Welcome to The Weber County Pioneer Museum

Marilyn Briem Blakeley's pioneer ancestor is George Gidney, who was born and raised in Sharrington, Norfolk, England. When he was 22 years old, he and his father immigrated to America. George crossed the plains in 1860 with the Daniel Robinson Handcart Company. President Brigham Young assigned him to assist in building the new settlement of Brigham City, Utah. He became a great and generous landowner. He had two wives - Elizabeth Sarll, the mother of 9 children, and Emma Rand, the mother of 6. George Gidney died of pneumonia at age 66, in 1905.

James Henry Rollins, Heather's pioneer ancestor, was born in Lima, New York in 1816. When James was a boy, his father, John Porter Rollins, died in a shipwreck on Lake Erie while transporting cattle. His mother, Keziah Van Benthusysen Rollins, took James and his two sisters to Ohio to live with her brother and his wife. Her brother, Sydney Gilbert, was the co-owner of the Whitney store. James began working at the store at an early age and was asked to be a clerk as a teen. He was always willing to serve when needed and learned new skills, such as stonecutting for the Nauvoo Temple. His first wife was Eveline Chrissy Walker and they had 10 children. His second wife was Hannah Hulme and they had 13 children. In 1847 James was asked to stay in Council Bluffs and raise crops for pioneers leaving the next seasons. He came to the Salt Lake Valley in 1848 with the Willard Richards Company. James was appointed to settle in San Bernardino and served as the District Attorney. He later returned to Utah, settling in Minersville in Southern Utah, where he was called to be the Bishop of the Lower Beaver Ward. James was elected to the Utah Territorial House of Representatives in 1867. Later in his life he moved to Lyman, Wyoming to be close to family and died there in 1899.

Annora Coleman Boden, Catherine's ancestor, was born at Pontypool, South Wales in 1828. She was the daughter of James and Mary Coleman. When her father died, leaving her mother with five small children, and living in poor circumstances, Annora went to work early in her life. As a young girl, she worked in a confectionary store, where people made their own candy. Annora learned to make candy as she worked. Annora married James Boden, eventually becoming the mother of eleven children. James and Annora came to Utah in 1868, traveling by ox teams and wagons. A baby boy was born while crossing the plains. He lived for twelve days and was buried on the plains. Husband James became ill as they crossed the plains, becoming worse as they traveled. He died the day after they reached Salt Lake City. Annora joined other family members already living in Brigham City, earning money for her children by making candy and doing any other work that she could get. When her daughters got old enough to help, Anora operated a hotel in Brigham City. Well-known for her hospitality, Annora died in 1899.

Gwen (Winnifred) Lloyd Roberts Evans, LaDee’s ancestor, was born in 1823 in LLanbrothanshire, North Wales to John Lloyd and Catherine Evans Lloyd. She came to the United States with her 1st husband- Daniel Roberts and 4 small children in 1850. Her husband and 1 child died of cholera and were buried on the bank of the Mississippi River. Gwen did not know the language or anyone, but with her remaining 3 children she traveled to and spent the winter of 1851 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Going from there to Council Bluffs, Iowa, in the spring Gwen fitted out an ox team and wagon and crossed the plains to the Utah Territory. As they came into the valley, they were met by some Welsh friends with melons and other supplies. When Gwen got to Salt Lake City, a man asked her to marry him. When she refused, he made her pay for the supplies he had given her. In 1853 she married Captain David R. Evans at Brigham City, Utah. He died in 1861 leaving Gwen with a family of 8 children. Four years later the two youngest children died and were buried in the same grave. Gwen moved to Malad, Idaho in 1871 and lived there the rest of her life. Gwen died in 1909 in Malad, Idaho at age 86 and was buried in Brigham City, Utah.