Job Welling

History of Job Welling

Job was born in Audlem, Cheshire, England, January 9, 1833—-Three years after the Church was organized, the fourth child in a family of seven born to John Welling and Mary Beeman. You will notice that the family name has an (s) on it. Father Job said he joined the church and stood alone, so his name was going to be in the singular henceforth. When this young man decided to join the church, he was ostracized by his family. He had been given an ultimatum-—”Choose between this home and Mormonism.” It was a big decision to make but he left his father, mother, two sisters and four brothers to join the church. He went to Portsmouth, South Hampton on the English Channel——a long way from home and in 1852 was baptized into the Church at the age of just nineteen. His family lost all contact with him, but we know that they did not forget him. When his mother died, they found hidden in her trunk a little bag of coins with a note that said they were to be given to Job to provide transportation for him when he was ready to return home.

By gleaning a little here and there from family recollections, pictures and
his missionary journal, we have a fair picture of him. He was about 6 feet tall,
auburn haired and blue-eyed with a nose like Uncle Hyrum’s. A firm chin supported
a generous mouth. He had on exceptionally fine, rich baritone voice——no wonder
the Wellings’ are tall, red haired and good singers.

In Portsmouth he courted and married his first of four loves, Frances E. Yeoman, on February 6, 1853. He was 20 and she was 23. Their first baby, little Francis, was to live only a short while. In due time, a little boy, Job, was born. This little fellow was buried on the plains of Iowa as his father and mother were walking while pushing a handcart toward Zion. Job and Fannie came in the first handcart company under the direction of Captain Ellsworth, September 26, 1856. They stayed with the Lewises in the 20th Ward for two weeks, then on to Farmington for a short time, but eventually North Farmington became the stamping ground for the Welling family.

In 1857 a little girl, Marian, was born but lived only a short time, In 1858 little John came and a second grave was dug in the Farmington Cemetery. 1859
brought Willard, Job Welling’s first child to reach maturity. In 1864, Annie
(who used to sing duets with her father) was born. 1865 brought death to Aunt
Fanny. Her burdens during her eight years of married life had been heavy, she endured much.

This 32-year old stalwart Englishman with little six-year old Willard and 1-year old Annie were sadly in need of a wife and mother. They found a perfect one in Marietta, eldest daughter of Jonathan Holmes and Elvira Annie Cowles. He liked Jonathan Holmes’s daughters so well that he took Phoebe for a wife 21/2 years later on Dec 21, 1868. Perfectly convinced that one can’t get too much of a good thing, he, Marietta, and Phoebe courted Emma. Seven years after marrying Phoebe, 42-year old Job married 19-year old Emma, April 28, 1875. That’s all the Holmes girls there were--so that’s all the wives that there were.

Job left six weeks after his marriage to Emma on a mission to Australia. As he and Emma were sitting in conference in April of 1875, they were surprised to hear his name called to go on a mission. This hastened their marriage but there was no thought of him not going.

Father Job kept a journal which abounds in choice observations with his record of happenings and doings. Here are a few interesting notes: Shortly after arriving in Liverpool he set out to see his family at their various homes. None of them recognized him after his nineteen years of rugged experiences, but he waited around under one pretense or another until he was recognized. Then what a hearty welcome he received from all. His mother was not there to greet him, however. During his stay, his father gave him five teaspoons which had been his mother’s saying, “This is all I have that you could carry around the world.” No one knows what happened to them.

He visited Portsmouth and visited the house where he first met his wife, Frances E. Yeoman and the house where his son, Job, was born. While in England he traveled over 1,000 miles, much of it on foot. Two other men were called to the Australian mission with Job. . .Jacob Miller and Thomas Steed. As they approached Melboraine, Australia, the three brethren took inventory. Brother Steed had $200, Brother Miller $50, and Job Welling $3.50 The next sentence read: “God my Heavenly Father has promised to provide for me.” The Lord did provide for him. He was President of the Australian Mission for a time. Job’s tailoring ability which he perfected as a young man was brought into service. He often mentions making pants and mending pants.

In April 1877, after an absence of 22 months, Job Welling returned to his loved ones, His farm and his family needed him and his cutting table was soon in service again. A little later, he and his missionary companion, Jacob Miller, were chosen to be counselors to Bishop John W. Hess. Did you know that Father Job is in that mural group in the Farmington Ward Meeting House depicting the organization of the first Primary. It is a wonderful likeness, they say.
Job Welling died suddenly of a heart attack, March 7, 1886, age 53, leaving three widows, a family of 12 sons and 8 daughters, 2 grand children, and an honored name. Four sons and three daughters, all babies, had preceded him in death. Let’s take inventory again——Marietta was 37, Phoebe 35, and Emma 30, Willard was 27 years old and Belva (born the day her father was buried) one day. Their resources: No debts and 3 parcels of land totalling about 105 acres with water rights.

This history is a condensed history, taking parts from four different histories written by: Hyrum Welling, Milton H. Welling, Roxy U. Taylor, and Lillis Lloyd. These were compiled by Ella Lloyd

He was a good penman, and had very much better than average command of the English language. His frugality was amazing. I have read a letter to his wives written from Australia wherein he tells of receiving twenty-five cents from a creditor which he could spare to send home, giving instructions about expending it. He would write about the crops, how to take care of the straw as well as the grain, and market what was raised.

(This material was taken from the history written by Milton H. Welling. Below is a personal comment that he made which I also thought should be included).

A few hours after my father’s body was lowered into the grave I crept miserably away, alone in the dark behind an old granary and prayed to God not to let us starve—a thing, which I thought would perfectly natural and quite likely to happen.