William Charles Crump

Charles was born on March 25th, 1830 in Pontesbury, Shropshire, England to William Crump and Martha Betton. He was the ninth of thirteen children, seven girls and six boys.

Charles left England when he was twenty two years old in February, 1852 on the ship "Ellen Maria" and landed at New Orleans April 6, 1852.

Passenger list of the Ellen Maria

From there he took a steamer to St. Louis, on to Newport, then made an overland journey from there with about 30 wagons.  William drove an ox team. He was among the first company to emigrate under the Perpetual Emigration Fund. He arrived in SLC in September of 1852. Three weeks later he moved to Taylorsville. A year later his family were moved to Herriman.

From a family member history:

Although this man is referred to in the USA  as William Charles Crump he was baptized as Charles Crump and had an older brother William (1821-1879).

William Charles Crump was born in 1830 in England, the ninth child of William and Martha Betton Crump.  As a young adult he heard missionaries of the Mormon Church teaching.  William joined the church in 1849, and soon afterward labored as a missionary with other traveling Elders in England.  But he had a desire to leave England and join the Saints gathering in Utah.  He sailed to America on the “Ellen Maria” in 1852.  He joined the Abraham O. Smoot Company which arrived in Utah in September of 1852.

When he arrived in Utah, he was assigned to Taylorsville to help build up the settlement there and construct a fort as protection from the Indians.  He also served as a guard at the south point of the valley and also on the west side.  In the fall of 1853 Brigham Young asked for families to go to Butterfield Settlement (later named Fort Herriman), and provide strength to this struggling settlement.  William volunteered and later helped build the fort there.

William married Margaret Ann James in 1855.  They were the parents of 9 children.  William took a second wife, Sarah Cornick, in 1872, and with her, had 7 children.  William was a leader not only in his family, but also in the community.  He participated in the Echo Canyon War during the winter of 1857-1858.  He returned home for a short time, and was asked again to return to Echo Canyon for guard duty.  His wife, Margaret accompanied him on the second trip.  They returned home in April to find the residents of Herriman packed and ready to evacuate the settlement.  They traveled south with the community spending about three months near Payson, and then returning to Herriman.

William helped to quarry rock from Step Rock Mountain for the building of the old rock church.  With several other men in town, he ran a sorghum mill, making a rich brown edible syrup from the sugar cane they raised.  He was asked again to go on guard duty, patrolling the west and south ends of the valley.

William served in many callings in the Church in the late 1800’s and last of which was the Patriarch of the West Jordan Stake by President Joseph Fielding Smith.  In this capacity he gave hundreds of blessings to faithful members of the LDS Church.

William was known for completing his daily tasks in a very cheerful sort of way.  He often said, “There is always a great and wise purpose in all that we are called on to suffer and endure, and great is the wisdom we gain through such experiences”.  He taught his children and grandchildren that there is dignity in persevering through tribulations, sorrows and disappointments.

He died just one week short of his birthday, in March 1904, leaving a legacy of over 50 years in Herriman.

This short version of William Charles Crump’s history is taken from various histories that have been written about his life and is not meant to be a complete history

From "LDS Biographical Encyclopedia" by Andrew Jenson, Vol. 1 p. 580:

Charles Crump, a Patriarch in the Jordan Stake of Zion, and a resident of Herriman, Salt Lake County, Utah, was born March 25, 1830, in Pontisbury Hill, Shropshire, England, son of William and Martha Betton Crump.  He writes: “I embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ at a place called Abbersoaking, Monmouthsire, England; at the age of nineteen years, being baptized and confirmed by Elder Prutherel, and shortly afterwards ordained a Deacon.  Some time later I was ordained a Priest, and while in England I labored with the local brethren in assisting to spread a knowledge of the gospel in and around the adjoining villages and towns.  Of my father’s family there were four sons and five daughters, whose names are respectively, William, Richard, Charles and Reynold.  The daughters were Elizabeth, Mary, Susannah, Sarah and Martha.

Up to this present writing I am the only one of the family that has embraced the gospel.  I left my native land to gather with the Saints to Utah in February, 1852, on board the sailing vessel “Ellen Maria” with a company of Saints in charge of Elder Isaac C. Haight.  The voyage throughout was a pleasant one.  We landed at New Orleans April 6, 1852, and from that city we took steamer to St. Louis, Mo., and thence to Westport, and our company consisted of about thirty wagons.  I drove an ox-team which carried ten souls and the necessary supplies.  This was the first company that emigrated under the Perpetual Emigration Fund.

While crossing the plains we suffered severely from the cholera which was prevailing in certain parts of the United States at that time.  We arrived in Salt Lake City in September, 1852.  After staying about three weeks in Salt Lake City, I moved to Taylorsville, Salt Lake County, where I helped to build a fort for protection against the Indians, and was also called to act as a guard at the south point of the valley, and also on the west side—three days at each place every week during the summer of 1853.

About this time President Brigham Young called for twenty families to go and strengthen the Herriman settlement, and I was one of the twenty who volunteered to go.  About this time Herriman was greatly molested by the Indians, and one of the first things we had to do was to build a fort for protection against their raids.  The brethren began to take up land and cultivate the same.  The water at first was very scarce, but later it was increased by developing the springs in the adjoining mountains.  The settlers were also troubled by crickets and grasshoppers that would eat up the growing crops.

In the fall of 1857, when Johnston’s army was approaching Utah, I was called, in connection with many others, to go to Echo Canyon, to meet the soldiers and prevent them from coming into the valley that winter.  We were successful and returned home to spend the latter part of the winter.  In the following spring (1858) I was again sent to Echo Canyon to hold the soldiers back until they were willing to yield to the terms prescribed by Pres. Brigham Young.  On my return home, I found my wife and two children ready to move south the following morning, and with a yoke of oxen I moved to Pond Town (now Salem), in Utah County, where I built a “wickiup” as a temporary shelter for my family, and remained there until peace was restored; after which I returned to Herriman and resumed my occupation as a farmer.  In the spring of 1863 I was called to go to Florence, Nebraska, with ox-teams to assist in bringing the Church poor to the valley.  I traveled in Capt. Peter Nebeker’s train.

In June, 1877, when Herriman was organized as a ward, I was ordained and set apart by Daniel H. Wells as second counselor to Bishop James Crane.  Subsequently (Nov. 25, 1885) I was set apart as first counselor to Bishop Crane in place of David M. Bowen, who had resigned that position.  Bishop Crane died July 6, 1886, after which I was called to act as presiding Elder in Herriman until the appointment of Bishop Robert Dansie, which took place Dec. 12, 1887.  After the death of Bishop Dansie (Oct 12, 1896) I was appointed to act as presiding Elder in Herriman, and occupied that position till Nov. 7, 1897, when James S. Crane was made Bishop of the ward and I was ordained a Patriarch by Joseph F. Smith.  My family consists of two wives, Margaret and Sarah, who have borne me six sons and nine daughters.”

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William married Margaret Ann James in 1855.  They were the parents of nine children. William took a second wife, Sarah Cornick, in 1872, and with her, had seven children. William was a leader not only in his family, but also in the community. He participated in the Echo Canyon War during the winter of 1857-1858. He returned home for a short time, and was asked again to return top Echo Canyon for guard duty. His wife, Margaret, accompanied him on the second trip. They returned home in April to find the residents of Herriman packed and ready to evacuate the settlement.  They traveled south with the community spending about three months near Payson, and then returning to Herriman.

William helped to quarry rock from Step Rock Mountain for the building of the old rock church. With several other men in town, he ran a sorghum mill, making a rich brown edible syrup from the sugar cane they raised. He was asked again to go on guard duty, patrolling the west and south ends of the valley.

William served in many callings in the Church in the late 1800's and last of which was the Patriarch of the West Jordan Stake by President Joseph Fielding Smith. In this capacity he gave hundreds of blessings to faithful members of the LDS Church.

William was known for completing his daily tasks in a very cheerful sort of way. He often said, "There is always a great and wise purpose in all that we are called on to suffer and endure, and great is the wisdom we gain through such experiences". He taught his children and grandchildren that there is dignity in persevering through tribulations, sorrows and disappointments.

He died just one week short of his seventy-fourth birthday, in March 1904, leaving a legacy of over fifty years in Herriman.

In his own words:

"I embraced the Gospel of Jesus Christ at a place called Abbersoaking, Monmouthshire, England at the age of nineteen years, being baptized and confirmed by Elder Prutherel, and shortly afterwards ordained deacon. Sometime later I was ordained Priest, and while in England I labored with the local brethren in assisting others to a knowledge of the Gospel in and around the adjoining villages and towns. Of my father's family there were four sons and five daughters, whose names are respectively, William, Richard, Charles, and Reynold; and daughters were Elizabeth, Mary, Susannah, Sarah and Martha. Up to this present writing, I am the only one of the family that has embraced the Gospel. I left my native land to gather with the Saints to Utah in February 1852, on board the sailing vessel [Ellen Maria] with a company in charge of Elder Isaac C. Haight. The voyage throughout was a pleasant one. We landed at New Orleans April 6, 1852 and from that city we took a steamer to St. Louis, Missouri, and thence to Newport. From that point Elder Abraham C. Smoot took charge of the company journey and was captain overland to Salt Lake City. Our outfit for the overland journey was purchased at Westport, and our company consisted of about thirty wagons. I drove an ox-team which carried ten souls and the necessary supplies. This was the first company that emigrated under the Perpetual Emigration Fund. While crossing the plains we suffered severely from the cholera which was prevailing in certain parts of the United States at that time. We arrived in Salt Lake City in September 1852. After staying about three weeks in Salt Lake, I moved to Taylorsville, Salt Lake County where I helped build a fort for the protection against the Indians, and was also called as a guard at the south point of the valley, and also on the west side, three days at each place every week during the summer of 1853. About this time President Brigham Young called for twenty families to go and strengthen the Herriman settlement and I was one of the twenty volunteered to go. About this time Herriman was greatly molested by the Indians, and one of the first things we had to do was to build a fort for protection against their raids. The brethren began to take up land and cultivate the same. The water at first was very scarce, but later it was increased by developing the spring in the adjoining mountains. The settlers were also troubled by crickets and grasshoppers who would eat up the growing crops. In the fall of 1857, when Johnston's Army was approaching Utah, I was called in connection with many others to go to Echo Canyon to meet the soldiers and prevent them from coming into the valley that winter. We were successful and returned home to spend the latter part of the winter. In the following spring [1858] I was again sent to Echo Canyon to hold the soldiers back until they were willing to yield to the terms prescribed by Pres. Brigham Young. On my return home, I found my wife and two children ready to move south the following morning. With a yoke of oxen I moved to Toni Town, [now Salem] in Utah County, where I built a wickiup as a temporary shelter for my family, and remained there until peace was restored; after which I returned to Herriman and resumed my occupation of a farmer. In the spring of 1863, I was called to go to Florence, Nebraska, with ox-teams to assist in bringing the Church poor to the valley. I traveled in Capt. Peter Nebeker's train. In June 1877, when Herriman was organized as a Ward, I was ordained and set apart by Daniel B. Wells as second counselor to Bishop James Crane. Subsequently Novermber 25, 1885 I was set apart as first counselor to Bishop Crane in place of David Bowen who had resigned that position, ?Bishop Crane died July 6, 1886, after which I was called to act as Presiding Elder in Herriman until the appointment of Bishop Dansie December 12, 1877. After the death of Bishop Dansie October 12, 1896, I was appointed to act as Presiding Elder in Herriman and occupied that position until November 7, 1896 when James S. Crane was made Bishop of the ward and I was ordained a Patriarch by Joseph F. Smith. My family consists of two wives, Margaret and Sarah, who have born me six sons and nine daughters. First wife was Margaret James...[Children]: Martha, Margaret, William, Sarah, Reynold, Thomas, Samuel, Joseph. Second wife was Sarah Cornich...[Children]: Sarah Jane, Betsy, Lucy, Mary, Elizabeth, George, Margaret.

Children from Margaret James were:

            Martha Eleanor Crump - Born on October 6th, 1855 in Herriman - 1933 (married Gideon Moore Mumford)

            Margaret Mary Crump - Born on December 24th, 1857 in Herriman - 1883 (married Charles Nephi Dansie)

            William Charles Crump II - Born on March 18th, 1860 in Herriman - 1929 (married Lovina B. Kidd)

            Sarah Ann Crump - Born on January 20th, 1862 in Herriman - 1943 (married Gideon Mumford)

            Renald Alexander Crump - Born on August 20th, 1863 in Herriman - 1947 (married Mary Ann Farmer)

            Thomas Edward Crump - Born on June 17th, 1866 in Herriman - 1870

            Samuel Heber Crump - Born on December 24th, 1868 in Herriman - 1948 (married Olive JeanetteButterfield)

            Joseph Henry Crump - Born on September 21st, 1870 in Herriman - 1953 (married Agnes Fanny Bodell)

            Edward Crump Born in 1872 in Herriman - 1872

Children from Sarah Cornick:

            Mary Crump - Born in 1870 in Herriman - 1870

            Sarah Jane Crump - Born on September 2nd, 1873 in Herriman - 1963 (married Almon Thomas Butterfield, brother of Olive Jeanette Butterfield Crump)

            Martha "Betsy" Marinda Crump - Born on May 28th, 1875 in Herriman - 1953 (married James Madsen)

            Lucy Crump - Born on April 1st, 1877 in Herriman - 1963 (married Robert John Turner)

            Mary Crump - Born on January 14th, 1879 in Herriman - 1972 (married William Augustus Turner)

            Elizabeth Ann Crump - Born on November 1st, 1880 in Herriman - 1963  (married David Reese Jones)

Charles died of spinal sclerosis on March 18th, 1904 in Herriman, UT, and was buried in the Herriman Cemetery.

Do you know anything about William Charles? Do you have any memories, photos or information to add? I would absolutely love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below to add your information. If you have photos to share, please send them to me along with any other information at tomebug (at) gmail (dot) com.