Ellen, as she was called, was born in Shelbyville, Illinois to William Jr. Bennett and Elizabeth Bell. She was the last of 11 children. She & her brother were the only ones born in Illinois. Her parents were from Tennessee.

In fact, her grandfathers on both sides fought in the Revolutionary War. The family were some of the first settlers in Tennessee. Her grandfathers were given large land grants after the war and had slaves build their brick homes. The family was originally from Somerset, England.

The Bennett & Bell family lived close to each other & William Jr. & Elizabeth married Feb. 14, 1814 in Tennessee. They had several children there.

In 1829 the family moved to Illinois where they were offered a homestead to help fellow southerners make it slave territory. While living in Shelbyville, IL they had their last children. They met up with Mormons & gave up their slave ideas. In 1835 William Jr was baptized and Elizabeth in 1839. Ellen was baptized 1844 at age 11.

Soon it became apparent they were not welcome in Shelbyville. Mormons were needed in Iowa and they moved to Nashville, Iowa. Their life there was peaceful for awhile. They helped build the Nauvoo Temple. They lived there until 1846 & then had to leave. Shortly after they began their journey, William Jr. was murdered. He was buried near Lee county, Iowa.

After his death, on Oct 30, 1846 the family made their way to Kanesville (Council Bluffs). They were making preparations to go west.

It was during this time that Ellen's sister Mary Jane, married Jesse McCauslin, a widower with small children. They married on April 5, 1849 at Cartersville Settlement, Pottawattamie, Iowa. They had a baby they called Sally in December. They remained at this settlement 3 years.

The Bennett & McCauslin families joined an unknown company on April 15, 1851. Shortly after departure on June 25, 1851 Mary Jane died. The next day her little girl Sally died. They are buried along the Mormon Trail on the Platte.

Ellen stepped in to help Jesse care for his young children. She was only 18 years old. Her mother, Elizabeth, helped her. The company arrived in Salt Lake on October 7, 1851. Ellen and Jesse married Oct. 29, 1851 at the Endowment House.

In the spring of 1852 Ellen & Jesse moved to Provo where they remained the rest of their lives. They had 8 children together 3 of whom died young.

Elizabeth lived with her daughter at the end of her life & died at her home in 1864.

Ellen was a very special lady to have raised all these children. She passed from heart disease at the age of 75 in Provo & is buried beside Jesse at Provo Cemetery. It is through this line of the family that I am related to Pocahontas.