Welthea Ann Maxwell

Grandma Maxwell: Welthea Ann Casper Maxwell

Born: 6 August 1862

Died: 10 January 1924

Written by Verna Ann Franson Fletcher (granddaughter) and Ross Fletcher Foster (great-great grandson)

Welthea Ann Casper was born 6 August 1862, in Big Cottonwood (present-day Holladay), Salt Lake, Utah to Duncan Spears Casper and Matilda Allison Casper (Duncan’s first wife). Welthea was the youngest of nine children. Her brothers and sisters are as follows:

Rachel Louise (b. 12 Mar 1846; d. 30 July 1846)

Amanda Elizabeth (b. 18 Feb. 1848; d. 18 Feb. 1848)

Harriet Matilda (b. 9 Nov. 1849; d. 24 Oct. 1921)

Rebecca Ava Rillar (b. 21 Nov. 1851; d. 11 Dec. 1871)

Duncan Alonzo (b. 2 Nov. 1853; d. 1 Nov. 1935)

Peter William, a twin (b. 2 Aug 1857; d. 12 Apr. 1936)

Mary Malinda, a twin (b. 2 Aug. 1857; d. 15 Aug. 1930)

Cyrene Rosannah (b. 18 Aug. 1859; d. 25 Feb. 1920)

Welthea lived in Big Cottonwood until the age of nine, at which time the death of her mother Matilda caused her to be sent to live with the family of her older sister Harriet Matilda Casper Marchant. Harriet’s children are said to have asked why they should call their big sister “Aunt Wealthy.” Welthea lived with Harriet’s family until her marriage to Arthur Maxwell 5 January 1882 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah.

Arthur and Wealthea’s sealing was performed by Daniel H. Wells, a prominent Church leader. After their marriage the Maxwell’s made their home in Peoa, Summit, Utah.

Welthea was the mother of nine children with five living to adulthood. The names of her children from oldest to youngest are as follows:

Arthur Casper (b. 13 Mar. 1883; d. 7 Apr. 1900 from injuries sustained from being kicked by a horse)

Edith Ann (b. 11 Aug. 1885; d. 4 Apr. 1886)

Catherine Violet (b. 21 May 1887; d. 12 Aug. 1887)

Bethia Blanche (b. 21 Jul. 1888; d. 23 Aug. 1962)

Duncan Angus (b. 2 Mar. 1892; d. 15 Mar. 1964)

Elizabeth Rose (b. 3 Feb. 1894; d. 8 Jan. 1895)

William (b. 9 Dec. 1895; d. 11 Sep. 1971)

Matilda (b. 10 Jan. 1899; d. 21 Jun. 1977)

John Casper (b. 6 Jun. 1901; d. 27 Jan. 1983)

Remembrances of my grandmother, Welthea, include a short note from Lydia Sorensen, a granddaughter of Harriet Matilda Casper Marchant. Lydia writes that her father told her about Aunt Welthea living with Harriet. She goes on to recall the following story:

           “I did see Aunt Welthea once. It was after my Grandfather Marchant died. I went from the Uintah Basin to Peoa with my father and Uncle Duncan and two of his children. We stayed in Peoa for a week. One evening Aunt Welthea said that some of the girls could spend the night at her house. Some of us did—though I can’t remember how many. It seems that she fixed us a good breakfast in the morning and told us about her fine son John. A bit later he came in and then took us for a ride in his car. I was only 9 years old. All that I recall of Aunt Welthea is that she was a pleasant person who was nice to us.

One of Welthea’s grandsons, Oral Franson, the son of Bethia Blanche, recorded the following:

          Rememberances about Grandma are very few. She was nice to me, and we did go to Peoa to see her once in a while. She had a cooky jar and her cookies were good, but I don’t remember if she made them or if it was Aunt “Tildy.” Grandma was disabled with arthritis, and I remember Dad and Uncle Bill would carry her from the house out to the buggy and sit her up in the seat to go somewhere for a ride. On one of these, our family had come from Oakley to Thanksgiving dinner a Aunt “Tildy’s.” Grandma was carried out to the buggy and then rode only about a block and they carried her into Aunt “Tildy’s.”

I feel bad that I don’t remember more about her. The most impressive thing was when she passed away and Mom took me with her to Grandma’s place in Peoa to sit with Grandma thru the night. To me it was scary to be in the same room in candlelight with Grandma lying there so still on a sort of bed. Mom and I talked about a lot of things that night; she was sure sad that Grandma had died.

Matilda Maxwell Andersen remembers the following about her mother, Welthea:

           As children, a bunch of neighborhood kids, we would go over to Aunt Harriet’s the day she would bake bread. Aunt Harriet would give us a slice of hot bread. Then we would go over to my mother’s and would put butter, jam or honey on it, whichever we wanted.

Welthea was a good member of the Church and cared about youth. She was set apart as the First Counselor in the Peoa Relief Society in June 1895. She was then called as Relief Society President in the Peoa Ward, and set apart by Elder W. H. Branch 20 December 1908. Welthea also served on the Activities Committee and was on a genealogy committee, being set apart for this calling in June 1916.

Welthea supported her husband and worked hard. While Arthur was away serving a mission to the Southern States, she took care of the family and farm by herself until his return.

Welthea Ann Casper Maxwell passed away 10 January 1924 several years before I was born. Her death certificate lists the cause of death as “embolism of the coronary arteries of the heart” and “arterial sclerosis.” Although, I did not get an opportunity to know her in this life, I was named after her (Ann) and Mother always spoke well of her.

SOURCES

“The Marchant Newsletter,” Volume III, Issue I; First Quarter 1979, pg. 4; FHL US/CAN Fiche 6047694

Family Records in the possession of Verna Ann Franson Fletcher

Utah State Death Certificate of Welthea Ann Casper Maxwell; issued 1924

• Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Feb 11 2021, 20:42:13 UTC