Memorials › Ezra Brown "B" Walker

Ezra Brown "B" Walker

9 Dec 1882 – 15 May 1929

Birth9 Dec 1882
Death15 May 1929
CemeteryPleasant Grove City Cemetery
Pleasant Grove , Utah County , Utah , USA
Added bySRBentz on 13 Nov 2009
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/86901

Bio

Son of Ezra Foutz Walker and Laura Jane Brown Husband of Alta Melissa Ercanbrack, married 16 May 1906 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah Ezra Brown Walker was born on Dec. 9, 1882, in the old Henson Walker home on Main St. in Pleasant Grove, Utah. He was the son of Ezra Foutz Walker and Laura Jane Brown. When he was only six days old his mother passed away on Dec. 15, 1882, having contracted "childbed fever" from the midwife who cared for her. Several other women who were waited on by this same midwife that winter died and also their babies. "B" was the only baby that lived. His grandmother, Margaret Foutz Walker, took him and cared for him until her death on Jan. 19, 1890. In the meantime, his father had fulfilled a mission to the Southern States and after his return, he married Annie Swenson. After his grandmother passed away he went to live with his father and step-mother. They had purchased some land in Lindon and "B" helped his father clear the land of sagebrush so it could be planted for crops. He attended school in Lindon and Pleasant Grove, graduating from the eighth grade. He then attended the Brigham Young Academy, taking a missionary course. It was in a German Class that he met a lovely lady from Provo, Alta Melissa Ercanbrack. She was an accomplished musician. They fell in love but B was called on a mission for his church to the Northern States. He left Salt Lake in the early spring of 1903. Most of his mission was spent in the state of Indiana, in the cities of Indianapolis and South Bend, under Pres. German Ellsworth. He served as president of the conference in South Bend for a year. After his return in the spring of 1905, he and Alta were married on May 16, 1906, in the Salt Lake Temple. He had taken a job in the mines at Bingham, Utah so the young couple started their married life there. Their first daughter, Melba was born there. Mining camps in those days, where a very rough element lived so in the spring of 1908 they moved to a farm north of Provo, in Pleasant View, owned by B's uncle James L. Brown. Here, Laura was born. He worked on the Utah Power and Light Co. flume in Provo Canyon and other jobs that he could get. Alta was always at his side and helped to supplement the family income by teaching music. In 1913 he went to work for William M. Roylance, managing his fruit farm. Mr. Roylance built a comfortable cottage on the farm and they lived there for thirteen years. There the first son Orvel E., was born. He was always active in Church and community affairs, being superintendent of the Sunday School and also of the MIA. In Feb 1918 he was set apart as Bishop of the Pleasant View Ward of Utah Stake by J. Golden Kimball, serving until April 1925. He also served as Justice of the Peace in the Pleasant View precinct. At the time he served as Bishop, Pleasant View Ward took in the area from the Provo City limits (which was then eighth north) to the Wasatch County line in Provo Canyon on the North, from the Provo River on the west to the mountains on the east. At present, this same area is East Sharon Stake, comprising ten wards. Soon after he became Bishop the "flu" epidemic spread. Many people died very suddenly and no public meetings were allowed. So all the funerals were held at the graveside. Every few days he was called to take charge of a funeral. Alta always helped by furnishing the music. They both performed a great service during the flu epidemic taking care of and administering to the sick and dying members of his ward. He was a very fluent speaker and had a wonderful knowledge of the Gospel and abiding testimony of its truthfulness. He was a very striking personality, just as good as he was handsome. He stood over six feet tall and weighed about 185 pounds. He was dark-complexioned, having a very thick head of black hair, which turned grey prematurely. In the spring of 1925, Mr. Roylance sold his fruit farm. He had worked there for thirteen years with Elmo Brereton, and a wonderful friendship had grown up between them. B always had lots of friends, everyone who knew him loved him. He purchased his father's farm in Lindon and moved back to the old homestead in April 1925. he worked hard to improve it, planning a young orchard of pears and peach trees. Another proud day came when another son DeVere E. was born in Lindon. He was not to enjoy this beautiful baby boy very long. In the spring of 1929, he had a bad case of flu. It left him weak in body and mind. On May 15, 1929, he passed away at the age of forty-six. He was a loving, kind father. It was truly said in his funeral services that "those who knew him best loved him most". He was buried at the Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Pleasant Grove, Utah after being paid glowing tributes in a large attended funeral service in the Pleasant Grove Tabernacle. By Melba Walker Cluff, daughter

Inscription

FATHER EZRA B. WALKER DEC. 9, 1882—MAY 15, 1929

Photos

Family

Parents

Spouse

Siblings

Children

Export GEDCOM

This person only · Entire connected family