TITLE PIONEER (full name) BIR TH (date and place) DEA TH (date and place) PARENTS MARRIED (who and date) ARRIVAL IN UTAH (date) (Company arrived with) HISTORY (who wrote) (date written) (who submitted) (address) PAGE William Tonks 19 July 1832-Willenhall, Staffordshire, Eng. 29 March 1912 - Morgan, Morgan, Utah George Tonks Martha Pearson Martha Derricott 1855 1 October 1859 (great granddaughter) Veloy Tonks Dickson - 15 October 1982 Morgan, Utah 84050 CAMP & COUNTY SUBMITTING _S_o_u_th_M_o_r"'g_a_n ________ Camp _M_o_r_g::::_a_n ___________ County ( Camp Histor ian & address )_ __ _L _o_l_a_D_a_w_s_o_n_P_et_e_r_s_o__n _ ______ Morgan, Utah 84050 County Historian & address )_ __v _e_lo_y.:...__T_o_n_k_s_D_i_ck_s_o_n_ _____. __ PO Box 203, Morgan, Utah 84050 SOURCE OF INFORMATION & PAGE NUMBERS: Family histories, Book - "Mountains Conquered" published by Fine Arts Club of Morgan, and Utah on Biographies of Pioneers. WILLIAM TONKS William Tonks was born July 19, 1832, in Willenhall, Staffordshire (near Birmingham), England, a son of George and Martha Pearson Tonks . He re ceived his education there and grew to manhood, learning the blacksmith trade from his father. When but eighteen years of age, he became converted to the teachings of the Mormon Church. He became acquainted with and fell in love with Martha Derricott, daughter of Charles and Mary Ashley Derricott. She was · born May 24 , 1828, in Wrock-wardin, Shropshire, England. They were married in 1855 and emigrated to America in 1856, arriving in New York after being three months on the ocean. They lived in New York for thr ee years where William made a living by working at his trade of locksmith and blacksmith, and saved enough money to outfit them for the trip to Utah. Two children, George Moroni and William Henry, were born in New York. Their oldest child, Elizabeth (Lizzie) was left in England with her grandparents, Charles and Mary Ashley Derricott. She joined the family in 1868 when she came to Utah with her grandparents, Charles and Mary Derricott. In the early spring of 1859, William and Martha and their two sons took passage by way of New Orleans, up the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers to Council Bluffs, Iowa . . Here they started their long journey of over one thousand miles to Salt Lake. They joined with an old man named Mr. Bucannon, who had an ox team and wagon, but had gone only a short distance when the team gave out. They had to cut the wagon box in two, making a two-wheeled cart instead of a whole wagon, which necessitated them walking most of the way. Martha carrying her baby Henry. William's duty on the journey was to take care of the wagons and at night to stand watch for Indians, wild animals, etc. William Tonks - page 2 At one time while the company was camped for dinner, Martha, near l y e overcome with fatigue and sore feet from walking, sat down by a stream to bathe and rest her feet and body. In doing so she soon fell as l eep. When she awoke, she realized the Company had gone ahead without her. William, supposed she was somewhere in the Company. She became very frightened and started walking thinking she could follow the tracks of the wagon train and soon catch up with them. She had no idea of where she was and the wagons were out of sight. She was terribly disappointed when she came to the P l atte River . She took off her shoes and started to wade, hoping and praying she could cross in safety, but the current became too swift and she had to turn back in despair . After what seemed to her to be quite a while, her prayers were answered as she saw two horsemen coming across the river from the opposite direction. They took her to the other side of the river and told her she woul d find the Wagon Train straight ahead. It was beginning to get dusk as she hurried to catch up with them. It was some t ime before William discovered she was missing and started looking for her. Finally he met her and- there was a good cry for joy that she was safe and alive . After many hardships and experiences they ar r ived in the Salt Lake Valley in October of 1859, tired and worn out from the long journey, but with thankful hearts that they had reached Zion safely and a l ive. Here they settled for a number of years, living a few blocks northwest of the Temple grounds, in the old 19th Ward area. Whil e here William opened up a nail factory, which he operated for a time, making the first wrought iron nails ever made in Salt Lake for Brother John Taylor. He then took up his trade of Bl acksmith. Three chil dren were added to the family while they were living in Salt Lake, 9/ William Tonks - page 3 Martha Jane, Louisa, and Mary Elizabeth (Polly) . As was the rule in early days, many of the pioneers were called to colonize in other areas, and in 1866, William and Martha and their five children were sent to help colonize Weber Valley (now Morgan County) in the first year of its settle-ment. William again worked at his blacksmith trade . establishing the first black-smith shop in Morgan on the property where Halls shop now stands (1967). He taught the trade to Thomas Geary and Thomas Butters. William always kept his blacksmith shop and after he was too old to run it rented it to others to run. Some time after his death it was sold to Earl Halls who use d it for some years and then tore it down and built a more modern structure on the grounds. During the time the Union Pacific railroad was being built from Echo Canyon through Morgan County (about 1868), William had a contract to make shoes for the mules. He shod all the mules and horses receiving $10 for every span he shod. It was a big day when the first train came to Morgan. The whole town was there to see it arrive, some families waiting from about two in the afternoon until after ten at night. The big engine was puffing and belching black smoke as it came from the east around the point of the mountain across from Lake Como. It was a tremendous and marvelous sight and a g reat curiosity to many. When William and Martha first moved to Morgan they lived in a one-room dugout which was located on the lot that is now occupied by the Homer Francis home (96 South State). It had steps going down into it just like a cellar . Here is where Charles (my grandfather) was born. Later they moved to a log house where the L. D.S. Seminary (20 N. 200 E.) now stands. Their last child, Rebecca Althura, was born here. A greater area for activity and support for this large family became necessary. William Tonks - page 4 In 1872, some more pioneering work had to be done when they bought land in South Round Valley for $600. Here they built a large stone home and with his son's help, cleared the land and made a farm. William planted all kinds of fruit trees: plum, pear, cherry, apple, and apricot, besides currents and gooseberries and a garden full of a variety of vegetables. He also had a bee colony. The boys used to work in the fields. take care of the irrigation and feed the animals while their father daily went to work at his shop. William and Martha were the parents of eight children, seven of whom grew to adulthood. Mary Elizabeth (Polly) died at the age of 11 years from diptheria. Elizabeth married John Clayton. They lived in Coalville and then Salt Lake . George Moroni married Emily Ann Littlefield and moved to the Teton Basin in Idaho. William Henry married Susan Fry and they also moved to Idaho. Martha Jane married Thomas F . Welch and settled in Morgan until her children were older and then moved to Salt Lake. Louisa married Benjamin Jones. They ?3 moved to Arizona and then to Idaho. Charles married Margaret Catherine Robison. They took over the farm in Round Valley from his parents (William and Martha) and lived in Morgan all their lives . Rebecca married James Tucker and settled in Morgan. William and Martha lived true to the gospel principles, doing everything they were asked to do. He was very litieral with his means and did much good towards building .up the community, giving money toward the erecting of school and meeting houses, ditches, roads and other enterprises for the upbuilding and growth of the town and county. He was one of the organizers and stockholders of the Morgan City Zion Co-operative Commercial Institution. In about 1902 or 1903 they moved from the old home in Round Valley to Morgan where they spent their remaining days. Martha died September 14, 1911. William Tonks - page 5 9'/ William lived to the ripe age of 80 years. He died on March 29, 1912, and was buried beside his dear wife in the South Morgan Cemetery.