist, etc. In fact, he was what is generally called a natural born genius. He surveyed the Spring Creek Hitch from the old mill Pond to the lower field and, not having a spirit level he made one out of a piece of wood with a groove cut in  the  top which  he filled with water. This incident shows his aptitude in contriving things to meet an emergency. He made jewels for his daughters from the gold which he brought from California. He could repair any kind of machine from a clock to a steam engine. He fulfilled the admonition "Whatsoever thy hand find to do, do it well."

He was noted for his kindness of heart, cheerfulness, generosity, bravery and coolness in times of great danger. These qualities won for him the respect and love of all who knew him. He was of a modest, retiring disposition, never caring for prominence or position among men; yet his strict integrity, mature wisdom, and large experience placed him in the front ranks among his associates.

In the winter of 1870 and 1871, while working as sawyer at a mill in American Fork Canyon, he was caught in the saw, which resulted in injuries from which he died February 3, 1871, cutting short a useful career in the fifty-second year of his age.

ALZINA LUCINDA WILLES. The wife of Wm. S. S. Willes, was born in Tunckhannock, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, March 4. 1834. She was the daughter of Cornelius P. and Permelia Darrow Lott.

Her father's family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1838. moving first to Ohio and thence to Nauvoo, Illinois, where as a girl Sister Willes associated almost daily with the Prophet Joseph Smith. On account of her lively disposition and her ability to catch the Prophet's horse when no one else could do so, she became a special favorite of the Smith family.

She passed through the persecutions of Nauvoo and in 1848 crossed the plains, driving a team composed of two cows and two oxen the entire distance of 1,500 miles, arriving in Salt Lake Valley September 24, 1848.

For two years after arriving in Utah the family made their home in Salt Lake City, where her father died on the present site of the Kenyon Hotel.

In 1851 she, with her mother and family, moved to Lehi and located on the shore of Utah Lake, where on April 23, 1852, she was married to William Sidney Willes by President Brigham Young, who was at that time passing through Lehi on a tour of the territory south.

When in 1852 the scattered settlers surrounding Lehi were called to move together for protection against the Indians, Brother and Sister Willes moved into the town, where she has since resided

In 1871 death deprived her of her husband, leaving her with the responsibility of a large family of young children. Over this family she exercised the influence of a loving mother and bravely assumed the arduous duties of a father as well. She was the mother of nine children, two boys and seven girls. Two of the girls died in infancy, the other children are as follows: Mary Jane (Mrs. Robert Gilchrist), William Sidney. John Smith, Celestia (Mrs. George P. Schow), Achsah Permelia (Mrs. Janus Schow), Abigail (deceased), Florence (Mrs. George N. Child, deceased). Sister Willes possessed a warm heart and her life was full of service. She died August 19, 1910.