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THE HISTORY OF FEARGUS O'CONNOR WILLDEN
AND ANNIE MARIA THORPE WILLDEN
My Great-grand Parents
By Shirley Willden Olsen

Feargus O'Connor Willden was born to Charles William and Eleanor Turner Willden of December 2, 1840 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England. Feargus married for the third time Annie Maria Thorpe or Tichle on November 17, 1879. Annie Maria was born to Thomas and Mary Fisher Tichle on December 23, 1860 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England. Feargus and Annie were married in St. George, Washington County, Utah.

On October 25, 1849 Feargus, his parents and brothers and sisters left England for America on the Sailing ship "Zetland". The family arrived in New Orleans on November 10, 1849. A week later the family left New Orleans for St. Louis on the Steam boat "Ben West", during the journey Feargus sister, Maria, died she was buried at "Council Bain", Arkansas. The family arrived in St. Louis on January 11, 1850. They lived there for 3 months. They left St. Louis on April 12, 1850 aboard the steamer "Correy" bound for Council Bluffs, Iowa, a new settlement. The family arrived in Council Bluffs on May 4, 1850. Feargus's father bought a farm for $20. The family lived there for 2 years, where Feargus and Ann went to school for about six weeks. The rest of the time they helped on the farm. On November 5, 1850 Feargus's Sister, Mary Ellen Elizabeth, was born.

In the spring of 1852 the Willden family left their homestead to go west to Utah. The left on June 2, 1852, traveling with other families by covered wagon. The family took as many of their belongings [as] the[y] could. Feargus and John were to drive the animals, 9 head of horned- Cattle and a few head of sheep. Their other chores were gathering firewood, taking care of unhooking the oxen, and carrying water. The weaker members of the family rode in [the] wagon while the others walked. Feargus walked nearly all the way to Salt lake City suffering much from burning sand and prickly pears getting in his feet.

The Willden family arrived in Salt Lake City September 13, 1852, they stayed there for 4 weeks. The family then went to Cedar City. It was a hard winter for them as there was very little to eat. The family existed on bread, roots, and grass roots until the spring of 1853. During this time it was Feargus's duty to help around the house also, as well as getting wood, irrigating the farm, and tending the animals. On December 15, 1853 Feargus's sister, Louise, was born.

Feargus was preparing for bed, Naturally wide awake when he saw something flying through the sky from the East to the west mountains, then it burst. It had the appearance of the moon. He mentioned it to his brothers, he stated that it was natural to the appearance of the moon but didn't know what it was. Once he dreamed 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 also saw his grandfather between the new city and the old fort at the big ditch. He seemed to him to be about seven feet tall. He came toward him very fast and his feet seemed not to touch the ground, it was like he was walking on air.

On September 20, 1855, Feargus started for Salt lake City with Sink and Lion, their work oxe[n] hitched to a friends wagon who was going to Salt Lake also. His father and mother had gone on ahead with the horse team. The[y] got to Salt Lake on October 2, 1855 tended to their business and returned home on the 12 of November.

Feargus herded sheep with his brother John during the winter and the next summer (1855 & 6). He and his brother John decided to go to Salt lake that fall. The[y] spent some time in the city and headed back to Cedar City on October 11, 1856. At Baker's Canyon, some ten or eleven miles north of Cove Creek, one of their animals commenced to fail, more from stubborness than anything else, and they were forced to linger behind the rest of the wagons. When they arrived at pine Creek Hill they had to stay behind and the other teams went on their way. Before they got to the top of the hill, his brother said, "Oh Feargus! Hear the Indians." At that time it was hardly safe to travel alone as the Indians were committing depredations every now and then, under the leadership of Chief Walker. But, fortunately, it proved only to be a flock of geese flying over head, seeing them made their hearts settle down. They managed to get to the top of pine Creek Hill where they reste[d] their team and then went on ahead. When they reached the Whillshire place they borrowed a cow but she was not broken very well to the yoke, so they turned back some for or five miles to their worn out team, hitched up and traveled on the next morning early, overtaking the others in about six miles, as it was all down hill. They rested in Beaver and then traveled on arriving safely at their fathers home. During the building of Fort Cedar Feargus stood guard, while the men worked. It was quite a task on every one as Chief Walker was on the war path at that time.

On March 21, 1859 Feargus and his brother left with his fathers team for the sinks of Beaver, then called lower Beaver, for the purpose of making them a new home. They arrived there on the 24th, took up twenty acres of land for the five brothers.

Feargus Willden had little opportunity to attend school. His school days amounted to about three months, but he had a great desire to learn. He studied certain hymns in the LDS Hymnal and important articles in the newspapers until he was able to read better, he continued his studies until he could read the Bible, Doctrine and Covenants and the Book of Mormon. He thus, through his own efforts and great determination a[c]quired an education. He was considered a well educated man.

During the years 1852 and 53 Feargus's Father contracted from the town to take the towns, (Cedar City), herd of 200 or 300 cows to pasture for one cent a head per day. They people would take their cows, to a common corral, when John and Feargus would take them to the surrounding country and foothills to graze for the day. They 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. 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.

On March 24, 1859 the rest of the Willden[s] arrived in Beaver. During the year of 1859 Feargus worked for Brigham Young at the wage of $20.00 per month and board. The land in Beaver was poor, so on July 19, 1860 the entire Willden family moved to Cove Creek. From the years of 1860 to 1865 The Willden family lived in Millard County at what they called "Fort Willden". (A Cedar log stockade). During the period of occupancy of Fort Willden, Indian depredations were prevalent in the area and throughout Souther Utah. The Fort gave shelter and Protection from the Indians for trav[el]lers.

In August of 1861 Feargus worked in Iorn County, harvested fields and part of the time for Silas S. Smith and then took John Harris's crop to harvest. He returned home later and remained at For Willden on Cove Creek until March of 1863. He set out for Dixie for the purpose of finding a place that would be suitable to him to make a home as he was beginning it was time for him to be settling down in a home of his own. After traveling through the greatest portion of the settlements in southern Utah, he stopped at St. George with the intenshions of looking at the surroundings. He did not like the area so he went back to Iorn County where he worked for Gorge Day in the Dariy business. He worked for him until the news came of his father being gored by a steer. However, by the time he arrived at Fort Willden, his father had recovered. He remained there working for his father.

On May 4, 1864 Feargus left in pursuit of some miners who had in their possession a horse fitting the description of a horse that had come up missing which belonged to him. He started at once on foot to see if they had his horse, intending to take the stage at Fillmore, Utah, but missed the stage by about 30 minutes. He continued on to Northern Utah, catching some rides with various individuals. He arrived at the Weaber River which was very deep at the time. He forded the river, and caught a ride with Samuel Stone an acquaintance from Cedar City, as far as the mouth of Cache Valley Canyon. He pursued the miners as far as the Bear River and overtook them there, finding that they had no horse with them. Wilford Woodruff gave him a ride to Salt Lake City. He was one of the Apostles of the LDS Church. He then returned to Fort Willden, and with the rest of the family moved back to Beaver, in 1865.

On August 5, 1865 Feargus married Hannah R. Holgate, it was a short marriage as she passed away of May 4, 1866.

On March 18, 1866 J.R. Murdock, president of the church, called Feargus with some others to go to Sevier River and build a fort there. upon completion of the fort it was called "Fort Sanford". This fort was built to protect the white settlers from the indians who wore hostile at the time. In 1867 he and his family were also called to Cove Creek to work on the rock fort there. This fort became known as Cove Fort and is still standing. While at the Fort he worked in the lime pits and helped set the rock. He got lime in his eyes and was sent back to Beaver for aid.

In 1868 Feargus married Mary h. Smith to whom four children were born, Mary Hannah, Alice Rebecca, and Martha Eleanor Willden. a Son not named died innediately after birth. They lived in Beaver and Feargus helped to organize the Cooperative Mercasntile Association which later became known as the "coop". He also owned some stock in the Beaver Woolen Mills where he worked for some time.

During the year 1868 Feargus took his first music lesson from Charles Thomas. He became an exceedingly fine muscian, he played the cornet and was a member of the early Beaver Band. He also played the violin. Often he would walk to Minersville or Parawan to play for a dance, and then walk back to Beaver with the sack of grain he was paid. He was considered one of the best walkers of his day. He also had a beautiful singing foice and sang in the choir.

In the Early Seventies, Feargus carried the mail from Cedar City to Beaver by Pony Express. He also acquired the knowlede of telegraphy he became an operator in Beaver and Minersville. He also set type for Beaver's first printing press. He worked hard and in every way worked for the betterment and the advancement of his community. He donated much of his time working in the building of the old meeting house in Beaver.

On August 4, 1876 his second wife died. He re-married on November, 27, 1879 to Annie Marie Thorpe in St. George. She was brought to America by Joseph Smith who was then presiding over the British Mission. She was taken into his home as a member of his family along with her Brother. She married under the name of Thorpe but later search in the records show her name to be Hannah Maria Tichle. Feargus and Annie had ten Children, Feargus O'Connor Jr., Edward Authur, James Ephriam, Annie Marie, Joseph Thorpe, Irl Thorpe, Charles Orlando, Anthony Thorpe, Mary eliza, and Ruth Elizabeth Willden.

Feargus was noted for his sence of humar, he told a friend he was going to cross his bees with lighting bugs. This way they could work day and night.

From the time of his marriage to Annie Maria until the time of his death, Feargus made his home in Beaver. He Died o November 10, 1922 at the age of 81. He was buried in the Mountain Veiw Cemetary, in Beaver, Utah.

Annie Maria died August 29, 1941 at the age of 80. She was buried along side her husband in Beaver.

END OF DOCUMENT

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