Roots in Granger: The Willard Bullock Family’s Story of Love, Loss, and Legacy

Willard E. Bullock (1887–1918): A Life of Hard Work Cut Short by the Spanish Flu

In 1916, after decades of pioneering labor, 70-year-old Jacob Hunter sold his 165-acre farm at 2700 West and 3500 South in Granger and moved to Salt Lake City—closing a chapter in early Utah agricultural history.

That same year, Willard E. Bullock, a hardworking young man, purchased half of that land, beginning a new chapter with hopes of building a future for his growing family.

Willard and his wife, “Maud” Emily Arthur Bullock, were the parents of three children:

• Emily “Klea” (born 1911)

• Willard Jr. (1912)

• Edward (1916)

In the fall of 1918, just two years into farming, Willard died suddenly of pneumonia following influenza, during the deadly Spanish Flu pandemic. He was only 31 years old, and his death came on the very land he'd worked so hard to build into a future.

The epidemic had a profound effect on the Granger community. Churches, schools, and public gatherings were shut down, and masks were required in public. Those immune to the flu cared for afflicted neighbors.

At the time of his death, Willard had been working an 81¼-acre farm and held 80 shares in the North Jordan Irrigation Company.

After his death, Emily and the children moved to Salt Lake City.

In adulthood, Willard’s two sons returned to the Granger area, and both of their homes are still standing on 3200 South today—a powerful reminder of the family’s connection to the land and community.

The family of Willard and Emily Bullock and their sons Willard Jr and Edward have made a lasting impact on the community—a remarkable testament to their strength, faith, and perseverance through one of the hardest chapters in Utah’s history

Willard Bullock

Professions of Willard E. Bullock (1887–1918):

• Smelter Worker

  • Employed at the Tooele Smelter

• Studebaker Company Employee

  • Worked for four years at the Studebaker Company in Salt Lake City (a manufacturer of wagons and automobiles)

• Automobile Businessman

  • Ran his own automobile business in Boise, Idaho, for two years

• Farmer

  • Began farming in Granger around 1916, after purchasing 81¼ acres of land

  • Operated a diversified farm: sugar beets, dairy cattle, livestock, and crops

(Maude) Emily Arthur Bullock

(Maude) Emily Arthur Bullock (1887–1964) was a woman of quiet strength and unwavering devotion. Widowed at just 31 during the devastating 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, she was left to raise three young children. With determination and faith, she moved her small family to home in Salt Lake, where they all worked together to move forward.

After the children were grown, she remarried Joseph E Smith, son-in-law of early settler Jacob Hunter. Joseph owned a family farm at 4200 West and 4100 South and passed away in 1939.

In 1950, Maude married Isaac Ensign, continuing her life of quiet endurance. Her children went on to become active contributors in the community—

In adulthood, sons Willard Jr and Edward built homes and raised families along 3200 West, while daughter Emily “Klea” married University of Utah quarterback and Salt Lake City Commissioner Fred Tedesco.

(Maude)-Emily’s story is one of grace through adversity, devotion to family, and an enduring connection to the land she helped cultivate. Her legacy still lives on today—both in her descendants and the soil of Granger.

The Bullock Children

The three children of Willard and (Maud) Emily Bullock—Emily-”Klea”, Willard Jr., and Edward—faced the loss of their father at incredibly young ages. Emily was just 7 years old, Willard Jr. was 6, and little Edward had only recently turned 2. Despite the heartbreak and the hardships of early farm life, all three children worked alongside their mother to build a good life after their father's death. Together, Emily & the 3 children helped sustain the family .

We are glad the Bullock boys moved back to the area, Their values of resilience, faith, and hard work learned during those early days stayed with them throughout their lives—and helped carry forward the Bullock family legacy in Granger for generations to come.

The Impact of theSpanish Flu (1918–1920)

The Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918–1920 claimed millions of lives worldwide—estimated at half a million in the United States alone. This deadly influenza also deeply affected local communities like Granger, Utah, where many families lost loved ones.

Local residents who perished during the pandemic include:

• Willard E. Bullock — A hardworking farmer and family man, died at age 31.

• Emily Gerber

• Grace Harman

• Annie Harman Fisher

• Alfred Grant

• Mabel Petersen

• William Bess

• Parley Warr

• Margaret Smith

These names represent just a fraction of the suffering endured by the community. Churches, schools, and public gatherings were closed; neighbors helped care for one another while wearing masks in public to prevent the spread. The legacy of these individuals is remembered with respect and gratitude