WHEN YOU KNOW YOU PAST YOU UNDERSTAND YOURSELF THE JOSHUA THOMAS WILLIS STORY A Closure Project Submitted to the Degrees By Independent Study Program Brigham Young University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requ irements for the Bachelors of Independent Studies Degree By SK Rice December 2002 The following pages have been remo ved due to promises made to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. The pages removed were promised only for family and the degree. Pages 268-281 This Closure Project, by Shareene K. Strem, is accepted in its present form by the Degrees by Independent Study department as satisfying partial requirements for the Bachelor of Independent Studies degree. Don Norton, Faculty Advisor v. ^aa^Im^S Date Ellen Allred, Director Degrees by Independent Study ii TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures xiii Foreword xv Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Chapter 2: Coming To America 2 Thomas Willis 2 Richard Willis Sr 3 Richard Willis Jr 4 Joseph Willis .. 5 Thomas Willis - - 5 Merrel Willis 6 Chapter Notes - • 8 Chapter 3: Birth and Background 10 Home Education 11 McLeansboro 11 Chapter Notes 13 Chapter 4: Joshua Thomas' Mentor William Wesley 14 The Move to Dewitt, Missouri 14 The Hauns Mill Aviodance 16 The Willis Family at Far West, Missouri . , 17 The Return to Illinois 19 Chapter Notes 20 Chapter 5: Life Changes 21 Joshua Marries Dosha 21 Merrel and Margaret Meet the Prophet 22 Merrel and Mary Pass Away 22 Joshua and Dosha's Family Grow 23 News of Joseph and Hyrum's Death 23 iii Death of Joshua's Wife and Children 24 Chapter Notes 25 Chapter 6: Travel into the Unknown 26 Going West 26 Joshua is a Captain in John Taylor's Company 27 Mormon Battalion Assembled . 28 Several Apostles leave for England Due to Corruption 29 The Willises Change to the Abraham O. Smoot Company 29 Joshua Meets Sarah Melissa Dodge 31 Chapter Notes 32 Chapter 7: Arrival in Salt Lake City 33 Brigham Young Greets the Pueblo Detachment 33 Abraham O. Smoot Company Arrives an Salt Lake City 34 Saints Endure Trials in Salt Lake City 35 Joshua and Sarah Marry 36 Joshua T. Willis Called to Be the First Sheriff of Provo 37 Chapter Notes 39 Chapter 8: OntoProvo 40 The Original Settlers ofProvo 41 The Journey to Provo 42 Early Provo Experiences 43 The Events Surrounding the Birth of Joshua Thomas Willis Jr 47 Native American Experiences at Fort Utah 47 New Justices 50 Trials For William Wesley 50 Joshua's Occupations 51 First Counselor in the First Provo Stake of Zion ,.51 William Wesley Willis's Mission Call 53 Willis Family Moves On 54 Chapter Notes 55 Chapter 9: Cedar City 57 The Gunnison Party Tragedy, A Tragedy For All 57 The Walkar Indian War Begins 58 Brigham Young Makes Peace with Chief Walkar 61 Iron Mission Saints Become Discouraged and Joshua T. Willis is Called as High Councilman 64 Women Played an Important Part in the West 65 iv William Wesley Returns Home from His Mission 66 William and Joshua Support the Reformation 67 Joshua Elected to Alderman 71 William and Joshua Willis Continue to Assist with the Reformation 72 The Scar That Mountain Meadows Massacre left on Southern Utah 74 The Two Wagon Trains Which Will Live in Infamy 74 Iron County Militia Gathers 75 The Tragedy Begins 76 Martial Law Declared in Utah 79 A Call to Toquerville From the Lord 80 The Move from Cedar City Begins 81 Chapter Notes 83 Chapter 10: Toquerville 85 1859, a Better Year 86 Blessings Continue for Toquerville 87 Joshua Is Called as Bishop 90 Three Mormon Battalion Members Move to Toquerville 90 The Rain of 1861 91 Outside of Utah 92 Joshua's Responsibilities Increase 93 Anti-bigamy Bill Signed - 94 St. George Builds a Tabernacle 94 Stranded 95 Willis Family Changes 95 Toquerville News 96 New Baby 96 County Line Changes 96 Changes In 1865 97 William Wesley 97 Black Hawk Indian War 98 New Buildings and Crops in Toquerville 99 Telegraph Opens 100 School Built in Toquerville 100 Willis Family Increases 101 Relief Society Reorganized 101 Among Peace and Beauty, Tragedy Strikes 102 Women Have Professions 103 Entertainment 103 The World Enters Utah 104 Cooperatives 105 Dixie Cooperative Produce Company .106 Stand and Deliver 107 Willis Family Deaths 108 v Joshua's Resigns as Bishop 109 Last Years in Toquerville 110 Changes for Joshua T. Willis 110 Order of Enoch 110 Fiyer Family Tragedy Ill Changes for the Church 113 Time in Toquerville Comes to a Close 114 Chapter Notes H6 Chapter 11: The Little Town of Bagley, Arizona 123 Town Changes Name From Bagley to Taylor 123 The Early Families of Bagley 124 The Pearce Family 124 The Standifird Family 125 The Bagley Family 125 The Hatch Family 125 The Brimhall Family 126 The Perkins Family 126 The Walker Family - 127 The Solomon Family 127 The Kay Family 128 The Big Company 128 The Philippe Cardon Family 128 The William Walker Family 129 The Joshua Thomas Willis Family 129 The Merrill Erastus Willis Family 129 The Henry Tillman Willis Family 131 Other Families 131 Church Hirarchy Changes and Persecution Continues 132 Edmunds Act 132 A Visit to Mexico 132 A Visit to Toquerville 134 Joshua's Return to Taylor 134 InClosing 134 Chapter Notes 136 Joshua and Sarah Willis's Grandchildren 137 Joshua Thomas Willis Jr with wife Maria Duffin 137 Joseph Willis 137 Iasac Thomas Willis 137 Maud Willis 137 Hugh Willis 138 Asa Willis 138 Alonzo Willis 138 Bryant Willis 138 vi Minerva Willis 138 Gertrude Willis 138 Sarah Melissa Willis 138 Joshua Thomas Willis 138 Merrill Erastus Willis with wife Nancy Cedenia Bagley 138 Merrill Erastus Willis Jr 138 Thomas Henry Willis 139 Samuel Bagley Willis 139 Mary Willis 139 Lilly Willis 139 Cedenia Willis 139 Daniel Bagley Willis 139 Joseph Eli Willis 139 Emanuel Bagley Willis 139 Sarah Melissa Willis with husband Fredrick William Mullins 140 William Fredrick Mullins 140 Nellie Elmeda Mullins 140 Jesse Willis Mullins 140 Rosella Mullins 140 Maggie Mullins 140 Annie Laurie Mullins 140 William Coup Mullins 140 Saphronia Armena Mullins 140 Hart Mullins 140 Eujeana Mullins .141 Henry Tillman Willis with first wife Kathleen Amelia Dykes 141 George Henry Willis 141 Mabel Agnes Willis 141 Myrtle Louisa Willis 141 Edith Willis 141 Ethel Willis 141 Ernest Merrill Willis 141 Walter Tillman Willis 141 Jesse Wilton Willis 142 Charles Vernon Willis 142 Henry Tillman Willis with second wife Mary Teague 142 Stella Mae Willis 142 Martha Elizabeth Willis with husband Matthew Stones Batty 142 Encora Elizabeth Batty 142 George Matthew Batty 142 vii Mary Agnes Batty 142 Rose Ella Batty 142 Joshua Willis Batty 142 Rhoda Ann Batty 143 Sarah Ellen Batty 143 Frederick Willis Batty 143 Margaret May Batty 143 Clarence Stone Batty 143 Tillman Grant Batty 143 Marcella Batty 143 Gwendolyn Batty 143 Lovina Willis Batty 143 Lovina Lucinda Willis with her husband Joseph Heber Rogers 144 Joseph Urban Rogers 144 Eva Melissa Rogers 144 Isabella Rogers 144 Irvan Merrill Rogers 144 Baby Girl Rogers 144 Clara Ann Rogers 144 Grace Rogers 144 Lovina Rogers 144 Heber Joshua Rogers 144 Lucinda Rogers 145 Nettie Rogers 145 Charles Rogers 145 Wilbert Rogers 145 Mary Agnes Willis with her husband Norman Andrew Brimhall 145 Sarah Agnes Brimhall 145 Mary Alice Brimhall 145 Electa Brimhall 145 Andrew Noah Brimhall 145 Logan Brimhall 145 Dicie May Brimhall 146 Joseph Thomas Brimhall 146 George H. Brimhall 146 Mocella Verdell Brimhall 146 Rulon Wells Brimhall 146 Elias Rae Brimhall 146 Margaret Brimhall 146 Jesse N. Brimhall 146 viii Joshua and Ellen Willis's grandchildren. Hyrum Alonzo Willis with his wife Lola May Pearce 147 Female Living 147 Delia Jane Willis 147 Richard Merrill Willis with his wife Mary Jensen 147 Female Living 147 Ethel May Willis 147 Female Living 147 Male Living 147 Male Living 147 Floy Hannah Willis 147 Female Living 147 Raymond Mahonrie Willis .147 Jane Ruth Willis . 147 Richard Lawrence Willis . 147 Clifford Willis 147 Tillman Woodrow Willis 147 Franklin Joshua Willis with his wife Elizabeth Selina Kay 148 Franklin Leroy Willis 148 Royal Willis 148 Joseph Perry Willis 148 Gretta Ellen Willis 148 Thomas Floyd Willis 148 MintaMocella Willis 148 James Arthur Willis 148 June Kay Willis 148 Joshua T. and Sophia Willis's grandchildren William Richard Willis with wife Harriet Rachel Thompson 149 Female Living 149 Archie A. Willis 149 Rachel Sophia Willis 149 William Albert Willis 149 Franklin Leo Willis 149 Carl V. Willis 149 Jennie Willis 149 Clarence Edmund Willis 149 Ella May Willis 150 Hyrum Richard Willis 150 ix Laura Adina Willis with husband Samuel Larcum Lewis 151 William Lewis 151 Emily Melissa Lewis 151 Sophia Lewis 151 Samuel Larcom Lewis Jr 151 James Royal Lewis 151 Charles Holman Lewis 151 Alice May Lewis 151 Laura Lewis 152 Sheldon Lewis 152 Alice May Lewis 152 Leslie Lewis 152 Chapter 12: Conclusion 153 Appendix A: Thomas Willis 156 A Time to Remember by Joel A. Willis Jr 157 Virginia County Court Records 158 Appendix B: Mary Willis 161 The Vestry Book of Christ Church Parish Middlesex County, Virginia, 1663-1767—Matthew Bentley 161 Appendix C: Richard Willis Sr 163 The Vestry Book of Christ Church Parish Middlesex County, Virginia, 1663-1767 164 Virginia County Court Records Order Book Abstracts of Middlesex County, Virginia 1677-1680 165 Virginia County Court Records Order Book Abstracts of Middlesex County, Virginia 1680-1686 165 Order Book of Abstracts of Middlesex County, Virginia 1686-1690 167 Virginia County Court Records, Order Book Abstracts of Middlesex County, Virginia 1697-1700 168 Appendix D: Wives of Richard Willis Sr 171 Appendix E: Richard Willis Jr 173 Endnote 175 Appendix F: Martha Willis 176 x Appendix