Joseph with his father Thomas Bithell and six of his siblings migrated from England to the Utah Territory in 1860. Joseph was thirteen years old. His mother Eleanor Williams died in England five years earlier (1855). His older brother Samuel Bithell crossed the plains twice as a 'back and forth teamster' and the family settled in Ophir, Utah.
Just a side note about Joseph's brother Samuel who was married to Agnes Hislop, born in Scotland.
Together they had sixteen children all born in Ophir, Tooele, Utah and all but two children grew to adulthood. Joseph and Ellen Maria had seven children, the first three reached adulthood and the next four children died before three years of age.
In my stash of pictures found in the old trunk kept in the granary in Albion, Idaho are pictures seen below of the first two children. On the far left is Joseph James Bithell born 12 October 1875 in Ophir. The photographer certainly caught him with eyes wide open. It's like he can't beleive what's happening! Joseph married Lovantia Painter Card on 17 Oct 1900 in Logan Utah. He died at the young age of forty three (18 Nov 1918). At the time of his death he was a merchant for the Thatcher Clothing Co. in Logan and died of Bronchial Pneumonia.
The sweet faced dainty little girl on the right was named Cora Mae Bithell. She was born 17 May 1877 also in Ophir, Utah. Cora married Adelbert James Mcintyre in Salt Lake City on 11 Feb 1897. She lived to be seventy four and died on 5 Oct. 1951. She lived in Portland, Ore.
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| Joseph James Bithell b 1875 - 1918 |
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| Cora Mae Bithell b 1877 - d 1934 |
Third child born to Joseph and Ellen was Charles Kidgell Bithell born 26 Jul 1878 also in Ophir.
Charles married Emma May McDermott on 3 Jul 1901 in Salt Lake City.
He died at age fifty one from an accident when a dirt bank caved in while working in a trench on 13 Mar 1934. He was a pipe fitter for the water department of Salt Lake City.
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~uttooele/ophirhistory.html
Father Joseph's occupation in the first years of married life was a livery stable keeper; living in Ophir, Utah. The 1890 Salt Lake Directory shows the Joseph Bithell family living in Salt Lake City at 537 S. Fifth E. Street and lists Joseph's occupation as a minor. Did he commute to work at the mine in Ophir each day? It's not that far away but, mining is hard work and I would think a person would be very tired at the end of the day to commute by riding a horse. Maybe he stayed at the mine and only come home on the weekends.
Joseph died from a terrible mining accident and his two sons were present at the time. I found two articles about this accident; the Deseret News article is very graphic; the Salt Lake Herald article is more 'how' it happened. With information from both articles pretty well tells the whole story of the death of Joseph.
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| Deseret Evening News Monday 13 Jan 1902 |
DIED AT THE HOPSITAL
Accident at Queen of the Hills Mine
Fatal to Supt. Bithell
Superintendent Joseph Bithell of the
Queen of the Hills mine in Ophir dis-
trict, Tooele county, died at the Holy
Cross hospital today as the result of
Injuries received at the mine on Friday
morning last. [10 Jan 1902]
The accident was a very violent one
and crushed the head and breast of
the unfortunate man in a frightful
manner. The whole of his scalp was
torn off and one of his ribs was forced
through his lungs by a car which broke
from its moorings and started down the
rails of a steep incline that he was as-
cending. His two sons, Joseph Jr., and
Charles K. were both at the mine at
the time and the latter ran down the
mountain side a distance of five miles
at a speed that caused him to fall
to the ground exhausted. He was taken
Into a farm house and cared for while
his message was born several miles
farther for the holding of a Utah- Ne-
vada train until the injured man could
be conveyed to Terminus preparatory
to being brought to Salt Lake. He
reached here late last night and was
immediately operated on but his condi-
tion was found to be so serious as his
recovery was despaired of.
The deceased lived in this city at the
corner of Third East and Edith Avenue,
and leaves in addition to the two sons
named, a wife and daughter, the latter
being Mrs. A. J. McIntyre. Mr. Bithell
was 55 years of age and had lived
in the west for the past 35 years. He
was well and widely known and his
friends will be greatly shocked to learn
of his tragic fate.
Salt Lake Herald
Tuesday 14 Jan. 1902
DIED FROM INJURIES
Joseph Bithell, Who Was Hurt in
Mine in Dry Canyon
From injuries received in a mine acci-
dent a few days ago, Joseph Bithell, the
foreman of the Utah Queen mine in Dry
canyon, died at the Holy Cross hospital
yesterday.
The accident which cost Mr. Bithell his
life occurred last Friday. Mr. Bithell was
standing in the incline shaft of the mine
when a “skip” loaded with ore broke
loose from the wire cable and ran with
ever increasing speed down the steep
track. Mr. Bithell, who was standing on
the track, discovered the runaway “skip”
but too late to save himself. He was
struck by the heavy car and hurled
violently against the side of the tunnel,
badly injuring his head and body.
It was thought at first that he had been
instantly killed, but he revived and was
removed that night to Holy Cross
Hospital and placed under the care of
Dr. Hosmer. All that medical aid and
surgery could do was done, but the
injuries affected vital parts and yesterday
morning death released the patient from
his sufferings.
Mr. Bithell was a native of England, but
Has been a resident of this country for
a number of years. He was about 55
years of age and leave a family to
mourn his loss.
The funeral will be held from the family
residence near Third East and Edith
avenue. Thursday at 2 p. m. Friend
of the family invited to attend.
What a difficult time for the Bithell family. I'm sure this had a life long impact on son's Joseph Jr. and Charles. I don't know any Bithell's. I wonder if any of Joseph and Ellen's descendants have a life history?
Ellen Maria is a widow for 20 years never to remarry. At some point Ellen moves to Portland Oregon to live with her daughter Cora Mae. In the Oregonian paper is her funeral notice:
19 July 1922
BITHELL - In this city at St. Vincent's
hospital, July 17, 1922, Ellen Maria Bithell
age 66 years. Deceased is survived by a daughter,
Mrs. Cora McIntyre of this city; a son, Charles
Bithell, and a sister, Mrs. Sadie Hepworth, both
of Salt Lake City, Utah; a brother, Fred Kidgell, Logan Utah.
She was a member of Piscah Chapter Eastern Star, and of the
Salt Lake Circle No. 559, Women of Woodcraft. Remains
accompanied by her daughter, Mrs. Cora McIntyre, will be
forwarded this evening by the Skewes Undertaking Co., to
Salt Lake City, Utah, where interment will take place.
Deseret News 20 July 1922 Funeral Notice
Funeral services for Mrs. Ellen M. Bithell who died July 15 at
Portland, Ore, will be held Friday at 3 p.m. at the Masonic Temple.
Services will be conducted by the order of the Eastern Star. The body
may be viewed at the Evans & Early undertakers parlors from
11a.m. until 2 p.m. the day of the funeral. Interment will be in
Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
Unless more information on the Bithell's surface, this takes care of the life of Ellen Maria Kidgell Bithell.
