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BIOGRAPHY OF CHARLES WILLDEN,
1806 -1883
Material gathered and compiled by his great grand-daughter,
Jennie Jensen Hancock

NOTE: quite by accident I located a diary of their journey across the Atlantic by sailship. The diary was dept by Hezekiah Mitchell, clerk of the Saints' voyage. It is more detailed so there will be excerpts from it in this history. Such excerpts will be captioned "HM". His earlier journals refer to Charles Willden and these references have been used earlier in this history.

November 2 - Then I with my family took an abode on the ship, "Zetland" for our passage to New Orleans but we slept on the deck till the 7th when we started for the river. We lay at anchor three days. On the 10th we started for sea. We had a head wind for 4 days.

HM: Sat. Nov. 10 - Weighed anchor and set sail for New Orleans about 9 o'clock being tugged out by a steamer for about 14 miles, then the sails were spread and the wind wafted us pretty briskly towards 6 or 7, several persons began to be sick...

HM: Wed. Nov. 14 - Very windy and rough, the vessel rocked about very much which caused fresh eruptions to break out amongst us. There were a few spirits who desired to create a little dissatisfaction but through the wisdom a prudence of President Hawkins and Elder Henderson things appeared to be set right.

HM: Thurs. 15th - The vessel rolled about very much, some things were upset, one of my boxes being overturned, no particular harm done. Called on god to still the wind and in the name of the Lord rebuked the raging of the sea and wind which to our joy did so early on the 16th which caused us to rejoice and give thanks to our God, felt the spirit while engaged in prayer with the Saints.

HM: Frid. 16th - An uproar with the Irish Emigrants but they were put down by the chief-mate. Several of the Saints with Charles Willden were still dissatisfied at the order which we had adopted. O! that men would learn wisdom by the things they suffer! The president with those who have been appointed to assist have done their duty. (More of the 16th continued later)

Charles Willden diary. After we sailed the 15th and 16th we had a very calm sea. 17th and 18th we had a very calm sea but the 18th the wind more favorable. Up to this time we have had many bad spirits. I had to be very mindful of them. We had a pretend of worship.

We commenced sickness the day we started for sea but this day the 18th it's all over at present. I have learned a deal in this short space of time. I am determined not to be moved by them all.

HM: Sunday, 18th - Arose with joy and gladness in my heart because much better in health and we were about to have a public meeting on the quarter deck. We assembled about 11 o'clock when Pres. Hawkins opened the meeting with a few pointed and appropriate remarks; then we sang a hymn, then by request I engaged in prayer. We sang again, then Pres. Hawkins read for our instruction the XII and XIII of Romans and a portion of Peter. Then he called on Elder Crooks to speak to us which he did.

Sang again. Pres. Hawkins requested me to speak for a short time before administering the Lord's Supper, rejoiced while speaking, a good time, the Lord was present in the influence of his spirit. The emblems were blessed by Councilors Henderson and Biggs. Elder Stevenson pronounced the benediction. The Captain and his lady were present on the occasion. Laid hands on 3 persons, blessed some oil. Saw 3 vessels today. Sailing about 7 knots per hour. The day was closed by singing and prayer.

NOTE: Before the Zetland sailed, when the officers of the Saints were voted upon Charles Willden seconded the motion that Hezekiah Mitchell stand next to the president to see that order was kept. However, Mitchell was appointed clerk of the group.

Meetings similar to the above were held each Sunday and different members were called upon to pray, preach or administer the Sacrament but Charles Willden was never asked to participate during the voyage. I have checked every name mentioned in Hezekiah Mitchell's diary in the journal department of the Church Historian's Office in Salt Lake to try and find what complaint Charles Willden had against the order on the ship but could find no other diaries.

CW: November 19 - The sea is rather disturbed, the wind very favorable. We are traveling about 7 miles the hour. Several vessels in sight this day.
HM: Beautiful morning but wind contrary. CW: November 20 - This day rather favorable though a head wind, 1/4 past 4 o'clock. A vessel crossed us, a few yards before us, an East India trader. At 5 o'clock she was out of sight. Fine weather.
HM: A beautiful sight to behold, a ship in full sail...

CW: November 21 - This morning fine and pleasant. 12 o'clock another vessel in sight but far from us. 10 o'clock the wind changed for our good, the afternoon we traveled 10 miles an hour.
HM: The vessel rolls this morning. several porpoises seen today.

CW: November 22 - The morning clear and fair wind, sailing 10 miles the hour in a warm climate. (Miles are nautical miles).

CW: November 23 - The day very fine. We are traveling 4 miles, the sea calm.
HW: Much warmer this morning, very little wind, more sail unfurled.

CW: November 24 - The morning and day very fine and clear sailing, 6 or 7 miles the hour. No vessel in sight. A meeting called this morning for coming and cleaning. I assisted with the water this morning. The evil spirits strove to take their abode in the stern end of the vessel.

CW: November 25 - The morning clear and fine sailing. About 4 miles the hour. Afternoon the wind changed in our favor. No vessel in sight. We had a wedding on board with the Scotch. We had preaching twice, the Sacrament at noon in peace.
HM: ..the president then proceeded to unite in the holy estate of matrimony Thomas Meacock and Selina R. Peaton. Also 1400 miles from Liverpool. 124 miles from Madeira Island.

CW: November 27: The wind in our favor, nothing in sight, 10 or 12 miles the hour.

CW: November 28 - Fair wind, sailing 10 or 12 miles the hour.
HM: Going at rate of 7 miles per hour.

NOTE: Evidently Charles Willden's account of the rest of the voyage has been lost so I shall use excerpts from the diary of Hezekiah Mitchell who was clerk of the ship. He writes of he and the other presiding Elders performing many administrations to the sick on board the vessel. He is also very expressive of his appreciation for the Lord's blessing to them on this voyage and for the gospel. This was the feeling of all the Saints. Morning devotion was evidently held each morning. The Irish emigrants whom it seems were not members of the Church caused much disturbance. In fact, when the ship was about ready to sail several Irish stowaways had to be removed from the boat.

Turs. Nov 29 - Sailing about 9 or 10 knots per hour.

Fri. Nov 30 - All things considered we are doing well. Sailing about 10 miles per hour, nice morning. Very good sailing all day.

Sat. Dec 1 - Sailing as before, wind and water in our favor; the water appears beautiful - indeed a fine day. The Irish are rough people. Saw two flying fish, also a crompfish or species of whale about 9 feet long which swam around our vessel several times. The second mate caught a dolphin; this is a beautiful kind of fish.

Sun. Dec 2 - Fine morning, good health prevails on the vessel for which we are thankful to God. (Church services were held as usual and the Sacrament was administered). We have sailed from Liverpool 2700 miles, having sailed the past week 1300 miles in North latitude 230 and West Longitude 270.

Mon. Dec 3 - Saw a large fish leap out of the water, also saw about 30 flying fish in a company. Saw a small vessel that was bound California called "Sam and Ben". Our captain spoke to their captain. Sailing first rate.

Tues. Dec 4 - Sailing as before and fine morning. Wind rises toward evening, will rain.

Wed. Dec 5 - Wind strong and much rain all day but blowing right. Some evil spirits amongst us who would not submit to order. Met with Pres. Hawkins and Elders Henderson and Biggs in council to adopt the best measure for the good of all. Sailing first rate.

Thurs. Dec 6 - Fine Warm morning. Sailing about 8 knots per hour.

Fri. Dec 7 - Very hot, read a little, the devil is apt to overreach himself. Some of his agents will never be governed. A little alteration in the sails today, all life and stir on board.

Sat. Dec 8 - Not sailing quite so quick as we have done. One of the Irish emigrants very ill. Engaged in prayer.

Sun. Dec 9 - Hot night. Sailing well. (Services held as usual). In North latitude 170 and West Longitude 600, and 120 miles from Antigua, one of the West Indies islands. Saw a pelican and a dolphin with many flying fish.

Wed. Dec 12 - One of the stern sails broke loose. What disorder a small thing makes. Nothing like order in all things. Saw to our joy the Island of San Domingo and was near to the rock, Alto Vela of which we had a good view. No vegetation on it. Several large birds flying about. Good health on board. Thank God for it. First rate sailing at about 11 knots per hour.

Thurs. Dec 13 - Very beautiful morning, only sailing about one mile per hour in consequence of which it became very hot on deck. Nothing particular occurred this day of any particular note, only that some of the sailors appeared to rejoice because of the calm but I prayed to the Lord to cause the wind to blow. He heard and answered my prayers towards evening.

Fri. Dec 14 - Sailing about 8 or 10 knots per hour, fine morning, not so hot as the day before. Elder Ligget's son died about 4 o'clock this morning and his body was cast overboard about 10 A.M. I saw it sink in North Latitude 18.20 and West Longitude 66.20. The Island of Jamaica was in view this day.

Sat. Dec 15 - The northern coast of the Island of Jamaica as we had a view this morning was very beautiful, the hill appeared to be covered with trees and the land nearest the sea is like the green fields of old England with here and there a white hut or building of some description. We could see movable objects but could not perceive what they were. We saw a little boat with its white sails coasting about, which indicated to us there must be some of the sons of Adam there. Presently it wafted beautifully on the smooth surface of the Carribean Sea in view of our splendid Ship Zetland. Fine day, about 7 or 8 knots.

Sun. Dec 16 - Hot day in consequence of which Captain Brown put up a large sheet as a screen over our heads so that the heat might not be disagreeable, moderate sailing. 700 miles from the bar and about 140 more from New Orleans.

Tuesday Dec 18 - Sailing well with rain now and again. We are now in the Gulf of Mexico. A little too much water in the hold of the vessel; have to pump twice per day instead of once. Saw a vessel ahead of us, we soon passed her. What a beautiful star and moonlight night!

Wed. Dec. 19 - Wind in the same quarter and sailing about the same as the day before. Held our Conference this day, opened with singing and prayer. Votes of thanks were given to the Captain for his kindness to the Saints, to the president Hawkins for the able and efficient manner in which he has presided over this branch of the Church and the patience and forbearance which he has displayed under various trying circumstances; to Elder Henderson for his able and enduring service, both for his efficiency as a councilor, and his disinterested labors in distributing the rations and also for his indefatigable exertions in endeavoring to promote the general good order and comfort of the Saints; to Elder Biggs for his valuable services as councilor, also for his readiness to contribute by every means in his power to the comfort and well-being of the Saints; and to Hezekiah Mitchell for his valuable services as secretary to this company.

Votes of thanks were also given to the different committees. Also voted to give thanks to Bro. Charles Ashton and Bro. John Martin for their valuable and gratuitous services at the cooking galley, also our deep sympathy with the former for the severe and painful accident received while in the arduous prosecution of the disagreeable duties he had so generously volunteered for the benefit of the Saints, his fellow passengers.

Moved a contribution be taken up for John Martin to furnish him with a pair of trowsers. Talks given by presiding officers and Brother Mitchell.

Thurs. Dec. 20 - Wind turned round for the better, sailing moderate, fine morning. Saw two vessels at a distance and the smoke of a steamer. Came near the bar at the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Fri. Dec. 21 - Very foggy this morning and cold. Heard a steamer at a distance which came in sight in a short time and was presently along side of us. Our vessel was soon fastened and tugged on, then we cast anchor and the tug went and fetched another tug, then we had one on each side of us but after all they could not get us over the bar.

Liquors were sold on one of the tug boats and several of the Saints went over and acted very injudiciously. The sailors were also ready to quarrel with us (the heads) of Church but they were compelled to acknowledge we were a good party when things were explained. The devil has got hold of some of the Saints. Oh! that the Saints would take heed to counsel.

Sat. Dec. 22 - Fine but very cold*, many vessels about with timber floating down the river and here and there a little appearance of land. Still on the bar after two steam tugs had tried to take us off.

*Charles Willden's daughter said in her life history that the weather was very cold and here I quote, "One day I was sitting on a little stool near the stove. A woman with a baby wanted the stool so she pulled it from under me causing me to fall against the stove. My hand was so badly burned that the scar remains to this day. While on ship board we children were bathed in big tubs and barrels of sea water which we did not fancy."

Sun. Dec 23 - Fine morning and a little warmer than the day before. No service on deck in consequence of the hurry and bustle of getting us off the bar entirely. But we had prayer and singing down below. The steam tugs the Conqueror and the Mary Kingsland came about two o'clock and took us off the bar. Therefore we set sail up the river in full spirits with another vessel viz. the Arab which sailed about a week before us, having had seven deaths and all down of the fever. The beautiful sights are grand to behold the scenery surpassas all that we have seen as yet. Good health on our vessel.

Mon. Dec 24 - Pleasant morning but rather foggy. The little villages or plantations were imposing in their views and delightful to behold. The black sons of Canaan were not overworked. Truly this is a land of plenty. The River Mississippi is beautiful in its serpentine course. Its banks are full up to the brim. Arrived in New Orleans this day about 9 in the evening..

Tues. Dec. 25 - Christmas Day. Capt. Brown gave the crew a holiday this day. We had to set a special guard at the hatchway to keep strangers out and those who would steal what they could take away. Elder McKenzie, the agent for the Church to receive the Saints, came on board. I read his recommendation to the Saints and took up a collection for him. Marked down the names of all who were going up the river to St. Louis.

Wed. Dec. 26 - Got all our boxes on deck by 12 o'clock to go on the steamer but we did not get off till very late, very much fatigued with getting the luggage on the Job boat and off onto the "Ben West". A miserable boat to take passengers. No room to breathe in the berths. Scarcely fit for passengers.

Fri. Dec. 28 - About as usual. Sold a barrel of oatmeal for two dollars. No money, or we should not have sold it

. Sat. Dec. 29 - The Saints are to come up to Zion having great tribulations. We set sail up the River Mississippi late in the afternoon, sailed only about 20 miles because it was so misty that we could scarcely see a yard before us. Therefore we cast anchor for the night.

Sun. Dec. 30, 1849 - Set Sail up the river but very foggy: nothing like Sunday.

Many of the passengers were taken sick and Brother Mitchell being very ill for several days did not keep his diary but later he wrote:
Saw many things not pleasing -- smoking, chewing that noxious weed by Saints. Others were sick besides myself, one child died, viz. Elder Willden's and was interred on the bank by the river side.

The River MMississippiis very dangerous to sail up because there are so many snags, that is, trees that have fallen in the river and they stand with the pint to meet the boats. There is a great many pieces of timber floating down the river which injure the paddle wheels very much. At a time we had two very narrow escapes of being sunk. The God of the Saints can and does protect his people on boats and elsewhere. We had many staying places as we came up.

Got to St. Louis from New Orleans Friday, the 11 of January about ten o'clock in the evening.

Sat. Dec. 12 - Great hurry and bustle of the Saints in clearing the boat.

This ends the account of the journey of the Willdens with this company, and the diary of Mitchell.

Going back in the story, Charles Willden and his family slept on the docks five days before boarding the ship, Zetland. They landed in New Orleans two months to the day from the day they left their home and loved ones.

In New Orleans Charles was asked by the Mormon agent, Thomas McKenzie what he was going to do. He replied, "I have only one farthing (about half a cent) and a little oatmeal". Mr. McKenzie told him to move all on the boat. this he did, and when the man came for the money to pay for their passage up the river they did not have it. Charles and his four sons carried wood and probably fired the boilers, and did other work to pay their fares.

A week after they left New Orleans their baby daughter, maria, not quite two years old died 4 January 1850 and was buried at "Council Bain" according to Charles. This date of her death has been verified from the St. George Temple records, the date having been given by her parents when they had their children sealed to them.

Questioning the location of "Council Bain" I checked the book, List of Post Offices in the Untied States, 1846, and found only one "Council" and that was Council Bend, Crittendon County, Arkansas which borders the Mississippi River. The town does not exist now. I feel certain this was the place where she is buried.

According to Ann, when the Willdens arrived in St. Louis they settled in a neighborhood where there were no little children (she was five) and the Scotch settlers thought she was a "fine wee lassie" so asked her mother to let her visit them for a day which she did, but she returned with the germs of the "itch". Soon the whole family had contracted the disease. Her mother was much troubled and worried, for this was a new disease to her.

Ann was much interested in their first cow, and one day while she was studying her actions she picked her up with her horns and threw her over her back. Someone ran and helped her up but she was not hurt.

The Willdens stayed three months in St. Louis where, no doubt Charles and his older sons worked to get funds to continue their journey. Many of the Saints had to find work along the way to buy food and clothing for their families. The Willdens left St. Louis 12 April 1850 on the steamer, "Correy", and arrived in Council Bluffs, Iowa, a new settlement, 4 May 1850.

At Council Bluffs they bought a farm from a man named Solomon Walker, a farm consisting of 50 to 60 acres and two houses for the small sum of $20, as Walker was going to Salt lake City. After paying for the place they had only two dollars left with which to buy necessities, and they were strangers in a new land, but they were able and willing to work.

They stayed there about two years, engaged in planting and harvesting corn and wheat. This work was done by hand as they had no team nor machinery. They carried the produce on their backs from the field to the ??

While my daughter was visiting Council Bluffs a year ago she tried to find a record of this land but found the land records did not begin until 1853 which was about a year after the Willdens migrated to Utah.

Feargus and his sister, Ann, went to school about six weeks while the family lived here.

Mary Elizabeth was born November 5, 1850, in Council bluffs.

In the spring of 1852, Brigham Young sent out a proclamation for all to gather to "Zion" which was Utah. So the Willdens as well as others worked hard getting out wagon timber for a man named Montieth who made a wagon for them for pay.

They left their homestead and some bushels of corn in the crib with Milton Huff and started June 2, 1852 for Salt Lake City. Ann says the agent sold the farm for an old second-hand watch.

The following paragraphs are taken from her autobiography.
We loaded our covered wagon with our household goods and the family, and started on the long hard journey to Salt Lake.

Earlier in the year of 1852 other companies had gone to Utah. The traveling was so hard that their stock had given out, and so to lighten the loads, many of the household goods were thrown out and left behind; pots, pans, tubs, heavy articles of wearing apparel, and feather beds, were strewn all along the roadside. Our party would have like to have picked up many of these things, especially the feather beds. Our teams were in good condition, and we could have carried many of these things, but we did not do so for fear of disease.

The stock would stampede is they saw a dead animal by the roadside. At one time some women were walking ahead of the wagons, when they came upon a dead ox. They knew there would be trouble if something were not done, so they stood in line between the dead ox and the road, holding out their long skirts at their sides, thus making an effective screen while the long train passed by.

One day an old Indian chief came to our wagon. I saw him coming and ran to the far end of our "prairie schooner." He saw that I was afraid of him, so to tease me, ran his long spear as far into the wagon as he could reach. I surely was frightened for I thought he was going to kill me.

At one time, all the men who could get away from the wagon train sent after a herd of buffalo. All returned from the hunt but my father and a companion. The train could not wait for them, as camp had to be made further on so they were left behind. At nine o'clock that night they had not reached the camp and the company became uneasy about them.

A lantern was hung on a tall tree and guns were fired every few minutes. About three o'clock in the morning an answer came to the watching and anxious people. The answer was a gunshot fires by the lost ones.

A few days later my brother Charles was lost for four days. He had gone back to help another company, which had taken the wrong road, and my brother in trying to find it was himself lost, but he kept up the search and at last found where they were camped. He led them back to the main road and to the camp of the wagon train.

One day Charles was driving our wagon and John was driving the sheep behind the wagon. There was another company behind our outfit, and our parents got out of our wagon and said they would walk awhile and talk with the people. Mother told me to stay in the wagon and care for my little sister. After awhile John came to the wagon and called to me. "Annie, won't you come drive the sheep, I am so tired?" I was willing to do so. Had I gotten out of the wagon on the "nigh" side all would have been well, but--instead, I got out on the opposite side. The oxen, not being accustomed to this, kicked me under the wagon, a wheel struck my back and squeezed up my dinner, and my prized lead pencil was lost in the food. This pencil was a piece of common lead that I had in my mouth, chewing and trying to shape into a pencil. Though I was badly hurt, I mourned the loss of my pencil. While being run over I was calling frantically to by brother, "stop that wagon." I must have been made of India rubber not to have been seriously injured. My frantic parents came running to learn the trouble, and there was great excitement in the train for a little while. I was able to walk the next day.

The great prairie was covered with high thick grass, and hidden underneath the grass was cactus. The wagon train left the main road to camp and I was walking behind in my bare feet. The cactus thorns would get into my feet and I would sit down to get them out, I would get them into my hands. The wagon soon got so far ahead of me that I was sure I was lost. The people behind did not know of the cactus and though I was lingering because I had gotten into a "stubborn spell." In a short time, which seemed hours to me, my brother came for me on horseback. When my thorny condition was discovered and doctored I was petted and comforted.

While passing through Echo Canyon, we found it to be a very wonderful place, for there were great rocks and high cliffs, the first we had ever seen. We children shouted, "Hurrah," and there came back to us, the answering "Hurrah." Again we called, "Who are you?" and again came the answer. "Who are you?" So we called, yelled, and shouted just to hear that mysterious voice, echoing from the rocky cliffs.

The older people soon tired of our noise, and we were forced to stop. It was also feared that our commotion and noise would stampede the cattle. We never traveled on Sunday, for Mormons were strict Sabbath keepers.

While traveling, the weaker members of a family rode in the wagon; the others had to walk. Mother should have ridden, but she walked over half the way.

After many long, weary, interesting days we entered Utah.

The Willdens left Council Bluffs June 2, 1852 crossing the plains in the third Company of Captain Thomas C.D. Howell.
-Journal History of Church, Dec, 31, 1852

They had nine head of horned stock and some sheep which the younger children took turns driving as has been mentioned previously.

When they were a few miles from Council Bluffs they discovered they had forgotten the ax. My grandfather, John, went back after it. He wished to remain there the land was so fertile.

After the Willdens arrived in Salt Lake City Charles Willden was making a deal with Lorenzo D. Young to be his farmer, but as soon as Lorenzo heard the name Willden he wanted to know if he was Charles Willden, the steel refiner by trade. Being answered in the affirmative Lorenzo said he could not make any other arrangements as he had heard his brother Brigham speak of him and that he rather expected that his brother's intentions were to send him to Cedar City, then known as Coal Creek, to work in the iron industry there.

Charles went to Brigham Young, who called him to go to Cedar City, and get his family settled and provided for, preparatory to his commencing work in the steel refinery. They arrived in Salt Lake 13 September 1852.

After staying on the willows and cane break bottoms four weeks they started for Coal Creek, arriving there Friday, October 29, 1852. They left Salt lake for Cedar City 11 October 1852.

While en route to Cedar City they camped one night at Cove Creek and as Charles looked over the valley he remarked what a lovely place it would be to settle. However, he proceeded to Cedar City in obedience to his call there.

This was the second trip they had made in the late fall with no home, not much food, again strangers in a new place and winter at their door. Upon arriving in Cedar City, or Coal Creek as it was know then, the Willdens lived in the wagon box and camped under the stars until they could build a dugout where their large family slept, ate and cooked in that one room. The beds were piled in one corner during the day and spread out on the floor at night. This did not last very long for Charles was an enterprising man; he soon built a house, the kitchen first, then adding other rooms later.

While living in the cellar, an old Piute Indian came to trade. Mother had to step out fa few minutes and told me to watch to see that the Indian did not try to steal anything,--though there was not much to steal. When mother left, the Indian took hold of me. I was dreadfully frightened and thought I was to be killed then and there. I pulled away and ran to mother and left the Indian to steal what he would.

"After the second harvest the company built a grist mill. Everybody had to have his wheat ground before the cold weather came on and froze the mill stream. Father had all his ground. He took care of the bran and shorts, which were to be fed to the stock in the spring, if the family did not need it. It was a blessed good thing that we kept it that year, because the cold weather came on early and lasted late, and no one else had all their wheat ground.

Everybody was out of flour and some did not have even bran to eat. Father would not let anyone have his flour, as there was only enough to carry his family through the winter, but mother was free-hearted and tender, and she could not eat nice bread and see her neighbors, and those who were sick, suffer, so she kept giving away flour, a little at a time, praying and hoping all the time that a thaw would come before her family would be in need; but a thaw did not come and our family was at the starvation point.

First we ate the bran, then began on the shorts, but we did not have to eat them very long, for the prayed-for thaw came and the mill was kept running day and night.

I thought it was a hard old winter, and that the salt-rising bread, made of bran, the poorest food anyone could possibly eat.

Shortly after the birth of mother's last child, Louisa, mother was taken very ill. We could not get anyone to help us, so I had to do the family washing when I was but eight years old. I had to wash with soft soap and it was made so strong with lye that when I would dip it out with my fingers to put it on the clothes it would eat my fingers, and they would not have time to heal before another wash day, so I had raw and bleeding fingers continually. The blood would stream from my fingers while I worked. I would cry, and my poor mother in her weakness, had to see me suffer."
---End of quote from Ann's Autobiography.

Louisa was born December 15, 1853, in Cedar City.

According to any history obtainable, the Willdens took the first sheep (10 in number) into Iron County. It wasn't long until every family in the county had from 1 to 10 sheep in their backyards. These sheep not only provided meat for them, but also wool which was spun and woven into cloth and knit into socks.

Soon after the Willdens arrived in Cedar City, (on December 4) Charles contracted to take the town herd of 200 or 300 cows to pasture for one cent a head per day. The people would take their cows, to a common corral, and John and Feargus would take them to the surrounding country and foothills to graze for the day. They kept the herd all the rest of that winter of 1852 and 53. The boys had nothing but bran bread to eat for one month, and not enough of that. In the spring they dug sego roots and gathered berries and handfuls of grass to subsist on. the people, it seemed, had nothing to pay with, and bread material was very scarce. The herding had to be done rain or shine, wind or snow, over rocks, hills, and prickly pears, every day. The boys were barefooted most of the time.

When the Willdens first went to Cedar City the settlers were building their log houses in the form of a 100 yard square fort, with a stockade, and assembly court and a liberty pole in the center.

However, they seen found with the increasing number of iron workers arriving in Cedar City that the little fort was not adequate in size to take care of so many. In the spring of 1853 when Brigham Young sent an additional 100 families to Cedar City the people decided to build another much larger and better fort.

This fort was to be 100 rods square. A town plot was surveyed inside its proposed walls and the men drew for lots. The little fort was abandoned and the houses moved from it and rebuilt on the new site.

The walls of the new fort were to be of adobe, 10 feet high, three feet thick on the stone foundation and taper to one foot thick on the top. The Willdens, along with the other settlers, put all the time they could on the construction of the walls, but the iron works and their farms demanded attention also, so the fort walls grew slowly.

The streets inside the fort were 6 rods wide and the avenues 3 rods wide. There 120 lots 4 x 10 rods. The southeast quarter was fenced into a public square. The liberty pole stood in the center of this square. There was also a public meeting house. This fort was the largest in the territory being 6 times as large as the Temple block in Salt Lake City. It housed 455 inhabitants, including women and children.

When the Walker Indian War broke out, work on the fort was pushed vigorously. In the spring of 1854, everyone moved into the new Fort Cedar which was a mile northwest of Cedar City.

The Willdens lived in Cedar City during the time when the first irrigation laws of the United States were made. Prior to this time the people of the United States had abided by and old English law of irrigation, whereby all water on a man's land belonged to him, and it was his right, even to the point of contaminating the water to keep anyone else from using it. Brigham Young as head of the Church formulated the first irrigation laws of the United States whereby a man was entitled to no more water that he could use.

As it was considered unchristian like to use civil law, all difficulties, irrigation and otherwise were taken to the Church Courts.

At one time Charles Willden was censured severely for suing a Church brother in the courts of the land. Everyone's horses ran together. It was the law that if a man could not separate his own horse from the herd and catch him he could ride the one he could catch. Someone caught one of Willden's horses and lamed it. Charles Willden took the man before the courts of the land, and was asked by the Church ward authorities if he did not know how injurious such a course was to the character of the Saint. As a rule at that time a man would have been excommunicated from the Church for such procedure but Charles must have been a member of very good standing to escape such penalty.

Charles Willden Sr. was ordained a seventy in Cedar City, Iron Co., Utah Territory, North America under the hands of Brother Joseph Young, President of the Seventies.

The iron works had the first general store south of Salt Lake City. Tithing was paid through the store. As currency was very scarce most of the trading was done on a produce exchange. An account of Charles Willden was found in the store books for August, September, and October 1853. There's a monument in the Park in Cedar City one block south of where the iron works stood. The following is the inscription:
"The Old Iron Foundry"
"Erected by direction of Brigham Young and associates in 1851-52 one block north of this monument, produced the first iron manufactured west of the Mississippi River, 35 men, the founders of Cedar City, constructed and operated the blast furnace, they established the first mining camp in Utah a few miles west of here, from which they procured the iron ore. The foundry was operated for eight years at a cost of 1 million dollars. Ore used in this monument was hauled here from the mines by pioneer workers and the pig iron bars in this structure were made by them."

The Willdens had two oxen, Spink and Lion. Feargus and a Danish neighbor made a trip to Salt lake City with these oxen about September 20 or 21, 1855. His father and mother, Charles and Eleanor went ahead with the horses and wagon. William R. Palmer's father came back with Feargus. (William R. Palmer of Cedar City used to collect history of southern Utah and worked for the welfare of the Indians. He had the above mentioned store books.)

Feargus and John sent to Salt lake City again September 18, 1856 and arrived back home October 11. It was customary to go to Salt Lake in the fall of the year for supplies for the winter ahead.

In 1856, the town of Cedar City was laid out in blocks and lots, and the men drew lots. Charles Willden Sr. drew lot 7, block 39. Charles, Jr. and Ellott drew lots 3 and 4 in block 22. The lots were 8 x 12 rods. The Field Survey showed Charles Jr. and Ellott receiving 9-3/8 acres in lot 2 and lot 3, block 4.

To find Charles Sr's lot, go east 2 blocks from El Escalante Hotel to where the road turns diagonally southeast, go south of the turn about four houses and the lot is on the east side of the street. It was vacant in the summer of 1951.

Charles built a four room house facing west on his lot. Each room had a fireplace. There was a hall between the two front rooms that opened into them and the kitchen. Between the kitchen and the other room was a small service room. There was a porch across the east with a dirt floor. In the back yard was an adobe granary, with a cellar underneath.

Ann learned to spin and made their thread with a "toe wheel". Later she learned to run the big spinning wheel and helped make the yarn for their clothes. She learned to knit when eight years old and thereafter knit her own stockings.

An old lady came to room with the Willdens in their new house. She knew all about making cloth as well as looms. As Charles wished to make a loom, she stayed right by while he worked under her direction until a fine loom was built. They were then quite independent as they could made all their homespun wearing apparel.

Charles planted some apple seeds. There were two apple trees south of the house in 1860 when Peter McElprang bought the place from Charles. The apples were small but very good for pioneer times. The house was torn down in 1910 or 1911. The people in picture of his house are McElprangs.

Ellott evidently sold his lot to Charles Jr. His (Charles Jr.) lots were where the house 106 South 300 East stands, and the lot south of it. His house was where the driveway is to the south lot and house. Ellott bought a lot a block east through the block from Charles and on the east side of the street. People still living in the neighborhood say that his home still stands this summer of 1951.

In September 1853, a cloudburst washed out roads and buildings at the iron works. The men were forced to spend their time completing the big fort, protecting their families, stock and crops from the Indians of the Walker Indian War of 1853.

In 1856 the Indians took so many of the Saint's cattle that the losses were very heavy. After these losses the authorities in Salt Lake sent men down to gather up the cattle left by the Indians. They were taken to Antelope Island in Great Salt lake for safe keeping. Sending the cattle to this island was supposed to be voluntary on the part of the owners, but some of the men sent from Salt lake became over-zealous and forced the men to send their cattle which caused some of the owners to apostatize. Charles Willden's losses from these depredations were $190 worth of cattle.

The 1856 marked for scarcity of bread. By 1859 the iron works had become a failure, and great numbers of people moved away to seek new homes. The Willdens moved to the badlands or sinks southeast of Beaver, then called lower Beaver. They arrived there Sunday, March 24, 1859. Here Charles Willden and his four sons, Ellott, Charles, John, and Feargus each took up 20 acres of land.

Many times Charles had thought of making a home on Cove Creek and as their land in Beaver proved to be poor, Charles bought 160 acres of land there from Matthew McEwan of Beaver who had sheep there.
--John Willden

Here in the fall of 1860, with no financial aid or manpower backing from the Church they built an adobe house on the south bank of Cove Creek and enclosed it at some time with a corral and cedar post stockade. The posts were 8 to 10 feet high and placed so close together that they formed a solid wall. The doors and windows were not put in that fall. They cached some wheat for spring planting and returned to Beaver for the winter.

In February or March of the following spring, 1861, as Ann who had married at the age of 14 and her husband, Neils Johnson, were returning home from Salt lake after a fruitless effort to find work, they were caught in a terrible snowstorm between Fillmore and Cove Creek. By the time they reached Cove Creek, Wild Cat Canyon between there and Beaver was blocked for wagon travel so they stopped at the house where they hung blankets and quilts at the doors and windows and built a fire in the fireplace. Even this did not keep out the cold so ann and her husband made a dugout.

It wasn't long before they ran out of food so found the wheat her father had cached and boiled it. For a change her husband ground some of the wheat between two stones and she strained it through her veil, using the coarse sifting to make some salt-rising bread.

After several days someone passing through on their way to Beaver noted their plight and told her parents. Charles and Eleanor loaded the wagon with the doors, windows, provisions and other necessities and moved to Cove Creek in March. Before long Ellott and his wife moved there and built a two-room house for themselves.

On April 24, 1861, in her cellar home Ann's first child, a girl, was born, her mother being the midwife. Little Hanna Jane Johnson was the first child born at Cove Creek. At this time Ellott's wife, Emma, was ill with an attack of rheumatism so Eleanor had her hands full, taking care of Ann and the new baby, Emma and her own family.

Willden's Fort, as their site was known for the next few years, afforded food, rest and protection from the Indians to weary travelers passing through. It was built seven years before the rock fort which stands on the site and is known as Cove Fort. Here I quote from the Compiled Laws of Utah for 1888. Vol. 1:26 "Cove Creek Fort."
"Cove Creek was well known to early pioneers as a favorite camping place for travelers, but no attempt was made to settle on the little creek until the fall of 1860 when Charles Willden and his son Ellott commenced to make improvements on the creek with a view of making homes. But Brother Willden did not move his family there until march 1861. For sometime afterwards the place was know as Fort Willden. By this name it was still known in January 1866 when Utah was divided into counties. Beaver County was then described as being bounded on the north by a line running east and west through a point 2 miles south from the south side of Fort Willden on Cove Creek."

Cove Creek then ran north of the present store and filling station.

In May 1861 President Brigham Young and party visited Cove Creek on their way to St. George. The scribe of the company wrote the following:
"At Filmore, on the morning of May 20, 1861, President Joseph Young left to return home, the rest of the company proceeding to Cove Creek, a distance of 35 miles which they made by 3:20 p.m. and encamped. There is at that ranch, a corral, two houses, one dugout and three families including five men who had sown 9 acres of grain. An extensive range surrounds the ranch and there is an abundance of sulphur in the vicinity.
Desert News 11:116

The three families mentioned above were Charles Willden Sr. and family, Ann Willden Johnson and husband and baby, and the Ellott Willden family. The other two men were probably John and Feargus.

In 1862 John married Margaret McEwen of Beaver and brought her to live at Fort Willden. Their first two children, John Hyrum, and Mary Mahala were born there. They probably lived in the dugout.

One day while they lived there the horses were lost, and Charles Sr. gave John and one of his brothers a lunch and sent them to look for the horses, telling them not to return until they had found them. Night came and they still hadn't found the horses, but found a cave they thought of sleeping in. There was an awful raring coming from the cave as well as the odor of hydrogen sulfide.

Fort Willden was only 3 miles from Sulphurdale named thus because of the rich deposits of sulfur there. During the iron working days of Cedar City sulfur was hauled from this vicinity to use in their dynamite for blasting the iron ore.

While living at Fort Willden Charles Willden married a second wife Sarah Smith, 19 March 1864. Two children, Sarah Eleanor and Alice were born to them in Beaver after they had left Cove Creek. Sarah Smith later divorced Charles and married Joseph Walker. Both of the children died as children. One of them dying after the age of eight. Her temple work has been done. No additional information has been found on Sarah Smith. Charles' diary of 1869 mentioned that they were still living together.

The Desert News of February 8, 1865 published the following "Shocks of Earthquake were felt by residents of Cove Creek". By letter from Brother Charles Willden of Cove Creek, Millard County, we have received the following items respecting shocks of earthquake that have been felt in that neighborhood of late.

"On Monday morning the 23rd, we experienced quite a shaking and on Wednesday morning the 25th, we had an almost continuous shaking from one o'clock till seven. There were four heavy shocks and 18 light ones, the heaviest ones occurring at the last named hour. The effects were that the bell in the clock rang, being struck by the hammer very rapidly; the crockery rattled and the tables and chairs got a terrible shaking." John's wife told of the young cottonwood trees swaying until their tops almost touched the ground.

Indian depredations were becoming more prevalent and serious by 1865. The Willden sheep got the scab and many of them died. It was a discouraging year so in the fall of that year, The Willdens moved back to Beaver, however, Charles still claimed the land at Fort Willden.

In 1867 President Brigham Young called Ira N. Hinckley to head the building of rock fort on the land at Cove Creek. Men were called to build this fort, Charles Willden and some of his sons worked hard and diligently on the rock fort, living in their old home while so doing. Eleanor cooked for some of the men. Feargus got lime in his eyes and had to return to Beaver to have them treated for a few days. There was a mail and telegraph station there between the time the Willdens left and Hinckley came.

As far as we can learn the Willdens received very little credit for the work they did at Cove Creek and no remuneration. A search has been made at the Church Historian's Office in Salt Lake but no early record could be found of the Willdens ever being paid for this land. The last remains of Fort Willden were leveled off in 1948 or 1949 by the Kessler Family, who have owned the land and fort since 1904.

There are many outside the Willden family who think Fort Willden should be given more recognition. The Kesslers who now own the property with the Willdens to erect a marker there in honor of Charles and his family.

J.F. Tolton a church and civic leader of Beaver published an article in the Beaver paper, 28 November 1938, giving credit to the Willden family as the real pioneers of Cove Fort. Part of his article is quoted as follows:

Old Cove Fort
"Old Cove Fort, by right should become a National Monument on State Highway 91, some twenty five miles north of Beaver, Utah. It has withstood the ravages of time for more than seventy years and is still in a fair condition of preservation.

Several years since a marker monument was erected on the site with fitting ceremonies eulogizing the President of the L.D.S. Church, Brigham Young and Ira N. Hinckley, for the erection of this structure. In the course of said ceremonies no credit was rendered the pioneer family which first established a claim on this now famous site. This article is intended to establish the claim of the Willden family as the original pioneers and not to detract from the honor of those who erected the building now extant.

When Beaver County was created by Legislative Act in 1866 its northern boundary was fixed as a line running east and west two miles south of the south line of Fort Willden. It was more than a year later when the present structure was completed and consequently the fixing of the boundary line could have had no reference to the existing fort.

Some thirty years ago the writer, then County Surveyor of Beaver Count, was advised to establish said Norther line. He appealed to Ellott Willden for information as to the location of Fort Willden and was informed that it was located some 500 feet east and 300 feet north of the southeast corner of the present structure on the south bank of Cove Creek. At that time a cottonwood tree still marked the site and yet exists, together with stubs of cedar posts which marked the boundaries of the stockade enclosure then existing."

The plaque on the rock Fort bears the following inscription:
"Completed April 12, 1867, by direction of Brigham Young, with L.D.S. Church funds as a traveler's way station and refuge from Indians. Ira Hinckley built and maintained it as a hostelry and residence until 1877. A well with the fort provided culinary water. Cove Creek supplied irrigation. One of it's twelve original rooms was a telegraph station. Early in 1861, Charles Willden built three rooms and a dugout known as Willden's Fort. This was a convenient campsite for President Young and other travelers." Cove Fort is now a well preserved Museum.

We as a family should feel highly honored, for of the 80,000 Pioneers, many of whom gave their lives en route to Utah, very few have had the privilege of having their names immortalized on a plaque, and at such a historical place.

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