Ellis "Et" Whitney Wiltbank (pt1)

Ellis Whitney Wiltbank Photo

I recently found a history of Ellis Whitney Wiltbank written by his grandaughter Atella Wiltbank Haws. Then I found other histories. My interest was peaked. Here is what I have learned about Ellis Whitney. I have taken pains to verify information and found that some of the dates in these histories were incorrect. I have done my best to find the correct information and provide my sources.

Childhood

Ellis Whitney is the fourth child of Spencer Watson Wiltbank and Annie Sanders. His nickname which is in common use in all of the histories written of him is "Et". He was born 13 Nov 1854 at Salt Lake City, Utah just seven years after the Pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley. Just eight years later The Spencer Watson Wiltbank family was called to settle in Dixie in 1862 and establish the church in that desert land. Ellis Whitney was baptised on 5 Jul 1866 when he was 11 years and 8 months old. His older sister Rachel and his younger sister Annie were baptized at this time also.¹ In the 1870 Census it shows that Ellis Whitney was working on the farm which would have been normal.

St George Temple under Construction
note the short tower which was later replaced by a tall tower

Construction on the St George temple began in Nov of 1871 when Ellis Whitney was 17 and continued until Jan of 1877 when he was 22. It has been noted in the book Temples of the Most High that "Et Whitney supervised the production and delivery of lime." Limestone had to be burned for up to 60 hours at a temperature of 865^o to convert it to quicklime which could then be used in plaster, whitewash and mortar. As can be seen in this picture the St George temple was built of sandstone with a white wash coating. His grandaughter Atella Wiltbank Haws stated "I hear reports of his work as a young man in the woods, in the brick kiln, hauling lime rock and timbers for the building of the first Utah Temple."
This is all that has been found about the childhood of Ellis Whitney Wiltbank. However, we know a lot about Ellis Whitney as an adult and he really liked to tell stories and play with his grandchildren so I believe that we can deduce that he must have enjoyed laughing, playing and having a good time.

Marriage

William Ellis married Hannah Mary Hall, the only daughter of Thomas Hall and Ann Hughes, on 30 Jan 1875. They were married by Erastes Snow. They worked to finish the temple and they received their endowments on the first day the temple was open. That first day they also had their marriage sealed, the day was 11 Jan 1877. An interesting fact about the St. George Temple is that it has 18 sealing rooms which is the most of any temple. Not all of these sealing rooms are used today but I believe that they were kept busy for awhile after it was dedicated, catching up on all of the members in Southern Utah that needed to be sealed. Ellis and Hannah's first child was William Ellis born on 30 Dec 1875. He was not sealed to them at the time they were sealed to each other. One opinion about why is that it was because details about sealing children to parents was not known at this time. William Ellis was sealed to them on 29 Dec 1882 just before they left for Arizona. 10 more children would follow and all of the other children were born under the covenant. The following were born in St George: William Ellis, Mary Ann (Mollie), Florence and Ida.

Lee' Ferry when there was no cable to guide the boat across

Arizona Expedition/Lee's Ferry Accident

In 1876, Bishop Lorenzo Roundy was called by Brigham Young to take a company of men to Arizona and explore and Ellis Whitney was one of those that went with him.² This company of 14 men reached Lee's Ferry on the 24th of May 1878. The Colorado River was flooding from the spring runoff and was very dangerous. The first two loads was of Horses made it across safely. The "third load [consisting of] Bro Wells carriage the heavy baggage wagon and Bro. Roundy's wagon were put on the boat which was manned by Bro. Wells, Roundy, Hatch, Nutall, Johnson (who keeps the ferry), Hamblin, Carter and Wiltbanks." In order to get across, the ferry boat had to be pulled up-stream by a cable. The men and teams on shore did the work of pulling the ferry. While so-doing the cable broke and the boat was swept clean of all its load. Most of the men were dumped into the water. "Bro Wells, Hamblin and Nutall swam ashore. Bro Hatch and Carter were supported by clinging to Bro. Wells' carriage & Bro Wiltbank jumped ashore before the boat then swung out. Bro. Roundy ran along the rail towards the rear of the boat which was nearest shore and when about half way called out 'come on boys all who can swim,' and then plunged into the water and struck out for the shore. After swimming a short distance he was seen to throw up his hands and he sank out of sight."³ Jacob Hamblin and Ellis Whitney put a small skiff in to the water and rescued several men. While they were moving the floating wagons, one oar caught in a wagon wheel and was wrenched from their hands and the other oar was broken so badly that it could not be used. With no oars to guide them, they were soon swept on the rapids below the ferry. At the mouth of the rapids they rescued John Carter from the top of the floating buggy. Realizing the danger they were in the three men prayed for help. Jacob Hamblin said, "It's each man and his maker for himself". The boat was instantly turned in the stream and they were able to take it to shore. It was doubtless the Hand of God that saved these three men at this time.⁴ Some of the men continued on and the rest, including EW Wiltbank, were directed to return to St. George.³

Trip to Round Valley Arizona

It was three years before Ellis and his father, Spencer Watson Wiltbank, left a second time in the spring of 1879 to find a place for their families to live and finally made it to the Round Valley area. At the head of the Little Colorado River they found grass tall enough to be mowed and harvested for hay. They immediately began farming. After Ellis Witney had harvested his crop that fall he returned to Utah after his family. His crop which was principally oats, was freighted to Fort Apache and sold to the US government for 6 cents per pound.

Family Move to Arizona

It was almost four years before Ellis Whitney moved his family from St. George to Arizona sometime between January and April of 1883.⁵ At the time of the move his family consisted of his wife Hannah Mary, His children, William Ellis (6yrs), Mary Ann "Mollie" (4yrs), Florence (2yrs) and Ida (2months). The crossing of Lee's Ferry is hardly mentioned. The family came by way of the present towns of Winslow, Holbrook and Concho. They settled in Amity that year on what William Ellis called the Wahl placed. Here they farmed and they also raised potatoes in Greer.

How are we related to Ellis Whitney Wiltbank

Other Posts on Ellis Whitney Wiltbank
   Ellis Whitney Wiltbank part2 - Life in Arizona
   Ellis Whitney Wiltbank part3 - Reflections on his life

Notes:
1 -  new.familysearch.org shows Rachel's birth incorrectly being 2 years before her parents were married and her baptism being on 5 Apr 1866 instead of 5 Jul. There are multiple histories listing the baptism as being the same time as Ellis Whitney's baptism. Also census records show Rachel being only two years older than William Ellis.
2 - Chapter 10, History of Lorenzo Wesley Roundy by Joseph F. Buchanan grandson.
        see http://aeb.buchananspot.com/histories/LWRhistory.html
3 - Letter from Daniel Wells to Brigham Young recounting the tragedy, dated 26 May 1876.
4 - From histories written by Rebecca W. Burgess and Atella W. Haws
5 - There is no agreement on the date of the family move to Arizona among the various histories. This move date is deduced from the date of William Ellis Wiltbank being sealed to his parents in the St George Temple and when they would have to left to raise crops that season. William Ellis stated that they farmed and raised potatoes the summer of 1883.

Sources:
Pg 88, Temples of the Most High, 8th Edition, N.B.Lundwall
Description of Lime burning is from http://www.mcasv.org/Points/JAN_2K6.pdf  
Description of Lee's Ferry incident is from the following:
     History of Ellis Whitney Wiltbank by Rebecca W. Burgess and Effie Bayler Wiltbank
     Letter from Daniel H Wells to Brigham Young dated 26May1876 
Other Histories of Ellis Whitney Wiltbank
     From The Wiltbanks in Northeastern Arizona compiled by Ronald Wiltbank 1993/1994
          A Brief History of Ellis Whitney Wiltbank by Rebecca Wiltbank Hall Burgess
          Ellis Whitney Wiltbank by Atella W. Haws, a grandaughter 1976
          Ellis Whitney Wiltbank by Atella W Haws 1940
          Ellis Whitney Wiltbank by William Ellis Wiltbank Jr (date unknown)
          Ellis Whitney Wiltbank by Milo Wiltbank (date unknown)