Utah Since Statehood
Author is Noble Warrum 1919

FRANK JAMES LOWE.

For a young man Frank James Lowe of Willard has made an enviable record. He has demonstrated his marked ability in fruit raising and agricultural pursuits and is the owner of a farm and orchard within the corporation limits of the city in which he makes his home. He is, moreover, a native son of Willard, born in 1890. His father, Peter Lowe, was of English birth and was prominent in church and state affairs. He was a member of the constitutional convention and took an active part in securing Utah's admission to the Union. He left the impress of his individuality and ability upon the organic law of the state and in all public affairs has been actuated by a spirit of progress that has been a dominant factor in bringing about desired results. He has been mayor of the town of Willard and has held other offices in Boxelder county. In church work, too, he has been prominent and influential, filling many offices from that of elder up to other positions of greater responsibility. Throughout his entire life he has adhered to the faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His wife was born in Willard, a daughter of James Summers, one of the prominent farmers of Boxelder county and a member of a family of English pioneers.

Frank J. Lowe of this review was educated in the schools of his native county and following his graduation turned his attention to farming and fruit raising, in which business he has since engaged. His farm and orchard are located within the city limits and constitute one of the garden spots of this section of the state. Though not yet thirty years of age, Mr. Lowe occupies a leading place in his community and is doing much to shape public thought and action.

The merit and ability of Mr. Lowe were soon recognized by his fellow citizens, who made him manager of the Willard Fruit Growers' Association. Upon resigning from that position he was elected to the city council of Willard-a position which he still fills. He has also been elected county constable for the Willard district and in every position he has shown marked ability. In politics he is a republican and bids fair to rise in the councils of that party, his future career being one that is well worthy of watching.

In 1912 Mr. Lowe was united in marriage to Miss Hazel Davis, a daughter of Thomas Henry and Ida Pauline (Cordon) Davis, a member of one of the old families of Boxelder county, where both were born and reared. Mr. and Mrs. Lowe now have three children: Farrell, born in 1913; Blaine, in 1915; and Myrtle, in 1918. That Mr.  Lowe is recognized as a leading and influential citizen of his community is a widely known fact and that his ability has brought him to the front is manifest in his entire career.

MELVIN C. OLSEN, D. C.
 Dr. Melvin C. Olsen, a .chiropractor of Brigham, successfully practicing in the city where he was born February 25, 1893, is a son of John C. and Hannah (Larsen) Olsen. both of whom were natives of Denmark, the former having been born at Gellie, while the latter was born in Fredriksvark. The father came to America in the fall of 1889, making his way direct to Brigham, Utah, where he has since resided, and as a farmer and fruit raiser he has met with a gratifying measure of prosperity. He belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of the second ward of Brigham and is a devout and active member of the church. He is also a high priest of the second ward and a ward teacher. The mother came to the new world when a little maiden of but four years, brought to the United States by her parents, Christian and Dora Christina (Johnson) Larsen, who were early settlers of Brigham, and the latter is yet a resident of the second ward. By her marriage Mrs. Olsen became the mother of four children, of whom one died in infancy, the others being: Melvin C; Lavon, the wife of John Christensen, a resident of Brigham; and Iva Lue. 

Dr. Olsen of this review mastered the common branches of learning as a pupil in the public and high schools of Brigham and in preparation for his professional career matriculated in the Palmer School of Chiropractic at Davenport, Iowa, from which he was graduated on the 2d of January, 1917. Prior to the time when he entered college he served on a two years' mission in the Scandinavian countries and in the northern states. He left on the 24th of October, 1913, returning on the 30th of September, 1915, and during this period he presided over three of the branches. He is still active in church work as a ward teacher.

On the 15th of December, 1916, Dr. Olsen was married in Manti, Utah, to Miss Virginia L. Longson, a native of St. John, Tooele county, Utah, and a daughter of Charles and Sarah L. (Johnson) Longson. Her mother's people were among the earliest settlers of Fountain Green. The father of Mrs. Olsen died December 1, 1897.  He devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and he was also an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dr. and Mrs. Olsen are now parents of two children: C. Theron, born in Davenport, Iowa, October 8, 1917; and Keith Palmer, born at Mount Pleasant, August 27, 1918.

Dr. Olsen belongs to the Universal Chiropractic Association and also to the Utah State Association, and his interest in community affairs is indicated by his helpful membership in the Boxelder Commercial Club. As a chiropractor he is accorded a liberal patronage and he keeps in close touch with every advancement made in professional work and methods.

LORENZO PETT.
  Lorenzo Pett, who is filling the office of county assessor of Boxelder county, is a representative of one of the old and prominent families of the county. He was born February 18, 1864, in Brigham, where he yet makes his home, his parents being James and Jane (Brandon) Pett, the former a native of Warwickshire, England, while the latter was born in Tennessee. The father was a carpenter, builder and architect and devoted his life to those callings. He became one of the pioneer settlers of Utah, crossing the Atlantic in 1856, and from the eastern seaboard making his way to Perry, Utah.  He became a prominent factor in the up building of the section in which he lived and many of the prominent buildings of Brigham were designed and erected by him. He was also active in the work of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and for many years was a member of the High Council. His devotion to the public welfare was further indicated by the fact that he served for twenty years as county commissioner without receiving any remuneration for his labors in that connection. He died in Brigham in 1908 and the mother of Lorenzo Pett passed away in 1897. 

One of a family of eleven children. Lorenzo Pett pursued his education in the public schools of Brigham. After his textbooks were put aside he devoted his attention to farming and to various employments for several years. In the fall of 1912 he was elected county assessor for a two years' term; in 1914 was reelected to the position for another term of two years on the republican ticket; and was again elected to the same office in 1918. He has always been a stanch advocate of republican principles, for he feels that the party platform contains the best elements of good government. 

On the 5th of September, 1888, Mr. Pett was married to Miss Althea Wright, of Brigham, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Hurren) Wright, who were early residents of the state. They became the parents of eleven children, of whom nine are yet living: Rilla, who is on a mission to New York city; Ella, the wife of Horace Udy, of Riverside, Boxelder county, by whom she has two children; Lorenzo Fern, twenty-six years of age, who was chief radio operator on the Battleship Connecticut and was honorably discharged July 2, 1919; Lewis Earl, twenty-three years of age, who is a radio operator at Sayville, Long Island; William, twenty-one years of age, who married Alice Berg, of Ogden, and has one child; Grant W., eighteen years of age, who is a high school pupil; Joseph Delos, a youth of fifteen, also attending high school; and Alta, ten, and Vernon, eight, both of whom are in school.

Mr. Pett is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and for twelve years was supervisor in the parents' class of the fourth ward of Brigham. He is now secretary of the High Priests' Quorum of the Boxelder stake. Mr. Pett is a very popular representative of one of the old and honored families of Boxelder county and has given great satisfaction in the discharge of the duties of his position as county assessor.

MYRON JOHN RICHARDS, Jr.

Myron John Richards, Jr.. has long enjoyed an enviable reputation as one of the prominent stock raisers of Utah and in 1917 became associated with John W. Garrett in the wholesale and retail meat and provision business in Garland, where their interests are conducted under the firm style of Garrett & Richards. Mr. Richards is one of the native sons of Boxelder county, his birth having occurred at Plymouth in August, 1882. His father, Myron J. Richards, Sr., was a son of the well known apostle, Franklin D. Richards, whose name figures largely on the pages of Utah's history. Myron J.  Richards, Sr., like his father, was a devout member of the Mormon church and filled many of the churchly offices, from that of elder to bishop. For twenty-seven years he served as bishop of Plymouth and his labors were indeed of great benefit to his fellow citizens in their relation to the church. The mother of Myron J. Richards, Jr., bore the maiden name of Julia Peterson and was a daughter of Henry Peterson, a well known farmer of Boxelder county, who was likewise prominent in the church and attained the bishopric in Morgan, Utah.

Myron J. Richards, Jr., was educated in the graded schools of his native town and in the Brigham Young College at Logan. Upon completing his school course he took up the occupation of farming at Plymouth and later turned his attention to stock raising and feeding on his ranch near Riverside. Some of the best cattle ever shipped out of Utah were raised or fed for market on his four hundred acre farm in Boxelder county. His brands are known in the stockyards of Denver, Chicago, Kansas City and other midwest markets and always command the best prices. In addition to looking after his land and stock business Mr. Richards is engaged in the wholesale and retail meat and provision business, having in 1917 entered into partnership with John W.  Garrett as junior partner in the firm of Garrett & Richards of Garland. This firm has one of the substantial business houses in the progressive city in which they are located and already their trade has reached extensive and gratifying proportions. Mr. Richards handles from two hundred to three hundred head of cattle annually.

In 1906 Mr. Richards was married to Miss Ella M. Van Fleet, of Farmington, and they have one son, John Dewey, now eleven years of age and a promising student in the Garland schools. In church matters Mr. Richards has faithfully followed the lead of his forefathers. He is an elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has been president of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association, a member of the Seventy and for seven years superintendent of the Riverside Sunday school. In civic life, too, he has always kept in the front rank of those whose progressiveness has made them valued citizens. He is now a member of the board of aldermen of Garland and has been a member of many of its most important committees. It is well known that his assistance can be relied upon in all valuable public movements and he has been an earnest supporter of all the war drives, including the Liberty loan, the sale of War Savings Stamps and the Red Cross work. Whatever has been for the benefit of his community, commonwealth or the country has received his endorsement and support.

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