Willden Family History

History of Ellott Willden

Ellot Willden was born to Charles and Eleanor Turner Willden on the 28th of September 1833, Laughton, Yorkshire, England. He was baptized on August 20th 1845 by his father.

The family left England aboard the ship "Zetland" on November 10, 1849 and arrived at New Orleans on the 26th of December of December that same year. They then sailed on the boat, the "Ben West," on December 29th for St. Louis. They reached St. Louis on January 11, 1850 where they stopped and worked for a few months until they had enough money to travel on then they took the boat, Cora, on April 12, bound for Council Bluffs.

They finally reached Council Bluffs on the sixth of May. In 1852 the family left Council Bluffs for Salt Lake City where they arrived on September 20th of that year. During this long journey Ellott Willden, being a young man of 19 years drive Erastus Snows ox team across the plains. Being an ardent swimmer, he swam the Platt River seven times to fend crossings for the wagons.

In October of 1852, he and his family left Salt Lake City to help settle Cedar City. They arrived in Cedar City during November and lived in a dugout during the first part of their stay.

In 1856, he married Emma Jane Clews who bore him eight children: Ellott Jr., Charles Andrew, Clarence George, Emma Jane, Caroline, John Henry, Thomas Turner, and Mary Ann.

Mr. Willden found work on the Saint George and Manti Temples, donating half of his earnings back to the Temples.

In 1861 the family moved again to Cove Fort (from Beaver City where they had moved to the previous year), where they homesteaded a farm along with Ellott's father and this three brothers. The family built a stockade or wooden fort there where Brigham Young stayed with them several times as he was traveling through to St. George.

He and his family all helped in the building of the big rock fort which is still standing at Cove Creek. His mother and wife helped cook the food for the workers.

The Indians presented problems for them at times. One day they came to the settlement threatening the pioneers there. Brigham Young advised Mr. Willden to give them one of their animals saying "It is better to feed them than to fight them!" This was a very important lesson for Mr. Willden and benefitted him many times.

He was a veteran of the Black Hawk Indian War and had several other encounters with the Indians, but became very friendly with them. He learned their languages and was appointed Indian Interpreter for the courts for many years.

One time as Mr. Willden was traveling, his oxen developed sore feet so he gave it to an Indian Chief. Some time later he and three other men were sent to apprehend some thieves who had robbed a store. They were suddenly surrounded by a large group of Indians. Ellott knew their language and talked to them. He recognized their Chief and reminded him of the oxen he had given him. The Chief asked him when it was, where it happened, and what color the oxen was. His answers satisfied the Chieftain who called to the Indians and they all left but a few. They had the horses and returned the next morning with saddles and food for the men to help them continue their journey. The Indians told them that they had seen the robbers they were after, and Mr. Willden noticed that they were wearing some of the clothes the robbers had stolen.

Mr. Willden entered into a race with some Indians one day. He won the race and the Indians wanted to give him a squaw. He told them that he already had a wife and family so they gave him the name of "Tantab" which meant "Brother-in-Law." From then on he was known by that name by the Indians.

The Indians continued to be very good to Mr. Willden and his family, bringing him a hind quarter of venison often through the years.

Mr. Willden was chosen by the state of Utah to go to the Deep Harbor Convention in 1888 at Galveston, Texas. He served two terms there and was voted Vice President. He took Rynard Maser, son of Carl G. Maser with him.

Ellot Willden was Justice of the Peace and was also State Weight and Measure Inspector for may years. He was an outstanding musician. He brought the first organ and violin to Beaver. He also organized the first brass band in Beaver. He loved the violin and played for all the local dances. He had a habit of playing his violin and dancing at the same time.

On February 9, 1892, he married Christiana Brown in the St. George Temple. They had three children, William Ure, Eleanor May (Ivie), and Betsy Violit (Pierce). Altogether Mr. Willden had 11 children.

Ellot Willden and his sons hauled pink rock from the mountains around Beaver and built a lovely two story home for the family. Their home is still standing and in good condition.

Mr. Willden and John Holt ran a store in Beaver. They would take hides as trade. When they had collected a load, they would freight them to Salt Lake City by mule team. There they would trade them for merchandise to replenish the store. They were one of the first businesses to buy from Z.C.M.I.

Mr. Willden was chosen by the L.D.S. Church Presidency to protect the polygamists in Southern Utah due to the suffering of some of the women and children involved. The law was that the man was fined $300.00 and six months in jail in Salt Lake City if found guilty of not taking care of his family properly. The reason Ellot accepted the job was for the women and children. Times were very hard and no one had surplus to share.

Mr. Willden also traveled most of the state subscribing for the Salt Lake Herald which is now the Deseret News. In doing so much traveling Mr. Willden made many friends and saw much of Utah's early history being made. In fact, he was paid $50.00 by Andrew Jensen for facts he gave him to write the first history book of Utah. Mr. Jensen also gave him a first copy of the book. Ellott's daughter, Mrs. Eleanor May Ivie still has this book,

Mr. Willden was ordained a High Priest by J. F. Tolton on April 26, 1903.

Ellot Willden died at his home on October 4th, 1920. He was 87 years old and was mourned by many friends who came from all over Utah to his funeral. His funeral took place in the Stake House in Beaver, and he was interred at the Mountain View Cemetery there.

At his death Ellot still had seven living children.