Judd Family History & Genealogy

TAKEN FROM THE Daughter of Utah Pioneers books,' WOMEN OF FAITH AND FORTITUDE' FOUND IN THE Family History Center in Tooele, Utah. Isabel Norton was born in Indiana in 1836. She came to Utah with her parents when she was twelve years old. They settled in Cottonwood in Salt Lake County. At the time of the Gold Rush they moved to Sacramento, California. Three years later they returned to Utah. With them was a young man, William Riley Judd, who was also returning from the gold fields. During the trip they were attacked by Indians and William was wounded, but survived. Isabelle and William were married in 1854 in Salt Lake City. They moved in Lehi to live. There William took another wife, Anna Jane Reid. The two women lived together and had a good relationship. In 1862 they moved to Grantsville, Utah, where they each had their own home. All the children were welcome to either house. William organized the first dramatic club in Grantsville, and Isabelle acted in plays with her husband. She was considered the best leading lady in town, had a beautiful face and a stately figure, and was blessed with a pleasing voice and good memory. After her husband passed away in 1885 she lost interest in drama and did not participate any more. Isabelle cared for her large family, as her husband was away for much of the time. She was a natural born nurse, always helping neighbors and those in need. She was a Relief Society Vising Teacher. When the second wife died she took her youngest children to raise. Later she lived with her daughter Goldie, doing fine sewing for family and friends. She died in Grantsville, Tooele, Utah in 1923.

In the Deseret News, Aug 26th 1885:

SUDDEN DEATH

"Last evening intelligence was brought to this city that W. Riley Judd, one of the most porminent and highly respected residents of Tooele County, had taken suddenly ill, and was lying at the point of death at his home in Grantsville. This morning his sister, Mrs. H. P Kimball, who lives in this city, left for Grantsville, and this afternoon word was received here that MR. Judd had passed from this life. Mrs. Margaret Clawson, of this city, who is also a sister of the deceased, started to Grantsville yesterday."

Also in the same issue:

DEATH OF RILEY JUDD

"By communication from James Ratcliffe, we learn that W.R. Judd, whose demise we mentioned in last evening's issue, breathed his last on Thursday evening at 8 o'clock. On Wednesday evening he was as usual entertaining some of his numerous friends with his jokes until a late hour, and about two o'clock he was attacked with apoplexy, which left him unconscious until death ensued. Dr. Dodd, of Tooele, was in attendance, but his skill was of no avail. Deceased was born at West Port, Ontario, Canada, May 9 1853 ( NOTE: this should be 1833). The funeral service will be held in the Grantsville meeting house at 2PM tomorrow, Sunday. The friends of the family are invited to be in attendance, and to accommodate those who wish to go from this city, arrangements have been made, through the courtesy of Supt. W. W. Riter, for the western morning train to run to the "Halfway House" where conveyances will meet the party to take them out to Grantsville. The fare out and back will be only fifty cents."

From the Deseret News on Monday August 21 1885

Obsequies-- From Brother Laron Pratt, who went to Grantsville yesterday to attend the funeral of W. R. Judd, we learn that seven or eight carriages met the party from this city, which consisted of quite a umber of persons, a little this side of the Halfway House, and conveyed them to Grantsville where they arrived at 1 o'clock, The services were conducted under the direction of Elder. W. C. Rydalch, and commenced shortly after 2 o'clock. The opening prayer was offered by Elder W. H. Lee of Tooele, after which remarks appropriate to the occasion were made by Elders James Sharp, N.A. Empey, and Samuel H. Hill of this city, and C.L. Anderson of Grantsville. The closing prayer was offered by Elder John Gillespie of Tooele. The meeting house was tastefully decorated with emblems of mourning. There was a large cortege which was headed by the Grantsville brass band, and in assembling around the grave the choir sang: "There is Sweet rest in Heaven." Altogether the services were quite impressive.

Just as the cortege was leaving the cemetery to return to Grantsville, one of the most terrible hailstorms our informant ever witnessed occurred. The hailstones, which were as large as marbles, came down in sheets, and the storm lasted about twenty-five minutes. Manyh of the visitors sought refuge in the meeting house, the north windows of which were broken by the hailstones. The town was soon flooded with water which was rushing in torrents down the streets and overflowing the ditches.

A number of children were hurt more or less seriously by the hailstones, and there was probably considerable damage done through the flooding of stackyards and the hailstones beating out the wheat grains.etc. Many inhabitants had to turn out to keep their houses from being flooded.