FAMOUS JEX LIVES - WILLIAM JEX MORMON PIONEER
FAMOUS JEX LIVES - WILLIAM JEX - PIONEER 1831-1929
STORIES OF JEX PEOPLE
A Pioneer who travelled to Salt Lake City in 1854.
William Jex was born 5th September 1831 in Crostwick, Norfolk. His father died when he was 7 years old. His family lived on Parish Relief and his mother, a religious women, took in washing to feed the family. At 8 years old William was hired out to scare crows for 1 shilling per week. His mother married again when he was 9 and William was given a few weeks schooling to learn his alphabet. Over the next few years he worked as an Agricultural labourer until eventually becoming a "first Man" on a farm.
His family had already accepted the faith of the Mormon Church and in 1853 William attended his first meeting in Norwich, and was confirmed a member, and then a priest. He planned to join the Saints in the New World. Eventually on February 8th 1854 he and some travelling companions left Crostwick to emigrate to Utah, their route was Norwich to Yarmouth to Hull to Liverpool and then to sail to the New World. The day before they sailed he married his brothers widow Eliza Goodson Jex. They sailed on the Windermere, the voyage was a difficult one , with Smallpox, rough seas and food and water shortages. During the voyage 11 of his fellow passengers were buried at sea. They were quarantines on arrival in New Orleans but eventually proceeded up the Mississip- - Missouri rivers to Atchison Kansas, where Cholera took two more of his companions. At Atchison a wagon train was assembled and set off for "The Land of Zion" they arrived after many deprivations in Salt Lake on September 30th 1854 almost eight months after leaving Crostwick.
William secured work building the Temple at Salt Lake City, food and clothing were always in short supply during these first years. in 1862 William managed to secure some land and built a 2 room log cabin, he had now become a pioneer settler. He fought in the ensuing Indian troubles eventually making treaty with them in 1873.
In 1883 he returned to Norwich as a Missionary and baptised his cousin Moses and family, who returned to Utah with him.
in 1893 he attended the dedication of the Salt Lake City Temple and not ready to retire yet at age 65 he started a lumber Company. In Civic life he served as a School Trustee and City Marshall, he was elected to the City Council three times.
Eliza died on September 5th 1919 and William on 5th April 1929 he was the oldest resident in Spanish Fork at 97 years of age when he died.
To see photographs of William Eliza and Jex family members go to
Or if you wish to read about William Jex and his descendents purchase a copy of THE JEX FAMILY Book, click here to contact the authors Acknowledgements and Contacts
"Pioneers crossong the Plains of Nebraska" a painting by C.C.A. Christensen (died 1912: public domain)
