William Bench

William Bench was a good friend to both William and Ellen. They considered him a very good man. He helped them out a lot. He persuaded Ellen to marry him as a plural wife so that he could legally care for her. They were married on 14 November 1868.
Harriet says, “He was not poor. We soon had the half block fenced, corrals built, pens for pigs; etc. We had a good garden and two cows. Our house was not enlarged, but we soon had a new stove to cook on. Before we had cooked on the fireplace. William Bench had always been a very good friend to my father, as he always was to anyone who needed help. He had a wife and 3 married sons, also one daughter married, and one grown daughter at home. He owned a blacksmith shop and was a good smith. He had horses, cows, sheep, and a nice home. It was not against the laws them, of the Church or the land to have more families than one.” (Allen).
The two cows Wiliam Bench gave Ellen would help out considerably. They very much appreciated being able to have milk and butter..
William Bench's first wife never gave her consent for Ellen and her husband to be married. She always treated Ellen as an intruder and never became friendly. When the children had to help him in the field, she was very strict with them. If they brought any crusts home or any part of their lunch, she put it on their plates and made them eat it before she gave them anything else. This nettled Ellen considerably.
William Bench was very fond of Ellen and told her he wished he had met her when she was sweet sixteen. As with others who had more families than one, William Bench took turns going home to each wife. Ellen took good care of him when he came to home to her. William Bench had difficulty in his job; his hands chapped badly. He would come home to Ellen on his turn and after washing up would say to Harriet, "Come dress your dolls." Then Harriet would tie up his sore fingers with clean white rags.
The following September they had a son, William Enos Bench. (Sept 1869). Harriet writes “He was greatly loved by us all”
At this time Harriet worked outside of the home a lot, “buying my own clothes, and helping to get clothes for my sister Florence, who was four years younger than” Harriet also “helped my mother at home. William Bench was a very good stepfather, and was always kind to my mother”(Allen).
At some point, Harriet began going out with a young man. His name was Charles “Albert” Allen. Albert's family also lived in Manti and when he was courting Harriet he often visited their home. Ellen “was well acquainted with his folks. He had many relatives in Manti.”