Sanpete County Utah Biographies

 

 

Parsons, Arthur H.
Patten, John
Peacock, George
Petersen, Niels R.
Peterson, Andrew
Peterson, O. C.
Provstgaard, Niels J.
Reid, Edward
Reid, John P.
Reid, William A.
Reid, William F.
Reid, William K.
Reid, William Taylor
Richey, William B.
Riddle, Isaac
Rosenkrantz, Neils
Schaugaard, Mrs. I. M.
Shand, David
Shomaker, Ezra
Shomaker, Jezeeel
Shoemaker, Joel
Sidwell, Adelia B.
Smith, Azariah

Manti Biographies

 

History of Sanpete
Published by W. H. Lever in 1898

Prominent Citiizens of Manti

 

 

PARSONS, ARTHUR  H., farmer and wool grower of Manti is a son of James and Mary (Reeves) Par­sons, born in Keokuk, Ia., September 26, 1859. His parents joined the Mormon Church about 1850 in Eng­land. His father was born in Somersetshire, England, and was a brass moulder by trade; he died in Hamilton, Hancock County, I11., July 25, 1871; mother now living in Manti. In 1866 the family came to this country and set­tled in Hamilton. In 1876 Arthur came to Manti and remained here about ten months and then returned to Illinois. In October, 1880, himself and mother came to Manti, where he was engaged in various occupations until he accumulated a little means and then he bought a small farm near town and also embarked in the sheep business. Mr. Parsons being naturally a progressive man, began to improve on the native breed of sheep. He has imported a number of tine Vermont merinos and now has 3500 head of the finest sheep in Sanpete County. He has erected in the northwestern part of the city one of the finest brick residences in the city, with barns and other buildings to match. He is junior past grand of Temple City Lodge No. 23, I. O. O. F. Mr. Parsons joined the Mormon church since coming, to Manti. He stands high in the estimation of the people and is con­sidered an honorable, upright citizen. He married in Salt Lake City October 8, 1883, Miss Nellie, daughter of John and Ellen Walker, born in New Zealand, November 5, 1864. Their children are: James J., born June 22, 1884; Arthur H., June 13, 1886; Leonard R, April 14, 1889; Lamonte R, October 11, 1891, died April 2, 1892; Andrew L., January 29, 1893, Aldon L., August 19, 1895, and Nellie M.

 

PATTEN, HON. JOHN, farmer, son of John and Han­nah, was born in Green county, Indiana, June 20, 1825. The family joined the Mormon Church among the earliest members, and in 1833 removed to Jackson county, Mo. They passed through the persecutions of the Mormons and went to Iowa, where John grew up and went into the pine woods of Wisconsin. He came to Utah in 1850 and located in Manti, under the quarry, assisting in building the fort. Took part in the Walker and Black Hawk wars and has always been an active man. Was a representative to the Territorial Legislature, Sheriff of the county and a member of the City Council. Married in Manti to Candace, daughter of Albert, and Esther Smith. She died, leaving two sons and three daughters. Was married again to Emily, a sister of the first, wife. She had three sons and two daughters. She was the widow of Cyrenus H. Taylor, by whom she had three sons and two daughters.

 

PEACOCK, HON. GEORGE, deceased, son of George and Mary Noddings, was born in England July 30, 1822. The family removed to Canada, where father died in 1831. Mother married John Clark, and in 1837, the family removed to the United States, locating in Missouri. The next year they went to Iowa, where George, afterward known as "Judge Peacock," married Sarah Lowry April 4, 1840. In July of that year he was baptized in the Mormon Church and went to Nauvoo, Illinois, where he volunteered as a guard to the prophet Joseph Smith. In 1846 he left with the Saints and as­sisted in building the first ferryboat, to cross the Missouri river at Council Bluffs. He came to Utah in 1850 and located at Manti. He served as Probate Judge and a member of the Territorial Legislature. Was the first postmaster in Manti and a representative citizen in his day. He performed a, mission to England and was adju­tant of the Sanpete military district during the Black Hawk war. He had three wives: Sarah, Mary and Sarah Bell, and left twenty-three children, who are well and favorably known throughout Utah.

 

PETERSEN, NIELS R., tithing office clerk, son of Rasmus and Ane Kirstine, was born in Denmark, June 2, 1858. The family joined the Mormon church and emigrated to Utah, he coming to Manti in 1880. In 1881 he was appointed assistant tithing clerk, and in 1887 was promoted to the position of clerk. He left the office in 1890 in the interest of the Y. M. M. I. A., returning in 1893, where he still works. He is a director and secre­tary in the Manti Co-op Sheep-Herding and Wool-Grow­ing Institution, treasurer of the Manti Co-op. Mercantile Institution, and a stockholder in the Central Utah Wool Company. His wife was Jensine C. Hansen, daughter of Hans and Ane M., a native of Bornholm, Denmark, born, August 5, 1856. They were married in Salt Lake City, October 21, 1880, and have five children, Niels C., born December 29, 1881; Kirstine M. January 4, 1885; Jessie C., December 9, 1887; Erastus, May 2, 1890, and Grace, March 7, 1892

 

PETERSON, ANDREW, Temple worker, son of Peter and Anna Anderson, was born in Horsted, Thisted, Denmark, May 1, 1850. He was raised on a farm, joined the Mormon Church in 1870 and spent two years as a traveling elder. In 1873 he came to Utah, residing four years in Salt Lake City, and then removed to Manti. He worked eight years in quarrying rock and helping to build the Temple, then went on a two years mission to the Southern States, where he had charge of the West Tennessee conference for six months. On his return he entered the Temple as a. worker and has been engaged there since then, with perfect satisfaction to all con­cerned. He is also engaged in the poultry business and is a much respected citizen, being an earnest worker in church and business affairs. Was married in Salt Lake City September 20, 1873, to Christina Neilsen, born April 14, 1852. They have had eight children: Annie, Andrew, one of the volunteers in the United States army in war with Spain; Christina, William H, Emeline Viola, living; Richard, Christian and Albert, deceased.

 

 

PETERSON, O. C., farmer, son of Ole and Anna, was born on the island of Falster, Denmark, Decem­ber 25, 1840. He was raised on a farm, joined the Mormon Church in 1868 and in 1870 came to Utah, lo­cating in Manti. He bought 2 acres of land and added to it until he now owns a nice farm of 35 acres. He sometimes works in winters making baskets. Was mar­ried in Manti March 2, 1873, to Karen, daughter of Jacob and Mary Jacobsen, born in Denmark, February 2, 1840. They have three children: Oliver C., Frederick and Mary A.

 

PROVSTGAARD, NIELS J., jeweler and sewing ma­chine dealer, son of Jens S. and Karen Provstgaard, was born in Provstgaard Jyland, Denmark, April 25, 1849, where he learned the shoemaker trade, and fol­lowed the business. In 1871 he came to the United States and located the following spring in Fountain Green, where he engaged in the shoe business. About 1877 he entered the Fountain Green Co-op. store, and after two years as a clerk he became manager, which position he held for two and one-half years. He came to Manti in 1884 as traveling salesman for the Singer Sewing Machine Company, working Sanpete, Emery, Sevier and Piute counties. In 1894 he opened a store where he carries a stock of groceries, hats, caps and no­tions, and does general watch and clock repairing. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. and the Mormon church, and a conservative business man. He was married in Denmark, October 30, 1871, to Johanne Nielson, who died in this city December 3, 1887. He was married in Manti December 28, 1888, to Mette Maria C., daughter of Jorgen and Anna M. Benson. They have two children, Alvira, born July 18, 1891, and Niels L.  June 25, 1894.

 

REID, EDWARD, tailor, son of John and Fanny, was born in Drumbo, County Down, Ireland, of Scotch  ancestry, February 15, 1828. He served six years as an apprentice and learned the trade of tailoring and has followed the business most of his life. In 1847 he joined the Mormon Church in Liverpool and for seven years was a traveling elder. He presided over the Kil­marnock, Scotland, conference in 1856; the Dundee, Scotland, conference in 1857 and 1858; the Herefordshire, Scotland, conference in 1859, and the Nottingham, Eng­land, conference in 1860 and 1861. In 1861 he came to Utah and located in Payson, where he resided twenty years. Was tailor in the Z. C. M. I., Salt Lake City, three years. Served as a. Lieutenant in the Black Hawk war. In 1880 he removed to Dover, taking up 160 acres of land, built a home and tried farming, but had to leave on account of saleratus in the soil. Came to Manti in 1888 and opened a tailor shop and has worked up a nice trade. Is a first-class cutter and fitter and practical tailor. Was married in Belfast, Ireland, August 3, 1853, to Sarah, daughter of Hugh and Catherine Shields, born in the county of Down July 12, 1828. They had seven children: Hugh, John S. and Edward, living in Dover; Fannie M., wife of George R. Judd, Grantsville; and Agnes J., wife of Prof. John M. Mills, L. D. S. College, Salt Lake City, living; Annie and Sarah, deceased. His wife died Au­gust 1, 1889. Married again July 27, 1897, to Nancy Jones, nee Billings, daughter of George P. and Jerusha Shomaker Billings, born in Manti.

 

REID, JOHN P., farmer, son of John and Fannie White, was born in the county of Down, Ireland,  February 25, 1825. He learned to be a gardener and followed that occupation for several years. At the age of 26 he became a polisher of pianos and line furni­ture. In 1847 he joined the Mormon church at Belfast, and for nine years the Mormon meetings were held in his house. He came to Utah in 1871 and quarried rock for his house, the family coming in 1872, when he had built a place. He took up 160 acres of land and now owns sixty acres. He has always taken an active part in church matters, and is a member of the Elders' Quorum, having served two years as president and eleven years as first counselor to the president. Was married in Ire­land October 10, 1844, to Margaret, daughter of Edward and Mary Kirkwood, born in Ireland March 14, 1826. They had thirteen children: Edward, Will K., John K., Elizabeth, Alexander, Agnes, Lucy S., Robert and Sarah, living; Thomas, Elizabeth and two infants, deceased, he has seventy grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

 

REID, WILLIAM A., blacksmith, son of George B. and Margaret Gardner, was born in Salt Lake City,  June 13, 1853. His father was a stonemason, com­ing to Utah in 1849 with an ox-train. About 1857 the family removed to Nephi, where the father died in Feb­ruary, 1892 ; the mother died there August 25, 1877. Wil­liam learned the blacksmith trade, and, beginning in 1877, has built up a successful business. In September, 1892, he came to Manti and built his present shop, where he does general blacksmithing, horse shoeing and repairing of machinery. He owns a fine residence and is a stockholder in the Messenger. His first wife was Mary A. Carter. They were married in Nephi, March 18, 1878. She died in Nephi, December 22, 1888, leaving three chil­dren, William G., John C. and Margaret A. He mar­ried in Manti, July 2, 1890, Laura A., daughter of Joseph and Laura A. Tuttle. They have four children, Pearl, Joseph H., Grace and Frank.

 

REID, WILLIAM F., farmer, son of William T. and Jane McEwan Reid, was born in Payson, Utah, April 30, 1865. When a small boy his family re­moved to this city, where he was educated and trained up to farm work. He owns about sixty acres of good land, and for the last few years has been interested in stock raising. In 1893 he built a fine residence on his city property east of the business center. He is a stock­holder in the Manti Co-op store and was for several years Deputy County Clerk and Recorder. His wife, whom he married in this city a. few years ago, was Diantha Lowry, daughter of John and Mary Lowry.

 

REID, HON. WILLIAM K., of the law firm of Reid & Cherry, Manti, was born in Belfast, Ireland, October 21, 1848; son of John P. and Margaret (Kirk­wood) Reid, now residents of Manti. His parents joined the Mormon church about 1845 and the father was presi­dent of the Belfast Branch for a number of years.. Our subject learned the trade of French polisher of his father and after he became of age followed it, polishing furni­ture and pianos in Belfast, Glasgow and Liverpool. His father came to Utah in 1871 and was followed the next year by the family, the mother and William K., Mar­garet, Alexander, Agnes, Lucy, Robert and Sarah. William K. after his arrival here taught school and studied law and was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Utah June 22, 1883. He opened an office in Manti and soon secured a large clientele, he was elected to the office of Prosecuting Attorney in 1883 and re-elected in 1884, 1886, 1888 and again in 1896, being the present incumbent. He was elected Superintendent of Schools in 1883-85 and 1887. In 1889 he was elected a member of the Territorial Legislature and during Cleveland's sec­ond administration he was appointed Probate Judge of the county. He is at present City Attorney for Manti, Ephraim, Gunnison, Spring City and Fairview of this county and Salina of Sevier county. Mr. Reid is a strong silver Democrat and is a charter member of Manti Lodge No. 23, A. O. U. W. In August, 1897, Mr. Reid took into partnership with him James W. Cherry, a bright, ener­getic and capable young lawyer, a son of Judge A. N. Cherry of Salt Lake.

Mr. Reid married in Salt Lake City April 24, 1870, Miss Jane Leatham, daughter of Robert and Jane S., of Wellsville, Cache County, Utah. Their children, born in Manti, are as follows: Maggie May, born March 31, 1880: William, born May 29, 1882, died September 3, 1883; Jennie S., born November 3, 1883; Ruby, born October 27, 1885; Robert R., born September 4, 1887; Georgie, born April 8, 1889; Vida, born January 23, 1892; Kathleen, born March 24, 1894; Phyllis, born July 3, 1896.  Mr. Reid is local attorney for the Rio Grande West­ern railroad and the Manti Co-op. Is a good judge of law and well read in all its intricacies; is much esteemed by his constituents and gives promise of being one of Utah's ablest practitioners at the bar.

 

REID, BISHOP WILLIAM TAYLOR, of Scotch descent, was born on the 21st of July, 1830, in Drumbo,  County Down, Ireland. His father, John, was a gard­ener and William was trained to the same occupation. He married, December 3, 1848, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Miss Jane McEwan. She was born July 3, 1833, in Edin­burgh. Of their children born there three are living, viz., John, Jane and Henry McEwan, and three, viz., Eliza, William F. and Edward E., born after their arrival in Utah.

Bishop Reid joined the Mormon church in Belfast, Ireland, January 9, 1848, and was an early earnest worker, and presided over the Edinburgh conference of said church part of 1861 and 1862. Emigrated to Utah in 1862, and drove from Florence, on the Missouri river, with an ox team with Capt. John R. Murdock, of Beaver, in a church train, and located at Provo. He taught school there in the Fourth Ward that winter, and then turned his attention to farming for a short time, thence to Springville, where he taught one season, and from there to Payson and Spring Lake Villa, where he was farming and teaching for two years, and from there to Richfield.

He held a commission as Major in the Black Hawk war in the Sevier County militia. In November, 1867, he re­moved to Manti and was appointed to the offices of County Clerk and Recorder and County Superintendent of Schools, which positions he held for sixteen years to the entire satisfaction of the people. In 1877 was ap­pointed Bishop of the North Ward, Manti, and is the present incumbent. Is president of the Manti Co-opera­tive Mercantile Institution since 1876 and Land Attorney since 1883.

Bishop Reid has been an active, hard worker; is a man of large experience unusual sound judgment, thor­ough in all business arrangements, keen, energetic and wide awake to the interests of the people over whom he presides and in whose hearts he lives.

Being true to his earnest religious convictions, he married November 23, 1860, Mary Adelaide M. Cox, of Manti, and he had by her four children, viz.: Clare W., Edgar E., Mary A. and Alice.

 

RICHEY, WILLIAM B., of Manti son of William B. and Margaret A. (Adair), born in Knox, Yuba County, Miss., May 17, 1840. His father was a planter but not a believer in slavery. He joined the Mormon church and moved to Nauvoo in 1846. He was engaged in missionary work many years in Mississippi and to the Cherokee Nation in Florida, learned their language, married Nancy Ridge, the chief's daughter, and became a member of the nation. About a year later his wife died and he returned to Mississippi and married the mother of our subject.

The family came to Utah in 1848 and in the fall of 1849 they came with the first company to Manti and passed through all the hardships and privations of those early days. The mother died in Manti in 1852 and the father in 1878 in Parowan. When Wil­liam B. grew up he engaged in freighting to the mining camps in Nevada fifteen years. After the railroads were built he engaged in farming and now has a nice farm, also a comfortable stone residence, one of the first built after moving out of the fort. In both the Indian wars he took his part. In 1862 he went to California, and in the employ of the Government shipped on board the Senator in charge of 200 mules. He started in the spring of 1863 with the California volunteers for Texas, but his sympathies being with the South, he was dis­charged at Fort Yuma and returned to Utah.

He mar­ried August 26, 1868, Johanne, daughter of Rasmus and Magdalene Hougaard. Their children are Johanne J., Sarah B., Julia D., Nellie L., Jenny L., Willina, William, John B., Benjamin and Margaret; A., Mary M. and Emily deceased. Mr. Richey is a highly respected citizen, Dem­ocrat, member of Board of Supervisors and county jailer.

 

RIDDLE, ISAAC, woolgrower, son of John and Elizabeth Steward, was born in Boone County, Kentucky, March 22, 1830. His father was a County physician and for many years was a Baptist minister. The family removed to West Tennessee when Isaac was a small boy, remained there for three years, then went to Hickman county, Kentucky, where his father had an extensive medical practice. His father joined the Mormon church in 1843 and in the spring of 1844 the family moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, and were there when the prophet was killed. In August, 1844, the family removed to Iowa and spent two and a half years among the Indians in South Dakota, finally removing to Omaha, from which point they came West with Brigham Young's company. They stopped at Pawnee for a time, then at Winter Quarters, and in 1847 returned to northwestern Missouri, remain­ing there three years. The father went to Kentucky on a two years' mission, leaving Isaac to take care of mother and seven children. He more than doubled the family possessions while his father was absent, and in the spring of 1850 they were ready to start for Utah with four yoke of oxen and two wagons. They reached Utah in October, 1850, and located in North Ogden.

Isaac was married in North Ogden March 6, 1853, to Mary A., daughter of Frederick and Julia. A. Levie. They had six children: Isaac J., a business man in Escalante, Garfield county, and Joselina M., residing near Panguitch and engaged in farming and stock raising, are the two living ones. His wife died in Beaver, Utah, March 4, 1874. In the spring of 1854 he was called on an Indian mission and spent ten years in southern Utah, Arizona, Nevada and Southern California. He had many exciting experiences and narrow escapes from Indians and starvation. He was with the company of twenty-two of which Jacob Hamblin as president and often had to kill an old worn out horse for food. One of the party, George A. Smith, Jr., was killed. After the missionary labors were completed he removed to Beaver county and engaged in farming and stock raising and was very suc­cessful in accumulating at least $50,000 in stock and mill property in fifteen years work. He built a grist mill at Kanosh, one in Sevier county and a third one at Loa, Wayne county. He joined with others and bought a large roller mill at Elsinore and one at Springville, in Utah county, which he now owns

His second wife was Mary R. James, a widow. She had seven children: Mary, wife of William Fotheringham, Jr., farmer and stock raiser of Garfield county; Elizabeth M., wife of Joseph Betterson, farmer and stock raiser, of Garfield county; Francina, wife of M. M. Ste­vens, farmer, in Iowa county, Iowa; Thomas, farmer and stock raiser, of Garfield county, and Minerva, wife of John Knowles, farmer and stock raiser, of Garfield county, are living, his third wife was Mary A., daugh­ter of Robert and Mary A. Knell. She has had seven children, five of whom are living: Lydia A., wife of Andrew N. Holdaway, farmer and stock raiser, residing near Provo; Lilly, wife of Warren Holdaway, farmer and stock raiser, near Provo; Wallace M., farmer and stock raiser in Garfield county; Charles E., farmer and stock raiser, in Garfield county, and John, at home. The fourth wife was Mary C. Turnbough. Mr. Riddle re­sided three years in Provo, where he went to educate his children, and while there, served a time for having a plurality of wives.

In the fall of 1890 he came to Manti to work in the Temple, and has been an earnest man in the cause, ex­pending no less than $15,000 in prosecuting his labors. He has erected fine dwellings in Manti and is an ener-

getic, hard-working and most representative citizen, His many interests extend in all parts of the State and he may always be found actively engaged in his work and conscientiously performing his duties in every field.

 

ROSENKRANTZ, NEILS, farmer and woolgrower, son of Peter and Sophia, was born in Denmark December 5, 1833. He was a sailor for a few years, a farm overseer for several years and foreman in loading and unloading vessels for a steamship company six years at Aarhus. Joined the Mormon Church in 1863 and in 1872 came to Utah, locating in Manti. He brought a family of eight, costing $1000 for transportation, and had but 75 cents on his arrival. Worked at anything he could get to do and finally bought ten acres and added to it until he now owns a nice farm of thirty-five acres. Was engaged in the mercantile business two years, then pur­chased sheep, now having 2000 head. Was married in Aarhus to Christina Olsen. She died there in 1864, leav­ing three children: Sophia (deceased), Ole and Christian. Married again in 1866 to Annie K. Sorenson. She has six living children: Christina, Neils, Hans, Petrea, Peter and Anna M.

 

SCHAUGAARD, MRS. I. M., dealer in groceries and notions and owner of restaurant and ice cream parlor, a native of Norway, was born December 16, 1847. She was raised in the old country and joined the Mormon Church there. In 1884 she came to Utah, locating in Salt Lake City. She was married in the Logan Temple March 18, 1886, to N. C. Schaugaard, a farmer and carpenter. .In August, 1886, she came to Manti and worked in the Temple, being the first woman worker. She soon opened a small store and has been doing a good business. Being left with nothing, she has by energy and perseverance worked up a good trade and purchased the building in which she lives and does business. She is an honest and industrious woman and deserving of all the patronage the people can bestow. Her only son is Joseph C., born May 8, 1887.

 

SHAND, DAVID, farmer and woolgrower, son of Da­vid and Catherine Clark, was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, May 18, 1844. He joined the Mormon Church in 1861 and in 1863 came to Utah, crossing the plains in an ox train, under Capt. Haight. He engaged in farming for a time and spent four years as a contractor in Little Cottonwood canyon, developing mining claims. For twenty years he was engaged in freighting produce to Salt Lake City and mining camps of Utah and Ne­vada. In the spring of 1886 he went on a mission to Indian Territory, and labored 18 months among the various tribes, he now owns a fine farm of 100 acres. In 1889 he engaged in wool growing and now has about 10,000 sheep, some of which he has on shares. He has a nice home in the city, and is a self-made man and repre­sentative citizen. He took an active part in the Black Hawk war, standing guard and doing his share. Was married in Salt Lake City, October 4, 1866, to Bridget, daughter of John and Ann Weir Hoggan, born in Fifeshire, Scotland, January 31, 1846. They have had eleven children. David F., Kate, John W. Marian, Charles S., Maggie, Jessie L. and Robert C., living; Annie, Jennie, and Leslie C., deceased. Mrs. Shand came to this country in 1846, crossing the plains in Capt. Dan Thompson's ox train.

 

SHOMAKER, HON. EZRA, president of the Central Utah Wool Company of Manti, is a native of Adams County, Illinois, where he was born March 20, 1843. He is a son of Jezreel, who was a farmer and stock raiser and a native of Pendleton County, Kentucky, born Octo­ber 29, 1796. His father was born in the same county, and his father, Ezra's great grandfather, was a native of Pennsylvania. In 1847 his parents emigrated to Utah and spent the winter in Salt Lake City, and in the spring of 1848 they moved to Bountiful, Davis Coun­ty, his father and Perigrene Sessions being the first two men to settle and locate that place, which long went by the name of Sessions. In the fall of 1849 the family moved to Manti, arriving here on the 19th of November, when they went into camp with others of the company and located themselves for the winter on the south side and at the foot of Quarry hill, where the Temple now stands. They engaged in farming, stock raising, etc. His father was a prominent man in the early settlement of the place and was a member of the first High Council-chosen to that position May 1, 1851. He died in Manti May 31, 1879.

Ezra's mother, whose maiden name was Nancy Golden, was a native of the same place as was her hus­band. She was born April 22, 1808, and shared all the arduous labors and privations with him, and died in Manti May 23, 1870. Ezra was brought up to the farm­ing industry and engaged in stock and sheep raising; has a valuable farm of about sixty acres near Manti. In 1891, when the wool company was organized, he became a director and was vice-president two years, and in 1894 was elected its president. This company does an annual business of about $250,000 in buying and shipping wool, and in addition handle wagons, agricultural implements, etc. He is a prominent member of the Mormon church, member of the High Council ten years; was a member of the City Council terms of 1875, '77, '79 and '85; was Mayor 1891-2, and again in the Council in 1893. His repeated elections showed the esteem and confidence in which he was held by his constituents. He married in Salt Lake City, while a resident of Manti, December 1, 1866, Miss Abigail Tuttle, daughter of Azariah, born October 13, 1848, in Pottawattamie, Iowa. They had seven children, two living, viz.: Leonard A. and Azariah O., associated in business together in sheep and cattle industry in Alberta, Canada.  

 

SHOMAKER, HON. JEZEEEL, deceased, son of Lakey and Sally Ellis, was born in Bourbon county, Ken­tucky, October 29, 1796. He was brought up as a frontiersman in Pendleton county, where he was engaged in lumbering and farming. April 1, 1824, he married Nancy, daughter of John and Mary Robinson Golden, born in Pendleton county, Kentucky, April 22, 1808.

About 1828 they removed to Illinois and located in Adams county, near Quincy, where he homesteaded 160 acres of land and purchased other claims, having the largest farm in the county. When neighbors settled around him he donated land for a school-house, which was erected. He became quite a prominent man in Adams county, giving quarters to all religious societies, yet claiming allegiance to none, until in the 40's, when he joined the Mormon Church. This required the selling or giving away of all he had, and in 1847 he fitted up teams and wagons and crossed the plains, arriving in Salt Lake City with the pioneers in Capt. Charles Rich's company. His wife rode in a carriage and drove a horse team all the way.

He first located in Salt Lake City, then removed to Sessions settlement, near Bountiful. In the fall of 1849 he joined the pioneers and came to Sanpete, locating in Manti, one of the first colonists. Here he remained un­til his death, which occurred May 30, 1879. He had good teams and plenty of provisions when coming to Manti, and assisted many poor families in getting the neces­saries of life. When the church wanted money the leaders called upon Father Shomaker and secured a portion of his savings. If the poor needed grain or clothing they never called on him without getting as­sistance. He prospered in the accumulation of land and property, and occupied many prominent positions in civil and ecclesiastical matters, serving as Mayor for three terms and being a member of the first City Coun­cil. His children were: Sally, wife of Harrison Fugate of Emery county; Jerusha, widow of George P. Billings; Ezra, a prominent citizen of Manti; Laura, widow of Jo­seph Tuttle; and Lakey, a well-known farmer and sheep-owner, of Manti, who are living; John G., Theophilus, Marion and Jeptha, deceased.

 

SHOEMAKER, JOEL, journalist, son of Newton and Emily J. Taylor, was born in Pendleton county Ky., October 2, 1862. He attended the home distract schools, Butler high school and State University. At the age of 16 he began as a newspaper correspondent and has followed that continuously in college and while pur­suing other vocations. Spent two years in the central States as writer, lecturer and organizer for the Patrons of Husbandry and other societies. Came to Utah in 1883 and has taught High school and district schools in San­pete, Weber and Grand counties. Was Ogden represen­tative of the Salt Lake Times one year. Served two years as assistant editor of the Irrigation Age, Mining Age and Times. Was the first editor of the Manti Mes­senger for two years, making it then the leading Republican weekly of Utah, and aided very materially in carry­ing the city, county and State the only years the party has been successful. Was editor of the Logan Republi­can for a time. Is an honorary member of the Utah Irri­gation Association and has been a delegate to several Western congresses and conventions. Has served as vice-president and historian of the Utah Press Association and vice-president of the Western Editorial Federation. Has written four books on irrigation, co-operation and kindred subjects, and is well known throughout the world as a prominent contributor to the leading agricul­tural, sporting and travel publications. He claims no religion but that of humanity. Was married in Manti September 15, 1885, to Luella, daughter of George P. and Jerusha. Billings, born in Manti September 15, 1885. They have had six children: Blaine and Nannie, living; Maggie, Tallula, George and Gail, deceased.

 

SIDWELL, MRS. ADELIA B., rancher, daughter of Orville S. and Elvira P. Mills Cox, was born in Lima, Ill., December 1, 1841. Her father was born in Plymouth, New York, and removed to Nelson, Ohio, thence to Lima, Illinois, where he married Elvira P. Mills, born March 2, 1820. In 1845 they were driven with the Mormons to Nauvoo, in 1846 removed to Pisgah, Iowa, and in 1847 came to Utah in Capt. Robinson's com­pany of 1850, father being captain of the "Pisgah Mor­mons," arrived in Salt Lake City October 2, 1847. His son, Orville M., was born in the old adobe fort in Novem­ber and is supposed to be the oldest living male child born in Salt Lake City. Father removed to Bountiful in spring of 1848 and was called by President Young to go in Father Morley's company to colonize Manti, arriving here in November, 1849. He built the first saw pit and George P. Billings assisted him in sawing lumber for the first floor in Manti. In March, 1850, Delaun was born and is the oldest male child now living born in Sanpete county. Father was captain of minute men in the Walker war and counselor to Bishop Lowry. He re­moved to Fairview in 1860; was then called to colonize the Muddy country, but the colonists were counseled to leave their homes because of dispute over boundary line between Utah and Nevada and returned to Orderville, where many of his descendants now reside. Returned again to Fairview, where he died Independence Day, 1888. Adelia was married in Manti by Bishop Moffitt April 13, 1864, to George Sidwell, a pioneer. He was a captain in the Black Hawk War, built the Willardsen grist mill and a sawmill in Ephraim and the Manti roller mill. He died September 20, 1883, leaving eight children: Susan, Corinne, Rosalia, Vivian, Elvira, George, Lafay­ette and Gideon.

  

SMITH AZARIAH, one of the oldest settlers of Manti, son of Albert and Ester Dutcher was born in Oswego county, New York, August 1, 1828. The family removed to Ohio when he was 7 and joined the Mormon Church. In 1839 they went to Nauvoo, I11., where he was baptized, his father assisting in building the temple. In 1846 he and father enlisted in the Mor­mon battalion, raised for the Mexican war. They were discharged in California. His father came to Utah, and Azariah turned back, on advice from Brigham Young, and worked in California on the Sutter mill race where gold was discovered. He now gets a pension from the Government and in 1898 was a guest of honor in the Semi-Centennial celebration in California. In 1848 he returned to Salt Lake City, and in 1849 came to Manti, with his father and mother, sisters Emily, Candace and Esther, and brother Joseph. Soon after their arrival he was taken sick and was not able to work for nearly 20 years. He has been active in church work and assisted in building the temple. His first wife was Camilla A. Taylor, married in Salt Lake City, April 10, 1849. She has two living children. Second wife, married in Salt Lake City, October 9, 1871, was Joanne M. Christensen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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