George Wilding, Sr. - 1829-1913

Born at Williams Street, Preston, England, November 9, 1829. Father, David Wilding; Mother, Alice Atkinson; Grandfather, Henry Wilding.

George Wilding left England, February 16, 1841. He was baptized in 1839, in the River Ribble, England by his father, David Wilding and Thomas Richardson. His father and mother joined the Church in 1838. Following are the names of his brothers and sisters: Elizabeth A., James, Heber, David, Joseph, Jenneta, Henry, Alice, Thomas and Sarah Ellen.

The Prophet Joseph Smith was the first man he became acquainted with in Nauvoo. He often held the Prophet's horses (John and Joe). At one time the Prophet laid his hands upon George's head and said, speaking to his father, "David, this is your son and he will be a great blessing to you." George Wilding was then eleven years old and he wondered what this meant; but his father later left the Church and died an apostate. Since he was baptized for his father, also his grandfather and great-grandfather, this must have been the blessing the Prophet meant.

George Wilding was married to Mary Elizabeth Layne on June 30, 1850, by Orson Hyde in the Post Office at Kanesville, Iowa - now Council Bluffs. Two wagon loads went and returned to celebrate with a dinner at this home in Pigeon. He had only fifty cents and his wife seventy-five cents. He gave his fifty cents to the man for marrying them. They had one log room with a bunk built in for a bed, which was made by boring two holes in the wall and nailing a post to the floor for the two other corners. They stretched raw hide across for the bottom and on this placed a straw tick, a sheet and two quilts. A frying pan and two plates was their household equipment.

George Wilding dreamed that he saw his wife's father come up from his grave and say he was glad he had married Elizabeth and that he would be the means of her salvation in the Kingdom of God. They had thirteen children as follows: George, David, Mary Alice, Roselpha, Elizabeth Ann, Jennetta, Preston, Eleanor, Maggie, Henry David, Eve, Olive and Water Layne.

When he needed money to take his family to Utah, George went to Oregon, Missouri, and worked on a farm digging sweet potatoes. The men working with him were cursing the Mormons and one night he said to them, "You should be men of understanding. I am but a boy But I am a Mormon and it hurts me to hear you speak that way. Please do not curse my people before me." They stopped and he never heard any more of it.

When George was about 13 or 14 years old, he worked for the Prophet of God and his testimony never left him. He saw the Prophet when they were taking him to Carthage Jail. The Prophet stopped, gave George his hand and said, "Be a good boy, George, and the Lord will bless you." The memory of the Prophet was very dear to him.

He and his wife and son crossed the plains with the Ben E. Gardiner Company. The Company left Kanesville, Iowa, on May 15, 1852 consisting of 241 people and 45 wagons. Fourteen of their number died on the way of cholera. George's wagon was drawn by one horse and one cow.

George Wilding and Horace Owens were the hunters for the immigrant train, securing wild meat such as buffalo, elk, deer, etc. In those days their firearms were muzzle loading, which would take about five minutes to reload. There were thousands of buffalo in Wyoming, so there was no meat problem at that time. One day when they were returning to camp with all the meat they could carry, they passed a spot where there were many new graves. They counted 130. One man had been wrapped in a feather bed when buried and the wolves had partly pulled it out of the ground. George put his foot out to turn the face up so he could see who it was. The corruption came out and he smelled the terrible odor of cholera. He contracted the terrible disease. During the night as he lay almost dead in the camp, he heard the Captain outside say, "We will stop over tomorrow to bury George." Between gasps, George said, "No you won't. I will live." He remembered his father's words, "Take strong whiskey for cholera." (David Wilding was a doctor) George's wife, Elizabeth went to the camp of Horace Owens and got whiskey as Horace was night watching. Into the glass of whiskey she put black pepper. He drank it and was able to continue his journey.

When they arrived in Utah, on September 24, 1852, they settled in the 16th Ward for one winter and George worked at his trade as mason. There are many houses still standing which he built. In 1853, he built his house in the 19th Ward and moved into it.

On August 9, 1875, he married Leona Leoti Winner, in polygamy, by whom he had twelve children, as follows: Alice Isabella, Anna, Latilla, Jennie Leoni, Elvira Naomi, Rhoda Lambert, George Lambert, Elizabeth Jeffs, Erma Estella, Leni Leoti, Clara Cornelia and Evelyn Winner. His second wife's home was in Hunter Ward, Salt Lake County. On his 70th birthday, his family numbered 25 children, 140 grandchildren and 140 great-grandchildren.

From September 21, 1887, to March 21, 1888, he imprisoned in a penal institution for polygamy. Many interesting stories he told of prison life. David Bybee, a relative and dear friend, was in with the criminals and suffered by their vile language. He asked George, who had been more fortunate, to intercede for him to be moved to better quarters. George was successful and he and David shared the same cell and were happy. George did mason work at the pen and was favored with the privilege of eating with the guards, having much better food than the other prisoners. He also cared for some pigs, raising sixteen nice ones for the prison. He asked for two of them when he left and they were given to him. This gave him a nice start of hogs for himself. He was released from prison without paying the usual fine imposed in like cases.

Compiled by W.L. Wilding, with lots of appreciated help from Clara Wilding Coon and her family.

Mary Elizabeth Layne wife of George Wilding Sr.

Born 24 Dec 1832 - Bowling Green, Owen County, Indiana to David Layne and Lucinda Bybee

Died 17 Dec 1909 - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Mother of 13 children

Leona Leoti Winner 2nd wife of George Wilding, Sr.

Born 15 July 1857 - Six Mile Creek, Pike, Illinois to James Winner and Isabell Lambert

Married 29 Aug 1875 - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Died 15 Nov 1933

Mother of 12 children