John Walton Price 

Born: 2 February 1833 

Whitbourne, Herefordshire, England 

Son of Thomas Walton Price 

and Jane Rowley Colley 

Married: 

Caroline Amelia Christiansen 

30 August 1875 

Salt Lake City, Utah 

Died: 11 February 1904 

Millcreek, Utah 

John Walton Price is the father of Wilf ord James Price who is the father of 

Ellis Ray Price. 

John Walton Price came to the Salt Lake Valley on the Cyrus Wheelock Company 

in 1853. He traveled with his parents, Thomas Walton Price and Jane Rowley 

Colley. James was 19-years-old at that time. 

In 1842, between the age of eight and nine, he was baptized and confirmed a 
member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Brother Jones. 

He was a farmer by occupation. While just a boy, he fell and broke his arm 
between the wrist and elbow. It was very sore, but he was compelled to work very 
hard loading a wagon the first week it was broken. It was not until the fourth week 
that he was able to use it without difficulty. In the following two years, a horse 
stomped him to the ground and broke two ribs on the right side of his body. A short 
time after that, he was taken very sick with the shingles and was given up by all 
human power, but by the spirit of God and administration of the elders, he was 
healed. 

He worked away from home at the age of 12 as an apprentice at Hampshire, 
England, to learn the trade of agriculture and stockman. He was assigned to be a 
horseman for some time. He led the lead horse when they hauled grain 10 or 12 
miles to market. Also when they worked on the farm, he was promoted to wagoner. 
He could ride on the wagon or walk behind as he chose. The wagoner helped stop 
the long train of horses and helped the horsemen. From that job, he was promoted 
to cowman. Here he was taught how to care for cows and to be a veterinarian. It 
took several years before he was released to go work for himself. Not long after his 
graduation he came to America. 

The family all united in gaining wealth to come to "Zion, the home of the John Walton Price traveled to the Salt Lake Valley with the Cyrus Wheelock Company in 1853. 

He was 19-years-old at that time. pg. 2 

free." After much hard toil, they boarded the ship, Ellen Maria, on January 6, 1853 
with the Ten Pound Company. They were detained in port several days by contrary 
winds, but finally sailed from Liverpool on January 17, 1853. On this vessel, the 
presidency of the British Mission shipped 332 saints under the leadership of Elder 
Moses Clawson. Among the number were Elder Thomas Pugh, late counselor of the 
president of the Church in Wales, and Elder George Kendall, who had presided over 
the Derbyshire Conference. 

The voyage proved pretty rough and stormy, especially during the first eight 
days after leaving port, considerable sickness prevailed among the Saints. Among 
others, President Clawson was sick nearly the entire voyage. Five births and five 
deaths occurred on board. Two marriages were solemnized on March 6, 1853. 

The Ellen Maria arrived with her precious cargo in New Orleans, making the 
voyage from Liverpool in 47 days. From New Orleans, the emigrants continued 
their journey to St. Louis, Missouri. They arrived there March 18, 1853, and 
proceeded up the river to Keokuk, Iowa from which place their journey across the 
plains by ox teams was commenced. 

Cyrus H. Wheelock's company and 400 souls traveled under the provision of 
the Ten Pound Company and a few by the Perpetual Emigration Fund Company. 
Captain Wheelock was assisted by Brothers Dykes, James Pixton Kendall and James 
Whitworth. Also attached to the company were an independent company and a 
small company enroute to California with stock. They expected to winter in Salt 
Lake Valley and thought they might permanently locate in Utah. 

They traveled in two groups — the first consisting of Captain Pixton's division 
of the Ten Pound Company and the California Company, Cyrus Kellogg and seven 
others all under the direction of Captain Wheelock. The second section consisted of 
Captain Kendall's division of the Ten Pound Company, the few wagons belonging to 
the Perpetual Emigration Fund Company, and part of the independent company, all 
under the general direction of Brother Dykes. 

Captain Cyrus Wheelock's company had 17 horses, 2 mules, 216 oxen, 83 
cows, 12 heifers, 52 wagons and 1 carriage. These figures do not include the outfit 
and stock of Mr. Kellogg of California and his group, who, among other stock, had 
500 sheep. 

The whole company left Keokuk, Iowa, June 3rd and traveling to Council 
Bluffs, crossing the Missouri River July 11th. They reached Salt Lake City on 
October 16th, three days after General Conference. Each paid 10 pounds to come. 

John Walton Price traveled to the Salt Lake Valley with the Cyrus Wheelock Company in 1853. 

He was 19-years-old at that time. pg. 3 



John Walton Price moved with his parents to Mill Creek Ward. After arriving 
in Mill Creek, he hired out to a Mr. Francis Birch and lived with him for nine months 
and then hired out for 12 months to George Allen. He passed through many rough 
trials but was contented to know that he had immigrated to Salt Lake City. 

In the year 1857, there was a famine in which he ate nothing but thistle roots 
or anything he could get. Hopes were for better things in the future. 

On February 2, 1857, he married Isabella Pratt. They had six children, one 
who died and was buried in the City Cemetery. 

The following April 1st, he mounted the road for three weeks to keep back the 
soldiers from coming through Echo Canyon into Utah. Then he returned home and 
was called to move south to Spanish Fork. He stayed there for three months, and 
then he hired out to a man at the mouth of the Provo canyon. While crossing the 
river, the stream turned his wagon and nearly drowned him and his brother. They 
lost all their provisions, so they returned home to their families in Spanish Fork. On 
their return, they saw the soldiers on their way to Camp Floyd. He passed through 
many narrow escapes in his life, but the hand of the Lord was over him continually. 

John Walton Price was assigned by Brigham Young to assist the people in 
deciding where to plant the type of crops that would grow best in the soil in which it 
would be planted. He saved the life of many animals while working as a 
veterinarian. On one occasion the family was in tears as their only cow was about to 
die. They had Mr. Price come, and he gave the cow a dose of chewing tobacco in a 
drench. He gave her a bottle of water to help get it down and in a short time she 
revived. By careful nursing, he saved the cow. 

Caroline Amelia Christensen, who was to be his second wife, came to Utah in 
1875. She obtained work as a hired girl for John Price. With the first wife's consent, 
he courted and married Caroline. She was unable to speak English, so they would 
go to a blacksmith who came from Denmark and have him interpret their love 
stories and promises. Caroline was very industrious, neat and beautiful. She was 28 
at the time of her marriage. She and the first wife got along very well. 

When Caroline was sick, she hired a German girl, Eliza Kunz, to work for her. 
On July 24, 1885, Caroline died leaving five children, the youngest was only one- 
year-old. After her death, Annie lived with Aunt Isabella and Martha lived with the 
tirst wife s son and wife, Brigg and Maggie, as thev had no babies. Martha grew up 
at Brigg and Maggie s. When Annie was 12, she also lived there. Parley, the oldest 
boy, died of typhoid fever. Wilford left home and worked for Dr. Sutherland's