Robison, Willis Eugene, 1854-1937
Dates
- Existence: 1854 - 1937
Biography
Willis Eugene Robison (1854-1937) was a politician and early pioneer of Utah.
Willis Eugene Robison was born on March 1, 1854, in Crete, Illinois, to Benjamin Hancock Robison and Lillis Alvira Andre. He migrated from Illinois to Utah in the same year he was born and then was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1862. Willis married Sarah Anne Ellett on July 8, 1874, in Fillmore, Utah. Together they had 12 children. After his wife died in 1907, he went on to marry Emma Elizabeth Reeve in 1908. Together they had two children. Mary died in 1914 and Willis remarried in 1918 to Mary Louisa Ellett Young. In October 1882, he was called on a mission for his church to the southern states. Later, he served in two legislatures and was a member of the Utah Constitutional Convention on March 4, 1895, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was chosen to help fix the boundaries of a new county. He named and created Wayne County, Utah. Willis died on June 30, 1937, in Hinckley, Utah.
Citation:
Church History Biographical Database, Via WWW, December 15, 2022 (Willis Eugene Robison; b. Mar. 1,1854; d. Jun 28,1937; Wives Sarah Anne Ellett; Emma Eliza Reeve; Mary Louisa Ellett; Children 12; Migrated from Illinois to Utah)Familysearch, Via WWW, December 15, 2022 (Willis Eugene Robison; b. Mar. 1, 1854; d. Jun 28, 1937; Baptized at the age of 8; Called on a mission in the south states; served two legislatures and was a member of the Utah Constitutional Convention on March 4, 1895, in Salt Lake City, Utah; fix boundaries of a new county; created Wayne County, Utah)
Ancestry, October, 27, 2023 (Willis Eugene Robison; b: March 1, 1854, in Crete, Illinois; parents: Benjamin Hancock Robison and Lillis Alvira Andre; migrated from Illinois to Utah in the same year and then was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1862; m: Sarah Anne Ellett on July 8, 1874, in Fillmore, Utah; had 12 children; Sarah died in 1907; m: Emma Elizabeth Reeve in 1908; had two children; Mary died in 1914; m: 1918 to Mary Louisa Ellett Young; October 1882, he was called on a mission for his church to the southern states; served in two legislatures and was a member of the Utah Constitutional Convention on March 4, 1895, in Salt Lake City, Utah; chosen to help fix boundaries of a new county; named and created Wayne County, Utah; d: June 30, 1937 in Hinckley, Utah)
Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:
Willis E. Robison journals
Handwritten missionary journals and typescripts. The items describe Robison's experiences while serving in the Southern States Mission of the Mormon Church. In particular the journal relates information about the slaying of John H. Gibbs and William S. Berry, two Mormon missionaries in the mission; the subsequent investigation of the slayings by Robison and his mission president B.H. Roberts; as well as other stories of persecution towards Mormons.
Willis Eugene Robison photographs
Collection includes five portrait photographs of Mormon missionaries in the Southern States Mission from 1882 to 1884. Includes images of John H. Gibb and William S. Berry, among others.