Father: Edward Thompson
Mother: Amanda Rhoda Smith
Spouse-1: Amanda Butler Powell - b: 12/Sep/1795 - Sharon,
Windsor Co., VT
d: 1/Apr/1850 - Salt Lake City,
Mex. Cess. (Des.) - bur: Salt Lake City Cem.
m: ~1817
Child-1: Rhoda Ann - b: 28/Oct/1818 - Livonia, Ontario
Co., NY
d: 4/Sep/1892 - American Fork, Utah Co., Utah Terr.
m: George T. Baker - 25/Oct/1840 - LaPorte, IN
2: Ezra
- b: Oct/1821 - Livonia, Livingston Co., NY
3: Edward
Washington - b: 28/May/1822 - Livonia, Livingston Co., NY
d: 16/Nov/1898 - Beaver, UT
m: Julia Fish - 1/Jan/1843 - Nauvoo, Hancock Co., IL
m: Anna Eliza Lee
4: Harriet
- b: ~1823 - Livonia, Livingston Co., NY
5: Orange
Decatur - b: 4/Nov/1825 - Alfred, Allegany Co., NY
d: 8/Apr/1902 - Los Angeles, CA
m: Margaret Ann Brown
6: Stephen
- b: ~1827 - Livonia, Livingston Co., NY
7: Roxy
Ann - b: ~1829 - Queenstown, Armstrong Co., PA
8: Amanda
- b: 1831 - Mill Creek Twp., Erie Co., PA
m: Jasper Bird
9: Laura
Melvina - b: 18/Dec/1833 - Mill Creek Twp., Erie Co., PA
d: 8/Oct/1862 - Santa Clara, Washington Co., Utah Terr.
m: Lemuel Studevant Leavitt - 12/Aug/1850 - Mex. Cess. (Des.)
Spouse-2: Lois Alexander Trumbull - b: 13/May/1813 - Concord,
Merrimack Co., NH
d: 7/Mar/1879 - Salt Lake City,
Salt Lake Co., Utah Terr. - bur: Salt Lake City
m: ~1848 - unorg. Fed. Terr. (Gr. Plains)
Child-1: Lois Savona - b: 28/Feb/1849 - Millcreek Canyon,
Mex. Cess. (Des.)
d: 14/Nov/1901 - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT
m: John Lowe
m: Robert Russell Widdison - 6/Dec/1869 - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake
Co., Utah Terr.
2: Ezra,
Jr. - b: 17/Jul/1850 - Salt Lake City, Mex. Cess. (Des.)
d: 8/Apr/1923 - bur: Salt Lake City Cem., Salt Lake Co., UT
m: Emily Pugsley - 14/Feb/1884 - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah
Terr.
3: Zina
- b: 1853 - Salt Lake City, Gr. Salt Lake Co., Utah Terr.
Spouse-3: Ann Jane Griffin Platt - b: 10/Dec/1818 - Newburyport,
Essex Co., MA
d: 11/Apr/1900 - Standrod, Cassia
Co., ID - bur: Salt Lake City, UT
m: 3/Apr/1853 - Salt Lake City,
Gr. Salt Lake Co., Utah Terr.
Child-1: Horace Harvey - b: 30/Mar/1854 - Salt Lake, Gr.
Salt Lake Co., Utah Terr.
d: 16/Apr/1935 - Roy, Weber Co., UT
m: Mary Blanchard Raleigh - ~1873 - div: ?
m: Mary Matilda Hardy - 1/May/1889 - Earncliff, Cassia Co., Idaho Terr.
2: Mansel
Hardy - b: 17/Aug/1858 - Salt Lake, Gr. Salt Lake Co., Utah Terr.
d: 17/Apr/1933 - Roy, Weber Co., UT
m: Sarah Ann Thompson - 25/Dec/1877 - Davis Co., Utah Terr.
m: Clara Jane White - 23/Jun/1886 - St. George, Washington Co., Utah
Terr.
3: Eliza
Percinda - b: 25/Apr/1861 - Salt Lake City, Gr. Salt Lake Co., Utah
Terr.
d: 17/Apr/1916 - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT
m: Nephi Moroni Ellis - 24/Apr/1877 - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co.,
Utah Terr.
m: Joseph Armany Argile Trottier - 18/Jun/1884 - Almo, Cassia Co.,
Idaho Terr.
Spouse-4: Caroline Sophia Freeman - b: 28/Feb/1812 - Brothers,
Cayuga Co., NY
d: 14/Feb/1880 - bur: Box
Elder Co., Utah Terr.
m: 29/Jan/1854 - Salt Lake City,
Gr. Salt Lake Co., Utah Terr.
Child: Silas Franklin - b: 18/Nov/1854 - Salt Lake, Gr.
Salt Lake Co., Utah Terr.
d: 11/Jun/1926
m: Mary Caroline Palmer
Biographical Details:
Ezra Thompson was born July 26, 1797, at Goshen in Litchfield County, Connecticut, and was the son of Edward and Amanda Rhoda Smith Thompson. It would seem that by 1810 the family of Edward Thompson, including three sons, viz., Harvey, Ezra, and Julius, had migrated from Connecticut to western New York. Accordingly, it appears that Ezra Thompson and Amanda Butler Powell were married about 1817, probably in or near the town of Livonia in Ontario County, New York. However, subsequent census records indicate that the extended Thompson family was resident in Alfred Township in neighboring Allegany County by 1820, although other sources assert specifically that the family of Ezra Thompson remained at or near Livonia in Livingston County until 1825. (Livingston County, New York, was formed from parts of Genesee and Ontario Counties on February 23, 1821, and included the town of Livonia.) In any case, these two localities lie relatively close together so it is possible that some members of the extended Thompson family may have moved back and forth more than once. Of course, at this time western New York was on the frontier. Moreover, in the early nineteenth century, the region was so gripped with religious fervor that it became known as the "Burned Over District". Indeed, several important religious groups originated in this general geographic area including the Latter-day Saints and Seventh Day Adventists. Subsequently, it is thought that Ezra Thompson and his family moved to Queenstown in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, about 1829 and then to Erie County, Pennsylvania, about 1830. (It is also possible that they moved back to Connecticut for a short time since some researchers believe that their son, Stephen, was born in Goshen in 1827; however, this seems hardly likely and it is more probable that he was born in western New York.) In any case, according to the 1830 US Census for Erie County, the household of Ezra Thompson was resident in Mill Creek Township. Moreover, the census further indicates that households of his father, Edward, and brother, Julius, were also located close by. Ezra Thompson had apprenticed as a millwright and it is very likely that he supported himself and his family by this occupation.Source Notes and Citations:Perhaps, the Thompsons were first introduced to the Latter-day Saints, i.e., the Mormons, while they were living in New York or Pennsylvania. Indeed, the town of Palmyra, New York, in which Joseph Smith originally gained attention and notoriety as a "Prophet", is located only twenty-five to thirty miles northeast of Livonia and, concomitantly, only a few miles further from Alfred. It is plausible, even likely, that they would have at least heard of Smith since they were his contemporaries. In addition, it is possibly significant that Amanda Butler Powell Thompson and Joseph Smith were born in the same Vermont locality.1 In any case, it is clear that the Thompsons had become Mormons by 1835 or 1836 and were probably then living near Kirtland, Ohio. Over the next few years, Mormon history is chaotic, but there is evidence that Ezra's brother, Julius, may have gone to Caldwell County, Missouri. However, similar evidence does not exist for Ezra. Therefore, it would seem plausible that he and his family remained in Ohio for some time; however, this is merely speculative. Moreover, no record for his household can be found in census records for the year 1840. Even so, the Hancock County, Illinois, Tax List of August 20, 1842, implies that all three Thompson households were then as earlier in Pennsylvania, again, living in close proximity to each other near the Mormon settlement of Nauvoo. In addition, civil records indicate that Ezra owned land in Sections Seventeen and Eighteen in Township Six of Range Eight located two to three miles southeast of Nauvoo and, that, furthermore, another younger brother, Lewis, may have been a tenant. (If this is so, then it would seem that he also became a Mormon, but little is known.) Evidently, following the death of Joseph Smith in Carthage, Illinois, in 1844, as many other Mormons, Ezra Thompson migrated to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake, probably about 1848. Furthermore, according to reliable family tradition, he seems to have taken a second, polygamous wife, Lois Alexander Trumbull, during the journey.2 Their first child, Lois Savona, was born in "Deseret" in February of 1849. Subsequently, Ezra took two more wives, Ann Jane or Jane Ann Griffin Platt and Caroline Sophia Freeman, in 1853 and 1854. Moreover, these three women were much younger than his original wife, Amanda Butler Powell Thompson, who had died April 1, 1850. Within this context, it can be difficult to identify plural wives in census records; however, the 1850 population schedule for Great Salt Lake County clearly affirmed the marriage of Ezra and Lois Thompson, aged fifty-four and twenty-seven years, respectively. Concomitantly, in the 1860 US Census for Great Salt Lake County, Utah Territory, the household of Ezra and Lois Thompson was, again, listed, and followed immediately by that of Jane Thompson, i.e., Ezra's third wife. Likewise, these same two households appeared together in 1870 census records although Ezra was erroneously recorded as an elderly male improbably named "Eliza" and his third wife used her original married name "Goodrich". Even so, no household corresponding to Ezra's fourth wife, Caroline Sophia Thompson, seems to have been listed in the census of either 1860 or 1870. This is, perhaps, understandable since at this time there was considerable distrust of the Federal Government on the part of the Mormon hierarchy, especially with regard to plural marriage. Accordingly, church authorities would have undoubtedly communicated such opinions to ordinary members, who, consequently, were very likely quite reticent in providing information on exact family relationships in census records. Ezra Thompson died in the Utah Territory on August 21, 1873, and was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. He was survived by his three wives.
As noted elsewhere, Julius Thompson and his family stayed behind in Van Buren County, Iowa, and did not migrate to the Utah Territory until about 1855, but did not remain long, returning to Missouri before 1860. Now, it is reasonably clear that the extended Thompson family, i.e., Edward and Amanda Thompson, their two sons, Ezra and Julius, and daughters-in-law, grandchildren, etc., had maintained a close association during their migrations from Connecticut through New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio to Nauvoo, Illinois. The only exception would seem to be the period that Julius and his family spent in Caldwell County, Missouri, although this was probably quite brief and it is altogether possible that some or all of the others were present there as well. However, after the death of their father in 1842, it appears that the paths of the two Thompson brothers diverged. One can only speculate as to the reason for this. Family dynamics are often complex, but it is, perhaps, significant that Julius did not take plural wives although Ezra did. This might indicate disagreement between the two brothers over fundamental religious beliefs. In addition, there may have been other, darker reasons rooted in personal resentments or social practices of early Mormon society. Whatever the cause, these two branches of the Thompson family subsequently became completely separated.
1a. William P. Leavitt, Leavitt Pioneers - Western Migration and Colonization, PDBK Enterprises, 4901 West Desert Inn Road, Las Vegas, NV, 89106, 1985-2000.
"On the first of January, 1843, Hannah and Horace Fish's girl, Julia (17), married Edward Washington Thompson (20) in Nauvoo. He was the son of Ezra Thompson and Amanda Butler Powell, and was born on May 28, 1822, in Livonia, New York. Edward was a member of the Nauvoo Third Ward, while Julia was a member of the Nauvoo 2nd Ward. Their children would be:1. Julia Mira (b.18 Jul 1852 SLC, UT)Edward would die November 16, 1898, in Beaver, Utah, and Julia would follow him on October 24, 1916.
2. Emma Jane
3. Sarah Ellen (twin)
4. Nellie (twin)
5. Edward Washington, Jr. (b.17 Jan 1857 Parowan, UT)
6. Marietta
7. Ezra Ambrose (b. 25 Apr 1860 Beaver, UT)
Edward's father, mother, uncle, and paternal grandparents had all been converted to Mormonism. His father's baptism had taken place in 1835 or 1836. His uncle Julius had been baptized on April 6, 1836. Ezra had been born in Goshen, Connecticut on July 26, 1766 (sic - 1797). Ezra's mother's family was from Litchfield, Connecticut, and his father's family from Goshen. His wife, Amanda, was born September 12, 1795, in Sharon, Winsor, Vermont (birthplace of Joseph Smith). Ezra and Amanda had lived in Livonia until 1825, when they had moved to Alfred. Ezra had learned to be a millwright by apprenticeship. On November fourth of that year, their son, Orange Decatur, was born. This name appears later in the Leavitt family. About 1830, the family had moved to Millcreek, on the south edge of Lake Erie. Edward's sister, Melvina, had been born there. She would later marry into the Leavitt family. By 1836, the family had moved to Nauvoo. During that year, Ezra's father and mother, Edward and Amanda Rhoda Smith Thompson, had received their patriarchal blessings from Joseph Smith, Sr. Ezra was a 2nd Lieutenant in Company A, 1st Battalion, 3rd Platoon of the Silver Greys, in the Nauvoo Legion."
The year 1836 is probably too early for the extended Thompson family to have moved to Nauvoo since Mormon settlement in Illinois occurred after the expulsion of the Mormons from Missouri in 1838 and 1839. However, they very well may have moved to Kirtland, Ohio, or northwestern Missouri in 1836. Also, many researchers give the birthplace of the Ezra's daughter, Amanda, as Livonia, New York; however, this account and census records indicate that Erie County is a more plausible location. (William P. Leavitt, "Leavitt Pioneers - Part Two", users.lasvegas.net/~wmpl/Leavitt2.htm, 2003.)b. ibid.
"Melvina was born December 18, 1833, in Millcreek, Erie County, Pennsylvania to Ezra Thompson and Amanda Butler Powell. As mentioned, she was Edward Washington Thompson's sister. Like the Leavitt family, the Thompsons had been converted to the Church in 1835. In 1830, Ezra had moved to Millcreek, where his parents, Edward and Amanda Rhoda Smith, had lived with them. Ezra was a millwright. His brother, Julius, and his wife, Sarah, had lived nearby. They had all been converted about the same time. Except for Julius, no baptism record exists for them. Julius had been baptized on April 6, 1836, in Kirtland. Also, Edward and Amanda are shown receiving their Patriarchal Blessings there in 1836. It is assumed the group had moved there prior to these events. In 1846, Ezra had been endowed in the Nauvoo Temple. Ezra had taken a second wife, Lois Alexander Trumble-Lowe. Her first husband, John, had died during the Winter of 1845-46 at Winter Quarters. Ezra and his family had crossed the Plains, and had arrived in the Valley in 1848. On February 28, 1849, Lois had their first child, Lois Savona, at North Mill Canyon (Mueler's Park, Davis County, Utah). Amanda had died on April 1, 1850 (just six months prior to Melvina's marriage), and had been buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
Lemuel and Melvina's children would be born in Santa Clara, Utah, unless otherwise noted:1. Laura Melvina (b. 4 Aug 1851 Toole, UT; d. 13 Feb 1922 Santa Clara, UT; md. Samuel Knight 4 Mar 1872 SLC, UT)Ezra Thompson would later marry a third wife, Ann Jane Griffen Platt-Goodridge, on April 3, 1853 in Salt Lake City. Her first husband was William Goodridge. On January 29, 1854, Ezra would marry his fourth wife, Caroline Sophia Freeman-Cutler. She was Parley Cutler's widow. Ezra would be a Seventy in the 24th Quorum. He would build the first grist mill in North Mill Creek Canyon for Heber C. Kimball. In 1861, he would help build Salt Lake's first nail factory. Ezra would die on August 21, 1873, and would be buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery." (William P. Leavitt, "Leavitt Pioneers - Part Three", users.lasvegas.net/~wmpl/Leavitt3.htm, 2003.)
2. Lemuel Studevant, Jr. (b. 6 Nov 1852 Toole, UT; d. 27 Jun 1883; md. Rebecca Sprague 8 Jan 1879)
3. Edward Washington (b.1 Jan 1854 Toole, UT; d. 3 Feb 1931 Mesquite, NV; md. Elethier Bunker 1 Jan 1875 Santa Clara, UT)
4. Deborah Jane (b. 15 Jan 1856 Toole, UT; d. 21 Feb 1814 (sic - 1914) Escalante, UT; md. William Vincent Lay, Sr. 29 Oct 1877 Santa Clara, UT)
5. Thomas Dudley, Sr. (b. 8 Nov 1857; d. 25 Aug 1933 Bunkerville, NV; md. 1-Mary Luella Abbott 14 Apr 1881 St.George, UT, 2-Adah Ann Waite 12 Oct 1887 St.George, UT)
6. Orange Decater (b.10 Dec 1859; d.2 Jan 1918 Bunkerville, NV; md. 1-Thirza Helena 'Lena' Leavitt 8 Jun 1882 St.George, UT, 2-Mary Eleanor Leavitt 12 Dec 1886 St.George, UT, 3-Mary Ellen Leavitt)
7. Lovisa {Twin} (b.22 Oc t1861; d.6 Apr 1917 Mesquite, NV; md. 1-Myron Abbott 11 Jan 1878 St.George, UT, 2-Zhirza Leana Leavitt, 3-Pratt Canfield)
8. Lovina {Twin} (b. 22 Oct 1861; d. 22 Oct 1862 Santa Clara, UT)
back to bio.2. Anonymous, Sketches of the inter-mountain states: together with biographies of many prominent and progressive citizens who have helped in the development and history-making of this marvelous region : 1847-1909 : Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City, UT, 1909.
"EZRA THOMPSON One of the real pioneers of Utah and a citizen who has done much for his native place is Ezra Thompson, who was born in Salt Lake City, on July 17, 1850. His father was Ezra Thompson, a millwright in humble circumstances, and his mother was Lois Trumbull Thompson. Young Thompson passed his early boyhood in his native town, attending public school in winter and in summer herding and working at anything he could find, whereby he could contribute to the support of the household. Ezra was a strong, athletic boy, very fond of manly sports, and was a great baseball player in his youth. Being naturally inclined to outdoor pursuits, he adopted the vocation of a freighter, a very lucrative one in those days. From freighting supplies he drifted into mining, at which he made his fortune. His principal field of operations was the Park City District, where he resided for fifteen years and became connected with some of the greatest mines in that productive district. Among his experiences was a heavy and protracted law suit with the owners of the Silver King. He made a hard fight, but, the decision going against him, he accepted it like the strong man that he is, and has never cherished any animosity over the result. On February 14, 1884, Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Emily Pugsley, daughter of Philip Pugsley, a well known manufacturer and mining man, since deceased. They are the parents of four children; namely, Lynn H., Norinne, Ezra P., and Clyde R. Thompson. The family resides in a beautiful residence on East South Temple Street, the fashionable residence quarter of the city. Mr. Thompson served two terms in the city council of Park City, and was for two terms mayor of Salt Lake City, a position he filled with honor, dignity and great executive ability. He was first elected in 1899, and served until 1904. He was reelected by the American party, of which he is a member. Since returning to private life, Mr. Thompson has devoted himself to his mining interests, real estate holdings, and other business affairs, which occupy his time fully. He is a lover of good horses, and personally very popular and of a charitable and kindly nature. Mr. Thompson is president of the Idaho Gold Mining and Milling Company, and president of the Cardiff Mining and Milling Company, both very productive and valuable mining properties. He is a member of the Alta Club and Commercial Club of Salt Lake City."
back to bio.
Additional Citations:
3. 1820 US Census Population Schedule for Allegany County, New York, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 71, (microfilm: roll M33_64; img. 46).4. 1830 US Census Population Schedule for Erie County, Pennsylvania, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 261, (microfilm: roll M19_147; img. 517).
5. 1850 US Census Population Schedule for Great Salt Lake County, Utah Territory, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 24B, (microfilm: roll M432_919; img. 48).
6. 1860 US Census Population Schedule for Great Salt Lake County, Utah Territory, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 285, (microfilm: roll M653_1313; img. 290).
7. 1870 US Census Population Schedule for Salt Lake County, Utah Territory, National Archives, Washington DC: pgs. 707A-B, (microfilm: roll M593_1611; imgs. 758-9).
8. Tax Records of 1842, Hancock County, Carthage, IL: pg. 208, (LDS Family History Library microfilm: roll #007706 , Salt Lake City, UT, 2003). (Lyman Platt (tr), "Nauvoo Tax Records, 1842", Orem, UT, Ancestry, Inc., www.ancestry.com, 1999. ) (Judi Gilker (tr), Hancock County ILGenWeb Archives, 2007.)
9. Susan Easton Black, Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: 1830-1848, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, UT: Vol. 43, pgs. 261-4.
10. Susan Easton Black, Annotated Record of Baptisms for the Dead, Nauvoo, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT: Vol. 5, pgs. 3622-3.
11. Salt Lake City Cemetery, Salt Lake County, Utah (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=77424&CScn=Salt+Lake&CScntry=4&CSst=47&CScnty=2791&, continuously updated).
12. Ancestral File: 2NFG-7W, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, UT, continuously updated.