James Wilson Memmott

(1851-1919)

James Wilson Memmott was born February 25, 1941 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England to William Memmott and Ann Wilson.  He was the third child in a family of seven. James had some schooling until he was 10 years old. When he was 12 years old he commenced to learn the engineering trade and at the age of 18 learned part of the milling business.

James married Elizabeth Hopkins on March 24, 1861, and they started for Utah that April 23, sailing on the ship Underwriter.  They arrived in New York on May 29, about six days before the Civil War started. From New York they traveled by river to Saint Joseph, Missouri, and by steamboat to Florence, Nebraska, arriving June 10. They traveled from Florence to Salt Lake City in the Milo Andrews and Abner Duncan train. “We had a first rate time and a good trip. I don’t think we were $5.00 to the good or$5.00 to the bad when we arrived in Salt Lake.” Here James and his wife met some of their Sheffield friends, including Harry Roper and Mathew Rowman.

Came to his wife settled in Payson, Utah. There a baby girl, Annie Elizabeth, was born July 16, 1862, but James’s wife never recovered and died September 13, 1862. This was a great sorrow to James who felt many times that it would be easier to return to his home in England. His mother took the baby girl to raise as her own.

James remained in Payson even though his family moved to Scipio. He did well in the shingle making business. In 1866 he took charge of Or Simons’ mill and held it for over 20 years, during which time he bought about $10,000 worth of land, two threshing machines, two sawmills, and built a good home. On May 15, 1871 Jane married Jane Mathewson, a young lady from Scotland. They had 10 children.

1890, James left what he had accumulated to this family and went to Mexico, arriving in Colonia Juarez July 9. There he met William R. R. Stowell who was leaving the next morning for Deming, New Mexico to find a Miller to run his gristmill. James, being a miller, was hired at one dollar a day. As people moved in, business increased, and it wasn’t long before James began to accumulate earthly possessions. Making a new start in business at the age of 49, and establishing himself and progressing as he did, is evidence of his industry, good management and thrift.

James married Mary Ann Miller Hills on June 14, 1894. They soon bought a home of their own. James ran the Stowell Gristmill for six years. He then bought a mill in Casas Grandes from Joseph Jackson for 12,000 pesos and operated it for seven years. After this, he sold it back to Joseph Jackson and moved to Colonia Juarez. During seven years James ran the mill at Casas Grandes he also ran a farm in San Jose which he had bought from Peter N. Skousen.  Later, he purchased a farm in Colonia Dublan and moved his family there. In 1907 he built a good trick home like many of the Saints were building in the colonies at that time.

James and Marianne had five children and a son of Mary Ann’s by a former marriage whom James treated as his own.  He and his family left Mexico in 1912 when all the people left. They returned once in 1915 the left again when general Pershing’s army came out. James died at his home in El Paso, Texas, on February 13, 1919, at the age of 78.

Violet Monroe Jensen, granddaughter

Stalwarts South of the Border page 480