Edwin D. Woolley
Encyclopedia
Edwin Dilworth Woolley, Sr. (June 28, 1807 – October 12, 1881) was a Mormon pioneer
, an early Latter-day Saint bishop in Salt Lake City, and a businessman in early Utah Territory
who operated mills.
Woolley was born in West Chester
, Pennsylvania
, and raised in a Quaker family. He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the 1830s and later served as a missionary
in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
.
In 1851, Woolley was a member of the Utah Territorial Legislature. For many years Woolley was bishop of the 13th Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City. He referred to a member of his ward, the young Heber J. Grant
, as lazy, which has been likened to someone calling Abraham Lincoln
dishonest.
Woolley was the grandfather of J. Reuben Clark
and Spencer W. Kimball
, among other Latter-day Saint leaders.
. His family were initially members of the Society of Friends (Quakers). His mother died in 1826 and in 1831 Woolley married Mary Wickersham. When Woolley's father died in 1832, he and his wife moved with Woolley's six siblings to East Rochester, Ohio, to the Wickersham home. He operated a general store and when coal was discovered on his property he set up a mining operation as well. He became acquainted with Mormon missionaries but his wife was actually the first to convert. After meeting Joseph Smith's family, Woolley decided to convert as well, in 1837 . His family followed suit soon afterwards, as well as members of Mary's family. Woolley, being a man of influence and wealth, was appointed to serve as the leader of the East Rochester branch of the church. Woolley continued to prosper and soon was financing Mormon operations and loaning money to the founder of the church, Joseph Smith. He also served an LDS proselytizing mission to West Chester, Pennsylvania.
in 1839 and then in 1840, Nauvoo, Illinois
, which had previously been known as the town of Commerce, Illinois. Woolley operated a general store in Nauvoo. Joseph Smith's claim of a revelation concerning plural marriage was first read in the Woolley home and started the practice of polygamy in the church and soon thereafter Woolley married his second and third wives, Ellen Wilding and Mary Louisa Gordon . When conflict between Mormons and non-Mormons reached a peak and Joseph Smith had been killed by an angry mob, the Illinois legislature asked the Mormons to leave Illinois in 1844 and in 1846 Woolley and his family began the westward trek towards their new home in Utah, which at the time was still land claimed by the Republic of Mexico .
Mormon Pioneer
The Mormon pioneers were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as Latter-day Saints, who migrated across the United States from the Midwest to the Salt Lake Valley in what is today the U.S. state of Utah...
, an early Latter-day Saint bishop in Salt Lake City, and a businessman in early Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
who operated mills.
Woolley was born in West Chester
West Chester, Pennsylvania
The Borough of West Chester is the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,461 at the 2010 census.Valley Forge, the Brandywine Battlefield, Longwood Gardens, Marsh Creek State Park, and other historical attractions are near West Chester...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, and raised in a Quaker family. He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the 1830s and later served as a missionary
Mormon missionary
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
There were 38,835 households out of which 27.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.40% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.50% had...
.
In 1851, Woolley was a member of the Utah Territorial Legislature. For many years Woolley was bishop of the 13th Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City. He referred to a member of his ward, the young Heber J. Grant
Heber J. Grant
Heber Jeddy Grant was the seventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was ordained an apostle on October 16, 1882, on the same day as George Teasdale...
, as lazy, which has been likened to someone calling Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
dishonest.
Woolley was the grandfather of J. Reuben Clark
J. Reuben Clark
Joshua Reuben Clark, Jr. was an American attorney, civil servant, and a prominent leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Born in Grantsville, Utah Territory, Clark was a prominent attorney in the Department of State, and Under Secretary of State for US president Calvin Coolidge...
and Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer Woolley Kimball was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1973 until his death in 1985.-Ancestry:...
, among other Latter-day Saint leaders.
Early Life
Edwin Dilworth Woolley was born and raised in West Chester, PennsylvaniaWest Chester, Pennsylvania
The Borough of West Chester is the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,461 at the 2010 census.Valley Forge, the Brandywine Battlefield, Longwood Gardens, Marsh Creek State Park, and other historical attractions are near West Chester...
. His family were initially members of the Society of Friends (Quakers). His mother died in 1826 and in 1831 Woolley married Mary Wickersham. When Woolley's father died in 1832, he and his wife moved with Woolley's six siblings to East Rochester, Ohio, to the Wickersham home. He operated a general store and when coal was discovered on his property he set up a mining operation as well. He became acquainted with Mormon missionaries but his wife was actually the first to convert. After meeting Joseph Smith's family, Woolley decided to convert as well, in 1837 . His family followed suit soon afterwards, as well as members of Mary's family. Woolley, being a man of influence and wealth, was appointed to serve as the leader of the East Rochester branch of the church. Woolley continued to prosper and soon was financing Mormon operations and loaning money to the founder of the church, Joseph Smith. He also served an LDS proselytizing mission to West Chester, Pennsylvania.
Life in Nauvoo
Crossing the Mississippi River, the LDS community settled first in Quincy, IllinoisQuincy, Illinois
Quincy, known as Illinois' "Gem City," is a river city along the Mississippi River and the county seat of Adams County. As of the 2010 census the city held a population of 40,633. The city anchors its own micropolitan area and is the economic and regional hub of West-central Illinois, catering a...
in 1839 and then in 1840, Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
, which had previously been known as the town of Commerce, Illinois. Woolley operated a general store in Nauvoo. Joseph Smith's claim of a revelation concerning plural marriage was first read in the Woolley home and started the practice of polygamy in the church and soon thereafter Woolley married his second and third wives, Ellen Wilding and Mary Louisa Gordon . When conflict between Mormons and non-Mormons reached a peak and Joseph Smith had been killed by an angry mob, the Illinois legislature asked the Mormons to leave Illinois in 1844 and in 1846 Woolley and his family began the westward trek towards their new home in Utah, which at the time was still land claimed by the Republic of Mexico .