[Printed as written without correction]

BIOGRAPHY OF CHARLES AND
FEARGUS O'CONNOR WILLDEN
Biography written by Iona Willden Thompson, May 1, 1947

Charles Willden, fourth son of Jeremiah and Betty Reville Willden was born July 17, 1806 at Anston, Yorkshire, England. He was married to Eleanor Turner, January 21, 1833 at Laughton, Yorkshire, England.

Eleanor Turner was the third daughter and fourth child of Thomas and Ann Whitman Turner and was born April 9, 1820 at Laughton, Yorkshire, England.

Charles and Eleanor Turner Willden left England November 10, 1849 with their family which then number six living children: Maria, Charles, John, Ann, Ellott and Feargus O'Connor Willden, having buried one child Eleanor Willden February 13, 1837 at Sheffield, Yorkshire, England before they left England.

Charles Willden died August 22, 1883 at Beaver, Utah at the age of 77 years and Eleanor Turner Willden died April 30, 1893 at Beaver, Utah at the age of 83 years and 21 days. Both were buried in the Mountain View Cemetery at Beaver, Utah.

Feargus O'Connor Willden, the fourth son of Charles and Eleanor Turner Willden was born December 2, 1840 at Sheffield, Yorkshire, England. He was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Sunday, February 4, 1849 by his father Charles Willden in the Bath at Bath Lane, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England and was confirmed by the same.

Charles Willden left England with his wife and family November 10, 1849 for Zion in America on the ship "Zetland". at this time there were seven children, namely: Ellott, Eleanor, Charles, John, Feargus O'Connor, Ann and Maria Willden (Eleanor Willden died before they left England). They arrived at New Orleans on the evening of December 24, with only one farthing and a few hundred weigh of oatmeal that Charles Willden had gotten of persons that they were going to throw over-board, which sold for one cent per pound and which was a little toward helping pay their way up the river to St. Louis. Charles Willden was asked by the Mormon Agent, whose name was Thomas McKinzy what he was going to do, the reply was, "I have just one farthing and some oatmeal." McKinzy told him to move all on the boat. This he did and when the man came for the money to pay passage just before starting they did not have it. Charles Willden and his sons carried wood and did other jobs which also helped to pay their passage to St. Louis. The family left New Orleans of the twenty-ninth, on the steam boat Ben West. They arrived at St. Louis on the 11, January 1850. They stayed three months. During this journey they buried a member of the family, Maria Willden at Council Bain. On the 12th of April the family started on the steamer "Corry" for Council Bluffs and arrived at the trading point on May 4, 1850. Charles Willden bought off a man, named Soloman Walker a place which consisted of two houses, a farm or home stead of 50 to 60 acres of land for twenty dollars, the owner was going to Salt lake City, Utah. After paying for the place it left them with two dollars with which to buy the necessities and them being strangers in a strange country. They stayed there about two years and engaged in planting, hoeing and harvesting corn and wheat. They carried the products on their backs as they had no teams of horses, while at Council Bluffs. Feargus Willden and his sister Ann Willden went to school for about six weeks while at Council Bluffs. Mary Ellen Elizabeth Willden was borned November 5, 1850. There came a proclamation from President Brigham Young for all to gather with the Saints in Utah, so all worked very hard getting our timber with which to make wagons. A man by the name of Montieth made them a wagon and they left their home stead with Milton Huff. They also left bushels of corn in the crib. On June 2, 1852 they started with nine head of horned stock. Feargus job was to drive the sheep all the way barefooted over hot sands under scorching rays of the sun and prickly pears. He suffered considerably from the effects of having prickly pears thorns in his feet. They arrived at Salt lake City, September 13, 1852 and they stayed there four weeks. Charles Willden had an agreement with Lorenzo D. Young to be his farmer but since he was a steel refiner by trade Bringham Young wanted him to settle in Cedar City, Ir. County then known as Coal Creek. After staying on the willows and cane brake bottoms for four weeks they started for Iron County and arrived at Cedar City, October 29, 1852.

On December 4, 1852 Charles Willden took a cow herd of two or three hundred head. Feargus and his brother John was sent out alone with them to herd. Feargus was barefooted and had been ever since he left Pottawattamie, or better known as Couuncil Bluffs. They kept the herd all that winter of 1852 and 1853 with only bran bread to eat for one month and not plenty of that to eat. In the spring of 1853 Feargus and his brother dug roots and handfuls of grass to exist on. The sheep and cattle had to be herded every day whether rain, hail, wind or snow. Over hills rocks prickly pears and brush and many times snow was very deep and cold; the north wind blowing without any sunshine. When Feargus would get home in the evenings, he would have the sheep to feed, wood to cut, water to carry into the house and cows to milk. Feargus helped his father Charles Willden, with the plowing, irrigating the farm and getting the winters supply of wood.

On December 15, 1853, while at Cedar City, Utah Louise Willden (a sister to Feargus) was born. February 4, 1854 Feargus Willden received his Patriarichal Blessing under the hands of Elisha H. Groves, given at Cedar City, Iron County, Utah, Sunday March 12, 1854 Feargus was ordained by Phillip Kingham Smith, to off of a teacher and was sent teaching with George K. Bouring.

Here will be mentioned two strange incidents in Feargus's life-- One evening as Feargus was preparing for bed, naturally wide awake, he saw something flying through the sky from the East to the West Mountains, when it burst it had the appearance of the moon itself but it was flying much faster than the moon. At another time he either dreamed or had a vision that he saw the savior coming from the lone tree East of Cedar City, dressed in his white robes. He had never seen priestly robes before. He met Feargus between the new City and the old Fort at the big ditch. He seemed to be about seven feet tall or more and he seemed barely to touch the ground and he was coming very fast, as if walking in the air.

Feargus started for Salt Lake City, on September 20, 1855, with Sink and Zion, their oxen. He hitched them on a Danish brother's wagon who was going to Salt Lake City, also. Charles and his wife Eleanor (Feargus's Father and Mother) went ahead with the horse team. Feargus arrived in Salt Lake City, Monday October 2, and on the 21st started for home. He arrived home November 12, 1855, where he remained herding sheep until September 13, 1856. Then he and his brother John again started for Salt Lake City for a quick trip up and back. On their way back from the City on October 11, 1856, at Baker's Canyon some ten miles north of Cove Creek, one of the animals commenced to fail, more from stubborness than anything else and when they got to pine Creek hill they had to stay behind the other teams going on their way to California. Before they got to the top of the hill his brother said, "Oh! Feargus I hear Indians." At that time it was harding safe to travel alone as Indains were attacking white travelers every now and then. Indain Walker being the Chief at that time. It proved only to be a flock of geese flying over which made their hearts glad. They managed to get to the top of pine Creek hill, rested their team and then went ahead. They borrowed a cow ox from Whiltshire but as she was not broken very well to the yoke, they had to turn back some four or five miles to their own worn out team. They spent the night and started on their journey again the next morning. They over took the others in about six miles, it being down hill all the way. Here they hitched the cow in with the oxen and went on up the hill. They arrived at Beaver some ten miles from where they over took the others; rested the teams and then traveled on, arriving safely home about November, 1856.

During the reformation Feargus stood guard, even though he was but a boy. It was quite a task on the brethern, as Indain Walker was on the war path at that time. Feargus felt well in doing his part and was glad to help out in any way he could.

Thursday, March 21, 1859 Feargus and his brother left with his team for the sinks of Beaver, then called lower Beaver, for the purpose of making them a new home. They arrived there Sunday March 24, 1859 and took up twenty acres of land for each, for five of them making 100 acres in all.

Feargus had little opportunity to attend school. his school days amounted to three months in all, but he had a great desire to learn and therefore studied certain hymns in the Latter Day Saints Hymn Book and important articles in the newspapers until he was able to read them. He continued his studied until he could read the New Testament, The Doctrine and Covenants and the book of Mormon. He enjoyed reading the history of Joseph Smith the Prophet, which was just being published at that time. Through his own efforts and great determination he acquired an education. Feargus Willden was considered a well educated man.

During the year 1859 Feargus worked for President Brigham Young, for the sum of 20.00 per month and board.

July 19, 1860 Feargus started in company with his father and brothers for "Cove Creek" to ;locate and make them another home and from the year 1860 to 1865 the Willden family lived in Mallard County at what is still now called Cove Fort and still stands. During the period of occupancy at the Fort Indian Wars were prevalent in Southern Utah.

On August 21, 1861 Feargus started working in the fields in Iron County harvesting crops for Brother Sitas S. Smith and John Harris. He returned to Cove Creek and remained there until the 14 March 1863. Feargus then started for Dixie for the purpose of finding a place that would suit him to make a home, as he was beginning to think it time he had one. After traveling through a greater portion of the Southern Settlements he stopped at John M. Moodies at St. George for about 2 days. After looking at this place and its surroundings and facilities, he did not like this place because of the bad mineral taste in the water. He also looked at Tougerville and deceided he could not live there because of it being surrounded by high mountains on all sides. This made it impossible to see any great distance.

From Tougerville he went by way of Mine Valley to Pinto Creek, Iron county and commenced working for George Day in the Dairy Business. He stayed here until he heard of his father being gored by a steer about 15 miles South of Beaver, and was not expected to live. Upon hearing the news of his Father he again started for Cove Creek to be with his Father. When he arrived at home he found his father doing well and around doing his chores. Feargus remained here until May 4, 1864, when he left in search of some miners that had taken his horse. The miners was on their way to the North. On this trip he found the people very friendly and generous with their homes and food. He was unable to find his horse.

After leaving Fort Willden, the Willden Family made their home at Beaver, Utah. A part of the old family home still stands and is located on 5th Street and 1st East, where Mrs. Abbie Willden now lives.

Feargus married Hannah R. Holgate, August 5, 1865--who died May 4, 1866.

March 18, 1866 J.R. Murdock called Feargus and others to go to the Sevier River and build a fort. Feargus again left his home and helped build the fort which was called "Fort Sanford". This fort was build to protect the white settlers from the Indains and make themselves secure from Indains who were then very hostile against the white settlers.

In 1867 Feargus started for "Cove Creek" to work on the rock fort which is still standing today and is known as "Old Cove Fort" he worked in the lime klin. The lime dust got into his eyes and he had to return back to Beaver, Utah. He again returned after his eyes were healed and worked until it was complete.

In 1868 he married Mary H. Smith to whom four children were born. Mary Hannah, Alice Rebecca, and Martha Eleanor Willden. A son died at birth.

November 30, 1868 Feargus attended a meeting at James Low Sr. house to take part in organzing a Co-operative Mercantile Association, which is know known as the "Beaver Co-op". Later he owned stock in the Beaver Woolen Mills where he worked for some time.

In 1866 Feargus took his first music lesson from Charles J. Thomas, Professor. Feargus an exceedingly fine musician. He played cornet and was a member the early Beaver Band. He also played the voilin and would often walk from Beaver to Minersville, play for a dance and walk back from Minersville to Beaver in time for work the next morning. He was considered one of the greatest walkers of his day. He sag beautifully and sang in the chior of his day.

In the early seventies Feargus carried mail from Cedar City, to Beaver. He acquired a knowledge of telegraphy and became an operator in Beaver and Minersville. During his early life in Beaver, he set type for Beaver's first printing presses.

Feargus advanced means to bring emmigrants to Zion and in every way worked for the advancement of the community of Beaver. In 1866 and 1868 he worked on the old Meeting house in Beaver.

On August 4, 1876 his second wife Mary H. Smith died.

Feargus was married on November 27, 1879 at St. George Temple to Annie Maria Thorpe who was born December 23, 1860 at Sheffield, Yorkshire, England. She was sent over from England to Salt Lake City, Utah, September 2, 1872 or 1873 by Joseph F. Smith and was taken into their home as a member of his family.

There were born to Feargus O'Connor and Annie Maria Thorpe Willden, ten children, seven sons and three daughters. Namely; Feargus O'Connor, Edward Arthur, James Ephraim, Annie Maria, Joseph Thorpe, Irl Thorpe, Charles Arlando, Anthony Thorpe. Mary Eliza and Ruth Elizabeth Willden.

On December 31, 1898 Feargus became a member of the High Priest Quorum in the Church of Jesus Christ of latter Day Saints. From the time of his marriage until the time of his death Feargus made his home in Beaver. He died November 10, 1922 at the age of 81 years, 11 months and 3 days. He was buried in the Beaver, Mountain View Cemetary in Beaver, Utah.

Annie Maria Thorpe Willden died August 29, 1941 at the age of 80 years 8 months and 6 days. She was buried in the Beaver, Mountain View Cemetay also.

|TOP of page|
|HOME PAGE| |GUEST BOOK| |SITE INFO| |SERVICES| |NEWS| |FAMILIES| |GALLERY of the ARTS| |HAND HISTORY| |GENEALOGY| |CONTACT| |LINKS TO SITES|

PAGE GRAPHICS CREDIT