Notes for the family & descendants of Joseph Woolsey (1771-1839)







Appendix 9 - Notes




10S. William M. STEVENS-1463

VITAL: RANDOLPH COUNTY, ILLINOIS, MARRIAGES.


11. JAMES HOPKINS WOOLSEY (JOSEPH8 , RICHARD7 , THOMAS6 , RICHARD5 , THOMAS4 , GEORGE "JORIS"3 , GEORGE SR2 , WILLIAM WOLSEY1) was born March 02, 1822 in KY - Jessamine County, and died October 15, 1903 in UT - Kanosh, Millard. He married (1) LOVINA PATTERSON Abt. 1843 in IL - Nauvoo, Hancock, daughter of JEREMIAH PATTERSON and ELIZA HELMER. She was born January 09, 1824 in NY - Burnsville, Allegany, and died September 21, 1908 in UT - Ferron, Emery. He married (2) SARAH Abt. 1855 in CA. She was born 1828 in ENG, and died March 08, 1877 in CA - Sacramento, Sacramento. He married (3) MARY ANN DONNELLY Abt. 1873 in UT - Kanosh, Millard, daughter of PHILLIP DONNALLY and MARY MCEWEN. She was born January 26, 1834 in IRE - Magherafelt, Londonderry, and died January 26, 1923 in UT - Kanosh, Millard.

GENE: Woolsey, Robert M. THE WOOLSEY FAMILY --- A Genealogy in the form of annotated Family Charts. 1936- 1969. 2.184 A. 2.2066B.

TIB: Temple Index Bureau. Ancestral File.

HIST: J. H. 20 Jan 1848 - Petition signed by many living in Pottawattamie County, Iowa Territory, to petition the U.S. Government to give them a post office. Signed by many, but included: all the leaders of the church there, and . . ., James Woolsey, Joseph Woolsey, James Woolsey, Jr., Levi Stewart, Jacob B. (s/b C.) Woolsey, Reuben Woolsey, Thomas Woolsey, Sr., Thos Woolsey, Jr., James Huntsman, Charles Kennedy, Hugh Day, William S. Day, John Boice (ww's grandfather, although this more likely is John Boice & Mary Barzee, distant cousins of ww's John Boyce.), George W. Hickerson (ww's gt gr father), Isaac Hickerson, George Hickerson, and many more.

HIST: Kelly, Charles. JOURNALS OF JOHN D. LEE 1846-47 AND 1859. Univ. of Utah Press. Salt Lake City. 1984. p. 188. S. Quarters, Mon., 12 Jul 1847. Clear and sultry, remarkably warm. J. D. Lee, A. Weeks, Jas. and Jacob Woolsey and boys melted down one of their oxen. Thunder clouds in the evening but no rain.

HIST: Kelly, Charles. JOURNALS OF JOHN D. LEE 1846-47 AND 1859. Univ. of Utah Press. Salt Lake City. 1984. Winter Quarters, used to be Omaha, now Otoe Nation, Sund. 7 Feb 1847. p. 67. . . About 2 p.m. Allen Weeks and Jas. Woolsey arrived in camp from Mt. Pizgah, brought a part of a load for Gen. Rich grateously. All was well.

HIST: Kelly, Charles. JOURNALS OF JOHN D. LEE 1846-47 AND 1859. Univ. of Utah Press. Salt Lake City. 1984. p. 69. Winter Quarters, O. N. Teus. 9 Feb 1847... The girls [Lee's wives] were engaged in building Jas. Woolsey a bed blanket coat. The linings, trimmings, buttons, cutting and making were all done at my expenses. Jas. is somewhat unwell, being troubled with cold and the canker. Allen and Jas. chopped me some firewood. In the evening I wrote to G. W. Hickerson and family M. T. P. [Mt. Pizgah] after which I walked to Bro. A. P. Free's where I remained till morning. At 9 weather growing colder.

William Taylor History p. 52:    In this portion of his journal, Lee began describing the process used by the Mormons to divide up the land and build cabins. But some of the men assigned to work on the Mud Creek Camp farm were unhappy with the location that John D. Lee assigned to them: ?Summer Quarters, Teus, April 6th, '47 -- Morning clear, wind N.W., cool. About 8 I measured and laid off the city plots, then called my adopted family togeather (I.E.) such as were presant. Gave them the liberty of having their land set off to them or working as one family. T. Johnson, Wm. Pace and Miles Anderson choose the former proposition; A.D. Young, David Young, Jas. Wooley, H. Wooley, Geo. Laub, A. Weeks, Allen, Wm. and T., Levi North, G. W. Hickerson and some others, the later. Some sharp words passed between Bro. Arnold and Myself because I reproved him and some others of his Co. for selfishness, for his hard speeches. Bro. A. Young and myself got up some board timber and hauled a few logs in. Bro. Harris, Dun and Busby arrived in camp. Evening fine.?

William Taylor History p. 55:    John D. Lee was proud of the fact that he was the adopted church father of a large number of members. They placed all their assets into one large partnership and promised to help each other with their daily needs: ?Summer Quarters, Friday, May 14th, '47 -- Clear and warm. J.D. Lee and family were planting corn, the remainder of the camp ploughing, clearing, &c. About 3 P.M. A Weeks, G.W. Hickerson, Jas. Woolsey, Levi North and their families (all members of J.D. Lee's household) arrived from Mt. Pizgah. Their arrival produced no smawl stir among the connections. They came up like good and dutiful children, told their adopted father in the priesthood (J.D. Lee) that they and their effects were subject to his council in all things. Evening clowdy and warm. At 7 Hickerson, Weeks, North, Jas. and H. Woolsey, A.D. and David Young and their families met at J.D. Lee's and spent the eving in music and dancing before the Lord. At the close of the recreation J.D. Lee called them to order and after instructing them in the order of mirth and recreation bowed down in prayer before the ruler of all things. Adjourned at 11. Good feelings prevailed.?

HIST: Kelly, Charles. JOURNALS OF JOHN D. LEE 1846-47 AND 1859. Univ. of Utah Press. Salt Lake City. 1984. p. 166. Summer Quarters, O. N. Teus. 18 May 1847. Clear and cool. Quite a sevier frost. .. In the evening Pres. I Morly, Jos. Allen, A. Weeks, I. Houston, G. W. Hickerson, Jas. Wools[ey] and several of the sisters met at and passed the evening at J. D. Lee's, dancing and enjoying the music. Adjourned at 9 by prayer from Pres. Morley.

HIST: Brooks, Juanita. "John Doyle Lee". 1962. p. 78. 19 Feb 1846. [George Laub Autobiography, typescript, BYU-S, p. 39. " Now after John D. Lee had crossed [the Mississippi River] the first time, the camp stopped several days in the Iowa territory in consequence of the cold weather and the snow storms. Then he returned and took the residue of his family. This was on the 4th day of Mar [1846] when I crossed with him and in the morning when I left him he desired very much for me to go with him but as circumstances was of such that I could not go at thaat time because I had not now arranged my business to take my departure at this time. So now I took my leave of them after wishing them peace and prosperity on their journey. I gave Father Lee the parting hand and we embraced each other in our arms for sorrow was in my heart to part with a good friend."] (From George Laub's Diary): Now there was in Number in this last part of his family J. D. Lee, Agathan & Rachel, Martha, Loiza, Horas Bowen and wife, James Wolsys wife & Mother Wolsey & Hyrum [Woolsey?] & Brother Workmans Son & "

HIST: Brooks, Juanita. "John Doyle Lee". 1962. p. 78. 1846. "Soon afterward Lee received word that two of his brothers-in-law, James and Reuben Woolsey, were in custody at Nauvoo charged with theft, . . ."

HIST: Brooks, Juanita. "John Doyle Lee". 1962. p. 117. "But there were others who retained their confidence in Lee. On May 13 (1847), Allen Weeks, George W. Hickerson, James Woolsey, and Levi North and their families arrived in camp from Mt. Pizgah, ready to unite and cast their lots with that of their adopted father. James Woolsey was a brother to Aggatha Ann, and George Hickerson was married to her sister Sarah, so they were united by blood. . . all were his converts; all had young families. . . ."

HIST: Kelly, Charles. JOURNALS OF JOHN D. LEE 1846-47 AND 1859. Univ. of Utah Press. Salt Lake City. 1984. p. 144. Summer Quarters, Teus. 6 Apr 1847. Morning clear, wind N.W. cool. About 8 I measured and laid off the city plots, then called my adopted family togeather (I.E.) such as were presant. Gave them the liberty of having their land set off to them or working as one family. T. Johnson, Wm. Pace and Miles Anderson choose the former proposition; A. D. Young, David Young, Jas. Wooley, H. Wooley, Geo. Laub, A. Weeks, Allen, Wm and T., Levi North, G. W. Hickerson and some others, the latter. Some sharp words passed between Bro. Arnold and myself because i reproved him and some others of his Co. for selfishness, for his hard speeches.

[Beginning of the trouble, which continued all summer, over division of land.]

HIST: Kelly, Charles. JOURNALS OF JOHN D. LEE 1846-47 AND 1859. Univ. of Utah Press. Salt Lake City. 1984. p. 165.
Summer Quarters, Fri, 14 May 1847.
Clear and warm. J. D. Lee and family were planting corn, the remainder of the camp ploughing, clearing, &. Abt 3 p.m. A. Weeks, G. W. Hickerson, Jas Woolsey, Levi North and their families (all members of J. D. Lee's house hold) arrived from Mt. Pizgah. Their arrival produced no smawl stir among the connections. They came up like good and dutiful children, told their adopted father in the priesthood (J.D. Lee that they and their effects were subject to his council in all things. Evening clowdy and warm. At 7 Hickerson, Weeks, North, Jas. & H. Woolsey, A.D. and David Young and their families met at J. D. Lee's and spent the evening in music and dancing before the Lord. At the close of the recreation J. D. Lee called them to order and after instructing them in the odrder of mirth and recreation bowed down in prayer before the ruler of all things. Adjourned at 11. Good feelings prevailed. At 8 m. harris returned but with verry little meal. The mill was so crowded it was almost impossible to get grindings. Rain about 12.

HIST: Kelly, Charles. JOURNALS OF JOHN D. LEE 1846-47 AND 1859. Univ. of Utah Press. Salt Lake City. 1984. p. 175. Summer Quarters, O. N. Thurs. June 10th 1847. Clear, W. N.W. J.D. Lee and some of his family were ploughing and harrowing corn (namely) A. D. Young, Allen Weeks, G. W. Hickerson, Jas. Woolsey, Levi North, Wm. Swap, Jacob Woolsey, Hyrum Rheu[??] and Woolsey [ww could he have meant here Hyrum and Reuben Woolsey?? ww], Allanson, and Marshal Allen, Wm. Woolsey, David Young and Eli Bennett; of the women Nancy the 2nd [No. 12], Nancy the 1st [No. 2], Racheal l[No. 6], Lovina [No. 13] and Nancy Ann, Emoline [No. 11], Lucinda and Louisa Free [ No. 3]. ... Evening clear.

HIST: Brooks, Juanita. "John Doyle Lee". 1962. p. 128. abt 20 Apr 1848. "His [Lee's] brothers-in-law, George Hickerson and James Woolsey, had all they could do with their own large families."Sometime between 20 Apr 1848 - 16 Nov 1850 James Woolsey left for the West, possibly with John D. Lee and James' mother, Abigail Schaeffer Woolsey.

HIST: Cleland, Robert Glass & Juanita Brooks. A MORMON CHRONICLE: The Diaries of John D. Lee - 1848-1876. Vol. I. The Huntington Library. San Marino, California. 1955. p. 9. Summer Quarters. Frid, 17 Mar 1848. Clear, wind high, West. . . . about 3 P.M. James Woolsey & George Washington Hickerson arrived in camp from Mo. Brought with them a load of Flour, Lard, Bacon, Dried Aples etc....

HIST: Cleland, Robert Glass & Juanita Brooks. A MORMON CHRONICLE: The Diaries of John D. Lee - 1848-1876. Vol. I. The Huntington Library. San Marino, California. 1955. p. 10. Summer Quarters. Sund, 19 Mar 1848. Cloud[y] & cool. Wind east. . . & about 10 morn. G. W. Hickerson & Jas. Woolsey returned. Aggathean Lee & Abigail went with them on a visit. Previous to starting Jas. Wool[s]ey & G. W. Hickerson determined if possible to disuade their Mother who was Sealed to J.D. Lee from crossing the Mountains this Spring & thereby cause trouble in J.D. Lee's Family. Seeing her determination to go, James [said/] that if she went before he did that it would Brake into his calculations & that he would take Wm. her only Son at home from her to Mo. & she might gow alone. J.D. Lee hearing this said to her that if she intended to look to him [for] prot[e]ction & Salvation, that she must adhere to his council for he was her Husband, Bro., Father, President & Saviour or else he was Nothing & that if she would be humble in Prayre that she should have Power to hold her children & that they would obey her council through her Head & that [they] would follow her whereever she went. She Said that J.D. Lee's advise was good & that She felt the weight of his words, went home, called her children arround her & advised them to be passive. Said to James, because I want to do right you are trying to hedge up my way by persuading my only help to leave me, but if this [is] the gratitude that I am to recieve from my children whom I have raised from their infancy, it is grieveous to me. But, my sons, do with your aged mother as seemeth good, forsake me if you choose [but?] I will follow council. Her words being guided by the Spirit of her calling perfectly conquered their [ ] insomuch that they were overcome, wept & asked her forgiveness. J.D. Lee, Jacob Woolsy, Rachel Kelsey, mary Y. Lee & Nanc[y] An]n] Vance for fear of a storm
husked corn all day.

HIST: Cleland, Robert Glass & Juanita Brooks. A MORMON CHRONICLE: The Diaries of John D. Lee - 1848-1876. Vol. I. The Huntington Library. San Marino, California. 1955. p. 12. Summer Quarters. Thurs., 23 Mar 1848. Wm. & Stephen husking corn (S. Gully also) for J. D. Lee. . . Day warm . . . About 12 noon S. Fox & T.S. Johnson started to W. Quarters with 2 loads of corn for Pres. B. Young got of J.D. Lee. Martha Lee & Eliza Patterson went with them.

HIST: Cleland, Robert Glass & Juanita Brooks. A MORMON CHRONICLE: The Diaries of John D. Lee - 1848-1876. Vol. I. The Huntington Library. San Marino, California. 1955. p. 12. Summer Quarters. Friday, 24 Mar 1848. Clear & warm. About 9 Alma Porter started for W. Quar[t]ers & about 10 J.D. Lee started to Purchase a waggon for himself & one for Jas. Woolsey. Reached W. Q. about 1 p.m. . . After Dinner J. D. Lee was with Pres. B. Young visiting from place to Place till near Night. Bought a waggon of Pres. B. Young. He also gave J. D. Lee Some instruction relative to Some of his Family who once had used an influence against him. Said to let them alone & let them help themselve[s] & for J.D. Lee to prepare himself for the Valley..

HIST: Cleland, Robert Glass & Juanita Brooks. A MORMON CHRONICLE: The Diaries of John D. Lee - 1848-1876. Vol. I. The Huntington Library. San Marino, California. 1955. p. 13. Summer Quarters. Sund., 26 Mar 1848. Clear & pleasant. At 8 Stephen & Wm [Woolsey] started with J. D. Lee Teams. . . . J.D. Lee let 120 bushels of corn go for a waggon for Jas. Woolsy. Recieved in payment about 8 dollars in dried Fruit and arged [agreed?] to wait for the remainder of $30 till he got to the valley.

HIST: Cleland, Robert Glass & Juanita Brooks. A MORMON CHRONICLE: The Diaries of John D. Lee - 1848-1876. Vol. I. The Huntington Library. San Marino, California. 1955. p. 13. Summer Quarters. Teus., 28 Mar 1848. Clear, Wind high, cool. J. D. Lee Sold Jas. Woolsey Lumber for a waggon Box, who also started to W. Q. about 3. . . .

HIST: Cleland, Robert Glass & Juanita Brooks. A MORMON CHRONICLE: The Diaries of John D. Lee - 1848-1876. Vol. I. The Huntington Library. San Marino, California. 1955. p. 17. Summer Quarters. Sund., 9 Apr 1848. Clear, Wind S.W. . . . About 9 Jas. Woolsey started with his Family to winter Quarters with a Promise to send back the Box on his waggon which belonged to J.D. Lee. Evening more pleasant about sunset.

HIST: Cleland, Robert Glass & Juanita Brooks. A MORMON CHRONICLE: The Diaries of John D. Lee - 1848-1876. Vol. I. The Huntington Library. San Marino, California. 1955. p. 17. Summer Quarters. Mond. 10 Apr 1848. Cloudy, Wind still high, N.W. About 6 J.D. Lee started a Team & waggon to Winter Quarters for his Box that Jas. Woolsey had. J.D. Lee & Jas. Pace were reparing J.D. Lee's waggons. . . about 6 S. Kelsey returned, reported that Jas. Woolsey would not let him have the Box & would likely cross the River the next morning. Upon receiving this information J.D. Lee Started direct for W. Quarters. Met L. Stewart 4 ms from camp, who reported that Bro. Loveland refused to let Bro. Lee have the avails of Bro. Lee's Rifle which he had Sold while on his way to the vally but offered to replace, or rathere to put in place of the one he had Sold, an old shackling gun not worth more than 3 dollars. J.D. Lee reached W. Quarters about 9 o'clock, found Pres. B. Young comfortably by his fire Side, who welcomed him in & had his Horse put up & fed & with him J.D. Lee tarried over Night. J.D. Lee told him his buisiness. Pres. young Said that Some of the Brethren were not satisfied when they had property put in their hands for church purposes untill they sold it to get something that they called their own, but his advise was to let it go for the presant for whould he undertake to get pay for his Property, he would have a quarrel, first, & as to the waggon Box, he sent men to go & take it off the waggon & put it in his Door yard. But the Box could not be found. He then instructed G. D. Grant to go to Bro. Higby, the Ferryman, & tell him not to cross J. Woolsy untill the Box was delivered..

HIST: Cleland, Robert Glass & Juanita Brooks. A MORMON CHRONICLE: The Diaries of John D. Lee - 1848-1876. Vol. I. The Huntington Library. San Marino, California. 1955. p. 18. Summer Quarters. Teus., 11 Apr 1848. Clear & warm. About 7th J.D. Lee & G.D. Grant was at Jas. Woolsey & told him what Pres. B. Young had done. Woolsey Said take the Dam waggon Box. J.D. Lee Said that feelings nor ruff expressions would not a vail anything, then returned, took T. S. Johnson & Fox & conveyed the Box to Prs. B. Young's who sent it the Same day to S. Quarteres to J.D. Lee's by T. S. Johnson. . . .

CENSUS: 1850 Census Pottawattamie County, Iowa, 1217-1217. 16 Nov. p. 141.

They were living next door to Thomas Woolsey & Mary Burrell. Julia above must be Julia Ann Mitchell, Thomas Woolsey's 2nd wife. Here are Lovina and her three children after being deserted by James Woolsey.


1850 Census Middle Fork, El Dorado County, California, is one James Walsey, age 25, male a miner, born in NY (then NY struck out and KY) written over and earned $4.00 a day in the gold fields. Also in the same county, in the 1850 census at Louisville, El Dorado County, CA, was James Woolsey's brother, William Woolsey, and their brother-in-law George Washington Hickerson and Hickerson's brother Andrew Jackson Hickerson. (Census records)

HIST: The Smithsonian Magazine. January 1998. (ON-LINE: www.smithsonianmag.si.edu) "The Lure of Gold" Collection of Matthew R. Isenburg, et al. "The nugget he had pulled from the mine near Sierraville, (Sierra County), California, weighed a whopping eight pounds, so JAMES WOOLSEY did what came naturally during the gold rush: he had his "likeness" taken to commemorate the event. For three or four dollars, a forty-niner could walk into a daguerreotype studio - located in the tent city that had sprung up in San Francisco, or in one of the portable wagon-studios that plied the mining camps - and have a cased image made to send to loved ones back home. Business was especially brisk when a steam was about to leave for the East. In his advertising broadside, photographer William Shew advised: " ... it is for your advantage to call soon after the steamer leaves, and you will have a much better chance to get good pictures."

TRAVEL: Woolsey, Mrs. Earl (LaVern) & Parley Woolsey. BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES BRIGHAM WOOLSEY, SR. 1957. History submitted by Leora W. Gustaveson. p. 1. In 1852 when James Brigham was six years old, his mother moved the family to Utah, in a pioneer company under the leadership of Captain Wood. Soon after arriving in Salt Lake Valley they moved to north Ogden where they lived for the next eight years. While living there the children attended a one-room country school for a limited period, the only school training they were ever to receive.

HIST: Public Works Index - Almost as soon as the Saints were in the Valley, Brigham Young started Public Works programs, digging canals, putting up the wall around Temple Square, and soon began work digging the foundation for the Salt Lake Temple. It appears that J. H. Woolsey was in Salt Lake at least on 25 Jul 1851. Public Works Index - started 1850 - J. H. Woolsey, see A. H. Raleigh's Book 1850-1851. 25 July 1851 (first time his name appears, I haven't checked for other occurrences, yet.) See Mason's Time Book. (CHO)

HIST: Whitaker Book. p. 254. "As soon as George and his brothers-in-law James (w.w. is not sure now, that James came with his brothers, as he is in California with another wife and children, purportedly. He probably came as above, in 1848.), Richard and Thomas Woolsey arrived [1852] in South Weber, they commenced work on a canal to divert water from the Weber River onto their farms. They were original owners of the canal. They used shovels, teams, scoops and sleds to dig the canal."

CENSUS: 1860 Census of Marysville, Linda Twp, Yuba Co, CA #1233-1797

Not finding James Woolsey in the 1860 or 1870 census of Utah, I found this in the 1860 Census of Yuba Co, CA. He is close to the right age and born in INdiana, it could very well be our man with a wife Sarah. Notice she was born in England, and could well be "the other woman" James left Iowa with.??

James Woolsey hasn't been found in the 1870 census of Arizona, Calif., Nevada, or Utah. It appears that in the mid 1870's he returned to Utah and met briefly with Lovina but she rebuffed him and then, in 1876, he married Mary Donelly Black and was found in the 1880 census of Kanosh, Utah.

CENSUS: 1870 Census Marysville, Yuba Co, CA. FHL# 545582. 10 Aug. p. 593. 256-242.

p. 614 19 Aug. (City of Marysville) 548-542.

CENSUS: 1880 Census of UT. Kanosh, Millard, UT FHL film # 1255336. 8-136-33. 3 & 4 June. p. 498 79-79

WARD: Kanosh Ward Records. Reel #3264. James Woolsey - Rem'd [removed?], listed with Reuben Woolsey on a Seventies List and also, listed on p. 13 as James Woolsey, s/o - with no further data.

CORRES: 20 March 1855. South Weber Fort. Letter of Sarah Woolsey Hickerson from So. Weber Fort to her husband George Washington Hickerson, who was on a mission to Tenn & Ill: "I have letters once a month from William [Woolsey]. He is doing well and was at Jameses [Woolsey] when he wrote me the last. James was well and had written several times to me, but I have not got any of them up to this time."

OBIT: Journal History. CR 100/137 Reel # 107. Deseret Evening News. 15 Oct 1903 - p. 2. Kanosh, Millard, Utah. James Hopkins Woolsey was found dead in his bed about 7 o'clock this morning. Deceased was born 3 Mar 1823 in Kentucky and was married to Lovinia Patterson at Nauvoo, Illinois in 1839, several children of this marriage are living in Utah and Arizona. In 1876 he married Mary A. Donnelly Black, who, with one daughter Mrs. Tilson of Sevier County, survive him.

HIST: Woolsey, Nethella Griffin. "The Escalante Story. A History of the Town of Escalante, and Description of the Surrounding Territory, Garfield Co, UT. 1875-1964." 1964. various pages list some of his children and families.

TELE: A telephone conversation 31 Jan 1998 with William Isaac Busenbark, 280 E. Mt View Dr, Murray, UT 84107. 801 268 0879. He has pictures and his father's history of the Escalante Woolsey, descended from James Woolsey and Lovina Patterson. He gave me a picture of Lovina Patterson.

BIO: Biography of James Brigham Woolsey, Sr., b 3 Aug 1846, Mt. Pisga, IA, d 24 May 1935, Escalante, UT, arrived in UT 1852, with Capt Wood Co. md 5 Jun 1870 Tyresha Mary Myers. History written by Mrs. Earl (Lavern) Woolsey & Parley Woolsey, 1957, submitted by Leora W. Gustaveson (Grand daughter), 17 Jan 1974 for South Company, Weber Co, UT. Camp Gateway.


11S. Lovina PATTERSON -8629

GENE: Woolsey, Robert M. THE WOOLSEY FAMILY --- A Genealogy in the form of annotated Family Charts. 1936- 1969. 2.184 A. 2.2066B.

TIB: Temple Index Bureau.

CENSUS: 1850 Census Pottawattamie County, Iowa, 1217-1217. 16 Nov. p. 141.

Here is Lovina and her three children after being deserted by her husband James Woolsey. Julia above is the 2nd wife of Thomas Woolsey, who lived next door to Julia and Lovina.

HIST: Brooks, Juanita. "John Doyle Lee". 1962. p. 78. 19 Feb 1846. [George Laub Autobiography, typescript, BYU-S, p. 39. " Now after John D. Lee had crossed [the Mississippi River] the first time, the camp stopped several days in the Iowa territory in consequence of the cold weather and the snow storms. Then he returned and took the residue of his family. This was on the 4th day of Mar [1846] when I crossed with him and in the morning when I left him he desired very much for me to go with him but as circumstances was of such that I could not go at thaat time because I had not now arranged my business to take my departure at this time. So now I took my leave of them after wishing them peace and prosperity on their journey. I gave Father Lee the parting hand and we embraced each other in our arms for sorrow was in my heart to part with a good friend."] (From George Laub's Diary): Now there was in Number in this last part of his family J. D. Lee, Agathan & Rachel, Martha, Loiza, Horas Bowen and wife, James Wolsys wife & Mother Wolsey & Hyrum [Woolsey?] & Brother Workmans Son & "

HIST: Brooks, Juanita. "John Doyle Lee". 1962. p. 117. "But there were others who retained their confidence in Lee. On May 13 (1847), Allen Weeks, George W. Hickerson, James Woolsey, and Levi North and their families arrived in camp from Mt. Pizgah, ready to unite and cast their lots with that of their adopted father. James Woolsey was a brother to Aggatha Ann, and George Hickerson was married to her sister Sarah, so they were united by blood. . . all were his converts; all had young families. . . ."

HIST: Brooks, Juanita. "John Doyle Lee". 1962. p. 128. abt 20 Apr 1848. "His [Lee's] brothers-in-law, George Hickerson and James Woolsey, had all they could do with their own large families."

HIST: Cleland, Robert Glass & Juanita Brooks. A MORMON CHRONICLE: The Diaries of John D. Lee - 1848-1876. Vol. I. The Huntington Library. San Marino, California. 1955. p. 12. Summer Quarters. Thurs., 23 Mar 1848. Heavy Frost. J.D. Lee working on waggons. Jos. Allen verry sick. Jacob, Wm. & Stephen husking corn (S. Gully also) for J. D. Lee. . . Day warm . . . About 12 noon S. Fox & T.S. Johnson started to W. Quarters with 2 loads of corn for Pres. B. Young got of J.D. Lee. Martha Lee & Eliza Patterson went with them.

OBIT: Journal History. CR 100/137 Reel # 107. Deseret Evening News. 15 Oct 1903 - p. 2. Kanosh, Millard, Utah. James Hopkins Woolsey was found dead in his bed about 7 o'clock this morning. Deceased was born 3 Mar 1823 in Kentucky and was married to Lovinia Patterson at Nauvoo, Illinois in 1839, several children of this marriage are living in Utah and Arizona. In 1876 he married Mary A. Donnelly Black, who, with one daughter Mrs. Tilson of Sevier County, survive him.

HIST: Woolsey, Nethella Griffin. "The Escalante Story. A History of the Town of Escalante, and Description of the Surrounding Territory, Garfield Co, UT. 1875-1964." 1964. various pages.

TELE: A telephone conversation 31 Jan 1998 with William Isaac Busenbark, 280 E. Mt View Dr, Murray, UT 84107. 801 268 0879. He has pictures and his father's history of the Escalante Woolsey, descended from James Woolsey and Lovina Patterson. William said his father John Busenbark, while his mother Lovina, himself and his younger brother were in the settlement at Giles, Blue Valley, John Brigham came home one day to find a man in the house with Lovina, who was quite unsettled. John B. drove him off. He asked his mother who the man was. She told him that he was James Woolsey, John B.'s father and she hadn't seen him since he left for Utah or California in abt 1850.

BIO: Biography of James Brigham Woolsey, Sr., b 3 Aug 1846, Mt. Pisga, IA, d 24 May 1935, Escalante, UT, arrived in UT 1852, with Capt Wood Co. md 5 Jun 1870 Tyresha Mary Myers. History written by Mrs. Earl (Lavern) Woolsey & Parley Woolsey, 1957, submitted by Leora W. Gustaveson (Grand daughter), 17 Jan 1974 for South Company, Weber Co, UT. Camp Gateway.

CENSUS: 1870 Census West Point Township, Pahute County, Nevada. p. 310. #16-117, 17-12 I.

HIST: Life of John Busenbark, s/o of Isaac Busenbark & Lavinia Patterson Woolsey. p. 4. "We lived in Moapa Valley, Nevada for two years. Our family consisted of Father, Mother, two boys George and John and two girls Molina and Sarah and Mother's three children by a former marriage, Brig, Rachel, and Joseph Woolsey. These children were born in Nauvoo, Joseph being just six weeks old when the Prophet Joseph was killed. When the Saints began coming to Utah, Mother's first husband, Jim Woolsey, who she married in Nauvoo, came out to Utah to get a home started before having Mother and their three children come. But, before Mother arrived he married another woman and separated from her. He joined a wild party going to California. Mother never heard from him after he left Nauvoo and supposed him dead. But years later while she was living in Loa, Utah, quite comfortably, he came back and tried to get her to return to him, but she did not do this. My mother crossed the plains with another family. She furnished one good cow for her part of the team. She and her two oldest children walked most of the way. Many times they were forced to stop until a herd of buffalo had passed. Scarcity of food and fuel made the saints improvise many things. The women would gather buffalo chips for fuel.

One night while camped on a stream the dreaded disease cholera broke out in camp. Mother lay in her wagon burning up with fever, she sent her oldest son to the creek for a quart cup of cold water which she drank eagerly and began to mend immediately. This was against the rules of the camp as they thought cold water was surely fatal. It did not have this effect upon Mother however, as she began to recover from the moment that she drank it. There were three deaths in the camp that night.

WEST: Lavinia Patterson Woolsey came west in 1852 in the David Wood Company, Capt Isaac Busenbark Ten. She came with William M. Gregor. It reads "8. Wm M.Gregor & Laving Woolsey 4 males, 5 females, 1 wagon, 2 cows, 4 sheep."

WEST: John Busenbark story: When Mother arrived in North Ogden and found that her husband had deserted her, she made the best of it. She met Isaac Busenbark (she must have known him before this because she came west in his company of 10 ww) who had lost his wife while crossing the plains, they were quite attracted to each other, having in a way suffered similar cicumstances. He had raised a family of nine girls and one boy Henery. They were all married. Brother Busenbark and Mother were congenial and good Latter Day Saints. They were married in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah and lived in North Ogden until after I (John) was two years old.

Mother never tired of telling her children aboaut the harrassing days of the Prophet Joseph and how they used to have in readiness at all times a bundel of their most value possessions ready to flee at a moments notice. There were many other trying times. Mother told of how she knew he was the rightful President and leader of our church.

From Meadow Valley we went to Panguitch. As we passed through Parowan, Mother learned that she had a sister living there. (Parowan is an Indian name meaning Salt Water.) We stopped and visited Mother's sister Eliza Mille[r], for one week.

ON-LINE: www.Lofthouse.com Emery County, Utah genealogy and family histories - Surnames - Queries - 27 Apr 2001. Sherida Riggs - Ferron - Looking for info on Lovina (Patterson) Woolsey Busenbark who was the wife of Isaac Busenbark and is buried in Ferron. I am related to her sister, Eliza Ann (Patterson) Miller and would like more information on their siblings. They are the daus of Jeremiah Patterson & Eliza Helmer who were baptized into the LDS Church in New York in the 1830's. [www sent e-mail 6 Jan 2002]


11S. Sarah -9617

CENSUS: 1850 Census of Hancock County, Illinois. 10 Oct. Wesley Williams. p. 312. # 604 - 605
Woolsey, Sarah, 24 f, England
Is this the Sarah who is also shown in the 1860 censu of Yuba Co., CA. below? [www thinks this is more than just coincidence.]


Not finding James Woolsey in the 1860 or 1870 census of Utah, I found this in the 1860 Census of Yuba Co, CA. He is close to the right age and born in Indiana, it could very well be our man with a wife Sarah. Notice she was born in England, and could well be "the other woman" James left Iowa with.??

CENSUS: 1860 Census of Linda Twp, Yuba Co, CA. FHL# 0803072. P.O. Marysville, 7 Aug Lloyd Magruder, p. 982B #1233-1797.

CENSUS: 1870 Census Marysville, Yuba Co, CA. FHL# 545582. 10 Aug. p. 593. 256-242.

p. 614 19 Aug. (City of Marysville) 548-542.


11S. Mary Ann DONNELLY-8885

WARD: Kanosh Ward records Reel #4314. 1875. Mrs. Mary Woolsey, ass't sec. of Relief Society.

WARD: Kanosh Ward records Reel #4314. 1880. 6 Sep Mrs. Mary Ann Woolsey, President of Primary Assoc. - Pres. Woolsey was succeeded in 1887 by Mrs. Mary A. Mills.

WARD: Kanosh Ward Records Reel #3264. p. 13. #159. Mary Ann Woolsey, d/o Felix Donnelly & M. A. McKewan. b. 26 Jan
1837, County Derry, Ireland, bapt 1853 by James Ferguson.

CENSUS: 1880 Census of UT. Kanosh, Millard, UT FHL film # 1255336. 8-136-33. 3 & 4 June. p. 498 79-79

OBIT: Journal History. CR 100/137 Reel # 107. Deseret Evening News. 15 Oct 1903 - p. 2. Kanosh, Millard, Utah. James Hopkins Woolsey was found dead in his bed about 7 o'clock this morning. Deceased was born 3 Mar 1823 in Kentucky and was married to Lovinia Patterson at Nauvoo, Illinois in 1839, several children of this marriage are living in Utah and Arizona. In 1876 he married Mary A. Donnelly Black, who, with one daughter Mrs. Tilson of Sevier County, survive him.

BIO: Mary Ann Donnally Groe Black was born in Magherafelt, Ireland, 26 Jan 1834. She was the dau of Phillip Donnally and Mary Ann McEwen. Her father was a drover, and was lost at sea when she was very young. Later her mother md Edward Erwin, who was always kind to Mary. She had the very best education that the schools could give at that time.

When she was about 17, she found herself in love with a young man named Frank Quinn, and also about that time two Mormon elders came to Magherafelt and were to hold a meeting one night. The elders were J.T.D. McAllister and James Ferguson. Elder McAllister was the speaker. She had peresuaded a girl friend to go with her to the meeting. The elder told the story of the Restored Gospel, the visit of the Father and the Son to the Prophet Joseph, the coming of the Book of Mormon, the organization of the Church, etc.

Mary said it sounded like a beautiful story she had once read and forgotten. She was completely converted to mormonism and ran home to tell the story and convert her mother and stepfather. She was broken-hearted when she found they only laughed. She told her story to her boy friend, who was very much upset about it. She was soon baptized by Elder McAllister and began to make preparations to go to America. Later she had a final talk with Frank Quinn. He said, "Mary, it is alright for you to belong to the Mormon Church. We can get married and be happy, and all the girls that come to our home can be baptized into the Mormon Church and all the boys will be Catholics." She replied, "Frank, I leave you right here; I never expect to see you again."

She boarded an old sailing vessel and was eleven weeks on the ocean. She never heard of Frank Quinn or her folks again; she was the only child.

She found her way to the body of the Church and did her part in all its activities. She married a man by the name of ____ Groe. They started for the valleys in James Pace's Company. Groe left the company and went back. Mary gave birth to a baby girl and named her Alice. William Black and his wife Jane, their three sons and their families, were in the same company. Mrs. Jane Black had been blessed and set apart as a midwife by the Prophet Joseph Smith to care for the sisters as long as she lived. She took charge of Mary as though she belonged to her, and this lasted all the way across the plains and into the valleys.

A while after arriving in the valleys, Pres. Young told George Black to bring that Irish girl, Mary Ann Donnally, to his office and he would marry them. George had a wife and baby. He told Mary the story; she replied, "If Pres. Young says that is the right thing to do, it can't be wrong." She put on her bonnet and they were married in Pres. Young's office. It is reported that Groe came to the valleys several years later with a family of his own.

For some time the Blacks owned and lived on the corner across the street south of the Beehive House. They were sent to Sanpete County and settled Spring City. Mary's second baby was born there. Mary Ann was her name. The Indians were so bad Pres. Young called them back to Salt Lake. Later they moved back to Sanpete and built a large stone house at the foot of the hill where the temple now stands. They spent twelve years in Sanpete. No one will ever know the hardships they passed through. It has been said that Mary crocheted hundreds of yards of that kind of work which Susan, the first wife, peddled up and down the valley for flour, meat and anything the family could use. They finally received a call to move down to Utah's Dixie.

How they ever found their way down over the Black Ridge is a mystery - as well as through the bad lands to a place with the Rio Virgin River on the south and a high mesa of rock on the north. There they settled and called the town Rockville. Eleven years Mary lived in Rockville. Lillian, Joseph (deceased), Edward L. and Laura were born there. Mary lived the greater portion of the first twenty-three years of her married life with Grandmother Black. She planted and hoed the cotton, picked and separated it from the seeds, corded it into small rolls then on the spinning wheel wove the thread into cloth on the old loom, then made clothing for her children. All the while Mary was doing this hard, tedious work, Alice was taking care of the rest of the children.

When Edward was born, it was evident there was something seriously wrong with him. For more than a year he cried. During all that time he never grew one pound. Grandmother Black was helpless and told Mary one day if she would quit praying for the Lord to spare the life of that "little piece of skin and bones" it would be out of its misery right away. Mother was hurt, and told Grandmother she wouold never give him up.

One late morning Grandmother was away visiting the sick. Mary had been carrying her sick baby on this same pillow which had held him for more than a year, but stopped to lay him on the bed for a moment, when a fine-appearing man stepped into the house and spoke to Mary as if he had always known her. He said, "Sister Black, you have a very sick baby. I have come to tell you what to do for your baby, and if you will do it your baby will be well and normal - but you must never tell a soul while you live what I told you to do.

She promised and he told her what to do. The baby moved; Mary turned to the baby a second or two, and when she turned around again her visitor had gone. The baby was well and strong very soon.

After being released from that mission, Mary and her family were moved to Panaca where her husband had employment with the Pioche Mining Co. After about a year or so, she and the family were moved to Kanosh where the rest of the family had moved previously. For some time she lived in a dug-out - a hole in the ground covered with poles, brush, straw and dirt. This home was halfway between Theodore Penney's home and the Henry Whatcott home. Finally a little log cabin with a dirt roof was built near where Theodore's home now stands. A number of years later a new log cabin with shingles was built.

When Mary was about 45, she had a very hard sick spell. Dr. North said she could not live more than two days. Bishop King, his counselors and their wives were extremely worried. Mary's older children asked Bishop King to please let her children be alone with her that night. The request was granted. Her children all kneeled down by her bed and each of them prayed in turn, asking the Lord to please let their mother live, reminding the Lord that their father was dead, and they just could not live without their mother, etc.

Next morning when Bishops King's folks and neighbors came in, the found Mary Black well.

George Black died in an adobe room where the Henry Whatcott home now stands. His two wives and their children, ten in number, were present. He asked Mary to bring her son Edward who was about five years old over to the bed. He took the lad by the hand and told how he knew Joseph Smith was a true Prophet and how he was the instrument in the hands of the Lord in establishing the true Church, then said, "My boy, I want you to lead a clean life and always honor God." He turned over in bed and passed away. Mary did not let the boy forget the last words his father ever spoke, and the boy has often said it was the most beautiful lesson he was ever taught in his life.

Susan and her family moved to Coyote, now called Antimony.

Mary was the first Primary president in Kanosh; she worked in the Relief Society and other organizations as well. Bearing her testimony was a great comfort and consolation to a lot of people. It was a common thing for the Bishop to call her out of the audience to come to the stand and use the time in sacrament meetings.

She had married James Woolsey and had had a baby girl named Birdie. Lillian, her daughter, was thrown from a horse and was an invalid for fifteen years. She watched over Lillian for years, stood over her and took care of her in the Deseret Hospital for one year as nurse. Lillian died six months after her brother left for his mission. When he returned he married Pearl Kimball; they bought a new home and Mary lived with them for the next 30 years. No finer woman ever lived than Mary Black. She one of the finest conceptions of the laws and ordinances of the Gospel and taught those principles to her children. I am sure a day never passed over her head but what she bowed herself upon her knees in prayer and taught all her children the importance of prayer. She loved good poetry and could quote Bobby Burns for hours.

The day before her ninetieth birthday she was real poorly - in fact some of the brethren came in and administered to her. She was poorly and restless all night. That morning Alice was sent for, and Pearl explained the condition in which had had spent the night. She was lying on the bed covered with a quilt. Alice walked around by the side of the bed and discovered she was dead. It was her 90th birthday.

A lot of the exciting experiences connected with the settling of Sanpete Valley have been omitted, as have some which occurred in Rockville and Panaca. Following are two experiences which happened to Mary Black while she lived in Rockville: A man's team ran away with a mower and his foot and ankle was mangled so that an operation was necessary. Grandmother got him on a couch, then sharped her butcher knife, cut the flesh to the bone around the calf of the leg, split the upper part of the flesh in three or four places and tied them back, and sawed with a common saw until she had the leg off - not anesthetic - then she put the flesh back down and boured in her homemade balm she'd made from herebs and roots that grew in Dixie. Mother was sure the man was dead. Grandmother stood for some time with her hands on her hips, finally he opened one eye. She said "How grateful and thankfull to the Lord you should be." That made him angry, and he wanted to know what in hell he had to be thankful for. She replied to "Know it was not both his legs." She pulled him through.

One morning Grandmother was cooking breakfast on the coals in the fireplace - stoves were not fashionable in Dixie in those days. This was probably two or three days before Edward was born. When a large Indian, his face covered with paint, stepped into the little cabin and asked Grandmother for something she did not have, and so informed him, he grunted and walked over to the frying pan of meat and hacked, then pit into it. Grandmother had a hardwood poker standing by the fireplace, sharpened at one end for use in lifting the vessels off the coals. She grabbed that poker and broke it in two across his head. He went down on all fours and scrambled on his hands and knees until he got to the door. He went out head first; she gave him a swift kick in the rear which landed him on his head and face. He finally got to his feet and ran. She ran after him, punching him in the ribs with the sharp end of that stick and he was screaming for help. Mother got to the door and saw the race. He finally got away and grandmother was standing in the road shouting, "You black Devil! If you ever come to my house again, you will get something worse than that!" Grandfather met the Indian a few days later, his head all bandaged up, and the Indian congratulated him on having such a brave squaw. Written by E. L. Black, Sally Kanosh DUP Camp, Ruby Iverson, Historian. Mary Black came with the James Pace Co. Died 1928. Bur in Kanosh Cemetery.

ON-LINE: Ancestry.com. PIONEER IMMIGRANTS TO UTAH TERRITORY. p. 342. Mary Ann Donnelly Black, female, b 26 Jan 1833, Maghera Feit, Londonderry, Ireland, parents: Felix Donnelly, Mary Ann McEwan or McKowen, spouses: Alomion Almerin or American Grow or Gros; George Black, James Woolsey. md. 25 Mar 1856, SLC, departed date 1850, in William Black and Jane Johnston, future in laws and their children William and Joseph George and his wife Susannah Jacaway, and her baby girl. in James Pave? party, arrive in SL, 15 Sep 1850, d. 24 Jan 1823, d 24 Jan 1923? Kanosh, Millard, UT, buried there. sub. by Ilene Shelton


Appendix 10 - Notes


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