1880 census living in Mona
Alexander Wilkins - 1892
Alexander Wilkins, the son of John Gansworth Wilkins and Nancy Kennedy, born in Upper Canada, District of Bath, on the ninth day of July, 1835; lived there two years after my birth, when my father and mother embraced the gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and were baptized into the church. I was blessed in to the church at the time of my parents baptism, My parents immediately gathered with the saints at Far West, Missouri, reaching the gathering place of the saints in the winter of 1837, the journey consuming three months. Apostle John E. Page was with our little company, here I was blessed under the hands of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
I was with the saints in all the persecutions and mobbings and drivings, and with the church when it went to Nauvoo in 1839. Here my father's family helped to build the beautiful city, my father helped in the building of the temple there while my mother knitted socks which she sold to help in the erection of that holy structure. I helped carry water to the men employed there. A year after we moved to Nauvoo, my father bought a farm about twelve miles from Nauvoo at what was called Green Plains, a place just two miles from Carthage. Here we had a nice home. On the afternoon of the 27th of June, 1844, I was standing on a knoll about half a mile from our home, when all of a sudden I heard the discharge of guns in the direction of Carthage. Almost instantly a peculiar feeling came over me. I hastened home and found my mother leaning against the well curb. She was very pale. I said, "Mother, what's the matter?" She replied that she had heard the guns and was afraid my father was in danger. Just then a usually gentle neighbor flew past on horseback yelling, "God damn you, you've got no more prophet. My mother at once remarked, "That accounts for all of it. "
During this time the brethren were gathering in the woods on my father's farm determined to protect their lives against the mob that was assembled bent upon the extermination of the saints. As soon as Joseph and Hyrum were martyred, the mob seemed to be seized with a sudden dread, fearing the Mormons would gather at Carthage and exterminate them, fled from the City and hid themselves. A bright light from heaven shone on the prophet's face as he lay against the well curb at Carthage jail, and after that disappeared, the heavens commenced to darken up and the earth trembled. A most violent storm followed, the rain coming down like a flood. Such a storm I have never seen before or since.
One afternoon in October in the fall of 1845, a mob well mounted on horseback, about thirty or forty men, came riding up to my father's house for the purpose of burning our home. The captain of the mob said to my father, "Wilkins, as far as you're concerned, we've nothing against you; we like you as a neighbor and as a citizen. If you'll say that Joe Smith was a false prophet, we won't burn your property." My father made answer and said, "Gentlemen, you can burn and be damned; I'll never say that, I hope, while breath is in my body." He then, seeing they were making preparations to burn the house, requested that he might be allowed to go into the building and get an old family Bible which contained the genealogy of his family. This request was refused, the mob telling him he knew enough of the Bible already. The loss of this genealogy has never been replaced, a link is thus lost in our family records. Two weeks before my father died, he told me that he stood joyfully and watched the destruction of his property, knowing that it was but a testimony of the scriptures. He also said that he had never gone back on his testimony in regard to the divine calling of the prophet Joseph. At the time my father's home was burned, my brother Oscar was a baby just two weeks old.
In the early spring of 1846, before the winter broke up, we left Nauvoo for Winter Quarters, crossing the Mississippi on ice. We crossed the plains in President Brigham Young's company. We arrived at Council Bluffs in August, 1846. I well remember the call of the Mormon battalion and the prophetic words of Brigham Young when 500 men were called. Said he, "If you will go and do right, not one of you shall lose your lives."
It was during our stay here that I received a most wonderful manifestation of the Lord's goodness to me. I went out one morning as usual with the cows to a place about three miles from Winter Quarters. About ten o'clock in the morning I took out a pistol which I usually carried with me for the purpose of shooting crows. It was an old revolutionary horse pistol, carrying an ounce ball. It was very musty never having been used since we left Nauvoo. I aimed the pistol at the crow but it would not go off. I laid it across my left knee, and pulled on the trigger with my right hand, pushing down on the hammer with my right hand. It went off with damaging results. The ball entered under my kneecap, severed the main ligament of the thigh, tore out the calf of my leg and blew out a part of one of the bones, splintering the balance of what was left. The ball finished its work by tearing outside of my foot. The force of the discharge knocked me to the ground. I sat up and found my pants (a pair made from a cotton wagon cover) on fire. I put out the fire and then started for home. I could not walk for in my condition such a thing was impossible. I managed to get home the whole three miles by resting my body on my hands with my foot elevated. The journey consumed over five hours and I got home about four o'clock. My mother saw me first and she almost fainted at the sight.
I was at once put to bed and the services of a man by the name of Martholeuen summoned. He took an old sheet and scraped from it sufficient lint to fill up the wound, first soaking it in camphor. My leg was bandaged and he instructed my mother to let it stay in that condition for five days. On the morning of the third day after the shooting I was out of my mind through the intense pain I was in. My sister Jane was the only person in the room and I asked her to hand me a butcher knife that was lying on the table which she did. I took it and ripped up on the bandages, digging deep into the flesh at the same time. I then tore up on the bandages and threw them off. The dead flesh fell off
in lumps, leaving the shin bone perfectly bare. My sister screamed and soon the house was filled. It was the general opinion that I would die, that it was impossible for me to recover. I told my father I would not die if he would go to Winter Quarters two miles below where we were staying and get Patriarch Morley and let him administer to me. I knew if he would do this I would get well because I realized the promise made to me by Joseph Smith the Prophet that
I would live long upon the earth, and see my prosperity become numerous, and my sons and daughters teach the Lamanites.
My father hitched up our only yoke of cattle, and went to Winter Quarters and brought Father Morley. Immediately upon his arrival I was administered to. I went to sleep when he was midway through his administration, something I had not done or enjoyed since I was shot. I slept fully 24 hours. The folks could not wake me and only knew I was living from the fact that I was breathing. I never suffered the least pain from that day to this. In three months I was able to use my leg again and could not detect anything ever having been the matter with it only for the scar .
After my recover my father went to Missouri and succeeded in procuring an outfit to cross the plains to come to Utah. We left in the spring of 1850 and arrived in Provo City the same fall having been on the plains four months. We unhitched on the very block we not live, and have never moved. We helped to survey and layoff Provo and have assisted in every way to make her the town she is today. I have been in three Indian wars, the Walker War, the Tintic War and the Black Hawk War and although I have been in many hot engagements I am thankful to say that I never sustained any injury.
I was married on the 11th of December 1853 to Alice Malena Barney to whom nine children have been born, and on February 1856 I was married to Elija Barney, sister of my first wife to whom eight children have been born, sixteen of my children are living today and 40 grandchildren.
I was ordained a high priest in 1890 and set apart as second councilor to Bishop Evan Wride of the Provo Second Ward of the Utah Stake of Zion. I was in Salt Lake City in 1853 and witnessed the laying of the first corner stone of the Salt Lake Temple and was there also on the 6th of April 1892 and witnessed the laying of the capstone which finished the outside of that beautiful building. This is a synopsis of my life. I am enjoying good health, am 57 years old and a firm believer in Mormonism.
From your Loving Father and Grandpa,
Alexander Wilkins
p.s. Those persons who receive this please let all my living relations read it's contents.
Written by my daughter Susie -Age 18 (Susan Ann Wilkins born 1873)
Eliza Arabell (or Aribella) Barney
Should check on death
mentioned in History of the Church V3:254 covenanted to assist Saints including the poor in removing from Missouri at Far West, January 29, 1839
Middle name spelled Gansworth on another record
Obituary - John Gandsworth Wilkins
At Provo City, Jan 8 1890 JGW deceased. He was born 27 Jul 1800 at Ballston Springs, Saratoga, New York, where he lived with his parents until he was 21 years of age. He married Nancy Kennedy in the year 1830. Shortly after he removed to Upper Canada where he first heard the gospel and on Christmas Day 1836 recieved the rite of baptism under the administration of Elder John E. Page. The spirit of "gathering" coming upon him, he soon closed his business affairs and started for Far West, Missouris, passed through all the mobbings and troubles incident to the saints at that place and was driven out in connection with them. Moving to Illinois, he settled within three miles of Carthage , where the mob burned him out of house and home. During this Father Wilkins was put to a severe test. Said the mob, " Mr. Wilkins, we respect you as a citizen and neighbor, now if you will only say Joe Smith is a false prophet, we will not burn down your house." He emphatically refused and his home was destroyed. From here he bent his course to Winter Quarters, accompanied by his wife and four children. Here he buried one of his children. From there he moved to Iowa, working for the government, helping put up the first grist mill at Fort Kearney, from which labor he realized sufficient means to purchase an outfit to cross the plains in 1851, arriving in the valley that same year. He made Provo his stopping place, residing here ever since, until the day of his death. Father Wilkins rendered efficient service in the early days in helping build up Provo.
He is thefather of seven children, grandfather of forty-eight and great-grandfather of forty, his descendants numbering ninety-five in all. He died in full fellowhip, bearing a strong testimony of the truth of the latter-day work and passed away at the ripe age of eighty-nine.
High Priest
President of Bluff City Branch, San Juan, Utah
Assited in building cnaals, roads, saw-mills and developing Provo
He sent ox teams at two different times for immigrants
1860 was Ist supervisor of Provo City
Nancy Kennedy Wilkins 5 Mar 1810-21 Sep 1893
(The life story of a woman of "1852" dictated by her daughter Nancy A. Wilkins Colton)
In the year 1810 on the 5th of March, to Alexander Kennedy and Jane McEwan was born a little girl. She was christened Nancy and grew to womanhood in her birthplace, Hadley, Saratoga County, New York. Her parents were Scotch and were well to do farmers of New York State.Nancy often spoke of their large comfortable home and especially do I remember her stories of the great feasts made ready for the holidays when cooks were brought in to help with the preparations. Their home was evidently well supplied with the necessities and a great many luxuries.
In the year 1830, Nancy Kennedy was married to John Gandsworth Wilkins and soon after their marriage they moved to Perth, Ontario, Cananda, where John G. Wilkins had a saw mil; he was what we would now term an engineer and they were finacially very successful. Two of their son, Edward and Alexander, were born there and what is of great importance, John E Page brought to them the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and with it the spirit of gathering. They soon made preparations to join the saints in Nauvoo. Mother had many beautiful things: china, linens of all kinds, counterpanes, blankets, quilts, etc,. most of these were boxed and sent by water to Nauvoo and the family left by teem overland. They arrived safely byut none of Mother's beautiful things were ever recieved.
When Nancy's family in New York learned that her husband John G. Wilkins had joined the Mormons, they immediately wrote, promising her she would never want for anything if she would leave him and his hated religion. But, although she had not , as yet joined the church, she did not consider the proposition for a minute and was therefore disowned by her parents and did not hear from for fifteen years. (Note from Val Dunn: This does not fit with her baptism date given as 1837.)
Arriving in Nauvoo, they bought a nice farm where they again prospered. Nancy often spoke of their livestock, hogs, turkesy, chickens, corn, etc. When the persecution of the Saints began they suffered with the others. At one time the entire drove of hogs was stolen.
Oscar was born in Nauvoo (7 May 1844 about the seme time of the appearance of the Nauvoo Expositor) and while still in bed with this new babe, the mob came out to their home saying, "Now, Wilkins, we have nothing against you personally, but we can't stand your religion. Deny it and Joe Smith and we will not harm you. Persist, and we will burn your home." John G. said, "Burn and be damned." They turned to Nancy and although still not a member of the church, she would not deny the gospel and said she knew Joseph Smith to be a righteous man. She was carried out on her bed and our home fired before their eyes. The mob even took the chickens and threw them into the flames.
Soon after this, the Prophet Joseph took baby Oscar into his arms and blessed him.
Everyone's life was really in danger from this time on, the mob element being no respector of persons. One night they came to the Wilkin';s home in search fo John G. They questioned Alex concerning his father's whereabouts, but with wisdom born of fear the child denied knowing anything at all about father and Alex's life was threatened. One of the mob saying, "Nits make lice. We better do away with this boy." For some reason this was not done, but from this time on, all of the family was forced to hide by day and gather crops by night.
Nancy heard the shot that killed the Prophet, and was found soon after very pale and shaken, leaning against the well curb and when the frightened chidren asked her what was the matter she said, "She was afraid something happened to their father." But shortly, members of the mob came by and called to her saying, "Well, you have no more Prophet anymore." And then Nancy understood why she felt so terrible.
With many others, John G. and Nancy were soon forced across the river to Winter Qarters where they suffered greatly. Lter, they moved to Punkaw Camp where the Indians came and demanded their corn, making it necessary to the Saints to be rationed to one pint of corn, much of which was rotten. There Edward, the idol of Nancy's heart, took sick. (Note from Val Dunn: This does not fit with the death date of 1838, it must have been 1846) Poor little youngster, he could not swallow the nasty bread made from this rotten corn and so he failed daily. His thoughtfulness for his mother was so great he asked to be allowed to eat outdoors. There she found he would chew thebread and failing to swallow it and would drop it carefully at his side. Nancy denied herself almost everythingthat he might be properly nourished , but still he became weaker every day. This was a great trial for her faith and she sometimes felt rebellious. Once Edward said to her, "Oh, mother, why did you pass all those places where we could get good bread and molasses?" Whe he died, Nancy felt really bitter, almost as if she had sacrificed this child. Her grief was so great she would hurry with her work and go to the spring and there grieve for hours. Now it must be understood that Nancy was not an emotional woman, nor was she a believer in supernatural happenings, but one day while grieving by the spring, she thought she heard ... "Mother" followed by "I cannot rest while you grieve so." She immediately dreid her eyes and from that time put her shoulder to the wheel with greater effort.
At this camp, JOhn G. Wilkins worked for the government and they began buying provisions and necessities for crossing hte plains. One day when Nancy's shelves were almost full of supplies, she found the clopset they were in on fire. She sent sister Jane to call for help, but Jane was so overcome with fright she could only call "Fire, Fire," in a whisper. But, Nancy's presence of mind saved the day. She doused the fire with pans of milk.
To begin their long trek across the plains, they purchased two yoke of oxen and a cow. Alexander was old enough to drive one yoke of oxen. John G. drove the other. Jane took charge of JOhn who was the baby and who was born in Little Pidgeon, Iowa. Nancy took charge of the cow. In fact she would not trust it to anyone else's care. Many nights she came into camp long after the wagons had stopped, having walked slowly and allowing her cow to graze by the way, then she would bathe the cow's feet and fashion shoes for it from canvas or whatever came to hand. Of chourse she did this that her children might be insured milk when they arrived in the valley. It must be added that she brought the cow safely through.
Many interesting things, some sad and some pleasant, befell them on their journey. At one time the Company was very short of food and with great joy a herd of buffalo was sighted in the distance. Alexander borrowed a horse and accompanied by a dog, rode after the animals. He had no gun, so he leaped to the back of one of the buffalo, from his horse, and cut its ham strings ... thus securing a supply of fresh meat for the Company. In later years, when telling of the incident, he would say that he and another dog killed the buffalo.
The family arrived in the valley in 1852, having been three months on the way. They settled in Provo, where the first winter they lived in a wagon box, a small dugout and a one room log cabin. They endured many hardships this winter. The boys slept in the wagon box, and their only means of cooking was over a grate fire with a skillet with a heavy iron lid, like a dutch oven with a crane.
Their first home they built the following spring. It was a long adobe building, partiioned into three rooms with curtains. Later, they built a nice adobe home on the corner of 5th west and 2nd South in Provo.
Nancy's hardhsips after reaching the valley were greater than can be described. Poverty and actual want often stared her and her family in the face. The Indians always had to be taken into consideration. One old buck, Squash by name, was particularly bothersom. He walked into everone's home and helped himself to whatever he fancied. One time during an inter-tribal war he was about to be captured by the enemy. He ran into our ome and hid beneath Nancy's bed. His enemies sow him enter, however. They followed him into the house, dragged him forth and scalped him.
Brigham Young had taught the settlers to divide with the INdians, and Nancy did this religiously and had many Indian friends.
About this time, several Provo people took up homesteads where Charleston now is. It was beautiful meadow land and here the families would come every Summer to make cheese and butter. It was indeed virgin dairy country. Nancy often cared for twenty cows. Some fo the cheeses she made were sold and others were kept for winter use. She also made butter and the winter's supply she kept packed in a briny solution.
I must give here an instance showing my mother Nancy's great bravery. All the men in the little Fort at Chrleston had gone to Provo, leaving the women and children alone. In the afternoon a band of Indian woarriors appeared on the west mountain. REmembering it, there must of been over a hundred. It ws sat the time of the Black Hawk War. All afternoon they rode, pow-wowing and yelling, dressed in feathers and war paint. In the evening everyone gathered at our home and we sat frightened and quiet in a bowery where we made cheese and made butter. Nancy told everyone to move to the back of the shed and we had hardly done so when an Indian pony, roderless, but accounted, dashed through the front of the shelter. WE kenw the Indians were very close to us, of course, and far into the night they danced and sang. Nancy marshalled everyone into a long room and she, herself, stayed up all night by the window, her shelter a wagon box and her only weapon an ax. The next morning the Indians came into our dooryard, caught one of our calves, and killed it before our eyes.
The men returned tha day and deemed it unwise to tarry longer in Charleston. Everything was packed on wagons, even to a ball made from a pig's bladder and the little stttlement began its journey to Provo. Everyone was more or less nervous, not knowing whether tyer wouyld be ambushed any minute. Going over a bumb the ball was dislodged, ro;;ed off the wagon and in some way run over. Ther was a tremendousroar which revergberated up and down the canyon. Father jumped a foot into the air and mother with her ever present sense of humor laughed and laughed again. Father had a retort, "Those who know nothing, fear nothing and only fools laugh," but the tension was relieved and the people arrived safely in Provo.
Back in Provo, new immegrants arriving every day, nancy's knowledge and desire to help others was a great help to all. She taught them how to make salt rising bread, sourdough bread, soap of grease combined with lye leached from wood ashes, hand soap from grease asn saleratus gathered on the flats near Provo. To make sugar from honey dew that collected on the willows. She taught them to wash, pick, card, and spin wool and weave it into cloth andto dye it blue with chamber lye and poke berries, red with madder, brown with tag elder and kinikinic. The yeven made men's clothing.
Nancy's charity knew no bounds. Many a meal was sent from her stove to he sick, poor or blind, even before her own family was fed and she religiosly cared for her own family. She taught her children it was better to feed ten undeserving people than turn one deserving person away hungry. She taught her children honesty, reverence for the aged and for the Lord and his house of worshiop, but even so was never an orthdox Latter-day Saint althoguh she had great faith.
Nancy was very witty, never lacking an answer for anyone. One day an old polygamist cam couting one of her daughters. She did not like it, not even a little bit. In exasperation she remarked that his legs looked like rat tails in a quart cup. Someone thought this was not a very respectful way to speak of one holding the priesthood. Some gossip passed around and it was decided Sister Nancy Wilkins should publicly apologize. She agreed asnd was willing and on the day set, she arose and ssid she was very sorry indeed that a certain man's leg's looked like rat tails in a quart cup.
When father sold his homestead at Charleston, Nancy was not in favor ofthe sale. He recieved a span of mules for it. She alsways said he sold it for a song and sung the song himself.
When about seventy six years of age, Nancy fell down some steps breaking her hip and injuring her back. The docotor did not think her back was badly hurt but set her hip and put a bag of weight on her leg. Finally, after weeks of suffering she asked them to please turn her over or kill her . On turning her over a large piece of flesh as large as a plate fell from her back, leaving six vertebrae exposed, so even the joint fluid could be seen oozing from the joint. But due to her faith she was healed and lived to walk without even a limp. In fact, her pride was so great she would not leave her own yard until she could walk withou a limp.
Nancy live to be 83 years of age. She was only sick a short time and so great was her desire to see her baby girl who lived in Vernal, Utah that she lingered four days just to see her and dided six hours before she arrived.
A pioneer woman, noble, brave, strong and true, she was our and we loved her. Other people loved her, too and have said of her, "she had every good trait and was absolutely without guile."
Submitted by Helen Cole PO Box 781 Thatcher AZ 85552 Phone 520-428 5149
Blessed 1 July 1945 by Dell M. Dalton,grandfather.
Priesthood Ordinations:
Deacon 26 May 1957 by Dale E.Dunn
Teacher 14 June 1959 by Dale E.Dunn
Priest 4 June 1961 by Dale E.Dunn
Elder 1966 by Dale E.Dunn
Schools attended Dilworth grade school-Hillside Jr High-Highland and Skyline High Schools University of Utah. Recieved law degree.Born while father,Dale,was overseas during World War II. Dale came home when Tim was 5 months old. The war had finally come to an end so Dale could come.
Blessed 1 July 1945 by Dell M. Dalton,grandfather.
Priesthood Ordinations:
Deacon 26 May 1957 by Dale E.Dunn
Teacher 14 June 1959 by Dale E.Dunn
Priest 4 June 1961 by Dale E.Dunn
Elder 1966 by Dale E.Dunn
Schools attended Dilworth grade school-Hillside Jr High-Highland and Skyline High Schools University of Utah.Recieved law degree.
The parent link is challenged because the marriage date is well after the birth date.
The 2000 does not mean that the ordinance has been done. Rather, it indicates
that the person is living and that the ordinance has not been done. It prevents
it from showing up on the incomplete ordinances list.
The 2000 does not mean that the ordinance has been done. Rather, it indicates
that the person is living and that the ordinance has not been done. It prevents
it from showing up on the incomplete ordinances list.
Brent & Sauna both served a mission to Finland from 1992-1994.
First stable home was in Springville.
Shauna graduated from Law School in 1996. Her first job was at Paragon Investments. Brent had Teaching Assistant jobs and taught an LSAT preparation class.
SSN 647 38 3866
SSN 647 38 3866
Blessing 16 Jun, 2000 American Fork
Christy served a mission to Chicago from February Christy served a mission to Chicago from February