History > The Story of William Dunford

by Ruth Nelson Baker

William Dunford was born January 17, 1847 in Trowbridge, Wiltshire England, the eldest son of Isaac and Leah Bailey Dunford. An older sister, Mary had been born on January 4, 1846. During this time, missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints taught them the gospel message and on August 3, 1848, Isaac was baptized. Leah, who was pregnant at the time, waited until after the birth of little Amelia (born September 14, 1848) and was then baptized on November 15.

The following April, two-year-old Mary died and five months later on September 30, so did baby Amelia. William was joined by a brother, Alma on August 19, 1850, and a sister, Savina on July 9, 1852. Savina lived only six months.

Wanting to join the Saints in America, Isaac and Leah with their two young sons left England in November, 1853. During their six week voyage, a daughter, Seaborn, joined their family. After reaching New Orleans, they traveled by river steamer to St. Louis. It was on this trip that little Seaborn died and was buried on the banks of the Mississippi River.

For the next two years, they lived in St. Louis where another son, Moroni, was born on June 8, 1855. In the spring of 1856, Isaac, Leah, nine-year-old William, five-year-old Alma, and baby Moroni joined the John Banks Company and went by ox team to Salt Lake City. There they stayed only until the next spring when for unknown reasons they returned to St. Louis where they remained for the next seven years.

During these years, four more children joined the family: Albert Bailey, born November 19, 1857; Eliza Ann, born September 26, 1859; Parley Edwin, born October 5, 1861; and Oliver Cowdrey, born October 12, 1863.

William attended school in St. Louis as did his younger brothers, Alma, Moroni, and Albert. Moroni tells in his journal about these years as seen through his eyes. It is certain that William also experienced many similar things. (See Moroni's history for more detail of this time.) As the oldest brother, William probably had much responsibility in taking care of the others. He evidently was also a tease. Moroni recalled a time in

...the summer of '63 went in bathing a times or two in the river with my Brother William on one occasion he taken me out where the water was over my head & would let me go & then laugh at me....

In 1864, Isaac made preparations to again take his family to the Salt Lake Valley. On June 18, they moved to the steamboat, Kate Kinney, which was to take them to Nebraska City, the outfitting place for groups traveling west. On June 19, Moroni recorded that they,

...left the banks of the river & the shores of St. Louis, our beautifull City, the place of my birth was soon out of Sight, leaveing behind us our Father & older Brother, on account of our boat leaving sooner than was expected. All this day we all felt bad wondering how they would overtake us. So bad did my Mother feel that I Seen her cry. At the first landing place up the river before we stoped, I seen my Father & Brother there waiting for us....

A week later they reached Nebraska City and within three days were in a wagon train heading to Great Salt Lake City. William later wrote a letter to his Uncle Levi Bailey detailing this trip. On April 13, 1865, he wrote:

I arrived in this City Sept. 20th. My parents arriving 5 days afterwards. I will now give you a few items: We started from St. Louis, June 19th. had a very nice trip up the river and arrived at Wyoming [Nebraska] June 26th just 7 days after leaving St. Louis. staid at Wyoming [Nebraska] 3 days & then started on our journey for G.S.L. City.

we started with 28 wagons--with a bro: Chase as Captain. Father had 1 wagon with 4 oxen. I had charge of a bro: Hall's wagon he having 3. July 16th passed Fort Kearney. The day after 4 of our Company turned back on account of the pursuasion of some dane apostates which we met by crowds returning.

--July 23rd at Ofallons Bluff. 350 miles from Wyoming [Nebraska], Uncle george [George Dunford] & his wagonmaster Nash could not agree.--(uncle george had 7 wagons loaded with hats, caps, Sugar, Tea, Coffee, Tobacco &c &c.)--Uncle said he would go no further.--with such men & actions said he would pay them off & let them go ahead & he would stay behind. Nash & his men wanted provision--uncle refused when Nash ordered his men to take them--uncle said he would shoot the first man that did--Nash went for his revolver,-he--was kept back when he got raving mad.--Cursed-swore-& called uncle every but a gentleman.--rushed up to uncle for to take his pistol from him when quite a scuffle ensued. they were seperated however without any further damage.--finally they came to an agreement--uncle paid them off & they were divided among the Company

July 24th drove out and left uncle and family. July 26th crossed the South Platt. had to raise the wagons 6 in. & put 10 & 12 yoke of Cattle on each wagon. Aug. 9th Passed Fort Larimie. Aug 14th 8 miles this side of Horseshoe Creek Burgess cashed 2 wagon loads of goods & left the wagons on account of loosing so many Cattle by desease called the Bloody Murrian

Aug 17th at Deer Creek 100 miles west of Larimie 1 of fathers oxen died by the same desease which was a great loss to him on account of being so heavelly loaded Aug 18th 3 of our Company drove out and went ahead Aug 24th father bought a cow to take place of his ox that died Aug 31st 3 more of our Company turned out and went ahead.--Sept 10th at green River the Captain, Hall, & a dane drove out and went ahead & left the remaining 5 wagons viz: Burgess, 3, Dr. Newton, 1 Father 1.--I went ahead with Hall--(I having --charge of his provision wagon)--he saying that he would drive about 6 miles & then wait until my Parents came up & that was the last I seen of them until Sept 25th

we--(the Captain, Hall, Dane man & I)--drove on an arrived in this City Sept 20th after a journey of 93 days from St. Louis & 83 days from Wyoming [Nebraska]. on arriving I met with a Bro: Henry W. Naisbitt who would have me go to his house to live I went & am living there still. My--Parents & the rest arrived Sept 25th being 98 days from St. Louis & 88 day from Wyoming,--They were all well & a very little the worse for wear.

with him: until they could get something better--so my parents went and lived with him. About 30 head of cattle died of of the disease called the bloody murrian out of our little Company. a boy got his arm broke by being thrown of a horse, but thank God we had no worse an accident.

William was 17 years old at this time, old enough to help in earning money for the family. Perhaps this is why when, in November the rest of his family left with the James H. Hart and the James Nelson families to settle the Bear Lake Valley in Idaho, he stayed in Salt Lake City. He must have had some training in art or photography while in St. Louis, for he wrote that "I went to work at my trade...for a bro. E. R. Savage, the only gallery in the City.

Very little has been written about William. He was divorced after a brief marriage. He died at the age of only 44. Apparently afterwards, his two living daughters had little if no contact with the rest of the Dunford family resulting in almost no information being passed onto their descendants. It is only through some 80 of his letters that his history is written. But, these letters reveal much about William's personality and the events of his life.

William was given the task to write to Isaac and Leah's families and friends and tell them about their trip west and their present circumstances. He wrote to his Uncle George, "...and as they [Isaac and Leah] authorized me to act as there Private Sectretary I take pleasure in answering your letter." The letters would be signed, "From your loving and affectionate Nephew--Wm. Dunford, Private Secretary to I. & L. Dunford." He then would send handwritten copies of these letters to his parents adding a personal letter to them at the end.

William was to find life in the City a hard one. Employment was difficult to come by and difficult to keep. Most of the time it seems that he was unemployed or "loafing" as he put it. In his first letter to his parents after they arrived in Bloomington, Idaho, he reported that he had been let go from Savage because "I did not suit him & that was all he could say...." The next week however when he happened to be in the gallery, Mr. Savage offered him his job back because, "...the man that he had in my place did not suit near as well as I did...Savage said that he never seen finer work than what I made...." Four months later on March 18, William was again let go by Mr. Savage, this time for good.

It is certain William felt the loss of being separated from his family. He wrote:

Please tell my brothers to kiss my Dear little sister for me, & Eliza to kiss them for me & Mother you kiss little Parley for me.

Tell Alma to practise writing & to study as much as posible. I was very thankful for that one letter he wrote & would be much more pleased if I get some from him oftener.

My Dear Father why dont you try you hand at writing what words you cant spell you can make out in that dictionary I sent...Please not delay long in writing.

In William's letters in April of 1865, we get an insight into the happenings not only in Great Salt Lake City, but also in the country. He wrote concerning the recent conference of the Church he had attended:

Prest. H.C. Kimball & the apostles where the main speakers. Bro: C.C. Rich in his sermon friday morning answered most every question the Saints could ask him in relation to the Condition of the Saints at Bear River Lake Valley [Bear Lake]. President H.C. Kimball & others Counciled the saints to sustain home manufacure & Counciled the Sisters to join in League & resolve not to purchase of the stores and they would find that there would be soon be a difference in the Prices, told them to try & adopt home spun fashion.

They are going to do away with these Whiskey Shops & gambling Halls. The President advised the City Council to pass an ordinance requiring all persons in their homes at 10 O.clock P.M. all those out after that time to be arrested and give an account of themselves & that would prevent so much street walking at all Hours of the Night. They intend to have the New Tabernacle ready for to Hold the fall Conference in...

On April 15, 1865 he wrote:

A Telegraphic Dispatch 5 O Clock this morning stated that last night at Ford's Theatre a man got into Prest: Lincoln's private box & shot him dead & at the same time Secty: Seward (who got thrown out of his Carraige a day or two ago & got his arm broken and face Cut) was stabbed 4 times in the neck while lying in bed & killed--There is quite a consternation about it all the flags are at half mast...

Richmond is Captured & Gen: Lee has surrenderd his whole army....

As were most of the Dunfords, William must have also been a small man as he wrote also at this time, "I enjoy splendid health. I weigh 119 1/2 lbs. being again 7 1/2 lbs. since I have been in the Territory."

Soon after this, William visited his family for the first time since their arrival in Bloomington. Upon his return, in a letter dated May 30, 1865, he wrote his Uncle George Dunford about the trip.

Starting Apr: 25th rode to Ogden same day--next day walked to Box Elder. Apr: 27th walked to Logan...spent the night with bro: Collins late of St. Louis, had a splendid time, he having Some Daughters that could sing like nighting-gales. Apr: 29th walked to Franklin...April 30th Today we started about 1/2 past one A.M. we had to travel from Cache Co. over the mountains to Richland Co. a distance of 20 miles. Had to travel most of the distance on snow shoes & arrived at my parents house about 4 O clock Monday Morning May 1st having traveled Steady for 26 1/2 hours.

I went up to the door & rapped. Father said who is their. I said, your Son. The next moment about 500 Brothers & Sisters more are less were stringing onto me.--Well, I don't blame them they had not seen me for over 6 months. Nevertheless it was a time of great rejoicing.

...I found them all well, they have had a very hard time having to grind wheat in a Coffee mill about a week before I went up. Still I think it is all for the best. father does also. Mother don't....

Upon his return to Salt Lake City, William found that William Jennings needed him to work in his store. He wrote to his parents,

...Wanted to know what I would work for him for told him I would try it for $75.00 per month. said he did not want to give over $50.00 per month, told him that I could not possibley live for that. Then he told me to call in the morning. I called he said he would give me $60.00 per month. I told him rather than loaf, I would except, so I am here behind the gold Scales or Cashiers Desk....

In a letter to Uncle George he explained his job further, "...he wanted me to Cashier for him & By and Sell gold &c. &c. I like it first rate have to handle any amount of gold, Silver & greenbacks...."

This employment with Mr. Jennings would only last a little over a year. During that time, apparently his wages did not cover his expenses because he soon gathered much debt. He also was trying to help his family in Bloomington. He wrote on September 27, 1965:

I have made arrangements & secured some Flour for you. I am to pay Seven (7) Dollars a hundred in case you should need it, if it should be that you should not need I am not obliged to take it. I hope you won't need it, for I have about ($200.00) Two Hundred Dollars to pay up, but I don't know how under the sun I am to do it....

What a lot of responsibility and worry and probably homesickness 18-year-old William must have felt.

He asked Isaac to take charge of getting him the city lot next to his own in Bloomington. Brother James Hart had told him he could have it along with some farming land, the only charge being the surveyor's.

For when business gets brisk and if Br. Jennings won't pay me better than what he is at present, I shall come up there and assist you, the truth is the way my services is rewarded at present-I never will be able to Liquidate my board bill.

William was afraid of losing his board with Brother Naisbett.

If such should be the case I will be in a nice fix. I am sure I don't know what I shall do. Nevertheless I shall try and do my best. As my last resort, I shall fly to Bloomington for refuge.

His circumstances did not improve, and in April of 1866 he wrote his parents that he would talk to Charles C. Rich about sending two or three hundred pounds of flour to them:

I can't do much more as I am in debt to Mr. Jennings $57.00 besides other indebtedness. I wish that I was getting decent wages So that I could assist you more...I don't care if I run in debt to Mr.Jennings One hundred so long as it will be benefiting you by so doing.

I remain your affectionate and devoted Son,

William.

William managed to send 300 lbs. of flour, seeds and some tea to his family, but immediately after he did so, his account was stopped at the store. He wrote on May 4, 1866:

I get mad sometimes to think that I don't get more wages so that I could help you. Since I gott the flour order my account has been stopped by order of S. Teasdel.

At this time William was desiring to buy a lot in the 20th Ward, but his lack of means prevented it. He lost his lodging with the Naisbett's and began boarding with Brother Perkes, "A very nice family."

On his 19th birthday, William wrote to his parents,

Nineteen years ago today you first had the pleasure of beholding your oldest Son (William) I am happy to inform you that he is well & enjoying good health and hopes so to be for 4 times 19 years more to come...I have enjoyed myself first rate this winter and would more so if I had the means. I intend having a fine time tomorrow evening for to inaugerate my twentieth year at the fourteenth ward party. On the 11th inst. I had quite a lengthy conversasion with Pres. Brigham Young at a party in the Social hall. he was very inquisitive wanting to know how I like this country, where my parents were, how they was getting along &c&c. I answered to the best of my ability.

William had a great gift for writing; his penmanship was beautiful, his grammar and spelling remarkably good. It was natural that his employment often had to do with bookkeeping and writing. As the older brother, William seemed to feel a responsibility to help his younger brothers and sisters in this area. At times though, his encouragement almost took on a spirit of chastisement.

Writing in September of 1865 he said,

One word to Alma, every letter I received he says "Excuse bad writing do better next" but it seems to me the more you write the worse you get such spelling I never see before. It makes me angry to see that you should make so many blunders. I know that you can't have much time but it would be just as easy to have the dictionary by the side of you when are writing and look therein for words that you could not spell if it was not for it, in the last letter most every other word (& some of the simplest kind ) was misspelt, which I shall be able to show you if you come down.

The best thing you could do would be every time you attemped to write, to have the dictionary by you to pick out words that you could not spell & copy somewhat after me or my letters. (I don't mean to say that I am a good writer or a Perfect speller).

Alma must have heeded William's words, because two years later William wrote to Alma and said,

...in penmanship and spelling you are improving, but there is still room for more. Always Sign your name at the End of your letters.

To his 12-year-old brother, Moroni, William wrote on April 19, 1867,

It was with unabounded pleasure that I perused your note...Allow me my Dear Brother to congratulate you upon your success attending your first attempt at corresponding, or rather letter writing...Let me tell you that I resolved to answer it myself if I never wrote another letter to encourage you on, to proceed; continue on as you have made such an excellent commencement...If I had the wisdom of President Young or the eloquence of a "Burke" Durran, Cobden, Lord Brougham, Bancroft, and others, I could not eulogize you too highly for writing that note...

I would urge you Dear Moroni to continue writing, take time, be sure you have every word spelled correct, copy and Study my letters and write like them until you can do better. Moroni, be a good boy, be good and help your Father, Mother. Also be good and kind to your Brothers and Sister, and you will live to be a good and great man....

William also encouraged his father, Isaac, to write and to be good at it. He wrote:

Before I forget it Father, I must not omit to here notice the marked improvement in your writing and especially in your spelling. I assure you Dear Father that you have nothing to be ashamed of in your correspondence, and it is hard to tell how much better you would have been had you commenced earlier.

Two years later he wrote Isaac,

I really do feel happy in being able to congratulate you on the marked improvement you have made in your spelling. I only noticed a few misspelled words out of them was "heney" for any and as far as I am acquainted with my uncles handwriting you are the best of them all.

Throughout his life, William would continue to advise his family on different matters.

In May of 1866, Alma arrived in Salt Lake City with the intent that perhaps William would be able to help him get work. Alma arrived "very sore" after being on the road for two weeks and three days, most of the way bareback on a mule.

William did find Alma employment with one of his friends, Dr. W. W. Sharp "Dentist." He asked Dr. Sharp to try Alma for a month and "in that time he could find out what he was worth." And so began Alma's illustrious career in dentistry.

William was not so successful in his own employment. In July of 1866 he was let go by Mr. Jennings because of the debt that was owed. For a week he then worked for a photographic artist but quit when he was refused pay. In August he got work as agent and bookkeeper for the Southern Mail and Express Line. In November he wrote, "The company for which I was working managed to get rid of me for nothing more or less than because I was Mormon." This company did give him a "splendid character, stating that I have done more than I said I could do and what I have done, I have done in a neat and businefs like manner...."

He sums up what seems to be his never ending bad luck.

It seems to be my lot to have the ill luck not to be able to get a good steady suitable situation. I suppose the Astrologers would say that I was born under the wrong star or that I was born 5 minutes too soon or too late. It comes very hard on me, no sooner do I get into a situation and get my little debts liquidated than I am thrown out into the cold again.

In March of 1867 he wrote that he expected to be employed as assistant book keeper at the Daily Telegraph Office. Apparently this never happened because on April 23 he wrote,

...I am still unemployed don't know when I will get employment. Everything remains very quiet. I scarsely know but what I will get crazy if I don't get Employment soon my board bill amounts to about One hundred dollars ($100.00). That alone is enough to make one crazy. Will never be able to marry at that rate.

During this same time, Alma also wrote to his parents and told them of the employment situation, "I don't know what he [William] is going to do there is no business. Merchants generally has more men employed than they have nead for...."

William's mention of marrying is evidently referring to Melvina Caroline Blanche Whitney, whom he had mentioned only briefly up to that point in letters to his parents. We know nothing of their meeting or their association. Mellie, as she was called, was the daughter of Emmeline Wells and Newell K. Whitney, a former presiding Bishop of the Church. Her father died when she was very young, and her mother married Daniel H. Wells, who at this time was a counselor to Brigham Young in the First Presidency of the Church. Emmeline would later become the fifth General President of the Relief Society, the Church's organization for women.

At this time, William was called to go on an "Indian Expedition to Sanpete" for six months. He had enrolled as a "Cavalry Soldier Boy" the previous fall. However, he wrote on April 23:

...their quota was filled without me. They could not get a horse for me and consequently I have to stay home which suits me very much....

Also during this time, on April 13, 1867, William received his endowments, which are sacred ordinances and covenants performed in the temple. As the Salt Lake Temple was then under construction, this took place in the Endowment House..

In June he wrote, "Business is improving slowly, not fast enough to require any assistance in any of the several branches." In August he wrote that his bills were getting paid, so evidently work had been found.

The next correspondence is dated Feb. 17, 1868. Much had happened in the previous months. According to the records of Lillie Dunford Mecham, William and Melvina were married October 1, 1867 in Salt Lake City in the Endowment House. Apparently William had not been in touch with his parents since then, for in this letter he acknowledges that

...I ought to be laid across your knees and have The "Star Spangled Banner" imprinted on the nether extremity of my back-bone...for the way in which I have neglected you...It was my intention to have written to you in November and December and would have done so had not Sam Teasdel of the Eagle Emporium kept me busy all of my spare time and more to making Show Cards for the Store....

He was working for William Jennings again as a bookkeeper, but was let go due to problems caused by Mr. Teasdel. Business in the whole area was slow:

...has been duller this winter in this City than was ever known Since the year One So the Merchants and Business Men Say. It is so dull That about 4 of Them has closed up Their places of business on One block. I have two or three offers for Some thing to do as soon as Business opens, when that will be The Lord only knows for I don't.

William then mentions taking "my wife down to Provo by Stage to visit some of her connections...."

Isaac's brother, George Dunford was now living in Salt Lake City and was concerned about William's continuous lack of employment. George and his sons had a store but evidently didn't ever hire William. William wrote to his parents:

...Uncle attempted to lecture me about the misfortune and bad appearances of me being out of Employment so often, pretending to talk to me as a father, Still intimating all the time that I must have Stole or Conducted myself in Some awful manner to be out of Employment So often, in fact threw out such insinuations that my nature and disposition could not stand and for that reason, I have not been near there place since....

On June 5, 1868, William and Melvina's first child was born, a daughter named Daisie Dean.

In October, William was employed but uncertain as to how long it would last. Prices in the City were expensive. William wrote asking his parents to send him 25 or 30 pounds of butter if possible. He would send them $5.00 and pay the rest to whoever brought it down.

For the next year, Isaac and Leah didn't hear from William. In a letter dated February 1, 1870, he apologizes:

With feelings of regret at my ungratefulness, I acknowledge the receipt of your very much welcome favor of the 14th.

There are not words enough in our language to enable me to frame an excuse, consequently, I will not attempt the impossibility. To state my case, I will say that, I have allowed myself to think that you were allright without me writing, and that I have been too busy to write to you, till I have procrastinated So long, that in the remorse of my mind, I was totally and heartily ashamed of myself, and could not muster courage enough to write. I will however say that if I have not written often, I have thought of you more so.

Since the time I last wrote to you (which is nearly a year) I have been very busy...on the 29th of May last I was appointed clerk of the High Council, on the 3rd of June I attended and took charge of the minutes of a trial before the council. Since then I have taken down the minutes of some 25 trials mostly cases of a private nature. At the 3rd trial the President, George A., Daniel H. Wells, Geo. Q Cannon, Wilford Woodruff and others were present. On this occasion I read over the minutes of my former cases to be accepted by the Council. While reading them Prest Young and the Council gave me great praise and stated that they were the best minutes the council had had since E.L. Sloan kept them.

This was when I was alone in the world, and I can assure that it gave me great satisfaction to know that my endeavors were appreciated by someone, especially when Prest.______ Young told me that his father said he was pleased to see that they had me Clerk of the High Council and told ______ that I was a good boy and was trying to do right. It makes one feel much better to know when he hears himself thus spoken of that it is not flattery.

On the 30th of June I got out a balance sheet of Young and Thatcher's business (the first that ever I did) which gave great satisfaction to my employers, only having made but one mistake in a business where I had handled over a half of a million dollars in money and figures.

...I was engaged by bro _____ to take charge of his private books when I got through with Young and Thatchers. Well since the 30th of June I have been employed on bro ____ books, and the High Council books &c.&c.

Sometime in Sept.(I think) I had an attack of the Typhoid Fever which kept me from my business some 3 or 4 days. With that one exception I have been blest with Excellent health, and as a family we have been most remarkabley blest with good health, the wife having enjoyed good health and our little daughter Daisey has not known sickness, for which I can assure you I feel truly thankful to the Giver of all our blessings.

At this time in the history of the Church, a group of prominent members were brought before the high council of the Salt Lake Stake and excommunicated for apostasy, among them William S. Godbe and Elias L.T. Harrison. In this letter William told his parents about this trial for which he may have taken the minutes.

The main hall of the city hall was crowded to its utmost capacity, including the Presidency, a number of the Twelve, and a number of the Bishops. The trial was quite exciting and long, lasting nearly all day. The minutes of the trial filled 63 pages of Foolscap paper.

...On the 10 inst. we had the Largest Celebration that Utah ever witnessed in the "Laying of the last Rail and driving the last spike." ..The wife & I enjoyed ourselves very much at the Celebration Balls given in the Theatre. It was a glorious sight to witness 25 or 30 set of Dancers whirling around in a giddy maze....

...As you notice by the Paper we had another addition to our family in the shape of a very fine daughter on Saturday Dec 11th at twenty five minutes past eight in the evening. It weighed eight and one half pounds....We have not named our Baby yet, it is so fine that I cannot find a name that good enough for her....

This baby girl was Verona.

That spring William and Melvina and their girls visited in Bloomington. William returned with Alma, leaving his family there. This is the account of their harrowing trip:

After considerable toil and some hair breathed escapes we arrived here [Franklin] last night at 1/2 past 7 O clock....We had good roads till we commenced to descend the Devide. We got too far north which made a terrible time for us. The snow that fell the day before we left was from four to six inches deep and that had drifted much deeper in some places and where we decended the Mountain was almost perpendicular. We had to scale the side of the Mount, digging a place in the Snow with our feet before we could get a footing, going 50 ft. to decend 10 ft or less and in some places where the new snow had drifted off the old and hard snow, we came very nigh slipping and sliding to Heaven or H--ll.

In fact we came so near it twice that we did slip. I kept ahead all the time picking out what I thought the best road for quite a distance we decended at an angle of about 70 or 85 degrees, and at one of the steepest places, my foot Slipped and I was hurled at the rate of 1 1/2 miles an hour down the Embankment of snow for about 25 or 30 ft but the time had not yet come for me to go hence, a providencial twig of Pine was in the way and I was preserved instead of being killed. We had not got much farther when Alma Slipped and away he went for a few feet, he like myself was fortunate Enough to grasp a twig and thereby preserved his life. When we got about 1/6 of the way down we built a fire, Eat a little grub and waited until the Sun and wind desolved the Snow So that we would not Slide so. after that we came down allright but not before we were tired out, bruised up, and Scared nigh unto death...

We are going to try and walk to Logan today where we will most likely wait for a team to take us to Brigham City for our feet are so blistered and Sore that we cannot walk much farther right away....

With the exceptions of what this contradicts, we are well.

Alma added a postscript to this account, "certify[ing] that the above is correct."

In June of 1870, William sent two horses, a harness and wagon that he had bought up to his father to "Do as you please with them till I can decide what to do...I think you can do your Summer work with them."

A month later William himself went to Bloomington. While there, he received a letter from Mellie, the only correspondence of hers that is available. It gives some wonderful insight into their relationship and the love that once was there. July 29, 1870:

You know Willie it is so long since we have written each other any love letters. I feel as though I wanted to write a genuine one. I have had such gloomy thoughts about you since you went away this time. I never felt so before in my life so it is not because you are away from me.

I pray every night & morning to the Lord, to keep you from every evil & espescially from the tempation to drink strong drink. Yes, I pray as hard as I can and Daisie says "Amen," every time. She goes & calls you every time a meal is ready & when I tell her you are gone to Bear Lake, She Say "Papa gone to Bear Lake to get Daisie horses & cows & calves & shoes & slippers & chickies," & I can't tell you all she does say you are gone to get her. She took hold of your cards the other day & said "dear papa's cards. Papa find em when he comes." Then she said "papa gone away off in the carriage. poor papa." I don't think she will forget you as she did when I was up in Bear Lake.

William I want you to come home, I have felt awful ever since you went away. Do come home, do, my darling husband, for such you are, & although I say things sometimes that make you feel to hate me still I do really & truly love you and I cannot begin to tell you how miserable I am without you here with me.

I expect that Eliza think I am mean not to send her a shuttle. Tell her I'll bring one to her & teach her how to tat myself. Give my love to all the folks kiss little Leah for me & tell Alma I think he might write to a poor lone "widder" like myself if he intends staying up there much longer. My own Willie, I see how hard it is to get along without you & I want you home do come....

When he returned to Salt Lake, the employment situation was not good, and in September they moved in with Mellie's mother. William's intention was to go to Bear Lake and secure the "Hopkin's Place." With Moroni's help he would move his family there and "come home for good." In preparation for the move he had been trying to collect on debts owed him so that he could pay his creditors.

Affairs were settled and they spent the winter of 1870-71 in Bloomington. Why they didn't stay there longer is unclear, but in the spring of the year they returned to the City.

Salt Lake City had grown considerably since they had been gone and with it the chance for employment. William wrote,

I have not done anything yet, there is a good demand for cards at present. I think I can get a steady job at Walker Bro's but I want to look around a little more yet, in fact I have not made up my mind what I shall do yet.

But it appears that instead of life improving, it started to get worse for William. Feeling deserted by friends, he wrote his parents, "Write often as I never wanted to see or hear from you so bad in my life...How I could write if I had the time." The next day, June 8, he again wrote them, this time telling them of problems he and Mellie were having.

Not long after this, word was received that William's 11-year-old sister Eliza had died suddenly on June 18 of typhoid fever. He and Alma left immediately for Bloomington and stayed until a few days after the funeral.

Upon his return, William found his marital affairs no better and he moved out of the house to live with Alma at Mr. Sharp's. In his letters home he told of seeing Mellie several times on the arm of another man and the great hurt and anger he felt. In counseling with President Daniel H. Wells (who was not only a counselor to Brigham Young but also Mellie's stepfather) he said,

...I loved her and love my Dear Children, told him that I married her out of pure love...that I loved her 2 or 3 years before I knew her, and that if she was to instigate my death I think I could not help but love her....

Apparently William knew the kind of talk that was going around about him. He asked President Wells:

... if anyone had spoken a word in my favor to him. I said no, but you have had a dozen to speak evil of me to you. I have not a single champion when She has numbers, why is it, said I because She, my respected Mother-in-law & others will tell anybody & everybody that will listen to them, more about me than I know about myself, while I have not told anyone 1/2 of what I might, not even my parents. And furthermore I don't intend to. I said if reports were true (or had the least shadow of truth in them) that are going around about me I should be ashamed to walk the streets or look an honest person in the face, but said I, I don't feel myself Such a great criminal...or unworthy of your favor or council or that of Prest. Young....

He [President Wells] said he was not going to do anything more in the matter, that he had tried two or three times to have us live happily together, but with such poor Success that he was going to let some one else try to see what they could do now. I told him that it was my intention to also lay the whole matter before the President [Young] in accordance with my fathers last wish...I realize that time will streighten out my little affairs Satisfactorily. I consult with my Lawyer (The Lord) quite frequently and I am Satisfied that so long as it remains in his hands it will be all right....

Within the next month, William had gone into business with a Mr. L. P. Martin. Their circular read,

...we are now prepared to do Law Copying and Writing of all kinds. Mining Papers drawn up inregular form. Books kept, Opened and Closed. Collections made and all kinds of Grain Sold on Commission. Soliciting your business and patronage, and assuring you entire satisfaction.

William was very optimistic that at last he had found work that would be profitable. He wrote,

...We get splendid verbal encouragement from all of the Lawyers & others. They (Some of the Lawyers) are endeavoring to secure me the appointment of "Notary Public," if they can't do it before Legislature they will do it then, then I cannot help but make some little money.

To make ends meet, he wanted to sell his team and his "20th Ward lot." He said that he was going to build as soon as possible. He also asked Isaac to sell everything of his that was in Bloomington except his "little trinkets" and his land.

William's optimism was short-lived. Two months later on October 13, 1871 he wrote,

...The fact of the matter is I have not made enough to live decently since I opened my office. I would have closed it up long ago, had I not been advised by those that ought to know that I would make a good deal of money by sticking. I have been for 2 days at a time & eat nothing but 1/2 lb crackers & 1/4 lb Cheese & have even went in debt for that. So you See that I have not been able to do as I would like to do by you. I hope it won't be long before I can do Something for you.

I have been trying lately to get some Steady Employment, without Success. I learned yesterday that I could get the position of Book Keeper for the "Tribune" but I do not want to go there if I can help it, but I am almost beginning to think that I will take it 'till I can do better, that is if I am not too late.

The Tribune was the newspaper of the Liberal Party and was very anti-Mormon and vicious in its attacks on the Church. In previous letters, William told how he despised it and those who ran it. That he was even considering working there shows that he must have been desperate.

There was one bright spot in William's life at this time. He and Mellie were reconciling.

I concluded at her earnest Solicitatious to forgive her providing that she would go to Prest Wells and acknowledge that She had done me a gross injustice, which She did. Consequently, I visited her pretty steady Since then.

Alma later wrote his parents and reported, "William has went to house keeping agin. It was on Dec. 28th [1871] and they seem to get along as happy as doves."

William worked for the Tribune for a while but quit and was now only doing his show cards

...& I assure you that they with all the Exertion imaginable affords us as very Scanty living, but I look ahead to much better times very soon.

He described his card business. Just what show cards were is unclear, perhaps a sort of advertisement card:

The way I do I make up a large number of cards & then go around & peddle them, if I can't get 40 cents for a card I take 30 if not 30 I take 20 & so on. I sell a card that I used to get 75 cents for, 25 cents now.

William and his brothers and sisters were close and the love and concern they showed each other is evident through their writings and their actions. It was at this time that Alma was ready to start his own dental practice. William was there to help him. He mortgaged his two lots for $400.00 and gave Alma the money to buy the tools and implements he needed to "make a tour South & if successful come back and establish himself permanently in business...I am confident that Alma will be very successful."

William took $75.00 of the money and bought some furniture and rented two rooms into which he moved his newly reunited family.

On May 6, 1872, Alma wrote his parents from Fillmore and said, "...today I picked up a paper and there I learn'd that there was an addition to William's family of a Son. Long may he wave and happy may the boy be." This son was born on April 30 and was named Leslie Alma.

Again William was faced with unemployment and hard times. Returning from a visit to Bloomington in the summer of 1872 he found all the work places

...satisfactorilly filled, and as Business is very dull I don't know what I shall do. I have spent what little money I brought down and I find out that there are no Show Cards wanted.

And I also find out that we are wanting Some flour, Sugar, Tea Butter &c.&c.&c.&c. and have not got the where with to get them.

He asked Isaac to send them some butter and to ask "Mrs. Jarvis that if it is convenient I would as leif have her send me some eggs as I would to have her send me the money [she owes]."

In September he found work as a bookkeeper for some stage proprietors. On September 10 he wrote,

How Strange fortunes wheel does roll betimes, here a couple of week ago I could scarcely get enough to do to keep body & soul together, and the very day I commenced her I got orders for 6 cards, amounting to about so many dollars, and I have had more work offered me since then...The fair opens about the 1st October and there is no doubt if I was a machine that I could make loads of money, for already I am getting orders for Show cards for it....

William was concerned about the health of his children. Both Daisie and Verona or "Onie" as he called her had been ill and Daisie "fell down & cut a big gash to the bone over her left eyebrow...it will leave a scar so that She can be known all the days of her life. I am thankful it was no worse."

In the next few months, William and Mellie's marriage deteriorated to the point that they sought and were granted a divorce. What the causes were are not known. However their very unstable finances beginning from the time of their marriage had to have been a terrible strain. Their backgrounds were very different, Mellie's parents being very well-to-do and prominent both in Society and the Church. From his letters, one can tell that William felt that he was looked down upon. The fact that he could not provide adequately for his family must have been a trial not only for him, but also for Mellie and her family. Isaac and Leah were also very concerned. From letters and also the diary of Mellie's mother, Emmeline B. Wells, we know that William was at times a heavy drinker and smoker. Circumstances did not ever seem to change much and the outcome was divorce.

According to William, the divorce settlement was

That Mrs. Wm. Dunford have all the household goods excepting my trunks (which She accordingly has) My 2 lots on the hill and $50.00 per month the first of every month from the first of December, for 12 months making $600.00. Said to be a most extraordinary decision and much more than I have.

It cost me nothing to get married, but it has cost me with loss of property, situation, and racking of mind over $5000.00 to get unmarried....

Again, William was without work. He wrote the following on December 10, 1872:

...except for making a few Show cards, earning about my local expenses. Consequently please send me by registered letter the $20.00 that Moroni owes me and what money you have collected for me [from debtors] as I need it to finish furnishing my room and paying some few debts. Please send it immediately.

There are no letters from William for the next several months. During this time, 17-year-old Moroni was in Salt Lake City working. He reported on his oldest brother to his concerned parents.

February 13, 1873

Dear Father, you spoke in your letter about William. never mind. Dear Pa, he will see where he is in the rong, yes rong some day.

March 28

You wish to know how Our Brother William is geting a long. he is Stoping at William Morras. he as A good place to board, and A good place to sleep. Mostley he do is painting Cards. he was keeping books for the co op Store for A while. is Old folks are well, he goes A round there Once in a while to see is babies...as near as I can learn his afers is as they always is. I call it up Side down but I think it might be riten Some day....

William spent about a month [April-May] of 1873 in Soda Springs, Idaho, living with some friends and painting signs for the various businesses. However, it did not provide much more than living expenses. Therefore, he wrote and asked Isaac to sell his cattle as he was "in need of money."

A year later, William seemed to be doing better. He wrote that he had been able to live more comfortably during the past winter, fixing up his room "in fine style." He was still making and selling his cards. He contributed his well-being to a "temperate & virtuous life, substantial living & little work and the happy faculty of keeping a contented mind is the sole cause consequently I am comparitively happy, would be more so if I had more money maybe."

In April, Mellie contacted him and said he could take the children as she was having a hard time supporting herself. William tried to find a suitable place for him and his children to live. He was concerned about his children and wrote that "They all had the Scarlet fever last winter, & have all since then been sick. I have always bought them medicine, NicKnacks &c&c&c which has cost me no little money...." He felt that Mellie had been neglectful of them.

Apparently the children did not come to live with William, for on June 2 he wrote and informed his parents that he had been to Mrs. Wells' home and had seen them. He also reported that Mellie was suing him for his two lots and $600.00 in cash. Considering the poor financial situation he had been in, it appears that he had not kept the divorce agreement. He wrote,

In talking to her [Mellie] this A.M. I thought she was making up her mind to accept my reasonable offer. But Still she thought she ought to have more than 1/2 of the property. I can help but acknowledge it does worry me....So you see my Star can't Shine for a moment without a cloud coming up to cut me off from the light....

William expected there to be "considerable law" over the matter and wanted to convey his land in Bloomington over to Alma so that Mellie wouldn't be able to get it along with his property in Salt Lake City.

Before the court date, William again tried to get Mellie to agree to giving her half of what he had, but she refused. In talking to a Judge Hoge and a Mr. George Groo, he was told:

I would be a fool to deed her all my property & give her out years earnings besides, but from the way they were working it, If I did not do it they would very likely arrest me & throw me in prison for contempt of court....

Judge Smith at the hearing refused to grant Mellie's attorney's motion to compel William to comply with their demands and said that a compromise would be made. Just what that was William did not say. He wrote, "So it remains as before. That little bit of fun is going to cost me $150.00."

William's luck continued to go downhill, and he found himself being sued by "that tailor (that I had befriended) that coaxed me to let him make me a suit of clothes & Said he would wait on me till I could pay him...I paid him $25.00 before he cut the cloth. I only owed him $15.00." The tailor came to William's new place of employment, Walker Brothers Bankers and demanded payment. William told him it would not be long. Knowing that the employees were able to draw money from their wages every Friday, the tailor left a note for William "Wherein he actually demanded that I should pay him $5.00 that evening & $5.00 each Succeeding friday or he would take legal proceedings." When the tailor came the next morning to get his money, William told him

...if he had not insulted me I had fully made up my mind to give him $5.00 last night, but instead of giving it to him I had bought my children Some Shoes. However he Sued me & what they have done about it I don't know nor care.

This is a world of trouble, Sin, & Sorrow Sickness & death &c.

It is obvious that William's outlook on life is anything but optimistic.

In November the final settlement of the divorce was made and William deeded Mellie "the south 1/2 of those two lots...& was to give her, her choice of the Stock viz: the 2 best cows or the worst Cow & the Steers but as nothing has been Said about it Since I will not give her any Stock."

The relationship between Mellie and William was, and continued to remain, bitter. All that is available about their affairs is from William's point of view. It is sure that Mellie saw things differently. Emmeline B. Wells, Mellie's mother, wrote in her diary of the heartache that this marriage caused. Almost every year on its anniversary, she mentioned it. On October 1, 1888 she wrote, "Mell was married 21 years ago today to W. D. Such a sorrowful event to look back upon & yet when it transpired we thought it a grand affair..."

On September 30, 1895 she recorded,

Tomorrow is an anniversary of great moment to me Mell's marriage to Wm Dunford in 1867 at 17 year of age. We were happy then comparatively but what sorrow it brought us. He is dead-alas, and two beautiful girls from that marriage are now grown to womanhood. How can we account for the vicissitudes of life.

It is not the purpose of this history to lay blame or to judge. It is sad, however, that such a tragedy had to occur in their lives, for it affected them and their families greatly.

On November 7, 1874, Mellie married William Wells Woods, the second son of Mayor Daniel H. Wells' sister. He was not a member of the Mormon Church so they were married by a Catholic Priest. According to William, Mellie had turned against the Church.

William wrote that the day before Mellie was married,

Daisie came up with an order from her mother for Some things, Shoes, Stockings, Coats, Ribbon &c. which I bought...One would have thought that she would not have had the courage to ask such favors the day before her marrying with another man....

Since that time both Daisie and Onie [Verona] had come to William in need of things. William wrote that "they are neglected & needing winter clothing very bad."

William had decided to completely sell his holdings in Bloomington, "the house, Stable, the two lots...hay land, the 15 or 20 acres got of Hart & the 10 acres in south field...I wish to gracious the animals were Sold." He asked Isaac to help him do this.

It was sometime during the next year that Moroni traded William for the old house and the two lots that bordered Isaac's lot. Moroni gave him his horse, "Noble", and $50.00 in cash. Moroni would later build one of the most beautiful homes in the Bear Lake Valley on these lots. He also bought the rest of William's land.

Moroni wrote about his horse, "Noble", and how wild he was. (Please refer to Moroni's history written in this book.) William's description of the animal is somewhat different. Apparently, someone had been taking care of the horse for William since he had acquired him. On August 6, 1875 William wrote:

Tell Moroni that I took a ride this evening on "Noble" & I did not think it possible for a horse to change so in 2 short weeks, why he is like some old used up cow, after you get on him you have to club him to get him started...before he was too Spirted now he is much too tame, & he appeared to be starved to death. I am afraid Bee did not treat him as well as he might. I have got him in a good stable where he gets good feed & attention at least he ought to I am paying a dollar a day for it & hope in the course of a couple of weeks to be able to ride him without using myself up clubbing him....

Daisie was now seven years old and spent part of the summer in Bloomington with her grandparents. In the following years, both she and Verona spent time in the summers there and enjoyed being on the farm. Their Aunt Leah was approximately the same age, so it is certain they had good times together. William wrote, "Daisie did want to visit you again this summer & so did Onie..."

On September 27, 1875 William sent the following letter to Daisie in Bloomington:

My own dear darling daughter,

I was happy to learn by letter from Grandpa last evening that you was well and happy, but anxious to come home to see Mama, Papa, Onie and Leslie. I don't wonder at my darling being a wee bit homesick. I rather expected you would be before now it being the first time you have been away so long.

I have thought of you so often since I left and the very happy time that I had with you, so much so that I have wished that business would permit me to make you another visit. I am so glad that you have enjoyed yourself so much and to learn (Know) that you love your little Auntie so much.

How I do wish my daughter could write to tell me herself what good times she has and how her little calf is that Papa gave her, what fun she has getting up the calves, how she likes sheep herding, milking, gathering eggs, feeding the pigs &c, and whether her uncles took her to the hay and harvest fields, whether she can ride horseback all alone or not, what kind of a doll she would like to have me send, and dishes, or whatever she wanted, and, and, and above all how much she loves her Pa.

Grandpa tells me he hopes to bring you down here by the fore part of next week. O how glad I shall be to see you.

Papa has moved from where I was living when you went away to such nice rooms where you must come to see him often.

I hope you have been a good girl, grown fat and hearty, while you have been away, been kind to your little Auntie and Uncles, and loved your dear Grandma and Grandpa.

Good bye Pet,
Your Affectionate, Pa

It is evident that William had a great love for his children and was proud of them. In writing about Daisie he said, "Bless her heart she is as smart a child as any I ever knew. She talks with her actions & even with her very eyes...."

At last it seemed that William found permanent employment. His continued work at Walker Brothers, which had expanded to become an import business and also a dry goods, grocery, and clothing store, had been successful. For the first time in many years, he was doing well financially. For Christmas [1875] he was able to buy his children

1 Blk Walnut Bedroom Set furniture, for Doll, very pretty, she [Daisie] said she would like one ever so much so of course I have to please them once in awhile, Stove & Doll carriage &c for Onie, 1 pr fancy Boots, Wagon &c for Leslie.

He also bought some children's furs for the girls.

Problems with Mellie continued. In May of 1876, she asked William to provide money for the children's schooling at St. Mary's Academy and also for their clothing and other needs. He told his parents that she had said that

Mr. Woods [their stepfather] had been very kind to them but it was too much to expect him to provide entirely for them that when he married her he did not expect to have to keep them...I asked if the children had ever asked me for anything that I did not get for them...I have spent as much as $30.00 a month for them....

The idea of being "compelled" to do more for the children was upsetting to William.

My wife leaves my bed & board, gets a divorce, try to rob me of everything, abuses & vilifies me, stands by and sees me draged off to prison when a word from her would prevent it, gets the decree in divorce to read that I shall have no power or control over my children, came very near getting a Justice to prevent me from seeing them, Marrys again (a "lawyer") calls on me through others to dress the children up for the ceremony, has called on me ever since, now wants me to give (I guess) 1/2 of what I earn per month to keep them...What I do for the children I will do volentarilly as I have always done & not because I think I am compelled to...My children shall not suffer if I can prevent it.

Just as he is concerned for his children, William is also anxious about his parents and brothers and sister. His letter home on December 12, 1876, offered some brotherly advice:

What a joyous time it will be for poor Mother and fact for you all when you move into your new house. In the mean time tell "the boys" my brothers to be kind to dear mother and one another and try to make life as cheerful as possible while you live in the old house & forever after, tell them if I should die before they hear from me again that that is my dieing request.

What makes me write this way is some remarks my daughter Daisie made to me yesterday. She called on me to get some presents for Onie as it was her birthday...After getting her the presents...I told her to be good and kind to dear Sister, brother, Mama, &c. She says,'I do try to be.' She said her Ma told her how good & kind I used to be to my Ma by washing dishes Scrubbing like a girl &c and she wanted to be like me.

I really had to laugh she was so cunning, but my laughing was soon turned to Sorrow, when she told me how sorry She was (once when she was up there) Grandma [Leah] asked_________one of my brothers to feed the pigs. She said he spoke very cross to Grandma and told her to do it herself. She said it made her feel very sorry for Grandma, & I am sure it made me. I won't fill up that blank with his name as I am sure if he has not been worry for it yet, he will be someday even as I regret many, many things of the past. But have no more regrets, boys for the past and try not to have anything to regret in the future and you will all be so much more happy, and won't be in any hurry to go to heaven. You will have one with you in your heart if no where else.

William then gave some advice to his father on the building of their new home.

Let me suggest, that you build your house so that can add to it without destroying the beauty of it, remembering that it takes but very little more material to make your rooms larger, lofty and comfortable don't cost but very little more and are much more convenient than small cooped up rooms...and above all, build so that you can add on in future and still have a good looking house.

In other letters William made the same suggestions. Isaac must have listened to him for the home that was built was indeed spacious and beautiful and was later remodeled.

William's steady and seemingly successful employment allowed him to do more for his parents. For at least the Christmases of 1876 and 1877 he sent a "Christmas Box" to Bloomington. In it he sent the makings for a "regular hold hinglish puddin" plus much more food.

I intend that you shall have at least one good meal on Christ's natal day, tell mother not to stint the children in anything, eat, drink and be merry, cook and open up everything and let all eat to their hearts content, in fact have as I wish you most heartily a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

The next February [1878], William sent another package, this one filled with fresh oysters and oranges. He intended it to be a "rich treat." Unfortunately it never reached its destination which was very frustrating to him. "It is not the value of goods so much as the disappointment..." he wrote.

That February of 1878 is the first mention of the terrible headaches that would plague him the rest of his life. He sends a picture of himself taken just before he "shaved his whiskers off" stating that he thinks it is a good picture "considering that my head was aching fearfully, something that troubles me quite frequently lately. I have had one all day today, not any fool headaches either, the kind that make a fellow forget his father, Mother, & family almost & nearly make him blind."

A month later he wrote,

I suffer considerably this year with the Headache. I used to think last year that it was on account of drinking beer but I suffer more since I quit. I have a wager with Brownlee of $100.00 that I won't drink till 1st next year.

William won that bet and the $100.00.

The headaches continued into the fall. "My head has been paining me So. I am afraid it will shortly become chronic with me, if it should I would rather die...." Years later in 1884 he wrote to his brother, Oliver, about the "beastly headache...I have been nearly crazy for about a week...." He never mentioned seeking medical help, but tried to suffer through them. It was just another trial in his life.

As is evident in his letters, William told things just the way he saw them. His personality was strong and it is doubtful very many people ever got the best of him (to his way of thinking). He probably even shocked his parents by the views and attitudes he sometimes had. In one letter he wrote,

I wish I could see you to have a good long talk, but I am afraid you would order me out of the house I would tell such straight truth.

William never married again, but continued to have a close relationship with his children. He mentioned his daughters in particular. They spent Christmas of 1879 with him in his room "which was the best time I had...." He wrote,

My little children are all well, and are getting more and more attached to me. Onie came down to my room last Sunday & stayed a couple of hours. She says she does love me so. Daisie is a perfect little lady. She is getting quite a large girl & very smart & sensible. I walk along the streets one on each side of me taking hold of my arm. I presume they make me look much older than I appear, folks won't believe they are my children....

It is unclear why his son, Leslie is not mentioned. From Emmeline's diary we learn that William's children may have been living with her. She wrote, "...I had the care of him [Leslie] more than any one of the children who were at home with me even more than Verona."

In October of 1879, word was received of Isaac's tragic death, and William, along with Alma and Moroni, hurried to Bloomington. Their sorrow was great. Alma's and William's return trip was made walking through snow for three or four miles and then "trudging on through slush and mud" another six miles before they could get a ride.

William's correspondence stops with Isaac's death, except for two letters written to Oliver, one from Hawaii in 1884 and one from Salt Lake City in 1888. Because Leah could not read or write, he probably sent his letters to his brothers and sister to share with her.

In William's remaining letters, little can be learned about the rest of his life. His son, Leslie Alma, died in 1882. His death was a great sadness to his Grandmother Wells. Almost every year afterwards on his birthday, she would comment in her diary about this tragic loss.

At the time he [Leslie] died, Emmeline was the editor of the Woman's Exponent, the precursor to the Relief Society Magazine. In the August 1, 1882 edition, she wrote the following under the title "A Sad Event":

Died in Salt Lake City, at the residence of Major W. W. Woods at five minutes to five Sunday afternoon, July 23, 1882, Leslie Alma Dunford, aged 10 years, 2 months, and 23 days. Deceased was the son of Mrs. Woods by a former marriage...He was a bright, active and interesting boy, manly in his bearing and most tender and affectionate in his disposition. He was spiritual in his nature, loved to hear of heaven and the Savior, and was fondly attached to his relatives, to whom he was ever obedient, respectful and obliging, ready to render any little service in his power.

His death was the result of an accident with a toy pistol, with which he was slightly wounded in the hand on the 4th of July last. The most careful attention was given to the wound, which appeared to be doing well, and he showed no symptoms of the terrible affliction until about twelve days after the accident, when he was attacked with lockjaw and paralysis. The little fellow suffered inexpressible agony day and night for a week. He was brave, patient and uncomplaining, never murmuring even in the most extreme pain. His mother was constantly at his bedside, watchful and hopeful until a short time before his death. The shock was a severe one to her and to his little sisters, and to all his relatives, for he was tenderly beloved....

William spent one winter with his brothers in Bloomington. It evidently was a memorable one for them, as he wrote to Oliver dated February 29, 1884 from Honolulu, Hawaii:

I am sorry that I cannot revert to that winter with pleasure. My greatest and almost only thought and desire, on the road up and while there was for the improvement, advancement and prosperity of my brothers, and I will say that even with the then condition of my eyes, it was a great opportunity for them, greater than they will ever have again, anyway a chance that ought to have been seized with avidity, instead of the cause of heaping me with such outrageious abuse, making me wish frequently I had never gone near them.

I could have given them more useful & pointed instruction in six months than they could get in six years at almost any school, because very few of all the teachers have the practical experience that I had. Consequently I could in a short time have given plain instructions unencumbered by unnecessary words, rules problems or theories, that will take years of study to gather in the ordinary way.

I have had some woeful seasons in my short life, but that winter was the most miserable I ever spent and if I mistake not the principal cause of it will seriously regret it some day if he has not already, and probably some of the minor causes too. Yet I am thankful for having created an impression on you [Oliver], one fifth of the whole whole that I had hoped to impress....

As disappointed as he was at this point with his other brothers, William was very proud of Oliver. He praised him, saying that the letter he had just received confirmed,

the opinion I had of you and your abilities for years and as I told you more than once, that you can-if you will-be something more than a dull Stupid "clodhopper" scarcely known in the little community in which you live, in fact you can be almost anything you wish, within reason, if you will strive for it. Put your mind on a mark as high and honorable as your judgment now prompts and then climb to it....

At age 37,William seemed to have regrets for his past and the road his life followed. To Oliver he said,

...O if I could only be put back to your age with a tithe of the understanding I have now, or the advantage of experienced elder brothers, I would make a name, fame and a reputation that could not be confined within the boundaries of a small city. But as it cannot now be, I will be able to make partial amends & receive great joy by helping you to do so...I really admire the tone of your letter, especially where you say "Of course I am bound to be somebody." If you keep thinking so, you will be, and no one can prevent you....

William's brotherly concerns continued, and in a letter to Oliver dated September 29, 1888 from Salt Lake City, he wrote,

By the way, ain't there no girls up there that Parley can marry, tell him I want him to look out a good girl and marry her. and you too, old boy, its about time you know...How is our Sister on that Score any way. I think its about time She was getting hold of some healthy, fine Strapping, noble fellow. Eh! Sister.

I got a letter from Moroni [in Georgia on his mission]...I hope he will select a good girl there (if he could not at his home) convert her to the faith, baptise her, and bring her home and marry her, or marry her and then bring her home. Jimmie & family are all right I hope....

In this final letter, it seems as though William was again going through the cycle his life continually followed. He asked Oliver to get the deed and some papers to his land in Soda Springs. He had had trouble over it for the previous three years. "I have only had about two weeks work this year. That and other causes is the reason why Spence Rich, & Co. have & are fooling and trifling with me so, I expect...."

William then summed up his affairs at this time. It could be the summation of most of his life: "I have a hard matter to live now and it seems, and has seemed for 6 or 7 years a confounded, hard, cold world to get along in, yet I have good health and have got to stay in this life...."

As before, William also showed concern for his mother, Leah:

God bless our Dear Mother and make her life cheerful and pleasant. I know that you boys that are home can and do realize Mothers age and try to make every hour happy and delightful for her.

Three years later on October 17, 1891, William died. The only account of his death is in Oliver's Autobiography and states briefly, "He [William] passed suddenly away at the age of about 44 years." He was interred in the Salt Lake City cemetery but later moved to the Bloomington cemetery where he lies next to his sister, Eliza.

William Dunford's life was short and in terms of worldly gain and favor, perhaps uneventful. But he demonstrated the power and ability to get by in a world that was not always kind. He was on his own from age 17, living in an ever-growing and changing city, far from his family. His perseverance to keep trying and to look forward to a better time that often did not come is remarkable. William desired the best from himself and from others. His dreams and hopes were high.

As for William's children, Verona, Daisie and Leslie, Emmeline B. Wells, their grandmother, mentioned them often in her diaries. They spent much time in her home and it is evident they shared a great love. As teen-agers and as adults, the girls spent extended periods of time with their Grandmother Wells.

Verona married Barry Nugent Hillard April 30, 1889. After his death in 1904, she married Charles W. Betts. Daisie married Henry Richmond Allen December 12, 1892.

Melvina and her husband, William Wells Woods, had two children, Winnafred Isabelle and Percival, both of whom died as children. In 1888 or 1889 they moved to Couer d'Alene, Idaho where Mr. Woods practiced law and later became the judge of the Shoshone District Court. He died November 10, 1920. Melvina moved to Sierra Madre, California where Daisie was living. Affectionately known as "Mama Woods" to her grandchildren, she was much loved. She died there at the age of 89 on April 20, 1940 and was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.