Ebenezar Joseph HANKS

                   Historical information included in notes.


Encyclopedic History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsHannover ConferenceEbenezer Hanks, the first settler in Graves Valley, located there in 1883. The valley had previously been named after John Graves, who was with the Powell Exploring party which first visited Utah in 1869. Previous to 1883 Graves Valley had been a regular rendezvous for horse-thieves and black-legs. Brother Hanks built his cabin where the Hanksville meeting house was afterwards erected. After the arrival of a few more families in 1884, L. D. S. meetings were commenced and Ebenezer Hanks was appointed the first presiding Elder. He acted until he died April 4, 1884, after which William Bacon presided. He was succeeded in 1891 by Chapman Duncan, who was succeeded in 1893 by Henry Thompson, who was succeeded in 1895 by William S. Rust, who presided until 1903. Later John G. Ekker presided and still later Elijah H. McDougall, who was succeeded by Donald McDougall, who presided over the branch in 1930, the branch then being a part of the Torrey Ward.