History of Sanpete
Published by W. H. Lever in 1898
Prominent Citizens of Moroni

DANIELS, WILLIAM, farmer and stock raiser, son of Frederick and Dorthea, was born in Germany June 1, 1831. He learned the trade of a stone mason and in '53 removed to Denmark, where he joined the Mormon church. In '75 he emigrated and located in Moroni for a time, then took up 160 acres of land two and a half miles south of the city, where he now has 200 acres, and is engaged in stock raising. He is a member of the board of school trustees and a good, representative citizen. Was married in Denmark July 3, 1856, to Sophia Thompson, born in Denmark March 8, 1833. They have six children: Dora, Mene, Henry, Christian, Josephine and Hyrum.

DRAPER, AMOS, lumber manufacturer, son of William and Ruth H., was born in Spanish Fork, Utah, March 4, 1863. He came with his parents to Moroni in March 1865, and grew up here. In '82 he engaged in the sawmill business and has followed the work ever since.  He is a stockholder in the Moroni Irrigation company and served as teacher in the Elders' quorum in '95 and '96. Was married to Sarah J., daughter of Charles and Jane Thomas, born in Moroni May 7, 1864. They have six children: Almira, Amos, Charles P., Sarah J., William C. and Cora.

DRAPER, WILLIAM J., farmer, son of Moses and Rachel, was born in Draper, Utah, June 25, 1862.  He grew up in Moroni to farming and freighting work. Now owns about twenty-five acres of land and is engaged in farming. Is a Democrat and acted as delegate to the county convention in '97. Was married to Laura C, daughter of J. C. and Cheston Nielsen, born December 22, 1865. They have had eight children: Winnie I., Niel J., Arthur, Tessie, Austin and Rosbel, living; Oscar J. and an unnamed infant, deceased.

DRAPER, RILEY N., farmer and stock raiser, son of William and Fanny, was born in Draperville, Utah, May 7, 1857. His father came to Utah with the pioneers.  Riley N. owns a farm of sixty acres; is one of the ecclesiastical board of directors for two years' term and one of the prominent farmers of Moroni. Was married in Moroni January 2, 1879, to Margaretta, daughter of Isaac and Abiah Morley, born April 29, 1861. Wife died August 18, 1897, leaving five children: Margaretta L., Delbert M., Roswell N., Fanny A., Sherman L. and Philemon, and Philetus, deceased.

DRAPER, MOSES, farmer, son of William and Elizabeth, was born in Canada of American parentage July 9, 1832. In '34 the family removed to Kirtland, Ohio, having joined the Mormon church the year before through the preaching of Brigham Young. Father helped build the Kirtland Temple and passed through the church persecutions in Missouri and Illinois losing: a great deal of property. When they were driven from Nauvoo their property was burned for the third time. In '49 they came to Utah, crossing the plains, in Capt.  George A. Smith's company, and located at Draper, named after father, who was bishop and the leading man.  Moses was married in Salt Lake City October 4, 1855, to Rachel M. Hefner, President Brigham Young officiating.  In April 1865, they came to Moroni, where he now has a farm of 130 acres. He performed a mission of six months in the Elk Mountain country in '55 and took part in the Walker and Black Hawk Indian wars. His eleven children are: Moses H., Julia A., William J., Margaret A., Ada, Anna, Lauraett, Celestia, Ervin, Erwin and Melvin.

DRAPER, PARLEY P., farmer, son of William and Betsey, was born in Pike county, Illinois, March 30, 1843. The family joined the Mormon church and passed through the persecutions in Missouri and Illinois, father being a bishop in Iowa. In '49 they came to Utah, crossing the plains in an ox-train under Capt. George A.  Smith, and soon located in Draper, the town being named for father Draper, who was bishop eighteen years. They resided for a time in Spanish Fork and in '64 came to Moroni, where father was an enterprising and leading citizen. He died at Freedom. Parley P. grew up here to farming and stock raising. In '66 he went back to the Missouri river after emigrants in Capt. Abner Lowry's company. He was in active service throughout the Black Hawk war, being in the Salina Canyon engagement, where he and George Jackson were cut off from the company and almost captured. The Indians fired fifty shots at them. He held the rank of Second Lieutenant. He served as City Marshal two years; was in the City Council two years and is at present engaged in farming, having twenty acres of land. Was married in Draper to Margaret Simmonson, a native of Denmark. They have eleven living children: Parley J., Hetty, Frank, Freeman, Homer, Orson, Vina, Ray, Amanda, Archie and Mary.

EDWARDS, JAMES P., JR., barber, son of James P.  and Catherine Petty, was born in Manti May 17, 1870. He removed to Sterling in '81 and followed farming for three years, then went to Glenwood Springs, Colorado, and engaged in the sawmill business with his brother Albert. After one year he returned to Sterling and resumed farming and stock raising. He and brother Albert then contracted timbers for S. S. Jones and furnished lumber and ties for the Sanpete Valley Railway company in '91. After marriage he engaged with William Montgomery of Manti as barber for one year, then came to Moroni, where he had a nice shop and did a good business. Was married May 15, 1895, to Janie L., daughter of Abner and Arlish Funk Lowrey, born October 4, 1874. They have had one child, Erwin, born January 20, 1895; died August 4, 1896. Mrs. Edwards learned the trade of milliner from Mrs. Rhoda Smyth of Manti and is doing a fine business in that line.

ELIASSON, NILS L., proprietor of the Eliasson Hotel, son of Lars and Hannah, was born in Sweden August 27, 1838. He learned the trade of a landscape gardener and joined the Mormon church in '60. In '67 he came with his family to Utah, crossing the plains under Capt. Rice, and located at Moroni. He bought a farm and now owns 250 acres, being engaged in general farming and stock raising. In '81 he was appointed postmaster and held the position till '93. Served as registration officer during the time of the Utah Commission and was census enumerator for the eleventh census. Is one of the directors in the Moroni Irrigation company and a prominent and representative man. Was married in Sweden August 9, 1863, to Elna Pehrson, born in Sweden September 6, 1843. They have had six children: Nils, Orlando, Wilhelm, Berthman, Emma and Erica.

FAUX, JABEZ, farmer, son of Thomas and Ann, was born in Yorkshire, England, March 16, 1837. He learned the trade of fitter in a machine shop, joined the Mormon church and in '60 emigrated to Utah, cross ing the plains in a handcart company under Capt. Robinson, walking all the way from Florence, Neb., and located at Moroni. He worked some time in a blacksmith shop, making plows of old government wagon tires and other iron scraps picked np on the plains. In a few years he engaged in farming and now has seventy-five acres.  He took an active part, in the Black Hawk war. Helped organize the Co-op store; was the first clerk and for twenty-five years has been connected with the institution, most of the time as superintendent; is now one of the directors. Served as a member of the City Council and City Recorder several years. Since '90 he has been superintendent of the Sunday-school. In politics he is a Republican and is a prominent and much respected citizen.  Was married in Moroni December 24, 1862, to Anna Danielson, born in Sweden. They have had eight children: Jabez, Joseph, John, Anna and George, living; Ada, Mary and an unnamed one, deceased.

GEE, JOSEPH, notary public, son of Joseph and Nancy, was born in Bradbury, Cheshire, England, October 20, 1834. He learned the trade of a cotton spinner and worked at that for thirty years. In '54 he joined the Mormon church and was president of Ashton under Lyne, Oldham and Rochdale. He came to Utah in '74, settled at St. George two years, then removed to Moroni in '76. Is at present deputy water master and notary public. Was elected Assessor and Collector of Moroni and served four years, and defeated for City Justice in '97. Served as head teacher several years and is one of the prominent citizens of the town. Was married in England December 25, 1858, to Clara, daughter of John and Hannah Stafford, by whom he had nine children in England and three in America. She died in '80.  Was married again to Sarah Kellett nee Prestwich, who had one child: Dorothy. The first wife's children living are: Samuel E., Albert W., Mary Jane, Alice, Joseph, James, Clara, Aaron and Ervin.

HARDY, HON. AARON, member of the State Legislature, son of George and Merab, was born near Man-Chester, England, December 22, 1839. He learned the trade of a weaver, joined the Mormon church February 28, 1854, and came to Utah in '63, crossing the plains in Capt. Peter Nebeker's ox-train. He reached Moroni without capital, but soon secured a farm, worked on the railroad; was salesman in the Co-op store eight years and schoolteacher fifteen years. Served as the first City Recorder; was Mayor three terms. Justice of the Peace twelve years and County Selectman from '80 to '82. Took an active part in the Black Hawk war. In '96 he was elected to the State Legislature and appointed chairman of the Committee on State Prison and Industrial School. He took an active interest in these matter's and secured legislation beneficial to the inmates, making many warm friends through his philanthropic work. He now owns fifty acres of land and does notary work. Was first married in England September 11, 1861, to Elizabeth Prestwich, who died June 20, 1870, leaving two children: Aaron and Elizabeth. Second wife, married in Salt Lake City December 19, 1870, was Emma, daughter of Bishop Warner of Nephi. She had seven children: James, Addie and Wilford, living; William, Samuel, Joseph and Mary, deceased. Third wife was Amy Faux. She had seven children: Charlotte, Walter, Edna and John H., living; George, Amy and Arthur, deceased. Fourth wife was Anna M. Anderson, married September 9, 1880. She is president of the Relief society.

HUTCHINSON, DAVID, farmer, son of David and Janet Crookston, was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, May 16, 1847. He was born in the Mormon church, his folks having joined in early days. When a boy he worked at coal mining. In '61 the family came to Utah, crossing the plains in Capt. Murdock's company, and located at American Fork. He came to Moroni in '62, his parents having come before, and bought a small farm; now has forty acres. He has been engaged in wool growing, but now attends to his farm. Is superintendent of the Centreville Sunday-school, a ward teacher and member of the High Priests' quorum. He is an energetic church worker and a good citizen. Was married in Moroni in October 1850, to Jane, daughter of William and Jane Longshire Prestwich, born in England May 9, 1847. They have nine living children: Jane, Janet, David, William, Dorothy, Thomas, Jemima, William and Mary; three, Isabel, Elizabeth and an infant, deceased.

IRONS, BISHOP JOHN W., son of John W. and Hester Applegate, was born in Ocean county, New Jersey, November 21, 1823. He was raised there on a farm and joined the Mormon church in '60. In '63 he came to Utah, crossing the plains in an ox-train under Capt. Preston, and stopped in Salt Lake City one winter. He came to Moroni in the spring of '64 and has resided here since.  Took an active part in the Black Hawk war as Captain of Company A, infantry. In '77 he was appointed bishop by Brigham Young and still retains that position. Is president of the Co-op store and has been for the past twenty years. He is an active, representative citizen, having been quite prominent in all public affairs in Moroni. Was married April 24, 1844, to Deborah P., daughter of John and Rebecca Lippincott, born in Ocean county, New Jersey. They have had four children: Will L., farmer and stock raiser; Annie, wife of Hyrum Jackson, a telegraph operator; Hetty I. married Owen Smith, now dead; and John W. was teller in McCornick's bank.

IRONS, WILL L., farmer and stockraiser, son of Bishop John W. and Deborah P., was born in Ocean county, New Jersey, December 18, 1859. When he was 4 years of age the family removed to Utah, stopping for a time in Salt Lake City, then came to Moroni. He went through the home district schools and took a short course in the Deseret University. He then bought a farm and now has a nice place, making a specialty of breeding Hereford cattle. Served as a member of the City Council several years, and in '84 was elected to the office of County Collector on the Republican ticket. He is a stockholder in the Co-op store and a well-known representative citizen. Was married in Moroni to Sarah J.  Jolley, born in Payson September 22, 1861. They have eight children: Hettie I., Will M., Elmo, John W., Edith I., Jennie P., Leola and Roldo.

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