S. George Ellsworth
Encyclopedia
Samuel George Ellsworth was an American historian specializing in Western United States history and the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a founding editor of the Western Political Quarterly.
Ellsworth was born in Safford, Arizona
but was raised in California
, Utah
and Missouri
as well as Arizona. He graduated from Kansas City High School and began his college studies at Kansas City Junior College. He then served a mission for the LDS Church in the North Central States Mission, headquartered in Minneapolis.
After his mission Ellsworth went to Logan, Utah
where he studied at what is now Utah State University
earning a bachelors degree in history and math. He was appointed principal of the LDS Seminary in Bunkerville, Nevada
as well as working as a teacher at Virgin Valley High School. In October 1942 Ellsworth married Maria Smith, a daughter of Asahel H. Smith and his wife Pauline Udall, in the Mesa Arizona Temple
.
In late 1942 Ellsworth joined the United States Army Air Corps. He served much of the war at Hammer Field in California
, but from January 1945 until June 1946 was a chaplain stationed in the Philippines.
After World War II Ellsworth pursued further studies at the University of California, Berkeley
. He earned an MA and Ph. D. both in American history with his thesis and dissertation topics being about missionary work of the LDS Church in the United States and Canada during parts of the 19th Century.
Ellsworth spent his career from 1951-1983 as a professor of history at Utah State University
. From 1966-1969 he was chair of the USU History Department. During this time he served one year as a visiting professor at West Virginia University
and later one year as a visiting professor at Brigham Young University
.
Among major works Ellsworth edited the journals of Addison Pratt
, the autobiography of Louisa Barnes Pratt
and Dear Ellen: Two Mormon Women and Their Letters. Ellsworth's wife was descended from Addison and Louisa Barnes Pratt.
Ellsworth also wrote the biography of Samuel Claridge
entitled Samuel Claridge: Pioneering the Outposts of Zion. Ellsworth also wrote a Sesquecentennial History of the LDS Church in French Polynesia with Kathleen C. Perrin and a history of the early LDS settlement in the area of Logandale, Nevada
.
Ellsworth was born in Safford, Arizona
Safford, Arizona
- History :Safford was founded by Joshua Eaton Bailey, Hiram Kennedy and Edward Tuttle, who came from Gila Bend, in southwestern Arizona. They left Gila Bend in the winter of 1873-74; their work on canals and dams having been destroyed by high water the previous summer...
but was raised in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
and Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
as well as Arizona. He graduated from Kansas City High School and began his college studies at Kansas City Junior College. He then served a mission for the LDS Church in the North Central States Mission, headquartered in Minneapolis.
After his mission Ellsworth went to Logan, Utah
Logan, Utah
-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names...
where he studied at what is now Utah State University
Utah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
earning a bachelors degree in history and math. He was appointed principal of the LDS Seminary in Bunkerville, Nevada
Bunkerville, Nevada
Bunkerville is an unincorporated town in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population was 1,014 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the census-designated place of Bunkerville has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is...
as well as working as a teacher at Virgin Valley High School. In October 1942 Ellsworth married Maria Smith, a daughter of Asahel H. Smith and his wife Pauline Udall, in the Mesa Arizona Temple
Mesa Arizona Temple
The Mesa Arizona Temple is the seventh operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in the city of Mesa, Arizona, it is the first of five LDS temples built or planned in the state.-History:...
.
In late 1942 Ellsworth joined the United States Army Air Corps. He served much of the war at Hammer Field in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, but from January 1945 until June 1946 was a chaplain stationed in the Philippines.
After World War II Ellsworth pursued further studies at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. He earned an MA and Ph. D. both in American history with his thesis and dissertation topics being about missionary work of the LDS Church in the United States and Canada during parts of the 19th Century.
Ellsworth spent his career from 1951-1983 as a professor of history at Utah State University
Utah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
. From 1966-1969 he was chair of the USU History Department. During this time he served one year as a visiting professor at West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
and later one year as a visiting professor at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
.
Among major works Ellsworth edited the journals of Addison Pratt
Addison Pratt
Addison Pratt was an early Latter-day Saint convert and missionary. Pratt preached in French Polynesia from 1844 to 1848 and from 1850 to 1852, and is recognized by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the first Mormon missionary to preach in a language other than English.-Life:Pratt...
, the autobiography of Louisa Barnes Pratt
Louisa Barnes Pratt
Louisa Barnes Pratt was a prominent advocate for women's vote and other related causes in the 19th century as well as a Latter-day Saint missionary....
and Dear Ellen: Two Mormon Women and Their Letters. Ellsworth's wife was descended from Addison and Louisa Barnes Pratt.
Ellsworth also wrote the biography of Samuel Claridge
Samuel Claridge
Samuel Claridge was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who was a prominent early settler of the Muddy River Valley in Nevada and also Thatcher, Arizona....
entitled Samuel Claridge: Pioneering the Outposts of Zion. Ellsworth also wrote a Sesquecentennial History of the LDS Church in French Polynesia with Kathleen C. Perrin and a history of the early LDS settlement in the area of Logandale, Nevada
Logandale, Nevada
Logandale is an unincorporated town located in Clark County, Nevada. The community is the home of the annual Clark County Fair and Rodeo. It began as a railroad station in 1912. It was originally named Logan but renamed to avoid confusion with Logan, Utah....
.