WEST

Abner was born in 1780 in South Carolina. In 1804, he married Sarah Laffoon, the daughter of a fairly wealthy and influential man, William Laffoon. Many researchers before me believe that this is the reason little is known about Abner's own family - it seems he more closely associated himself with the Laffoons. Abner and Sarah resided in South Carolina for several years before moving to Hopkins, Kentucky where they bought large pieces of land. The two had at least 8 children. Abner died around 1840.

Abner and Sarah's children:

Ellen West, 1805 - 1863

William West, 1807 - 1872

Hardin West, 1809 - 1881

John Laffoon West, 1811 - 1869

Anastacia West, 1815 - 1893

Thomas West,  1822 - 1876

Susan West, 1823 - 1875

Mary West, 1825 - 1864

Hardin was born in 1809 in South Carolina. In 1828, he married Catherine Millholland, who we can only assume was already quite pregnant when they got married, and likely died in childbirth, as their marriage, their son's birth, and her death all took place the same year. Their son, William, apparently grew up thinking Hardin's second wife, also named Katherine, was his mother. With this Katherine, he had nine children. Katherine died in 1862, and Hardin married for a third time, to the much younger Sarah Hicks, with whom he had three more children. 

Hardin was a farmer, and moved the family from Kentucky to Missouri, and finally, to Texas. He died in 1881 in Grapevine, Texas.

Hardin and Catherine's children:

William West, 1828 - 1909

Hardin and Katherine's children:

Jane West, 1831 - 1901

Sarah West, 1833 - 1868

John West, 1835 - 1914

Thomas West, 1837 - 1908

Mark West, 1839 - 1912

David West, 1843 - 1868

Dixon West,  1845 - 1892

Angelina West, 1850 - 

Emeline West, 1853 - 1871

Hardin and Sarah's children:

Robert West, 1868 - 

Benjamin Franklin West, 1871 - 1938

Marion West, 1874 - 

William was born on the 6th of June, 1828 in Hopkins County, Kentucky.  Little is known about his early life, but according to a biography written by his son-in-law, in 1853 he left a young wife and child behind in Missouri to travel with homesteaders headed to Oregon. His reasons for this are unknown, but it's no overstatement to say this decision drastically changed the course of his life and the lives of his ancestors. Over the course of his travels, he made the decision to become a Methodist minister to "fight Mormonism". This desire was apparently short-lived, however, as he was tempted by the gold rush in California. There, he made and lost several fortunes, and eventually decided to head back towards Missouri. Instead, he ended up first in Idaho and then in Utah, where, rather than fight Mormonism, he converted to it. 

In 1868, William married Ann Arnell, and the two had five children. They seem to have gone back and forth between Idaho and Utah, and lived a prosperous and busy life. William farmed, worked as a carpenter, and taught Sunday school. In 1883, when William was 55, he took a second wife, 18 year old Mary Taylor. and in March of 1884, Mary gave birth to their daughter Minnie. Accounts differ regarding whether Mary left voluntarily or was rejected by William, but within a few months of Minnie's birth, Mary was gone and the child was raised by William and Ann. In 1898, the family moved to Alberta, Canada. William passed away there in 1909.

William and Ann's children: 

Eliza Jane West, 1869 - 1957

Katherine Elizabeth West, 1871 - 1909

Emeline West, 1873 - 1958

William West, 1876 - 

Harden Luke West, 1880 - 1963

William and Mary's children:

Minnie West, 1884 - 1929

Minnie was born on the 11th of March, 1884. Raised by her father and his first wife, it is unclear whether or not Minnie knew about Mary during her early years of life. In April of 1902, Minnie married Clarence Layton, and the two settled in Taber, Alberta. There, they had 8 children. Minnie and Clarence were both very active in both the community and the church, and were seemingly beloved by both. Minnie worked as a secretary and book-keeper, and was so skilled that various organizations actively sought her out. 

After the death of Minnie's father, she and her birth mother were reunited, as Mary was also living in Alberta by that time. Minnie passed away in 1929.

For information about Minnie and Clarence's children, please visit the Layton page.