William Walter Wilson: A midway fort family
Heber Valley Heritage Foundation Midway Fort Family of the week is that of William Walter Wilson KW68-RSW written by Jason Moulton. The William Wilson Cabin was on the east side of the Midway Fort sandwiched between the cabins of his brother George Wilson and John Lowe.
William Walter Wilson was born on 19 September 1825, in Mavemacullen, County Armagh, Ireland, his father, Thomas Wilson, was 37 and his mother, Jane Ellis, was 27. He married Emily Mansfield Gray on 3 July 1855. They were the parents of at least 6 sons and 5 daughters. He lived in Dailly, Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom in 1841 and Dalry, Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom in 1851. He died on 8 March 1880, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, at the age of 54, and was buried in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.
William Walter Wilson was the son of Thomas Wilson, who was born in 1788. His mother was Jane Elis, who was born in 1800. Both parents were born in Armagh, Ireland.
Thomas Wilson, the father, was a good farmer and gardener. He worked for the same man for thirty years. When William Walter was old enough, he helped his older brothers weave linen. He went to the Presbyterian School, where he learned to read from the New Testament. In 1841, when he was 15 years old, his father felt it necessary to leave the Emerald Isle, on account of the depression in business. Also, the power of oppression by the Catholic Church was keenly felt. Thus he, with his family, left the home of his fathers and the graves of his ancestors. The hand of Providence apparently guided them, for none of the relatives they left behind ever joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The history of James Wilson, a brother of William, indicates that Thomas went to Scotland before the rest of the family, presumably to find out something about conditions there. His wife’s sister and her husband, Rachel Ellis and Thomas Hair, induced him to come because he would be able to better himself. He came ahead several weeks and got a job at the mines as a ‘pathead’ man. This meant taking cars off the cage. He took a house and then sent for the family. (Thomas Hair and family resided in Kilgramie, which is located five miles from Girvan and one mile from New Daily, now just plan Daily, in the parish of New Daily, Ayrshire, Scotland.)
The family sold nearly all their effects and started out on foot. After traveling two days they arrived in Donaghadee, which is in the northeast of Ireland, on the coast of the Irish Channel. Here they boarded a Paddle steamer for Portpatrick, Scotland, which is thirty-six miles across the Channel. They traveled two more days to Castlehill, where Thomas secured a large garden spot.
James Wilson (William’s brother) in his history states they went by hand cart and that they had not been more than four miles from home before. At this time the family consisted of the parents and seven children. Their names in the order of birth were as follows: Thomas, John, William Walter, James, George, Mary Jane, and Agnes. (Another child, Rachel, was born later in Scotland. Three children died while they lived in Scotland, namely Thomas, John, and Agnes.)
The boys helped their father till the soil. The older boys and the father worked in the mines. William and James went in as car boys. It took both of them to push a car, and they were paid nine cents a day. Their employer required them to go to school at night, where they learned some reading, writing, and spelling.
While working in the mines, Thomas heard of the Mormons. One Joseph Smith had a letter delivered to him by an angel, and he started a religion, he was told. Sometime later, Elder James McNaughton was sent from Glasgow to labor in the west of Scotland. He came to preach in the neighborhood about a mile from the Wilson home. William went with his aunt and uncle to hear him. They were converted by the first sermon. The uncle and aunt, Thomas and Rachel Ellis Hair, were baptized. William was not because his father objected.
When the elder came to the home the next day and expounded the scriptures all day, William was even more impressed with the truthfulness of the Gospel. He was baptized 26 February 1846, being the first member of his family to join the Church. His mother and the other children were baptized sometime later.
The father died 29 December 1851 without joining the Church. However, the following was recorded by his son James: ‘When he came face to face with the grim monster, feeling uncertain as to his eternal happiness in the life just in sight, he confessed faith in the mission of Joseph Smith and requested my brother William to do the work for him in the Temple.’ (The records of the St. George Temple show that William Walter Wilson was proxy for his father’s endowment 18 December 1877. The record also shows that his mother Jane Ellis was sealed to Thomas Wilson with Margaret Walker Wilson acting as proxy. A family group sheet on file at the archives in Salt Lake City shows that Jane Ellis received her own endowments in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, 7 September 1855. She was sealed to John H Green on 22 March 1857. All the children were sealed to John H Green and their mother Jane Ellis on 29 June 1953.)
James preceded the family to America, and in two years he was able to send for his mother and brothers and sisters, who arrived in Utah 7 October 1854. They came by way of Liverpool to New Orleans, thence up the Mississippi River. It took eight or nine weeks to make the journey. They crossed the plans with Captain D. Carns in charge of the wagon company. Their first home in Salt Lake City was in the Eleventh Ward.
William took part in the war against Johnston’s Army. He moved to Spanish Fork and bought a lot. He married Emily Mansfield Gray on 3 July 1855 and was sealed to her in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City in July 1865. Eleven children were born to this union: William John, Emily Jane, Maria Mansfield, Thomas G, Robert Cunningham, James Thomas, George, Lizzie Lindsay, Samuel Mansfield, and Cecelia Matela.
On 22 July 1865, Mary Magdalena Mauchley was sealed to him as his plural wife in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. They had seven children, four of whom lived to maturity: Mary (called May), Katherine (died shortly after birth), Malissa (lived until she was about five years old), Walter Robert Mansfield, Mary Josephine, John Homer (lived two weeks), and Julia Cordelia.
William spent much of his life in Midway Wasatch County, Utah. Midway had an interesting beginning. There were two small settlements in the valley and ‘the upper and lower settlements were advised to come together as one community. A compromise location was chosen halfway between the two settlements, and the new site was called, appropriately enough, Midway. The first step in laying out the new settlement was a survey of the area . . . then began the working of ‘forting in.’ Around the central square some 75 primitive dirt-roofed log cabins sprang into existence, some abutting each other, while between others were erected strong panels of upright posts. In this manner an impregnable wall was formed around the square. Small windows were provided at strategic points to serve as portholes in case of attack. Life in the new fort was conducted under military law. Fort Midway brought to the people a sense of well provided security.’ William Walter Wilson was names among the first 75 families as was his brother John. (Quote and information from How Beautiful Upon the Mountains: A Centennial History of Wasatch County, published by the Wasatch County Chapter Daughters of Utah Pioneers in 1963.)
William was a good farmer and a man of unswerving integrity, possessed of great faith and unafraid to speak the truth or express his opinion. He was also generous to a fault. It was said that he had his share of weakness incident to fallen nature, but this was his own and affected no one else.
He was a poet and composer. Among his profuse writing was a poem to each of his children. It is sad to relate that his son Thomas took these to Idaho where they were all burned when Thomas’ cabin was destroyed by fire while he was at work. What a loss to the posterity of William Walter Wilson. Had these poems been preserved, they would have left lasting impressions on many subjects. Many would have heard of him who in life will never hear his name. To quote his granddaughter, Evelyn Bateman Spratling, ‘The soul of poet is gently sifted among the lines he writes—thus we who read these lines know him, his thoughts, emotions, likes, dislikes, impulses, and inhibitions which he lives with day and night, and which his pen leaves for those who follow. We sorrow that his writings were not preserved. Through them we could know our progenitor.’
He was active in the Church. He presided over a teacher’s quorum for years and was ordained a high priest on 1 February 1866 by David Wood at Midway. As previously mentioned, he and his brother James did temple work in St. George for their family in 1877.
William Walter Wilson died of miner’s consumption on 8 March 1880 at his home in midway. He was 55 years old. At his request he was buried seated in his rocking chair on a hillside overlooking Midway, the beautiful valley he loved and had written about so much.
Although ownership of the gravesite has changed, this sacred spot has been preserved. While visiting the spot on time, his son Walter remarked, ‘I can see father sitting here, eating his lunch and enjoying the beautiful view. No wonder he wanted to be put here to rest.’ The burial place is now located on a golf driving range in the Wasatch Mountain State Park. It is surrounded by oak brush and a heavy chain link fence. A granite monument marks the spot.
William W. Wilson homesteaded 80 acres in the North of Midway and on 5/10,1884 (see the Homestead document below) . Several years following his death, he was granted homestead rights to the property. These 80 acres now are represented by the below blocks. His grave is on homesteaded property. The first block is from the legal description of his homestead and the second is approximate using google Maps of the same area.
Emily Mansfield Gray was born on 22 March 1837, in Derby, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom, her father, Samuel Grey, was 32 and her mother, Maria Mansfield, was 27. She married William Walter Wilson on 3 July 1855. They were the parents of at least 6 sons and 5 daughters. She lived in Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom for about 10 years and Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States in 1880. She died on 19 May 1890, in Lewisville, Jefferson, Idaho, United States, at the age of 53, and was buried in Lewisville, Jefferson, Idaho, United States.
Children of William Walter Wilson and Emily Mansfield Gray (11)
William John Wilson was born on 7 August 1856, in Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States, his father, William Walter Wilson, was 30 and his mother, Emily Mansfield Gray, was 19. He married Madora Clift about 1880, in Utah, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 3 daughters. He lived in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States in 1880. He died on 22 July 1912, in Park City, Summit, Utah, United States, at the age of 55, and was buried in Glenwood Cemetery, Park City, Summit, Utah, United States.
Emily Jane Wilson was born on 13 February 1859, in Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah, United States, her father, William Walter Wilson, was 33 and her mother, Emily Mansfield Gray, was 21. She married James Monroe Lowder on 15 April 1880. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 4 daughters. She lived in Bingham, Idaho, United States in 1900 and Idaho Falls, Bonneville, Idaho, United States for about 10 years. She died on 5 June 1920, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States, at the age of 61, and was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Idaho Falls, Bonneville, Idaho, United States.
Thomas G Wilson was born on 18 February 1861, in Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah, United States, his father, William Walter Wilson, was 35 and his mother, Emily Mansfield Gray, was He married Mary Elizabeth Tanner on 6 April 1900, in Grant, Jefferson, Idaho, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son. He lived in Idaho Falls, Bingham, Idaho, United States in 1910. He died on 20 September 1944, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States, at the age of 83, and was buried in Glendale, Los Angeles, California, United States.
Maria Mansfield Wilson was born on 28 February 1861, in Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah, United States, her father, William Walter Wilson, was 35 and her mother, Emily Mansfield Gray, was 23. She married William Henry Bond on 15 December 1880. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 4 daughters. She lived in Clifton, Graham, Arizona, United States in 1910 and Thatcher, Graham, Arizona, United States in 1920. She died on 2 December 1926, in Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona, United States, at the age of 65, and was buried in Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona, United States.
Robert Cunningham Wilson was born on 9 April 1865, in Mound City, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, William Walter Wilson, was 39 and his mother, Emily Mansfield Gray, was 28. He died on 20 November 1869, at the age of 4.
Maggie Cunningham Wilson was born on 27 March 1867, in Mound City, Wasatch, Utah, United States, her father, William Walter Wilson, was 41 and her mother, Emily Mansfield Gray, was 30. She married Joseph Elias Foster on 15 April 1889. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 1 daughter. She lived in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States in 1880 and Glendale, Los Angeles, California, United States in 1930. She died on 18 March 1938, at the age of 70, and was buried in Glendale, Los Angeles, California, United States.
James Thomas Wilson was born on 18 May 1869, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, William Walter Wilson, was 43 and his mother, Emily Mansfield Gray, was 32. He married Rowennah Wilmot Jardine on 17 September 1895, in Lewisville, Jefferson, Idaho, United States. They were the parents of at least 7 sons and 4 daughters. He lived in Lewisville, Fremont, Idaho, United States in 1910. He died on 11 August 1925, in Lewisville, Jefferson, Idaho, United States, at the age of 56, and was buried in Lewisville, Jefferson, Idaho, United States.
George Wilson was born on 4 February 1871, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, William Walter Wilson, was 45 and his mother, Emily Mansfield Gray, was 33. He lived in Park City, Summit, Utah, United States in 1900. He died on 8 October 1939, in Blackfoot, Bingham, Idaho, United States, at the age of 68, and was buried in Lewisville, Jefferson, Idaho, United States.
Elizabeth Lindsay Wilson was born on 12 April 1873, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, her father, William Walter Wilson, was 47 and her mother, Emily Mansfield Gray, was 36. She married Richard Franklin Hales on 23 June 1897, in Summit, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons. She died on 29 June 1935, in Park City, Summit, Utah, United States, at the age of 62, and was buried in East Millcreek, Salt Lake, Utah, United States.
Samuel Mansfield Wilson was born on 9 October 1875, in Mound City, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, William Walter Wilson, was 50 and his mother, Emily Mansfield Gray, was 38. He married Clara Caroline Matson on 4 June 1912, in Lewisville, Jefferson, Idaho, United States. He lived in Cache, Utah, United States in 1935 and Woodrow Election Precinct, Pierce, Washington, United States in 1940. He died on 22 October 1947, in Yakima, Yakima, Washington, United States, at the age of 72, and was buried in Yakima, Yakima, Washington, United States.
Cecelia Matella Wilson was born on 8 July 1878, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, her father, William Walter Wilson, was 52 and her mother, Emily Mansfield Gray, was 41. She married John Jeter Brazier on 15 May 1902, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son. She lived in Lewistown, Fergus, Montana, United States in 1920 and Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona, United States in 1935. She died on 26 May 1952, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States, at the age of 73, and was buried in Glendale, Los Angeles, California, United States.
William Walter Wilson married Mary Magdalene Mauchley (Above) as a plural wife 22July 1865.
Mary Magdalene Mauchley was born on 28 February 1846, in Straubenzell, Sankt Gallen, Switzerland, her father, Johann Joseph Sergius Mauchle, was 32 and her mother, Maria Katharina Egger, was 39. She married William Walter Wilson on 22 July 1865, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 5 daughters. She died on 7 January 1897, in Taylorsville, Salt Lake, Utah, United States, at the age of 50, and was buried in Taylorsville, Salt Lake, Utah, United States.
Children of William Walter Wilson and Mary Magdalene Mauchley (7)
Mary Wilson was born on 1 February 1867, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, her father, William Walter Wilson, was 41 and her mother, Mary Magdalene Mauchley, was 20. She married William Bennion on 16 March 1887, in Logan, Cache, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 6 sons and 3 daughters. She lived in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States in 1944. She died on 30 May 1944, in Bennion, Salt Lake, Utah, United States, at the age of 77, and was buried in Taylorsville Memorial Park Cemetery, Taylorsville, Salt Lake, Utah, United States.
Catherine Wilson was born on 18 March 1869, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, her father, William Walter Wilson, was 43 and her mother, Mary Magdalene Mauchley, was 23. She died on 18 March 1869, at the age of 0, and was buried in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.
Isabella Malissa Wilson was born on 3 December 1870, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, her father, William Walter Wilson, was 45 and her mother, Mary Magdalene Mauchley, was 24. She died on 8 August 1876, at the age of 5, and was buried in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.
Walter Robert Mansfield Wilson was born on 11 October 1874, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States, his father, William Walter Wilson, was 49 and his mother, Mary Magdalene Mauchley, was 28. He married Clara Marinda Goff on 28 August 1901, in Salt Lake Temple, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 2 daughters. He lived in Salt Lake, Utah, United States in 1930 and Election Precinct 5, Salt Lake, Utah, United States in 1940. He died on 19 February 1963, in Bennion, Salt Lake, Utah, United States, at the age of 88, and was buried in Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, Millcreek, Salt Lake, Utah, United States.
Mary Josephine Wilson was born on 20 February 1877, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, her father, William Walter Wilson, was 51 and her mother, Mary Magdalene Mauchley, was 30. She married Thomas Phillip Bateman on 9 September 1897, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 6 daughters. She lived in West Jordan, Salt Lake, Utah, United States in 1930 and Election Precinct 5, Salt Lake, Utah, United States in 1940. She died on 24 June 1963, in Murray, Salt Lake, Utah, United States, at the age of 86, and was buried in West Jordan, Salt Lake, Utah, United States.
John Homer Wilson was born on 18 November 1879, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, his father, William Walter Wilson, was 54 and his mother, Mary Magdalene Mauchley, was 33. He died on 2 December 1879, at the age of 0, and was buried in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States.
Julia Cordelia Wilson was born on 22 November 1880, in Midway, Wasatch, Utah, United States, her father, William Walter Wilson, was 55 and her mother, Mary Magdalene Mauchley, was 34. She married William Eugene Wagstaff on 14 December 1905, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 1 daughter. She lived in Salt Lake, Utah, United States in 1930 and Election Precinct 5, Salt Lake, Utah, United States in 1940. She died on 8 May 1956, in Midvale, Salt Lake, Utah, United States, at the age of 75, and was buried in Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, Millcreek, Salt Lake, Utah, United States.
Heber Valley Heritage Foundation