This is the year of the Semiquincentennial of the United States of America. I have wondered multiple times about this moment in time. I am fortunate to be alive to experience this year. I have heard others tell of their experiences with the Bicentennial and what a special occasion it was. I don’t recall reading much of the 1926, 1876, or 1826 celebrations. Although I know there were some in 1826, as there are references to them especially trying to get Thomas Jefferson and John Adams to attend events for that occasion.
Massachusetts State House – April 2026
From all I have read and reviewed for this year, I have a profound sense of achievement and pride in how these things have come to be and how we mostly still are as we should be. I feel that much since Independence has also been inspired. Earlier this year, I was fortunate to go to Boston. For the Semiquincentennial, I was excited. In the evenings after classes, I would walk all over Boston, with friends, to see the sights.
It is with that, I share this address from the April 1976 General Conference. This was given by N. Eldon Tanner for the Bicentennial. What he spoke of on that date seems as timeless as it fully applies even today. He took his title from the Book of Ether, given to the Jaredites as they first reached this continent:
“Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ.” (Ether 2:12)
“This being the first general conference in the bicentennial year of the United States of America, I have been doing much pondering and contemplating of this event as it relates to the gospel and the great plan of life and salvation. We are all reading and hearing much concerning the events connected with the founding of this country, and with the modern devices available to us today, the news media reach throughout the world, and we are all aware of our interrelationship with one another’s countries.
“We would expect every man to be loyal to his native land—the land in which he was born, the land in which he lives, works, and rears his family. I think of the words of Sir Walter Scott in “The Lay of the Last Minstrel”:
“Breathes there the man, with soul so dead,
“Who never to himself hath said,
“This is my own, my native land!
“Whose heart hath ne’er within him burn’d
“As home his footsteps he hath turn’d
“From wandering on a foreign strand!
Old State House – Boston – April 2026
“During the last few weeks I, with President Kimball and others of the official party, have had the privilege of attending area conferences in New Zealand, Australia, and the beautiful islands of the South Seas. New Zealand claims to be a choice land and favored by the Lord, and the night before we left Tahiti, one of the Brethren said, “Well, tomorrow we will be driven out of the Garden of Eden.”
“We were most favorably impressed by the beauties of the countries wherever we went. Sister Tanner said, “We surely live in a beautiful world.” Yes, all countries are greatly blessed by the Lord, and each is uniquely different in its beauties, its people, customs, and traditions.
“Today, however, I should like to confine my remarks to a discussion concerning the Western Hemisphere, and particularly to the United States of America, and to point out the destiny of America in the Lord’s eternal plan. The discovery of the Americas was not an accident. The event had been foreordained in the eternal councils. The prophets of old had it in view. Jacob foresaw it when he blessed his son Joseph, calling him “a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches run over the wall … unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills.” (Gen 49:22, 26.)
“Moses too made promises to the tribe of Joseph, whose land, America, was to be precious for the things of heaven and of earth, and who would “push the people together to the ends of the earth.” (See Deut 33:13-17.) These are just some of the biblical prophecies, and we have the Book of Mormon record which tells of the Jaredites who were the first to come to America. They came at the time of the confusion of languages during the building of the tower of Babel.
“Just as Noah was directed, these people too were instructed to build ships to carry them on the waters. When all was in readiness, they boarded their vessels and “set forth into the sea, commending themselves unto the Lord their God.” (Ether 6:4.)
“The account states, “And when they had set their feet upon the shores of the promised land they bowed themselves down upon the face of the land, and did humble themselves before the Lord, and did shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of his tender mercies over them.” (Ether 6:12.)
“Then, six hundred years before the birth of Christ, a prophet by the name of Lehi, who had been crying repentance unto the inhabitants of Jerusalem, was commanded by the Lord to depart with his family into the wilderness. Because of the things which he had testified concerning the wickedness of the people and the pending destruction of Jerusalem, he was mocked and scorned, and the people sought to take his life. In obedience to the Lord’s instructions, he departed with his family and others, and after a period in the wilderness, they too were instructed to build a ship and sail for the promised land. We read, “And it came to pass that after we had sailed for the space of many days we did arrive at the promised land; and we went forth upon the land, and did pitch our tents; and we did call it the promised land.” (1 Ne. 18:23.)
“While in the wilderness Nephi, the son of Lehi, was permitted to see in vision the things that would transpire concerning the destiny of America—the promised land. He said, “And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land.” (1 Ne. 13:12.)
“This, as we know, refers to Christopher Columbus, who was impelled by the Spirit of God to cross the ocean for the rediscovery of America, thus assisting in the furthering of God’s purposes.
“Columbus himself, in a letter to the Spanish hierarchy, wrote, “Our Lord unlocked my mind, sent me upon the sea, and gave me fire for the deed. Those who heard of my emprise called it foolish, mocked me, and laughed. But who can doubt but that the Holy Ghost inspired me?” (Quoted in Mark E. Petersen, The Great Prologue, Deseret Book Co., 1975, p. 26.)
“During the voyage, after weeks of sailing with no sign of land, mutiny raised its head. Finally, Columbus promised the captains of the Pinta and the Niña, both of whom wanted to turn back, that if no land was sighted in forty-eight hours, they would turn back. Then he went to his cabin and, in his words, “prayed mightily to the Lord.” On October 12, the very next day, they sighted land.
“Nephi saw in vision also the coming of the Pilgrims, who came to escape religious persecution. He foresaw the coming to America of peoples from many nations, their wars and contentions. As Nephi said, they did humble themselves before the Lord and “the power of God was with them, and also that the wrath of God was upon all those that were gathered together against them to battle.
““And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations.” (1 Ne. 13:18-19.)
“Thus the American colonies attained their independence and set up the government of the United States, all under the divine intervention of God in preparing this land for its divine destiny.
“At this point we pay tribute to those great men who accepted and met the great challenge to establish a constitution for the government of this so-called new land. That this too was divinely inspired is attested by the word of the Lord when he said, “According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles;
““That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment.
““Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another.
““And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood.” (D&C 101:77-80.)
Old North Church – Boston – April 2026
“No constitution on earth has endured longer than this one. We seek, and usually find, the answers to today’s questions in this document of yesterday. It was and is a miracle. Both Washington and Madison referred to it as such. It is an inspired document written under the guidance of the Lord. James Madison, commonly called the father of the Constitution, recognized this inspiration and gave the credit to “the guardianship and guidance of the Almighty Being whose power regulates the destiny of nations, whose blessings have been so conspicuously dispensed to this rising republic.” (Petersen, Prologue, p. 95.)
“We believe that the Constitution was brought about by God to ensure a nation where liberty could abound and where his gospel could flourish. Joseph Smith said, “The Constitution of the United States is a glorious standard—it is founded in the wisdom of God—it is a heavenly banner.” (Petersen, Prologue, p. 75.)
“Among other things, the Constitution guaranteed the religious freedom that allowed the Reformation to continue and flourish. Many of these great reformers stated that their effort was to reassert the basic Christian teachings of the Bible—but they acknowledged that they possessed no authority to administer the ordinances of the Church, or to reestablish the original church of Jesus Christ. Luther said, “Christianity has ceased to exist among those who should have preserved it.”
“Roger Williams, founder of the Baptist Church in America, said, “There is no regularly constituted church on earth, nor any person qualified to administer any church ordinances.” (LeGrand Richards, A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, Deseret Book Co., 1973, p. 29.)
“We believe that both freedom and the continuing reformation that flourished here occurred in preparation for a restoration from heaven of the full gospel of Jesus Christ. That restoration began in the United States of America in the 1820s through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith, who was chosen by the Lord and who, through personal manifestations from heavenly messengers, received pertinent records which contained the authentic record of early American peoples and God’s dealings with them. He received the priesthood and authority to reestablish the church of Jesus Christ in these latter days.
Paul Ross and Paul Revere statue – Boston – Old North Church in background – April 2026
“At the time of this restoration, God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ actually appeared to Joseph Smith, as they had appeared to leaders of previous dispensations. They announced to him that Christ’s church would be reestablished upon the earth, with a restoration of the same principles and ordinances and organization which existed in the primitive church, from which there had been an apostasy as documented by irrefutable evidence. This restoration was the greatest event in the history of mankind since the birth, death, and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
“Significantly, the early Americans to whom we have referred were aware of the birth, death, and resurrection of the Savior because they saw the same signs and wonders as those in the Old World foretelling the coming of the Lord, his life, mission, and subsequent death and resurrection.
“Referring to these same early Americans, the Lord said, as recorded in the New Testament, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (1 John 10:16.)
“In the Book of Mormon we have a beautiful account of Christ’s visit to these “other sheep” following his resurrection, when they heard his voice and recognized him as he showed the nail prints in his hands and feet. We know these were the “other sheep” because he said, “Ye are they of whom I said: Other sheep I have which are not of this fold.” (3 Ne. 15:21.) He taught them the gospel. He instituted the sacrament and ordained disciples. He gave authority to confer the Holy Ghost, healed the sick, and blessed the little children. He prayed unto the Father for them.
“We read, “The eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father;
““… and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father.” (3 Ne. 17:16-17.)
“Now, what of America’s future? How can we best show our appreciation to God for these marvelous blessings of freedom, of a place where his true and everlasting gospel was restored, of the preparation and divine guidance in every event leading to that most significant event? We must remember what the Lord told the Jaredites when they were first brought to this land: “Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written.” (Ether 2:12; italics added.)
“Many years ago in a volume entitled Beacon Lights of History, Dr. John Lord, referring to the discovery of America, said, after speaking of her great potential, “The world has witnessed many powerful empires which have passed away and left ‘not a track behind.’ What remains of the antediluvian world? … What remains of Nineveh, of Babylon, of Thebes, of Tyre, of Carthage—those great centers of wealth and power? What remains of Roman greatness even, except in laws and literature and renovated statues? … What is the simple story of all the ages?—industry, wealth, corruption, decay, and ruin. What conservative power has been strong enough to arrest the ruin of the nations of antiquity?
““Now if this is to be the destiny of America—an unbounded material growth, followed by corruption and ruin—then Columbus has simply extended the realm for men to try material experiments. Make New York a second Carthage, and Boston a second Athens, and Philadelphia a second Antioch, and Washington a second Rome, and we simply repeat the old experiments.
““But has America no higher destiny than to repeat the old experiments and improve upon them and become rich and powerful? Has she no higher and nobler mission? If America has a great mission to declare and to fulfil, she must put forth altogether new forces, and these not material. And these alone will save her and save the world. … The real glory of America is to be something entirely different from that of which the ancients boasted. And this is to be moral and spiritual—that which the ancients lacked.”
“We are all a part of America’s future. Our job is to learn and benefit from the past and to go forward in righteousness, keeping the commandments of God. In this connection the prophet Lehi said, “Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever.” (2 Ne. 1:7.)
“As we pray daily to God for guidance, we should all make the same plea as George Washington did in his prayer for our country:
““Almighty God, who has given us this good land for our heritage, we humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will.
““Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning and pure manners.
““Save us from violence, discord and confusion; from pride and arrogancy, and from every evil way.
““Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought out of many kindreds and tongues.
““Endue with the spirit of wisdom those whom in Thy name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be peace and justice at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth.
““In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail.
““All of which we ask through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.”
“We encourage our people to be good, loyal, law-abiding citizens. “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.” (A of F 1:12.)
William Prescott statue – Bunker Hill Monument – April 2026
“Also, it is our duty to seek diligently for and support and uphold good, honest, honorable, and wise representatives to govern us. Let me reiterate the message left with the Saints nearly sixty years ago at the general conference in April 1917 when Elder Anthony W. Ivins, after discussing religious liberty and the Constitution, said, “I feel authorized to say, here this afternoon, that these liberties which have come to men, both religious and civil, have not been established by the Lord to be destroyed, but that they are here to remain until liberty shall prevail from the rivers to the ends of the earth, until God’s kingdom shall be established among men, and his will done upon earth as it is done in heaven. Until the universal Fatherhood of God, and brotherhood of man shall be recognized, and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of Christ, who shall reign as Prince of Peace.” (Conference Reports, April 1917, pp. 54–55.)
“And I bear testimony that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the kingdom of God here upon the earth, with the Lord directing the work through our prophet, President Spencer W. Kimball. May I urge everyone everywhere to help bring to pass righteousness, in whatever country you may reside, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. If you are active members of the Church you will know what they are. If you are not, may I invite you to avail yourselves of the opportunity to investigate and gain a knowledge and testimony for yourselves that the gospel in its fulness has been restored, with the authority to administer the ordinances thereof, and is here upon the earth.
“Only as we accept and live the teachings of the gospel can the destiny which God planned for America be realized and the world united in peace and brotherhood. That this may speedily come to pass I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Union Oyster House – Boston – April 2026
Oysters at Union Oyster House – Boston – April 2026 – Holly Sutherland – Tecla Druffel
Hiram, Amanda, James, and Aliza Ross at the grave of David and Sarah Buttar in Clarkston, Utah – August 2021
I moved this history up in my list because I know two other descendants of David and Sarah Buttar who live near us. My wife and children are descendants of David and Sarah Buttar’s daughter, Emma Jane, who married David Crompton Thompson.
Amanda and Hiram Ross at the graves of David and Emma Thompson in Clarkston, Utah – August 2021
There are a couple of histories out there for David and Sarah Buttar. They seem to descend from a common history. There are a couple of differences and disputes, which I will point out.
David Buttar was born 2 December 1822 in Perthshire, Scotland to Donald Buttar and Elspeth Rattray. David’s death certificate and a Scottish family record give his father’s name as Daniel rather than Donald; all other sources use Donald. Some family records give Elspeth another first name of Betheah, but no contemporary record provides such a name. Although through the years, she was referred to as Betty. Some of the Buttar family records show the name. Her parents did not provide it on official records and she did not use it in her life for official purposes.
No contemporary record gives David’s birth location. He was christened 12 December 1822 in Rattray, Perthshire, Scotland. Family records show him as born in Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Scotland. His death certificate, the information coming from his surviving spouse, Sarah Keep Buttar, gives this location too.
Donald, David’s father, was a tailor by trade. David was the youngest child of his father’s family. Both Donald and David apprenticed to become shoe makers. In Blairgowrie, David ran a substantial shoemaking business, employing and boarding some fifteen persons. David followed the shoe maker trade in both Scotland and in the United States. David was brought up in a religious home. He was also musical playing the bellows on the local Presbyterian Church’s pipe organ and the flute for the choir. His father, Donald, died at the age of 83 when David was 12 years old.
In 1848, at the age of 26, David married Margaret Spalding in Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Scotland (there are disputes on the actual date, so I left it generic). On 19 January 1851, David was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Margaret was initially resistant to the gospel. Elizabeth Graham Macdonald, a recent convert who boarded with the Buttars family in Blairgowrie while her missionary husband was away in the Highlands, worked to bring Margaret to an understanding of the gospel. Margaret was baptized in November 1851. David was ordained a priest in 1854. In February of that same year, David left Scotland for America with his wife and their four small children: Marjory, Meek, Bethea, and David. They sailed from Liverpool on the ship John M. Wood, arriving in New Orleans in May 1854. While at sea the youngest child David died. Family tradition holds a more harrowing account — that the parents initially kept the baby’s body rather than commit it to the sea, but that sharks began circling the ship in such numbers that the crew made a frantic search for the cause and found the child. The parents were compelled to give up the child to the deep. Whether the full family account is accurate in all its details, the loss of their infant son at sea was a grief the family carried with them to Utah. The journey by sea to America from Scotland took seven weeks and two days.
David and his family traveled across the plains by ox cart with the Taylor Company. (Other sources identify the plains company as Captain William Empey’s Company, one of the final wagon companies to cross the plains that year.) While on the plains, cholera erupted amongst the company and David became very ill and nearly died. It took him some time to get over the effects of cholera. David and his family had to walk most of the way to Utah. On the plains David had two remarkable encounters with rattlesnakes. One day while gathering firewood he picked up a rattlesnake among the sticks and carried it quite a distance in his arms without realizing it — discovering it only when he laid the wood down. On another occasion he made his bed under the wagon and in the morning, upon rolling up his bedroll, found that a rattlesnake had slept curled beneath him through the night. Neither snake harmed him. David would not kill rattlesnakes and said of them, “they didn’t harm me and they won’t hurt anyone else if they leave them along.”
Sarah’s history is shared below that includes stories of crossing the plains. Sarah mentions she traveled “first with Father and Mother… in Pratt’s Company, then Captain Inkley came to bring the sick in” — her journey in 1866 was separate from David’s 1854 journey.
The family arrived in Salt Lake City in the fall of 1854. They lived in Salt Lake City for five months where David worked as a shoemaker for a Brother Samuel Mellener. David then moved his family to Lehi, Utah. After moving to Lehi, David continued working for Brother Mellener. David did not have a method of transportation and had to walk from Lehi to Salt Lake to pick up leather for his shoes and return the finished shoes to Brother Mellener. There were times when he was able to secure a ride to Salt Lake. After a few years, David was able to raise some calves that, once grown, were able to supply a team of oxen for transportation. In Lehi the family lived in a mud house with a dirt floor. David also began to farm in Lehi. In the year 1856, all the crops in Lehi were eaten by grasshoppers and the family had no flour. Because of the flour shortage, bran bread was made.
In August 1863, Margaret died several days after giving birth, leaving David with six small children. The oldest girl was only fourteen years old and the baby, Margaret, was five days old. Baby Margaret died two weeks after her mother and was buried in the Lehi cemetery. David experienced sad, hard times and, having no family nearby to assist him with the children. Four years later on 16 December 1866 he married Sarah Keep Francis. Sarah had previously been married in England to Thomas Robert Francis, but had left him behind before coming to the United States. Family history records that Francis was fond of drink and ultimately died in the Poor House. Sarah had a daughter of her own, Lucy Ann Francis, who David always regarded as his own daughter. On April 16, 1868, a daughter, Sarah Isabell, was born. Sadly, Sarah Isabell died on June 15th. Sarah Isabell was buried in the Lehi cemetery.
In October of 1868, the family moved to Clarkston in Cache Valley of Utah. David was ordained an Elder that same fall. Upon arriving in Clarkston, David built a two room log house in the Clarkston Fort. In 1870, David moved from the fort and built another two-room log home on the north side of Clarkston near his farm. He raised cows, horses, sheep, pigs, and chickens on their farm.
Buttar home north of Clarkston, Thomas James in front of the house, David Alexander next to the right, then James Joseph, then David, then Emma Jane, Sarah, and Mary
In 1882, David and Sarah built a large, white framed house for the family. The two-story home had a porch on the front, three dormer windows on the second floor facing east, and two dormer windows facing south with a veranda below. It was a large home for the standards at that time. It was a beautiful home that overlooked the farm and had a commanding view of the valley. The first prayer circle in Clarkston was held in an upstairs room of that home, and was kept there for three years and four months before being moved to the new Tithing House. Unfortunately, this beautiful home burned on 11 May 1931.
David became a high priest. He believed in paying an honest tithing, knowing that the Lord keeps his promises by opening the windows of heaven to pour out blessing on all that keep his laws and commandments. This was proved to David in the spring of 1871 when the grasshoppers were so thick that when in flight they darkened the sun. Three times that summer the grasshoppers ate all of David’s grain. When they came the fourth time, with the help of his children, the grasshoppers were driven into ditches where the chickens would devour them. The grasshoppers were so large that the chickens could only eat three or four at a time. David told his family that because he had paid his tithing that the Lord would provide for them. It was then that the seagulls came and began eating the grasshoppers until they could eat no more. When the seagulls had eaten their fill, they would go to the ditch and throw up the grasshoppers and then continue to eat more. Once the grasshoppers were completely devoured, the seagulls flew away. This time the grain grew to maturity and David produced 1,300 bushels of grain – the largest crop he had ever harvested up to that time.
When David first began to farm in Clarkston, he cut his grain with a “cradle”, after a few years he purchased a “dropper” to cut the grain. He hired six men to flail and bind the grain. David would cure his wheat for planting with slack-lime, and he would sow his seeds by hand casting them.
David continued to make shoes for the first few years in Clarkston, but the last shoes he made were for his step-daughter, Lucy Anne, and he purposely made one that was wrong-side-out and stated that “he wouldn’t make any more shoes”, and he never did.
David would mend his harnesses with wooden, maple pegs that were actually intended as tacks to hang shoes on. He planted five to ten acres of potatoes each year. Although for the first few years hay had to be bound by hand, David purchased the first self-binder in Clarkston that bound the hay with wire. Later, he assisted Andrew Heggie and Peter S Barson in buying the first header in Clarkston.
One year the sunflowers had grown so profusely in the wheat that when the threshers came, they refused to thresh it. He made a flail and flailed all the wheat by hand on a wagon cover. After the grain was harvested, David had to haul it some 60 miles (each way) to Corinne or Ogden by team and wagon just to sell it.
During the construction of the Logan Temple, David donated $100 each year until the temple was completed. He did temple work for many of his ancestors in the Logan Temple. He also gave financial assistance to build the old rock meeting house in Clarkston as well as the new chapel that is still standing in Clarkston today (although it has undergone several additions and renovations since then). On 1 June 1882, David received a federal land patent signed by President Chester A. Arthur for approximately 160 acres in Cache County, Utah Territory, formally securing title to his Clarkston farm.
Sarah Keep Buttar
In 1884, David married Sophia Jensen Hansen in plural marriage. He lived in polygamy for 20 years. David and Sophia were later divorced, though David continued to provide for her financially each year until her death in 1909. In 1889, polygamists were advised by the authorities of the Church to give themselves up instead of being hunted down by the law. On the first of June 1889, David gave himself up. Because of his age (67), he was not required to serve the usual six months jail sentence. He paid, instead, a $100 fine and returned home a happy man.
Back (l-r): William Sparks, Hans Jensen, Lucy Ann Francis, Robert Buttar, John Buttar, Daniel Buttar, Elizabeth Buttar, Charles Buttar, Margaret Cutler, Will Sparks; Sitting: Emma Gover, Sarah Buttar, David Buttar, Sarah Keep Buttar, Karen Buttar
On 30 May 1899, David, his wife Sarah, their son Charles and a niece Mary Ann Jenkins, had all attended the Logan Temple. While driving across the Bear River Bridge on their return trip home to Clarkston, the bridge broke and the buggy, horses, and all the people went into the water. Beams and iron from the bridge pinned the occupants in the water. Charles, while trying to free Sarah, saw the Jenkins baby floating downstream and caught its clothing just before it floated under the broken bridge, saving its life. Sarah received a severe blow to the head, cutting a gash in her scalp, knocking out her teeth, and injuring her internally. David’s shoulder was also severely injured. William Bingham and William Thain, who were working in a field nearby, heard the cries for help and came to pull everyone from the river. Bingham then rode to Logan for a doctor. Sarah was taken home to Clarkston unconscious. William Bingham, who had so bravely rescued her and the others, thought that surely she had died and came to Clarkston a few days later to attend her funeral. It would be an understatement to say that he was quite surprised to find no funeral transpiring, as Sarah was alive and well. Sarah did report afterward of having an out-of-body experience during the near-drowning incident and spoke of the beautiful things she witnessed on the other side of the veil.
In 1909, David contributed $200 to President Budge of the Logan Temple. President Budge gratefully said that the donation was an answer to prayers, as money was needed to purchase a new rug (carpet) to replace carpet that had been burned in a recent temple fire. President Budge gave David a priesthood blessing which pleased David greatly. David also stated that he thought that would be his last donation to the temple – and it was. On November 23, 1911, David passed away from eye cancer at the age of 89. He was laid to rest in the Clarkston Cemetery. A beautiful, majestic monument has been erected to his memory at his burial site.
Buttar home on 6 October 1920
Was David a Buttar or Buttars? His christening record prepared by the church has Butter, likely from the mouth of his father. It does not show as plural. When David was married to his first wife, Margaret Spalding, the church recorded his name as David Buttar. Another record, likely created from his own dictation to the individual creating the record. The 1860 Census, probably from someone else’s mouth, has Buttar. But yet, 1870, probably from someone else’s mouth, has Buttars. It goes back and forth. 1910 Census – Buttars. Death certificate for Charles William Buttar – father is David Buttar – Sarah Keep Buttar completed this death certificate information (but Charles’ grave marker has Buttars). The death certificate for his wife, Sarah Keep Buttar – has his name as David Buttars. Alternatively, when he died, Sarah Keep Buttar provided the death certificate information and provided his name as David Buttar. But, when she applied for the Daughters of the Pioneers, she wrote Buttars. Ultimately, some of his siblings and own children used both variations. There are likely other records, but it appears at this time the records created by him in his own life show Buttar. Lastly, when he died, the family listed Buttar on the tombstone (as seen above). But since his christening record (provided by his parents), marriage certificate (provided by him), and his death certificate (provided by his wife) all list Buttar, along with his tombstone, I will go with Buttar for this history.
David has an entry in Pioneers and Prominent Men in Utah.
“Buttar, David (son of Daniel Buttar and Batheah Rattray, born 1788, both of Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Scotland. Born Dec. 2, 1822 at Blairgowrie. Came to Utah November, 1854, Capt. Taylor Company.
“Married Margaret Spalding Dec. 14, 1848, in Scotland (daughter of John Spalding and Marjory Meek Johnson), who was born April 1, 1822, and came to Utah with husband. Their children; Marjory Meek Johnson b. Sep. 16, 1849, m. Henry Mullet December, 1866; m. Joseph J. Harrison 1869; Batheah b. July 15, 1851, m. William Sparks Dec. 15, 1868; David b. November, 1863, d. February, 1854 [sic]; John Spalding b. May 22, 1856, m. Sarah L. Tanner Jan. 1, 1880; Daniel b. Sept. 22, 1858, m. Emma Gover January, 1883; Robert Sutter b. April 6, 1861, m. Mary Godfrey 1891; Margaret b. Aug. 6, 1863, d. infant. Family home Lehi, Utah.
“Married Sarah Keep Dec. 16, 1866, at Lehi (daughter of James Joseph Keep (high priest) and Ann Miller; married July 22, 1836; pioneers Oct. 22, 1866, Abner Lowry company. She was the widow of Thomas Francis, married May 15, 1865, and mother of Lucy Ann Francis, born March 26, 1866, who married Hans Jensen July, 1884). She was born June 28, 1840, Greenham, Berkshire, Eng. Their children: Sarah Isabell Buttar, b. April 16, 1868, d. June 15, 1868; Elizabeth Keep b. June 9, 1869, m. John Loosle Dec. 3, 1891; Charles William b. June 15, 1871, m. Angeline Stuart May 18, 1892; Thomas James b. Oct. 13, 1873, m. Annie Loosle; David Alexander b. Dec. 14, 1876, m. Rose Loosle; James Joseph Keep b. Feb. 26, 1878, m. Agnes Jordan; Mary Janet b. June 30, 1880, m. Louis Thompson; Emma Jane b. Oct. 8, 1882, m. David Thompson. Family home Clarkston, Utah.
“Settled at Clarkston 1868. High priest. Shoemaker; farmer. Died Nov. 23. 1911.
Back (l-r): James Joseph, David Alexander, Emma Jane, Daniel, Mary Janet, Robert Sutter, Lucy Ann, Charles William, Thomas James; Front: Elizabeth, Sarah, David, and John Spalding
The Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah biography gives a good overview of David’s family.
This editorial obituary also provided some insights into David.
“CLARKSTON, Nov. 27 – Never has a departing member of the Clarkston ward had greater honor shown him than that which has been bestowed upon our departed friend and brother, David Buttars; a true and honest man in every relation in life.
“The funeral services, held Sunday afternoon, had a very large attendance, there being relatives and friends from Salt Lake, and from all parts of this county, present, besides the very large neighborhood attendance. Twenty-one members of the ward choir were present, and rendered some fine selections. The floral emblems were numerous and most beautiful. Bishop Ravsten presided. The choir sang, “Farewell all Earthly Honors” and Elder William Griffin of Newton offered the opening prayer. The choir then sang, “Rest For the Weary Soul,” following which the following brethren offered words of praise for the departed, and of hope and condolence to the living: Prest. Roskelley, John E. Griffin of Newton, and C. P. Anderson. The choir then sang: “It is Well With my Soul.” Prest. Skidmore, Elder Burnham and Bishop Ravsten then added their testimony of the worth of the departed; the last named speaker proclaiming the deceased a full tithe payer, a blessing in and to the ward, and a faithful Latter-day Saint. The choir sang “Shall I Receive a Welcome Home.”
“Nearly forty vehicles followed the remains to their last resting place, where Bishop Ravsten dedicated the grave. Six stalwart sons: John, Daniel, Robert, Thomas, David and James, acted as pall-bearers. These, with a loving wife and four daughters, and a host of children and grandchildren are left to mourn his loss.
“Brother Buttars was eighty-nine years old at the time of his death. He was born in Scotland, but had lived in Utah since the year 1854. Following his arrival he lived in Salt Lake for a short time, then moved to Lehi. Leaving Lehi he came to Clarkston of which he was a resident for more than forty years; passing through all the toils and hardships that constituted the lot of our pioneers. He was always in the front rank of progress and helped make Clarkston the desirable place it is today. He was charitable to the poor, and a liberal contributor to missionary, and all other beneficent funds and works. His memory will be kept green at least so long as the present generation lives. Among other good works he officiated in the Logan Temple for more than eleven hundred of his deceased kindred.
Back (l-r): Margaret Priscilla Buttars, George Alfred Sparks, David Sparks, (photo of James & Ann Keep), Thomas James Buttars, David Alexander Buttars, James Joseph Buttars, Mary Janet Buttars; Front: Rachel Betheah Buttars, Margaret Sarah Buttars, Daniel David Buttars, Melvin Henry Buttars, David William Buttars, Thomas Hans Jensen, and Emma Jane Buttars
David and Sarah Keep were married 16 December 1866 in Lehi, Utah. David and Sarah received their endowments in the Salt Lake City Endowment House on 14 December 1868. David and Margaret, and David and Sarah were also sealed the same day in the Endowment House. I am not clear if Margaret was initially endowed on 14 December 1868 and the record was lost, but the work is officially shown as completed for Margaret on 5 June 1884 in the Logan Temple. David married Karen Sophia Jensen 11 June 1884 in Logan, Cache, Utah at the Temple.
Handwritten biography of David Buttar by Sarah Buttar after his passing
Handwritten biography of David Buttar by Sarah Buttar after his passing
This biography added some other interesting insights, particularly of his death. Sounds like a painful process, even if the final passing was like going to sleep.
Buttar home, Thomas, Elizabeth, Sarah, David Alexander, Mary, James Joseph, Emma Jane, David, and unknown
“A sketch of Sarah Keep Buttars life up to the age of 82 which I Sarah write myself, I was born the 28th of June 1840 at Stroudgreen, Greenham, Berkshire, England. Daughter of James Joseph Keep and Ann Miller Keep.
“I was christened in the Church of England, and learned all the Collicks, Hymns, Prayers and Chants, I can yet repeat some of them. I was naturally religious and when eight years of age the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints came and stood outside my Fathers gate and preached. My Mother was brought up a staunch Baptist and my Father belonged to the Church of England. Mother didn’t understand the teachings of the Elders as soon as my Father did. One Sunday Morning the Elders came to preach in front of our house and Father took a bench out for all to sit on. Father believed in their teachings and one Sunday morning, 23 July 1848, he crept out of bed and was baptized without any of us knowing it. When he came back mother knew he had been baptized, and came upstairs and told us children to call out “You have been by the Latter Day Saints haven’t you?” Father told Mother if she would go to the Latter Day Saints Church with him he would go to the Baptist Chapel with her sometimes.
“One day they were too late for the Baptist meeting and Father ask Mother to go the Latter Day Saint meeting, and she went with him and soon after she joined the church. After joining the Church they lost everything, their home, and five other houses they owned. Then they had to pay rent, after this the Elders came to our house and held their meetings. Then I was baptize the date being February 1849 the ice was broken for me. I had to walk home on and one half miles under Mother’s cloak in my wet clothes, because the mob was calling my Father, “Curley Keep”, the Latter Day Devil to let a little girl like me be dipped.
“In 1850 we all had the smallpox, my eldest brother James Joseph Keep died from smallpox 25 February 1850, my Mother was also very sick with the smallpox.
“We were very poor and when my baby sister Harriet was born the 8th of March 1850, my Mother had a cancer in her breast and Father wanted to get a Doctor, but Mother wanted the Elders, so my sister and I went for the Elders, they administered to her and anointed her breast and the cancer went away, and she was never bothered with it again, this strengthened my faith in the gospel and I became more religious and what I learned I did not forget. I was taught to learn and repeat verses of the Bible when in Sunday School and at home. As I grew older I traveled much with my Father and his companion. When they went out preaching in the open air I was always anxious to go, and they said I could go if I could sing for them which I did. People gathered to listen to their teachings and many joined the church. My Father and his companion and I suffered many persecutions but the Lord preserved us from our enemies.
“At the age of thirteen I went to London with my father and his companion I sang in the streets of London, we were often told by the police to move on.
“At the age of eighteen I was self willed, and thought about marriage, my Father told us older girls not to get married until we came to the New Valley. Although I had great desire to get to the valley, thinking it would be “Heaven on Earth” yet I thought I would please myself. At this time I had a dream and was shown the route to the valley. The American Elders said when I related it to them that it was truly the route to the valley, in the dream I saw high mountains and the plains, and as I passed on walking I came to a beautiful green meadow, and I heard Heavenly Music and Singing. I saw on the top of the high mountain a very elderly looking man and he was dressed in a long robe, his beard and hair was long and white, he was winding some silver piping on top of the mountain, the sun shown on him so bright that it dazzled my eyes and just at that time a woman passed by me, then I saw a gate leading into the meadow, and there was a gatekeeper, the woman went up to the gate he told her she would have to have her blessing before she could go through, he beckoned to the man on the top of the mountain and he came down and gave her a wonderful blessing he beckoned to the man again and he came and laid his hands on my head and told me to honor my father and my Mother that my days may be long up on the land which the Lord they giveth thee, he said go thy ways and obey they parents in all things. I didn’t think I had as good of a blessing as the woman that passed through before me and when the gate keeper said you can now go into the meadow I said, “I do not want to, for he did not give me as good of a blessing as that woman had, and I did not want to go in.”
“He said, “You had what you deserved,” then I went back and I saw a house where there was dancing and I could hear music, I thought I heard my sister’s voice, and I went up to the door, there were two door keepers, and they gave me a push and said, “You can’t come in here,” I fell down the steps, when I got up I turned to the meadow again and I sat down and cried bitterly, when I awoke my pillow was very wet, I saw that I was going to do something wrong and afterward I knew what it was.
“At the age of twenty five I married against my Father’s and Mother’s wishes and they didn’t know it for six weeks, then to my sorrow I found that my husband had just joined to church to get me, for my Father said I should not marry anyone out of the church, this was his council and I disobeyed him. When I was married my husband told me that it was once my day but now it was his day, he let me know it at a later time.
“In 1866 my Father and Mother were going to the Valley, and I could not go, my husband said if I went to see my Father off he would push me overboard, but the Lord helped me. My Mother and Father told me if I would go with them and leave my husband they would pay me for it, I could see I would never get there the way my husband was acting so I gave my word to go. I left him although it was very hard to part. I kept my word and obeyed my parents, and like in my dream I shed many tears, I did not tell my husband that I was going and he seemed kinder that day then ever before, which made it more hard for me to endure, but I prepared everything as though I was going back home that night, he ask if he should come for me and carry the baby, I said no it might be late when my Aunt leaves, and I may stay at Mother’s all night.
“The next morning finding I did not go home he went to Mother’s and not finding me there he sent a man dressed in pilots clothes to the ship to find me, he questioned me as to where I was going with such a young baby and at that I hardly told him, when he said are going alone, my Mother said “NO” for I was going with my Father and my Brother-in-law, meaning my sister’s husband, he said “OH” and up the companion ladder, I told Mother I was afraid my Husband would come, I passed my baby over to the other side of the ship, I got into the berth of a young couple that had a feather bed in one corner and I crept down behind it. Three policeman came and looked in every berth and did not see me, they were after two apprentices, and four more sisters, and one brother that were leaving husband and wives, they never got any of us, but the two apprentices went back.
“We set sail 23 May 1866 on the American Congress. When at sea we were tossed about and nearly all become seasick. I was blessed by having only three days of seasickness, Father and Mother and my two younger sisters were very sick and my baby caught the whooping cough, having caught cold by being passed about when the policemen were after me. The Lord spared her life and she got well.
“The cook’s cabin took fire, and a little time after the sea was so rough our main mast broke, and the sail went into the sea, next day they fixed the mast, we had a calm and the ship did not move back or forward, but rocked about. We had a Concert on the top deck and enjoyed ourselves. We had heavy fog very often so bad the Captain could not see where we were going, Brother Rider, the President’s counsel was talking to the Captain on the quarter deck and saw the fog lift up he said “What is that?” It was the breakers he saw, but the Captain did not answered, he sprang to the wheel and called, “About ship all hands to the Riggins,” soon the danger was over and the Captain said that in a short time all would have had a watery grave if the fog had not lifted, we were saved by providence.
“When we were on the river the boat took fire, and they carried large fiery sticks past the foot of my bed and threw them in the water.
“We landed in New York the 4th of July 1866, we anchored and saw many beautiful fire works, a ship was set on fire on the sea and with flames coming out of its many windows it was a great sight. Next day we went on the pier and then came another task, we had to pass a man that read our names off when we came to my name, as I was called Sarah Keep, and child, he said “Stop!” Where is your husband, and how do you know he is not here? “Stand Back!” he shouted, I stood back and all the young men passed, my old friend, Will Penny, came and ask me what was the matter, I told him and he told me to come with him and they would not know who he was, I went with him and all was well. We stayed in New York three weeks. My sister Lucy’s baby was born there, then came another task, my Father did not have enough money to take me on to the valley, I sold my wedding ring to buy my baby a pair of shoes, and a hat, and also to pay for an advertisement. I advertised to be a wet nurse, my Mother was to take my baby on to Zion, and I would follow. I went to the office and engaged at twenty dollars a month, when I was returned home I met my Father, he said he had been to the office of Brother Bullock and Thomas Taylor who was looking after the emigrant companies and they told him not to leave me there in a strange land if I had left my husband for the gospel, and as my Father didn’t have the money they said the church would take me and I could pay it back when I got to Zion and I had the money to do so. Father decided I could go on with him if I wanted to, but I thought I could save enough to pay my own way, I was very glad when it was time for the boat to leave. When we were on the train the wheels caught fire and we were pushed into another car as if we were sheep, for we were just emigrants.
“While crossing the plains with oxen teams the Cholera broke out, and about seventy one died, many were buried in a quilt or sheets, the wolves would howl around at night, and perhaps dig up the dead that were buried.
“One night about twenty five or thirty Indians came to camp, they were on the war path, it frightened us very much, for we were afraid we would surely be killed, they had scalps of women’s long hair hanging from their tomahawks, and their belts were filled with arrows and bows in their hands, they had a letter which they gave to the Captain to read, he called, is there anyone in camp who can read the Indian language, a young sister by the name of Emma who had left her husband and two little girls said “I can read the Indian Language.” She had learned to read it when her husband was a soldier, and he had taught her to read it, she read the letter, and was pleased the Indians, the Captain pitched a tent inside the ring of wagons, and fed them they sang all night, and followed us all the next day calling “We Want White Women,” at last they left us.
“When traveling the Captain would take my baby on his horse, and tell me to walk on, and the teamsters would pick me up, and take me in their wagon and they would ride on the tongue of the wagon, they would tell me to sing to them and they would walk rather than see me walk as I had sore feet. I used to wash my baby’s clothes in the streams when we camped, and the teamsters would tell me to dry my clothes by the fire, they let me bake my bread in the skillet after their baking was done. Sometimes I had only bread or small piece of bacon to nurse my baby on.
“I am thankful I am here, and I have learned what I came here for, I can say I do know that the Lord has been with me and give me more than I deserve, but he has promised “He that leaves Father and Mother, Husband or Wife for the gospel, shall receive a Hundred Fold.” I can now see there was work for me to do for the dead and the Lord has blessed and preserved my life many times to do this work. I am very thankful to him for it.
“I traveled first with Father and Mother, and two Sisters in Pratt’s Company, then Captain Inkley came to bring the sick in, and I came with his company I left my parents, and arrived in Salt Lake City at conference, the fifth or sixth of October 1866. In two weeks I hired out to a sister’s home to nurse her as she was sick. I got a cold in my eyes, and it was so terrible that I went to my sister Mary’s in Lehi until they were better. Brother David Buttars came there on business and told me he knew what would cure my eyes if I would do it. He told me Brother Brigham Young’s remedy. Was to dig down a little over a foot deep in the soil mold the soil and lay it on my eyes at night in a fine cloth, I did it and it healed my eyes in a week.
“Mr. Buttars came again and asked my sister and I to his daughter Marjory’s Wedding Supper. I went and when I was going home he wanted to go with me and carry the baby, he did so, and that night he ask me to become his wife, that was the pay he wanted for telling me what would cure my eyes, in less than three weeks we were married in my sister’s house by the Bishop’s counselor in Lehi, I was twenty six years old and had one child, and David was forty four and had five children. Sixteen months later I had my first baby girl, Sarah Isabelle two months later 15 Jun 1868 she died and was buried in the garden until David came home, then she had been dead eight days, David and I buried her ourselves in the graveyard at Lehi Utah.
“My husband had been to Clarkston to buy us a home, this was in June 1868, and in October 1868, we moved to Clarkston, Utah.
“That fall the grasshoppers were so bad that we cut up cow skin and made a rope which three of us dragged up and down the garden in order to make the grasshopper fly away, and keep them from cutting the grain. There were so many grasshoppers that when they were flying they would darken the sun.
“When we were on our way to Clarkston, we were just crossing the mountain top, and the tongue of the wagon broke, the horses and the cattle went off and were lost for five days travel time, during this time the mail coach with President John Taylor passed us and nearly tipped over, because we could not get out of the way, we started again for Clarkston and arrived at the end of October 1868, and I have lived here since.
“I was the first milliner in Clarkston, I made Straw hats, and straw braid, and straw trimmings for the hats. In 1869 my third daughter was born. Two more years we fought the grasshopper and crickets. In 1871 there were seven crowds of crickets and three crowds of grasshoppers that came and ate everything up. On the 15th of June 1871 my first boy, Charles, was born, and eight days after on the 23 of June 1871 the seagulls came and ate all the grasshoppers and crickets.
Baby quilt made by Sarah Buttar
“I joined the Female society in 1869 at Clarkston, and was a teacher for many years. I was the President of the Primary for six years, and a teacher for about eighteen years. The first Prayer circle in Clarkston was in my home, I was very much delighted and it was kept there for three years and four months. Then it was moved to the New Tithing house. I was married to my husband David Buttars 16th December 1866 and was sealed to him in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah 14 December 1868.
Clarkston Ward Sisters: Annie Heggie, Marie Anderson, Sarah Buttar, Jane Godfrey, Hannah Thompson, Elizabeth Loosle
“In 1884 my husband took another wife. We lived in that Celestial order for twenty three years. I have worked in the Salt Lake Temple, and the Logan Temple for the dead. I have worked and paid for about two thousand names. I have had my second Endowments many years ago. I have seen and talked to Martin Harris, one of the three witnesses, who is buried in the Clarkston Cemetery, I am a member of the Camp of Daughter’s of pioneers named in his honor, I have planted flowers on his grave.
“I have been near drowning two or three times. Once on the ship and twice in America, once when I was crossing the Bear River Bridge with my husband and relatives, we were returning from doing temple work, the bridge broke and we all went into the river, I was laid upon the river bank for dead, being crushed with the broken timber, I regained my consciousness, that was on the 30th of May 1899.
“I have had nine children five girls and four boys, three are dead at the present time, Eight of them are married and have families of their own. I am now Eighty two years old. I am writing this in March 1923.
“Sarah Keep Buttars died 7 October 1935 at the age of ninety five. She was active until a few days before her death. She attended the Cache County Fair in September 1935 and won a prize for her Fancy Hand Work and the honor of being the oldest pioneer in Cache Valley attending the fair.
Another clipping from my grandparents, Milo and Gladys Ross. Since they lived in Plain City, it makes more sense why this article was clipped from the Ogden Standard-Examiner. No date is found on the clipping.
“Plain City – In a surprising upset, voters here elected three write-in candidates to the City Council Tuesday.
“Winning were Dr. Carl Saunders with 334 votes, Delmar L. ‘Monte” Tanner with 329 votes and Ralph A. Taylor with 286 votes.
“Going down to defeat were the two incumbents – Wayne W. Cottle with 199 votes, and Darwin Taylor with 143 votes. Samuel S. Lower earned 188 votes.
“Going into the election all three had been unopposed. But a write-in campaign was initiated by residents over the weekend.
“A dentist, Dr. Saunders resides at 3701 W. 2600 N. and has a been a resident of the city for nine years.
“As a councilman he first desires to become oriented with the city’s present programs.
AREAS OF CONCERN
“He is concerned with the city’s recreation facilities and hopes to promote more fire protection in the city and northern part of the county.
“He is interested in seeing more citizen involvement in the community. His other areas of concern are the traffic hazards in the city and crime prevention activities.
“Mr. Tanner of 4735 W. 2200 N., is employed at the Ogden Internal Revenue Service Center and has lived in Plain City since 1964.
“He says he will commit himself to listening to the citizens of Plain City and going with their wishes.
“He believes the city should be kept as clean as possible and feels the community’s junior posse needs some consideration. He also suggests that property owned by the city near the municipal building could be used for a park.
“Mr. Taylor of 4302 W. 2350 N., has lived in Plain City all of his life and is retired from Hill Air Force Base’s fire department.
BETTER CONDITION
“He would like to see the city streets in better condition and is in favor of the junior posse plus other young people in the community having some type of recreation facilities.
“He believes the council should do what the people of Plain City want and thinks some type of suggestion box for residents would be helpful.
“Both men expressed their appreciation to the voters who wrote them in on the ballot.
~
I did a little research on all these individuals to flesh out more of the history.
Carl Richard Saunders was born 24 October 1928 in Ogden, Utah, and passed away 21 June 2009 in Ogden. Buried in Ogden.
Delmar Lamont Tanner was born 27 July 1935 in Ogden and passed away 12 September 2021 in Perry, Utah. Buried in Plain City.
Ralph Arlin Taylor was born 29 March 1912 in Plain City and passed away 25 December 1999 in Plain City. Buried in Plain City.
Wayne William Cottle was born 30 November 1928 in Ogden and passed away 31 October 2006 in Plain City. Buried in Plain City.
Samuel Steven Lower Jr was born 9 April 1936 in Lewiston, Utah, and passed away 27 November 2021 in South Weber, Utah. Buried in Plain City.
Darwin Taylor is still alive as far as I can tell.
I have two copies of the History of Plain City, Utah. The front indicates it is from March 17th 1859 to present. As far as I can tell, the book was written in 1977. At least that is the latest date I can find in the book.
One copy belonged to my Grandparents Milo and Gladys Ross. My Grandpa has written various notes inside the history which I intend to include in parenthesis whenever they appear. They add to the history and come from his own experience and hearing.
I will only do a number of pages at a time. I will also try to include scanned copies of the photos in the books. These are just scanned copies of these books, I have not tried to seek out originals or better copies.
History of Plain City March 17th 1859 to present, pages 76 through 106.
HISTORY OF THE OLSEN GROCERY STORE
Two of the earliest merchants in Plain City were A. M. Schoemaker and William Van Dyke. Mr. Shoemaker had a little store just east of the old adobe meeting house. Van Dyke’s store was just across the street from the southwest corner of the public square on the sight of the John Maw store where the Plain City bowery now stands.
The Cooperative Mercantile Institution was organized in 1869 with John Spiers as President, J. P. Green, C .O. Folkman, George Folkman and Andrew Ipson as directors, and George H. Carver and J. S. Carver as the managers.
In the early days of Utah, the L .D. S. Church organized cooperative stores in different places called “Zions Cooperative Mercantile Institutions.” One of these was organized in Plain City in Jens Peter Folkman’s home at 2480 N. 4350 W. in March of 1869. He was appointed manager by the directors.
The capitol stock was $500.00. Mr. Folkman continued as manager for several years. At a reorganization some time later, John Spiers was retained as president and John Carver was elected vice president of the board of directors, which was composed of Jeppe G. Folkman, William Sharp and Alexander Marian Shoemaker, with George Bramwell as secretary and William G. McGuire as secretary-treasurer.
Finally a corner was bought by the company from Mr. Hansen in 1889, where Carl Olsen’s store is now situated. (1959) A frame building was erected and here Jens Peter Folkman continued as manger until the store was closed by Z.C.M.I. on account of bankruptcy cause through too many bad debts.
It was reopened by the parent store in Ogden and was managed by George and James Carver but was closed again for the same reason as before.
George W. Bramwell and his brother, Henry, bought the stock of goods and ran the store as a private business. Z.C.M.I. took over once more and hired George W. Bramwell to run it as a branch of their store.
It was next sold to Henry J. Garner and Robert W. Maw. They sold it to Thomas England. Thomas England sold his store to Peter J. and Evelyn Christensen, who rented it out for a time, then later sold it to Carl Olsen in 1925.
In the early days of the Olsen stores Parvin Produce Company of Ogden established the business of shipping potatoes from Plain City. They were located at the Olsen store and when they discontinued business, Carl Olsen and Wilmer J. Maw started shipping potatoes. Mr. Olsen loaded his cars at the end of the railroad spur in front of Roll’s Garage, now Jack Etherington’s Garage at 2415 N. 4425 W. and Mr. Maw loaded his cars by the “John Maw & Sons” store where they bowery now stands.
Carl Olsen
Don Olsen
Lee Olsen
The above was taken from a Historical Study of Plain City, Weber County, Utah, by Fern Olsen Taylor. A thesis was submitted for her Master of Science Degree in 1959.
The Utah Oregon Lumber Company business was purchased by Carl Olsen from Wilmer L. Maw, and at this time Annie Knight Geddes came to work for Mr. Olsen. Coal was also sold. Many loads of potatoes, coal, etc., were weighed on the scales located just south of the store.
Oscar Richardson worked with Carl in the produce shipping and George Elvie Weatherston worked with him in the store for a short time.
Carl opened the store with the help of his family, Lucille, Lee, Fern, Don, and Loyd.
A beautiful ice cream fountain was purchased and installed in the northwest part of the store. There were marble counter tops, malt machines, syrup dispensers and necessary equipment to make malts, splits, sundaes and many, many hand-dipped ice cream cones. A half dozen stools lined the counter. The choice of flavors then were chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry. A popular item was the candy punch-board that was a temptation some had a hard time resisting.
In 1939 Carl remodeled the back of the store. The partition at the east end and the swinging doors were moved, making room for a meat counter and meat cooler. More shelves and more groceries were added. Heat was provided by a coal heaterola. A shed was built by the store about 1889 and was used until 1949 for various purposes, a lumber storage shop, a barber shop and also later for a meat market. It faced the road and was located just south of the store.
In March, 1941, cold storage lockers were installed. The store was enlarged and a full-time butcher, Ralph Vause, came to work to serve the locker patrons. Many deer at hunting time were cleaned and dressed, filling the meat coolers to overflowing.
Carl Olsen sold his store to two of his sons, Lee and Don in April 1947. The store became “I.G.A.” and then later “A.G.“ Lee and Don enlarged the store, adding the brick building extending the south wall to the confectionery. The frame shed was moved to the back of the store and connected to a metal storage shed connecting the back of the store.
On July 9, 1949, the grand opening was held. Children came to the store from near and far to buy penny candy, a special treat.
Mr. Carl Olsen passed away February 25, 1955.
The Olsen family owned and operated the store for half a century and enjoyed a wonderful association with Plain City and the neighboring communities.
On April 18, 1973, Don and marge Olsen, and Lee and Clara Olsen sold the store to Perry and Sonia Merrill of Pleasant View. They Operated the store for three years and sold it to Elliot and Gayle Casperson. It is now the “B and C Market.” May 24, 1976.
COPY OF DOCUMENT PLACED AT THE BASE OF MONUMENT HONORING SERVICEMEN
August 26, 1944
To whom so ever of the dim and distant future, may come in possession of these documents, let it be known that:
We, the people of Plain City, Utah through our Committee for the men in Service with the aid of the people in the community do erect and dedicated this memorial, of everlasting granite, to honor the memory of those who, from our community, were enlisted and served in the Armed Forces of these United States of America and fought for its principles of Freedom, Justice and Democracy in the Second Great World War, which we have faith will culminate as all our country’s war have, in victory.
Today, August 26, 1944, when hostilities have been raging for 32 months, as we solemnly and proudly honor all Servicemen and Women, especially those who left from our community, and whose names are cut and will be cut in this monument, this war, cruel and savage beyond description is being waged across the seas, gravely threatening to destroy our freedom.
May God and justice destroy the forces and the barbarious leaders of those aggressor nations before they make it necessary for this nation of ours to again, by force of its arms, defend itself and the principles on which it was founded.
We, as a people are deeply grateful for the services and sacrifices made, not only the men who served in the war, but all those who fought and for those who died to defend this great nation since the first clash of arms in the battles of Lexington and Concord, we honor and revere the memory of them all. So in the erection of an everlasting memorial those, who left this country beginning 32 months ago to serve in the Armed Forces of these United States, to keep alive the flame of liberty and pass on to our posterity the stories of their brave and noble deeds, even beyond the time that this granite shall have crumbles to dust obliterating the names carved here on.
May we never again be called to erect other similar memorials because our country was again at war.
But rather, would we as a people whole heartedly join together to sponsor a shaft to commemorate the beginning of an era of eternal lasting peace without the horrors of war.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF PLAIN CITY
A group of men from Lehi came in the fall of 1858 and looked over the town, they also made a preliminary survey for a canal site, using a sixteen foot two by four grooved out and set on a three-legged tripod, with water in the groove to act as a level. This preliminary survey was made to the big levee that fall of 1858, some work was done on the big levee that fall, until it was necessary for the men to return to their homes in Lehi.
On March 17, 1859, a company of about 100 people arrived in Plain City about 5 o’clock in the afternoon. They camped in a hollow in the south part which later became Samuel Draney’s lots. The wagons were lined up east and west for protection against the north winds. Although snow was deep, they soon dug a big hole and built a fire making it as comfortable as possible.
One of the first things to do after arrivals was to survey the townsite and assign lots to the settlers, so they could get some kind of shelter for their families. Joseph Grue states that John Spiers and others who surveyed Plain City had in mind their home, the city of Nauvoo, and followed the pattern as nearly as possible. They surveyed the town at night using the north star and three tall poles just below it, as a working guide. The measuring chain was a piece of rope which they dragged along over the deep snow through which they waded. The original plat was six blocks long and three blocks wide, running north and south. Each block contained five acres and is divided into four lots. Each settler was allowed some choice in the selection of his lot, and each shelter was allowed twenty acres of farm land on the out shirts.
The Plain City canal was commenced in May of 1859 shortly after part of the crops were planted and completed to four mile creel that first year and later to Mill Creek and then to Ogden River, which relieved the situation somewhat during seasons when water was plentiful, but was of little benefit in dry seasons, the Plain City irrigation company under the supervision from the beginning.
Mr. Rollett, a Frenchman, introduced the culture of asparagus to Plain City, the seed came from France in 1859. This became one of the leading industries of Plain City, as the soil and climate are especially adapted to its culture. Plain City asparagus had become known far and near, and at the present time the asparagus in handled by the Plain City Asparagus. They ship asparagus to all parts of the United States.
Early homes were dugouts, then log cabins and later adobe. The first stone house was built by William Skeen in 1862 or 1863, by hauling rock from Hot Springs, northeast of Plain City.
The first school and meeting house was built in 1859. It was of log and adobe and was located on the south side of the public square. This adobe building was used as a meeting house, school house, amusement and dance hall for a number of years.
George Musgrave was the first Plain City school teacher. His first school was held in his dugout on his lot.
The First Relief Society was organized January 3, 1868, with Almira Raymond President. The first Primary was organized in 1881 with Susannah Robinson President. The first Mutual Improvement Association was organized in 1876 with William England as President.
An Episcopalian Church was built in 1877, and was used as a school and church. At that time, it had about 75 members. The building is still standing and still in use (Lions Club House).
Evelyn Sharp was the first white baby girl to be born in Plain City, and Thomas Singleton was the first white boy. They were born in 1859.
People of Plain City have always fostered amusement and entertainment of various kinds. In the early days they always had a brass band, a choir, dramatic association, and a baseball team. Regardless of all the hardships endured by the early settlers, recreation was always enjoyed. Dances were held in the old adobe school house on the south side of the square in winter and in the bowery near it in summer. They danced on the hard dirt floor at first, many of them in their bare feet. Most of the dances were square dances, at various times music was furnished by comb bands.
The first real meeting house that was built expressly for ward purposes is the present brick structure commenced in 1884 and finished in 1889.
The following men have been Bishops of Plain City Ward since it was first organized in the order listed: W. W. Raymond, L. W. Shurtliff, George W. Bramwell, Henry J. Garner, Henry T. Maw, Gilbert Thatcher, Wilmer J. Maw, George A. Palmer, Charles Heslop and the present Bishop Elvin H. Maw.
Plain City is principally a farming and dairy community, with sugar beets, onion, tomatoes, potatoes, peas, grain, alfalfa and asparagus being grown as the principal crops.
A branch of the North Ogden Canning Factory is located in Plain City and tomatoes are grown and processed each year. The canning factory was completed in 1925.
Many of the men of the community have profitable dairy herds, and each year a “Dairy Day” is held on the town square, prize stock being shown. Stock is shown from all parts of the state.
A Junior High School is located in the center of town, where approximately 225 children attend. L. Rulon Jenkins is now the principal of the school.
At the present time, Plain City has a population of approximately 800 inhabitants.
Each year on March 17 a “homecoming” celebration is held to commemorate the settling of the town.
Plain City was incorporated this year of 1944 with the town board as follows: Dean Baker, Chairman, W. Albert Sharp, Fred L. Singleton, Floyd A. Palmer, L. Rulon Jenkins and Don E. Carver as Secretary.
**************
The committee for the servicemen was selected about one year ago, and appointed by the Ward Bishopric, for the purpose of paying tribute and honor to the fellows and girls who enter the service.
The first funds were collected through a scrap iron drive, which was initiated by Dean Baker. The support of all the people of Plain City was gained by soliciting, and many tons of irons was donated by members of the town.
The task of securing the names to be placed on the monument and helping to plan its erection was done by the Committee for the Men and Women in the Service with William Freestone as Chairman, Elbert J. Moyes, Elmer P. Carver, John A. Hodson, Dean Baker, Mrs. Frank V. Skeen, Mrs. W. Albert Sharp, and Mrs. Vern L. Palmer.
As the original plans for the erection of his memorial called for only those who had been honored at Plain City, we deeply regret that names of some of the fellows who are in the Service, who have been residents at some time previous to their entering the service, will not appear on this monument.
We, the Committee for Servicemen, representing the people of Plain City extend our thanks and heartfelt appreciation to all individuals whose combined efforts have made the erection of this monument possible. The primary objective of this committee is to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and be to service to the community, state and nation and to transmit to our posterity the principles of justice, freedom, and democracy.
This everlasting and beautiful monument is sturdy and tough and is truly symbolic of the sterling qualities and character of the men whose names it will bear until it shall have been worn away to dust by the elements of time and returned to mother nature from when it came.
As duly requested, this document was written and prepared by Mrs. Frank V. Skeen, Mrs. W. Albert Sharp, and Mrs. Vern L. Palmer, together with the aid of the other members of the committee, and whose sincerest hope and aim was that the full honor and credit due, is bestowed on the citizens of Plain City who form a part of the great until by which this nation was founded and is governed. May the heritage of these rights of quality and self government never be taken away from those to whom it rightfully belongs – the people.
Mothers or Fathers and Wives of Service Men whose names appear on the Monument. Picture taken August 26, 1944, at the dedication of the monument. [Gladys Donaldson Ross on the back row, fifth from the left.]
BEET GROWING IN PLAIN CITY
SUBMITTED BY RUTH K. FOWERS
The sugar beet industry was one of the early farming activities in Plain City.
The ground was prepared late in the fall and early spring for planting the seed much the same as it is today except horse drawn machinery was used instead of tractor operated ones.
After the seed sprouted and the young plants grew a few inches in height, the rows were cultivated, and a thinning of the plants was required since the seeds were drilled close together. Segregated seeds had not been developed at that time. This thinning process was that of spacing the beet plants several inches apart to allow the young plant to grow. This was usually done with a short handled hoe and hand labor. A good beet thinner might be able to cover an acre a day.
The best crop required another hoeing or two and cultivating to eliminate the weed growth. Regular irrigation was necessary to give moisture to the growing plants.
In October the beets were matured and ready for harvesting. Again this process required much manual labor and the use of horse powered machinery.
The beets were dug using a beet digger. The beet leaf was cut from the beet itself by hand using a long beet knife. Then the beets were thrown into rows or piles to be gathered up with a large beet fork to be placed on a specially built box on which they could be hauled to the beet dump.
Sometimes young members of the family, who were too young to lift the beet fork full of beets, could assist with the beet loading by grasping the tail of the beet and giving it just enough of a throw to allow to them to load in the beet box.
With a team and wagon they were then transported to the beet dump and emptied into either a railroad beet car or placed in the beet pile.
Double hitch teams and wagons load of beets ready to leave the field.
Unloading the wagon by means of a hand turned pulley which lifts one side of the wagon and dumps them into the hopper.
From the hopper the beets are elevated to be dropped into the railroad cars.
When the beets were brought in faster than the railroad cars could be loaded they were piled for later loading.
The beets were transported to the Amalgamated Sugar Factory where another process was utilized to manufacture refined sugar to be used in homes, industries, eating establishments or wherever possible.
In 1958, in Weber County, the average yield was 16.3 tons per acre. According to an article which appeared in the Ogden Standard Examiner on October 19, 1959, Mike Pannanzio averaged 28.8 tons per acre on a 13-acre piece. On a four acre piece, the yield was better than 30 tons per acre. This farm situated near the site of the Plain City beet dump which was located just north of 4100 West 1975 North.
The beet dump has since been removed and a modern housing development now occupied the site.
RALL TAYLOR’S OLD BLACKSMITH SHOP
He started his business in 1908, ad was still in business in the Forties. We understand this building was a part of the first canning factory in Plain City, and was moved to this location.
DAIRY DAYS
BY WILLIAM FREESTONE
The first Dairy Days held in Plain City was in May of 1926. The purpose was to finance the Plain City baseball team.
William Freestone was the manager for the team with Elmer Carver, finance, Angus Richardson was coach, Floyd Palmer and Byron Carver were score keepers, and Rufus Maw, umpire.
The general committee consisted of William Freestone, Chairman for the day, with Elmer Carver, Floyd Palmer, Merwin Thompson, Angus Richardson, Byron Carver, and Rufus Maw assisting. The entire team also worked hard to make a successful day.
The day was well organized. There was a big exhibit of cattle from all around the area, especially the Holstein Breeders Association. The local dairy men have full support to the day.
The afternoon programs consisted of a game between Plain City and Clinton. Horse racing and horse pulling contest were also on the program. The successful day ended in the evening with a big dance held in the town hall.
Dairy Days have continued to this day under various managements.
This information was obtained from William Freestone, Elwood Skeen, and Walter Christensen.
This picture is the baseball team that the first Dairy Days was organized to sponsor and finance.
Top Row L to R: Angus Richardson, Coach; Bill Freestone, Manager; Alf Charlton, Transportation; Horace Knight, Dick Skeen, Walt Moyes, Abe Maw, Tooley Poulsen, Clark Taylor
Bottom Row L to R: Rufus Maw, Umpire; Fred Singleton, Louie Giles, Clair Folkman, Frankie Skeen, Arnold Taylor, Wally Knight, bat boy
DAIRY DAYS
BY HAROLD THOMPSON
Merwin Thompson came to Plain City in 1907. He had lived briefly in Ogden during which time he worked on a big cattle and sheep outfit in Eden, Utah. Before that, he lived in Scipio, Millard County.
He ran the farm which was later owned by himself and his brother, Gordon. This farm was not very level when he and his brothers took it over, and they levelled it with horses and fresno Scrapers. They then established a fine irrigation system.
During the 1920’s Merwin acquire four fine registered Holstein heifers from Joseph Skeen of Warren. From his beginning, he developed a high producing registered milking herd.
In the late 1920’s he helped organized the Plain City Black and White Days and served for over forty years as a director of that exhibition. In the beginning, the show was for Holsteins-Friesias Cattle only. Later, it was expanded to include all dairy cattle.
At the time of his death, his dairy farm, dairy buildings and dairy was one of the best farms in Weber County.
The Ralph Robson family have participated in Dairy Days for many years. Shown are two animals they have shown.
DAIRY DAYS
BY FLOYD PALMER
This was first known as Plain City Black and White Days. It was sponsored by the Plain City Farm Bureau, as a fund-raising project for the baseball team. Later, it was sponsored by Holstein Breeders and the Plain City Farm Bureau. The financial help came from local people and business firms in the area.
Members of the Ogden Chamber of Commerce, along with the “Ogden Livestock Show” committee and the Weber County Commissioners, all became interested in lending their support tot eh growing need for an expanded show. These people were influential in getting the three-county shows (Jersey Show, Coliseum-Guernsey Show, Huntsville-Holstein Show, lain City) to combine their shows, and this is how it became known as the “Plain City Dairy Day.”
This move with the support of local people reaching out for help, was the means of getting the Weber County Commissioners and the State Legislature to give financial help for the show. It is also supported by many individuals and firms in a financial way. The officers now consist of the following:
Plain City has become the home of one of the largest Dairy Shows in the State of Utah. It is held annually around the middle of May and is open to all breeds of dairy cattle. The opening day is devoted to the Junior divisions. This is limited to bonafide 4-H Club members and F. F A. Future Farmers Only. The second day is designated for the Open division. It is also held under strict rules, such as, Registration Certificates, State Health Standards are required, including Health Certificates and blood tests.
The management is well planned and organized. It consists of General Management, Directors, Clerks, and special committees, Finance, Premiums and Entries, Junior Department, Junior Judging Classes, Publicity, Cattle Supervisor, Grounds and Dinner, Special Awards Committee, and Tractor Driving Contest.
Many of the very finest dairy herds in the United State of Utah are on exhibition here.
The judging is by top quality judges, usually out of state judges are used foe the open division. The junior department is also very selective to get the best judges possible. Rules adopted by the Purebred Cattle Association of Utah are strictly enforced for the Open Division. The Junior Division is placed according to the Danish System of judging.
The Junior Division exhibits 150 to 175 animals. The open Division exhibits 250 to 200 animals. The breeds are mostly Holstein, Jersey, Guernsey, and Brown Swiss. Cash rewards run from $1600 to $2000. Ribbons are also awarded in both Open and Junior Divisions. Special awards are given to the juniors in Fitting and Showmanship, Outstanding Exhibitor, Best Club Group of Animals, (five animals owned by at least three exhibitors.)
One of the outstanding special awards is the Frank M. Browning Memorial Award. A Swiss Cow Bell is given to the outstanding 4-H exhibitor. Other
Other special awards are: Lynn Richardson Award to the outstanding F.F.A Exhibitor; Smoot Dairy Award which is a special prize to the 2nd and 3rd place 4-H boy in fitting and showmanship; Five Points Drug Company which is a special prize to the 2nd and 3rd place F.F.A member in fitting the showmanship; Utah Holstein-Friesian Association Award, which is a trophy for the three best females bred and owned by exhibitor: Weber Chapter F.F.A. which is a belt to the F.F.A. exhibitor taking best care of his exhibits: Read Bros. Halter to the 4-H member under 13 years of age placing highest in fitting and showmanship: John Chugg Halter to the 4-H member placing highest in showmanship only: C. W. Cross Gift Certificate to the F.F.A. boy placing highest in fitting and showmanship: Curtis Breeding Service Halter to the 4-H club member over 13 years of age placing highest in fitting and showmanship: Federal Land bank Award to Grand Champion Cow: Commercial Security Bank: Production Class, 14 cash awards and ribbons.
Mr. Robert P. Stewart, Principal of the Plain City Elementary School takes very active part in the success of Dairy Days. For several years Mr. Stewart has organized a dairy class at the school. Paul Knight has furnished the facilities. The calves have been furnished by Paul Knight and Archie Hunt. The school instructors have been Ray Hull and Steven Gertsch. Both boys and girls have entered the Dairy Class activity. In addition to oral instructions, they feed, groom, care and prepare the calves to be shown in the ring to be judge. As many ass 25 very enthusiastic youth have taken part. The award money has been divided among the participants.
The Plain City School, under the direction of Principal Stewart, has served an annual Dairy Day Dinner. This has been an outstanding attraction to many state and local officials, business, and dairy people. The food is always delicious, and the service is excellent. French-grown Plain City asparagus is always included in the meal.
The faculty and P.T.A. operate the concession stand on the park for the two-day dairy show. This serves a worthwhile purpose for the school and those attending the day’s events. The school children have been good to help clean the grounds after.
Since this Dairy Days started, small dairy herds have almost become extinct. They have been forced to grow larger and develop better grades of producing animals. We now have dairy herds entering this show from Utah dairy farms that are recognized as top dairy herds of the nation. They also exhibit their cattle at national shows.
This Plain City Town Board takes an active part in helping to promote the success of Dairy Days. The last few years they have provided help to put up the tie racks, take them down, and clean up the grounds.
Over the years, the Dairy Days Committees have replaced the old pole fences with a new set of painted tie racks that can be moved after the show is over. They also have a moveable loading chute for the cattle.
The 1977 Plain City Dairy Days will be listed on the program as the Forty-Eight Annual Show. This takes it back to 1929 for the beginning of Plain City Black and White Days. It would seem appropriate to list and give credit to some of the management people that have served fifteen years or more. They include:
Ralph Robson Merwin Thompson
Clair Folkman Floyd A. Palmer
Lee Olsen John Chugg
J . W. Hatch Fay Boyer
Robert (Bob) Penman Edgar Smoot
Verl Poll Clifford Smout
Mary Papageorge Kogianes Burns Wangsgard
Lynn Richardson Byron Thompson
A L Christensen
Plain City has the largest all-breed dairy show in the State of Utah.
Plain City School Students take great pride in learning how to train and groom their loaned animals for the Dairy Days Show. For them it means a full day away from the books while they get the real learning of being part of a real livestock show.
PLAIN CITY CEMETERY
SUBMITTED BY Floyd Palmer
The old of the Plain City Cemetery grounds came about only once a year. This was when the tulips came into blossom for about two weeks. After this it was solid mass of tea vines and weeds.
A newspaper article that appeared in the Ogden standard Examiner in the spring of 1938 was submitted by Roxy Heslop.
Bloom Wave Will Appear No More
Spring of 1938 Roxey Heslop
BLANKET OF FLOWERS…. The field of varicolored tulips being admired by 14-year-old Idona Maw of Plain City will be dug up and replaced with grass and shrubbery as a part of the improvement program underway at the Plain City Cemetery. The tulips will be taken out as soon as they cease blooming, Wilmer J. maw announced. An elaborate sprinkling system fed by a 700-foot artesian well will be laid throughout the cemetery. The well recently completed, flows 40 gallons per minute. The blanket of blooms will be removed because of the short of tulip lives. Bulbs will be given free to persons interested in obtaining them for replanting. (Standard-Examiner photo)
The new beautification program started in the year 1937. It came about through Floyd A. Palmer and his affection for his mother, Emma Jane Carver Palmer, who had suffered a long illness. She had said to him many times that she hoped someone would keep the weeds and tea vines from growing on her grave in the Plain City Cemetery.
Following her death on May 26, 1937, Floyd went to Bishop Charles L. Heslop and asked of something could be done to improve the Cemetery grounds. Bishop Heslop was quick to say, “…yes, and I would like to make you the Chairman of a committee to start the project.” Following their conversation Walter J. Moyes and Art M. Simpson was called in by the Bishop to assist on the committee. The preliminary took several months of work and study to formulate a workable plan for the project.
It was decided to drive a flowing well for the water. Raising the necessary money was the next step. Local lot owners were contacted and letters were sent to those living in and out of the state. We asked for $5.00 per lot and stated we would drive a well large enough to handle all that participated. The response was good and very few questioned the feasibility of the project. A 2 ½ pipe was washed 730 feet deep for the well. It required continuous drilling and was necessary to haul water in to drill with. Wesley and Virgil Stoddard from West Point did the drilling. The well was flowing a beautiful stream of water in May, 1938. The people were happy to have water available for flowers on Memorial Day.
Pipe lines were laid to service each lot from stand pipes with a hose connection. Our Cemetery Sexton, Walter J. Moyes, agreed to care for the lots for $6.00 a season. The owners were to help prepare the lots for seeding. Much credit is due to Walter for the first lawn planted and their care. Some lots were seeded in the Fall, of 1938. Others, in the spring of 1939. As each lot was improved, it made a new appearance.
L-R: Floyd A. Palmer, Art M. Simpson, and Walter J. Moyes
This caretaker system continued to grow each year through 1934. Then the flow of water became inadequate to serve all desiring lawns. This, along with public interest, led to developing a way to extend caretaker service to all lots. Through the counsel and help of many interested town residents, it was decided that the best method would be to levied to finance the project on a sound basis. Rulon Jenkins gave much help and assistance to get things started for the Town Incorporation. It was necessary to raise money to finance the preliminary work of surveying, engineering fees, Attorney fees, etc. Our first annual Potato Day Celebration, July 4, 1943, was a financial success. Dean Baker was the Chairman of this and many others worked hard on the committee. The profit was used toward the Incorporation of the town.
Petitions were circulated through the town of Plain City and were presented to the Board of County Commissioners of Weber County on November 27, 1943, certified as follow:
“That they have read the said petition, including the names of signors thereof, and what they are acquainted with each of the signors whose names appear as following: L. Rulon Jenkins certifies to names appearing opposites the number 1 to 50, inc.; Dean Baker certifies to names appearing opposite the numbers 101 to 150, inc,; W.A. Sharp certifies to names opposites numbers 201 to 253, inc,; and they believe each of said respective signatures to be true and genuine.”
The board of Weber County Commissioner approved a RESOLUTION to take effect and be in force from and after 5 O’Clock P.M. on the 13th day of January, A. D 1944, creating the TOWN OF PLAIN CITY.
A Board consisting of a President and four Trustee was appointed by the County Commissioners. The following named persons were appointed, to-wit: Dean Baker, President, L. Rulon Jenkins, Fred L. Singleton, Albert Sharp, and Floyd A. Palmer Trustee, to hold office until the next municipal election. Bond was fixed at $500.00 each.
The Board then moved ahead with plans to complete the Cemetery improvement. Potato Day, July 4th, again brought some revenue and a one mill levy on property tax in November, 1944, was enough to purchase pipe and get it installed with mostly donated labor, in Fall, 1944. In the spring of 1945, the caretaker building was relocated on the west side of the cemetery for a pump house. A new pressure pump was purchased and placed in the building with a connection to the irrigation ditch. This furnished plenty of water to sprinkle the entire cemetery.
Walter Johnson was Sexton at this time and was employed on a full time scale. There was a big job to be done preparing the lots to be seeded. Many concrete coping, large trees, obnoxious weeds, fences, and undesirable shrubs had to be removed. After this, it was necessary to haul in some top soil, spade and level the lots to prepare them for seeding to grass. This took several months and required a lot of donated labor. Mr. Johnson is deserving of much of the credit for his extra efforts and hard work.
The next change came about through the action of our State Legislature. The 1945 Session made it possible to organized Cemetery Maintenance Districts throughout the State. A one mill Property tax levy can be levied. After a thorough investigation and holding public meetings, the Town Board and public favored creating a Cemetery District.
In pursuance to Chapter 17, Session Laws of Utah, 1945, property owners of Plain City, Utah, filed a petition with the Board of County Commissioners for organization of a Cemetery Maintenance District. The Board set Monday, June 11, 1945, at 11 O’Clock A.M. in the session room for the purpose of hearing objections of any taxpayer within the proposed District boundaries. No objections were recorded.
An election was held in Plain City, Tuesday, July 17, 1945, for the organization of the Plain City Cemetery District. There were 407 legal registered voters, less non-property owners, leaving a total of 310 legal registered voting taxpayers. The official canvas of votes cast were as follows:
Total Vores Cast 233
Yes 222
No 10
Spoiled 1
The Board if County Commissioners of Weber County, State of Utah, met pursuant to Chapter 17, Session Laws of Utah, 1945 at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, July 19, 1945, in the session room and organized the Plain City Cemetery District, and that the following be recommended to the Governor of the State of the Utah, as the first Commissioners of said subdistricts:
Albert Sharp, District Number One
Floyd A. Palmer, District Number Two
Charles Helsop, District number Three
There being no further business the meeting adjourned.
(Signed) L . M. Hess, Chairman
At the next election LeRoy Folkman replaced Charles Heslop as a Commissioner. They are as follows:
Floyd A. Palmer, Chairman
Albert Sharp
LeRoy Folkman, Secretary
During 1952, a new brick building was constructed for the pump house and caretaker. A 60’ Flag Pole was installed. Memorial Day Services were held at the Cemetery on May 30th.
In the spring of 1953, Charles Telford was employed as a full time Sexton and Caretaker. Mr. Johnson had requested to be released because of health. Mr. Telford had great pride in his work and did an excellent job as caretaker. He always went the extra mile to help keep the grounds in beautiful shape. New chain link fencing and gates were installed at different times around the boundaries of the Cemetery.
It has been necessary to open new lots on the north side of the Cemetery. These have been seeded and made a part of the new area. There had been good planning for future growth when this extra land was purchased.
Charles Telford was stricken with a stroke while he was working at the Cemetery on June 9, 1963. He was found by a neighbor living by the Cemetery, after Lulu, had phoned her to tell Charles his dinner was ready. Mr. Telford never recovered from this. After going to the hospital he was taken to the Roy hospital where he passed away on September 25, 1967. The town of Plain City is very grateful to Charles and Lavina Telford for their faithful work.
The Sexton and Caretaker job was then taken over by Jerry Bradford and LeRoy Folkman. They have continued with very fine devoted service to the town.
In 1967, Floyd A. Palmer moved to Ogden and when the election came that fall, Abraham Maw was voted in to take his place on the Board. By then, Floyd had been helping with the Cemetery growth and improvement for 30 years. He is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this excellent town and Church programs that has gone on. Also to work with so many fine people who will continue their service and may this responsibility be passed on to those who will have a desire to continue.
SERVICEMEN’S MONUMENT
This monument was built to honor the Servicemen who serve in World War II. Photo shows it as it stands today in front of the Town Bowery and Church parking lot.
THE FOLLOWING WAS TAKEN FROM DEEDS IN POSSESSION OF MRS. GEORGE WEATHERSTON:
The townsite of Plain City was established. An act of Congress April 24, 1820, entitled, “An Act Making Further Provision For The Sale Of The Public Lands, Etc.”
Six hundred forty acres of land were provided for people of this townsite.
“Now know ye that the United States of America, by these present, do give and grant unto the said Franklin D. Richards, Judge of Weber County, in trust as aforesaid, and this successor in said trust above described, the tract as described.”
Signed: Ulysses S. Grant, USA
Utah became a territory in 1872.
INCORPORATION AND GOVERNMENT OF PLAIN CITY
In Utah the community affairs were first conducted by the President Elder, and later by the Bishopric of the L.D.S. Ward.
As all community members wanted a voice in the governing of the town, it became necessary to formulate a system whereby elections could be held and others could be voted into office.
A group public-interested men spent many hours promoting the incorporation of Plain City. Petitions had to be formulated and circulated to gain interest and cooperation of the townspeople.
A Committee had been chosen to help beautify the Plain City Cemetery. They found that the only way service could be maintained was to incorporate and thereby secure money through a tax levy.
On January 13, 1944, the Articles of Incorporation for the town of Plain City were filed in the Weber County Clerk’s office in Ogden, Utah.
Adoption of a resolution designating Plain City as an incorporated town was made and action was taken by Weber County Commissioners, George F. Simmons, Lyman M. Hess and Joseph Peterson. Appointment of a “President of the Town Board” and four “Trustees” was made to serve as a governing body until the next municipal election two years later.
A nomination was made by L. Rulon Jenkins that Dean Baker serve as President. The following were appointed to serve:
The cemetery district was officially created on July 19, 1945.
Town board meeting were held in the Plain City School.
Formerly, the county had jurisdiction over road improvement. Now, the town board had to assume the responsibility or road upkeep and new construction. The state tax funds, based on the population of the town, could now be secured for improvement of roads and culverts. Later, it would be used law enforcement, public works, recreation, etc.
In November, 1945, the first municipal election was held in the plain City. In 1946, the following elected men took office:
In 1948, the town board directed a beautification project on the Town Square. The five-acre park was leveled and sodded in the spring of 1949. Dairy Days had to be held on the school grounds and on neighboring property.
A granite monument was erected on the Church ground honoring those who had served in World War II.
In November, 1948, President Elmer Carver was elected to the position of Weber County Commissioner. On April 12, 1949, the duties of President of the Town Board were taken over by Floyd A. Palmer, who was appointed to succeed Mr. Carver to the post. Meetings were held with three Trustees until a fourth could be appointed. They met in the home of President Palmer.
On January 1, 1950, the following men took the oath of office:
President of the Town Board . . . . . . . . Clair M. Folkman
Elvin H. Maw was appointed Town Clerk. Meetings were held at Clair Folkman’s home.
Plain City’s assessed valuation for 1950 was $390,220.00
An annual celebration was held each year on July 4th. It was called “Potato Day.” A queen and her attendants were chosen to reign over the day. The affair was sponsored by the Town Board and the Cemetery Committee to raise funds for the upkeep of the cemetery and other purposes.
Walter Johnson was employed as caretaker of the cemetery.
On October 2, 1950, Frank Anderson became the Town Marshall. He served until August of 1951.
In 1951, Plain city joined the Municipal League. It was made up of cities and towns in the State of Utah. Years later, the name was changed to “Utah League of Cities and Towns.”
The population of Plain “City in 1951 was 829. The elected men of Plain City would now hold office four years instead of two years.
In January, 1952, the Trustees elected to the Board were:
Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lee Olsen
Earl Hadley
Holdover Trustees. . . . . .Elvin H. Maw, Town Clerk
Lewis Vincenti
On April 7, 1952, Frank Hadley was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Earl Hadley, who passed away April 4, 1952.
On April 6, 1953, Rulon Chugg was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Lewis Vincenti, who passed away December 1, 1952.
In May 1953, a flagpole was installed at the Plain City Cemetery.
The Town Board discussed the possibility of bringing the following elected officers:
President of the Town Board . . . . . . . . Lee Olsen
Town Board meetings were now held at President Lee Olsen’s home and at the L.D.S Church.
Gordon Thompson was serving on the Mosquito Abatement District.
Plain City voted to have supervised control of the town dump. Victor Lund, Ezra Richardson, Elwin Taylor, Verl Stokes, and later Carston Illum have been employed as supervisors.
Plain City signed an application for culinary water.
Lights were installed on the town square for night games and recreation. A dedication ceremony was held and President Lee Olsen threw the switch for the first time on July 2, 1954.
On November 7, 1954, the new L.D.S Church was dedicated.
In 1955, public restroom were constructed on the north side of the recreation hall.
On October 25, 1955, the new addition to the Plain City School was dedicated.
A motion was made that the Town Board assist the Lion’s Club in building a water tower.
On January 2, 1956, Elvin H. Maw, Town Clerk, administered the Oath of Office to the following-elected trustees:
Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . Floyd A. Palmer
Elvin Maw
Holdover Trustees. . . . Merrill Jenkins
Blair Simpson
The Town Board sponsors and assists the Plain City “Dairy Days” show each year.
Floyd A. Palmer was assigned to serve on the Board of Trustee in the Bona Vista Water District. Theron Palmer was Superintendent of Bona Vista.
The Town Board assisted the Lions Club and the Plain City Ward in building a bowery and fireplace south of the Town Square in 1957. This was completed in 1958.
Property was purchased from Llewellyn Hipwell, located west if the Lions Clubhouse for the purpose of building a Town Hall.
In January, 1958, Town Clerk, Elvin H. Maw, administrated the Oath of Office to the following elected officials:
President of the Town Board . . . . . . . . . Kent Jenkins
The Board signed an ordinance with Bona Vista Water District and construction of a culinary water system was begun. Surface wells and pitcher pumps would soon be a memory. The above information was taken from:
A book “ A Historical Study of Plain City “ by Fern Olsen Taylor.
Ogden Standard Examiner news clipping
Research by Clara Olsen
In 1958, Lee Carver contracted the building of the 20’ x 44’ Town Hall. In May, the new municipal building was completed to serve the Town of Plain City, under the direction of President Lee Olsen, Trustees: Floyd A. Palmer, Glen Charlton, Kent Jenkins, Elvin H. Maw, Town Clerk.
Zoning ordinances were passed.
Work on the Willard Bay was underway.
On March 17, 1959, Plain City celebrated its Centennial year. It was observed with a week of outstanding events. We wore pioneer clothing, walked to church and enjoyed many programs as we honored pioneer ancestors. One special feature was the presentation of a pageant written by a Plain City native, Mrs. Gwendolyn Jenkins Griffin, called “Sand In The Shoes.” A large cast of characters, choir, and band members participated. Wheatly and Fen Taylor were program chairmen.
A large water tower storage tank is now an important new part of the scenery in the Plain City area.
In May, 1959, letters were sent to all residents of Plain City, informing them that they were required to obtained building permits. Walter Moyes was assigned to be the building inspector.
On January 2, 1959, Theron Palmer reported that the water was turned into Plain City water lines.
In 1960, two newly-elected Trustee took Office:
Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keith Blanch
Dee Cook
Holdover Trustees . . . . .Kent Jenkins
Glen Charlton, Town Clerk
The Plain City Ward was divided June 12.
The Plain City Town Board is now working with Mountain Fuel Supply Company to have natural gas piped into the town. The project is to be completed in 1961.
Plain City board members are organized a “Zoning Board.”
Plain City Improvement Council for community development was organized with executive committee members as follow:
Mayor, Lee Olsen Merrill Jenkins
Rulon Chugg Carl Taylor
Lyman Cook Clair Folkman
Mrs. Rosella Maw
In 1961, it was decided that the 40-year-old Recreation Hall would be renovated. Many hours were spent by dedicated men and women on this project.
The Plain City Town Board considered purchasing property from Bernard Poulsen for a park. It was voted down.
The population of Plain City now is near 1,5000. (Standard Examiner)
The 1962 elected officials for this term were:
President of the Town Board . . . . . . . Kent Jenkins
Rulon Chugg was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Keith Blanch.
The Town Board is supporting the Summer Recreation Program, and junior Posse activities.
George Weatherston was the first Justice of the Peace in Plain City. He resigned in 1966, and Keith Daley was appointed to that office.
On June 3, 1967, Plain City received a proclamation signed by Governor Rampton:
“Where Govern Rampton did declare Plain City a City of the Third Class.”
The former title of “President of the Town Board” will now be changed to “Mayor”. Keith Blanch was the first to be officially called “Mayor of Plain City.”
The title of “Trustees” will be changed to “Councilmen”. There will now be five councilmen instead of four.
In April 1967, the recently renovated recreation hall was destroyed by fire.
In 1968, three new councilmen were elected and installed. The Oath of Office was administered by Keith Daley:
In November, 1968, Plain City approved the “Sewer Bond Issue” by a 228 to 69 vote. Plans for the project are underway with work to be completed in 1969.
Mayor Keith Blanch became the manager of the Plain City-Farr West Sewer System.
“Mans First Trip To The Moon” – July, 1969.
In January, 1970, the following officials took the Oath of Office:
Mayor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keith Blanch
Councilmen . . . . . . . . . .Kent Jenkins
Melvin Cottle
Vernal Moyes
Holdover Councilmen. . Lynn Folkman
Rulon Chugg
Cherrill Knight resigned her position as City Recorder and Lucille White took her place.
Plain City annexed 57 acres of land bordering on the South of the town to become “Pioneer Village.”
A Railroad line was constructed along the north side of Plain City extending to little Mountain where the Great Salt Lake Minerals and Chemical Corporation is located.
On November 27, 1971, the new Bank of Utah was dedicated in Plain City.
Two newcomers and one incumbent won elections in 1972. Keith Daley administered the Oath of Office to :
Councilmen . . . . . . . . . . . . .Darwin Taylor
Wayne Cottle
Lynn Folkman
Holdover Councilmen. . . . . .Vernal Moyes
Kent Jenkins
On October 23, 1973, the council asked for bids and plans for new restrooms to be constructed west of the concession stand on the Town Square. They accepted the bid of Verl Rawson for $5,000.00
In January 1974, Keith Daley, justice of the Peace, administered the Oath of Office to the following who were elected in November, 1973:
Councilmen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Thomas
William VanHulten
Holdover Councilmen. . . . . . . . Wayne Cottle
Darwin Taylor
Lynn P. Folkman
In 1974 Kelly Hipwell was hired as full-time “Public Works Director” for Plain City. Walter Johnson and Elbert Moyes have served as Public Works’ employees. Carson Illum is presently “Plain City Public Works” employee.
Lucille White resigned and Diane Taylor became the City Recorder.
Plain City endorsed the Mass Transit Proposition.
The new Weber High School was dedicated March 28, 1974, in Pleasant View. Plain City students attend Weber High School and Wahlquist junior High School.
England Builder’s Lumber Company was heavily damaged by fire on April 6, 1975.
The Lions building was restored by the Plain City Lion’s Club. The building was formerly the Episcopal Church built in 1877.
Residents of Plain City were asked to post “House Numbers”.
Ground breaking was held for the new “Pioneer Park” racetrack in the northeast part of Plain City, in 1975.
“The Bicentennial Year” – 1976 – three new councilmen were elected:
Councilmen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ralph A. Taylor
In July, 1976, the assessed valuation of Plain City was $2,862.521.000.
New subdivision ordinances have been formed.
The property of Bernard Poulsen was purchased for a park. The 20 acres will be developed for posse drills and future recreation.
The Utah Transit Bus Service was initiated in Plain City in 1977.
The population in March of 1976, was approximately 2,300.
Those now serving on the Plain City Planning Commission are:
Boyd Parke, Chairman
Frank Hadley
Paul Knight
Darwin Taylor
Farrell Bingham
Those now serving on the Plain City Board of Adjustments:
Orlo Maw, Chairman Lee Painter
Garry Skeen Farrell Bingham
Archie Hunt
The above information beginning in 1959, was taken from the Ogden Standard Examiner newspaper articles and the Plain City Council minutes.
Clara Olsen
Dean Baker
Elmer Carver
Clair Folkman
Floyd Palmer
Mayors
Keith Blanch
Lee Olsen
Ball Park with Concession Stand built by the Town in the background
Town Hall erected in 1958
Bowery built by the Town and the Lions Club [Milo James Ross finished off cement on Bowery]
Dean A. Baker
Submitted By Beverly B. Eddy
The town of Plain City was incorporated, approved and effective January 13, 1944. Dean A. Baker worked many long hours helping to organize the Town Board when Plain City was incorporated and served as Plain City’s first mayor, January 13, 1944.
During World War II (with the help of scouts) Dean gathered scrap iron from all over the surrounding area, hauled it to Plain City and piled it in the town square, to help in the was effort. According to a letter he has from the Governor of Utah, Plain City collected more iron than any other community in the state of Utah. When the iron was sold, the money was used to help finance the incorporation of the town and to build a monument (located in the center of town) honoring all the Plain City men and women who served in the armed services.
Dean Baker helped organized the first Plain City cemetery District in the State of Utah, July 19, 1945.
The Plain City Lion’s Club was chartered May 11, 1948 with 65 charter members. Dean Baker was chosen for their charter president. The history of the Plain City Lion’s Club is an inspiring one of unselfish service to the community.
Some years ago, Dean was asked (in an interview concerning the Lion’s International) how he felt about his Lion’s Club activities? His answer was “I’ve enjoyed everything I have ever done in the Lion’s Club and was always well paid in the satisfaction that comes from doing something for others. But the Lion’s have done more for me that I ever did for them. When I was seriously ill and recovering at home after some major surgery, the Plain City Lion’s came down to my place and harvested over 20 acres of corn for me. They showed up here with over 20 trucks, tractors and corn Choppers, harvested my crop, hauled it to the pits and put it away. Then they all went home and harvested their own crops. But nine was the first crop harvested. You ask me what I think of the Lion’s Club? Mister, I love ‘em.” –and great big tears rolled unashamedly—the guy really meant it. The Lion’s Club has done this for many other people. The Lion’s Club is the largest service club in the world.
Some years ago Dean Baker acquired the old Episcopalian Church building (built in 1878) in Plain City. He offered this building to the Lion’s Club for a club house. In order for the club to finance the purchase (which would return only his investment in the property) he deeded the property to the club and allowed them to sell two-thirds of it. This raised part of the funds and the club put on queen contest and other promotions to raise the balance. Dean organized and helped with these promotions until the money was raised.
The Lion’s have completely remodeled the building several times. They now have a beautiful clubhouse, which they have turned over to the Town Board for use as a Civic Center available to all.
Dean Baker was an Air Raid Warden in Plain City and went to meetings every week. Just about the whole time of the war. Meetings were held at the City and County building in Ogden.
Dean was chairman of the first Potato Day Queen Contest Celebration, which was held for many years thereafter. At this celebration there were well over one hundred horses. They held horse shows, children’s races and parades. The celebration committee gave away horses and saddles and other prizes and still made $1,000 or more for the town. This was one of the biggest events of the year and everyone participated. There were wrestling matches. Flag raising ceremonies to start the day off. Later in the day, Dean held a Rodeo in his pasture just west of the town square by his barn. Many of the young boys and girls riding calves. Horse races were also held. Everyone had a great day.
The old Singleton Home, and is presently owned by a daughter, Art and Florence Singleton Simpson
Picture of Merlin England Milk Truck in front of the Cream O’ Weber Diary located between 25th and 26th Street on Ogden Avenue. He hauled milk for many, many years. Many people would ride into town and home with Merl England in those days.
It was nearly one hundred years ago that a small band of families broke away from the Mormon Church in Plain City, Utah, to once again embrace the Episcopal faith. That summer of 1876, representatives of these 13 families met with the Rev. James Gillogly to ask his help in forming a new congregation.
Rev. Gillogly encouraged the brethren by traveling to Plain City from Ogden, where the tiny congregation would hold church services in the public school house. The ten mile trip was made regularly, regardless of weather conditions.
Finally, an appeal was made through the “Spirit of Missions” asking church members in the east for money to build a church. A corner lot of one acre was purchased for $150, and another $100 was all it took for the people of Plain City to build their long-awaited church.
The resulting dusty red, adobe brick building is a monument to the perseverance of those early settlers. Erected in 1877, the building still stands today—and is in better shape than ever because of the recent Bicentennial efforts of the Plain City Lions Club. [Built by William Sharp]
The Lions actually took an active interest in the old church on 1952. Members needed a place to meet, but with no other space available, decided that the church was the most likely spot.
They intended to buy the building, but were hampered by the lack of funds in the club’s coffers. Turning down the offer of a loan from two businessmen in town, the club raised their funds through a Memorial Day celebration and the sale of two lots from the church’s one acre of ground.
The building was finally theirs. Members fixed it up, and even added a modern new kitchen, restrooms and a furnace room. By 1974, however, the old structure had nearly succumbed to weather, time and vandalism.
The Bicentennial restoration of the original church was voted to be a most appropriate way to celebrate America’s heritage. A new roof was put on. Double doors decorated the front entrance. Aluminum windows and screens were attached to keep the harsh weather out. Cement windows sills were built to replace the rotting wood. Inside, a new hardwood floor and draperies finished the church’s now-modern décor.
Wheatley Taylor, club president, took a personal interest in the church’s “memorial bell,” carted to the little western town in 1878 to sit atop the building’s belfry. “We believe it is the first church bell to ring in Plain City,” he said, adding, “When we took the bell down, the wood just came apart in our hands.”
Taylor scoured the state in search of a craftsman who could repair the cracks in the metal bell. While cleaning the bell, he found an inscription which explains the bell’s name. Engraved on the huge 500 pound bell is the inscription, “in Memorial Rev. James Lee Gillogly Obit XIV Feb. MDCCCLXXXI.”
The bell now sits atop the church, nestled in a new belfry.
Once again, the Lions Club coffers were exhausted. The club made application to the Bicentennial Committee for funds and also asked that the building be named a historical site. Cooperation was received on both counts, Lions report.
The building has turned into a true civic center for the 2,000 residents of Plain City. The Lions Club entertains townspeople by scheduling special programs in the completely-renovated building.
Other civic groups also use the center for their special purpose. When town meetings draw an overflow crowd, they are naturally moved next door to the larger quarters of the Lions Civic Center.
Clean, light and airy, with sparkling new metal chairs, the interior belies the building’s historic façade.
Although most of the work was done recently as part of the club’s Bicentennial efforts, members’ original restoration work back in the 1950’s has not been forgotten. In 1962, the Plain City Lions Club was presented with the state’s D. A . Skeen Award, in honor of the past International President who spent his childhood years in Plain City.
Through much hard work and effort by the Lions, not only is the building now restored, but so are the integrity and strength that forged it in the beginning a hundred years ago.
DAVID ALFRED SKEEN
Submitted by Roxy Heslop
David Alfred Skeen was the sponsor of the Plain City Lions Club. He was born 13 May 1885 in Plain City, the son of Lyman Stoddard Skeen and Electra Phelomila Dixon Skeen. His father came to Plain City with the first group that arrived 17 March 1959.
The family seemed to be very interested in education when few people thought of attending college. D. A. Skeen was an attorney in Salt Lake. His brothers, Jedidiah D. and W. Riley were also attorneys. His oldest brother Lyman, 14 years older, was a medical doctor who was very brilliant but passed away at the age of 35.
There were eleven children born in Plain City and were very progressive people. At thew death of their mother, their father married Annie Skelton and they had eight children all born in Plain City. Ivy Marsden, Leona Freestone, Jennie Cook and Elwood Skeen are living (1977) and are happy to claim Plain City is a choice place.
D. A. Skeen, founder of Lionism in Utah, charter member and first president in 1921 of the Salt Lake City Lion’s Club is a native Utah son. He was born at Plain City. Lion D. A. Skeen served as District Governor of District 28 in 1922. At that time District 28 included all of Utah and part of Idaho. He continued to be very active in Lionism and was elevated to the position of International President in 1944.
During the United Nations Conference held in San Francisco in 1945 he served with Melvin Jones, founder of Lionism, as a Consultant and Special Delegation. He was a Consultant and Special Delegate to the Paris Peace Conference in 1946. He was an ardent supporter if the United Nations and was a member of the Board of Directors of the American Association for the United Nations.
Past President Skeen has served with distinction and has witnessed the growth and development of Lionism throughout the World.
I have two copies of the History of Plain City, Utah. The front indicates it is from March 17th 1859 to present. As far as I can tell, the book was written in 1977. At least that is the latest date I can find in the book.
One copy belonged to my Grandparents Milo and Gladys Ross. My Grandpa has written various notes inside the history which I intend to include in parenthesis whenever they appear. They add to the history and come from his own experience and hearing.
I will only do a number of pages at a time. I will also try to include scanned copies of the photos in the books. These are just scanned copies of these books, I have not tried to seek out originals or better copies.
History of Plain City March 17th 1859 to present, pages 33 through 38.
Past Bishops of Plain City
Henry J Gardner 1906 – 1910
Back (l-r): Wilmer J Maw, George E Knight, Elvin H Maw, Charles L Heslop; Front: George A Palmer, Gilbert Thatcher, Henry T Maw
Wilmer J. Maw 1920–1926
George E. Knight 1949–1953
Elvin H. Maw 1944–1949
Charles L. Heslop 1936–1944 (Married Milo Ross & Gladys Donaldson April 1942)
George A. Palmer 1926–1936
Gilbert Thatcher 1913–1920
Henry T. Maw 1910–1913
(l-r): Charles L Heslop, Elvin H Maw, George E Knight, Merrill Jenkins, Lyman H Cook, Rulon Chugg, Wayne W Cottle, Orlo S Maw
Charles L Heslop, 1936-1944
Elvin H Maw, 1944-1949
George E Knight, 1949-1953
Merrill Jenkins, 1953-1959
Lyman H Cook, 1959-1964
Rulon Chugg, 1960-1965, 2nd Ward
Plain City Ward – Wayne W Cottle, 1964 –
Plain City Ward – Orlo S Maw, 1965
(l-r) Kent Calvert, Robert Sharp, Kent Jenkins
Kent Calvert, 2nd Ward 1971-1974, 3rd Ward 1974-
Robert Sharp, 2nd Ward 1974-
Kent Jenkins, 1st Ward 1971-
PLAIN CITY BRANCH OFFICER
1859 – 1977
Submitted by Roxy Heslop Gilbert Thatcher 1913 – 1920
PRESIDING ELDERS Wilmer J Maw 1920 – 1926
William W Raymond 1859 – 1863 George A Palmer 1926 – 1936
John Carver 1863 – 1866 Charles L Heslop 1936 – 1944
William W Raymond 1866 – 1870 Elvin H. Maw 1944 – 1949
Lewis W Shurtliff 1870 – 1877 George F Knight 1949 – 1953
FIRST COUNSELORS Merrill Jenkins 1953 – 1959
Daniel Collet 1859 – 1866 Lyman Cook 1959 – 1964
John Carver 1872 – 1877 Wayne W Cottle 1964 – 1971
SECOND COUNSELORS Kent Jenkins 1971 –
Jeppe G Folkman 1859 – 1872
~
PLAIN CITY FIRST WARD
John Spiers 1872 – 1877 FIRST COUNSELORS
CLERKS John Spiers 1877 – 1895
John Spiers 1859 – 1872 Abraham Maw 1895 – 1901
William W McGuire 1872 – 1877 Peter C Green 1901 – 1903
PLAIN City Ward Officers 1877 – 1977 Henry J Garner 1903 – 1906
BISHOP Peter M Folkman 1906 – 1910
Lewis W Shurtleff 1877 – 1883 James L Robson 1910 – 1920
George W Bramwell 1883 – 1906 George A Palmer 1920 – 1926
Henry T Maw 1910 – 1913 Elvin H Maw 1926 – 1936
Gordon F Thompson 1936 – 1944 Abraham E Maw 1936 – 1944
L Rulon Jenkins 1944 – 1949 Fred L Singleton 1944 – 1946
Sagacity 