Ezra Granger Williams & Henrietta Elizabeth Crombie

Ezra Granger Williams was born on 17 Nov 1823 in Warrensville, Cuyahoga, Ohio. He Died on 1 Aug 1905 in Ogden, Weber, Utah. He married Henrietta Elizabeth Crombie.

How he is related to me, Great grandfather of husband of 5th cousin 1x removed.

Father and sons: Frederick G. Williams (left), Ezra Granger Williams (seated), Ezra Henry Granger Williams (right)

Ezra Granger Williams, Frederick Granger Williams, Ezra Henry Granger Williams, Hyrum Royal Williams

Ezra Granger Williams Death Cert

Ezra Granger Williams

Ezra Granger Williams

Ezra Granger Williams Obit

Ezra Granger Williams

Ezra Granger Williams

Ezra Granger Williams

Henrietta Elizabeth Crombie was born 27 Sep 1827 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts and died on 1 Jun 1922 in Ogden, Weber, Utah.

Henrietta Elizabeth Crombie

Henrietta Elizabeth Crombie

Henrietta Elizabeth Crombie

1890 to 1928. Residences of Ezra H. G. Williams and Henrietta E. (Crombie) Williams. Large house is of Ezra H. G. Williams (on left), small house is of Henrietta E. Crombie Williams. Ogden, Utah.

Henrietta Elizabeth Crombie

Henrietta Elizabeth Crombie

Henrietta Elizabeth Crombie

Henrietta Elizabeth Crombie

They had 9 children:

1) Lucy Ellen Williams born 3 Sep 1848 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa, died 1 Dec 1942 in

Compton, Los Angeles, California. Buried in Ben Lomond Cemetery in Ogden, UT

Lucy Ellen Williams Godfrey

2) Mary Elizabeth Williams born 2 Feb 1851 in Salt Lake City, UT died 14 Dec 1934 in Deweyville, Box Elder, UT

Mary Elizabeth Williams Gardner

3) Frederick Granger Williams born 29 Mar 1853 and died 19 Jan 1918. was married to Amanda Burns.

Frederick Granger Williams

4) Frances Henrietta Maria Williams born 24 May 1864 and died 1 Jan 1890

Frances Henrietta Maria Williams Budge

5) Ezra Henry Granger Williams Married Sarah Ann Hickenlooper 28 Dec 1874 in Salt Lake City, UT

Ezra Henry Granger Williams & Wife Sarah Ann Hickenlooper

6) Joseph Swain Williams he died at age 2 yrs old

7) John Albert Williams also died young

8) Bringham Young Williams also died young

9) Heber Chase Kimball Williams also died young

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF DR. EZRA GRANGER WILLIAMS

Contributed By: wilmajephson · 10 July 2013 ·

Written by his daughter Lucy E. Godfrey

Dr. Ezra Granger Williams, son of Dr. Frederick Granger Williams and Rebecca Swain Williams, was born at Warrensville, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, on November 17, 1823. He was the youngest of four children; two sisters, Lovina and Lucy Eliza, and a brother Joseph Swain.

He moved with his father while very young to Chardon, Ohio. In 1828 or 1829 they moved five miles to Kirtland, onto land that had been purchased for a farm. Here his father practiced medicine and tilled the land.

In the fall of 1830 the family was converted to the LDS church by four missionaries: Oliver Cowdery, Parley P. Pratt, Ziba Peterson, and Peter Whitman Jr. who had been sent on a mission to the Lamanites or Indians and who had come to Kirtland on their travels. His mother was baptized on Saturday and his father on Monday. Just two weeks after meeting the Elders, his father was chosen to go with them to finish the mission. He was gone ten months.

In February 183I, Joseph Smith Jr., came to Kirtland and lived at the Newell K. Whitney and William’s homes. Frederick G. Williams and the prophet had many talks about the church. Dr. Frederick G. Williams offered his land for a gathering place for the Saints. So the main body of the church was moved to Kirtland in a few months. The land for the Temple site and also for the homes of the leaders of the church was given outright as a gift by Dr. Williams. The deeds to this land are still in existence at the courthouse in Ohio.

On April 14, 1832 Ezra with Wm. Kimball, son of Heber C. Kimball, were walking along the river bank when they met the Prophet Joseph Smith, who asked if they would like to be baptized. They consented and were baptized. They went on home and Hyrum Smith confirmed the baptism.

As a child Ezra often went with his father on his medical calls and was taught many things about medical practice by his father. He later acted as an assistant to his father in this practice. As a young man in his early twenties he was practicing in his own right, having studied with prominent physicians of the time. He was always interested, studious, and a reader along medical lines even to the day of his death. His advice was sought by many physicians throughout the west.

He went to the Farr West in the fall of 1836 and joined the saints there during the persecutions of the mob, who with militia men, had come to drive out or exterminate the churchmen. One day he took his pony and rode out on the prairie to gather the stock and saw the army coming; several of the cavalry gave chase. He rode back into town and gave the alarm. Far West men were rallied under Col. George W. Hinkle; logs and other material at hand were thrown together for defense and protection. The army under Gen. Clark formed in the line of battle just west of town. A consultation was held between the army and the militia. Col. Hinkle agreed to deliver the prophet and others up. The militia disbanded and the soldiers looted the town. Young Ezra was given a permit to hunt stock and while rounding them up saw the soldiers stealing and driving them off. On their horses, were bridles that he recognized as those belonging to his brother-in-law, Burr Riggs. He went to the officer in charge and they were made to give them back.

A short time afterward the mob gathered again and began depredations. The saints again banded together for defense. They met the enemy on Crooked River and a battle ensued. David W. Patten was killed as well as several others. Ezra was taken by some of the soldiers who wanted to kill him, saying: “Nits Breed Lice,” but the officer let him go.

His father, F.G. Williams was sent by the Prophet to Cleveland, Ohio where the saints were suffering from a plague. Ezra went with him and they were successful in stamping out the plague. 

Following his father’s death at Quincy, Illinois, October 10, 1842 he with his mother, went to St. Louis where he took up the practice of medicine as his profession. As this was the saints’ gathering place before starting for the west, he was kept very busy prescribing and administering to the sick. 

He had hoped and partly prepared to join the vanguard of saints to the valley of the Great Salt Lake with President Brigham Young, but was given charge by him to take care of the saints who were suffering from malaria and cholera. 

He became the official Physician for the community, and was also called to make a circuit of many miles among the outlying camps. He missed the opportunity of being one of the original 1847 party.

Many saints were arriving to prepare for the journey. Among them was a family from Boston, Massachusetts-Elizabeth Pope Phillips Crombie with two sons and a daughter named Henrietta Elizabeth. This daughter was stricken with dumb ague and the Dr. was called to attend her. The treatments continued until late summer when she was pronounced well. The visits continued and the Doctor took his patient for rides in his carriage. They were married on August 15, 1847; the wedding was performed by Orson Hyde.

They went to Winter Quarters and stayed two weeks then crossed the Missouri River to Kanesville, Iowa. [Kanesville’s name was changed to Council Bluffs in 1852.] Here he made a home for sixteen months, during which time their daughter Lucy Ellen was born on September 30, 1848.

In the spring of 1849 he was called to start for the valley in two months. He said, “I cannot go, I have nothing to go with at this time.” Brother Ezra T. Benson, who was to be the leader of the company, went to one of the, Welsh companies and borrowed $300 for him to buy necessary medicines and provisions as the Doctor had been designated to go as an official physician and was also needed in Salt Lake City, where doctors were in demand.

His mother went by steamer to St. Louis to buy the order of medicines while the Doctor was gathering his wagons and provisions. She returned by land from Burlington, Iowa in time for starting.

They had two wagons, four oxen, three cows, one horse, provisions for one year and a splendid stock of medicine, a nine month old baby and were $135 in debt to the Welch company which he paid back in three years. 

They left Kanesville on July 4, 1849 for the Salt Lake valley. The crossing of Loop Fork, a tributary of the Platte River was difficult. The men made a network of willows to keep the wagon wheels from sinking in the quicksand. They tied ropes to the back of the wagons and lowered them down the steep bank of the stream. Dr. Williams waded back and forth hanging to the wheel while the men shouted to the leader to travel to the opposite bank. Brother George A. Smith led the Welch company. He said they talked Welch and English to their cattle till they learned to “Gee! Haw!” back perfectly. When the oxen started through a river they struck out for the other side to avoid the noise all the hands made. They were scared into rushing through quickly.

The Sioux Indians came around the camps trading buckskins. The squaws were very pretty, intelligent, happy, and decorated with beads and ornaments so much different from the Utah Indians they saw in Utah later on.

Dr. Williams bought a pony at Ft. Bridger for his wife to ride up the steep mountains but the saddle would slip off behind so she had to walk and carry her baby.

On October the 25th they camped at the foot of Big Mountain on the east side. In the morning they traveled up the big mountain and down the other side camping at night then traveling over little mountain. On the 26th they camped in a grove. The next day the 27th they reached Emigration Canyon, crossing the creek eighteen times and camping in the mouth of the Canyon for the night.

The next morning, Sunday October 28, President Brigham Young, Newell K. Whitney, their wives and others came to meet them and welcome them into the valley. What a joy to know their journey was nearly done. They hurried to get into the city and camped on what is now called North Temple Street by the creek. Their wagon boxes were set on the ground facing west. Posts were set at each end and the covers were loosened inside and drawn up over the pole that was fastened to the posts. A canvas was fastened securely at the east and another at the west end to answer for a door. Here they lived comfortably through the winter. 

Dr. Williams built a log house which they moved into in March 1850. In this house their second daughter was born on February 2, 1851, Mary Elizabeth. Soon after, he built a four room adobe house which he used as a hospital during the gold rush to California. Many of the emigrants contacted Mountain Fever. He took them in and cared for them until they recovered. One man remained all winter. Dr. Williams had him use the turning lathe to make legs for tables, chairs and bedsteads. He made two bedsteads, two highchairs and two small rocking chairs for my sister and me. He had a spinning wheel made at the temple workshop and also a table. We used the spinning wheel for many years. 

Soon after moving to the adobe house in 1852, Dr. Williams was called as an escort for President Brigham Young and company to explore through Iron County. On this trip they discovered a soap mine, a bank of claylike substance that was used in place of soap to wash hands and clothes and made the hands soft and smooth.

The family moved into the adobe house before it was completed; four rooms were finished and three unfinished rooms were above. Here I (Lucy) slept with Grandmother. One night on March 28, 1853 I was put to bed but did not want to go. So Grandmother left the candle burning by the bed. The wind blew the curtains into the flame and set the bed on fire. I screamed and she took me downstairs to quiet me. Later father carried me back to bed. The next morning Grandmother told me I had a new brother called Frederick Granger in honor of Grandfather. 

To help pay for the house as well as provide money for pleasure, father and William H. Kimball held dances during the winters of 1852 and 1853. Some very enjoyable times were spent. The house stood on the side of the LDS School grounds, directly east of the Joseph F. Smith memorial building and was torn down to erect that building. 

In June 1853 a cloudburst caused a flood on City Creek through what is now North Temple Street. The little daughter of Heber C. Kimball was drowned. Dr. Williams was called but was too late. I went down to the creek for water. My Uncle followed me and threatened to throw me in the creek so I dared not venture again. 

In August, Dr. Williams was called to the Box Elder County to quell Indian uprisings. He was Surgeon General of the Nauvoo Legion. He was sent to bring in the bodies of two men who had been killed by Indians in Snyder Mill Canyon near Parleys Park. John Hoaglong was also wounded and Dr. Williams dressed his wounds. 

On April 16, 1855 a son, Ezra Henry Granger, was born on North Temple Street across from the temple block, in a house which he built in 1854. He sold the home one-half block east on the same street to Heber C. Kimball who gave it to his son William.

In April he was called and set apart by Orson Hyde for a mission to the White Mountains in southeastern Utah and northern Arizona. His mother made two 100 lb. sacks of hardtack and 100 lbs. of butter crackers and other provisions to last a long time. Brothers Frank Randall, Orson Miles, and Nelson Empey went with him. David Evans of Lehi was captain of the company. The four men provided a wagon, horses and provisions. Ezra Granger Williams took the only cow he owned. 

They arrived at White Mountain and camped. They went out to the Indians intending to teach them to farm as well as teach the gospel to them. But they couldn’t get near them; they would hide behind sagebrush, etc. and shoot arrows at them until the efforts of the missionaries were fruitless and they could only return home. While on the return trip along through San Pete County, Alfred Billings was shot in the hand. Dr. Williams dressed his injured hand and Alfred Billings left the company and went to Fillmore. The missionaries arrived in Salt Lake City on September 22.

Alfred Billings soon came to Salt Lake City for Dr. Williams to care for his hand. He brought news of the mobacrats going through Utah. They were butting down fences and turning their stock into the fields of the saints. The mobocrats had also poisoned Battle Creek Springs. Cattle were likewise poisoned and died. Indians that used these cattle for meat died from poisoning. President Young’s advice was to let them go on peacefully. John D. Lee declared that President Young’s advice was to kill the mobocrats so he forced some white men to go and they joined with the Indians which resulted in the Mountain Meadows, Massacre. [Later, investigations, temporarily interrupted by the American Civil War, resulted in nine indictments during 1874. Of the men indicted, only John D. Lee was tried in a court of law. After two trials in the Utah Territory, Lee was convicted by a jury, sentenced to death, and executed.]

Dr. Williams married Electa Jane Barney, February 19, 1857. He bought a house and lot two blocks south of the temple block where the family had moved after selling the home on North Temple Street to the church. He received in payment cattle and horses. Their old home was next to the Temple Hotel. In the new home a son, Joseph Swain, was born on March 10, 1858; he was the son of Henrietta. On April 2, 1858 another son, Hyrum Royal, was born to Electa Jane at the home of Royal Barney, her father.

Dr. Williams was made a surgeon of the Utah Militia under William H. Kimball to serve during the trouble which was threatening and resulted in the Echo Canyon War. He was called to take care of Orson Arnold who had been shot accidently on a scouting trip several days previously in Lot Smith’s company. The ball had penetrated the middle of the thigh and shattered the bone which had to be removed in several places. He suffered and the leg was so badly swollen that he had to be carried in a litter to Salt Lake City and treated until he was able to go on crutches. In trying to cross a canal he fell and broke the adhesion and during the next two weeks Dr. Williams had to remove a portion of the thigh bone five inches in length. He finally recovered and could use his leg. Dr. Williams had been discharged from active camp duties on December 11, 1857 to attend to Mr. Arnold. He had another patient, Wm. Fotheringham who was injured. In 1858 when it was definitely learned that Johnston’s army was in Utah on its way to Salt Lake City the people were ordered to move south while a few guards were left to act as outposts and to fire the homes if necessary. Dr. Williams moved his families to American Fork. 

Beside the house on South Temple, he owned a farm on Mill Creek and several other lots in Salt Lake City. The crops had been planted and were coming up nicely when the word came to leave. The family worked all day and night to get ready. The little girls, Lucy and Mary, stuffed horse hair into the saddle and the wives and mothers cooked, washed, sewed, and packed things that were actually needed. They helped Dr. Williams to hide and bury as much of the rest as they could. A pit was dug in the yard and food and other valuables were buried in strong boxes. Then a fire was kindled over the pit and the dirt tramped and scraped until no sign of a pit could be seen. The family climbed into the wagons and started at night for the south. How far and how long they would be gone they did not know.

On April 13, 1860 a son, John Albert, was born and three weeks later the Doctor was called by President Brigham Young to help settle Smithfield, Utah. The eldest son, Frederick Granger, then seven years old was driving one team of oxen and tipped the wagon over and smashed the furniture until they had very little left. They arrived a day or so after a fight with the Indians, on July 23; Dr. Williams dressed the wounds and cared for the wounded men. Later they built houses to form a fort, with corrals outside. Herdsmen watched the cattle when out grazing. Dr. Williams and his cousin built the first saw mill in Smithfield. He found his medical practice so extensive that he sold his share.

His son Joseph Swain died on October 24, 1860, the first white child buried in Smithfield. His mother Rebecca Swan Williams died September 25, 1861 at the age of 62 and was the first white woman buried in Smithfield cemetery. On May 18, 1862, twin sons were born to Henrietta. They named them Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball Williams. One died January 22, 1863 at the age of 8 months. The other died on September 18, 1863.

In the spring of 1863 he moved his wife Electa and her only child Hyrum to Pleasant View, then a part of North Ogden, onto a farm which he had purchased. In September 1863 he moved his wife Henrietta and family to Pleasant View. In the spring of 1867 he moved his wife Electa and son to Ogden City, where he had built up a large practice. The family of Henrietta remained on the farm at Pleasant View, as the boys were able to help with the farm work. At the time of the boom in Ogden, he owned property valued at $80,000; he invested in more property, which he lost, due to a slump after the boom. Another daughter, Francis Maria, was born to Henrietta 24 May, 1864. 

In January 1883 his wife Electa died. His wife Henrietta moved to the Ogden home, her own children having all married, with the exception of John Albert who had died November 20, 1870.

Doctor Williams became well-know and was often asked to consultation on cases throughout the state and intermountain region. He was very successful as a physician and surgeon. He acquired considerable property but lost heavily during the boom in Ogden. In the late eighties and before his death a long illness prevented his continuance in that line.

He died August 1,1905 at the age of 82 years, 8 months, and 15 days in Ogden, Utah. His wife Henrietta died 10 June 1922 in Ogden, Utah.

Children of Ezra Granger Williams and Henrietta Crombie:

Lucy Ellen Williams - September 30, 1848

Mary Elizabeth Williams - February 2, 1851

Frederick Granger Williams - March 28, 1853

Ezra Henry Granger - April 16, 1855

Joseph Swain - March 10, 1858-October, 24, 1860

John Albert - April 13, 1860-November 20, 1870

Brigham Young Williams - May 18, 1862-January 22, 1863 

Heber C. Kimball Williams - May 18, 1862-September 18, 1863

Francis Maria Williams - May 24, 1864-November 17, 1870

Son of Ezra Granger Williams & Electa Barney Williams: