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Hyrum Woolsey (abt 1806-aft 1860) born at Fishing Creek, Lincoln (Pulaski) county, Kentucky, and died after 1860 in Utah. His has been a most difficult family to trace, but it is coming together, reluctantly. He married about 1825 in Jessamine County, Kentucky to Rachel Mitchell (1807- ) born in Missouri, and died in Utah , a daughter of Abraham Mitchell and Anna Colpetzer.
Hyrum Woolsey was closely associated with his brother-in-law John D. Lee, who married two younger sisters of Hyrum Woolsey, Agatha Ann Woolsey and Rachel Andora Woolsey. Hyrum Woolsey worked with John D. Lee as a laborer and as a teamster.
!HISTORY: HISTORY OF WILLIAM YOUNG – from LaDon Ellett – 6 Jan 2002. p. 41
Anna Ross Young, daughter of Adolphia & Rhoda Jared Young, wrote (Book of Jared, written by Eleanor Hall; Church History Dept.): “While my father was building a house for us of two rooms and one story, we lived in the cellar of John D. Lee’s house in Nauvoo. While there, I remember well one morning at daylight we were awakened by HYRUM WOOLSEY, John D. Lee’s brother-in-law, who called through a knothole in the floor and said to my mother, ‘Oh, Rhoda! Joseph and Hyrum have been murdered!’ I remember raising up in the bed. What an impression it made on me! That day everyone was in tears, and some of the old timers have said they believed bushels of tears were shed by the Saints the next days.”
!HISTORY: Bean, James A. “Poorets – George Washington Bean, Mormon Pioneer of 1847 – Indian interpreter, Explorer, Judge.” Published by Jim Bean Associates. Los Gatos, CA. 1992. p. 40.
” – People were preparing to leave Nauvoo – Fall of 1846 – ”
“James bean and family belonged to Captain Shadrack’s (Shadrack Roundy) Company [Company No. 5 of which there were 5 groups of ten.] Shadrack told George Washington Bean to go over into Iowa to Sugar Creek on the Half Breed Tract as it was called (there being no particular owner). There he was to cut and prepare wagon timber from the white oak and hickory that grew in abundance. GWB’s companions were George Mayers and HYRUM WOOLSEY, the latter a worthless worker. The trio worked a month while boarding at old father Kessiman’s. They nearly starved, because no one knew how to cook. Besides some of them were shaking with the ague (malaria) every day and young fellows do get hungry. The trio hauled the timber nine miles to the river and boated it across.
!HIST: Brooks, Juanita. “John Doyle Lee”. 1962. p. 78. 19 Feb 1846. [George Laub Autobiography, typescript, BYU-S, p. 39. “Now after John D. Lee had crossed [the Mississippi River] the first time, the camp stopped several days in the Iowa territory in consequence of the cold weather and the snow storms. Then he returned and took the residue of his family.
This was on the 4th day of Mar [1846] when I crossed with him, and in the morning when I left him, he desired very much for me to go with him but circumstances were of such that I could not go at that time because I had not now arranged my business to take my departure. So now I took my leave of them after wishing them peace and prosperity on their journey. I gave Father Lee the parting hand and we embraced each other in our arms for sorrow was in my heart to part with a good friend.”] (From George Laub’s Diary): Now there was in Number in this last part of his family J. D. Lee, Agathan [Agatha Ann Woolsey, 1st wife] & Rachel, [Rachel Woolsey, 5th wife] Martha, Loiza, Horas Bowen and wife, James Wolsys wife [Lavina Patterson Woolsey] & Mother Wolsey [Abigail Schaeffer Woolsey, 4th wife, who John D. Lee had married “for her protection and journeying” & HYRUM [WOOLSEY] & Brother Workmans Son & ”
John D. Lee was an “adopted” son of Brigham Young, and John D. Lee took some pride in the large family he had gathered around him, as “adopted children” in the Gospel. HYRUM WOOLSEY was closely associated from this time forward with John D. Lee, usually identified as “H. WOOLSEY” by John D. Lee in his Journals.
!HIST: Kelly, Charles. JOURNALS OF JOHN D. LEE 1846-47 AND 1859. Univ. of Utah Press. Salt Lake City. 1984. p. 165. Summer Quarters, Fri, 14 May 1847.
The day dawned Clear and warm. J. D. Lee and family were planting corn, the remainder of the camp ploughing, clearing, &. Abt 3 p.m. A. Weeks, G. W. Hickerson, [husband of Sarah Woolsey], a younger sister of John D. Lee’s wives, Agatha Ann Woolsey and Rachel Andora Woolsey], James Woolsey [James Hopkins Woolsey, a younger brother], Levi North and their families (all members of J. D. Lee’s house hold) arrived from Mt. Pisgah.
Their arrival produced no small stir among the connections. They came up like good and dutiful children, told their adopted father in the priesthood, J.D. Lee, that they and their effects were subject to his council in all things.
The evening was cloudy and warm. At 7 Hickerson, Weeks, North, James. & H. [HYRUM WOOLSEY, A.D. and David Young and their families met at J. D. Lee’s and spent the evening in music and dancing before the Lord. At the close of the recreation J. D. Lee called them to order and after instructing them in the order of mirth and recreation bowed down in prayer before the ruler of all things. We adjourned at 11. Good feelings prevailed.
At 8 m. Harris returned but with very little meal. The mill was so crowded it was almost impossible to get grindings. Rain about 12.
HYRUM WOOLSEY worked with his family and the John D. Lee’s families from 1846 to Spring of 1848, when they prepared to go to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake.
!HIST: Cleland, Robert Glass & Juanita Brooks. A MORMON CHRONICLE: The Diaries of John D. Lee – 1848-1876. Vol. I. The Huntington Library. San Marino, California. 1955. p. 9.
Summer Quarters. Thurs. 16 Mar 1848. Clear & warm. Abt 7 J. D. Lee, S. Gully, S. A. Dun, Wm. Pace, S. Kelsey, & the two Sawyers put up a Pitt & at 8 they went to sawing. J. D. Lee, Jacob Woolsey [Jacob C. Woolsey, brother-in-law of Abigail Schaeffer Woolsey Lee. Jacob C. Woolsey dug Abigail’s grave after she died at the “Last or 9th crossing of the Sweetwater”],
S. Kelsey, William [William Andrew Woolsey, the youngest brother of the Woolsey girls] & Rheuben Woolsey [the oldest son of Thomas Woolsey, the Mormon Battalion Volunteer and of the Pioneer Company into the Great Salt Lake Valley in 1847.] shelled & sacked about 35 bushels of Corn & loaded 3 wagons with corn for Market. . . . Evening warm.
This Morning Mrs. Abigail [Abigail Schaeffer Woolsey] Lee who had left Bro. J. D. Lee’s Family, followed Martha’s example, confessed her wrongs & asked the liberty of coming back into Bro. Lee’s Family again. To which he upon certain conditions consented.
!HIST: Cleland, Robert Glass & Juanita Brooks. A MORMON CHRONICLE: The Diaries of John D. Lee – 1848-1876. Vol. I. The Huntington Library. San Marino, California. 1955. p. 8. Summer Quarters. Wed, 15 Mar 1848. Clear & warm. … T. Woolsey [Thomas Woolsey, Mormon Batt & 1847 Pioneer] & Rheuben his Son [Reuben Burrell Woolsey] were also in camp. J.D. Lee let T. Woolsey have a Plough & stock in exchange for a Plough H. WOOLSEY [HYRUM WOOLSEY] Said that he had in the valley. [note by www: Does this mean that HYRUM WOOLSEY had travelled to the “Valley” in 1847, returned with his older brother Thomas Woolsey to Summer Quarters and then returned to the Valley in 1848? www] Gave an order to Bro. P. Dougle for the Same in presence of J. Busby, C. Kennedy & Jos. Allen.
!HIST: Cleland, Robert Glass & Juanita Brooks. A MORMON CHRONICLE: The Diaries of John D. Lee – 1848-1876. Vol. I. The Huntington Library. San Marino, California. 1955. p. 8. Summer Quarters. Wed, 15 Mar 1848. Clear & warm. … T. Woolsy & Rheuben his Son [Reuben Burrell Woolsey] were also in camp. J.D. Lee let T. Woolsey have a Plough & stock in exchange for a Plough H. WOOLSEY Said that he had in the valley. Gave an order to Bro. P. Dougle for the same in presence of J. Busby, C. Kennedy & Jos. Allen.
!HISTORY: Dalton, Mrs. Luella Adams. HISTORY OF IRON COUNTY MISSION. Parowan, UT FHL # 979.247 H2d. p. 18. “Company bound for Iron Co. Mission – 20 Dec 1850 – at Peteetneet (Payson), included:
HYRUM WOOLSEY John D. Lee Polly Lee Lovina Lee
!HIST: Brooks, Juanita. JOHN D. LEE. p. 157. “On Wednesday 1850 Dec 11 John D Lee started for Iron County, with 2 wagons 4 yoke of cattle & 3 yoke of cows & Heifers also one carriage & 2 horses & of his family Mary and Lavina wives, 2 teamsters, HYRUM WOOLSEY & Paul Royls a Frenchman. Took 400 lbs Flour to each person & some more making about 22?? lbs Flour. 100 lbs. groceries one barrel Pork, one of Sourcrout, Pickles, Beans, Peas, Dried fruit, & …”
ON-LINE: Ancestry.com Salt Lake Co, UT Civil and Criminal Case Files, 1852-1887. Utah State Archives and Records Service. Salt Lake County Probate Court. Series 373. – Box/folder No. 01/059.
WOOLSEY, HIRAM, defendant, VS the People. 8 Apr 1853. Reel 1 Case type: Larceny & Vagrancy.
CORRES: Letter written 26 Aug 1855 from South Weber from Sarah Woolsey Hickerson to her husband George Washington Hickerson – She writes of her brother Richard Woolsey’s family, her brother Thomas Woolsey’s family, and the following: “…BR HYRAM is here yet and all well …”. This definitely proves that there was a brother, Hyrum Woolsey, and that he was in Utah by at least 1855.
26 Aug 1855 – South Weber, Utah Territory – Sarah Woolsey to George W. Hickerson
South Weber August the 26, 1855 My Dear companion
I have rec your kind letter of June the 4 and I now attempt to answer it I feel very thankful to my heavenly father that your life is yet spared and that your health is somewhat improved the reason why I wrote to have you return I heard that you was sick and not able to perform your duty and I went to brother Young and told him and he said if that was the case his council was for you to come home but if your health will admit of it I much rather you would stay and fill your mission than to come home and then have to go again I would like you to write how you heard it whether you got the letter I sent or not the children are all well at present but Andrew H. and Myself have been quite sick but by the blessing of God we are both recovered so we enjoy very good health at the present time this is the raison I have not wrote sooner Br Richard family are all well at present. He has buried one child little Mary since you left it is now a year since she died he still lives here but talks of leaving and going to Provo this fall brother Thomas has Sold out here and now lives about ten miles from here in North Cottonwood his family was well the last I heard BR HYRAM is here yet and all well
!CORRES: Letter from Rachel Woolsey Lee from Ft. Harmony, Washington Co, Utah Territory, 25 Sep 1858 to Sarah Woolsey Hickerson – Richard and HYRUM [two older brothers of Rachel Woolsey Lee] are here doing very well, their families are in good health. They send their best regards They, with Thomas & George have taken a job of brother Lee of fencing which will amount to three hundred dollars.
!TEMPLE: From Grandmother Clarissa Melissa Hickerson Whitaker’s “Temple Book” – “Names prepared for baptism 29 Aug 1930”, p. 21, # 12. HYRUM WOOLSEY, son of Joseph Woolsey and Abigail Schaffer, born abt 1818, Danville, Mercer, Kentucky, endowed 18 Feb 1931 by Orson Whitaker, proxy.
!CORRES: Martin Owen Woolsey, letter of 10 Aug 1928, to Mrs. N.C. Woolsey – “Father’s name was Richard Woolsey (& 3rd wife Clarissa Cole) and he was born in 1808. His brothers were: Thomas (older than father), Hyrum next to father, James, William. His sisters were Agatha, Rachel, & Sarah. My half brothers names were Hyrum, Thomas, William, George. My full Brothers names are James R., David M., [and] myself and Wilford died in infancy. My Sisters names Sarah Abigail, Melissa, Rachel Emma, Agatha Adeline.
This letter above may clear up some of the problems we have had with Hyrum Woolsey. It appears there were two of them, the older one, a brother of Thomas and Richard Woolsey, and a younger one, JOSEPH HYRUM WOOLSEY, son of Richard Woolsey and Hannah Foxhall, a half-brother of Martin Owen Woolsey, above.
Hyrum Woolsey and Rachel Mitchell had three children we have found.
01. JOSEPH HYRUM WOOLSEY (1 Feb 1826-1886) born in Jessamine County, Kentucky and died at Beaver Bottoms, Beaver County, Utah. He married in 1846 at Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, to Lucinda Jameson (11 Jun 1828-29 Nov 1896) born at Perry, Richland County, Ohio and died at Alva, Crook County, Wyoming, buried in Evanston, Uinta, Wyoming, daughter of Charles Jameson and Mary Ann Hedrick.
This is NOT the Jos. H. Woolsey of the 1850 Utah Census, with wife Rachel and daughters Elizabeth and Nancy Woolsey, who is a son of Jacob C. Woolsey.
JOSEPH HYRUM WOOLSEY (son of HYRUM WOOLSEY and Rachel Mitchell) and Lucinda Jameson had eight children, only the first, Eliza Jane Woolsey was born outside of Utah. They also had a son, also named JOSEPH HYRUM WOOLSEY, born 1857 at Ogden, Weber County, Utah.
The following article has some problems but is correct about [JOSEPH] HYRUM WOOLSEY, his marriage and children.
!HISTORY: Essom, Frank. Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah. Comprising Photographs – Genealogies – Biographies. Pioneers are those men and women who came to Utah by wagon, hand cart or afoot, between 24 Jul 1847 and 30 Dec 1868, before the railroad. Western Epics, Inc. Salt Lake City, Utah. (A reprint of the original). p. 1264. [A short article] on HYRUM WOOLSEY (son of HYRUM WOOLSEY and Rachel Mitchell of Missouri). Born February, 1826. Came to Utah 24 Jul 1847, Brigham Young company. Married Lucinda Jameson in 1846 at Council Bluffs, Iowa, (daughter of Charles Jameson and Mary Shadrick of Scotland and Pennsylvania, pioneers 1847). She was born Jun 16, ____. Their children: Eliza Jane, m. Edward McLatchie; Mary Ann, m. Johnson McGinnis; Amanda, m. Isaac Thomas; Joseph; Agnes, died; Margarete Evelyn, m. John Hemmelwright, m. John Newberry, m. Jehu Blackburn; Glades Elwilda, m. George Kelley, m. Thomas Allen; William Franklin, m. Maggie Baum; Rosabell, m. William Shonson. Family home Harmony, Utah. Elder. Took part in Echo Canyon trouble. Indian war veteran. Farmer. Died in 1886 at Beaver Bottoms, Beaver Co., Utah.
www believes that the above proves conclusively that there is a HIRAM WOOLSEY, son of Joseph Woolsey and Abigail Schaeffer Woolsey Lee. Also that he was closely associated with John D. Lee and his two younger sisters who had married John D. Lee, Agatha Ann Woolsey and Rachel Andora Woolsey, and also with George Washington Hickerson who had married another sister Sarah Woolsey. www also believes that the Hyrum Woolsey who goes to the ‘Iron County Mission” is the above HYRUM WOOLSEY, and NOT his son JOSEPH HYRUM WOOLSEY, who was in the Ogden area of Utah but at the very least, we now have them in the correct family group.
Brother Joseph
