William Wilson Morrell, Stalwart Settler And Rancher

WILLIAM WILSON MORRELL, Son of Cyrus Wilson Morrell was born May 8, 1830 at Nile Township, Sciota County, Ohio. Little is known concerning the early life of William Wilson Morrell, although the family was known to be living in Schuyler County, Illinois in the later part of the 1840’s.

Mining excitement was running high at this time. The California Gold Rush of 1849 found William Wilson and his father, Cyrus Wilson Morrell, and other family members joining those seeking their fortunes in the gold fields of California, However, other events intervened which significantly changed the outcome of this venture.
As they neared the Great Basin, it is reported that they met a member of Brigham Young’s colony who persuaded William to accompany him to the Great Salt Lake Valley. In late October of 1849, Silas Richards led a party of emigrants to the Salt Lake Valley. Because of this fact and William’s later involvement with the Richards family, it is possible that Silas Richards was the person whom William met on the way westward.

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 1877 William 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. He help build the first sawmill in the county. He also sowed the first alfalfa seed in the north end of Rabbit Valley in 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 buried in the Fremont Cemetery.

To view the headstone of William Wilson Morrell click this link:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=18983428

Morrel History in the United States

JOHN MORRELL Sr. of Kittering, Maine was born about 1640. The known information concerning the Morrell lineage extends back four generations to an early period in New England colonial history. The first known Morrell ancestor in America was John Morrell Sr., who resided in Kittery, Maine, in 1663, just 42 years after the first permanent English settlement of New England. John Morrell Sr., was a plasterer and a mason by trade. In this connection several accounts refer to him as a stonelayer or bricklayer. In 1665, he married Sarah Hodsdon (Hodgdon) of Kittery, Maine, the daughter of Nicholas Hodgdon and Elizabeth Wincoll Needham. It was after this marriage that John Morrell learned to write his name. At that time, a man who could sign his name was an exception.

In the 1600’s and early 1700’s, the French and Indians combined to fight the English colonists. The area of Maine where John Morrell lived was the scene of periodic Indian attacks. In fact, in 1720 and 1722, John Morrell was ordered to fortify his house as a garrison against Indian attacks. Being Quakers, they fought Indians for defensive purposes only. John Morrell Sr.’s posterity contains a large contingent of noted men including leaders in politics, religion, education, manufacturing, doctors, lawyers, authors, editors, farming, cattlemen etc. Included in this history is a short bio of Cyrus Wilson Morrell and his wife Mary Worley that are shown on Perry's pedigree chart.

Some noted descendants of John Morrell (Morrill) are Edmund Needham Morrell, who became Governor of Kansas in 1895 and a Congressman for 8 years; Daniel J. Morrell Representative from Pennsylvania and industrialist; Lott H. Morrill, Governor of Maine and Secretary of Treasury in 1876, following the Civil War; Anson P. Morrill, first Republican Governor of Maine and Congressman during the Civil War, and of course the honored subject of this Blog, Perry L. Jackson.