William Elias Abbott helped give Mesquite a firm foundation through decades of work in its early development and public life. Born in Ogden, Utah, he traveled at age eight to Bunkerville, Nevada, in 1877 and, as a young participant in establishing the town, closely observed debates, noted important decisions, and developed diplomatic skill. In his youth he raised melons, picked cotton, cared for animals, and made molasses. Later he carried mail pony express style, sold produce to mining camps, hauled salt from St. Thomas to the Silver Reef mine, and herded three thousand steers from Arizona to Utah. After a mission to Illinois for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he became bishop of the Mesquite Ward and served from 1901 until 1927. His leadership in church and community affairs included service on the town board, school board, the board of directors of the grape farm, and as chairman of the telephone committee. He took part in building a bridge between Mesquite and Bunkerville and led the Bridge Day Celebration when it was finished. He also served as a judge, justice of the peace, farmer, delegate to the International Irrigation Congress, and amateur dentist, and with his wife operated a hotel and café. Abbott strongly supported road building, surveyed the original road between Las Vegas and Mesquite, and campaigned for and directed construction of a road one hundred feet wide and a mile and a half long, a grueling three-year project through dense underbrush that became Mesquite Boulevard. He also faced the recurring challenge of maintaining the dam, laboring in the river for weeks at a time and recording that one effort used 300 loads of brush and 500 loads of rock. His life reflected the broader labor of the settlers whose varied talents, strong minds, physical endurance, and sacrifice helped make Mesquite a viable community.