Almon W. Draper

Almon Draper

Born: October 28, 1846 at Kaneville, Pottawattamie, Iowa

Died: December 31, 1919 at Hinckley, Millard, Utah

Compiled by Lucy Brown Archer

Almon Draper is the only child of William Draper Jr. and Martha Raymer Weaver Draper. When Almon was around two years old his mother died in 1848 at Council Bluffs, Iowa.

His mother's death left him as a baby, and her 7 year old daughter Carrie, in the care of Mary Ann Manhardt and Marial Thompson Cosby Draper, William Draper Sr.'s next and third wife whom he married on May 6, 1848 at Winter Quarters, Douglas, Nebraska. Marial had only one child, Nephi Draper born on March 23, 1849.

When Almon was around seventeen years old he left home with his brother William Lathrop Draper, eight years older than Almon, and his uncle Zemira Draper (son of William Draper Sr. and Lydia Lathrop), to help settle Dixie at Rockville, in Washington County, Utah. There he met his wife, Amy Hansen, whose parents were Marilla Terry (Canada) and Nils Nelson Hansen (Norway). Amy was born on September 14, 1852 in Glenwood Mill, Iowa and died on April 23, 1889 at Springdale, Washington County, Utah.

"Almon spent most of his married life near Zions Canyon in southern Utah, and some of it in Arizona, but when he returned to Moroni from time to time he never failed to visit with Mary Ann Manhardt Draper to whom he owned a debt of gratitude. She was the only mother he ever knew. " --The Mormon Drapers by Delbert M. Draper, 1958, Page 132

Five months later Almon took a plural wife, a girl from Patagona, Iron County, Utah, Maria Louisa Durfee, on November 13, 1889 at St. George, Utah. Maria is the daughter of Abraham Augustus Durfee and Polly Vilate Lemmons Durfee. Maria and Almon has three children, Miles, Polly Vilate, Elsia Maria, none lived beyond four years.

As far as is known, among the thousands of Draper men, Almon and his brother William Lathrop Draper, were the only sons of William who entered into polygamous marriages.

Up to this time Almon seemed to be settled and content. They lived near the entrance to Zion's Canyon. After Amy's death Almon was seized with a wanderlust. He went to Arizona in 1890 and thereafter he moved twelve times, until he died at Hinckley, Utah on December 31, 1919. The funeral was on January 1, 1920 at Leamington, Millard, Utah.

All the moving must have been hard for the wives and children. In spite of this most of Almon's children and their descendants, are occupying responsible positions in the world and all of them are honorable citizens.