Attewell Wootton and Cynthia Jane Jewett: A midway fort family
The Midway Fort Family of the week is that of Attewall Wootton and Cynthia Jane Jewett. Their cabin was located in the southeast corner of the Midway Fort. Researched by Jason Moulton.
Attewall Wootton KWNF-D2H was born on 26 December 1839, in Tunstall, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom, his father, John Wootton, was 31 and his mother, Ann Turner, was 29. He married Cynthia Jane Jewett on 9 August 1862, in Endowment House, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 8 sons and 3 daughters. He lived in American Fork, Utah, Utah, United States for about 20 years and
Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States in 1910. He registered for military service in 1856. He died on 1 November 1912, in Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States, at the age of 72, and was buried in Heber City Cemetery, Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States.
ATTEWALL WOOTTON 1839-1912 A biography of Attewall Wootton, like many of our pioneers, can never be told in words, but that some of the incidents of his life may be preserved for future generations; this attempt is made, by request of his children. He was born in Staffordshire, England, December 26, 1839. His father, John Wootton and mother, Ann Turner embraced the Gospel in their native land and came to Nauvoo by way of New Orleans, bringing with them their two sons, John and Attewall, who was then only two years of age. His father, in the struggle for a livelihood in a new country, engaged in tile and brick making. Becoming overheated in his unaccustomed work of burning the kiln, he took cold, developed pneumonia and died, leaving his widow and two small sons. Sometime later, she met and married Edward Robinson, a widower with a large family of children. To them were born two sons, Heber and Alfred. They came to Utah in the Ezra Benson Company having encountered all the trials incident to a journey across the plains with an Ox team; arriving in Salt Lake they settled for two years on the Church Farm. They then moved to American Fork, locating on a farm between American Fork and Pleasant Grove, where they built a house immediately west of the Alpine Tabernacle.
Mr. Robinson decided to drive his cattle into Provo Valley (now known as the Heber Valley) and placed Attewall in charge of the undertaking. There was no road through Provo Canyon, so they were obliged to tediously and slowly make their way over 1 an indian trail and made camp at the mouth of Snake Creek under a grove of Cottonwood trees, which later became known as the B. M. Smith farm. Shortly after, Attewall moved his family consisting of his wife and son, Attewall Jr. into the valley. They had not been there long when the Black Hawk War broke out. The few settlers were constantly harassed by the indians driving off their cattle and annoying the settlers generally. Their number was later increased by other settlers coming in, forming what was then known as the “Lower Settlement”.
Mr. Robinson decided to drive his cattle into Provo Valley (now known as the Heber Valley) and placed Attewall in charge of the undertaking. There was no road through Provo Canyon, so they were obliged to tediously and slowly make their way over 1 an indian trail and made camp at the mouth of Snake Creek under a grove of Cottonwood trees, which later became known as the B. M. Smith farm. Shortly after, Attewall moved his family consisting of his wife and son, Attewall Jr. into the valley. They had not been there long before the Black Hawk War broke out. The few settlers were constantly harassed by the indians driving off their cattle and annoying the settlers generally. Their number was later increased by other settlers coming in, forming what was then known as the “Lower Settlement”.
It can be said of Attewall Wootton, that industry played a big part in his life, for while he was ever alive to his duties in other lines mentioned, he was a farmer of no mean ability and figured among the large producers of his vicinity. Attewall and Cynthia Jewett Wootton were the parents of nine children, seven sons and two daughters, all of whom followed him in the educational field, and all were married in the Temple. In the later hears of his life, he was ordained a Patriarch, and many of the Saints received blessings under his hands. He died on November 1, 1912, as he had lived, true to his fellow man, strong ever to obey God’s laws with an understanding heart, giving always the glory unto Him to whom all glory belongs.
The following was copied from the “Educational Review”. “Attewall Wootton of Wasatch County was a pioneer, a builder and a patriot in the educational field. Beginning work as a teacher at American Fork, Utah in 1857, he was almost continually in the service until his death. As County Superintendent of Wasatch County for twenty-five years, he was of a small group of men, especially educated, who remained young and progressive. To know and to do was the basis of his highest motives, and as a man who found enough to do in the great cause of humanity, the world has a right to honor him.
Cynthia Jane Jewett KWNF-D2C was born on 26 November 1844, in Morgan, Ohio, United States, her father, Samuel Jewett, was 24 and her mother, Sophia Lance, was 19. She married Attewall Wootton on 9 August 1862, in Endowment House, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 8 sons and 3 daughters. She lived in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States for about 10 years and Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States in 1918. She died on 7 January 1933, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States, at the age of 88, and was buried in Heber City Cemetery, Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States.
The history of Cynthia Jewett Wootton, like all our noble pioneers, could never accurately be written as the experiences which go to make up real life can never be told in words.
Therefore, we must be content to preserve some of the facts and statistics and read as best we can between the lines for the greater things which they alone can know. Many of the heroic band have traveled on, leaving to posterity the heritage of their testimonies of the truthfulness of the gospel of Christ, as restored in the latter days by the Prophet Joseph Smith. Cynthia Jane Jewett was born in Dayton, Ohio, on November 25, 1844. In this sketch, her history dates from the time she was under six years of age, when she walked many miles across the plains after leaving Winter Quarters and arriving in Utah in the fall of 1850 in the Ezra T. Benson Company. One thing which impressed her childish mind was the immense herds of buffalo, now extinct. One very sad event and one which has ever marked her life was the unknown fate of her father, Samuel Jewett, who was lost at sea while she was still too young to even remember him. As a sea captain, he left his young wife and babe on duty bound, hoping to see them soon again, but he was not to return. His exact fate was never known to his loved ones. Her mother, Sophia Lance Jewett was later married in the Nauvoo Temple to Hyrum Dayton and to him bore a large family. On their arrival in Salt Lake, they settled in the First Ward, moving from there to Cedar City and from Cedar City to American Fork. We cannot help but pay tribute to her economy, thrift, and perfect housekeeping. As a young girl, she did spinning, housework, braided hats, gleaned in the fields, and never complained but counted it a privilege and a joy to live in Zion. When she was a young girl of eighteen, in August 1862, she was married to Attewall Wootton, whose name is inseparably linked to Utah’s educational progress. As one of its earliest educators, he labored with such men as William M. Stewart. He was a personal friend to Karl G. Maeser. Superintendent G.N. Child taught his first school under the direction of Attewall Wootton. Through all his years of public service, Cynthia Wootton was his true companion and helpmate. Her table was always spread with the utmost care for the many unexpected visitors her husband would bring home from city and state educational functions. She was one woman who could not be taken by surprise and embarrassed in her own home.
We feel that this history would be incomplete without mentioning her part in the early industrial life of Utah and her people. Many duties were added that of spinning wool for their clothing and flax for thread. She understood and practiced eoloring the wool with the resource’s native to the home of Deseret. It may be interesting to know that to produce green, peach leaves and alum were used. Indigo blue could not be made and they were compelled to send to the states for that color. For black, copperas was used, for yellow, sagebrush and indigo blue. Very pretty was much of the cloth they made. When we compare the vacuum cleaner in every home today and realize that in the short space of this sister’s life we have evolved from the broom made of sage brush or rags tied to a stick, we must admit she has witnessed many changes and through all has remained true.
Surely since the faith was hers, the heritage she was given us is invaluable. She died on January 7, 1933, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Both of the above histories are found in the FamilySearch.
(11) Children of Attewall Wootton and Cynthia Jane.
- Sarah Wootton was born on 1 June 1863, in American Fork, Utah, Utah, United States, her father, Attewall Wootton, was 23 and her mother, Cynthia Jane Jewett, was 18. She died on 1 June 1863, in her hometown, at the age of 0, and was buried in American Fork, Utah, Utah, United States.
- Attewall Wootton was born on 25 October 1864, in American Fork, Utah, Utah, United States, his father, Attewall Wootton, was 24 and his mother, Cynthia Jane Jewett, was 19. He married Margaret Elizabeth Ohlwiler on 17 September 1888, in Logan, Cache, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 3 daughters. He lived in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States in 1900 and Utah, United States for about 11 years. He died on 6 November 1930, in Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States, at the age of 66, and was buried in Heber City Cemetery, Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States.
- John Alma Wootton was born on 8 December 1866, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, Attewall Wootton, was 26 and his mother, Cynthia Jane Jewett, was He married Martha Melvina Huffaker on 20 February 1895, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 6 sons and 1 daughter. He lived in Washington, Utah, United States in 1918 and Utah, United States for about 7 years. He died on 25 March 1933, in Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States, at the age of 66, and was buried in Midway City Cemetery, Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.
- Charles Heber Wootton was born on 2 July 1869, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, Attewall Wootton, was 29 and his mother, Cynthia Jane Jewett, was He died on 2 July 1869, in his hometown, at the age of 0, and was buried in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.
- George Alfred Wootton was born on 18 June 1870, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, Attewall Wootton, was 30 and his mother, Cynthia Jane Jewett, was 25. He married Dora Elizabeth Bond on 2 November 1898, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 2 He immigrated to Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, United States in 1928 and lived in Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States for about 10 years and Utah, United States in 1920. He died on 9 November 1957, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States, at the age of 87, and was buried in Heber City Cemetery, Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States.
- William Theodore Wootton was born on 28 June 1872, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, Attewall Wootton, was 32 and his mother, Cynthia Jane Jewett, was He married Caroline Alexander on 13 April 1898, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 4 daughters. He lived in Maricopa, Arizona, United States in 1920 and Downey, Los Angeles, California, United States in 1930. He died on 25 October 1930, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States, at the age of 58, and was buried in Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, Los Angeles, California, United States.
- Cynthia Anna Wootton was born on 24 December 1874, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, her father, Attewall Wootton, was 34 and her mother, Cynthia Jane Jewett, was 30. She married Edward Christian George Jasperson on 17 May 1899, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 2 daughters. She lived in American Fork, Utah, Utah, United States in 1880 and Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States in 1910. She died on 2 September 1927, in Price, Carbon, Utah, United States, at the age of 52, and was buried in Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States.
- Edward Wootton was born on 6 July 1877, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, Attewall Wootton, was 37 and his mother, Cynthia Jane Jewett, was 32. He married Ida Eliza Bonner on 10 June 1903, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 2 daughters. He lived in Myton, Duchesne, Utah, United States for about 5 years and Beverly Hills Judicial Township, Los Angeles, California, United States in 1940. He registered for military service in 1918. He died on 28 February 1943, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States, at the age of 65, and was buried in Los Angeles National Cemetery, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States.
- Richard Harmon Wootton was born on 20 December 1881, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, Attewall Wootton, was 41 and his mother, Cynthia Jane Jewett, was 37. He married Orpha Henrietta Fraughton on 7 January 1903, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 daughters. He lived in Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States in 1920 and Salt Lake City Ward 6, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States in 1940. He died on 30 June 1949, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States, at the age of 67, and was buried in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United
- David Alvah Wootton was born on 4 April 1884, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, Attewall Wootton, was 44 and his mother, Cynthia Jane Jewett, was 39. He married Mary Jane Abplanalp on 25 September 1907, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 2 daughters. He lived in United States in 1949 and Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States in 1950. He died on 12 April 1966, in Salt Lake, Utah, United States, at the age of 82, and was buried in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.
- Florence Sophia Wootton was born on 22 July 1887, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, her father, Attewall Wootton, was 47 and her mother, Cynthia Jane Jewett, was 42. She married Bertie Donald Willes on 13 April 1910, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 2 daughters. She died on 3 November 1966, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States, at the age of 79, and was buried in Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States.
Home of Attewall Wootten and Cynthia Jewett as it appeared in 1981
Heber Valley Heritage Foundation