My mother was named after her paternal grandmother, Mary Ellen Brewerton.  Mary Ellen was born 20 August 1862 in Willard, Utah to Thomas William Brewerton and Sarah Ann Crookes.  Thomas and Sarah

were both immigrants to the United States from England after they married in Nottingham, England, on December 25, 1850. Mary Ellen was the 7th of 13 children born to Thomas and Sarah. 

   Mary Ellen married George Alfred Ward of Willard, Utah either in Box Elder or Salt Lake, Utah on December 20, 1881.  Mary Ellen gave birth to six children, all boys.  William Alfred (1882-1929) and Melvin Moroni (1884-1956) were born in Willard, Utah.  In 1885, George and Mary Ellen took their two sons and moved to Almo, Idaho.  They homesteaded on Grape Creek five miles northeast of Almo.  Mary Ellen gave birth to Henry Edward (1886-1886), Orville Welton (1887-1977) my grandfather, Asael Edwin (1890-1976), and Irl Bryan (1896-1961) all while living in Almo.  George Alfred developed diabetes.  There was no cure or help for the disease at the time.  George and Mary Ellen moved back to Willard in 1896.  Gramp’s older brothers, William and Melvin stayed in Almo, Idaho and cared for the Grape Creek homestead.  George Alfred died on 15 Oct 1898 just two years after Irl was born leaving Mary Ellen to raise her five surviving boys. In 1905 Mary Ellen moved her three younger sons back to the ranch in Almo to join William and Melvin.

     Mary Ellen moved back to Willard, Utah after her boys married.  I remember my mom pointing out a deep rock canyon every time we drove by Willard, Utah and saying, “That’s where the flash flood came down and washed Grandma Ward’s house away killing her.” If you knew my mom, you would appreciate the drama and frequency of that explanation. 

     Sylvia Ward Johnson, a granddaughter of Mary Ellen, was with her when the flood hit.  She records the event here: Willard Floodv3.pdf  The local newspaper reported on it here: Newspaper flood account.pdf