S. (Samuel) George Ellsworth was born June 19, 1916 in Safford, Arizona to James Clarence and Julia Claridge Ellsworth. Ellsworth served an LDS mission to the North Central State Mission 1936-1938. After his mission, in Logan, Utah, he attended the Utah State Agricultural College (U.S.A.C.) and graduated with a B.S. in history and mathematics in 1941. S. George Ellsworth married Maria Smith, on Oct. 24, 1942. Shortly after, Ellsworth enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force. During WWII, Ellsworth served in California, and from January 1945 to June 1946, as a Chaplain in the Philippines. From 1946-1951 Ellsworth attended the University of California at Berkeley. He received his M.A. in History in 1947. Four years later he received his Ph. D. in History and Philosophy. Ellsworth returned to Logan and taught History at U.S.A.C. (later Utah State University) for the next 31 years. From 1966-1969 Ellsworth served as the dept. head of the U.S.U. Dept. of History. In 1983, S. George Ellsworth retired to research and write full-time. He was an active member of the LDS Church. George and Maria Ellsworth had two sons: Stephen George and Mark Addison. S. George Ellsworth died in Logan, Utah on Dec. 22, 1997.
Maria S. Ellsworth was born in 1918 in Hunt, Arizona to Asahel Henry and Pauline Udall Smith. She graduated from the Arizona State Teaching College at Flagstaff May 29, 1940, and taught Kindergarten and First grade. Maria served in the local PTA, and served on the Logan City School Board, where she was the only female member. She then became a member of the State Accreditation Committee. Maria was the President of the Old Main Society and President of the Faculty Women's League at U.S.U. She was an active member in the LDS Church. In 1993, Maria Ellsworth was awarded the prize for the best biography of the year by the Mormon History Association for her book, Mormon Odyssey. She also had seven book reviews published by scholarly journals. She died on Dec. 1, 1999, in Logan, Utah.
From the description of Ellsworth family photograph collection, 1860-1999 (bulk 1880-1990) (Utah State University). WorldCat record id: 60316846
