Biography of Joseph Morgan Wixom

Biography of Joseph Morgan Wixom

From the history of Sharon Idaho: Joseph Wixom was the first to own land in this territory and to plant crops, he also planted an orchard that was very successful his wife had a beautiful raspberry patch.

BIOGRAPHY: Read in the Daughters of the Utah Pionners Spring Creek Camp, Franklin County Idaho by his daughter Ida Prescott.

Joseph Morgan Wixom was born Nov 10, 1856 at Lehi, Utah. He moved to Bear Lake with his parnts, Solomon and Hannah M. Wixom, in 1864. Joseph was the sportsman of his fathers family. He began hunting and fishing at an early age. Fishing was his specialty. When a high church official visited the Wixom home in Paris, Joe would be sent ot catch a mess of trout for the visitors. His eqipmnt consistd of a wuillow, string and a pin gook. When he grew to manhood he seemed to be gifted with enormous energy. He always drove a fine team of spirited horses and tried to keep anyone from passing him on the road.

He married Elvira Sarah Ricks on July 3, 1880 and they moved to the mouth of Emigration Canyon and secured a farm of about 300 acres. Joe was a good farmer and a fine woodsman. He spent many years logging and cutting timber for extra money. He and Elvira built a home that was considered nice for that day. It became the social center for many parties and banquets. Thirteen children were born to this union: Bennie, LeRoy, Lewis, Frank, Retta, Ira, Esther, Jesse, Nora, Ida, Ruby, Vera, and Clarence.

Joseph Wixom was a wonderful and kind neighbor. He always shared his irrigation water with his neighbors. Joe also was on of the first to donate time or money to neighbors when they had sickness or death.

Other settlers soon followed the Wixoms and the town was given the name of Sharon, after the birthplace of the prophet Joseph Smith. Their son Lewis was the first child born in Sharon.