James wheeler provost and clara Estelle love: a midway fort family
The Heber Valley Heritage Foundation Midway Fort Family of the week is James Wheeler Provost KWJ8-4ML written by Penny Wright.
James Wheeler Provost was born on 14 October 1843, in Newark Township, Essex, New Jersey, United States, his father, Luke Provost, was 34 and his mother, Julia Ann Wheeler, was 27. He married Clara Estelle Love on 8 October 1871, in Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 5 sons and 6 daughters. He registered for military service in 1905. He died on 25 October 1925, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States, at the age of 82, and was buried in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.
Some of the Provosts joined the LDS Church, but his father Luke and his family were among the few to come West. James left his home with his parents and siblings in Newark, New Jersey and immigrated to Utah in 1856 in Captain Wm. B. Hodgett’s Ox Wagon Train. They left Iowa City in August. They were instructed to keep in the rear of Capt. James D. Willie and Edward Martin’s handcart companies in case that the emigrants traveling by handcarts should be disabled and need whatever assistance teams could help them with. The two wagon trains lead by Capt. Hodgett and Capt. Hunt suffered as much from cold, snow and starvation as did the Handcart Companies. James oldest sister Julia Ann said they were well equipped, but their oxen died on the way, and they were compelled to resort to handcarts. Food got scarce and many times they had to boil the hides of the oxen for food. Julia walked all the way after the oxen died, as would the rest of the family. They were helped by the relief trains sent from Salt Lake by Brigham Young. They arrived in Salt Lake in sections from Dec. 10 to 18, 1856.
The family first resided in Provo where the last child was born in Nov. 1858. Luke and Julia Ann had 10 children, 5 made it to Utah and 5 died in New Jersey.
The family went back to New Jersey to retrieve property and several trunks of clothing that they had left behind with a trusted friend. They arrived in Newark only to find that the friend had sold everything and left the country. Luke had to travel clear across the country with his family during the middle of the Civil War. On the way back Luke decided to obtain flour to take back to Utah. On this trip he caught pneumonia and died in St. Mary’s, Iowa. He was buried about ten miles down the river from Nebraska City.
The Provost Family members were in cabins along the south side of the fort. James home was in the Midway Fort in the sixth cabin from the southwest corner on the south side. He lived with his brother David and his widow mother. According to the book Midway Second Ward and Midway Reflections 1859-1989, James is listed as living in the Midway Fort with his brother David Woodruff Provost KWCG-79C. The Midway Fort, existed for two years, 1866-1868.
James was a veteran of the Blackhawk Indian War having served in the Ira Jacob Infantry Co. from 1865 to 1868. James was one of the first loggers to work on the John Walker’s Saw Mill that was built on Mill Flat.
James Wheeler Provost and Clara Estelle Love were married on October 8, 1871 in Heber City, Wasatch, UT.
He was ordained an Elder on 1 June 1874 by Elias Smith. James and his wife Clara Estelle Love received their Endowments 31 May 1875 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. His sister Julia Ann, and her husband David Van Wagoner also received their endowments on the same day.
The 1880 and the 1900 census show James as a Farmer. His brand was “JWP” placed on the left flank. James and Clara had 11 children and 5 died at younger ages.
He truly was a true pioneer. He helped build up the town of Midway and was among the first settlers. He helped support his widowed mother and her family. He was an active veteran of the Blackhawk Indian War. James and Clara were very devoted to each other. They were always together whenever they left home.
He was very good to his mother and brother and sisters and his neighbors and friends. He was called into their homes in times of sickness and death. He was always willing to help anyone in need. He was dearly loved by his grandchildren and his daughter-in-law Carrie Maltby Provost and the rest of his family.
James lost his wife Clara in 1921 when she died suddenly of heart problems. He lived for four more years passing away on 25 Oct. 1925. He is buried in Midway by Clara. His love, kindness, service example and great strength will always be remembered by his descendants. (Sources- “The Provost Family 1545-1993” Lucille Provost Kohler, & Mel Provost and “How Beautiful Upon the Mountains” and My mother Doris L. Provost
Children of James and Clara (11)
James Albert Provost, born 24 July 1872. He married Sarah Fygenia Duke on 10 April 1895 in Vernall Utah Territory. They had 5 sons and 2 daughters together. He was a farmer like his father. He passed away in August of 1927.
Charles Henry Provost was born on 25 March 1874, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, James Wheeler Provost, was 30 and his mother, Clara Estelle Love,nwas 21. He died on 18 December 1895, in Park City, Summit, Utah, United States, at the age of 21, and was buried in Park City, Summit, Utah, United States.
Clara Estelle Provost was born on 11 July 1876, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, her father, James Wheeler Provost, was 32 and her mother, Clara Estelle Love, was 24. She died on 11 January 1878, in her hometown, at the age of 1, and was buried in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States
William Orson Provost was born on 13 November 1878, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, James Wheeler Provost, was 35 and his mother, Clara Estelle Love, was 26. He married Carrie Maltby on 15 January 1900, in Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 5 sons and 5 daughters. He lived in Wasatch, Utah, United States in 1935 and Heber Election Precinct, Wasatch, Utah, United States in 1940. He died on 11 October 1949, in Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States, at the age of 70, and was buried in Midway City Cemetery, Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States
Julia Ann Provost was born on 14 May 1882, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, her father, James Wheeler Provost, was 38 and her mother, Clara Estelle Love, was 30. She married James DeForest Malin on 12 December 1900, in Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 3 daughters. She lived in Bountiful, Davis, Utah, United States for about 10 years. She died on 13 April 1957, in San Francisco, California, United States, at the age of 74, and was buried in San Francisco, California, United States.
Francis David Provost was born on 11 September 1884, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, James Wheeler Provost, was 40 and his mother, Clara Estelle Love, was 32. He married Florence May Andrew on 5 April 1910, in Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 6 sons and 2 daughters. He died on 11 December 1930, in Park City, Summit, Utah, United States, at the age of 46, and was buried in Midway City Cemetery, Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.
Alice Melvina Provost was born on 11 November 1886, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, her father, James Wheeler Provost, was 43 and her mother, Clara Estelle Love, was 34. She married William Chapman Barker on 6 January 1904, in Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 1 daughter. She died on 13 October 1974, in San Pablo, Contra Costa, California, United States, at the age of 87, and was buried in Midway City Cemetery, Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.
Nellie Irene Provost was born on 14 September 1889, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, her father, James Wheeler Provost, was 45 and her mother, Clara Estelle Love, was 37. She married Jesse Louder Cook on 1 June 1911, in Millcreek, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons. She lived in Utah, United States in 1935. She died on 23 September 1915, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, at the age of 26, and was buried in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.
Eliza Miranda Provost was born on 27 February 1892, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, her father, James Wheeler Provost, was 48 and her mother, Clara Estelle Love, was 39. She died on 18 March 1913, in Provo, Utah, Utah, United States, at the age of 21, and was buried in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.
Laverne Grace Provost was born on 6 April 1895, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, her father, James Wheeler Provost, was 51 and her mother, Clara Estelle Love, was 42. She married Charles Andrew Giles on 3 July 1911, in Heber City, Wasatch, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 2 daughters. She lived in Richland, Benton, Washington, United States in 1950. She died on 2 November 1968, in Richfield, Lincoln, Idaho, United States, at the age of 73, and was buried in Shoshone, Lincoln, Idaho, United States.
Westley Dean Provost was born on 26 August 1896, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, James Wheeler Provost, was 52 and his mother, Clara Estelle Love, was 44. He died on 14 September 1896, in his hometown, at the age of 0, and was buried in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.
Heber Valley Heritage Foundation