Biography

HISTORY OF JAMES WRATHALL
PIONEER OF 1850
Written by Lois Wrathall Nicholson

Camp Golden West
County   Los Angeles
State   California

James Wrathall was born November 8, 1828, at Buckden, Langsterdale, Yorkshire, England, the eldest son of John Wrathall and Elizabeth Atkinson.

As with most boys in that locality who were born of poor parents, he spent his time until early manhood in service on the farm. Being by nature of an observing and practical disposition, he plainly saw that unless an effort was put forth to change conditions with which he was surrounded, his course in life would be run in the same channel as those who had gone before him. Under these circumstances, his mind naturally turned to America, the land where he believed he could become free and independent by his industry and perseverance.

His course was turned in this direction and while striving to bring about a realization of his hopes, in March, 1849, for the first time he heard the Gospel preached, by Elder Richard Cranshaw. He became convinced at once of the genuineness of the teachings he received, and having saved enough money, he decided to leave for America.

In the month of January, 1850, at the age of 22, he bade his elderly parents goodbye and took ship to New Orleans. One feature connected with his leaving home, and which he often related to his children and others, was the request of his mother that under all circumstances he should always keep good company. He promised to do so, and it was one of his chief aims in life to keep that promise sacred.

On arriving at New Orleans, he started at once for the West in company with a group of Saints. Upon arriving at Kanesville, Missouri, he entered into an arrangement to run a farm, but before the summer was over, the agreement came to an end and he joined the Thomas Williams Company and crossed the Plains, arriving in Salt Lake City in November 1850.

In the spring of 1851, he went to Grantsville and was among the original settlers. The History of Tooele Stake records that James McBride and Harrison Severe, brothers-in-law, and their families had settled there the previous year, but had been driven out by Indians and had moved to Pine Canyon, later returning in 1851. At that time, six men, some with families, arrived from Great Salt Lake City to make their homes. They were Thomas Watson, James Wrathall, James Davenport, Perry Durfee, a Mr. Davis, and one other.

These pioneers hauled logs from the east side of the valley with which to build their houses. Being still few in number, they built their houses in fort form so that they might more easily defend themselves from their barbarous neighbors. At this time the settlement was called Willow Creek, but early in 1852, a townsite was surveyed by Jesse W. Fox of Salt Lake City, under the direction of George D. Grant (brother of Jedediah M. Grant). The town was subsequently named Grantsville.

James was converted in England, but waited until after his arrival in Utah to be baptized, as he wished to avoid any embarrassment to his family. At that time in England, it was considered a disgrace for any member of the family to join the Mormon Church. He was baptized by Elder Edward Stevenson, November 3, 1852.

Two years later, he was called to make the journey to the Missouri River to assist in bringing a company of Saints to Utah. It was while on this trip that he met Mary Leishman Marston Monroe, a widow, who was member of the company, and who three years later became his first wife.

On his return, he was called to do colonization work in Carson Valley, Nevada,** in association with Christopher Layton. During this assignment, an interesting incident occurred, which is related by James B. Wilson, of Midway, Utah:

My father, James T. Wilson, and James Wrathall were both members of a company of colonists called by Brigham Young in the year 1856 to colonize Carson Valley, Nevada.

It appears in my memory of my father's statement, that the Humboldt River was then very high and overflowing its banks. My mother was in the habit of going down to the banks of the river on which they were camped to perform her morning toilet. This was done over the protest of my father, who wanted to carry the water to camp where she would be safe.

One morning, it was my father's turn to ride out and gather in the cattle to resume the journey, and mother went down as usual to wash, and while sitting on the bank, it appears that the sod or ground on which she was sitting was undermined by the high water and gently caved in, precipitating her into the stream. She went floating down the stream, screaming, but there was not a man in camp who could swim, She had already sunk twice and rose again, but just previous to her sinking a third time, and going into a whirlpool, James Wrathall ventured out to his armpits in the water with two other men holding his hand from the bank. He caught her by the skirt just as she was going into the whirlpool, and brought her out onto the bank in a fainting condition. At this moment, my father, who had heard her screaming and recognized it, had put spurs to his horse and rode up just as they brought her from the water. He ascribed the preservation of her life to the action of James Wrathall, who could not himself swim, but risked his own life in order to save hers, which he did, with the help of others. This all happened two months previous to my birth.

My name is James B. Wilson.

Salt Lake City, Utah, February 4, 1937.

James returned from Carson Valley with Orson Hyde and others in December, 1856. They started home December sixth but tarried five days on Truckee River and travelled part of the way on a new route, in order to avoid some Indians who had been a little troublesome on Mary's River. The last 200 miles, they found snow one to three feet deep most of the way.

Returning to Grantsville, he commenced laying a foundation for a new home, which still stands. Grantsville became his permanent home and he spent much of his time and means in the development and building up of the community. He served as a member on the first City Council of Grantsville, which was organized June 4, 1867, and again in 1881, he is mentioned as a member of this group, resigning the following year to go on a mission.

The Grantsville water supply, until artesian water was obtained, came entirely from North and South Willow and Box Elder Creeks. The latter was surveyed by five men, James being named among them. At one time, he offered to pipe the Magpie Springs so the community could have a culinary system, but the proposition was rejected at the time.

In one record, he is mentioned as a winner in Class C at the first annual exhibit of the Grantsville Agricultural and Manufactory Society, the award being given for being one of three others to have the second best cultivated garden.

A correspondent of Grantsville, signing his name, "Yankee," wrote under the date of April 4, 1869, that the officers of the Co-op Merc and Manufactory Society called a meeting and elected officers, James Wrathall being one of the Directors. The Directors met to consider the best course to pursue in regard to starting business. The firm was bought from the Hale Bros. The store was in a good location and well stocked with goods.

The Grantsville Woolen Factory commenced work in the fall of 1869. Bishop Rowberry was named President and James Wrathall had the superintendency and management of the factory.

The first district school was conducted at Grantsville by Mr. Ara W. Sabin, the father of Flora Sabin, who later was to become James' wife. It was not until 1892 that dedication of a school building is mentioned in the Tooele Stake History. James was a member of the Building Committee, and a building was erected which cost $14,000, which was considered quite a sum in those days.

All through his life, James was thrifty and industrious and succeeded in accumulating considerable of this world's goods, and he was active in all that pertained to the welfare of the community and was identified with all local enterprises. Besides the enterprises mentioned, he was interested in the Richville Milling Company and the North Willow Irrigation Company. During this lifetime, he was engaged in cattle and sheep raising, as well as farming.

Although his time was largely occupied with the cares and annoyances of a large business, he always found time and pleasure to converse with his friends and neighbors upon the beauties of the Gospel. It was his aim to secure for himself, and so far as he was able, for his children, an Eternal salvation.

In 1868, he was again called to cross the Plains to the Missouri River to assist the emigrants to Utah. He travelled in the Captain Mumford Company, being Assistant Captain and Commissary. During the early settlement of these valleys, he did much service in defending the people against Indian attacks.

James was among fifteen Elders called to go on a mission to the Lamanites and was set apart October 14, 1875 by Orson Pratt.

In 1882, he was called on a mission to his native land. On completion of his mission, he joined with Apostle John Henry Smith in a tour of the European Missions, also visiting all points of interest. At this time, he began to assist those of his fellow countrymen who had joined the Church to emigrate to Utah.

In June 1889, he went to England for one year on a Genealogical Mission. His second wife, Flora, accompanied him.

Several years prior to his death, he was a member of the Tooele Stake High Council.

His charities were many and he was a man that did not let his right hand know what his left hand did. He was called upon many times by the Church Authorities for financial aid, and he always deemed it a privilege to render any assistance in the building of Temples and in the advancement of the work of God. At his death, he bequeathed $1,000 to a fund, the interest from which should be used for the poor of Grantsville.

James had four wives, three of which died before him, in each instance leaving him a family of small motherless children.

His first wife was Mary Leishman Marston Monroe (born January 14, 1822, Lancashire, England), who bore him three children: Mariam, born May 8, 1858, Salt Lake City, who became the wife of Hyrum Sutton; James Leishman, September 22, 1860, Grantsville, Utah, who married Penninah Hunter and was Bishop of Grantsville First Ward; and Mary Alice, born April 20, 1862, Grantsville, Utah, the wife of William Spry, one-time Governor of the State of Utah. They (Mary Leishman and James Wrathall) were married March 22, 1857 and she died April 13, 1871.

His second wife was Flora Ann Sabin, the daughter of Ara Williams Sabin and Nancy Ann Hanes, born December 16, 1852, Salt Lake City. Flora became the mother of eight children: Genevieve (Mrs. Llewellyn Orr) born September 16, 1872; John Percy (born May 8, 1874), who married Ruth Sharp; Helen, born February 10, 1876 (Mrs. A. Fred Anderson); Ethel, born January 16, 1878; Lucy Ann, born October 19, 1879 (Mrs. G. M. Matthews); Clyde, born October 3, 1881, who married Ida Frances Jones; Eva, born August 30, 1884 (Mrs. John T. Flinders), and Lois, born August 8, 1886 (Mrs. M. 0. Packard, Jr.). Flora and James were married on December 11, 1871 and she died August 2, 1891.

James' third wife was Frances Port Cask, born August 20, 1842 at Froyle, Hampshire, England, an English emigrant, who was a widow with three children: Frances, William and Bert. She bore him three children: Elizabeth, born October 29, 1879 (Mrs. Ray Rowberry); Clara Louisa, born February 27, 1881, who died as a young woman shortly before she was to have been married; and Edith, born April 25, 1882 (Mrs. Madill). They (James and Frances) were married on February 18, 1878 and she died April 25, 1883 while her husband was on a mission to England.

James married a fourth time on November 23rd, 1892, Logan Temple, to Caroline Bengston, born October lst, 1858 at Smaland, Sweden. Sometime after his death six years later, she moved to Salt Lake City where she owned and operated a small bakery and cafe. She died June 21st, 1902 of cancer in a Salt Lake Hospital.

James died December 13, 1896, at the age of 68. At his death, he was mourned by a large circle of friends. He was naturally of a quiet, unassuming disposition, and by many of his acquaintances was comparatively unknown, but to those who were in his confidence, the goodness of his nature was understood and his worth appreciated. He had the humility of a child and a heart as tender as that of a woman. He was deeply religious and always loyal to the Priesthood and held most sacred its power and authority. In all, James Wrathall was a strength among the people and his influence for good was missed after his death. His long and useful career had brought him prominently before the people of Grantsville, and the State. By his strict adherence to the highest business principles, his close attention to duty and his faithful and devoted work in the interests of his Church, he won the confidence and respect of those with whom he had been associated.

Speakers at his funeral were Tooele Stake President Gowans, Charles L. Anderson, Counselor to President Gowans, Elders Gillespie, William Rydalch, William Jefferies, and John H. White of Salt Lake.

May his rest be sweet and his example in life be emulated by his descendants that
he left behind.

[Note:] These were given to me by Alice Sutton Edmonds, who works at Daughters of the Utah Pioneers in Salt Lake City.

Rae Miller
[Elna Rae Miller Thalman, great-granddaughter of James Wrathall (1828 -1896) and Frances Port Cask (1842 - 1883)]

Sources:

"A Biography of James Wrathall", The Tooele Transcript, Sept. 21, 1923.

"A Biography of James Wrathall", The Grantsville Observer, 1923.

**The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, Volume XXV (History of Nevada, Colorado and Wyoming), published in 1890, has a section on the Carson Valley settlement (pages 66 et seq.). On pages 78 - 81 is the following information:

No attempt to form a religious colony in Carson was made before 1856 ..... A colony of between sixty and seventy families was ordered to Carson valley in the spring ..... The new-comers settled in Carson, Eagle, Washoe, Jack and Pleasant valleys, founding several towns ..... In 1856 came William Jennings, Christopher Layton, William Nixon, R. Walker, Peregrine Sessions, ..... Albert Dewey, William Kay, ..... George Nebeker, Cherry, and others.

An attempt was made to form society on the plan of eastern Utah. The settlements were laid out with broad, regular streets, on either side of which ran small ditches carrying water for irrigating gardens and fields, as well as for supplying families. The architecture was of the simplest and rudest; nothing was done for ornament, but everything for use. In dress the same principle prevailed; personal adornment was unknown .....

In November 1856 Orson Hyde left Carson county to return to it no more ..... Hyde was accompanied on his return by Simon Baker, James Kathall, John Vance, William Price, Durffee, Carter, Harshee, Woodland, and Butcher and family, and traveled the route explored by Reese in 1854.