Edwin Dilworth Woolley
Born 28 June 1807 in East Bradford Township, Chester Co., Pennsylvania.[1] Son of John Woolley and Rachel Dilworth.[2] Married Mary Wickersham, 24 Mar. 1831, in East Rochester, Columbiana Co., Ohio.[3] Baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Lorenzo D. Barnes, 24 Dec. 1837.[4] Served multiple missions for the Church, 1840–1872.[5] Participated in plural marriage.[6] Migrated to the Salt Lake Valley with the Brigham Young pioneer company, arriving Sept. 1848.[7] Co-owner of the Tanning and Manufacturing Company; merchandiser and superintendent for Brigham Young; assistant superintendent over the construction of the “Old Tabernacle” on Temple Square.[8] Appointed to the general high council, 6 Apr. 1851.[9] Elected to the first Utah territorial legislature and served several terms, 1851–1861.[10] Bishop of the Salt Lake City Thirteenth Ward, attended by EBW, Jan. 1854–Oct. 1881.[11] Incorporator of the Deseret Telegraph Company, 18 Jan. 1857.[12] Served as second counselor to the high priest general presidency, 1860–1868.[13] Served as Salt Lake Co. recorder, 1864–1876.[14] Died 14 Oct. 1881 in Salt Lake City.[15] Memorialized by EBW in the Woman’s Exponent.[16]
[1] Nauvoo Fifth Ward, Nauvoo Stake, Nauvoo Fifth Ward High Priests Minutes, Dec. 1844–Apr. 1845, p. 145, LR 3278 21, image 46/52, CHL. Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia: A Compilation of Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Women in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, vol. 1 (Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History, 1901), 630. “Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org, accessed 20 Mar. 2020), Edwin Dilworth Woolley (KWN2-GPW).
[2] Nauvoo Fifth Ward, Nauvoo Stake, Nauvoo Fifth Ward High Priests Minutes, Dec. 1844–Apr. 1845, p. 145, LR 3278 21, image 46/52, CHL. Genealogical Surveys of LDS Members (Autobiographies and Ancestors), vol. 34 (Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1924–1929), 415, 418.
[3] Columbiana Co., OH, Probate Court, Marriage Records, 1803–1951, vol. 2, p. 424, E. D. Wooley, microfilm 927766, DGS 4017338, image 399/751, FHL.
[4] Nauvoo Fifth Ward, Nauvoo Stake, Nauvoo Fifth Ward High Priests Minutes, Dec. 1844–Apr. 1845, p. 145, LR 3278 21, image 46/52, CHL. Historian’s Office, Missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1925, vol. 1, pp. 1840:51–54, 1840:540, CR 100 60, box 1, folder 1, CHL.
[5] Historian’s Office, Missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1925, vol. 1, pp. 1840:51–54, 1840:540, CR 100 60, box 1, folder 1, CHL. Historical Department, Journal History of the Church, 17 June 1841, CR 100 137, CHL. “Edwin Dilworth Woolley,” Go Ye into All the World (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/missionary/, accessed 23 Mar. 2020).
[6] Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia: A Compilation of Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Women in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, vol. 1 (Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History, 1901), 630–633.
[7] Historian’s Office, Missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1925, vol. 1, pp. 1840:51–54, 1840:540, CR 100 60, box 1, folder 1, CHL. Andrew Jenson Collection, ca. 1841–1942, Woolley, Edwin Dilworth, b. 1807, MS 17956, box 25, folder 92, CHL. “Edwin D. Woolley,” Pioneer Database (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/overlandtravel/, accessed 23 Mar. 2020).
[8] Samuel L. Adams, A Night of Horror and Other Native American Stories (Salt Lake City: Utah State History, 1936), 3. “Tabernacle Services Sunday: Obsequies of Bishop E. D. Wooley,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 19 Oct. 1881, 605. Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia: A Compilation of Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Women in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, vol. 1 (Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History, 1901), 633.
[9] “Minutes of the General Conference of the Church,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 19 Apr. 1951, 1.
[10] Edwin D. Woolley, “Territory of Utah Legislative Assembly Rosters,” Utah Division of Archives and Record Service (https://www.archives.utah.gov/research/guides/legassembly1-10.htm#first, accessed 21 Mar. 2020).
[11] “General Items,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 12 Jan. 1854, 2. 1870 U.S. Census, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah Territory, p. 20, Emmeline Wells. EBW, Diary, 26 Oct. 1874; 21 Feb. 1875. Record of Members Collection, 1836–1970, North Thirteenth Ward, Part 1, Segment 1, 1851–1867, Edwin D. Woolley, CR 375 8, box 4792, folder 1, image 51/400 (limited access), CHL. “Church Directory,” Salt Lake Daily Telegraph, 19 May 1868, 1. “The Organizations,” Deseret Evening News (Salt Lake City), 6 Oct. 1877, 3.
[12] “Western Union Gets Deseret Telegraph,” Deseret Evening News (Salt Lake City), 20 Feb. 1900, 1. “Bishop Edwin D. Wooley Dead,” Deseret News, 19 Oct. 1881, 600.
[13] “Semi-Annual Conference,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 10 Oct. 1860, 253. “Church Directory,” Salt Lake Daily Telegraph, 19 May 1868, 4.
[14] “The Election in G.S.L. County,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 10 Oct. 1864, 261. “Official Directory,” Salt Lake Herald, 11 Sept. 1870, 1. “Official Directory,” Salt Lake Herald, 2 Apr. 1872, 1. “Official Directory,” Salt Lake Herald, 4 Aug. 1876, 1.
[15] “Utah, Salt Lake County Death Records, 1849–1949,” p. 262 (1881), Edwin D. Woolley; Salt Lake County Management and Archives, Salt Lake City. “Bishop Edwin D. Wooley Dead,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 19 Oct. 1881, 600.
[16] “Memoriam: Bishop Edwin Dilworth Woolley,” Woman’s Exponent, 15 Oct. 1881, 10:77–78.