Originally built around 1865, the 1½ story rock home of James G. Willie is typical of the over 40 stone homes that were built in Mendon prior to 1880. Brigham Young encouraged early settlers to use native rocks for home construction as he felt that stone represented a more substantial and better looking material than homes built from logs. Shortly after the Shoshoni Indian massacre on the Bear River in 1863, the fort in Mendon was dismantled and the log homes were slid onto the lots surrounding the square. The log cabins were soon replaced by rock homes which eventually stood on nearly every lot surrounding the town square.
James G Willie, a pioneer of 1847, led the 4th Mormon Handcart Company to Utah on his return home from a mission to his native England in 1856. He served as Bishop of the Salt Lake 7th Ward and moved to Cache Valley in the spring of 1859 where he helped settle the town of Mendon. He served as mayor and postmaster and ran the co-operative store in Mendon. He was trained as a leather tanner and operated a small farm in Mendon. His wife, Elizabeth Ann, served 18 years as the first Relief Society President in Mendon. They lived in this home for over 40 years. They are buried in the Mendon Cemetery two blocks west of here.
In 1906 the home was sold to Herbert B. Whitney, grandson of Newel K. Whitney, Presiding Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints. Other owners of the home have included Fred and Colleen Hardman and Eufrosina Kuntze and Carl Kuntze. The home is currently on the State and the National Historic Register.
We kindly thank the Mendon Historical Society, the Utah State Historical Society, the LDS Church Historian's Office, Mendon City officials and many community and family members who have assisted in this ongoing restoration effort.
James G. Willie Historic Foundation
Paul Willie, 752-8096
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