Ephraim Henry Williams

Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, 1847–1868 Henry Ettleman Company (1853) Age 11

Departure: unknown Arrival: 1 October 1853

Company Information: 40 individuals and 11 wagons were in the company when it began its journey from the outfitting post at Keokuk, Iowa. They left the Missouri River on July 1.

Perpetual Emigrating Fund

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Birth: May 2, 1842 Nauvoo Hancock County Illinois, USA Death: May 21, 1919 Salt Lake City Salt Lake County Utah, USA

Ephraim Henry Williams was born 2 May 1842, in Nauvoo, Illinois, the third child of Benjamin And Mary Ann Rock Williams.

Ephraim Williams and Almira North were married in Salt Lake County, 31 December 1862. Ephraim purchased land and built a two-room log house with a sod roof and dirt floor for their first home.

Ephraim was active in the early settlement of the community and endured the hardships of the pioneers. During the Civil War he served in the Lot Smith company as a guard of the western mail route. After the war, he returned home and became a prosperous farmer. Ephraim was very active in the development of irrigation and was a zealous worker in the establishment of water rights.

He was also a devout Latter-Day Saint, being an active worker in the Church circles. He was a leader in Sunday School and also in amusements. He was a promoter and manager of dances in the Ward and he and Almira went to a lot of dances.

He filled two missions to England. When he went on his missions he had sons old enough to run the farm. He was set apart for his first mission 9 October 1882. In the fall of 1889, Ephraim and Almira went to Logan in a wagon, stayed a week and did Temple work for relatives and friends.

Nine children were born to Almira and Ephraim. They were: Henry Benjamin, Ephraim Oscar, Almira Eveline, Lucy Leona, Emily Lavina, Leonard Rock, Blanch, Mabel, and Lee Lawrence. Three of the children died from the effects of diphtheria.

Ephraim took two other wives. The second wife was Mary Ann Cook, and four children were born of this union. Mary Ann died when her fourth child was born and Almira raised the children, though two of them died in infancy. The third wife was Jane Elizabeth Finch. She had been working for Almira and Almira made her wedding dress. Jane was the mother of nine children and was killed by lightning in 1907 in Wanship, Utah, where she was living with her family. Ephraim had to hide during the underground days and he and Jane and their children first went to Mexico, then came back and went to Canada where four children were born. When they came back, Ephraim bought a farm in Wanship and took Jane and her family there to live. When Jane died she still had children at home. Four were taken to Almira two years later. By that time Almira was badly crippled with arthritis so the oldest girl took care of the house until she married.

Ephraim loved good horses. He was a proud man and always drove a prancing horse as he rode around in his cart. He owned and operated a horsepower threshing machine for years. In those days, the farmers had to feed the threshers one or two meals depending on how much grain they had. When the men were fed at Almira's house and school was out, all the grandchildren had to go there and have a meal. Ephraim was a good provider and all his families were taken care of very well. No one ever came to his door without being fed if they were hungry.

Ephraim outlived all his wives. He died in his home at 39th South and Highland Drive on 26 May 1919, after a lingering illness. Surviving him were seven sons, eight daughters, and a large number of grand- and great-grandchildren.

Family links:

Parents:

• Benjamin Williams (1807 - 1842)
• Mary Ann Rock Pugh (1812 - 1895)

Spouses:

• Almira North Williams (1843 - 1916)
• Mary Ann Cook Williams (1847 - 1874)
• Jane Elizabeth Finch Williams (1860 - 1907)

Children:

• Henry Benjamin Williams (1864 - 1934)*
• Almira Eveline Williams Fairholm (1868 - 1922)*
• Lucy Leona Williams (1870 - 1871)*
• Emily Lavina Williams Miller (1872 - 1962)*
• Leonard Rock Williams (1874 - 1877)*
• Blanche Williams Miller (1877 - 1960)*
• Leo Lawrence Williams (1885 - 1977)*

Note: Relative

Burial: Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park Salt Lake City Salt Lake County Utah, USA

• Residence: Mill Creek, Salt Lake, Utah, United States
• Residence: Marital Status: MarriedRelation to Head of House: Head, Lethbridge, Alberta, Territories, Canada - 1891
• Residence: Marital Status: MarriedRelation to Head of House: Head, Hoytsville, Summit, Utah, USA - 1900
  • Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: May 30 2017, 4:17:35 UTC

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GEDCOM Note

There is a biography on him in the posession of Frank H. Miller. Arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1852.