Elizabeth Ann Pettit Willie
Elizabeth Ann Pettit Willie was born in New Rochelle, in the state of New York on December 3rd, 1818. She was married to James G. Willie in the year of 1846 and started on their journey to Utah in the same year. They arrived in Salt Lake City in October 1847. She was the mother of five children. Their names were William Willie, Mary Willie, John Willie, and James Nephi Willie, who died when he was six months old and Emma Willie.
She left Salt Lake and came as a pioneer to Cache Valley in 1859. They lived in Wellsville until the fall of that year, then moved to Mendon, in which place she made her home the remainder of her life.
She was appointed first President of the Relief Society when it was organized in Mendon, with Maria Baker and Sophia Andersen as her counselors. She served in that capacity for eighteen years and then resigned on account of her age. She was a faithful Relief Society worker up to the time of her death, which occurred in January 1906.1
Life Sketch of Elizabeth Ann Pettit Willie
Elizabeth Ann Pettit was born in New Rochelle, (Westchester County), New York, on December third, 1818. She was married to James G. Willie in the year (June 13th) 1846 and started on their journey from Navuoo to Utah in the same year. Arrived in (Great) Salt Lake City in October of 1847. She was the mother of five children; their names were William Willie, Mary Willie, John Willie, James Nephi Willie who died when he was six months old and Emma Willie.
She left (Great) Salt Lake City and came as a pioneer to Cache Valley in 1859. Lived in Wellsville (Maughan’s Fort) until the fall of that year, then moved to Mendon in which place she made her home the remainder of her life.
She was appointed the first president of the Relief Society when it was organized in Mendon, 28th May 1868, with Maria Baker and Sophia Andersen as her counselors. She served in that capacity for eighteen years and then resigned on account of her age. She was a faithful Relief Society worker up to the time of her death which occurred in January (25th) 1906.
Brother Willie went on a mission to England leaving her with three small children.2
1. Life of Elizabeth Ann Petti Willie, Emma Willie Hughes, August 16, 1918. Unpublished Manuscript.
2. Life Sketch of Elizabeth Ann Petti Willie, Author Unknown, Handwritten Script, Unpublished Manuscript. (Bracket text is mine.)