WILLIAM WILSON MORRELL, Son of Cyrus Wilson Morrell was born May 8, 1830 at Nile Township, Sciota County, Ohio.
The Morrell family came to colonial North America in the early 1600's and settled at Kittery, which is in the state of Maine today. At some time during the colonial period, they became Quakers.

On September 15, 1850, William was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Elijah McClenahan, grandfather of Sarah Jane Richards. On September 23, 1850, William married Sarah Jane Richards, the daughter of Silas and Elizabeth McClenahan Richards, prominent pioneer settlers in South Cottonwood and Union Fort.

William and Sarah Jane were blessed with seven children while living at Union Fort. Four of the seven children survived to grow into adulthood and three infant daughters were buried in the Union Fort Cemetery.

In the 1860's, William took his third wife and settled in Kamas Valley in the present-day town of Marion but at that time it was called Morrellville.

In 1877 William returned to the Salt Lake Valley and brought his first wife, Sarah Jane, and their children, Sarah Ellen Maxfield and her family, William Elmer and John Franklin back to Fremont to live. He settled this family on the Fremont River just south of the town of Fremont.

William, along with Daniel Brian, returned to Little Cottonwood where they bought sawmill. They dismantled it, and hauled it back to Rabbit Valley by ox team. It was the first sawmill in the valley and they assembled it on the banks of the Fremont River. It made a beautiful setting for the mill and homes since the area was still in its primitive stage. It was nestled at the side of Fish Lake Mountain where large pine and cedar trees were plentiful for lumber. William also sowed the first alfalfa seed in the north end of Rabbit Valley in 1881.

William was the first presiding Elder of the Mormon Church in Rabbit Valley. He was the first Sunday School Superintendent in Fremont which was organized June 12, 1881.
In the year 1891, William left his families at Fremont to accompany his eldest son, Silas, and his family to Mexico. Silas' health had continually worsened since an accident at the mill.

When they reached Farmington, New Mexico, they determined that the purpose of the trip was not being accomplished and began their journey back to Utah. When they reached the Colorado River, William was injured as a result of being caught in quicksand. This must have been near the Moab, Utah, area because he remained in Moab for 14 years (1891-1904). Finally, due to declining years and the loss of his sight, he was brought back to Fremont by his son George.

His last years were spent mostly with his son, Hyrum, and family in Fremont. He died Monday, January 14, 1907, at the age of 76 and was laid to rest in the Fremont Cemetery.