Ward, George Welton (Sep 12, 1814 – Aug 18, 1882) by David Ward

HISTORY OF GRANDFATHER WARD AND FAMILY
BY DAVID C. WARD
Family Historian-1950

Our great, great grandfather, Samuel Ward of England, whose wife was
Elizabeth Iffe of the same country, was the father of John Ward our
great grandfather.  Samuel Ward was a foreign commissioner in
England taking care of the imports and exports of foreign goods.

John Ward, the eldest son of Samuel Ward, married Susian Welton of
London, England.  He was the father of George Welton Ward, the
eldest son of the family.  From the earliest history we have, John
Ward was a farmer; taking up this occupation early in life. 
George Welton Ward, our grandfather of Leiston Suffolk County, England,
is the father of the Ward brothers of Willard, Idaho and Iowa. 
Grandfather was born September 12, 1814, in the village of Leiston of
Suffolk, England.  He married Ann Trulock, who was born May 13,
1818 in London, of wealthy parents.  They were married on the 24th
day of January, 1842, in London.  Their marriage certificate being
now in the possession of one of his sons.  Grandfather lived on a
farm with his father during his early life, doing the mowing and other
light work on account of his poor health.  After his marriage he
kept an "Inn" in Woodbridge in Suffolk County for about six
years.  He then became manager of an oil mill and stayed in this
position until he came to America.

During the time grandfather and grandmother

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lived in Suffolk County, England, their first three sons were born; namely; William, George and Richard Trulock.

In 1847 our grandparents moved to Southampton Hamshire, England and on
April 11, 1849, Alfred Ward the fourth son, and also my father was
born.  Three years later in January 1851 at three o'clock P. M.
our grandparents were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints.  At this time grandfather was manager of an oil
mill and was doing well financially.  "He did not have to leave to
go to polygamy," says his brothers and sisters, "he was doing so well."

Shortly after this grandfather and grandmother emigrated to the United
States of America, sailing from England in a little sailing vessel
named "Marie".  They were twelve weeks crossing the Atlantic
ocean, landing at New Orleans about May 23, 1851.  After landing
they sailed up the Mississippi and Missouri rivers to Council
Bluff.  They were compelled to go to Council Bluff as that was the
outfitting point for the journey across the plains.

On the eighth day of June, 1851, on their westward journey they reached
Harris Grove, thirty miles north of Cainsville, Council Bluff,
Potawattamie County.  During this wearisome journey and on this
same day, grandmother gave birth to her fifth son, Moroni.  "I
remember," says grandfather, "that it rained hard and we were forced to
enter an old shed for shelter at ten o'clock P. M. Pans were held to
catch the rain so as not to wet my wife, Ann Trulock."

Grandmother made many hard sacrifices.  First, it was very painful
for her to leave her people in England and come west.  Second, we
can imagine what hardships she had to undergo on her journey westward;
besides it was difficult for her to adapt herself to frontier
life.  She was a small woman in stature, but genuine in character,
being a brave mother and a sweet tempered wife.

In May 1852, our grandparents emigrated to the great Salt Lake valley,
and arrived there on the ninth of October.  A year later a call
was made by honorable Brigham Young, then governor of the desert, for
men and their families to leave Salt Lake and settle the territory both
north and south.  By so doing small communities were established
which later developed into towns and cities.

In 1852 our grandparents wintered at North Ogden, Weber County. 
In the spring of 1854 they moved to North Willard Creek, since known as
Willard City.

On the twenty third day of January 1854, John Joseph, the sixth son,
was born at North Willard Creek, Box Elder County.  Ann Elizabeth,
their first daughter, was born March 21, 1856 at Willard City, Box
Elder County.  Charles Robert, the seventh son, was born February
1, 1858 at Willard City, Box Elder County.

Grandfather had two wives, the second being Mary Hankinson, daughter of
James and Ann Hankinson of England.  She was born in Bidsbury,
January 12, 1840.  Grandfather met his second wife here in Utah.

His second wife had seven children.  Namely: Mary Ann, David
Henery, [sic] Sarah Ellen, Joseph Welton, James Albert, Eliza Jane and
Hyrum H. Ward.  John Joseph and Hyrum H. are the only two living
of grandfathers [sic] children.

Grandfather was ordained first counselor to Bishop Cordon, who was the
first bishop of Willard Ward, 1857, and held this office until the
death of Bishop Cordon in 1871.  He was acting bishop of Willard
Ward from 1871 to 1877.  On September 9, 1877, he was ordained
bishop of Willard Ward, holding this office until his death, August 18,
1882.  Grandfather was sixty seven years, eleven months, nine days
old at the time of his death.
Besides being bishop he was also active in civic affairs, being
selectman or commissioner of Box Elder County for twenty five years,
1857-82. He was estray pound keeper from 1864-65 and was mayor of
Willard City for ten years, 1870-82.

As the only occupation for the earlier settlers was farming,
grandfather, along with other settlers of Willard Creek, homesteaded
some land.  He was able to take up this occupation because of his
early home training on his fathers [sic] farm in England.  Here he
acquired some worthy traits of character which carried over in his
later frontier life.  He prided himself in doing his farm work
carefully and systematically.  He trained his family of boys to be
thorough in their work and because of this training the work of George
Welton Ward's family became very noticeable among the early
settlers.  "There wasn't a man," says Edwin Cordon, "that could
stack grain to shed water like your Grandfather Ward."

We are proud of our grandfather and the traits of character that he has
handed down to his posterity.  May we ever emulate his worthy
examples.

Source: "History of Grandfather Ward and Family by David C. Ward" Ward
Family Organization (1969).  George Welton Ward Family Record Book
(Vol. 1 pp. 1,4). Pocatello, ID: Gateway Printers.

Other Interesting Stories In The Life Of
George Welton Ward And His Family

Seven years after their marriage (George Welton and Ann Trulock Ward)
the restored gospel was presented to them by the missionaries of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  After thorough
investigation, they accepted it and were baptized into the
Church.  George Welton Ward was the first and only known one of
his father's family to embrace Mormonism.  When he did so he was
required to make a choice between his share of his father's estate and
his newly found religion.  Like Mary of old "he chose the better
part" and stayed with his church.  He was baptized the 12 day of
July, 1849 by Elder Thomas D. Stenhouse.

George Welton Ward's second marriage took place in Salt Lake City,
Utah.  He married Miss Mary Hankinson, June 30, 1857 in President
Brigham Young's office, the ceremony being performed by President Young
himself.  They were later sealed for "time and eternity" in the
Endowment House by Daniel H. Wells on 20th June, 1863.

Mary Hankinson was the daughter of James and Ann Wych Hankinson. 
She was born 12 Jan. 1840 at Didsbury, Lans, England.  The family
of Hankinson accepted the gospel in England.  The missionary who
baptized them told them that the father and mother would not migrate to
Utah, but that some of the children would come.  This was
fulfilled.  Mary's father died the 4th April, 1851, succeeding her
mother's death on 6th March, same year.  A brother William, a
sister Ellen and Mary emigrated to Utah with the C. A. Harper Company,
arriving in Salt Lake City the 29th of October, 1855.  Two years
later Mary was married to George Welton Ward.

Mary Hankinson Ward completed her earthly mission and passed away 1 March, 1882 at the Willard home.

The greatest accomplishment of George Welton Ward was his large family,
which numbered 15 children. He went to his reward five and a half
months after the death of his good wife, Mary, 18 August, 1882. 
He was buried in the Willard Cemetery, at Willard, Utah.

Newspaper clipping from Deseret News Files:

Feb. 18. 1858-At Willow Creek, Box Elder County, a Committee was
appointed by the people to draw up resolutions approving of the present
government of the Territory.  Those selected for this duty were:
Salmon Warner, Dwight Harding, Joseph L. Lish, William Bradbury,
William M. Dalton, William Brewerton, John Robinson, George W. Ward,
Jacob Lundel.

Source: Ward Family Organization (1969).  George Welton Ward
Family Record Book (Vol. 1 p. 8). Pocatello, ID: Gateway Printers.