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David King and Ida F. Hunt Udall family papers

 Collection
Identifier: UUS_COLL MSS 229b

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of documents, records, letters and writing by or about David King and Ida F. Hunt Udall. There are also some articles and writing by or about their other Udall relatives.

Box 1 contains papers relating to David K. Udall and other Udall Family. Box 2 holds original and copies of Ida's journal, birthday book and ledger. Box 3 consists of David Udall's memoirs and Ida's writings and personal papers. Box 4 is correspondence and tributes of David K. and Ida Hunt. Box 5 contains Ida research, and files on Pearl Udall, Rudger Clawson, Joseph Nelson, and Stewart Udall.

Dates

  • Creation: 1800-1989

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Restrictions

Open to public research.

Copyright

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the David King and Ida F. Hunt Udall family papers must be obtained from the Special Collections and Archives manuscript curator and/or the Special Collections and Archives department head.

Biographical note

David King Udall was born on September 7, 1851, in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of David and Eliza King Udall. David grew up in Nephi, Utah. He married Eliza Luella Stuart on February 1,1875. David King then went on a mission that same year to Great Britain. He returned in 1877 and moved his family to Kanab, Utah in 1878. He was called as bishop to St. Johns Ward in Arizona. David moved to Arizona in 1880. Eliza Luella "Ella" Stuart and David King had five children: Pearl, Erma, Luella, David K. Jr. and Levi S. In 1887, he was made stake president to preside over seven wards in Arizona. President David K. Udall testified in the case of Miles P. Romney and was later tried for perjury for that testimony. He was sentenced to three years in the Detroit House of Correction. He served time in Detroit from September 2, 1885 to December 17, 1885 when he received a presidential pardon. He served as stake president until 1922; he was then ordained patriarch for the St. Johns Stake. The Mesa Arizona Temple was dedicated in 1927, and David King was chosen to be temple president and served in that capacity until 1934. Eliza Luella died on May 28, 1937. David died in St. Johns on February 18, 1938.

Ida Frances Hunt was born on March 8, 1858 at Hamilton Fort (near Cedar City, Utah) in the back of a wagon to parents John Hunt and Lois Pratt. The family was on their way to Utah from San Bernardino. Ida grew up in Beaver, Utah. She kept books for Beaver Woolen Mills, sang in the choir, and held leading roles in socials and dramas in Beaver. She taught in the territorial school. The family moved to New Mexico where they hauled freight for the government for two years. Afterwards, the family settled in Snowflake, Arizona. Four years later, on May 26, 1882, Ida married David K. Udall in the St. George Temple. Since she was a plural wife, she spent much of her life between 1883-1892 living with relatives in Nephi, Utah and Snowflake to avoid the U.S. Marshal. She feared being forced to testify against her husband. They had six children: Pauline, Grover, John, Jesse, Gilbert, and Don. Ida died on April 26, 1915.

Extent

5 boxes (2 linear feet)

Abstract

Documents, records, correspondence, articles, memoirs, and research gathered by Maria S. Ellsworth while researching her biography of Ida F. Hunt Udall, called Mormon Odyssey : The story of Ida Hunt Udall, Plural Wife. Includes Ida F. Hunt Udall's journal, birthday book, and ledger, and correspondence, memoirs, etc. of David K. and Ida F. Hunt Udall, with some research and files on Pearl Udall, Rudger Clawson, Joseph Nelson, and Stewart Udall.

Arrangement

Organization: Box 1. Papers relating to David K. Udall and other Udall Family, Box 2. Originals and copies of Ida's journal, birthday book, and ledger, Box 3. David Udall's memoirs and Ida's writings and personal papers, Box 4. Correspondence and tributes of David K. and Ida Hunt, Box 5. Ida F. Hunt Udall research, and files on Pearl Udall, Rudger Clawson, Joseph Nelson, and Stewart Udall.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by S. George and Maria S. Ellsworth. Ida F. Hunt Udall was Maria's grandmother on her mother's side.

Related Materials

  1. Maria Ellsworth papers (COLL MSS 229)
  2. Addison Pratt family papers (COLL MSS 228b)

Processing Information

Processed by Jolyn Hunting and Erin Pratt, March 2003.

Title
Guide to the David King and Ida F. Hunt Udall family papers1800-1989
Author
Finding aid created by the Special Collections Department at Utah State University
Date
©2008
Description rules
Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard)
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding guide is in English in Latin script.
Sponsor
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008

Revision Statements

  • July 15, 2008.: Template information was updated to reflect Utah Manuscript Association best practices.
  • 2009: Template information was updated to reflect Archives West best practice guidelines.

Repository Details

Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository

Contact:
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)