William John Gurney

Sharing our Links to the Past
by Wally and Frances Gray

William John Gurney (1880--1945)

History of Lehi, Part II, Including Biographical Section up to 1950
Published by the Lehi Pioneer Committee
Written by Hamilton Gardner
The Deseret News, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1950
pp. 764-765

William John Gurney was born in Lehi, July 19, 1880, a son of William F. And Sarah Webb Gurney. He was a life-long resident of Lehi.

On May 20, 1903, at the age of 23, he married Martha Emma Bushman, daughter of Martin B. And Martha Worlton Bushman, in the Salt Lake Temple. Ten children were born to them, six girls and four boys.: Belva May, Della, June, Sarah Delvora, Martha, Leo William, Lynn, Martin Dean, Elsie Elizabeth, and Richard Keith.

Emma was a good mother and dearly loved her children. She taught them to love and respect one another. She died September 13, 1926 age 44. Della preceded her in death, and June, wife of Lloyd Iverson of Pleasant Grove, died in 1931.

William worked at the Lehi sugar factory and the Rock Quarry at Topliff. He served as Lehi City Water Superintendent for two separate terms. He was also City Marshal. For many years he was employed as pumpman at the Jordan Narrows and Lehi pumps. Throughout his life he was interested in prospecting and mining.

During the Influenza epidemic of 1918, the family lived at Magna where he was employed as the Magna Mill. The “flu” was raging and almost every family was stricken, but their family of nine escaped the dreaded disease.

Three of his sons, Lynn, Dean, and Richard, served their country in World War II. After he had lived to see his family grown, he died at age 65, April 6, 1945, at Lehi.