William Wagstaff (1807-1897)

An Autobiography

I was born in Hatch, Northill Parish, Bedfordshire, England, on the 13th day of July 1807. My father’s name was Isaac Wagstaff and my mother’s maiden name was Meary Bathshebe Gillions. They had a family of eleven children. I, being the oldest, was not able to have much of an education. Both of my parents were very hard working, industrious people and I was obliged to help earn a living. Thanks to my Heavenly Father, I had the privilege of going to Sunday School although it was almost a mile and a half away. I was compelled to go in all kinds of weather, and I used to think it a great blessing. I can well remember all I learned there and could repeat it if necessary. I grew up with a very merry, lively disposition and sickness and sorrow were entirely unknown to me.

My occupation was farming and gardening in which I took a very great interest. [In fact he and his brothers John and Samuel, all three were gardeners and contributed much to the beauty and gardening to make the desert "blossom as a rose".]

On my 24th birthday I was married to Mary Rock. We had four children by that marriage: Isaac, Mary, James and John (twins). One of the twins died on the 21st of January. My first wife died on the 17th day of February 1839.

About the following December, after the death of my first wife, I married Mary Gilby, my second wife. We had five children by that marriage: Newman, Jacob, Daniel, Rachel and Susannah. We embraced the everlasting Gospel on February 18th, 1847 and were both baptized by James H. Glanigan, assisted by Thomas Smith. As soon as we were baptized we wanted to gather to America with the Saints. England was no place for us. We could not feel at home there anymore, although I had a great many inducements to stay. The gentleman that I rented my place from offered to rent it to me at about half the former price that I had been paying, but we were destined to go with the Saints. So I had my family, which consisted of my seven children and my brother-in-law and his family of six children and his wife, left England sometime in October 1850. We sailed on the ship called the "James Pennel". When we went on board someone had left one of the hatchways open and on going on board it was kind of cark. My little daughter, Mary, walked into the hole and fell down. She was badly hurt but we got her out and administered to her and she soon got better. We had some terrible storms and it looked for awhile as if we were all going to the bottom. We lost our meat and quite a lot of our supplies. When we got over there the pilot came to take us to New Orleans, and going up the river in the boat we lost our little girl Rachel. She died at a place called the Arkansas Bend, Nov 28, 1850, on the Mississippi River. We buried her in the wood yard where they take in wood.

When we reached St Louis it was very cold and we could not get a place suitable to stay in. The place we finally got was an old meeting house and was worse than a barn.

My wife seemed to be chilled thru and she died Dec 12, 1850 at St Louis, Missouri. At that time if a stranger happened to die and their people were too poor to bury them, the officers would come around and inquire into the circumstances and then send a coffin dnd cart to take the corpse to the burying ground. So they sent a coffin and conveyance by a big Irishman. He brought the coffin in the house and set it down. We stood and looked at him for a minute and he swore and said: "Are you gong to put this woman in the coffin? If you do not I will go off and leave her here." Now you can imagine the feelings of myself and her brother. The Irishman had one of those music boxes and he set it on the coffin and it played all the way to the grave, and he never seemed to take a bit of notice or have any feelings at all.
I now had to have a mother for my children and I prayed that the Lord would send someone to take care of them. There was a widow woman who came across the sea when we did and I married her in January and she died June 25, 1851 of cholera. Her maiden name was Martha Pack and her first husband’s name was James Perkins. He was not in the church. After I married Martha, my third wife, we went to live on a farm about six miles north of St Louis; myself and my family, and my brother-in-law, Matt Gilby and his wife and family.

We lost our families with the cholera. Matt Gilby died and five of his children. His wife and one child were left. My children died as follows: Rachel - 28 Nov 1850, Daniel - 2 Jul 1851, Jacob - 14 Dec 1850, Isaac - 7 Oct 1850, James - 1 Nov 1851, Susannah - 1 Feb 1851, Mary - 22 Feb 1852; all in St Louis, Missouri. I had to beg the lumber and nails and make the boxes and bury them myself, but after awhile when the neighbors found out the situation they came in to help us.

There was one man, especially, by the name of Redman, who came in his spring wagon to take some of the bodies to the burying ground. He brought wood for us when he thought there was no danger of catching the cholera. Then also, there was brother Christopher Layton who paid our rent for several months. He brought a man by the name of Wilson to us who gave us money to buy food with. I think it was about seven dollars. He told Redman not to give us too much at a time as we were so sick it would kill us. So every day he brought food. When we got our strength back Brother Layton took us away from that place and hired a house for us in the mountains and paid a months rent in advance. While there I met Brother Thomas Smith, the man who baptized me and he wrote a letter home to England to my Friends and told them that before that letter I would be dead. I told him I wished he had not written that because I intended to live and go to the valley. He said it was impossible because I could never get well. They took me to the hospital where my little boy James had died. After I had been there about a month I felt a great deal better and about six weeks later I was like a new man, and got leave to go from the hospital. It was a great comfort to me once more to breath the sweet air.

After that I went to live with a man by the name of William Fenn. He lived on Green Street, St Louis, Missouri. He had a farm out west at a place called Rock Springs, and I went out there to tend his garden for ten dollars a month.

My mother, my sister Rachel and her husband, Brother Hays, came to America from England, and whey they arrived they did not have money enough to get their luggage off the boat. Brother Hayes found out where I lived and he came and told me. I advanced the money to him and was very glad I had it. Then, of course, we all wanted to come to the valley of Salt Lake. What to do I did not know. I knew I had not enough money and I knew they had none. Finally there was a family came by the name of Western. William Western and his wife, Martha and their niece Martha. There was a man and his wife along with them. His name was George Gills. The Gills family backed out when they got to St Louis, so the Westerns wanted me to drive them across the plains. I told them it was a job I had never been used to but I would do it. Brother Western was very sick at the time and trusted me to buy everything, as they knew nothing about American money. We came in Claudius Spiers company across the plains and nothing particular occurred. Brother Western was very sick and I tried to do everything I could for his comfort. Sister Western was taken very sick with diarrhea. We got every thing we thought we needed to do her good, nothing seemed to help her. At last I got some thickened milk and I think that this checked too suddenly for she died very sudden. The day before that it had rained off and on all day and when we camped at night everything was so wet that we could not make a fire and in the night as she lay in the wagon it seemed she was so very thirsty. She said, "Will some one get up and give the dying a drink of water. I had not thought that she was dying but she was, and in the morning we had to bury her.

There had been so much rain the day before and all that night that the road was so slippery I was afraid that my two yoke of oxen would not be able to get up the hill. I asked Brother William Jeffs and Charles Boan if they would lend me one yoke just to get up. They said no, and I got up without any help. I think our Captain said the place was Spring Town. When we buried Sister Western, Brother Spencer could see Brother Western would not live very long and he asked him what was to be done with the property when he died, if he would not give it to the church. He said, "No, his niece was to have half of it and me the other half. If she and I got married when we got to the valley it all belonged to us. When we had buried Sister Western all the company had passed and we had to follow. We drove about five miles that night. Just before we got to where we camped for the night Brother Jeffs and Charley Boan were behind all the rest of the camp, they got stuck in a mud hole and their oxen could not move the wagon. Brother Hayes said, "Let them stick. If I were you I would not move to help them out. They would not help you this morning." "No, I would take the oxen", and as soon as he saw I was determined to help, he took the oxen and helped them and it was a good thing he did for Uncle Western died that night. They helped to dig the grave and bury him. I never saw two men more humble than they were after that. They did everything I asked them to do. Nothing worse than that occurred of any note as I can remember.

We arrived in the valley, if I remember right, about Sept 22, 1853. As soon as we arrived Doctor Willard Richards inquired if there was one in that company could tend his garden. Brother Isaac Right told him I was a gardener. The next day he sent Brother Joseph Cane to fetch me and as soon as I got to see him he said he wanted me to tend his garden and asked how much my wages would be. I told him I did not know. He might try me and if I did not suit him he might turn me away and if I did not like him I could leave. He thought that was alright.

The next thing to be done was to get a place to live in. I had a wagon but thought I should like to have a house. He said he had a little house he had built for his chickens. I though that would be plenty big for my wife and I. I had married her as soon as we got to the valley. Her name was Martha Chitty. She was my fourth wife. We were married in the Endowment House by President Heber C. Kimball. We had one child by that marriage by the name of Isaac William and the doctor furnished us all the provisions we wanted. I stayed with him until he died some little after that. He died March 11, 1854, and I tended the garden some little time after his death. I cannot remember how long; I think it was the last day of May or the beginning of June. I cannot exactly remember the date.

I married my fifth wife, a widow, named Maria Stubbs. We had by that marriage five children: Mary, Moroni, Hyrum, Lucille, and Nephi. We were married in the Council House and a few weeks after this we were sealed in the Endowment House. Maria had one boy by her first husband. His name was William Wiseman. After Doctor Willard Richards died I went to live in the Third ward, Salt Lake City.

In 1856 I took my sixth wife. Her maiden name was Matilda Emily lim. By that marriage we had nine children: Willard, Martha, Joseph, Alma, Matilda, Susannah, Lorena, Effie, & Rachel. We were married in the Endowment House Feb. 29, 1856, by Brother Heber C. Kimball.

In 1858, Johnston’s army came in. According to council we moved south to Fillmore and we expected everything we had would be burned, house and everything. We left plenty of straw int he cellar. We were glad to move away and quite glad to come back. It was in August and I tell you our friends and neighbors were glad to see us come back.

In the month of May, 1866, I married my seventh wife in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City by President Wilford Woodruff. By that marriage we had seven children: Emily, Alexander, maria, Freddie, Isabel, Abraham, LeRoy, and Sarah Smith. My seventh wife’s maiden name was Elizabeth Wheeler.

On the third day of March 1870, we went to live in Sugar House, having changed property with Truman O. Angel, and lived in that place until the year 1877. We sold our place and bought a place from Isaac Green near the school house in Sugar House Ward.

Nothing particular occurred until 1885. Then, having exchanged property with Willard Richards, I moved to Mendon, Cache county, March 1885 and lived there ever since.

While living at Mendon I was taken with a stroke, July 1895. October 20, 1895, I moved back to Sugar House Ward owing to my inability. I stayed with my son, Joseph, until April when I moved to the home of my daughter Mary Clark.

Note: William Wagstaff died 26 May 1897.

William Wagstaff’s Rules of living

Never speak evil of any one.
Be just, before you are generous.
Keep yourself innocent if you would be happy.
Save when you are young to spend when you are old.
Never say one word behind a person’s back that you would be ashamed to say to his face.
Keep your life as an even spool of thread.
Keep good company or none.
Never be idle. If your hands cannot be usefully employed, attend to the cultivation of your mind.
Always tell the truth.
Make few promises.
Live up to your engagements.
Keep your own secrets if you have any.
When you speak to a person, look him in the face.
Good company and conversation are the very linens of vesture.
A good character is above all things else.
Your character cannot be essentially injured except by your own acts.
If any speak evil of you, let your life be so that none will believe him.
Drink no intoxicating liquors.
Ever live faithful to your covenants.
When you retire to bed think over what you have been doing during the day.
Make no haste to get rich.
Small and steady gains give competence with a tranquil mind.
Never play at any game of chance; avoid temptation.
Earn money before you spend it.
Do not marry until you are able to support a wife.

THE PLUMB PUDDING

by Annie C. Kimball

Story in the SUP Pioneer Magazine Winter 2001 issue

William Wagstaff was a successful gardener in his Bedfordshire home, where he joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and set out with his wife and seven children to unite with the main body of the Church in the promising new land of America.

The vessel "James Pennell" docked at New Orleans in the autumn of 1850, and the immigrants proceeded up the Mississippi by steamboat to St. Louis. Little two and a half year old Rachel died on the way and was buried at a refueling depot on the river shore. The rest of the family reached St Louis near the end of November.

About two weeks after their arrival their mother, Mary Gilby Wagstaff, died of pneumonia, and William found himself in unanticipated trouble. Isaac and James were in their teens, but the only girl, Mary was merely 11; nevertheless, she tried to do the cooking, cleaning, and mending the best she could. It was December, the children’s month. Even in bereavement and sorrow, the thoughts of approaching Christmas stirred remembrances of former happiness, and anticipation expressed itself in the eager questioning of childhood.]

"We can’t do very much for Christmas", William, feeling alone and helpless, replied to the anxious requests.

"Maybe we can have a plum pudding" suggested 13 yr old James.

"I’ll try to make it", said Mary.

"Who remembers how Mother used to do it? their father asked.

Then each offered suggesting. Isaac, the oldest, knew it contained suet because he was the one trusted to chop it with the large, sharp knife. Six year old Jacob remembered raisins and how his mother had slipped one to him occasionally when she was cleaning them. Father suggested tiny dried store currants and peel. Mary knew about flour and about boiling the pudding, all tied up in a piece of clean, white cloth.

William felt that the project was a real undertaking and, as ingredients were anything but cheap, he must move with caution. When the momentous day arrived, he decided that he himself must perform the important feat. So, with all eyes upon him and everyone helping who was large enough, he made the pudding. Then all sat down to a Christmas day feast. poured over the treasure was a tiny measure of brandy that burned with a glowing blue flame when the lighted match was applied. What a thrilling fairyland sight! What a wonderful pudding! Only the soul-sick, lonely man knew that it did not taste like those of the past - children are so easily pleased and satisfied.

Before another Christmas came, his sorrows were incomparably greater, as cholera had ravaged the little family. One by one, the children hd followed their mother and little Rachel to crude and hurried graves in the new land of America. Mary lived to see 1852, but only until February. A kind and gentle soul, Martha Pack, a lonely widow whom William had met on the ocean voyage, tried to help him in his sorrow and distress. They were married, but shortly afterward, she also succumbed - a victim of the merciless plague. William himself was stricken and was ill in a hospital for many months. While ill, he obtained work upon a farm where e recuperated and was able, wifeless and childless at the age of 44, to resume his journey westward in 1853.

When he was in his late 80s, he reviewed this tragic period of his life. At the conclusion of his narrative, as he brushed aside a tear, he added almost as if a sacred prayer. "I have been so thankful about the plum pudding."

The Adobe Homes

by Annie Clark Kimball

quoted in "Our Pioneer Heritage" vol 1, page 135

My pioneer grandfather. William Wagstaff, built an adobe house. He arrived here in the Claudius Spencer Company in the autumn of 1853, only four days after the Cyrus Wheelock Company. William who was a trained and experienced gardener in the old country, went to work for President Willard Richards the day he arrived and lived on the Richards premises as caretaker until the demise of President Richards in 1854. His next step was to have built for himself a two-story adobe house at Sixth South and State Street where he made and developed a profitable and successful nursery and also reared a large family. The adobe home had four square rooms with a stairs going between and a large kitchen living room lean-to in the rear. It stood there many years and saw much family living. There were two congenial wives, Maria and Emily, whose children were also harmonious and loving. William’s mother and sister Rachel came to Utah with him in 1853. The remaining five brothers and sisters came in the 1860s and visited with him in this home until they found their own desirable locations in Utah. All of them praised his generous welcome and guidance. His "Going" nursery with its rows of young evergreens, walnut trees, black locusts, poplars, snowballs, lilacs, hawthorns, Altheas (then called Rose-of-Sharon) and desirable fruits, impressed them so deeply that one of these is reported to have written to the old home, "William is as rich as a Jew." He was noted for being good natured, friendly, and peace-loving. His friends and friends of the family, were so many that we can easily recognize his as another happy adobe home.

William Wagstaff

biography from "Pioneers & Prominent Men of Utah", pg 1225

William Wagstaff (son of Isaac Wagstaff and Mary Gillions of Caldicote, Bedfordshire, England). Born 13 July 1809, at Caldicote. Came to Utah Sept. 1853, in the Claudius V. Spencer Company.

Married Mary Rock July 13, 1933, in England (daughter of John and Hannah Rock of Eng.) She was born May 18, 1815. Their children: Isaac died age 17, James died age 14, John died, infant, Mary died age 13, Family home in Caldicote, England.

Married Mary Gilby Nov. 1839, at Caldicote (dau. of Joseph and Mary Gilby of Eaton, Eng.). She was born Dec 31, 1916. Their children: Newman and Jacob died infants, Daniel died age 4, Rachel died age 2, Susannah died age 1 year.

Married Martha Pack Jan. 1851, St Louis, Missouri. She was born May 6, 1808 and died June 1851.
Married Martha Chitty 1853, Salt Lake City (her parents resided at Chertsey, Surrey, Eng.). Their child: Isaac died infant.

Married Maria Stubbs May 1854, Salt Lake City. (dau of Thomas Stubbs and Elizabeth Hall of Warwickshire, Eng.). She was born Jan. 31, 1825. Their children: Mary Rachel md Lorenzo S. Clark, Moroni W. md. Rebecca Ann Rance, Hyrum md Eliza Jane Fowler, Lucilla M. md William B. Kelley, Nephi md Margaret J. Bates.
Married Matilda Emily Limb Jan. 20, 1857, Salt Lake City, (dau of William Limb and Sarah Wilkinson of Markpool, Derbyshire, Eng.). She was born 20 Oct 1831. Their children: Willard R. died age 6, Martha Ellen died age 4, Joseph A. md Matilda Jane Staker, alma W. md Lucina Smoot then Esther Hunsaker, Matilda E. md Nathan H. Staker, Susannah M. md James McGee, Lorena M. md Abraham S. Sorenson, Sally E. md Leander N. Butler, Rachel md Ole H. Sonne. Family home in Salt Lake City.

Married Elizabeth Wheeler, May 25, 1866, Salt Lake City (dau of Thomas wheeler of Humberstone, Worcestershire, Eng.). She was born May 12, 1847. Their children: Emily E. md John E. Crow, Maria died infant, Alexander md Annie M. Salzner, Fredrick md Lucy J. Seaman then Mary Worley, Isabella died infant, William H. md Anna W. Jonas, Abraham died infant, Leroy A. md Margaret W. Stewart, Sarah S. md Clarence Mabey. Family home in Salt Lake City.

Member Salt Lake Quorum Seventies, counselor to Bishop Weiler a number of years, High Priest. Nurseryman and Seedsman.

Died 24 May 1897.

Eight Graves along the Way

by Annie C. Kimball

Bound for Zion with hopes high and hearts rejoicing, the William Wagstaff family left their home in Hatch, Bedfordshire, England in September 1850.

After a varied and exciting journey across the Atlantic on the good ship "James Pennell", America was entered at New Orleans, followed by a steamboat journey up the Mississippi River to St Louis. The family consisted of Father and Mother, William and Mary Gilby Wagstaff, with their four children, Jacob, Daniel, Rachel and Susannah; also three children of a former wife, Mary Rock Wagstaff (deceased); these three were Isaac, James and Mary. Little Susannah died suddenly on the river steamboat and was buried at Arkansas Bend, a woodyard where the boat stopped to refuel. After arriving in St Louis, disease and death overtook the little party taking first the mother, Mary, with pneumonia, then suddenly cholera taking all six of the children one by one.
A kind soul, Martha Pack Parkins, whom the family had known on the ocean voyage, entered the motherless home and nursed the afflicted ones with the solicitude and the tenderness of an angel. A hasty marriage ceremony followed but could not stay the icy hand of the inevitable. Martha followed the children in death leaving the grief stricken William alone and himself so ill that his death was expected momentarily.

While the epidemic was at its worst William found it impossible to obtain help in burying his dead; so he had to make the burial caskets, carry his dead children to the burial spot, dig the graves and do all that was done for them.

After all were gone, and being destitute, William was placed in a hospital where slow recovery began. Later, he obtained an outdoor job on a farm where he remained until the spring of 1853 when he found himself strong enough o continue his journey westward to Zion. This he did arriving without wife or child, in the autumn of the same year at the age of 43 years.

William Wagstaff, nurseryman and seedsman

by Annie C. Kimball, 1940

DUP, "Heart Throbs of the West" by Kate B. Carter, pg 10

The Wagstaff Walnut tree. Perhaps no more beautiful and majestic pioneer tree remains with us than the Wagstaff Walnut at 1151 Michigan Ave, the home of Doctor and Mrs D. W. Henderson. According to our official records the great tree planter, Brigham Young, acquired the property where this tree stands on Aug 9, 1957. At that time William Wagstaff, nurseryman and seedsman, owned and lived on the property facing east on State Street between sixth and seventh south Streets. From his nursery there, he supplied trees for much of the early planting; and because of a close friendship with Willard Richards, many of the General officials of the Church knew him personally and obtained their trees and shrubs from him. He planted this walnut tree with a number of other trees from his nursery for Brigham Young in the spring of 1858. In June 1861, Truman O. Angell became the owner of the land and Willard Timmins at 747 Green Street, Salt Lake City, now in his 80's tells how he and the Angell boys, Edgar and Osborne, enjoyed walnuts from the tree while they played in its pleasant shade. In 1869, Brigham Young requested Brother Wagstaff to trade his State Street home for the Angell property, as it would be more convenient to have the architect of the temple near him. The trade was made and the nursery stock was moved to the new home in the autumn of 1869 and the early spring of 1870. The property transfer was officially recorded in February 4, 1870. With this trade William Wagstaff again became the possessor of the tree which he had raised from seed a number of years before and his own children played under its shade. The few of them who are still living drive past it occasionally, loving its majestic splendor which to them is glorified by delicious childhood memories.

My Mother’s Album

by Annie C. Kimball

"Our Pioneer Heritage", vol 1 pg 135

Mother’s old red plush photograph album is with me still, the clasp is loose, and there are little torn spots on some of the pages where pictures have been removed. (She then describes the pictures of Lucian and Emily Noble, intimate neighbors.)

The next two pages are filled with pictures of my father, and mother, Lorenzo C. Clark and wife, Mary Rachel Wagstaff, taken in the late 1880s, while he was a missionary in Alabama. He had a long, beautiful beard which grew while he was away and which he removed after returning home. When I look at this picture of Mother with her "crimped" hair done high, her white dress trimmed with a black lace bertha held in place with a mother-of-pearl feather-shaped pin, and a half blown rose at her throat, I have to realize that she was really and truly beautiful.

The next page are pictures of two babies, the first being Cyrus Noble, our tiniest brother, who was with us only a year and a half. Scarlet fever took him away and no other was ever sent to fill the tragic vacancy. (She then tells of the Johnston children, then continues).

The opposite group is a wedding picture of my Uncle Nephi Wagstaff and his wife, Aunt Janie, from Tooele. true to form, he sits in a chair with his hand over the edge of a small table, while she stands solemnly beside him. They were married in March 1885. Her velvet basque and draped and pleated silk skirt over smallish hoops proclaim the fashions of the day.

You now turn the page, and there are my sisters, Mattie and Nellie Clark, when two little girls about eight and ten years of age.

Then we have another bridal pair, Uncle Moroni Wagstaff and Aunt Annie, married March 2, 1885. He wears a flower in his buttonhole and a sweet, happy expression. The bride wears orange blossoms in her mass of curly hair and orange blossoms at the neck line of her white lace trimmed dress. Hew new wedding dress shows plainly below the fingerless lace mitts which cover her hands. Opposite is a photograph of the same Aunt, taken in 1880, when she was a young girl of 15. Her name, then, was Rebecca Annie Rance. Her hair is in ringlets, she has white riching at her neck and she wears a very lovely gold chain with a locket.

Two opposite pages are filled with darling babies, one uncle, LeRoy Wagstaff, is in the semi-nude, displaying fat little legs and chubby toes; while the others are elaborately gowned in fine fabrics with embroideries, tucks and laces.

On another page is my mother when she was Mary Wagstaff, the 14 year old sister with her little brother Nephi, and sisters Lucy and Tillie standing by her side. As she sits where holding the baby, Susannah, in her arms, with her drop earrings, plain, middleparted hair done in a knot and bob at the back, and a dress so long that it rests on the floor, she really looks as though she might be the mother of the other four.

Then there is the polygamy picture of Grandfather William Wagstaff, standing behind his two wives, maria and Matilda, who are dressed and groomed alike and seated side by side. The first wife is on the right side of the husband, because family tradition says she wanted the position nearest his heart.

There is an intimate thought or memory with every picture, and I still love to renew acquaintance with my mother’s friends and loved ones of the olden days, as I scan each precious page.

Eva May Butler Israelsen

granddaughter of William Wagstaff

Pioneer Women of Today

Eva May Butler Israelsen was born 5 October 1894 at Butlerville, Salt Lake County, Utah, to Leander Butler and Effie Wagstaff. She celebrated her 103rd birthday on 5 October 1997 at her home in North Logan, Utah. She became a member of the Ralph Smith Camp, Cache North Company on 21 May 1962. She still attends monthly meetings and takes an active role in the organization and always wants to do her part.

Father Leander Butler and three of his five brothers settled what became know as Butlerville, Salt Lake Valley bench land near the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon, later organized as the Butler Ward. they were interested in the timber business, built water-powered sawmills in Big Cottonwood Canyon and furnished lumber for many of the early homes in Salt Lake County.

The first botanical nursery in Utah was established by Eva’s grandfather William Wagstaff. He supplied trees, shrubs, and seeds for President Brigham Young and for general planting by all others who desired them. Most of the pioneer-vintage trees now standing had their beginning in the Wagstaff nursery. He did budding and grafting and sent to England for cuttings and seeds of new kinds of trees and shrubs. He brought the Lombardy Poplar and Hawthorn trees from England.

Throughout her long life Eva has hungered for education. Her schooling began in approximately 1900 in a three-room school in the southeast hillside area of the Salt Lake Valley. She attended Jordan High School at Sandy, Utah and studied two years at Utah State Agricultural College at Logan, Utah. In 1917 at age 23, Eva married Victor E. Israelsen, and has resided in Cache Valley since that time. She has given birth to eleven children. Interspersed with her rearing of these children she enrolled in educational courses and LDS Institute classes as often as family life permitted. Her enthusiasm for learning and self improvement has never diminished.

As a centenarian, Eva has a marvelous overview of events and developments in every aspect of living. Always active in nurturing her body and her mind she enjoys good health sufficient to enable her to still live alone and to maintain her own home. Her many friends and family members continue to be enriched by her positive and pleasant disposition and the wisdom she has acquired through her voracity for learning.

This genial lady has, no doubt, practiced - and thereby impressed others with the wisdom of her Grandfather, William Wagstaff as penned in his " Account Book" entitled "William Wagstaff’s Rules of Living". [found elsewhere in this document]

DUP Legacy Newsletter, Vol XIX #1 Spring 1998