WALTERS - Key Persons

Born March 22, 1835 in Llanedi, Carmarthenshire, Wales, son and fourth child of Walter Walters and Sarah Rees Leigh Walters. William had seven brothers and sisters named Mary, Ann, Sarah, Hannah, Daniel, Elizabeth, and Margaret. The family resided in the town in which he was born. He joined the LDS Church at age thirteen while living in Wales and was baptized in June of 1848 by Walter Rodge. He was ordained an Elder in the year of 1867 and was rebaptized July 11, 1875 by Robert Leatham in Wellsville, Utah (the reason for rebaptisms according to Alma Sonne, Apostle, was because of lost records and also to renew covenants). Later William was ordained a High Priest on August 18, 1883 by Bishop William H. Maughan. William's father and family immigrated to Utah, but William being married to Margaret Williams, remained in Wales. He and Margaret were married in Sion Chapel, Llanelli, Wales by William Thomas on February 9, 1855. During the time of their marriage they were to have nine children: Walter, Hannah, Daniel, Edward, William, Sarah Jane, John Bright, Margaret Ann, and Edmund. William Leigh Walters was the grandson of Daniel Leigh (see April 1961 Improvement Era issue regarding Welsh immigrants). Another item worthy of note is that the family name Walters was previously Walter in the old country (Europe). William and Margaret and their children immigrated to Utah in 1866 in order to join William's father and family. When they arrived in Wellsville, they settled on a city lot in the east part of town and built a house that still stands and is owned by one of his brother Daniel's grandsons. His wife Margaret died in Wellsville leaving him with their family to raise. Edmund, the youngest child, was taken and raised by an aunt, Margaret Thomas. Their son William was raised by James Parks. William Leigh Walters then married Sarah Ann Poppleton and she raised his daughter Margaret. Sarah Ann and William were married in Salt Lake by Daniel H. Wells on May 26, 1873. They had no children. William later married Mary Archibald Kerr Hendry in the Logan Temple on January 24, 1885 (in polygamy) and they had two children: Ida Kerr Walters Bair, born July 5, 1886 in Wellsville and Ann Kerr Walters Nielsen, born March 15, 1894 in Wellsville. He was an excellent carpenter and among other things, he built houses and made coffins. His workshop was part of his home and he had a special place for all of his tools. On the north and south sides of the shop, shelves were arranged to accommodate the stacking of the coffins one above the other, to enable people to view them and make a selection. His wife Sarah lined the coffins, and both she and his other wife Mary dressed the dead. Several coffins were still in the workshop when he died. William was a religious man. Ida (a daughter) was very proud of him. He was distinguished and handsome and she still remembers how he would sit upon the stand at church and how proud she was of him. His hair was white as snow and he combed it straight back and it curled at the bottom. He always looked so clean and nice.