Utah Since Statehood
Author is Noble Warrum - 1919

WILLIAM H. TAYLOR.

William H. Taylor, of Ogden, who is filling the office of state road commissioner, was born in Harrisville, Utah, April 19, 1873. His father, P. G. Taylor, was a native of Bowling Green, Kentucky, but in the period of Utah's early development became a resident of this state and settled at Ogden. Afterward he removed to Harrisville. While in Ogden he served as a captain on the city police force, was also a member of the city council and was very prominent in public affairs, cooperating heartily in all well defined plans and movements for the general good. He was also a very active and prominent churchman, taking a helpful interest in promoting the up building of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he served as a member of Brigham Young's bodyguard. He also took part in various missions for the church and his activities proved a strong element in the advancement of the cause. The mother bore the maiden name of Jane N. Shurtliff and is a native of Council Bluffs. Iowa. She survives and still makes her home at Harrisville.

William H. Taylor is indebted to the public school system of Harrisville for the educational opportunities which he enjoyed. In early life he took up the occupation of farming, which he followed for a time, and later he turned his attention to the grain business at Ogden. Subsequently he became connected with construction work and devoted eighteen years of his life to that business, largely engaged in railroad construction.  He filled the position of state road agent for two years through appointment of the city commissioner and is now doing splendid work as state road commissioner, putting forth every effort to make the highways of the district the expression of the highest ideals in road building and maintenance.

In 1893 Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Miss Melissa Thomas, of Farwest, formerly of Harrisville, Utah. They have become the parents of eight children : A.  W., who is twenty-four years of age and is engaged in farming; Nellie Irene, residing at Harrisville; Beatrice, at home; Nephi G., aged eighteen, who also follows farming; Milton and Gaylord, who are attending school; Clifford; and Ronald.

Fraternally Mr. Taylor is connected with Ogden Lodge, No. 719, B. P. 0. E., and also the Fraternal Order of Eagles. In politics he is a democrat and in club circles he is well known as a representative of the Weber Club, the leading social organization of Ogden. He is interested in various mining companies and is justly regarded as a representative citizen, wide-awake to the possibilities of public improvement, interested in the opportunities for legitimate business advancement and at all times loyal to the duties reposed in him as a public official.

GILBERT THATCHER.

Various interests connect Gilbert Thatcher with Weber county, its growth, development and progress. He is identified with its moral interests as bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with its public affairs as deputy county assessor and with his business interests as a raiser and dealer in blooded live stock. While he has his offices in Ogden, he makes his home at Plain City.

He was born in Logan, Utah.  April 16, 1876. He is a son of John Bethewel Thatcher, a grandson of Hezekiah Thatcher and a great-grandson of James and Mary (Gano) Thatcher, of Martinsburg, Berkeley county, West Virginia. Their son Hezekiah was born in Martinsburg, August 25, 1809, and came to Utah, September 23, 1847, with the Daniel Spencer company. In 1829 he had married Alley Kitchin, who was born April 12, 1808, a daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Ghulic) Kitchin, of Martinsburg. With the early development and up building of Utah he was closely connected. He went as a missionary to Sweetwater in 1848 to bring immigrants to Utah and with the outbreak of the Indian war he joined the troops that aided in the defense of those who were colonizing the state. He also built the first mill in Cache county and in addition to the milling business he engaged; in stock raising and also became well known as a merchant and banker. He was ever active in the work of the church and became a member of the Seventy. He was also noted for his philanthropic spirit, constantly extending a helping hand to others. He died April 23, 1879, in Logan, where for some time he had made his home.  His son, John Bethewel Thatcher, was born at Springfield, Ohio, October 22, 1834, and was a youth of fourteen years when he drove an ox team all the way across the plains, arriving at Pioneer Fort, now Salt Lake City. He remained there for two years and then went to California in 1849, attracted by the discovery of gold on the Pacific coast. He was largely reared in California but afterward returned to Utah. He was called on a mission by George Q. Cannon and served until called by President Brigham Young on New Year's day of 1858. He was one of the elders called home by President Brigham Young at the invasion of Johnston's army into Utah. He remained in Salt Lake City only a short time and then removed south to Payson, where he also spent but a brief period. He became a resident of Logan in 1859. He was an adjutant to Colonel Ricks in policing the Cache valley against the Indians during the settlement of that valley. In September, 1880, he removed to Idaho, where he purchased a large farm, and the town of Thatcher in that locality was named in his honor. In later life he made his home in Logan and there passed away September 17, 1917. While in Idaho he served as a member of the territorial legislature in 1881 and 1882 and as a member of the state legislature during the years 1898 and 1899. He acted as county assessor and collector of Bannock county in 1896 and 1897 and was the first bishop of the Thatcher ward of Thatcher, Idaho, in which position he served for many years. In Logan he was bishop of the third ward, being called to that position upon the organization of the ward, and he remained to the time of his death a very active and prominent worker in the church.  He married Rachel Hanna Davis, of Salt Lake City, who was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, March 5. 1836, a daughter of Nathan and Sarah (Wooley) Davis, her mother being a daughter of Edwin Wooley, a prominent pioneer of Salt Lake City. Mrs. Rachel Hanna (Davis) Thatcher has also passed away. She became the mother of eleven children, namely: John Bethewel, Jr., Hezekiah, Katie, Eva, Milton Herbert, Nathan Davis, Lula, Lettie, Howard Elmer, Gilbert and Henry Kitchin. The children of the plural wife, Sarah (Davis) Thatcher, were Franklin Davis; Roy Davis; Sarah Davis; Raymond Davis; Wallace, who died in infancy; Martha Davis; Ethel Davis; Kingsley Davis: and Alice, twin sister of Kingsley, deceased.

Gilbert Thatcher was but five years of age when his parents removed to Idaho, where he pursued his education in the district schools. During the years 1896 and 1897 he was a student in the Utah Agricultural College at Logan. He afterward filled a position in the assessor's office at Pocatello. Idaho, for two years, after which he turned his attention to ranching in connection with his brothers. They leased the old homestead of the father and turned their attention to the business of raising blooded dairy cattle and hogs. To this business they gave their attention for ten years in the operation of various creameries. At length Gilbert Thatcher disposed of his business in Idaho and in October, 1907, removed to Ogden, Utah, since which time he has made his home in Weber county. He is now filling the office of deputy county assessor. He has been connected with the assessor's office for three years and is making an excellent record by the prompt, systematic and faithful manner in which he discharges the duties that devolve upon him.

On the 21st of September, 1900, Mr. Thatcher was married to Miss Margaret L. Folkman, a native of Plain City, Weber county. They became the parents of six children: Lionel Wilmot, eighteen years of age, now a student in the Weber Academy; Gilbert D., a youth of fourteen, who is attending Weber Academy of Ogden; Carma Marguerite, twelve years of age; Allen Blaine, aged ten; Edna Mae. a little maiden of eight summers; and George Wilson, who is five years of age.

Mr. Thatcher has been very prominent in the work of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1902 he went to Kansas City, Missouri, on a mission, there remaining through 1903 and 1904. While in Thatcher, Idaho, he was Sunday school superintendent for the Thatcher ward of the Bannock stake and he also served as the secretary of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association there. He was a member of the Thatcher ward bishopric from 1905 until he came to Ogden. He has been a member of the high council of the Ogden stake, serving from the time of its organization in July, 1908, and he now occupies the office of bishop of the North Weber stake in the Plain City ward. Thus he has contributed much to the growth and development of the church and the extension of its interests.

The other lines of Mr. Thatcher's activity include the raising of high bred cattle and he gives to his business affairs the same thorough and discriminating attention which he shows in his political office and in his church work. In a word, whatever he undertakes he carries forward to successful completion. He is a man of strong purpose and lofty ideals and throughout Weber county is spoken of in terms of the highest regard.

G. EARL THOMAS.

G. Earl Thomas is controlling the largest ice trade of his city under the name of the Ogden City Ice Company. He is one of Ogden's native sons, born December 2, 1892, his parents being Samuel and Ida (Moore) Thomas. The father was born in Council Bluffs. Iowa, and he, too, was connected with the ice trade of Ogden for many years, having one of the old established business enterprises of this kind in the city. Early in his commercial career he engaged in the ice business with M. L. Jones and later he carried on business independently. He died November 21, 1916, and in his passing Ogden lost one of its progressive and representative men, not only active in commercial circles but also in political affairs. He served as a member of the city council and did everything in his power to promote public progress along the lines of substantial development and improvement. Mrs. Thomas survives and yet makes her home in Ogden. 

At the usual age G. Earl Thomas became a pupil in the public schools, passing through consecutive grades to his graduation from the high school as a member of the class of 1910. He then turned his attention to the coal trade, in which he engaged for a year and on the expiration of that period entered financial circles as an employee of the Utah National Bank, with which he continued for five years. He next became active in the ice business and today the Ogden City Ice Company controls the largest trade in ice in Weber county. The business was incorporated under its present name in 1917 and Mr. Thomas is the president and manager. The offices of the company are located at No. 2379 Hudson avenue, while the Ice houses are situated above Glenwood Park. The company stores a very large amount of ice during the winter seasons and its sales have reached a very gratifying figure. 

In 1915 Mr. Thomas was married to Miss Gladys B. Ballantyne, of Ogden. They have one child, Marian Zoe. Mr. Thomas belongs to the Weber Club, the Ogden Rotary Club and also has membership with the Ogden Golf and Country Club, which indicates something of the nature of his recreation. Fraternally he is identified with Ogden Lodge, No. 719, B. P. O. E., and also with the Fraternal Order of Eagles. His entire life has been spent in Ogden, where he is justly classed with the representative and progressive young business men of the city, and moreover he has attractive social qualities which have made for personal popularity among his many friends.

JAMES M. THOMAS.

James M. Thomas, foreman of the farm of the State Industrial School at Five Points, was born in Plain City, Utah, in 1884. He is a son of J. M. and Mary (Geddes) Thomas, the former a native of Texas, while the latter was born in Scotland. The father came to Utah at an early period in the development of the state and first settled at Smithfield. while later he became a resident of Lehi. The family was among the first to establish a home at Plain City and there the father engaged in general agricultural pursuits.

James M. Thomas acquired his education in the schools of Plain City and also at Weber College, from which institution he was graduated in 1911. It was the following year that he accepted his present position as foreman of the Industrial School Farm and in this connection he has charge of placing the boys in the different departments of work for which they are best suited. All boys have a half day's schooling and the other half day is devoted to some branch of work. The farm is wisely and carefully managed by Mr. Thomas, who is proving very capable in this connection. He is also the owner of a ranch in the Teton valley, comprising three hundred and sixty acres of land devoted to general agricultural pursuits and stock raising. His land is under cultivation and he is making a specialty of the raising of seed potatoes. The place is situated near Victor, on a branch of the Oregon Short Line Railroad.

Mr. Thomas is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is president of the Teton stake. He also served as superintendent of the Stake Mutual Improvement Association until April, 1918. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party usually, but he is very liberal in his political views and does not hesitate to cast an independent ballot if his judgment dictates this to be the better course.

THOMAS EDWARD THOMAS.

Thomas Edward Thomas, who is engaged in the plumbing, gas fitting and heating business in Ogden, his establishment being at 2250 Washington avenue, was born December 10, 1894, in the city which is still his home, his parents being Thomas J. and Inez (Bingham) Thomas, both of whom are natives of Utah and are still living. The father has devoted his life to farming and contracting and now makes his home in California. 

In his youthful days Thomas Edward Thomas was a pupil in the public schools of Ogden and from the age of eleven years has been entirely dependent upon his own resources for a living. When fourteen years of age he entered business as an apprentice in the plumbing establishment of Halverson Brothers, well known plumbers of Ogden, with whom he remained for eight years, thoroughly acquainting himself with every phase of the trade and so directing his labors as to gain expert knowledge and experience in the business. He then embarked in business on his own account and has an excellent plumbing, gas fitting and heating establishment on Washington avenue. He handles everything in his line, including bath tubs, gas fixtures and all accessories of the trade, and he has built up a very satisfactory business for one of his years. 

On the 23d of February, 1916, Mr. Thomas was married to Miss Olive Parry, of Ogden, a daughter of Chauncey Parry, and they are now parents of two children: Myrene Parry, who was born February 15, 1917; and Marion Julia, born September 11, 1918.  The religious faith of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas is that of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in which he is serving as an elder. He is a very enterprising young man, industrious, energetic and determined, and he is gradually working his way upward not only in the business field but also in the regard of his fellow townsmen.

GEORGE MARTIN THORSTENSEN.

George Martin Thorstensen is actively and prominently connected with one of Ogden's important productive industries as the vice president of the Ogden. Utah.  Knitting Company, manufacturers and jobbers of the "Uta-Maid" underwear, and "L. D. S." brand of knitted garments. They manufacture various kinds of knitted underwear, with a factory at Nos. 2349-51 Grant avenue, and they also have a retail store at No. 2355 Washington avenue. As a business man Mr. Thorstensen is widely known, for his entire career has been characterized by an enterprise and progressiveness that have gained for him a creditable position in the manufacturing circles of northern Utah. Mr. Thorstensen is a native of Logan, Utah, born February 7, 1885. His father, C. E. Thorstensen, was born in Christiania, Norway, and at an early day came to the United States. He first gave his attention to merchandising after crossing the Atlantic and later took up manufacturing. He became one of the founders of the knitting business at Salt Lake and was the first manager of the Salt Lake Knitting Works, thus making for himself a creditable position in manufacturing circles. He was also active in the work of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, attaining a position of leadership in connection therewith. He served in various capacities and filled a mission doing most effective work in advancing the interests of the church. The mother, Mrs. Helen Thorstensen, is still a resident of Ogden. 

George M. Thorstensen, spending his youthful days in his native city, obtained his early education in the public schools of Logan and when but fourteen years of age became actively identified with the knitting business. He took a minor position in his father's establishment and learned the business from the beginning, thoroughly acquainting himself with the trade in every detail. Gradually in this connection he has worked his way upward through merit and ability and he is now the vice president of the Ogden, Utah, Knitting Company, Inc., which was founded by his father and which is conducting a very large wholesale and retail business. They have an extensive factory, used for the knitting of underwear and hosiery, and the output is large and of splendid quality. The department has gradually developed along substantial lines and the company is now represented upon the road by a number of traveling salesmen.  Altogether the concern employs fifty people. The wholesale and manufacturing interests are conducted at No. 2349 Grant avenue and managed by C. H. Thorstensen, a brother, while a beautiful retail store is maintained at No. 2357 Washington avenue.  In all branches the business is steadily growing and the output of the Ogden, Utah, Knitting Company is today well known, the "L. D. S." and "Uta-Maid" brands being accepted for goods of this character in various sections of the west. 

In June, 1907, Mr. Thorstensen was married to Miss Juanita Snow, of Brigham, Utah, a granddaughter of President Snow of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mr. and Mrs. Thorstensen have three children: Helen Bernice and George F., who are in school; and Norma Fay.

Mr. Thorstensen belongs to the United Commercial Travelers. He is widely known as a good business man, industrious, energetic and farsighted. He represents one of the old and highly respected families of the state and his individual record is in harmony therewith. From the age of fourteen he has been a factor in business life and his persistency of purpose, his thoroughness, laudable ambition and his enterprise have brought him to a creditable and enviable position in manufacturing circles in northern Utah.

ERNEST WILLIAM TOWNSEND.

Among the attractive mercantile houses of Ogden is that owned and conducted by Ernest William Townsend, a dealer in books, stationery, office supplies and curios.  His establishment since May, 1918, has been located at No. 2484 Washington avenue and is one of the fine stores of the city.

Mr. Townsend comes to Utah from Michigan, his birth having occurred in Owosso of the latter state on the 24th of August, 1874. His father, William M. Townsend, was horn in Geneva. New York, and devoted his life to the occupation of farming, thus providing for the support of his family. He removed from the Empire state to Michigan, where he remained for a number of years, and in 1897 removed from the Mississippi valley to Colorado, where his remaining days were passed, his death occurring in that state in 1904. In early manhood he wedded Matilda Charlotte Pease, a native of Michigan, and she, too, passed away in Colorado, surviving her husband for four years, her demise occurring in 1908.

Ernest William Townsend is indebted to the public school system of Owosso, Michigan, for the educational opportunities which he enjoyed in his youth and which qualified him for life's practical and responsible duties. In 1906 he went to Cripple Creek. Colorado, and engaged in prospecting in connection with his father and brother, devoting three years to that work amid the high Rockies. He next took up his abode in Denver, where he was engaged in the stage line business, and later he was associated with the Parkinson-Wallace China Company of Denver, one of the leading houses of the kind in that city. In 1901 he turned his attention to the news business and became manager of the News Company of Salt Lake City in 1903. He occupied that position for a brief period and then removed to Boise, Idaho. On coming to Ogden, Utah, he took charge of the interests of the Gray News Company in the Union depot and occupied that position for a period of seven years. He was ambitions, however, to engage in business on his own account and opened a book, stationery, office supply and curio store in Ogden, his first location being in the Marion Hotel on Twenty-fifth street. There he continued until May, 1918, when he removed to No. 2484 Washington avenue, where he conducts a very fine store under the name of the Ogden Book & Curio Company, carrying an extensive line of goods. He has won many customers among Ogden's best people and his business is continually increasing. He also possesses considerable inventive skill and ingenuity and invented and patented a pencil holder which is very ingenious. It is constructed on the order of a revolving rack for postcards, takes up little space and makes a fine display, holding many gross of pencils.

On the 11th of September, 1907, Mr. Townsend was united in marriage to Miss Hilda Isabelle Cook, of London, England, a daughter of Dr. P. A. Cook, of Ogden, who removed with his family to Utah when Mrs. Townsend was but a year old. Fraternally Mr. Townsend is connected with the Elks Lodge No. 719. He has comparatively little time for outside interests, however, as he concentrates his efforts and attention upon his business affairs, and by reason of his close application and persistency of purpose he has made steady advancement. He is a man of very pleasing personality as well as of splendid business ability and executive force and these qualities have been the dominant factors in his progress.

A. W. TRACY, Sr.

Sixty-nine years have been added to the cycle of the centuries since A. W. Tracy, Sr., became a resident of Utah. He now makes his home at Wilson Lane and has for a number of years been retired from active business life. He was born in Nauvoo, Hancock county, Illinois, in 1846, his parents being of that band of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who lived there through the troublous period that led to the exodus to the west. They made the journey across the plains to Utah in 1850 and settled at Marriott, where the father took up the occupation of farming and where he and the mother continued to reside until they were called to their final rest.

A. W. Tracy was but four years of age when the parents migrated to Utah and here upon the western frontier, amid the scenes and conditions of pioneer life, he was reared and educated. He early became the active assistant of his father in the work of the farm and later he began farming on his own account. Removing to Wilson Lane, he secured land and bent his energies to its development and cultivation. He also worked on the railroad as an engineer for several years and his life for an extended period was a most active and industrious one. As the evening of life drew on he put aside business cares and is now enjoying a well earned rest. 

In 1870 Mr. Tracy was married to Miss Ann Wilson, a daughter of B. B. Wilson, and they became the parents of six children, of whom three are yet living. The wife and mother passed away in 1882. In 1883 Mr. Tracy was again married, his second union being with Miss Sarah A. Reed, by whom he had eight children, of whom six survive.  He also has thirty-seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.  Mr. Tracy is a high priest in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his aid and influence have been potent elements for good in the community in "which he has lived and in which he has served as a church trustee, while in material things he has been active as a canal builder, a railroad builder and a farmer.

GEORGE TRESEDER.

A most active and busy life is that which has been led by George Treseder. who has been closely connected with the development of Utah as a contractor and builder. He has been identified with many public projects contributing to the up building and improvement of the state and his reminiscences of the early days are most interesting. He has now reached the seventy-ninth milestone on life's journey, his birth having occurred on the island of Jersey, off the coast of England, in 1840. His parents were Richard and Elizabeth (Mackey) Treseder the former a native of Devonport. England, while the latter was born at the Cove of Cork in Ireland. They came to the United States in 1855 after living for some time on the island of Jersey, and located at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In the same year George Treseder, with his brothers. Charles and Richard, made the journey westward to Utah, crossing the plains with three yoke of oxen.

George Treseder located with John Henry Smith in Sugar House ward and engaged in farming on church land for three years. He afterward took up his abode in Salt Lake City and gave his attention to carpenter work for several years. Later he worked on the tabernacle for six months and in 1861 he returned eastward as far as Wyoming, where he met his parents, who were making the journey to Utah. After a few days he was again in Salt Lake City, accompanied by his parents, and once more took up carpenter work.

In 1862 he engaged with John Bolwinkle in hauling freight and later entered the employ of the Wells Fargo Express Company, for which he hauled freight and express from Salt Lake to Nevada, making three trips for that company. This was during the time when the Indians were very hostile, killing a driver whenever they could. Mr. Treseder and his crew therefore had to be on guard night and day. The Indians shot and killed two drivers, one of whom was Wood Reynolds and the other Riley Simpson. After making three freighting trips Mr. Treseder began work for the Wells Fargo Company on their ranch in the Ruby valley, spending one season there, the company undertaking the breaking of a large tract of land on which to raise grain to feed their horses and thus obviating the necessity of hauling feed for long distances. Mr. Treseder received seventy-five dollars per month and his board for this work. He took charge of the station and cooked for forty men.

Afterward he returned to Salt Lake on the overland route and remained in that city for a time but later went to Echo canyon, where there was a surveying party at work on the line of the Union Pacific Railroad. Mr. Treseder entered the employ of the company, trimming trees for telegraph poles which were the first to come down the canyon. He also engaged in getting out building rocks and likewise worked on the building of tunnels. He also assisted in the building of bridges and thus in many ways was connected with the construction work of the railroad. Later, however, he accepted the position of cook and worked in that way from one camp to another between Tunnel Camp and Devil's Gate and on through to Promontory, where the road was completed. Subsequently he returned to Salt Lake, where he again took up work at the carpenter's trade. In 1881 Mr. Treseder became a resident of Ogden, where he has since made his home.

In 1870 he was married to Miss Emily Pilington. a daughter of John and Emily Pilington, and to them were born seven children, of whom two died in infancy. The oldest son. George, had one son in the service on active duty in France.

Mr. Treseder is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and 4has always adhered to that faith. Sixty-four years have come and gone since he reached Utah and through the intervening period he has indeed been a witness of the changes which have been wrought in this state. He came into a territory that was most sparsely settled. He has seen the state become thickly populated, while thriving towns and villages have sprung up here and there and many of these have developed into most progressive and metropolitan cities. Utah has taken the lead in many steps of progress and improvement and has utilized her natural resources to splendid advantage. With the work of general development and improvement Mr. Treseder has been connected, being identified with the construction of its main railroad line and with other activities which have been of great benefit to the state. He well deserves mention among the pioneer settlers of Utah.

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