35 Ogden, Utah

The Civil War was still raging when the family left Smithfield and moved to the Ogden area. When it finally came to a close in 1865, there began a period in U.S. history that saw unscrupulous carpetbaggers and zealous federal appointees throughout the defeated South and in the federal territories, especially in Utah. With the abolition of slavery, half of the Republican Party’s goal of ridding the nation of the “twin relics of barbarism” had been accomplished. Now it was time to go after polygamy, the remaining “relic.”¹

A monumental change came to the territory when the nation was linked together for the first time by railroad in 1869 at Promontory Point. Ogden was the railhead for Utah, and the provincial town saw an immediate influx of people, goods, and diseases. The coming of the railroad not only made Mormon immigration to Utah easier, but it also brought many non-Mormon entrepreneurs, bankers, miners, and merchants. Along with the legitimate builders of a new society, there also came the dregs of society—the scam artists and ne’er-do-wells. The Church’s response to the negative outside influences was a new retrenchment: the women’s Relief Society was reestablished, the Young Ladies and Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations were begun, and ZCMI was established to protect the Church’s fledgling industries and to compete with the incoming merchants.

The Latter-day Saints constructed temples in four urban centers of the territory: St. George (1877), Logan (1884), Manti (1888), and Salt Lake City (1893). With their dedications, an increased emphasis was placed on ordinance work for the Saints’ kindred dead. There were also changes in the leadership of the Church. After the death of Brigham Young on August 29, 1877, John Taylor and then Wilford Woodruff presided over the Church. Due to increased federal raids against polygamists, members were forced to live “on the underground” or emigrate to Canada or Mexico. President Woodruff tore down the Endowment House in 1889 and, in 1890, proclaimed the Manifesto, barring (at least publicly) further plural marriages. In 1896, Utah became a state of the union.

Henrietta began her autobiographical writings in 1884 and the more extensive record in 1899. She recorded the experience of her husband as chief medical doctor during an outbreak of smallpox and chronicled their visits to the Logan Temple to perform work for the dead, including the proxy endowment for Dr. Frederick G. Williams. She also wrote for the Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Association (YLMIA). Henrietta and Ezra’s children came of age, married, and established homes of their own. One son took his plural wives and moved to Mexico. Toward the end of the century, Ezra retired from medicine, and he and his wife were active in what they called “old folks” excursions.

Move to Ogden and Birth of Last Child

As noted, Ezra, with his wife Electa and son Hyrum, departed Smithfield for a farm in Pleasant View, near Ogden, in the spring of 1863, while Henrietta and her children followed in September. After three years together on the farm, the families separated when Ezra moved his medical practice closer to the city and set up Electa and Hyrum in their own home in Ogden proper. Lucy Ellen Williams, then fifteen, wrote about her father’s movements.

In the spring of 1863 he moved his wife Electa and only son, to Pleasant View, then a part of North Ogden, on a farm which he had purchased. In September, 1863, he moved his wife Henrietta and family to Pleasant View.

In the spring of 1867 he moved his wife and only son, Hyrum Royal, to Ogden City, where he built up a large practice. The family of Henrietta remained on the farm at Pleasant View, as the boys were able to help on with the farm work.²

A confirmation of these facts, with further details on the sale of the properties, is recorded in the biographical sketch of Ezra G. Williams found in his father’s medical ledger. Lucy wrote:

In the Spring of 1863, he bought a farm at North Ogden that part now called Pleasant View, from George Snyder and move[d] part of the family there.

Sept 21, 1863, moved the remainder of his family to North Ogden. here his youngest child Frances Maria Williams was born May 24, 1864. . . . In 1866–7 he moved part of his family to Ogden city Weber Co to Green Taylor house. 1869 or 70 he moved to Mrs Black house. later to the Nelson house he bought. . . . he owned several houses and lots in Ogden city.³

Henrietta did not record the move to Ogden in her autobiographical “Incidents” and made only a brief comment about it in her son’s journal, followed by a notice of the birth of their ninth and last child. “In 1863 moved to Hot Spring district, Weber Co, in September 1863. Frances Maria was born May 24th 1864.”⁴

Frederick G. Williams’s Handwriting Authenticated on “Characters” Document

A month before the birth of his daughter Frances Maria, Ezra took some of his father’s documents to Church headquarters in Salt Lake City and shared them with the Brethren. One was the sheet with writing on both sides that we explored in chapter 21. The front side contains four segments: a revelation concerning John the Beloved in the New Testament that was published in the Doctrine and Covenants, two references to translations in the Book of Mormon, and the Lehi statement. The back side, which is where the identification of Frederick G. Williams’s handwriting appears, contains twelve lines of characters thought to be a representation of those shown to him at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, which may be similar to those found on the plates containing the Book of Mormon. Ezra wrote: “G. S. L. city, April 11, 1864. This paper is in the hand writing of my father: Fred G. Williams. The characters thereon I believe to be a representation of those shown to him at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple. (Signed) Ezra G. Williams.”⁵ Ezra does not say who or how the characters were shown to his father at the dedication of the temple, but it has been linked to the appearance of a heavenly being that sat down beside him.⁶ Ezra’s statement on the written “characters” has also been linked to the front-side Lehi statement, which has been put forth as a revelation. Someone, perhaps Mary E. Gardner, wrote in Dr. Williams’s medical ledger, “The following revelation was received by Frederick Granger Williams at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple concerning Lehis Travels.” After copying the text, the writer described what were thought to be the circumstances surrounding its receipt and then the document’s subsequent history in the hands of Frederick’s widow, Rebecca, their son Ezra, and Apostle George A. Smith. The entry ends with an indication that the above was “from an interview with Mrs. Henrietta E. Williams, wife of Dr. E. G. Williams, at Ogden Utah, Jan 24 1913,” and the signature of Merlin J. Stone.

F. G. Williams claimed that at the time of receiving the revelation an angel appeared to him and sat between F. G. Williams and Joseph Smith, Sen. F. G. Williams then transcribed the message on paper which he kept during his lifetime, and Mrs. Williams kept this paper sacred untill her demise. it then came into the possession of Dr. E. G. Williams, who loaned it to Apostle George A. Smith, and Mr. and Mrs. Williams since tried several times to secure the manuscript again but were unsuccessful.

This revelation later appeared in print in the compendium page 289 and was erroneously accredited to Joseph Smith the Prophet.⁷

Since the interview took place in January 1913 with Henrietta herself, the Mr. and Mrs. Williams who “tried several times to secure the manuscript again but were unsuccessful” would be Henrietta and her husband, Dr. Ezra G. Williams. The comment also suggests that when on April 11, 1864, Ezra showed the document to the Brethren in Great Salt Lake City, he turned it over to Elder George A. Smith, who must have been the one to ask him to authenticate the handwriting of his father. It is interesting to note that Elder Smith spoke about Frederick’s vision of the Savior in the Kirtland Temple later that same year, on November 15, 1864.⁸ Since other documents written by Frederick have similar notations by Ezra on them, he must have brought them all in at the same time, but perhaps he left only the one with the characters, which is certainly the most intriguing. Rebecca kept her husband’s papers until she passed away in 1861, then they came into the possession of Ezra, who gave them to his son Frederick II in 1904. Years later Nancy C. Williams, Frederick’s plural wife, took them to the Historian’s Office. Nancy wrote:

These, with the revelation of Lehi’s travels, were carefully preserved by Rebecca and locked in a tin box until her death. At her passing Ezra became its custodian and the keeper of its secrets. He locked them in his heart and modestly, but sacredly hid under a bushel all of the statements made by his father in his own handwriting that could have shed some light on his good deeds and cleared his name of some of the darkness cast upon it. However, he did loan out several papers, one of which was never returned. This was the revelation that Frederick received concerning Lehi’s travels.

While on his sick bed Ezra let his son Frederick G II, take the papers of the accounts but not until after the latter’s death were they ever exposed. Fearing for their safety in moving about, I decided to place them in the Church Historian’s office for safety.⁹

1870 U.S. Census

The 1870 federal census lists Ezra twice, once with his wife Henrietta and her children on the North Ogden farm, taken on June 2, 1870, and subsequently in the city of Ogden with his plural wife, Electa, and their son Hyrum, taken on July 16, 1870. Frederick’s middle name is listed mistakenly as James instead of Granger.

North Ogden, Weber County, Utah, June 2, 1870

In the census taken a month later, in the city of Ogden, Ezra’s profession is listed as farmer and Hyrum’s name is misspelled.

Ogden, Weber County, Utah, July 16, 1870

Dr. Ezra Williams’s Medical Practice, His Appointment as Quarantine Doctor

The railroad, of course, made it easier to bring people and supplies to Utah, but it also facilitated the introduction of disease. Near the time of ten-year-old John Albert Williams’s death, which occurred on November 20, 1870,¹⁰ there was a serious outbreak of smallpox, then considered a fatal disease, which challenged Dr. Williams’s skills. Lucy Godfrey wrote:

About 1871 some one came in on the railroad bringing smallpox to the city. Other doctors pronounced it as black measles, but Dr. Williams said it to be smallpox. The only case he had ever seen was when he was a small boy in the east. He inoculated himself and had the disease very light. By this time the disease had spread through the city. He was appointed doctor of the city to quarantine and care for the disease. He moved his patients to Ferris Grove and cared for them. Though smallpox at the time was considered a fatal disease, he was very successful and only lost one patient at that which was due to exposure.¹¹

Another account, written by Frederick G. Williams (II) with the help of his father, Ezra G. Williams, places the smallpox epidemic in 1869 and gives further details of where the patients were quarantined. Frederick wrote about his father, Ezra:

In July 1869 Father was appointed quarintine physician and continued 7 years. he had 95 cases of small pox at Farr grove only 2 deaths one an imbecile boy that could not be controled and one nursing babe whose parents both had confluent small pox there came up a terrific storm of wind & rain blew down the tents & drenched the patients to the skin and the babe took cold & died.

He was highly complimented by the California papers on so good a record & after all the city counsel cut down his charges so that he refused to act longer. 7 years after when the small pox broke out again, he was called on again. But he told them no he would have nothing to do with it. Several doctors one after another was appointed but they had a bad time of it & many died. they were afraid to go among the small pox patients and would only get within hailing distance & for these reasons as well as others the patience suffered & died many of them.¹²

Henrietta noted briefly in her son’s journal that she and her husband received the visit of her cousin Augustus B. Martin and that she then accompanied him to San Francisco to visit her brother John H. Crombie. “May 1872 Augustus B. Martin my mother’s sister’s son visited us. I went to San Francisco with him to visit my brother John Henry Crombie, who left Salt Lake City [in] 1857. After my return was sick 28 months.”¹³ The only details Henrietta shares about her trip to San Francisco have to do with a negative experience she had with the Ogden postmaster, Isaac Moore, who was likely not their old neighbor in Kirtland, from whom Dr. Frederick G. Williams had purchased part of his farm. Henrietta wrote:

In 1871 my brother’s wife sent a valuable parcel by mail. Isaac Moore was post master in [the] Ogden Office. Many people never received their bundles & magizines while he remained in that position. When I visited the house of my brother in San Francisco, my sister in law shew me the samples of the goods she sent me. one thousand dollars was taken by Moore belonging to Mary Godfrey & her sister Mrs Bates[.] they employed Nathan Tanner to arrest him by Law. they got nine hundred, costing them one hundred to get from Moore the post master. I could not even hear of my parcel, I was grieved over it, like many others, and that was all we could do about it.¹⁴

John Henry Crombie eventually moved to New York, where his nephew Ezra H. G. Williams met him and gave a description of him on February 28, 1907, while serving his mission in the eastern states: “[February 28, 1907] Packed my grip with books and tracts ready for work and then went to 309 W 35 St NY where my cousins Louis and Leonard Crombie lived (at 309 W 35 St NY). They were glad to meet me and Leonard then went after his father, my mother’s brother John H. Crombie. I was surprised to see that uncle John was such a small man 5 ft 3¾ inches in height, about 135 lbs.”¹⁵

Dr. Ezra G. Williams continud to practice medicine in the Ogden area for another twenty years. All told, he was a doctor in five states: Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, and Utah, while his medical career would span nearly fifty years. At his death, one newspaper reported that he “practiced medicine until 1890, when he retired on account of advanced age, but continued the light work of his profession until a few years ago. His actual medical experience covered a period of forty-eight years.”¹⁶ Dr. Williams’s funeral services were covered in the news as well, where it was reported that people spoke of his generosity toward hundreds of poor people by providing them medical services free of charge. The Ogden Weekly Sun reported: “They spoke of the excellent work that the doctor had accomplished in his profession in Utah in the early days when the work of that profession was more appreciated than it is at the present time, because of the very few in the country. As a physician, they stated, he was always kind to the poor, giving his services gratis, to hundreds of that class.”¹⁷ We do not know when Utah began examining its doctors and, if qualified, issuing them a license to practice. Nor do we know how many times Dr. Williams’s license may have been renewed. But in 1890, the very year he chose to retire, he was issued a certificate by the Board of Medical Examiners, which authorized him to practice medicine and surgery in Ogden, signed by two medical doctors.

BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS
OGDEN UTAH

This Certifies, That the Board of Medical Examiners of Ogden City, Utah, having received satisfactory evidence that Dr. E. G. Williams, of the City of Ogden, Territory of Utah, is qualified to practice Medicine and Surgery, hereby authorizes him under the provisions of the City Ordinances to practice the same in the City of Ogden, Utah Territory.

Given under our hands, this fifteenth day of June in the year 1890

Samuel L. Brick M.D.
President

D. W. Reid M.D.
Secretary

Ins. D. Carnahan¹⁸

Marriages of Frederick G. Williams’s Grandchildren, with Short Biographies

Lucy Ellen Williams Godfrey (1848–1942). The first of Ezra’s children to marry and leave home was nineteen-year-old Lucy Ellen Williams. Her courtship and marriage to William Reeves Godfrey took place while the family was living on the Pleasant View farm in North Ogden. The couple was married on October 10, 1867, by Elder George Q. Cannon. Lucy held various callings in the Church, including first counselor in the ward Relief Society presidency and president of the YLMIA. William Godfrey was ordained to the office of high priest in 1878 by the president of the Box Elder Stake, Oliver G. Snow. The couple had ten children, eight of whom lived to maturity.¹⁹

Mary Elizabeth Williams Gardner (1851–1934). Next to wed was eighteen-year-old Mary Elizabeth Williams, who married Joseph Smith Gardner on March 15, 1869. Joseph was also ordained an elder on that date. Like her older sister, Mary also served as president of the “Retrenchment Society,” later called Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association, and for four years she was president of the Relief Society of the Liberty Ward in Ogden Valley. In addition to her Church assignments, she excelled in the domestic arts of sewing, quilting, knitting, and spinning. She made all the clothing for her family. The couple had eleven children, ten of whom lived to maturity.²⁰

On September 21, 1863, I moved with my parents to North Ogden, that part now called Pleasant View, where I spent the rest of my school hood and girlhood days. There I met and married Joseph Smith Gardner, March 15, 1869. May 3, 1869 we moved to Deweyville Utah.

On August 6, 1875, I was chosen President of Retrenchment Society, now called Young Ladies Mutual. I was also a teacher in Relief Society.

We moved to Pleasant View in March 1885, and to Liberty in June 1888. I was chosen President of the Liberty Relief Society February 23, 1893, and was blessed and set apart by Franklin D. Richards. I served four years. While living in Liberty I did my last spinning and making my own yarn, but still continued knitting socks and stockings. I always knit all the stockings and mittens; I also made all the clothing for my family, also all my quilts, bedding, and etc.²¹

Ezra Henry Granger Williams (1855–1929). The younger brother was the next to wed. Nineteen-year-old Ezra Henry Granger Williams, after being ordained an elder on Christmas day, was married to Sarah Ann Hickenlooper in the Endowment House on December 28, 1874, by Daniel H. Wells, Second Counselor to Brigham Young in the First Presidency. Ezra was “recommended to the house of Endowments by Elder Sidney Stevenson endorsed by Elder Walter Thomson of Ogden Utah in absence of the presiding bishop of Weber Co.”²² Ezra Henry was ordained a Seventy on October 29, 1889, and after his mission was ordained a high priest. He ran a music store in Ogden, played the violin, and sang with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The couple had seven children, all seven of whom lived to maturity. When he was fifty-two, Ezra Henry was called to the Eastern States Mission. He was set apart on February 19, 1907, by Elder George Teasdale and left the following day for St. Louis. Upon his arrival, he was disappointed to learn that his cousin Adeline Riggs Cope and her husband Dawsey Cope had just returned to their home in Kansas.²³

Frederick Granger Williams (1853–1918). The next to marry was twenty-two-year-old Frederick G. Williams. He had been called by President Brigham Young on a colonizing mission to Arizona but was not permitted to go as a single male. He asked his sweetheart, sixteen-year-old Amanda Burns, for her hand. She accepted, and they were married on January 24, 1876, in the Endowment House by President Daniel H. Wells, Second Counselor in the First Presidency. Soon afterwards they were on their way to the Little Colorado Mission in Arizona. The couple eventually had thirteen children, eight of whom lived to maturity.

On May 1, 1884, Frederick was married to his first plural wife, sixteen-year-old Hansena Kathena Hegstead, in the Endowment House by President Daniel H. Wells. They had one child who died soon after birth. Kathena died on August 25, 1888.

Frederick was married to his second plural wife, sixteen-year-old Nancy Abigail Clement, in the Endowment House by Elder Franklin D. Richards on April 8, 1889. Nancy gave birth to ten children, seven of whom lived to maturity. Frederick was ordained a seventy on January 27, 1884, and a high priest on February 23, 1890, then set apart as second counselor to Bishop Edward Wade of the Pleasant View Ward. To escape persecution, Frederick and his wives moved to the Mormon Colonies in Mexico in 1890, where they remained for nineteen years. On July 22, 1891, he was set apart by Elder George Teasdale as first counselor to Bishop Winslow Farr of the Colonia Dublan Ward in Mexico.

Many of Frederick’s children were born in Mexico, so it may not be surprising that his children were missionaries in Latin America as well. His son Orlando Clement Williams was a U.S. Marshall, an LDS patriarch in Arizona, and the first mission president of the Spanish-American Mission. Another son, Frederick Salem Williams, was called to the South American Mission when he was eighteen. He later served as mission president in Argentina and, ten years later, was called to be the first president of the Uruguayan Mission. He was also the U.S. government’s business manager of the Health and Sanitation Department of the Institute of Inter-American Affairs in Venezuela and then Uruguay and lived in Peru, where he was the first branch president of the Church on the west coast of South America and the business manager of a small airline. Fred S. Williams was the first president of the Los Angeles Temple Mission and patriarch to the Spanish-speaking Saints in Southern California, where he helped establish the first Hispanic stake.²⁴ Frederick (II)’s daughter Flora May Williams Jesperson had a son and a son-in-law who also figured prominently in the Church in Latin America. A. James Jesperson served a mission in Argentina, then later was called as mission president in Peru, Regional Representative in the Andes area, and Missionary Training Center president in Mexico. His brother-in-law, Harold Brown, also served a mission in Argentina and later served there as mission president. He was president of the first Spanish-speaking stake in Mexico City, a Regional Representative, and the first president of the Mexico City Temple.

Hyrum Royal Barney Williams (1858–1927). The next sibling to marry was twenty-one-year-old Hyrum Royal Barney Williams, who was sealed to nineteen-year-old Lucy Adelphine Huffaker (1860–1881) in the Endowment House on April 3, 1879. She bore him one child, who died three days later. Lucy Adelphine died on August 30, 1881.

Hyrum then married twenty-one-year-old Margaret Ann Goodman Warner (1861–1943) in the Endowment House on September 20, 1883. The couple eventually had six children. In 1905, Hyrum married twenty-seven-year-old Elizabeth Campbell Kinghorn (1878–1951), by whom he had five children. Hyrum was ordained an elder on April 3, 1879, and was a high priest at the time of his death. He was a much-beloved dentist who practiced in Ogden until 1896 and then settled in Idaho. Henrietta, with sincere admiration, recorded the following in her autobiography: “Tremont Teton Valley papers Leigh, speak of Hyrum R. Williams being the very best dentist ever came into the Teton Basin 1900. he returned to the same place 1901 July to dentistry to be gone two months, 15 sets to make that were promised.”²⁵

A newspaper article that appeared soon after his death on September 4, 1927, reported on the funeral, spoke of his good-natured personality, and lauded his professional ethics and generosity in serving the poor. “Dr. Williams possessed a jovial disposition and was noted for his good nature. During the early days he extended service gratis and at a nominal fee to those in meager circumstances, heeding the admonition of his father, a doctor, to serve humanity in his profession at but a living wage. Dr. Williams was a devoted husband and father, a member in good standing in the L.D. S. church and a man highly esteemed by his fellow men.”²⁶

Frances Henrietta Maria Williams Budge (1864–1890). The marriage of the last child took place on December 16, 1880, when sixteen-year-old Frances (Fanny) Henrietta Maria Williams was sealed to twenty-two-year-old Scotland-born Thomas Budge in the Endowment House by President Daniel H. Wells.²⁷ The couple had five children. Frances Maria died of complications soon after the birth of her fifth child, at the young age of twenty-four, on New Year’s Day, January 1, 1890.²⁸ Henrietta wrote the following in her son’s journal: “Frances Maria Williams Budge died New Years day 1889 [sic]. She was the wife of Thomas Budge. She was the mother of Annie May, Cara Adela, Webb Arthur, Thomas Francis & Lewis Edwin.”²⁹ Frederick’s wives, Nancy and Amanda, looked after the children for five months, until Thomas Budge remarried. Nancy C. Williams wrote: “After [Frances’s] death I went to the home and remained for almost 5 month and kept house for him and the 3 children. Amanda kept Louis the baby, ’till Clara went and she afterwards m[arrie]d him and has been a good mother to Fanny’s children.”³⁰

Death of Electa Jane Barney Williams (1840–1883)

The passing of Ezra’s plural wife, Electa, on January 25, 1883, brought sorrow and changes to the family’s living arrangements. Henrietta moved from the farm in Pleasant View into Ogden. She wrote the following in her son’s journal: “January 25th 1883 Electa Jane Williams died, age 44 years. April 6th 1883 I moved to Ogden. Since then I have [had] the pleasure of taking all my family now living into the Logan Temple for which I consider myself truly blessed. October 3rd 1884.³¹

President Frederick G. Williams Endowed by Proxy in the Logan Temple

Soon after the Logan Temple was dedicated, members of the Williams family began attending the temple to perform ordinances on behalf of their kindred dead. On December 8, 1885, for example, the Williams brothers, Frederick and Ezra, were baptized as proxies on behalf of twelve of their deceased kin, including their grandfather John Crombie, great-grandfather William Crombie, and their mother’s brother William Barnett Crombie. The females in the family performed similar service on behalf of the deceased women in their family’s line. Over the next several days, both the men and women served as proxies for those individuals’ endowments.³²

Another extended trip to the Logan Temple occurred the last week of March 1887. On March 30, 1887, Ezra G. Williams was endowed on behalf of his father, Frederick G. Williams.³³ Those in the family who participated in the temple excursion were Ezra Granger Williams, his wife Henrietta Elizabeth Crombie Williams, their son Frederick Granger Williams and his plural wife Hansena Kathena Hegstead Williams, their son Ezra Henry Granger Williams and his wife Sarah Ann Hickenlooper Williams, their son Hyrum Royal Barney Williams and his wife Margaret Ann Warner Williams, and their daughter Frances Maria Williams Budge.³⁴ Ezra and Henrietta were back in the Logan Temple performing endowments September 21–23, 1887.³⁵

Henrietta did not mention the names of all the family members who participated in the ordinances, nor did she write down the names of those for whom the work was done; this information was written in the Logan Temple records themselves. She simply noted, “A work performed in Logan Temple December 8th, 18th, 17th 16th 1885. March 30, 31st April 1st, September 21st 22nd 1887 for dead friends & relatives.”³⁶

1880 U.S. Census

The 1880 federal census, unlike the one taken in 1870, listed Ezra’s name only once, but it did show the two households, one on the farm and one in the city. All but the youngest daughter, Frances Maria, had married and established their own homes by then.

Enumeration District 98, Ogden, Weber County, Utah June 3, 1880

North Ogden, Weber County, Utah June 19, 1880

Writing for the Local Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association

In 1881, while living on the farm in Pleasant View, fifty-four-year-old Henrietta was evidently called to teach the young ladies in her ward’s YLMIA program. She took the calling seriously, and, since there were no manuals, it would appear that she began to write her own lessons, or what she called essays, on a variety of gospel subjects and other topics of interest. Although these short essays do not form part of her autobiography, they were the first writings she recorded in the unnumbered and unused portions of the index to Dr. Williams’s medical ledger. The official magazine of the YLMIA, The Young Woman’s Journal, would not begin publication until October 1889, so Henrietta’s writings in 1881 were likely not meant for publication. Nevertheless, the success she had at putting her thoughts down on paper in a logical, articulate manner must have encouraged her to try her hand at writing her more extensive autobiography a few years later. The following is a list of the titles and topics she covered between December 3, 1881, and early 1883. With the death of Electa in January 1883 and Henrietta’s subsequent move to Ogden, the essays were discontinued.

The Antipolygamy Campaign

Bigamy was a felony, and anyone convicted could be sentenced to a maximum of five years in prison and a $500 fine. The problem was that it was nearly impossible to find evidence to prosecute the alleged offenders. With the passage of the Edmunds Act (1882), the government’s antipolygamy campaign became more successful. Under the Edmunds law, “unlawful cohabitation” or “living together without a legal marriage” was considered only a misdemeanor, which carried a maximum of six months imprisonment and a $300 fine. But “in the polygamy trials, the law allowed judges to exclude potential jurors who practiced or believed in polygamy,” and the antibigamy laws could also be applied.³⁷ In 1884, twenty-seven-year-old Rudger Clawson was arrested, brought to trial, and found guilty. He was sentenced to four years in prison and fined $800.³⁸ Many more would soon follow, including high-ranking Church officials, among them Apostles and members of the First Presidency. Historian Thomas Alexander wrote: “Clawson became the first of more than a thousand polygamists sent to Sugar House [prison]. Among the most prominent were territorial delegate George Q. Cannon of the First Presidency, Lorenzo Snow and Francis M. Lyman of the Council of the Twelve, and B. H. Roberts of the First Council of the Seventy, in addition to numerous bishops, stake presidents, and high councilmen.”³⁹

Many polygamists tried to hide from the U.S. marshals and avoid arrest by moving from one location to another or, as it was called, by living “on the underground.” Tension and distrust grew among the members of the community. A neighbor might talk and at any moment a deputy marshal could invade a church meeting or beat on doors late at night searching for polygamous husbands. The disruption to family life was horrendous. “A large group of Mormons began an exodus to Chihuahua and Sonora in northern Mexico in 1885, and some colonized southern Alberta, Canada, in 1887.”⁴⁰

Escape from the Antipolygamists: 
The Move to Fairview

Henrietta recorded an anxious scene that occurred at two in the morning, when her polygamous son Frederick G. Williams and his wives, Amanda and Kathena, tried to leave Ogden undetected in May 1886.

Another incident in my experience. My eldest son was obliged to leave Pleasant View with other polygamists, travel in the dark and lonely night. his Brother Ezra H. G. Williams driving one team through Ogden City at two o’clock. Slow, still and carefull did they wend their way outside of Weber County, to the brush to camp unnoticed by the citizens and treacherous enemies to Celestial Marriage. Deputies, making money by betraying good men. Judas Like spirit. I sat up late, watching and waiting, listening to every sound, till my son arrived. he called in, the teams still going on, Amanda & Kathena sitting together in the wagon. I sent them a nice piece of dried beef to chew on, as they travelled along that dreary night, fearing to speak lest some spy was abroad.⁴¹

Standing, left to right: Ezra Henry Granger Wiliams, Hyrum Royal Williams (son of Electa Jane Barney); seated, left to right: Frederick G. Williams (II), Ezra G. Williams.

Hansena’s Death, Frederick Marries Nancy Abigail Clement

It was a difficult journey. Amanda was pregnant, and her two-year-old son, Alonzo, was sick and soon died in Spanish Fork Canyon on May 15, 1886.⁴² The Williams party traveled as far south as Fairview in Sanpete County, where they set up housekeeping for three years. It was a tumultuous time of highs and lows. Frederick was set apart as a president of the 26th Quorum of Seventies,⁴³ and two children were born in Fairview. But his plural wife, Hansena Kathena Williams, died there on August 25, 1888. Rather than remain monogamous and avoid potential problems with the law, Frederick, with the encouragement of Amanda, married a second plural wife, sixteen-year-old Ephraim Academy student Nancy Abigail Clement. Her son Fred S. Williams wrote the following:

Amanda was sick and into her seventh month of pregnancy with her seventh child. There was so much to do and no one to do it. My sister “Etta” recalls hearing that Amanda, not completely in jest, told her husband that he’d better get another wife or she’d leave him. In time, a young girl by the name of Nancy Abigail Clement was hired as a housekeeper and boarded at the Williams’s home while she attended her first year at Sanpete Stake Academy in Ephraim. One morning, while the family was at the breakfast table, Amanda asked her, “Nancy, how would you like to marry Fred?” Years later, mother told her daughter “Beth” that she was completely taken back by the boldness of the question, but did manage to say she’d have to think about it. He was, she had admitted to herself, the handsomest man in town. Shortly, Amanda’s proposal was followed up and both parties agreed to the wedding.⁴⁴

To avoid detection they traveled separately to Salt Lake City and timed their sealing to coincide with the large crowds of people who gathered together to attend general conference. Frederick was married to his second plural wife, Nancy Abigail Clement, in the Endowment House by Elder Franklin D. Richards on April 8, 1889. It is likely that this is the plural marriage that President Wilford Woodruff had reference to in the forepart of the 1890 “Manifesto,” which triggered his order to demolish the Endowment House. A portion of the Declaration reads: “One case has been reported, in which the parties allege that the marriage was performed in the Endowment House, in Salt Lake City, in the Spring of 1889, but I have not been able to learn who performed the ceremony; whatever was done in this matter was without my knowledge. In consequence of this alleged occurrence the Endowment House was, by my instructions, taken down without delay.”⁴⁵

Nancy quit school on November 15, 1889, and was sent to Ogden to live with her husband’s parents, Ezra and Henrietta. In December, Frederick and Amanda, with their children, moved back to Pleasant View as well, where three months later, on February 23, 1889, he was ordained a high priest and set apart as second counselor to Bishop Edward Wade in the Pleasant View Ward.⁴⁶

Move to the Mormon Colonies in Mexico

The antipolygamy campaign was intensifying. In a conversation with the prophet of the Church, President Wilford Woodruff, Fred was advised: “Take your families and go to Mexico as soon as possible, there is going to be serious trouble here; the sooner you can get out the better.”⁴⁷ Henrietta was an eyewitness of the departure scene that took place at the train station in Ogden on August 7, 1890, and recorded in her autobiography the tense moments when Fred’s two wives and four children boarded the train. The party would travel by rail all the way to Deming, New Mexico, and then take wagons across the border into Mexico. Dr. Ezra G. Williams was unable to see his son and family off because of sick and “lingering” patients. His wife, Henrietta, wrote:

Years after they were obliged to flee to Mexico Fred taking 3 wives that time. Kathena had died in Fairview, Sanpete Co., also losing Alonso on the route. the polygamists were obliged to skulk out of Ogden, the very safest way they could, leaving their wives and children for Frederick to look after, buy their tickets, put their baggage aboard. Brethren on the platform notifying him when others arrived. I was watching the scene, when I was apprised my movements were watched. I walked off at a distance where mine could see me as the train rolled out, to put twelve hundred miles between them and me. Oh the times that have been, and will be if we live faith full and true to our covenants we made at the altar. The night they passed through Ogden City, Dr. was called off on professional services, the patients lingering, keeping him out too late to see his son & bid him Gods speed on his flight at Midnight for his safety. he was greived to think he had lost the opportunity. When fleeing to Mexico they ate breakfast with us, giving more time to say farewell for the present. Oh, the past & present & future, may we live to see many changes.⁴⁸

Henrietta was technically wrong about Fred taking “three wives that time.” The third woman in their party was twenty-three-year-old Elizabeth Clement, Nancy’s older sister, who died soon after they arrived in Mexico on September 11, 1890; but she was sealed to Fred posthumously on June 7, 1893.⁴⁹

Visit of Nathan Pinkham

Two years before he died, Nathan Pinkham, Ezra’s brother-in-law and a well-to-do entrepreneur, traveled from Quincy to Ogden by train as part of his visit to the West Coast. Perhaps he had planned to come earlier, while his Mormon sister, Elmira Pinkham Tufts, and her Mormon husband, Elbridge Tufts, were still alive. But Eldridge had died in 1850, and Elmira died in 1883.⁵⁰ Pinkham’s 1887 visit received the following notice in the paper.

From Illinois.

Nathaniel Pinkham, Esq., a resident of Quincy, Illinois, and a brother-in-law of Dr. E. G. Williams, of this City, is in town. The gentleman is on his way to California on business and pleasure bent, and has stopped off to spend a few days with friends in this vicinity. He is very much pleased with this part of the country and has enjoyed himself immensely during his stay here. He thinks this is about as good a country as he came across during his travels and predicts for it a prosperous future.

Being an old-time resident of Illinois, Mr. Pinkham is well acquainted with many old-time Mormons and the scenes connected with the early history of the church in that State.

Mr. Pinkham is a genial gentleman with whom it is a pleasure to be acquainted.⁵¹

Letter Writing, Surprise Party, Investing in Property, and Old Folks Activities

In 1890, the same year the Manifesto was announced to the membership of the Church and the public at large, Dr. Williams retired from practicing medicine full time, which allowed him the opportunity to pursue other interests. One change that came into his life was that he was ordained a high priest by Miles H. Jones in the Ogden Third Ward on August 29, 1891.⁵²

When the Ogden City Council determined to install sidewalks on his street, Ezra sent a petition asking that the sidewalk be constructed in such a way that he would retain the right-of-way (access) to his home of eighteen years or that the city pay him damages of $5,000.

PETITIONS

Ezra G. Williams represented that he was owner of fifty-one feet frontage on the east side of Washington, between Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth; that he had owned the property and used the right of way for eighteen years; that if the City carried out its intention of building a sidewalk on the south side of Twenty-third his property would be damaged $5,000. He asked that the sidewalk be so constructed that the right of way would not be injured or else that immediate payment of $5,000 be made. Committee on streets with the City attorney added.⁵³

The minutes of the next city council meeting were published in the Ogden Standard on December 29, 1891. Several items were reported, but the response to his request was the headline for the petitions.

Ezra Williams Will Get No Damages

On streets—The committee submitted Attorney Kimball’s opinion on the petition of Ezra Williams for right-of-way on Twenty-third or $5,000 damages, to the effect that the City was not liable, as their report, and therefore recommended that the petition be not granted. Adopted.⁵⁴

Another change in Ezra’s life was that he now had time to research his genealogy (which he did by writing to family members in the East) and time to correspond regularly with his son Fred in Mexico, according to the record he kept in a notebook:

Colonia Dublan, Mex. Casas Grandes

Chihuahua, Mexico

F. G. Williams

Casas Grandes

Dublan (Carlton) Galleana

State Chihuahua Mexico

Wrote to Fred answer to

  "      "  Dec. 21st in [1893]

Jany 15 [1894] Rec letter from Fred & answered

  "    15 wrote Lucy Jany 14

March 24th recd letter from Fred

March 25 answered it

May 12 Rec letter from Fred answered

  "    20th sent letter to Fred

Aug 3rd recd letter from Fred sent

    Ezra to answer

Aug 20 recd letter from Grinalda. Same day answered

Aug 23 wrote to Fred

Oct 8 Recd letter from Fred answered

  "    6 & 14

  "    20 wrote to H. A. Baird

  "    14    "    "    S. Crombie

Janry 19 Recd letter from Nancy

    Answered in a day or two

    Recd letter from Fred

Janry 31 answered Feb 8th 1895

Feb 7 wrote to Lucy & to Gardner 8th

  "    8 wrote Bussa⁵⁵

One letter that has survived, addressed to their children and grandchildren, was written on October 13, 1898, by both Henrietta and Ezra. In it, Henrietta complains of her health and of her disappointment when no one acknowledged her seventy-first birthday, only to be surprised by the Relief Society sisters a few days later with a party. They wrote:

Oct 13th 1898

Dear Children & Grandchildren,

I am weak & old. Nothing more. This letter must do for all. A circus came to town 1st & 15th for a change. Lots [of] political meeting, women stumpers. I was 71 years old 27 Sept. not a friend or person called got nothing. 3rd Oct 12 of the Relief Society surprised me, brought extra good picnic. Judge & Lucretia Farr, Dr. Allen & wife, Joseph Parry 2 wives, Sarah West, Mrs. Austin Powers, Mrs. Poole, Mrs. Doxey, Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Cross from London, Mrs. George Cave, Sarah Ann Williams. Beatrice Allen played sweetly on the piano & sang. Dr. Allen sang. Judge Farr told anecdote. Mary White did herself proud waiting on them in Grandma place. It was a huge success. The first surprise I ever had, we enjoyed it greatly. My Birth Day, Mary E. White made a splendid cake bought a Mother Hubbard & made it with Retta Gardner help. Bessie drew a picture at school [of a] Bouquet for my Birth Day & Mr. Grix brought a very large bouquet of Dahlias of all colors.

Mary has been immense help to me. When she goes, what will grandma do. She gets a letter every week from Mr. White. We had one yesterday from Mr. C. E. Webb, one from Lizzie Farr. Father had another letter from Cleveland, none from the Martins, one from W. D. Crombie in the summer. Now let this suffice. I am very tired & it is supper time. Frances. Henrietta Elizabeth Crombie Williams

Please remember me to Bro Farr I have often wished to hear from him whether his kidneys trouble him now[.] do you hear anything more about your mission & when do you expect Heber home.] we are having very nice weather had quite a storm before Conference[.] I expected to go but had to hoist Queen [their horse] do you expect to come this way if you go on your mission.

Yours affectionately E G Wms.⁵⁶

The surprise party was such a hit that Henrietta wrote it up in her autobiography. She listed the names of those who came more fully this time, which included her husband, Dr. Williams, and explained with more detail who did what.

3rd of October [1898] the first surprise party in my life. 16 people came in, with picnic at two oclock. Presidentess Farr & councillors Mrs Poole & Doxey, secretary Mrs Thompson, teachers, Sarah West, two wives of Joseph Parry, he coming later, Dr Allen & wife, Mrs G. L. Cave, Mrs Cross, Sarah Ann Williams, Mrs Powers, Judge Aaron Farr, Beatrice A. Allen played excellent music on the piano, while the company sang. Dr Williams myself and granddaughter Mrs Mary E. White, enjoyed the afternoon & evening splendidly. the supper was very nice and tasty. We were greatly surprised and pleased.⁵⁷

On June 16, 1898, Ezra and Henrietta participated in a three-day “Old Folks” excursion to Salt Lake City, which included a visit to Fort Douglas, where they were serenaded by a band, and to Garfield Beach. Henrietta recorded: “16 of June 1898 Old Folks Excursion to Salt Lake. Dr & wife staid at the Home of Joseph E. Fays, undertaker. First day rested. 2nd day went to Fort Douglas. Colored band played especially for the Old Folks. 3rd to Garfield Beach, then to Ogden, splendid time, never to be forgotten.”⁵⁸

Henrietta wrote on March 17, 1899, of the Ogden Third Ward’s celebration of the anniversary of the organization of the Relief Society by the Prophet Joseph Smith in Nauvoo.

17th of March [1899]. The Relief Society met again to celebrate the Anniversary of the Organization in the 3rd Ward Amusement Hall. it was organized in Nauvoo, by Joseph Smith the prophet, in 1842.

A young Missionary from Idaho Falls, Horace Isaac Grow, son of old time Mormons, was visiting at our house at that time. 13 young men who had returned home from their Fields of Labor, were sent to Weber Stake, to labor with the Young Mens Improvement Association. Several of them visited Mrs Lightner, and saw the Lock of Hair from Joseph Smith Head, preserved by her in the Book of Mormon given her by the prophet, his signature with it.⁵⁹

Apostle Franklin D. Richards Honors Two Pioneers: 
Mary Lightner, Ezra Williams

On May 1, 1899, Elder Franklin D. Richards presided at a gathering at the Williams home that included a dinner and reminiscences shared by two early members of the Church, Mary Rollins Lightner and Dr. Ezra G. Williams, regarding their experiences with the Prophet Joseph Smith. A review of the evening’s activities were carried in the social news of the Ogden Standard under the title “Complete Surprise.”

Henrietta recorded the event twice in her autobiographical writings. The first time she copied the newspaper account into Dr. Williams’s medical ledger and made corrections and several additions, which I have highlighted in bold:

The following article appeared in the Ogden Standard, May 6th 1899, in Saturday evening’s paper. A Complete Surprise May 1st 1899.

Last Monday Evening (it should have said Monday Afternoon two oclock) the residence of Dr. Williams was invaded by a number of friends, who called to pay their respects to Dr. Williams and Mrs. Lightner, greatly surprising those two persons. Dr. Williams is an old time Nauvoo Mormon, who spent his early life in part in the family of the prophet Joseph Smith. (This was a mistake. The Prophet Joseph Smith came to Kirtland in Feb 1832 moved into the family. Living in the family some time in 1833 of Dr. Frederick Granger Williams one season, till he built a house for himself.) Many persons passing the Williams home that evening, upon seeing President Richards and several High Dignitaries of the Church enter, concluded that Dr. Williams must be dying, and went in to sympathize with the family, only to find one of the most happy gatherings one could imagine.

Pleasantly was the the [sic] evening spent in conversation, and the partaking of a sumptous supper. Following were those present. President Richards and Wife, Dr. Allen & Wife, George L. Cave and Wife., Ezra H. G. Williams and Wife, President C. F. Middleton, Bishop Barnard White, President Loren Farr, Presidentess Lucretia B. Farr, Mrs Sarah West, Mrs Avis Cross, Dr. Williams and Wife & Mrs Lightner. Thomas Budge Jr came late in the evening.⁶⁰

In addition to the changes she made to the newspaper article, Henrietta then added two paragraphs of new information about the occasion, including the fact that there was a storm that kept many people from coming, including Mrs. Mary Ann Stratton West and Henrietta’s daughter and son-in-law, Mary Elizabeth and Joseph S. Gardner. Henrietta’s expanded version reads:

Partook of supper & heard the remarks of Pres. Richards. was introduced to the company. Mrs Mary Ann Stratton West did not venture out in the storm. Judge Aaron Farr was too ill to undertake to view the proceedings. Mr & Mrs Joseph S. Gardner, living in Liberty, Ogden Valley 20 miles away from Father and Mother, could not ride through Ogden Canon in that cold storm. They were grieved & disappointed after cooking good things to surprise her Father and Mrs Lightner.

Mother cooked two Large cakes, put the name of Mary Jane Lightner on one, and the name of Ezra G. Williams on the other. Mrs & Dr. Allen cut Dr’s cake, put a slice in a paper doylie, gave each one to take home. Mrs Cave and Allen took Mrs Lightner cake with them and escorted Mrs Lightner to her home leaving the cake with her as a Kirtland surprise. Present was May Day, Dewey Day, Annie May Budge 17th birthday.⁶¹

Henrietta gave the event the most space and the most detailed attention of any “incident” in her longer autobiographical narrative; she recorded this incident only a few days after the meeting on May 9, 1899, while the memory of what was said was still fresh in her mind. She first wrote down what Mary Rollins Lightner had had to say.

May 1st 1899. Reminiscences of the Williams and Lightner; Kirtland surprise, first surprise in his life. The afternoon pleasantly passed. Supper announced, suiting the tastes of all who partook of it. after returning to the parlor, President [Franklin D.] Richards requested Sister Lightner to relate some of her experience in her early life, and acquaintance with the Prophet Joseph Smith, as she was very intimately acquainted with him in childhood and girlhood also womanhood being sealed to him in an early day. She gave a long recital of incidents transpiring in the Rise of the Church. Family sufferings from mobs, persecutions, driven from a comfortable home many times by the Fury of Enemies of the Church from Jackson County, Indepence [sic], Missouri, into Clay County and Caldwell County, then from the State, fleeing in the night, snatching a quilt from the bed to wrap the baby. Leaving all her households behind for the mob to revel in. it was listened [to] with interest by the company, who had never passed through the scenes of trouble.⁶²

Frederick G. Williams’s Kirtland Farm, the Temple, Joseph Smith

Henrietta next recorded many interesting and important details shared by her husband, Dr. Ezra G. Williams, who explained to those gathered that the Prophet had lived on his parents’ farm in Kirtland, that the temple had been built on that farm, that meetings had been held in his father’s barn, and that he had been baptized by Joseph Smith and confirmed a member by Hyrum Smith. Ezra also shared his eyewitness account of the return to the Church of Oliver Cowdery.

Bro Richards next called on Bro Ezra G. Williams to relate his Experience and Associations with the Prophet Joseph in his boyhood. he gave very interesting accounts of the coming to Kirtland, Joseph and his Wife Emma Smith. Accepting the Hospitality of his Father’s House, till he was able to build one for himself, in February 1833. Spoke of the condition of the Church at the time of the Prophet’s arrival in Kirtland, also the persecution & trials, building the Temple on his Father’s Farm, and the twelve Apostles had Homes built thereon. A printing office, school buildings, Prophet & Family, the Cowdery’s Whitmers and other Saints, dwelt theron, and held meetings in his Father’s Barn, 40 by 40 feet. Prophet Father worked the Farm and Dr Williams rode the Horse to plough corn and potatoes and helped Father Smith in haying time. A boy of eight summers, well acquainted with all the Smith Family. Baptized by the Prophet when he was nine years old. Confirmed by Hyrum Smith, who said at the confirmation meeting there were those in the room that would live to see the coming of the saviour. at this time of writing, May 9, 1899, only two persons now known survive, Dr. Williams and Wm Kimball. also related the Return of Oliver Cowdrey to the Church at Kanesville, stopping with the Williams Family, the humble spirit. the realization of what he had lost by leaving the Church.⁶³

Henrietta concluded the entry by recording that Lorin Farr was also asked to speak and that President Richards “pronounced a blessing” on the pioneers and on those who had made the evening a success. She also shared one more incident told by Sister Lightner.

Bro Richards then called on Loren Farr to give a recital of his knowledge of the Prophet Joseph, having lived in the family in Nauvoo.

President Richards then pronounced a blessing on Sister Lightner and Dr Williams and Loren Farr, and Sister Avis Cross, for her Long Membership of 50 years in the Church. her sisterly kindness to the Missionaries from different parts of the Earth, then blessed the others who took part in the surprise. Mrs. G. F. Cave made the occasion one of the greatest success. She is at home in such proceedings, and Mrs Allen assisted also to make every move pass off pleasantly.

Mrs Lightner also related the drowning of her sister in the Mill Pond a quarter of a mile from the schoolhouse in Kirtland. a bevy of girls was on the plank in the pond. Mrs Lightner with other girls was in a hurry to get on to the plank [and] they shouted to the girls, causing her sister to fall in. some time elapsed before anyone heard them call for help. one man wading & diving, caught his foot in her dress skirt and pulled her to the surface of the water. Weeks passed before that sister was able to recover with all the aid and assistance that could be given unto her. Mrs Lightner made a solemn vow, she never no never would scare anybody again. she suffered too much in her feelings to try that folly on any one else.⁶⁴

One person that Henrietta mentioned was not present at the gathering was “Mrs Mary Ann Stratton West [who] did not venture out in the storm.”⁶⁵ Following Henrietta’s recording of the remarks made by the pioneers at the gathering with Apostle Richards, she added a pioneer incident that she felt would have been shared, had the participant been able to attend.

Miss Mary Ann Covington (afterwards Mrs Joseph A Stratton) then (Mrs Chauncey West) now a widow twice. in her girlhood, Left England with her brother to journey to the Land of Zion at Nauvoo. Ice in the River detained her in St Louis till spring. Early start up the River, water not high enough to run the steamboat over the rapids. three girls begged the captain of the company to let them walk to Nauvoo. it was granted. they walked twelve miles to Uncle Asel’s over creeks, crawling over logs put for bridges on their hands and knees, through brush and timber. on arriving at his house they were seated at a table with hot coffee & biscuits. they enjoyed the repast. they were hungry and tired. the host ferried them over the River[.] they walked four miles to Nauvoo. supper at Orson Hyde’s who took them to see the Prophet, who was pleased to meet them as they were to meet him.⁶⁶

Kirtland Temple Property Deed: Response by the LDS Church

I have discussed in chapter 5 the feasibility of Ezra’s claim that the Kirtland Temple was built on his father’s farm. I also mentioned the letter written by his cousin Eunice Williams Warren that corroborates his position. The last portion of her letter stated: “There is a matter which perhaps you do not know: When your father deeded to the Mormon Church the land upon which the Mormon Temple in Kirtland now stands he put a condition in the deed that when it ceased to be used for church purposes the land should revert to him or his heirs.”⁶⁷

This affirmation was exciting news. Although the claim was without foundation—for there is no such condition found in the deed—the letter confirmed the belief that the temple was built on Frederick G. Williams’s land.⁶⁸ No one at Church headquarters had yet seen the deed, which would not be made available until it was microfilmed in 1948. Nancy C. Williams, in After 100 Years, explained:

When I wrote to Chardon, the county seat of Geauga, Ohio, for information concerning deeds, they advised me that the Genealogical Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had just microfilmed all records from said county and they were now in Salt Lake City, Utah.

They became available to the public in September and on the 21st day of that month in 1948 I beheld the original deed, dated as he stated, May 5, 1834.⁶⁹

Thirty-seven years after Eunice Williams Warren wrote her letter, Nancy C. Williams shared the information in a letter she wrote to President Anthony W. Ivins, First Counselor to President Heber J. Grant. Nancy’s letter was passed on to the Presiding Bishopric, and an acknowledgment was sent to her on August 11, 1934, written by Joseph Eckersley on their behalf, in which he asks her to bring him a copy of the deed or other proof of the claim.

August 11, 1934.

Mrs. Nancy C. Williams,
1067 Lake Street,
Salt Lake City, Utah.

Dear Sister Williams:

Your letter addressed to President Ivins, with reference to deed to the Kirtland Temple, which you state your Grandfather made to the church, has been referred to this office for attention. After a careful examination of the files in the Presiding Bishop’s Office no trace can be found of any title papers to the Kirtland Temple property.

If you will kindly call on me at the Presiding Bishop’s Office and bring with you the deed which provides that the Temple property shall revert back to the grantor in the event it is not used for temple purposes, or any other title papers or correspondence you may have in your possession, we will together carefully consider the proper procedure to be taken in regard to the matter.

Sincerely yours,

Joseph Eckersley
For the Presiding Bishopric.⁷⁰

Nancy Williams did meet with Joseph Eckersley on August 14, 1934, and brought Eunice Williams Warren’s letter with her, plus eighteen miscellaneous papers belonging to Frederick G. Williams, which she deposited that day at the Church Historian’s Office.⁷¹ Joseph Eckersley then reported to the Presiding Bishopric with his views of the claim, together with an explanation of the case, in a letter dated August 14, 1934, and an addendum written three days later. In essence, the position taken was that since the Church had done nothing about contesting the property under President John Taylor when the Reorganized Church went to trial for the land, there was little that could be done fifty years later.

The Presiding Bishopric.        August 14, 1934

Dear Brethren:-

Re. Title to Kirtland Temple Site.

This afternoon Sister Nancy Williams, residing at 1067 Lake Street, this city, wife of the Grandson of Frederick G. Williams, who was a member of the First Presidency of the Church at the time the building of the Kirtland Temple was commenced, called on the undersigned according to appointment and brought with her all the papers in her possession she had gathered up from the descendents of the Frederick G. Williams’ family, and a typewritten statement taken largely from original papers in the handwriting of Frederick G. Williams.

The papers submitted for examination, which had, before delivery to Sister Williams, been on file in the Church Historian’s Office, were carefully examined. They consisted largely of statements of moneys advanced to the Prophet Joseph Smith, for which it is stated no receipt or other obligation had been given. There is a typewritten statement that Frederick G. Williams deeded the Temple site to Joseph Smith, Jr., with a reservation in the deed that in the event the property is not used for Church purposes by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints it is to revert back to the grantor. There was, however, no such deed or other documentary evidence among the papers which Sister Williams and the undersigned read together.

Sister Williams stated that herself and kinsfolk had no other purpose or desire in being interested in the matter of title other than to obtain title for the Church.

Before leaving this office Sister Williams, on advice given, decided to return the papers in her possession to the Historian’s Office for safe-keeping, and she was convinced that the present record owner of the Kirtland Temple property could not be ousted by legal proceedings until the discovery of the deed above-referred to or some documentary evidence that will establish the right of the Church, or the heirs of Frederick G. Williams, to the property.

Respectfully submitted,

JOSEPH ECKERSLEY⁷²

The addendum to the above letter more specifically addresses what should be done regarding the title to the temple property.

August 17, 1934

Addenda to Report of August 14, on Title to Kirtland
Temple Site

Geauga County, Ohio, has been divided and the Town of Kirtland is now in Lake County. I have been unable to obtain the description of the Temple property or even the Township and Range. If this information could be had, we might, at some expense, have the Recorder of Lake County make a check of the records, but I doubt if this would give any further light upon the subject than that which is known to the Church Historian. Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, Church Historian, informs me that he understands that when the suit was brought by the Reorganized Church to acquire title, President John Taylor did not think it advisable to contest the claim made by the Reorganized Church and a Court decree was made and entered vesting title in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There is no record or documentary evidence with reference to the matter in the Historian’s Office.

It seems to me that since the Church refused to put in an appearance when the question of ownership was before the Courts, it is useless for the church to make search for documentary evidence of ownership, after sleeping on the matter for fifty years.

Respectfully submitted,

JOSEPH ECKERSLEY⁷³

It is interesting to point out that Henrietta copied an earlier letter from their non-Mormon cousin Eunice Williams Warren, dated December 20, 1846, from Chardon, Ohio, into Dr. Williams’s medical ledger, but not the one containing the temple property claim.⁷⁴ In the earlier letter, she shared information on the family of Dr. Frederick G. Williams’s brother, William Wheeler Williams (Eunice’s father), and Frederick’s sisters, Martha Williams Peets (husband Elijah Peets) and Mary “Polly” Williams Cahoon (husband Amos Cahoon), none of whom joined the Church, and reported that their family had heard of Frederick’s death and the death of his daughter Lucy Williams Pinkham.

Extract of a Letter Dated December 20th 18[46] [Chardon, OH]
Father and Mother, Newburgh at home
Boys Frederick, Joseph, Frances & George
William in a store at Newburgh
Ephraim in Blacksmithing
Mary lives four miles from Father
I was married four years ago
this month to Spencer Warren
We have a little boy 3 years old we
call him Henry Spencer, we
live near Harvey King. Isabella
has been dead 20 years.
Uncle Peets died the first of October
taken sick on sunday died on Monday
Disease Like Cholera. the family
are all in Cleaveland
Ruth very sick with Brain Fever
when he died, she was not
expected to live
Mary Huff moved back to Cleaveland
Last spring, she has Four Boys
Minerva has two Boys, Lost one
Martha has one
Uncle Cahoon folks has moved West
Children all Married but two youngest
Martha and Ruth live in Dover
Uncle Amos and Aunt Polly did
not visit them this fall
We heard of Uncle Frederick’s
and Lucy’s death by the way
of Mr. Burnett.

    Your affectionate Cousin
    Eunice Warren
    Chardon Ohio⁷⁵

Frederick G. Williams’s Eighteen Papers in the Historian’s Office

It should be noted that the language used in the August 14, 1934, letter by Joseph Eckersley to the Presiding Bishopric indicates that the eighteen papers belonging to Frederick G. Williams had already been at the Historian’s Office and that Nancy C. Williams was merely returning them. Eckersley wrote: “The papers submitted for examination, which had, before delivery to Sister Williams, been on file in the Church Historians’ Office, were carefully examined.” Again at the end of the letter, a similar statement was included. “Before leaving this office Sister Williams, on advice given, decided to return the papers in her possession to the Historian’s Office for safe-keeping.” Nancy C. Williams did return the eighteen papers and received a confirmation certificate signed by Joseph Fielding Smith.

Historian’s Office
of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Salt Lake City, Utah    August 14, 1934

MRS. FREDERICK G. WILLIAMS

The Historian’s Office of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has received from you for the files of the Library

Eighteen (18) Miscellaneous Letters and

Papers of Frederick G. Williams.

Filed in BIG GREEN SAFE.

This gift and the name of the donor have been duly entered upon the records. This is a valued addition to our collection which is greatly appreciated, and for which I have the honor to return our grateful acknowledgment

(Signed) Joseph Fielding Smith
                Historian⁷⁶

It may well be that the eighteen papers were turned over to the Church as early as 1864 by Ezra G. Williams, along with the “characters” document, which also contained the Lehi statement, addressed earlier in this chapter.⁷⁷ But more likely the eighteen papers belonging to Dr. Frederick G. Williams were kept by his son Ezra G. Williams, who turned them over to his son Frederick G. Williams (II) in the later part of 1904 when he traveled from Mexico to Ogden to attend to his sick father for five months. Nancy C. Williams had written in her journal that at that time of the visit in 1904, a year before Dr. Ezra G. Williams died, her husband had “received valuable receipts & instructions from his father.”⁷⁸ Most of the eighteen documents are receipts of one kind or another.

Two years before depositing Frederick G. Williams’s eighteen papers in the Historian’s Office, Nancy C. Williams sent historian B. H. Roberts, senior member of the First Council of the Seventy, a letter dated June 15, 1932. It included her eight-page summary of the contents of the principal papers that had belonged to Frederick G. Williams, entitled “Notes on the Life of Frederick G. Williams, One time Counsellor to the Prophet Joseph Smith.”⁷⁹ B. H. Roberts wrote her back on September 9, 1932, to thank her and said he would send it on to the Church Historian’s Office.⁸⁰ That same day Elder Roberts wrote to Joseph Fielding Smith at the Historian’s Office and sent the manuscript along.⁸¹

Surprise Dinners, Relief Society Meeting, a 53rd Anniversary Party, and More Old Folks Outings

Henrietta closes the autobiographical record she entitled “Incidents” with diarylike entries, with a few dates close together. As always, she is careful to list all the people by name who attended a social event.

May 13th [1899] Mrs John Seamen & Mary Crandall May Cook thrown out of a buggy on the Broom Corner Hotel 25th St Washington Ave. unconscious for some time.

May 15th [1899] Ezra [H. G. Williams] invites us to supper. Surprised to find Amanda Elizabeth Williams Farr from Dublan, Mexico & her two children Lula & Erron. She presented us with a card trimmed with moss from the pine Tree Bark growing in Mexico Mountains, by her sister Josephine.

May 16th [1899] Were invited to surprise Mrs Mary Ann Covington West, who related circumstances of Nauvoo Life, and walking to Nauvoo. When arriving there the Boat had arrived too had they waited patiently they would [have] steamed up the river, as the river rose rapidly. One event in her Life. Present Lucretia West, Sarah & Mary Ann West, Mrs Brewer, L. B. Farr, M[rs] Poole, M[rs] Doxey, Miss Halgren, Huntsman, Leavitt, Hill, Salisbury, Shipley, Dr & Mrs E. G. Williams.

August 15th 1900 53rd Anniversary of our Wedding Mother [meaning Henrietta herself] went to Relief [Society] meeting. Sent for to her sons house special. returned home to find Twenty Seven in possession of the House. had borrowed key of the neighbor, Mrs Peter Matson, opened the door, set a Long Table full of good things to greet my vision as I unlocked the door and stepped into the Dining Room. My exclamation: How did you get into the house[?] Present: Bishop B. White, Councillor Jorgensen, President Charles L. Middleton, John Taylor, Dr & Mrs Allen, Ezra [H. G. Williams] & wife, daughter Sarah, Mrs Shipley, Wm Fife from Mexico, Judge & Mrs President Farr, councillors Mrs Poole & Mrs Doxey, Mrs Hellewell, Powers, Hill, Albrightsen, Dixon, Sarah West, Mrs Summerville, Mr & Mrs Henrietta Southwick, Annie May Budge, Dr & Mrs Williams.

July 3rd 1901 Old Folks Excursion to Salt Air. Left home at 8:00 AM. Returned home at 10:00 PM. Tired and satisfied with the trip and Honors paid us.⁸²

Ezra’s Letter to His Son Fred in Mexico

Another personal letter written by Ezra that has survived was penned on May 1, 1901, from his home in Ogden in response to a letter received from his son Fred in Mexico. In his missive, Ezra gives insights into the family’s domestic life at the turn of the century: their general health, what they ate one supper, what they did with some regularity, what he sold, what he acquired, his flower garden, a family member’s marital problems, getting the piano tuned, a photo of a grandchild named “gawala de lala” (until they found a better name), and a trip to Salt Lake City in April to attend general conference. He wrote about “Mother” in the third person, which referred to his wife Henrietta, and referenced his son Hyrum, the dentist, whose mother was Electa, Ezra’s plural wife.

Ogden City May 1st 1901

My Dear Son

We have just read your most welcome letter giving us to understand that you are still living and still have hopes of the future. We certainly are glad to know you have been prospered as much as you have, that you have had the good fortune to not lose any of your animals. You do not state what your bad luck consisted of; it seems we all are heirs of bad luck in some shape or form.

Well, I had to stop for dinner; we had boiled beef & vegetables with rice, salt & mustard to season, Rhubarb pie, bread & butter, and a cup of tea for old folks, & wished you were with us. We have just had a good visit from Hyrum; he came in Conference time, went home on 15th. We were down to conference two days, had an enjoyable time. Ezra is down south of Provo canvassing for a Chicago Picture Co; he came [to] conference. I took them & Hyrum Leonard to see a Mrs. Hyer & family. She is my great niece, lately come from California, & took supper with them; had an enjoyable time. She played piano & Ezra violin; they expected to move up here before this, but don’t see them yet. He is a druggist, but was calculating to go north on a canvassing trip. I believe I told you how Lucy met her on the train last fall coming from Elko.

Hyrum bought him a dentist chair when here; cost $50.00; he seems to be doing pretty well, good prospect of plenty [of] business. He bought a house in Rigby a railroad town. Bot carpet & linoleum to fix up a nice office. He took impression of Mother’s mouth for a new set of teeth. We got a letter from him yesterday; busy in repairing his house & will soon have the teeth done. I hope they will be a great help to Mother as she can’t get her gums near enough together to masticate her food. I thought Mother would write, but says she can’t as she is tired out, having so much company of late, cleaning house & etc. She has been pretty feeble, work a while & tire out, lay down, rest a little and try it again; that is the way we both have to do.

On the 16th of Feb. I was taken very bad & Mother had to finish it, the letter I was writing to you. I was a long time in getting over that spell, but I am very thankful for the health I have regained, and ain’t much to brag of now. I have done considerable for me, by working by spells, fixing up my house on 22nd St and about the house here. I have sold Ezra’s boys the lot joining Ezra’s place & take pay in installments to have means to live on, and hope to be able to sell more property before long, as I think property will soon take a rise as soon as the work commences to put the R. R. tracks across the lake, which will likely be very soon now.

Hyrum sent this slip of paper notice to send you when I write. I also send back the stamp that came on your letter to have it cancelled. I sold Queen in March for $75.00 so as to get rid of expense & exertion in taking care of her, but it is quite awkward in being without a horse when you want one.

I bought a $53.00 range for $31.50 & several extras of a man going East & said he took it as a kindness as he couldn’t take it with him. It is called the Star Estate. It is a grand get up, highly ornamented and not bested by any that I know of. Mother is highly pleased with it; bakes bread in ¾ hour & pies in 20 minutes & a big reservoir. There is a vacuum under the oven about 6 inches, which opens up, so I made a car on castors to put irons & things not in constant use & [unreadable] out of site & drop the front down.

We are having very nice weather; trees all in full bloom, all the flowers we can boast of is four bunches of lilacs & dandelions in our front yard. I have put out a number of roses of different hews which may come on sometimes. Also other flowers which will come later in the season.

I hope you have sold your outfit as you mentioned. As I think the $4.00 a day would give you much less troubled & anxiety, liability to loss. For it seems to me that a trip like yours must be fraught with more or less danger of loss in some way: animals might stray or be run off, or take disease & die or hinder you in travel. You don’t say what kind of work or where it would be that you could get such a layout.

Maggy didn’t make much in her changing; he became cross & rough with the children. Her brother took it up & he had to agree to move her to town, give her a small house and $25.00 a month & I understand they are suing for divorce. She gave Hyrum to understand she was very sorry of what she had done. Earl has gone with John Williams & John to his ranch. Hyrum Leonard will go when his school closes in June. We get a visit or call from Webb often; just got a picture of (gawala de lala) until they find a better name.

Ezra spent about a week in fixing up the piano before going south. I am getting tired as you can see from my terrible writing; hand trembling and uneven and ungainly writing. [Joseph?] was down last week, says Mary is quite poorly. The rest of our folks are all well so far as I know. Times are pretty good, crops give great promise this season.

Did you expect an answer this soon? When you want to hear from home just write & see how soon it will come. I intended to answer Amanda’s & Nancy’s letters, but was waiting for yours in part. I must close if this will do for now.

Yours affectionately,

        E G Williams⁸³

Ezra’s Extended Illness, Fred Travels to Ogden, and Treasures in the Calendar-Notebook

Nancy C. Williams recorded in her journal that a telegram was received, urging her husband to leave Mexico at once and come to Utah to be with his father, who was ill. She indicated that he left the next day and stayed five months, during which time he wrote letters and historical sketches, recorded genealogy for his father, read a great deal, and received valuable papers and instructions from him. Nancy recorded: “Aug. 16th [1904] Fred received a telegram from Ogden to the effect that his father was very low & a pass to come at once. He left on the 17th & found his father very bad. Staid by his bed for 5 mnts, during which time he received valuable receipts & instructions from his father, wrote much genealogy & read a great deal.”⁸⁴

Letter to Adeline Riggs Cope. Some of what Fred wrote for his father was copied into a calendar-turned-notebook that has been preserved. One letter was addressed to Adeline Riggs Cope, Lovina’s daughter and Ezra’s niece. Fred explained the ill health of his father and his request for information on the family. Contained in the letter is a reference to previous correspondence received from Adeline, written to Fred’s sister Mary Elizabeth Gardner.

Mrs. Adeline Cope

Olmity Barton Co., Kansas
R. F. D. No. 1

Dear Cousin. My father Dr E G Williams wishes me to rite you for him & tell you that he often thinks of you & for the last 15 years he has been feeling miserable & so much to do, that it seemed that he couldn’t get time to write, but he never forgot you & often wished he could hear from you. He has been confined to his bed now for 14 weeks & does not think that he will ever recover.

I have been with him 6 or 7 weeks waiting on him & between times riting geneology & gleaning from every source. have you any record in your Bible of your family or has any one that you know of got one, either of the Williamss, Riggs or Pinkham families[?] Some says that Wm Wheeler Williams wife’s name was Ruth Granger and some say it was Ruth Cook. Was there 2 women? did you ever hear anything about the family that you can remember[?]

When was your mother married[?]

What is your husband’s name, Darwin or Dawsey?

We have you credited with having 11 children, but know nothing of their marriages and children, & of the Pinkhams comparatively nothing. I have read the letters ritten by you to my sister Mary with interest & from the one rote in August see that you[r] son is having sickness in his family. My home is in Mexico. The climate there is excelent for consumptives. I am acquainted with some that have come there for their health and have gained it fast. The climate is dry and clear and one can get any altitude they wish. & it is not so cold as farther north. Father and Mother will send photos.⁸⁵

Fred stated at the time of the letter that he had been with his father for six or seven weeks. If it took him a week to arrive in Ogden from Mexico, six weeks would place the date of the letter sometime during the first part of October. The three entries that follow the copied letter in the notebook were all dated October 7, 1904, therefore the letter to Adeline Cope was likely written on or before that date. Fred’s notes regarding the letters he wrote on behalf of his father, Ezra G. Williams, read:

Oct. 7, 1904 wrote to Mrs. A. F. Hyer

    Los Angeles California for Geneology

Oct. 7, 1904 wrote to Joel Munsells sons

    Albany N York for Geneological list

Oct. 7, 1904 wrote home⁸⁶

Letter to children regarding medical practice in Illinois. One of the most significant letters copied into the calendar-notebook was written on October 26, 1904, to Ezra’s children. In it was the information about Ezra’s early medical practice in Quincy, his partnership with his brother-in-law Burr Riggs, and his subsequent partnership with Dr. Bibbins, which is referenced in its entirety in Chapter 30, “Rebecca and the Family in Illinois, 1843–1846.”⁸⁷

Historical sketch of Dr. Ezra G. Williams and smallpox. One of the informative narratives penned by Fred, with Ezra’s help, concerned his father’s medical practice during the Ogden smallpox epidemic.

In July 1869 Father was appointed quarintine physician and continued 7 years. he had 95 cases of small pox at Farr Grove only 2 deaths one an imbecile boy that could not be controled and one nursing babe whose parents both had confluent small pox & there came up a terrific storm of wind & rain blew down the tents & drenched the patience to the skin and the babe took cold & died.

He was highly complimented by the California papers on so good a record & after all, the city counsel cut down his charges so that he refused to act longer. 7 years after when the small pox broke out again, he was called on again. But he told them no he would have nothing to do with it. Several doctors one after another was appointed but they had a bad time of it & many died. they were afraid to go among the small pox patients and would only get within hailing distance & for these reasons as well as others the patience suffered & died many of them.⁸⁸

Historical sketch of Dr. Frederick G. Williams. Another 1904 narrative account penned by Fred with the help of his father was about his grandfather and namesake. The brief record gives some insights into Dr. Frederick G. Williams’s personality and that of his wife, Rebecca. Ezra claims he can’t remember that his parents were anything “till they joined the Mormons,” which if true, would preclude membership in Sidney Rigdon’s Baptist church. Fred continues:

On my Father’s side

His people were more [scientifically] than relig[i]ously inclined. My Father can’t remember that his parents were anything till they joined the Mormons.

Grandfather was a poor public speak[er], but good in a chimney corner conversation. he had many friends such as doctors & other learned men visit him & spend the night or most of it in conversation. He was very sedate seldom ever laugh[ed]. Yet quite social.

Grandmother was quite reserved & a poor conversationalist.⁸⁹

Historical sketches of the Crombie family. Fred also penned information obtained from his mother on the Crombie side of the family, which included Quakers, Methodists, Congregationalists, and free thinkers. His grandmother ultimately joined the Mormon Church.

On my Mother’s side

My Gt Gr Mother was a Rank Methodist, her progenitors were Quakers a way back.

My Grandmother joined nothing for a time. She visited the Methodist and other sects and then took up with the Congregational Church and [finally] she accepted the gospel as taught by the Latter-day Saints & died a Mormon 5 years after baptism.

My Mother’s Father was an atheist or a free thinker, didn’t believe in the Methodist God but believed there was an over ruling power or god of nature.

My Mother joined the congregationalists when she was 16 and when she heard the gospel 2 years later she accepted it and was excommunicated from the Congregational Church for [heresy] and with her mother also—grandfather died as he had lived saying that he would die happy & would return & tell her (his wife) so and 2 weeks after his death she saw him she says with a smile on his face and said I am happy & then disappeared. The occasion for this was that when he was sick the Methodists wanted him to join them 7 told [him] he would go to the lowest hell while they would sing songs on the top of the topless throne. This somewhat worried the wife & for this he made the above promises, which when fulfilled quieted her feelings.

Grandfather’s people were non-religionists.

Grandfather was quite jolly and sociable, of good habits & fond of home & family.⁹⁰

Historical sketch of Dr. Ezra G. Williams’s life. Fred recorded a biographical sketch of his father in the calendar-notebook, which reveals that Ezra was appointed a member of the Medical Board of Examiners of Weber County in 1883. The address of Dr. Williams’s medical office in Ogden was published in a directory of northern Utah Territory cities, together with other information: “Williams, Ezra G., M.D., Main, bet. 3d and 4th.”⁹¹

The 1904 sketch penned by Fred in the calendar-notebook reads:

E. G. Williams Born Nov. 17, 1823 at Warrensville Cuyahoga Co. Ohio. Son of F. G. Williams and Rebecca Swain. Baptised April 14, 1832 by Joseph Smith Jr & confirmed the same day by Hyrum Smith.

Ordained a seventy by Joseph Young sen. priest on the 10 day of Oct. 1845 in Nauvoo Ill. He began the [study] and practice of medicine about 1843 or 4.

He was married to Henrietta Elizabeth Crombie Aug. 15, 1847 at St. Louis. Immigrated to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake, arriving on Oct. 28, 1849, in the company of Ezra Taft Benson, rendering what medical aid necessary, furnishing his own medicine in consideration for which he was let off from guard duty across the plains. He had 3 fifties to look after.

He was appointed Surgeon General of the Nauvoo Legion by Governor Brigham Young with the rank of Colonel of Infantry of the Nauvoo Legion & of the Militia of the Territory of Utah to take rank from the 30th day of March 1850.

Was Surgeon Colonel in Wm Kimball’s Brigade & was with him during the Echo [Canyon] War. Took care of Orson Arnold who was accident[ally] shot through the thigh while scouting with Lot Smith.

He was called on an exploring and preaching mission to the White Mountains April 9, 1855, but the company not finding places for settlement for which they were looking, returned to Salt Lake City July 4, 1855.

On Aug. 31st 1855 the same party was called on a like-mission to the Elk Mountains, & after they were fairly on their way an Indian was sent by the authorities to tell them that the mission had been broken up, & for them to return which they did in about 3 weeks time.

Sealed to Electa Jane Barney Feb 19, 1857. Moved to Smithfield Cache Valley in 1860 & to North Ogden in 1863 & to Ogden City about 1866 or 7. Was appointed quarintine physician of Weber Co. in 1869.

Was appointed a member of the medical board of examiners of Weber Co. March 9th 1883. Ordained a High Priest Aug 29, 1891 by Miles H. Jones.⁹²

There is a longer biographical sketch of Dr. Ezra G. Williams found in Dr. F. G. Williams’s medical ledger, likely written by his daughter Lucy Ellen Williams Godfrey, who also wrote the typewritten, six-page “Biographical Sketch of the Life of Dr. Ezra Granger Williams by his daughter, Lucy E. Godfrey.”⁹³

Death of Ezra G. Williams

After an extended illness of several months, Ezra, age eighty-two, succumbed on Tuesday, August 1, 1905. The last few paragraphs of Lucy’s biography of her father read as follows.

At the time of the boom in Ogden, he owned property valued at $80,000, but invested in more property, which he lost, due to a slump after the boom. . . .

Dr. Williams became well known and was asked to consultation on cases throughout the state and the intermountain region. He was very successful as physician and surgeon. He acquired considerable property but lost heavily during the boom in Ogden in the late eighty’s and before his death, when a long illness prevented his continuance in that line.

He died August 1, 1905, at the age of 82 years, 8 months, and 15 days.⁹⁴

The biographical sketch of Dr. Ezra G. Williams in Dr. Frederick G. Williams’s medical ledger adds some vital statistics and includes the cause of the doctor’s death. “He was a Physician and Surgeon; weight 164 lbs. eyes and hair were dark brown, health generaly good. he died of Brights disease 1 Aug 1905 Ogden Utah; [buried] 6 Aug.”⁹⁵

Unlike with his father’s passing, the announcement of Ezra’s death was widely carried in the news, including the Ogden Standard in forty-five lines (August 2, 1905, p. 7), the Deseret News in thirty-seven lines (August 2, 1905, p. 9), and the Improvement Era in three extended lines (September 1905, vol. 8, p. 877), while the Ogden Weekly Sun reported on his “filled to overflowing” funeral service in seventy-two lines (August 8, 1905, p. 8). Ezra’s granddaughter Sarah Williams Jones stated that President Joseph F. Smith had promised he would speak at Ezra’s funeral: “President Joseph F. Smith, who was a close friend of the Doctor’s, told him that should he (Ezra) die first he would preach his funeral sermon. President Smith was ill at the time of Ezra’s death and the family was advised not to tell him of his passing. Upon hearing of it later, he said, that had he known he would have arisen from his bed and gone to Ogden to preach the sermon for that ‘great good man.’”⁹⁶

Death of Henrietta Elizabeth Crombie Williams

Although she lived to age ninety-four (her patriarchal blessing had promised her she would live to be ninety-three),⁹⁷ seventeen years beyond her husband, Henrietta left no additional records. She died on Sunday, June 11, 1922, thus drawing to a close the history of Dr. Frederick G. Williams; his wife, Rebecca; and their son Ezra and wives Henrietta and Electa. News of Henrietta’s death was carried in the Deseret News (June 12, 1922, p. 8) and in the Improvement Era (September 1922, vol. 25, p. 1,040). She outlived six of her nine children (Frederick, the eldest son, died in a farming accident in 1918 in Arizona), and, according to the obituary in the Deseret News, she was survived by 55 grandchildren, 128 great-grandchildren, and 21 great-great-grandchildren.⁹⁸

Photograph of Henrietta Elizabeth Crombie Williams, taken in 1890.

Special Temple Ordinance, the Second Anointing, for President Frederick G. Williams

On the eighty-third anniversary of Frederick G. Williams’s passing, three years after Henrietta’s death, General Authority and Church Historian B. H. Roberts—who wrote the six-volume A Comprehensive History of the Church and edited the seven-volume History of the Church—wrote a letter to Ezra Henry Granger Williams in which he chastised him for his neglect of Frederick G. Williams “concerning the work to be done for him in the Temple.” Elder Roberts called President Williams a “veteran in the work of the Lord” whom he thought he had “rescued from [the] oblivion into which his memory had fallen.” He expressed his sympathy for the early leaders of the Church, saying that in “some cases perhaps fairness and justice was not always dealt out to them.” Elder B. H. Roberts wrote:

October 10, 1925.

Elder Ezra H. G. Williams,
2985 Van Buren St.,
Ogden, Utah.

Dear Brother Williams:

My attention has been called to what is considered a little neglect of your father’s or grandfather’s historical connection with the Church and concerning the work to be done for him in the Temple. The matter was called to my attention because of the sympathy that I have for our early Church leaders and the recollection of the fact by me that in some cases perhaps fairness and justice was not always delt out to them in the dark and cloudy days thru which the Church passed, and when men thru lack of experience and adjustment to the new and developing organization got out of step and lagged behind.

Now as you know, I was careful to hunt up and obtain from you a photograph of either your father or grandfather, I don’t know which, anyway, Frederick G. Williams, once in the presidency of the Church, and as I had hoped, rescued him from oblivion into which his memory had fallen. I understand that you still have this photograph of him and if so I think that some suitable reproduction of it should be made, to be placed in some public office where it can be seen and known as a man who was once so prominent in the Church.

I am informed by those who approached me on the subject, that arrangements were made for him to receive the ordinance of the Temple, including the very highest that can be given to man, and if such an approval for such work was given at any time, I think that it devolves upon you to earnestly carry that forth to completion, removing obstacles that may have arisen concerning it so that justice may be secured for this veteran in the work of the Lord, for I am one who believes that the little weaknesses and misfortunes that baffle men ought not to stand in the way of those who were undoubtedly chosen of the Lord to assist in bring[ing] forth this work, and Dr. Williams was one who contributed to that cause and his legal representatives should be dilligent in seeing that there is secured to him every blessing which of right can be claimed in his behalf. I was a little surprised to hear that you, his direct descendent and representative, was a little indifferent in regard to his claims. If that represents wholly or in part your attitude, Brother Williams, I think you ought to resume your interest and take up this work in behalf of Frederick G. Williams, in downright earnestness.

Very truly your brother,⁹⁹

Ezra H. G. Williams quickly responded to Elder B. H. Roberts and the very next day sent him a letter in which he explained he was not indifferent.

2985 Van Buren Ave
Ogden Utah
Oct 11th 1925

President B. H. Roberts,

Dear Brother. I have just received your letter of the 10th calling my attention to the neglected work that should have been done for my Grand Father, Frederick G. Williams, and that I have been indifferent in this duty. Possibly that attitude may appear on the surface, but I will assure you that is not my true feelings or desire. I am always anxious to have as much work done for my ancestors as I can possibly have done.

I called on President Grant and [laid] the case before him. His reply was, I prefer [to] leave those that have died, and have been endowed, and their sealings attended to, to leave them in hands of the Lord for him to attend to. He then referred me to President Anthon H. Lund who was at that time in charge of the Salt Lake Temple. I called on Brother Lund and told him of my desire to have the work done. Why? Said he. Frederick G. Williams was an appostate. I had some time to convince him and Andrew Jensen that Frederick G. Williams died in full fellowship.

After a searching of cards they were satisfied. Then Brother Lund said, If I would consent for them to do his work, they would attend to it. So I left it that way. But soon after Brother Lund died, and the work was not done. In the near future I expect to do work in the S. L. Temple, and shall see President Richards, who now has the Temple work in charge, and I have no doubt that I can have the work attended to.

Next, Ezra gave Elder Roberts an account of his having been rebuffed when he offered the painting of Frederick G. Williams to the Bureau of Information.

In regard to having Grandfather’s painting and record in some public place, that the public may see the record, I have at different times offered to place the original painting of Frederick G. Williams in the Temple. And have offered the same to Brother Goddard at the [Bureau] of Information to be placed on exihibit with those of Oliver [Cowdery] and Sidney Rigdon. But received no encouragement, and this summer offered it again to one of the guides there. His answer was we don’t want his counselors. We want his witnesses paintings to show the world who saw and heard and witnessed the work. There is a Sister Wells, up at the capital, who asked me for the painting. She would be pleased to have it among the exhibits there. The Daughters of the Pioneers have asked for it. And I have about concluded to let them have it, with a brief outline of his History, and also of his descendants. But the latter part would take up too much space for tourists to stop and read. I am trying to write a brief history of the Williams families (on our line) beginning with John Williams of Haverhill Mass. Born there about 1600 Died Feb 10, 1674. We have a strait line from him to us and most all the Temple work done. I find all along [t]he line men of sterling worth and of great ability. A noble race to be proud of such I esteem my Father and Grandfather. It may interest you to know that William Wheeler Williams and his two sons Frederick G. and William Williams moved to Ohio in 1794. At that time there was but one house where now the city of Cleveland Ohio stands. And that F. G. Williams was one of the first doctors to use anesthetics in surgical operations. According to his history, he had a wonderfull practice in Ohio and other states near him. He consecrated all that [he] had to the Church. Also gave up his practice and gave his time to [the] work of the ministry. I close with love to you for the interest you have for us. As ever your Brother

Ezra H G Williams¹⁰⁰

The assessment made by Elder B. H. Roberts regarding Frederick G. Williams is a fitting conclusion to this documentary history. “I was careful,” he said “to hunt up and obtain from you a photograph of . . . Frederick G. Williams, once in the presidency of the Church, and as I had hoped, rescued him from [the] oblivion into which his memory had fallen.”

Elder Roberts concludes with the hope that “justice may be secured for this veteran in the work of the Lord,” adding, “for I am one who believes that the little weaknesses and misfortunes that baffle men ought not to stand in the way of those who were undoubtedly chosen of the Lord to assist in bring[ing] forth this work, and Dr. Williams was one who contributed to that cause and his legal representatives should be dilligent in seeing that there is secured to him every blessing which of right can be claimed in his behalf.”¹⁰¹