Willenhall, Staffordshire, England July 18, 1832. His parents were George and Martha Pearson Tonks. His early childhood years were spent in England where he received some formal education, and later learned the metal trade with his father and brothers while working in a lock factory. When William was 18 years old he heard about the LDS Church and became a member of their organization. He decided to come to America to “be with the Saints” as the expression was used » then. Before leaving for America he married Martha Der- ricott, who Willenhall, England. 24, 1828, was also from Staffordshire, She was a born May daughter of Charles and Mary Ashley Derricott. December 7, 1854, their first child was born. Little Elizabeth (Lizzie) stayedfor a while with her maternal t grandparents, Charles and Mary Derricott while her parents came to America. They arrived in New Yorkin 1856 and livedthere for three years. While living in New York William earned his living working as a blacksmith and saving as much as they could for the journey to Salt Lake. Their first son, George M. Tonks was born there, and two years later a second son, William Henry Tonks was born. Early in the spring of 1859 the Tonks’ family gathered their humble belongings together and with their two sons started to cross the plains with one of the many covered wagon companies. William hired out as a night herder for money or exchange for food. The journey was hard and treacherous and when the oxen became too poor totravel the covered wagon was cut in two anda short box made of it. Martha walked and carried her baby Henry a good share of the trip. On one particular occasion -srv.got_ lost on the plains. If. vas a very hot day and after walking until three o’cloek she became completely worn out, and with blistered feet almost to the point of bleeding, she sat as about gers of beingseparatedfrom at night, during a terrific wind andrainstorm, William was on night guard duty. The winds were so strong it was necessary to use hands and feet and in several instances even their teeth to help hold the tents intact. Even then their clothing and beds were completely soaked through. There were many other trying incidents in their journey West, and, many of the people living in the Morgan Valley today own a great deal of thanks to the brave and enduring people who helped make it the beautiful flourishing community we have today. The Tonks family arrived two feet until only one Aj) the children v — to their Onn born banks and the ends. The next mea pinaial row of logs was placed in came to Utah then her company. After running for quite a distance, she came toastream and stopped to remove her shoes before crossing. She looked up and saw a group of men approaching on horses. She was frightened and very cautious. The mencould see that she was very frightened, but they seemed kind and she explained her plight. They told her they would take her and try tofindthe wagons if she would get on the back of one of their horses. She was still very much frightened for fear they would run away with her, but decided to trust them, when they promised not to harm her. They delivered her safely across the stream, and upon going a short distance on the horses-she-hastened on alone. How thankful and relieved she was upon finally being able to see the wagons slowly winding their way around the foot of a great mountain. It seemed miles away but before her fears again began to assail her she was approached by her husband and his companion. That night a prayer of great thanksgiving was offered up by the entire camp. On another occasion while camped was ; % A: special Daughters of Utah Pioneer Tri Camp meeting will be held in the city and county auditorium building June 17, 1977 at 1:30 p.m. | Willows were then placed were raised William to Tonks been called to honor all members of the three . Grace Kilbourn _areceive guests from - 6 p.m. at the new * terville LDS Ward adulthood. tural Hall, his *... to a home sweep without raining grea clouds of dust. Two more children, Char. les and Rebecca (Becky Tuc: ker) were born after arriv: ing in Morgan. The first blacksmith shop 2700 S. Mor- - School. House,” the years covers from the present, 1864 to and took ~~ three years to complete. in South packed it was quite easy tMorgan where Doyle Tucker keep the room clean, and ti will 2 to PorCul- gan Valley Drive. Her 178 page book, “‘The History of the Old Porterville Church and » swept to keep the dirt down over the family farm raatther and they the floor became har'moved ex. birthday. except all over the roof and covere neighbors organized a stock with dirt. Windows wer company on the large tract made in the gable ends. Thi! of lang purchased from the was the only light by day railroad, asara nge company The floors were sprinkle for cattle and h orses. In1904 with water each morning an Henry andhis wifeS After this meeting. PORTERVILLE — A woman who has just completed writing a book about Porterville, where she has lived all her married life, will be honored at an open house Sunday in observ-“ance of her 80th an and Daughters of the honored ladies are welcome to accompany their mother at The special meeting has log filled the space in th€ Polly who died at age ten middle of the top. camps over 80 years of age. A program will begin at 1:30 and a luncheon will be served to those present in the D.U.P. building. . (Welch) family. Shortly after arriving in Salt Lake William opened a nail factory, and later took up his trade as a blacksmith. They lived in Salt Lake for about five more years and two more children were born. Louisa and Mary Elizabeth, (Polly). They were then sent by church authorities to Farmington to live and later when a road was opened through Devils Gate they were sent to help colonize Morgan County (1866). Upon their arrival in Morgan they lived in a dugout, on the land where the Walter Francis home now stands. The dugout was a square hole about five feet deep with logs placed on each side of the - . 1859. Three months later a fourth child, Martha Jane ovo Martha was very active in | the Relief Society and was on the Stake board for l5 years, One of her many duties was to visit all the wards. They would visit Littleton in the morning, Milton inthe afternoon, and the next day or late that evening arrive in Peterson for their meeting the next morning. They would drive to Croydon, spend the night and return home the next day. Two concrete homes were built in South Round Valley | On property acquir ed by the family. The land was cleared of brush, and a canal for irrigation built. His sons took care of the farm ing Sohe could maintain his blacksmithing. He had to cross the Weber River on horse back and many times he was thrown from the horse by the swift currant. When the concrete homes were built they were finally reunited with their qausnt i2Zi — in Salt Lake, on October 1, down by the side of the road to rest and to bathe her painful feet inasmall stream of water. Having done this her exhaustion overtook her and relaxing, she feel asleep on the ground. When she awoke the company had gone on without her. Imagine her husband’s feelings when they discovered her missing. He at once started back with an officer of the wagon trainaccompaning him. Upon awakening from her much needed slumber, she was in a daze upon discovering herself all alone. There were two roads and she couldn’t remember which one the group had taken. She knew there were Indians and wolves in the area. She pleaded with the Lord for guidance and safety. She chose a road and began to run in hopes of catching sight of the missing wagons. She knew the dan- —— IR SO Sometimes one discovery leads to another, and when the oxen shoe was recently found on the Jack Thackeray farm many people were speculating and wondering about its origin. While the original owner has not been found its original source has been uncovered. It was inall probability made right here ‘in our own beautiful Morgan Valley, after the year 1866, by a well-known and loved man among the early settlers. Morgan’s first blacksmith was William Tonks who made nails as well as oxen shoes. William Tonks was bornin sound. PDP PO | Tonks First Blacksmith. i _ roe and his family now resides. Martha lived to the ripe age of 82 and William who was known to everyone as Daddy Tonks lived tilthe age of 80 years. He died in Round Valley at the home ofhisson Charles in the placehe loved so much that he always called it Paradise. was opened in 1866 by William. He became very proficient in his work and later tutored other men in this work, among them Thomas These faithful pioneers Geary and Thomas-Butters. and the struggles they enHe was a skilled wheelright dured should make them very and set many wagon tires. special people inthe minds of Most of the nails in early residents of Morgan County. Morgan homes were made by In the future more articles his hands. will be written to help us During the time the railknow and appreciate the sacroad was being built through rifices made by these really Morgan he had a contract to great people and to help us make shoes for the mules, realize the significance of and Henry also helped his our upcoming Bicentinnial father with the work. The celebration. Information for first blacksmith shop was on this article was furnished by the land where the old high Mrs. Ivan Bell, a grandschool stands. The children daughter.) -C.C. loved to watch the fierce fiery billows and sparks and hear the loud pounding of the hammer as shapes took place before their eyes. This was a favorite gathering . place for youngandoldalike. Their first log home was situated on the corner of this lot. On one occasion in the new log home, a corner of the huge grain bin on the property broke in and their young son Charles was bur- _ ied under the grainandit was’ really frightening before he was finally dug out, safe and ee mm ee It contains pictures of peany poner ents, past and GRACE KILBOURN building of the two small vicinity and resipresent, as well as details of the church buildings in the combining the two wards into one building in 1898. It tells about two separate school buildings there too, and how they were joined together in 1905. Mrs. Kilbourn was born Oct. 13, 1900 in Hoytsville, Summit County, a daughter of John J. and Selena Ann Judd Bowen. The family later moved to Idaho, and lived in Naf, Rupert, Burley and Declo. ’ She took nurses training at the old Dee Memorial Hospital in Ogden for 18 months and worked as a practical nurse for many years. On July 3, 1925 she was married to Marvin Kilbourn in the Logan LDS Temple. He died Sept. 16, 1979. Mrs. Kilbourn has been active in civic af- fairs, including census taker for 16 years and was chairman of the American Cancer Society and Red Cross drives. In the LDS Church she served as president of the YWMIA and Primary, secretary of the Sunday School, and chorister and teacher in all of the auxiliary organizations. During 1979, she made 20 afghans as gifts for relatives and friends. She enjoys knitting, crocheting tatting and fishing. She has two daughters and one son: Lois Akagi and Glenna Edward, both of Salt Lake City, and Vern M. Kilbourn of Ogden. She has 17 grandchildren and 14 grandchildren. Copies of Mrs. Kilbourn’s book great- may be purchased at the minimum cost of $7, plus 81 cents if being mailed. Call Mrs. Kilbourn at 829-3927, or J. Eugene further information. Hayes at 829-3595 for