St. John and the Woozley Family: Partners Since 1869

By Edward Jones Woozley

The first Woozley's to settle on land, which later became St. John, were the Professor of Music, Edward Woozley, his wife Joan Morgan Woozley and their infant daughter, Lucy. They were "Mormon Converts" from Wales. They sailed to America on the ship "Minnesota" in August 1869.

On May 6, 1874, Professor Woozley's father, Timothy, sailed from Wales to America on the ship "Nevada." He was accompanied by his daughter, June, and his two sisters, Jane and Janet. Timothy settled in St. John.

Edward and his wife made an application for a homestead of 160 acres. They built a log cabin on the land and cultivated the required acreage. Timothy also made an application for a homestead of 160 acres on an adjoining tract. Timothy lived with his son, Edward, in the log cabin. In due time, each received a deed for the lands. Timothy's deed was signed by the President of the United States, Grover Cleveland, on March 9, 1888. This was before Idaho was admitted to the Union as a State.

Edward and Joan had five children in addition to Lucy. Alice died at the age of six years. The other girls married husbands from St. John. Lucy to Ed Monson; Mary to Burnett Smith; Jane to J. J. James; and Rebecca to Daniel James. Timothy Morgan Woozley, the only son, was born in the log house on October 6, 1878. Timothy Morgan married Mary Ellen Jones of St. John. Mary Ellen's mother was a Stephens, a sister of Evan Stephens, who was leader of the Tabernacle Choir.

In 1901, Timothy M. and his wife Mary Ellen purchased some of the original lands and built a two-room brick home on the tract. There in that house was born their son, Edward Jones Woozley and their daughter, Mary Woozley. Timothy M. and Mary Ellen made an application for a 160 acre homestead on the St. John Bench. They constructed a cabin on the land, did the required cultivation and in 1907, received a deed.

In 1913, Timothy M. and Mary Ellen remodeled their original two room brick house. With all the improvements, it was a fine modern house. Edward J. Woozley married Ione Palmer of Malad and Mary married Weldon Jensen of Brigham City, Utah. Two of the children of Edward J. and Iona Woozley were born in the remodeled house of their grandparents. They were named Weldon Woozley and Leonore Woozley. Lucy, who was born to Edward J. and Iona, died the day she was born.

In 1936, Edward J. and Iona purchased some of the Woozley homestead and built an unusual log home. There were colored rocks from nearby canyons worked into the concrete foundations. Iona designed the house and took great interest in its construction. About this time Weldon Woozley married Annie Laura Bowen of Malad City, and Leonore married Owen Stayner, also of Malad City. Weldon and Annie had a son, Tim, who was born in the log home. They had four more children, but none were born in St. John. Leonore and Owen Stayner had four boys, but none of them were born in Idaho.

In 1941, Edward J. and Iona had another son born to them, E. Winston Woozley. In that same year, Timothy M. died. His widow, Mary Ellen, sold the family home and some of the homestead to Mary and Weldon Jensen. Edward J. and Iona purchased the remainder of the lands. They had also purchased the St. John Bench property, as well as the J. J. and Jane James farm and the Evan W. and Mame Jones farm, which adjoined their farm. In all the land transactions, only four tracts of about twelve acres have been acquired by persons outside the family.

When Edward J. and Mary were growing up in the 1900's, most of their neighbors were relatives. The Thomas Pierce, Henry Jones, David S. Thomas and Thomas S. Thomas families were all related to the Woozley family.

In 1947, Edward J., his wife, Iona, and son, Winston, made a decision to change their career. They moved to Boise, Idaho, where Edward J. became the State Land Commissioner. In 1953, they made a decision to move to Washington, D.C. Edward J. served as the Director of the Bureau of Land Management. Winston graduated from the University of Maryland and married Sally Moriarity. They still live in the Washington, D.C. area and have four children. In 1969, Edward J. and Iona moved to Long Beach, California. In 1979, Weldon and Annie L Woozley purchased the farm from Edward J. and Iona, so a Woozley family member still owns the land.

On December 17, 1983, Iona Palmer Woozley died suddenly. She is buried in the St. John Cemetery with other Woozley ancestors. Iona was a wonderful person and respected and loved by all who knew her.

It would require a book to detail the various occupations and careers of the Woozley family. Most worked in some capacity in the L.D.S. Church. Some went on missions, were farmers, bred and showed purebred livestock, were Federal and State employees, merchants, musicians, school teachers, carpenters, homemakers, and above all, fathers and mothers. Many fought for our country in WWII. There were Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and one of the family was a Marine helicopter pilot in Vietnam. With the coming of each generation there are new fields of occupational interest.

At this point, I, Edward Jones Woozley, wish to make a personal statement concerning our family history. Members of my family have assisted in researching and writing this brief summary. It is difficult to review some 115 years of our history with a short transcript. There may be omissions or errors. We hope not. We are grateful for the opportunity to submit this history and are proud to be members of the Woozley family. Regardless of where we are or what we are doing, our hearts and thoughts seem to go back to our good neighbors and friends in St. John, Idaho.

(From St. John, Oneida County, Idaho: A collection of personal histories from the time of the first settlers to the present day, pp. 272-274.)