EMMA JANE CLEWS PIONEER OF 1851
AND ELLOTT WILLDEN PIONEER OF 1852
Written by Manilla May Willden Hardy

Emma Jane Clews was born December 21, 1839 in Shelton, Staffordshire, England. She was the daughter of Andrew and May Ann Thomas Clews. Emma together with her parents and two brother, one, her senior, named Joseph and the younger named John, left England to join the Saints in Utah. The family crossed the ocean independently, so I have not been able to learn just when they left or on what ship they sailed. There is no record as to when they landed in New Orleans.

They did not have much money when they arrived. With the greater part of their journey ahead of them, they worked their way up the Mississippi River, the father doing any work he could find. When each job was done they would buy supplies, and passage on some river boat, and continue on their way. At one time while the father was employed in a coal mine, some boys playing with a gun, accidentally discharged it, the discharge struck Emma Jane in the cheek, the scars of which she carried all the rest of her life. But this was not the greatest tragedy to strike this family, for on the 26th day of June 1849 her father, mother and little brother died of Cholera, and were buried the same day in one grave in St. Louis.V This left Emma Jane and her brother Joseph to continue on alone. Just what happened to these children the next two years we know very little. We do know that Emma and Joseph came to Utah in 1851, in the company with W.J. Cox, who made his home in Beaver, Utah. At the time of Emma's death he spoke at her funeral and said she came from St. Louis in the same company he did. Emma Jane was then just 12 years old. During this time Emma became and expert shot with a Horse pistol, and her brother Joe, arranged exhibitions to display her skill, the money she made together with what Joe could earn paid their way to Utah. It was told that while crossing the mountains Emma Jane shot and killed a large black bear.

After arriving in Salt lake City, Emma Jane worked for and lived with a family named Hunter. She then moved to Cedar City, where on March 1, 1856 at the age of 16 (she would not be 17 until December), she married Ellott Willden. her brother Joe also lived in Cedar City, married Emma Blanden. Joe his wife Emma Blanden later moved to San Bernardino, California, where they were pioneers of the City.

Ellott Willden was born September 28, 1833 in Laughton, Yorkshire, England, the son of Charles and Eleanor Turner Willden.

In 1845 at the age of 12 he, Ellott, was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Prior to that he had accompanied two ministers from town to town for the purpose of leading the singing.

This was a dark time in England. Trade was bad, and the Saints were being persecuted. So on November 10, 1849, the Willden family including seven children, bid farewell to their native land, and set sail on the Ship Zetland, for the Unites States. After six weeks of hardship and sufferings they landed in New Orleans, on Christmas Eve, 1849. They left New Orleans on the 29th of December 1849 on the "Steam Boat Ben West". During the journey Ellott lost a little sister, maria age 2 years, on 4 January 1850, who was buried in Council Bain (or Bend), County Crittendon, Arkansas on the Mississippi River. They arrived in St. Louis January 11, 1850.

From St. Louis the family moved to Council Bluff, where they began faring. But because of the persecutions of the Saints it was necessary for them to again move westward, leaving their grain in the bin, and their farm unsold, they began their long journey to Utah.

It was at this time that Ellott left his family, who would come later, and joined a company of the Saints, in which were Lorenzo Snow and John T. Taylor. Ellott was one of the few of this company who could swim, and because of this he was able to give valuable service in finding camping places stream crossings, and feed for the cattle and horses. Ellott arrived in Salt lake Valley in September 1852 (19 years old). The rest of the Willden family arrived December 31, 1852, they came with the 3rd company, Captain Thomas D. Howell. The Willden family was sent out to help build what is now know as Cedar City, they arrived there in October 1853.

On March 15, 1856, Ellott married Emma Jane Clews in Cedar City, and they built a house and barn. In Cedar City there was born to them two sons, Ellott, born January 7, 1858, and Charles Andrew, born March 17, 1860. During this time Ellott worked three years on Mount Trumbo, getting out lumber for the Temple at St. George.

In the fall of 1860, Ellott and his father were called to make improvements on Cove Creek, the purpose was to make a Way Station for travellers. But their families did not arrive there until March 1861. In April 1862 a third son Clarence was born to Emma Jane and Ellott Willden. At this time the buildings on Cove Creek were know as For Willden.

In May 1861 President Brigham Young and party visited Cove Creek, and Willden Fort. The scribe of the party described it as, two houses, and a dugout, surrounded by a picket stockade, built of cedar posts. Three families living there, including five men who had sown nine acres of grain.

On July 27th 1864, George, my father was born at Willden Fort to Emma Jane and Ellott. At that time the Indians were hostile, and the night George was born, about 2000 Indians were camped in the valley, west of the Fort. There were only five men and a large boy at the Fort at this time, Great Grandfather Charles, Grandfather Ellott, three great uncles Charles, John and Feargus, (Feargus was the large boy), three women and several children. Ellott mindful of the instructions given by Brigham Young, "better to feed the Indians than to fight them", went to the Indian encampment and told them to kill the beef in the pasture, which they did, and after a day or two they disbanded and went on their way. Emma Jane told my father George that all the time she was in labor with him she could hear these Indians, beating their drums, singing yelling and that she expected them at any time to attack the fort.

In 1865 the Willdens moved to Beaver. In 1867 the Church took over the property at Willdens Fort, and a rock Fort was built. It is now known as Cave Fort. In Beaver seven more children were born to them.

In Beaver, Ellott engaged in farming and freighting, between Beaver and Salt lake City. He was a peace-maker with the Indians. He had very little trouble with them. He learned their language very fluently and rendered valuable service as an interpreter for them.

Ellott was a great musician, he had an exceptionally good ear for music. He was very appreciative of good music, and the finer things of life. He bought the first organ and violin ever owned in Beaver. His violin went with him on his long freighting trips, and he entertained with it wherever he stayed. He bought the instruments and was a member of the first Brass Band, was also a member of the choir and orchestra for many years. He had a great sense of humor, and was the life of all the organizations to which he belonged. He had a remarkable personality and made friends wherever he went, but he never gave up an old friend for a new one.

Ellott together with William Holt built and owned the first theatre and furniture store in Beaver, these buildings were on Main Street. Ellott had a small general store at the side of the theatre. William Holt a carpenter shop in the rear of the furniture store. Ellott was a repairer of musical instruments and spent many hours doing this work in the back of his store. One night all of these buildings caught fire and burned to the ground. This was a great loss to both Ellott and William for their savings and their businesses were ashes.

In 1888 Ellott was appointed a member of the "Deep harbor convention". This convention was called for the purposes of finding a suitable place to build a harbor on the Texas coast. Ellott was honored by this convention by being elected a vice president of the organization. He made personal friends of many Senators and Congressmen, also with Governor Adams, of Colorado. This convention recommended to Congress that a harbor be built at Galveston, Texas. This was done and was found to be a great commercial benefit to the South-west.

Ellott always looked upon this as his greatest Civic achievement.

In 1855 Ellott helped blaze a trail to San Pedro harbor. I have a copy of a letter addressed to Ellott, it reads:

San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt lake R.R Co.

Office of President
49 Wall St. New York City, N.Y
William A. Clark, President

Mr. Ellott Willden
Dear Sir:

As one of the survivors of that brave and hardy band of men who fifty years ago blazed a trail from Salt Lake City to San Bernardino, Los Angeles and San Pedro Harbor, and in recognition of our energy, fortitude and bravery displayed at that time, it is my pleasure to extend to you an invitation to join with the other survivors of that historic and far reaching event, in an excursion over the line of railroad of this company, so closely following the trail over which you and your associates struggled and endured the hardships and privations incident to that perilous undertaking and which marked the dawn of progress for the great empire of Southern California.

This excursion will leave Salt Lake City on October ninth 1905.

With assurance of highest respect and esteem

I am
Yours very Respectfully

W.A. Clark

On the 25th of May his Beloved wife Emma jane died, she was 51. The funeral services, by her request, were held in their home. One of the speakers being Elder W.J. Cox, one of the men with whom she crossed the Plains.

In 1892 Ellott married again, a Miss Christinanna Brown. To this union a son and two daughters were born. William, Nellie and Violet.

Ellott lived to be 87 years old. The last time I saw him he had walked from Beaver to Salt Lake City, stopping on the way to attend a Black Hawk Indian War encampment. He did not have to walk, but in his later life that is the way he liked best to travel. He was then 85 years old, hale and hearty, his hair and beard were white as snow, still jovial. We asked hi, "Grandfather, when you can't make a town at night, when you are hiking around the country, what do you do?" "oh" he said laughingly, "I just pick out a likely farm house, knock on the door and when the lady comes, I say, lady, will you please give me a drink of water, I am so hungry, I can't find a place to sleep tonight, and they most always invite me in."

Ellott Willden died in his sleep at 1:30 A.M. October 1, 1920. It was said of him, those that knew him best loved him most.

At the time of his death he was survived by 9 of his 12 children, 43 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren. He was buried in the Beaver Cemetery. His second wife also survived him.

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