Family Record of William Andrew Bills, Sr.

(Deon R. Hulbert's Great Grandfather - Mother's Side)

I hereby record all the information I have of my grandfather, Allisson Bills.  Also
of my grandfather and grandmother of my mother's side.

My grandfather, Allisson Bills, was born in the United States of America the latter
part of the 1700's.  But what part, I do not know.  In regard to my grandmother, his
wife, I know nothing.

My grandfather on my mother's side, whose name was Scott, was born in England the
latter part of the 1700's.  As also, my grandmother Scott, whose maiden name was
Bedford, was born in England the latter part of the 1700's.   None of the above ever
heard of the gospel that I am aware of.

My father, John Bills, was born September 19, 1819, in Blairsville, Indiana County,
State of Pennsylvania.

My mother, Elizabeth Scott, was born in Arburry, near Halifax, Yorkshire, England,
January 1, 1817.  She and my Aunt Ann, mother's sister, and their brother came to
America in 1822 or 1823.

My father and mother were married when quite young in the City of Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania.  My Aunt Ann married Hyrum Mikesell.  They raised a large family,
joined the Church and moved to Utah and settled in Salt Lake City in an early day.

My father was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
July 10, 1836.  My mother, Elizabeth Scott Bills, was baptized a short time previous
to father but the same year.

My father was a tailor by trade and kept a clothing store.  When he joined the
Church, he lost pretty much all he had in settling up and in the drivings he
underwent with the Saints.  After being driven from Far West, we went to Rushville
where I remember being quite well although it was the first place of my
recollection.  And from Rushville, we moved to Commerce, later Nauvoo, Hancock
County; Illinois in the spring of 1839 and assisted in building up that beautiful
city of about twenty thousand inhabitants.  And a fine Temple to the Lord where in
January 7, 1846, my father and mother received their endowments and were sealed over
the holy alter in the bonds of the new and everlasting covenant.

Father was a President in the 29 Quorum of Seventies, organized July 27, 1845, in
Nauvoo. He was also a general in the Nauvoo Legion.  Being a tailor, he made the
clothes for Joseph and Hyrum and cut out and supervised the making of the uniforms
for the first company of the Nauvoo Legion.

In the spring of 1846, father with most of the Saints, moved west to Winter Quarters
and stayed there until he raised a crop in 1847.  Then he gathered up an outfit and
in the spring of 1846, we moved west to Salt Lake Valley, Utah, and lived in the
fort built by the pioneers the year previous.  In the spring of 1849, we moved out
and settled on Little Cottonwood Creek, a half mile below where Union Ward Meeting
House now is in Salt Lake County.  We raised a crop and after father made his family
as comfortable as possible, he started on the 9th of November 1849 on a business
trip to Lore, California.  Before he reached his journey's end, he was taken sick
and grew worse until we reached Santaquin Valley at the Techecko Pass where he died,
and was buried February 19, 1850.

Father had taken me with him and after his death, I worked and earned a little money
and in the fore part of August, I started home, taking the north route, traveling
with Apostle Amey Lyman.  I arrived at our little home in Cottonwood, Salt Lake
County, Utah, the latter part of September 1850.

The following year, my mother remarried again to a man by the name of Lazenby and in
1854, they moved to Lore, California taking my four younger brothers with them,
namely, Robert, Charles, Franklin, and Samuel.  Also, mother had one son by Lazenby
by the name of Joseph.

Their aim was to join the Mormon settlement established at San Bernardino, Lore,
California.  But on the way, mother met with an accident, by a gunshot wound, which
caused her arm to be taken off, from which she never recovered.  She grew worse
until she died at what is called the Mountain Meadows, Iron County, Utah, I believe.
 The rest of the family went on through, and two of the boys, Robert and Charles,
married and died in California. The others are living in Fairview, Sanpete County,
Utah, namely Franklin and Samuel.  Both have families.  I also have a brother by my
father's second wife by the name of Wesley Bills, living in Milford, Sanpete County,
Utah.  He also has a large family.  Charles Bills returned from San Bernardino to
Beaver, Utah where he married Lidia Jane Taylor about November 1860.  Later, they
went to San Bernardino, had no children, and were divorced.  He married again and
had some children.

I hereby record my own history in part:

I, William Andrew Bills, Sr., record a part of my own history.  I am the oldest son
of John and Elizabeth Scott Bills.  I was born in the city of Pittsburgh, Allegany
County, Pennsylvania, August 5, 1835.  I was not quite one-year-old when my parents
joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I had my share of the
troubles the Saints passed through, even though young.  I heard my mother say that
while we were at Far West, when the mobs were there, about the time they took Joseph
and Hyrum Smith to Jackson Co., Missouri, at the time of the Mill Massacre, she
stood with me in her arms ready to hand me over, then she was willing to die.  But
we got clear to encounter still more hardships. Well, from place to place we were
driven until we reached Commerce in 1839.  As I grew older, I assisted in building
up that beautiful city of Nauvoo.  I was well acquainted with the Prophet Joseph and
Hyrum and their father and mother as also William and son, Carlos Smith.  We were
close neighbors.  Father, being a tailor, made their clothes.  I used to take Joseph
and Hyrum's clothes to Joseph's house.  His mother once showed me the mummies; they
in form appeared as natural as any other person would after being dried up as they
were.  They were the color of dark sole leather, common size, five in number, if I
recollect aright.  Father Smith once gave me a great blessing.  I recollect many
things that transpired in Nauvoo.  I was baptized and confirmed by Father John
Burges in the spring of 1844, previous to the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith.
As stated in the former chapter of this record, in the spring of 1846, we moved with
the rest of the Saints to Winter Quarters.

We made our quarters as comfortable as possible for the winter.  The next year of
1847, we raised a crop while President Young, with a company, went west to Salt Lake
Valley and found a location for the Saints.  They returned late in the same year,
and in 1848, we all started west for our new home in the far west, in the Rocky
Mountains.  The team I drove was three yoke of cattle, five cows, and one ox.  We
arrived in September in Salt Lake Valley and wintered in what is now Salt Lake City,
Utah.  I taught school for two or three years and was also Ward Teacher.  In
February 28, 1857, I was ordained a Seventy in Salt Lake City, by one of the first
seven Presidents of Seventies, Benjamin L. Clapp, and placed in the Ninth Quorum and
received my lessons signed by Joseph Young, Sr., President of the First Seven
Presidents.  I was then at liberty to preach the gospel in all the world.

In the summer of 1857, we found that our enemies had succeeded in raising hell to
the extent back east that President Buchanan saw fit to send an army out here to
Utah to settle our cases.  So, we concluded it best to keep them out of here until
they were better informed and we kept them out that summer and ensuing winter.  When
they sued for peace, we allowed them to come in, in the following spring of 1858.
But not until the families of the Saints were taken care of by moving south for a
short time until the army passed peaceably through Salt Lake City and out southwest
some 40 miles to what was called Camp Floyd in Cedar Valley, west of Utah Lake.  I
was once called to assist in this work in keeping the army out in 1857, and I have
my pass yet, a permit to return home when things were settled.  It reads:  "Echo
Canyon, November 5, 1857.  This is to certify that the bearer, William A. Bills, is
honorably released to return home.  Captain John Brown, in charge of Echo Canyon
Express Station".

So, in the spring of 1858, I moved my family south with the rest of the Saints, then
in the summer when all this was settled, we returned in peace.  I moved my family up
north that fall, namely 1858, to Mountain Green, Morgan County, Utah, in what is
called Weber Valley, where I was appointed President over that settlement of the
Peterson Ward.  In the fall of 1861, I was called by President Heber C. Kimball to
take my wife, Emeline, and get our endowments in the Old Endowment House in Salt
Lake City.  We, of course, obeyed his wish and were united in the holy bonds of
marriage in the new and everlasting covenant over the altar of the Lord.  After
filling my appointment as President of the Mountain Green Branch of the Peterson
Ward to the best of my ability until April 1863, a period of four years and six
months, I moved my family back to South Jordan Branch of the West Jordan Ward.  I
arrived the first Saturday in April 1863.  The next day while in meeting, as it was
Sunday, I was appointed as Counselor to James Wood, who was President of the Branch.
 I filled this position until July 15 1866, when on that day, I was chosen and set
apart by Bishop A. Gardner to preside over the Branch with Henry Beckstead, as
counselor. I filled this position for eleven years, that is, from July 15, 1866,
until June 17, 1877. When on that day, I was ordained a High Priest and set apart as
a Bishop by President Daniel H. Wells, and instructed to organize my branch into a
Ward, which I did.  Assisted by my counselors, Ensign R. Stocking, as my lst
counselor and Henry Beckstead as my 2nd counselor.  This position I tried to fill to
the best of my ability until July 8, 1900.

A re-organization took place, placing Thomas Blake in as Bishop, with Martin A.
Beckstead as 1st counsel and Robert M. Holt as 2nd counselor.  The reason for the
above organization was that for about three years, my health was so poor that part
of the time, my life was despaired of, and, at my own request, President Snow said
if I felt that I was unable to fill the position longer, he was willing to give me
an honorable release.  During my sickness, President Snow gave me and my three
living wives, and the one that had died a recommend to the House of the Lord for our
further blessings, which we attended to as also for my father, John and Elizabeth
Bills.  My wives mentioned, namely are:  Emeline Beckstead Bills, Matilda and
Patrenia Amundson Bills and Annie Eastwood Bills.  After the new organization, my
health improved and I was called upon by the Bishop to act as a teacher in one of
the districts of the Ward which as usual, I responded to and so I am still in the
gospel harness and I am proud that I improved in health and did not have to rust out
up to date August 5, 1902.  I will be sixty-seven years old and will have served in
the gospel harness over forty-five years, and am still a worker in the noblest cause
on earth.  On this page below, I place the minutes of the ward organization as it
took place. Respectfully, William A. Bills.  (In his own book, he had a newspaper
clipping pasted in, copies by his son, Orson Bills July 30, 1920.)

I first place my father and mother's birth and death in this record.  John Bills,
born in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, September 19, 1819.  Baptized July 10,
1836. Married Elizabeth Scott in Pittsburgh, 1834.  Ordained 6th President of the
9th Quorum of Seventies in Nauvoo, July 27, 1845.  Died February 19, 1850.

Elizabeth Scott Bills born January 1, 1817, in Yorkshire, England, in a place called
Arburry, near Halifax.  Baptized in June 1836.  Died in the spring of 1854.
Father's 2nd wife left no record.

William Andrew Bills, oldest son of John and Elizabeth Scott Bills was born August
5, 1835, in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Baptized by John Burges and
confirmed in the spring of 1844.  Previous to the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum in
Nauvoo, Illinois.

Emeline Beckstead Bills, born in the upper part of Lower Canada, Williamsburg, April
4, 1837.  Baptized.

Children of William Andrew and Emeline Beckstead Bills:

Geardan Silas B. Bills, born March 18, 1954, in West Jordan Ward, Salt Lake Co.,
Utah, Saturday morning at 2:20 a.m.  Weighed 7 1/2 lbs.  Blessed March 9, 1856, by
James Kilfoil.  Baptized.

William Andrew Bills, born September 4, 1855, in West Jordan Ward, Salt Lake Co.,
Utah, Tuesday, 9:50 a.m..  Weighed 5 1/4 lbs.  Baptized.

Alexander B. Bills, born Little Cottonwood Ward, Salt Lake Co., Utah, Friday, 6
a.m., September 4, 1857.  Weighed 8 1/4 lbs.  Baptized.

Catherine Emeline B. Bills, born Mountain Green, Weber Valley, Morgan Co., Utah,
Saturday, 2:20 a.m., February 18, 1861.  Weighed 8 lbs.  Baptized.

Harriet Elizabeth B. Bills, born Mountain Green, Weber Valley, Morgan Co., Utah,
Monday, 11:30 a.m., February 18, 1861.  Weighed 8 lbs.  Baptized.

John Alma B. Bills, born South Jordan Ward, Salt Lake Co., Utah, Friday, 1 p.m.,
June 26, 1863.  Weighed 8 1/4 lbs.  Blessed July 19, 1863, by Bishop A. Gardner.
Died, September 9, 1863.

George Wellington B. Bills, born South Jordan Ward, Salt Lake Co., Utah, Tuesday, 2
a.m., August 9, 1864.  Weighed 10 1/2 lbs.  Blessed October 16, 1864 by A. Gardner.

Mary Ellen B. Bills, born South Jordan Ward, Salt Lake Co., Utah, Saturday 4 p.m.,
June 15, 1867.  Weighed 11 lbs.

Martha Ann B. Bills, born South Jordan Ward, Salt Lake Co., Utah, Monday, 6 a.m.,
June 27, 1869.  Blessed by Henry Beckstead, June 27, 1869.  Died 1869.

Henry B. Bills, born South Jordan Ward, Salt Lake Co., Utah, Monday 10 a.m.,
December 1, 1872.  Weighed 10 lbs.  Blessed December 8, 1872, by Henry Beckstead,
Died, December 12, 1872.

David B. Bills, born South Jordan Ward, Salt lake Co., Utah, April 13, 1874, at 1:30
p.m. Blessed by William A. Bills, the father, June 28, 1874.  Baptized by father on
his birthday when 8 years-old.

I here insert the births, deaths, and blessings of my children by Matilda Amundson
Bills, Patrenia Amelia Amundson Bills, and Annie Eastwood Bills.  My wife, Matilda
Amundson Bills and I were married over the holy altar in the new and everlasting
covenant of marriage after receiving our endowments by President Daniel H. Wells in
the Old Endowment House in Salt Lake City, March 1, 1869.  Also her sister, Patrenia
Amelia Amundson and I will insert Patrenia's children next after Matilda's in the
order they were born.  Also, Annie Eastwood and I were married in the Old Endowment
House by President Daniel H. Wells, February 6, 1869.  After receiving her
endowments, I will also insert the births, deaths, and blessings of her children in
the order they were born, next after Patrenia's.  First, I will record when and
where they were born.

Matilda Amundson was born in Christiania, Norway, Sunday, May 26, 1851.  Baptized
same place by T.R. Darious, May 24, 1862.  Confirmed by Isac Isacson.

Patrenia Amelia was born Christiania, Norway, March 19, 1853.  Baptized by T.R.
Darious, May 24, 1862.  Confirmed by Elder Hallstanson.  Died, January 10, 1879.

Annie Eastwood was born in Hudisfield, Yorkshire, England, December 20, 1856.
Baptized by David Addams, 1873.  Confirmed by James Hedley.

Here follows the births, blessings and deaths of the children of my wives according
in which by wives were married and the order in which their children were born,
using the first letter of their maiden names with each child after its mother:

Parley A. Bills, born South Jordan Ward, Salt Lake Co., Utah, Saturday 4:45 a.m.,
February 10, 1872.  Weighed 10 1/4 lbs.  Blessed by the father, March 17, 1872.
Baptized by Matthew Holt, November 4, 1880.  Confirmed by Edward Holt, ordained a
Seventy in the 95th Quorum, October 11, 1891.

Mary Amelia A. Bills, born August 8, 1874, Saturday, 9 p.m., in South Jordan Ward,
Salt lake Co., Utah.  Weighed 11 lbs.  Blessed by the father August 29, 1874.  Died,
January 27, 1881.

Luther Martin A. Bills, born South Jordan Ward, Salt Lake Co., Utah, Thursday,
November 22, 1877.  Died December 12, 1877.  Weighed 10 lbs.  Blessed by the father
December 3, 1877.

Ole A. Bills, born South Jordan Ward, Salt lake Co., Utah, May 15, 1880.  Blessed by
father in June 1880.  Baptized June 1, 1888, by James A. Oliver.  Confirmed by the
father.

William Riley A. Bills, born South Jordan Ward, Salt Lake Co., Utah, July 9, 1884,
Wednesday, 1:30 p.m.  Weighed 9 3/4 lbs.  Blessed by the father, August 10, 1884.
Ordained a deacon by the father, July 2, 1894.

Oline A. Bills, born South Jordan Ward, Salt Lake Co., Utah, December 12, 1886, at
10:10 p.m.  Weighed 8 lbs.  Blessed by the father December 17, 1886.  Baptized by
Albert Mabey Sr.  Blessed by the father.  Died March 25, 1896.

Norman Scott A. Bills, born South Jordan Ward, Salt Lake Co., Utah, Wednesday, April
10, 1889, 10 p.m.  Weighed 9 lbs.  Blessed by the father May 5, 1889.  Baptized
April 9, 1897, by father and confirmed by father.

Martha Jane A. Bills, born South Jordan Ward, Salt Lake Co., Utah, Tuesday, March
17, 1891. 7:20 p.m.  Weighed 8 1/4 lbs.  Blessed by the father April 26, 1891.
Baptized by Albert Mabey Sr.

Ira Patrenia A. Bills, born South Jordan Ward, Salt Lake Co., Utah, July 25, 1893,
Tuesday, 6:53 a.m.  Weighed 8 1/4 lbs.  Blessed by the father, August 10, 1893.
Died May 15, 1895, at 2 p.m., Wednesday.

Patrenia's children's births and blessings:

Orson A. Bills, born South Jordan Ward, Salt Lake Co., Utah, Wednesday, November 1,
1871, 11:30 p.m.  Weighed 8 3/4 lbs.  Blessed by the father, December 24, 1871.

Samuel Andrew A. Bills, born South Jordan Ward, Salt Lake Co., Utah, January 6,
1874, 2 p.m.  Weighed 7 lbs.  Blessed by the father February 1, 1874.

Homer Layfeett A. Bills, born South Jordan Ward, Salt Lake Co., Utah, October 25,
1876, 8 a.m.  Weighed 6 1/2 lbs.  Blessed by the father December 17, 1876.