Ebenezer Albert Williams
Written by Thelma Williams Sanders
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| Ebenezer Williams |
At this estate, under the influence of this wonderful woman, his opportunities began. All of the romance, adventure, hardships, and endearing devotion to duty that go into the making of a great life, began on this estate in the service of Hannah Ridden Bowering.
In 1849, missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came into the vicinity. Mrs. Bowering became interested in this new religion. She invited the elders into her home, and with her family and servants heard the teachings of this new religion. Ebenezer Williams was a participant in these religious discussions. For the first time, he heard the words that would govern most of his adult life. Time and time again, the elders returned to the Bowering estate. With each visit, they instructed, answered, and guided the members of the household. They brought the family together under a common bond. This bond broke many of the ancient class barriers which existed between the mistress of an estate and her servants. Slowly Ebenezer was accepted as a member of the Bowering family.
After listening to countless discussions on Mormonism, Ebenezer felt compelled to join the new religion. He had a burning testimony of the truthfulness of what the Mormon Elder had told him, and he sought to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
On a cold autumn morning in September of 1849, Ebenezer was baptized a member of the LDS Church. He was baptized by one of the young missionaries named Daniel Vincent. The event was the first major development in his long life. With the covenant of baptism, Ebenezer accepted a new set of personal standards and guidelines. These rules were a driving force in his life. A force which would give him strength and courage to be a true pioneer of America.
Not long after he was baptized into the new church, the 19-year-old gardener was ordained a priest. This position gave him great responsibility and an opportunity to serve as a local missionary. This calling was a challenge to young Ebenezer, but he found a strength and a joy in teaching the things that had been taught him by the young men from America. He worked diligently at this job. His enthusiasm could only be matched by the zeal of other religious converts. The Cardiff township wan an excellent working area, and with his knowledge of the local people, Ebenezer was able to teach his new religion to many others.
During this period, the members of the Bowering family joined the Mormon Church. The mistress of the family, Hannah Ridden Bowering, was baptized along with her daughter and grandchildren.
All of the Bowering estate members were part of the Cowbridge Branch of the church. They all attended faithfully; and they served in whatever positions they were called to fulfill. In 1850, Ebenezer was advanced to an elder in the priesthood of his church. Not long after receiving this priesthood, he was appointed to preside over the Cowbridge Branch. His employer and friends were all members of this branch.
In all the discussions of Mormonism, the Bowering family heard the tales of America and the New Zion that had been established in the tops of the Rocky Mountains. It was a constant dream of theirs to one day arrive in the New Zion to associate with other members of their faith. However, economics, responsibility, and national pride bound them to the farms of Wales. But the dream remained, and they often discussed the possibility of selling the estate and making the long trip to America.
At first the idea was far from their physical reach. However, not long after she was converted to Mormonism, Hannah Bowering began to explore the possibility of selling her vast properties and moving her family to Utah. She placed her estate on the market, and waited for the right opportunity to present itself. To her disappointment, the right offer did not come immediately. For four years, she negotiated with various buyers. When the price was right, she sold her estate.
A transaction of this type was not an easy task for a widow, but Mrs. Bowering proved to be a shrewd businesswoman. She managed to get enough from the sale of her property to finance the long awaited trip to the New Zion.
Included in the plans to emigrate were, not only the immediate members of her family, but her servants as well. After spending a number of years in the employ of Mrs. Bowering, Ebenezer Williams was considered enough of a loyal servant to be included in the family dream. After serving the family for a number of years, he was responsible for many of the household necessities.
Journeying to Liverpool, England, in a group, tickets were purchased for the trip. A total of fourteen tickets were secured. This included passage for: Mrs. Bowering, Esther Harris and her husband, their five children, Henry, Elizabeth, and Ada Evans, Thomas Howells, Thomas Jones, and Ebenezer Williams. The later three were servants on the Bowering estate.
On February 5, 1853, the party left England and sailed for America on the ship "Jersey". It took them six weeks to cross the ocean. They did not leave the ship when it docked in New York City; but they continued on to New Orleans. From New Orleans they made their way up the Mississippi River to a place where they could join a westward headed wagon train. At Keokuk, Iowa they found a wagon train and arrangements were made for a trip across the plains to Utah. Wagons had to be bought and equipped.
Provisions of food, clothing, and other essentials had to be purchased. Teams had to be secured. All of these arrangements were placed in the hands of Ebenezer Williams, and the other employees of Mrs. Bowering.
This task was dispatched with confidence and speed. No expense was spared in making the Bowering wagons the beat equipped possible. Therefore, it was not an ill equipped party that joined the Claudius V. Spencer Company for the long trek across the plains.
The crossing was made without noticeable incident other than the usual hardships that accompanied all who made that difficult journey. They started in March, and it was well into September of 1853 when they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. Here many friends were on hand to greet them and take them into their homes.
Six weeks after their arrival, however, tragedy came into the group. Elizabeth Evans died of "Mountain Fever." This was especially tragic for Ebenezer. While they were on the ocean and on the wagon train moving west, he had fallen in love with young Elizabeth. They planned to be married as soon as the family was established in Utah. Unfortunately for Ebenezer, he had to lay her to rest in the Salt Lake City Cemetery at the journey’s end.
Because they had not yet found a permanent home, the party went to Provo, Utah to spend their first winter. They went to the home of David Vincent, an old friend from the Wales Mission. This home and the hospitality of Mr. Vincent was greatly appreciated by the immigrants, and they often talked about this friendship in later life.
When spring came, Mrs. Bowering asked Ebenezer if he would investigate various possibilities of purchasing land for a farm or homestead. After weeks of searching and examining land in the Salt Lake Valley, he found an excellent site on the mountain bench just east of the settlement of Kaysville, Utah.
Mrs. Bowering journeyed from Provo to inspect the site. Although it was far from the green, rolling hills of her native Wales, she believed the earth to be satisfactory for the beginning of a new farm. Not long after her inspection, the land was purchased, and the rest of the family moved their possessions to Kaysville.
Mrs. Bowering could not possibly manage the farm by herself, so she asked Ebenezer to remain in her employ. The other servants had earlier struck out on their own paths-only Ebenezer remained. He agreed to this proposition, and he remained as her farm manager and chief laborer.
It was not safe, in this early period, for a family to live outside the Kaysville Fort because of the threat of Indians, so the Bowering family lived within the town site of Kaysville. Ebenezer traveled each day from the fort to the mountain farm. The distance was about two miles. Until the Indian threat was over, Ebenezer made this trip each day.
Two years after they arrived in Kaysville, Ebenezer A. Williams and Ada Evans began a courtship which eventually ended in marriage. They were married on January 19, 1856. A small adobe dwelling was purchased by the newly married couple in the township of Kaysville, just a few short blocks from the Bowering family home. This home was occupied by the couple until the uneasiness of the Echo Canyon War threatened their safety, Increasing trouble in the area prompted Ebenezer to take his wife and family to Provo once again. This was a safety measure which was taken by many of the local residents.
After his family was securely located in Provo, Ebenezer returned to take his place in the defense of his homestead. He became a volunteer in the Echo Canyon War. He went with other men to build fortifications for the defense of Utah against the U. S. Army. However, a peaceful settlement to the dispute between the Mormons and the federal government was reached. After a short period of negotiations between Mormon leaders and government officials, it was safe for the settlers of the territory to return to their homes.
Ebenezer once again joined his family in Provo. However, this time it was to bring them safely home.
When the family was again settled in Kaysville, Ebenezer began to build a permanent home on the Bowering farm east of Kaysville. It took a couple of years to complete, but when construction was finished a very comfortable home was available for his wife, Ada, and his aging grandmother-in-law.
It was in this home that Hannah R. Bowering died in 1858. She was a true pioneer, and had made many things possible for Ebenezer and his wife. She had sacrificed much for the comfort and well-being of her family and friends.
The small Williams adobe home in Kaysville proper was donated to the Kaysville Ward of the LDS Church. It became the first meetinghouse in the city. It was located just one block north of the present Kaysville LDS Tabernacle. It was used by the Mormons of that city until a more permanent and better facility could be built.
For a number of years, Ebenezer worked and improved the mountain road farm. However, a more centrally located home was desired by the family so they could be more active in the social life of the growing city. A home was purchased from Bishop Alan Taylor within the Kaysville City limits. It was a large adobe house built in the two story style. The second story was surrounded by a low porch which ran across the entire length of the house. In this home all of the Williams family lived. While living in this house, the following children were in the Williams family: Matilda, Elizabeth, Henry, Frances, Thomas, Erminnie, Frederick, Orton, and Franklin. With only minor changes the home still stands today.
On October 29, 1864 Ebenezer married his second wife, Hannah Brandham. Hannah took up residence in the house on the mountain road farm. Ebenezer inherited this property from Mrs. Bowering, and it was an excellent place for his second wife to live.
To the marriage of Ebenezer and Hannah the following children were born: Mary, Horace, Albert, Esther, Jabez, and Mabel Claire. Death, however, took Hannah before her children reached maturity. After her death, the children from this second marriage were taken into the home of Ebenezer's first wife Ada. Ada cared for both families. Although the Williams family home was filled with children, it was a peaceful and happy home. All of the children found friendship and companionship. They were contented to live in perfect harmony. The children from the second marriage didn't forget their mother, but they loved Ada. They continued to visit her and shower her with gifts until her death.
By this time, Kaysville was becoming an important Utah city. Located directly in the center of Davis County, it was also the halfway point between Salt Lake City and Ogden. This location proved many excellent business opportunities, and in 1863 Ebenezer Williams became interested in a trading possibility.
The railroad had not yet connected Utah with the rest of the nation, so it was necessary for goods to be shipped to Utah by wagon train; but in 1863 in spite of the problems, Ebenezer opened the first mercantile store in Kaysville. The goods for this venture were shipped by wagon train from the East at great expense. However, this risk did not frighten Ebenezer. The goods sold in this first store were mainly items in the hardware line which were greatly needed by the people in every Utah town. The first store was located in a north-east room of the Williams home. This proved adequate for some time. However, as the volume of business increased, it became necessary to build a permanent store on the main street of Kaysville. In this new store all types of merchandise was offered to the customers of the city.
Ada Williams assisted in the operation of the store for many years. An excellent woman with a needle, she made hats and operated a millinery shop in a small addition to the south of the main store. All the items in this millinery shop were made by Ada. For a time, she did hire other women to help make hats, but the bulk of the hat business was handled by Ada.
As the years passed, Ebenezer retired from the active management of the family business. It was carried on by members of his family, and by other merchants who rented the building and its facilities. In the early part of the 1900's, the Williams store was converted into the first drug store in the city. An upper story was added to the building, the Williams Dance Hall became a center of entertainment for the people of Kaysville. This corner on Main Street was affectionately called the "Williams Corner." This establishment continued long after Ebenezer' death, and the building, with modern remodeling, is still part of the Kaysville Main street.
Unselfishly Ebenezer donated his time to the advancement of his city by accepting and filling honorably positions in civic government. He served as city tax collector, and as the city sexton--these jobs he accomplished without pay. He was elected by his fellow townspeople to the office of city councilman. In this office, he served for twenty years. He saw many of the improvements which were important and helpful to the citizens of Kaysville. In addition to his city and civic duties, he served as one of the first school trustees, a position he held for many years.
Ebenezer Williams always felt his church to be one of the most important activities of his life. He was devoted to the LDS Church, and he served in many different positions. In 1881, he was ordained a High Priest and set apart as a high councilman in the Davis LDS stake. This job he held until 1904. In this year, he was ordained as patriarch. This position he considered to be one of the most important of his life. It was a rewarding experience. It was the highest honor of his long life of service to the LDS Church. He served as patriarch until his death.
Probably the most important thing in Ebenezer's life was his family. He was always devoted and concerned with their welfare. He was the father of sixteen children, and the task of raising them was a constant challenge. His home was always open to everyone who wished to call. The spirit of friendliness was always present. Many fond memories have been related by his children and grandchildren to attest to the goodness of Ebenezer as a father and grandfather. He was always able to meet any situation which came into the lives of his family.
In his years of retirement, he fell back on his early experiences as a gardener. His home and garden became the envy of Kaysville. He delighted in spending his hours in cultivating and improving the things which he had grown. His orchard, vineyard and vegetable garden grew things that had to be shared with friends and neighbors. He was able to feed a lot of people who were close to him. He supplied fresh fruit and vegetables to many of his neighbors for several years.
He also grew beautiful flowers. He had flower beds all around his home, and he took great delight in cutting the flowers and delivering them to the sick or just as a means of cheering someone up.
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| E.A. &Ada Williams |
Ebenezer Albert Williams died February 18, 1917 at the age of 87. He had lived a very full and useful life. He was buried in the Kaysville Cemetery near his second wife, Hannah Brandham Williams.
