Advertisement

William Franklin Dowdle

Advertisement

William Franklin Dowdle

Birth
Moulton, Lawrence County, Alabama, USA
Death
17 Sep 1877 (aged 39)
Rock Creek, Twin Falls County, Idaho, USA
Burial
Payson, Utah County, Utah, USA Add to Map
Plot
Blk 19 lot 5 pos 9
Memorial ID
View Source
Son of Robert Dowdle and Sarah Ann Robinson

Husband of Esther Ellsworth, 13 August 1863, Moulton, Lawrence, Alabama

Book Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah arranged for Virginia Porter and Nora Lund, both great-granddaughters, DUP.

William Franklin Dowdle was born 4 Feb 1838 in Franklin, Lawrence County, Alabama. He was the youngest of a family of children born to Robert and Sarah Robinson Dowdle. his brothers and sisters were Absolam Porter, Elvira, Caroline, Martha Jane, Sarah Ann, Robert Hugh, and John Clark.

His parents and some of his brothers and sisters joined the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1844. William himself was baptized in May of 1848, perhaps in Winter Quarters. The missionaries who converted the Dowdle family encouraged them to join the saints who were gathering in Nauvoo, Illinois.

William, who was a lad of 7 years when he left Alabama to journey to Illinois by covered wagon, was sad because for the first time in his life he would be separated from his older sisters, Elvira, and Caroline. They did not join the church. They remained in Alabama. William did not see them again.

The Dowdle family through Alabama into the state of Missouri. Here again, William was saddened by the death of his 19-year-old sister, Martha Jane at Atheson, Missouri in September 1845. When they got to Nauvoo, they found everything in a terrible state of affairs. The Saints were making preparations to leave the beautiful city to try to find a place where their enemies would not bother them.

After crossing the Mississippi River during the winter of 1846, the Dowdles camped with other homeless refugees at Winter Quarters on the banks of the Missouri River. In April of 1847, President Brigham Young left with a Vanguard Company to find a place in the Rocky Mountains for the saints to settle. Other companies left that same year. William's brother, Absolam, his wife, and child, left with one of these companies.

William's father was trying hard to collect the necessary transportation, food, etc., to take his family to Utah the next year, but, alas, he was not to accomplish his dream, he took sick and died on September 5th, 1847 in Winters Quarters.

William was only 9 1/2 years old, and this loss was about more than his tender years could stand, his family was very poor and suffered much.

In 1849, William's brother Robert Hugh, who had taken much responsibility for the family since their father's death, got a chance to drive a government freight wagon with a group, across the plains 1849. he was pleased with this opportunity of earning his own way to the Salt Lake Valley. This left seventeen-year-old James as head of the family, but on the 15 of Jan 1852. Death Struck again and took James. No, John Clark, not yet 16 years of age had to take the responsibility of getting his mother and brother across the plains.

It was in June 1852, when William was 14 years old, that his mother, John, and himself left Kanesville (Council Bluffs), Iowa, as part of the James C. Snow Company of 260 saints. They shared a wagon with a Sister Clark and her daughters. William assisted his brother with driving the oxen and with the camp chores, as they journeyed along and camped each night. It was a happy time when the group of worn travelers of the company drew to a halt at Pioneer Square. The Dowdles were especially glad that Absalom and Robert were there to welcome them, and took them on to Provo where they were living at the time. It wasn't long until they went on a little south to the new settlement of Santaquin which had been started in 1805 by Benjamin F. Johnson and his family.

It was in this little community where William Dowdle grew to manhood. His brothers taught him to plow, plant, irrigate, and harvest their farm crops. He helped with the home chores and care of the animals. He probably attended the village school for 3 months during the winter when the farm work was not pressing.

He took part in the church and social functions of the community, when he came of marriageable age he started looking for a nice young girl to become his wife. On August 2, 1863, he married Esther Ellsworth. She was born on 12 Sep 1844 in Charleston, Lee County, Iowa, the daughter of German and Experience Brown Ellsworth. She came to Utah with her family in 1848.

We believe about this time or perhaps before, Williams brother Robert Hugh had moved his family to Franklin, Oneida Co, Idaho which gave great promise for farming. The government had opened the E Bear River Country to homesteaders in 1862, and the first church people went there in 1860, as it was getting quite a popular place to settle.

William and Esther's second child was born on Aug 11, 1866, in Franklin, we would assume that they moved to Idaho in 1865. Speedy Evaline was born, there in 1868. William worked very hard to make a go of it in Franklin. it was possible to raise food crops of wheat, oats, potatoes, corn, and all kinds of garden produce if the climate conditions were favorable. Sometimes the irrigation water was short, or early or late frosts caused damage to the crops, but all in all, it was a good place to live and raise a family. There are a few short years after the birth of their last child in 1873, we are at a loss as to just what transpired in the life of William, the next entry of consequence on the group sheet is the death of William Franklin on the 15th of September 1879. The record doesn't even mention the place where he died or was buried. We can only conclude this sketch by saying that he was only 41 years old when his sojourn upon this earth was completed.

Through all her hardships, she went right on bearing children. Her second child, Robert Franklin was born on 11 August 1866. He later married Matilda Ann Wilson, next was Speedy Evaline born 11 August 1869; she married Alvus Houston Patterson, and Henry Randolph was born 11 November \. No marriage or death date for him, but he was baptized in 1881. Sarah Minerva born on 10 August 1871 married - first - Summitt Marksberry, 2nd, Charles Livingston was born on 10 Nov 1873 - married Florence Olsen.

To proceed with this sketch we can only give the information found on the group sheet that William Franklin Dowdle died on 15 Sep 1879, someplace other than Franklin or Cove.

The group sheet states Esther married her 2nd husband Phinnieas Daley, and that her 3rd husband was Amasa Potter to whom she was sealed on 19 November 1890 in the Manti temple. We are not prepared to say if she had other children by these men.

Esther spent her last days in Spanish Fork where she died in August 1918 at the age of 74. She was buried in the Payson City Cemetery.

In the Genealogical Library, there is a story of his death which is on record in Family Search. Whatever happened to him we will never know. Maybe the loss of his mother in 1875 with whom he had shared so many hardships and tragedies with. Whatever I am proud to be his great-granddaughter. He was only 41 years old when he died.

Comments by Wilma Deane Patterson Webster, daughter of Earl Dowdle Patterson and Speede Evaline Dowdle Patterson.
Son of Robert Dowdle and Sarah Ann Robinson

Husband of Esther Ellsworth, 13 August 1863, Moulton, Lawrence, Alabama

Book Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah arranged for Virginia Porter and Nora Lund, both great-granddaughters, DUP.

William Franklin Dowdle was born 4 Feb 1838 in Franklin, Lawrence County, Alabama. He was the youngest of a family of children born to Robert and Sarah Robinson Dowdle. his brothers and sisters were Absolam Porter, Elvira, Caroline, Martha Jane, Sarah Ann, Robert Hugh, and John Clark.

His parents and some of his brothers and sisters joined the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1844. William himself was baptized in May of 1848, perhaps in Winter Quarters. The missionaries who converted the Dowdle family encouraged them to join the saints who were gathering in Nauvoo, Illinois.

William, who was a lad of 7 years when he left Alabama to journey to Illinois by covered wagon, was sad because for the first time in his life he would be separated from his older sisters, Elvira, and Caroline. They did not join the church. They remained in Alabama. William did not see them again.

The Dowdle family through Alabama into the state of Missouri. Here again, William was saddened by the death of his 19-year-old sister, Martha Jane at Atheson, Missouri in September 1845. When they got to Nauvoo, they found everything in a terrible state of affairs. The Saints were making preparations to leave the beautiful city to try to find a place where their enemies would not bother them.

After crossing the Mississippi River during the winter of 1846, the Dowdles camped with other homeless refugees at Winter Quarters on the banks of the Missouri River. In April of 1847, President Brigham Young left with a Vanguard Company to find a place in the Rocky Mountains for the saints to settle. Other companies left that same year. William's brother, Absolam, his wife, and child, left with one of these companies.

William's father was trying hard to collect the necessary transportation, food, etc., to take his family to Utah the next year, but, alas, he was not to accomplish his dream, he took sick and died on September 5th, 1847 in Winters Quarters.

William was only 9 1/2 years old, and this loss was about more than his tender years could stand, his family was very poor and suffered much.

In 1849, William's brother Robert Hugh, who had taken much responsibility for the family since their father's death, got a chance to drive a government freight wagon with a group, across the plains 1849. he was pleased with this opportunity of earning his own way to the Salt Lake Valley. This left seventeen-year-old James as head of the family, but on the 15 of Jan 1852. Death Struck again and took James. No, John Clark, not yet 16 years of age had to take the responsibility of getting his mother and brother across the plains.

It was in June 1852, when William was 14 years old, that his mother, John, and himself left Kanesville (Council Bluffs), Iowa, as part of the James C. Snow Company of 260 saints. They shared a wagon with a Sister Clark and her daughters. William assisted his brother with driving the oxen and with the camp chores, as they journeyed along and camped each night. It was a happy time when the group of worn travelers of the company drew to a halt at Pioneer Square. The Dowdles were especially glad that Absalom and Robert were there to welcome them, and took them on to Provo where they were living at the time. It wasn't long until they went on a little south to the new settlement of Santaquin which had been started in 1805 by Benjamin F. Johnson and his family.

It was in this little community where William Dowdle grew to manhood. His brothers taught him to plow, plant, irrigate, and harvest their farm crops. He helped with the home chores and care of the animals. He probably attended the village school for 3 months during the winter when the farm work was not pressing.

He took part in the church and social functions of the community, when he came of marriageable age he started looking for a nice young girl to become his wife. On August 2, 1863, he married Esther Ellsworth. She was born on 12 Sep 1844 in Charleston, Lee County, Iowa, the daughter of German and Experience Brown Ellsworth. She came to Utah with her family in 1848.

We believe about this time or perhaps before, Williams brother Robert Hugh had moved his family to Franklin, Oneida Co, Idaho which gave great promise for farming. The government had opened the E Bear River Country to homesteaders in 1862, and the first church people went there in 1860, as it was getting quite a popular place to settle.

William and Esther's second child was born on Aug 11, 1866, in Franklin, we would assume that they moved to Idaho in 1865. Speedy Evaline was born, there in 1868. William worked very hard to make a go of it in Franklin. it was possible to raise food crops of wheat, oats, potatoes, corn, and all kinds of garden produce if the climate conditions were favorable. Sometimes the irrigation water was short, or early or late frosts caused damage to the crops, but all in all, it was a good place to live and raise a family. There are a few short years after the birth of their last child in 1873, we are at a loss as to just what transpired in the life of William, the next entry of consequence on the group sheet is the death of William Franklin on the 15th of September 1879. The record doesn't even mention the place where he died or was buried. We can only conclude this sketch by saying that he was only 41 years old when his sojourn upon this earth was completed.

Through all her hardships, she went right on bearing children. Her second child, Robert Franklin was born on 11 August 1866. He later married Matilda Ann Wilson, next was Speedy Evaline born 11 August 1869; she married Alvus Houston Patterson, and Henry Randolph was born 11 November \. No marriage or death date for him, but he was baptized in 1881. Sarah Minerva born on 10 August 1871 married - first - Summitt Marksberry, 2nd, Charles Livingston was born on 10 Nov 1873 - married Florence Olsen.

To proceed with this sketch we can only give the information found on the group sheet that William Franklin Dowdle died on 15 Sep 1879, someplace other than Franklin or Cove.

The group sheet states Esther married her 2nd husband Phinnieas Daley, and that her 3rd husband was Amasa Potter to whom she was sealed on 19 November 1890 in the Manti temple. We are not prepared to say if she had other children by these men.

Esther spent her last days in Spanish Fork where she died in August 1918 at the age of 74. She was buried in the Payson City Cemetery.

In the Genealogical Library, there is a story of his death which is on record in Family Search. Whatever happened to him we will never know. Maybe the loss of his mother in 1875 with whom he had shared so many hardships and tragedies with. Whatever I am proud to be his great-granddaughter. He was only 41 years old when he died.

Comments by Wilma Deane Patterson Webster, daughter of Earl Dowdle Patterson and Speede Evaline Dowdle Patterson.


Advertisement