Wilhelmina Lay Woolsey was born August 9, 1886, in Escalante, Garfield County, Utah. she wast he seventh child born to Rachel Ellen Wiltbank and John Taylor Lay. she had four brothers: John William, Joseph Coleman, Charles Spencer and Franklin Ellis. she also had four sisters: Annie, Sarah, Rachle Ellen and Jane. She was the first beloved child to be born to them in their new home, just four months after arriving at Escalante. She was a favorite of all the family, on both her father's and mother's side. She was very lovable, patient, and trustworthy. Even the Queen Wilhelmina could not have had a greater, sweeter spirit. She grew up among many friends and relatives. she was a very imaginative child with high ideals and always looked on the bright side of life. She drew friends throughout all her journey of life here on this earth. she was christened by Edwin Twitchel, December 1, 1886. She was baptized by James B. Woolsey on October 22, 1894 and confirmed the same day by Andrew P. Schow. James B. Woolsey later became her father-in-law. She was educated in a little one-room log school house. Her education consisted of an eighth grade education. She took pride in her appearance, learning early to sew her own clothers, and used to spend hours crimping her own and friends hair.
Mina was married to Joseph Riley Woolsey, July 13, 1904, by Andrew P. Schow, at Escalante, Utah and endowed at the Manti Temple on September 7, 1904. She was seventeen and he was twenty-one. Mina made and sold ice cream and had a millinery shop in her home. She also took in boarders.
Seven of their children were born in Escalante: Leah Oena, Leora Mina, Cecil R., Gaitha, Paul Burnell, Marion Hunter, and Naomi. One year the whole family came down with the measles, including Mina. Her mother, Rachel Ellen came and stayed and cared for them. Due to Leora having appendicitis, Dr. Moorhouse, suggested they take her to the Dee Hospital in Ogden for an operation. While in Ogden, Mina could see there would be more opportunities in that area for her large family to find employment. On July 2, 1921, they began to move to Ogden.
Her eighth child, Frank Dewayne, was born in Riverdale on Oct. 6, 1922. She made two trips back to Escalante to visit her aged mother. Cecil had been very sick with rheumatic fever for a long time and the doctor told the family he would never overcome it. This grieved her very much. this was a difficult time for her as she was expecting her ninth child soon, and was busy preparing for her family christmas. Leah, the oldest daughter, was married, and Leora, the second daughter was working. On this sad day of the 24th of December 1925, Riley had gone to work at the railroad. Mina wrote a letter to each of her brothers and sisters telling them how she felt about Cecil's condition. When he came home at 4:00 p.m., she wasn't feeling well. Later they called Dr. Draper. Because it was Christmas Eve and he was in a hurry to go to a party, the doctor gave her a shot to force labor, which caused her to hemorrhage. Around 8:00 p.m both shea nd her baby daughter had passed away, leaving a family of eight and a grief stricken husband to face the trials of life alone. The bodies of mother and baby were take to the Lindquist Mortuary where they were prepared for burial, then brought back to the home she had loved and taken so much pride in. The funeral was held in the Eleventh Ward under the direction of Bishop Riley. Bishop Murray Jacobs of Riverdale, a very good Friend spoke and took as his text Psalms.
She was buried in the Ogden City Cemetery December 26, 1925.