Lois' Mother: Melba Farnsworth

Melba Farnsworth was born November 14, 1910 in Ely, Nevada. Melba married Willard Vivian Call on September 13, 1935 in Logan, Utah. She died on February 12, 1998 in Pocatello, Idaho.  Melba's parents were Milford Griffiths Farnsworth (1863-1946) and Lois Rebecca Gunn (1871-1943).  Melba had one sister:  Anna Estella Farnsworth (1900-1987).  Melba was a first cousin to Philo T. Farnsworth and a great grandchild of Parley P. Pratt.  Melba had seven children:  Lois, Vivian, Bill, Mary, Evelyn, Ginny, and Ronnie.

Melba and Vee, 1936

Melba, 17 months

Philo T. Farnsworth: Father of the Television; First Cousin Once Removed of Lois

Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor

Philo T. Farnsworth Sr. and  Margaret Adams' family

Philo T. Farnsworth, is largely known as the inventor of the modern day television although he invented many other things, holding 165 patents. 

There are two Philo Taylor Farnsworths.  Philo, the elder Farnsworth had four wives.  With wife, Agnes, he had son, Lewis, who named his child Philo Taylor Farnsworth, after the grandfather.  Philo was born August 19,1906 near Beaver, Utah. The elder, Philo T. Farnsworth and his wife Mary had son, Milford.  Milford.  Milford is a half brother to Lewis and therefore the uncle to the younger Philo (the inventor).  This makes Melba Farnsworth and Philo T. Farnsworth (inventor) first cousins.

Lois: Great, Great Grandaughter of Parley P. Pratt

Parley P. Pratt

Lois was very proud of her family history... Her father's brother's name was Parley P. Call and the relation to Parley P. Pratt is as follows:  Lois' father is Willard Vivian Call.  His parents are Willard Call and Leah Pratt.  Leah Pratt is the daughter of Helaman Pratt and Anna Johanna Dorothy Wilcken.  Helaman's parents are Parley Parker Pratt and Mary Wood.

Parley was set apart as an Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1830.  At the time, members were issued a license.  Parley's includes the signatures of Oliver Cowdery and Joseph Smith.  See details of license here.

Parley Parker Pratt, Sr. was one of the first Apostles and missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) and his autobiography includes many references to early Church history. His story tells us a lot about the importance of missionary work and about the sacrifices that were and still are associated with it.

Parley P. Pratt Monument in Parowan, Utah

Parley P. Pratt Monument Marker

Parley's contributions to the Church and missionary work are well documented and appreciated.  In 2001, a sculpture of Parley commissioned by the Parowan Heritage Foundation, was dedicated by James E. Faust.  Created by artist, Stanley Q. Johnson, the sculpture can be seen in Parowan, Iron County, Utah.

Parley was a prolific writer with unparalleled musical ability.  The two talents collided in a collection of at least 49 hymns.  A collection of hymns can be heard here.

Read Parley Pratt's autobiography.

More about Parley:
http://parleyppratt.org/about_parley

Mary Priscilla Griffiths Willis Farnsworth: Lois' Great Grandmother

Mary Priscilla Griffiths Farnsworth was born May 6, 1831 in Sherbourne, Dorset, England. Her mother was English and her father Welsh. Mary was given a good education and became a milliner and dressmaker, working with a girl friend who sewed for Queen Victoria. It is not known whether this friend joined the Church, but Mary was the only one of her family to join this new faith; and faith and courage she must have had to start for Zion alone. However, with her on the trip across the Atlantic were many English and Scandinavian Saints. They landed at Castle Garden, then journeyed on to Iowa City where they joined the handcart company.

Mary was with the Willie Handcart company. When she finally arrived in the Valley her feet were frozen. Her youngest son, George Talor of Richfield, Utah, now 88 years old, tells this story as his mother related it to him.

" My mother, Mary Priscilla, was twenty-one years old when she crossed the plains. She walked all the way, pulling her own hand-cart. As they journeyed, their provisions were scarce and rationed. They had to kill their oxen, which had pulled the provision wagons thus far. The oxen were very poor, but they were forced to eat them to keep alive.

" One day as they journeyed they came upon the bodies of people who had been massacred by the Indians."

Mary lived in Salt Lake City for some time and there married Jesse Willis, a writer. She had one son named Jesse Willis, Jr., but her marriage with Willis was not a happy one and they separated. Mary Priscilla was then called to Beaver, Beaver County, Utah to teach school and she was very successful as a teacher and writer.

On June 15, 1860 she married Bishop Philo T. Farnsworth in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. To them were born four sons, Walter, Milford, Lorenzo and George Talor. Some years later she moved to Elsinore, Utah. People here knew her for many years as, "the dainty little English lady who sewed all her own clothes, could mend clothes that looked like new and was an expert at making button holes." She was true to her faith. Her posterity are many. They were brought here by the gospel of Christ to help bring into the [p.257]world the wonder of God’s wisdom. Philo T. Farnsworth of television fame is her grandson. Mary Priscilla lived to be seventy-nine years old and passed away in Elsinore February 27, 1914. She is lovingly remembered here as "Sister Farnsworth."—Ada Anderson

Philo Taylor Farnsworth: Lois' Great Grandfather

Philo Taylor Farnsworth was borh January 21, 1826 in Ohio.  Philo lost his mother when he was only three-years-old.  A missionary named, Franklin D. Richards introduced Philo to the Gospel when he was only 17-years-old.  His father was a staunch Congregationalist and didn't approve of this new church at all.  Philo immediately left for Nauvoo where he helped build the temple and served in the Nauvoo Legion.  Philo eventually ended up with four wives.  One of his wives, Agnes, gave birth to Philo T. Farnsworth, the inventor.  His wife, Mary, is Lois's great grandmother.

Read more about Philo Taylor Farnsworth.