Melvina Caroline Blanche Whitney Woods (1850-1940)

Melvina Caroline Blanche Whitney Woods

Birth

18 Aug 1850

Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA

Death

20 Apr 1940 (aged 89)

Sierra Madre, Los Angeles County, California, USA

Burial

Salt Lake City Cemetery

Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA Add to Map

Plot

UK42603

Memorial ID

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Melvina was the daughter of Emmeline Blanche Woodward and Newel Kimball Whitney. Emmeline was previously married to James Harris, who drowned in a fishing accident. She then became a plural wife to Bishop Newel K Whitney. Newel and Emmeline had two children: Melvina and Isabel. Melvina's father died when she was 10, and her mother married Daniel Hanmer Wells. Daniel was the mayor of Salt Lake City for ten years, an Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and Counselor to Brigham Young.

Melvina married William Dunford in Salt Lake City in 1867. William came to Utah from England with his parents to join the Saints after his family met with LDS missionaries. They had three children: Daisie, Verona, and Leslie. Melvina and William had a difficult marriage and they divorced in 1874.

Melvina married William Wells Woods in 1874 in Salt Lake City. He was not a member of the Mormon Church so they were married by a Catholic priest. William was the son of James Weston Woods and Catherine C Wells. His mother's brother, David Wells, was the 3rd husband of Melvina's mother.

William was a veteran of the Civil War, serving with Co L 4th Iowa Cavalry. He came to Utah after his discharge and after the death of his mother.

Melvina and William had two children: Percival and Winnifred. Both died at a young age. Melvina's son from her fist marriage, Leslie, also died at a young age.

William was admitted to the bar in Iowa before moving to Utah. Melvina and William moved to Idaho about 1884 where William practiced law. In 1906 he became the district court judge for Shoshone County. He served until his death in 1920.

Melvina moved to Sierra Madre, California, to live with her daughter Daisie and family. She died in California in 1940 at the age of 89 years.