Springville, Utah - Utah County: a Graphic Account of Its Foundings, Its Wonderful Growth

Elevation, 4, 565 Feet

This rural town, six miles from Provo, according to the records, was settled October 1, 1850, the first settlers being the families of Aaron Johnson, Myron N. Crandall, William Miller, John W. Deal and James Mendenhal. In 1852 the city was incorporated, and in February of the following year, at the first municipal election, G. D. Wood was elected mayor.

The industries, like those in most towns in that section of the country, are of an agricultural nature, the raising of vegetables and fruits being carried on to a great extent, and in and around Springville are to be seen some of the finest orchards in the county.

Springville is divided into four ecclesiastical wards, the bishops being respectively, John Luckett, Lorin Harmer, George R. Hill and Joseph S. Loynd.

The societies of the Young Men's and Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations were organized in this town a good many years since, and are still fiourishing.

This town is too near Provo to ever assume any great size or notoriety, a circumstance which is usually the case with those towns surrounding (or adjacent to) a larger one, so much so is this the case that often the greater importance the one attains; the other sinks into comparative insignificance. Springville will never lose that which she has already gained, her productive soil alone being sufficient to prevent her retrogression, but while she may increase in population and wealth, it is extremely doubtful if she will ever gain any prominence as a commercial town. To those who prefer a quiet, peaceful home, surrounded by those charms which nature alone can produce, where everything around appeals to one's love for the beautiful, and yet which is within easy reach of a commercial center, where all those luxuries indispensable to the comfort of man can be obtained, Springville affords all that can be desired. Numbered among those who may be seen upon the streets of the city occasionally, and who knew it in its infancy, are: William Clyde, Lyman Wood and Henry Rawlins, all of whom still make it their home.

Snunovillk Milling Co

The leading enterprise of Springville is that conducted l>y the well-known Springville Milling Company, whose career has been prosperous, and tended to develop the commercial interests of that city in no small degree. The ped with Barnard A Lea's dustiest separator, has four double stands of rolls, one Hour packer and plan sifter, in fact, everything pertaining to a completely outfitted mill, all being of the latest improvement.

The special brands of Hour made are Regal Patent. Royal and Bakers' No. 1; also graham, germade, bran, shorts, chopped feed, etc. The officers mill has a frontage of 32 feet by 40 feet deep, and is three stories high, with basement, operated b}- water power, and has a capacity of fifty barrels per day. It is thoroughly equipare, F. M. Snell, president; Judge A. C. Hatch, vice-president; Abram Hatch, director; Isaac Riddle, director; Judge W. H. King, secretary and treasurer.

Springville Woolen Mills

This prosperous business was established in April, 1877, by James Whitewhere in the West. The product at present is cassimeres, tweeds, suitings, dress goods, flannels and linings.

The capacity is a three Set Mill employing 20 hands and using 100,- 000 pounds of wool annually and in connection with the mill is a large Steam Dye House. His goods are unrivalled for quality and uniform exhead Jr. The factory is fully equipped with the latest motive power and machinery, for a number of years the product of this mill was stocking and weaving yarn for the country trade. In 1892 a great many improvements were made and at present his goods are second to none produced anycellence. The products are handled by jobbers. Much can be said concerning the intrinsic value and quality of his goods, but we prefer leaving the recital of their individual merits to himself knowing that true worth is always appreciated by an intelligent public.

William Henry Kel8Ey

On the Boutheasi coasl of England opposite the town of Calais, France, at the point where the waters of the North Sen and the English Channel are united, is the pretty seaport town of Dover. It lies in the charming farming county of Kent, rendered so famous for the cultivation of thai aromatic plant, the hop, and with its bold white cliffs standing as sentinels over the straits. Conns as picturesque a sight as

It was here, November 21, 1830, that William Henry Kelsey (now deceased) was horn, his parents being Edward Kelsey and Ann Gibbons. His father was in comparatively humble circumstances, being a laborer, and Mrs. Kelsey having sufficient domestic duties to perform which occupied all her time and prevented her from adding to the household income. In consequence of this and the fact that during his entire life he was in delicate health, his education was somewhat limited.

His childhood was passed in Dover, rambling along the cliffs and seashore or among the ruins of the historical castle which played so important a part in the days of feudalism, or else penetrating the mysteries of the old fortification on the hill opposite the castle, exploring its subterranean passages which the state of affairs in those days required as a means of safety, when every baron had his castle or fortress with its moat and drawbridge, and the law which prevailed throughout the land seemed to be "Might is right."

It was among such scenes as this, varied by strolls over the fertile hills or through the fruitful valleys, that this boy grew to manhood. When quite young he showed an aptitude for farming pursuits, and when he commenced to earn his living by working in a green grocery establishment, he there resolved that it i\,-,- the opportunity presented itseii he would raise not the Mormon doctrine ex] ded by two missionaries, .Messrs. Moses Martin and 1'aul Harrison, a faith in which he became much interested and studied at every opportunity, the outcome being that he ultimately believed in their teachings and February If,, IMS, he went down to the seashore and was there baptized by Mr. S. Allsworth.

Shortly after this he was ordained as a Teacher, preaching for the first time in the Parfhenian Rooms, Castle Street, Dover. In November, 1848, he was ordained a Priest by Elder W. C. Dunbar, and labored that winter in the missionary field. He received his ordination as Elder February, 185(1, at the hands of Thomas Caffull, being appointed to labor under Elder Hart, and from September 22nd to October 10th he baptized seven persons. November loth the branch at Croydon was organized by Elder James Hart, and Mr. Kelsey was called upon to preside over it. He also presided over the Brighton branch and was president of the Kent Conference, serving altogether about ten and one-half years in the missionary field in Englanil.

At this period he made a change in his domestic relations by marrying Miss Harriet Huggett, who reared for him a family of four children, viz.: Harriet, Ellen, William Henry and Emma (Esther, Josephine and Dora being children of his second wife.) The ceremony was performed in the pretty church at Norwood, near Croydon, and perhaps of all the suburban localities near London this is the most attractive of them all.

Standing upon the hill at upper Norwood, the towns of Penge and Anerley lie at the foot, the church steeples peeping through the foliage; in the distance to the right is faintly seen Croydan, while a mighty panorama of many miles shows the beauties of the county of Kent, presenting to the gaze of the observer a scene which when once witnessed can never be forgotten, and it was among such surroundings he performed much of his missionary work and was later married.

His release was given to him Jauuary 2, 1861, upon receipt of which he immediately prepared to join the Saints in Zion, and early that spring he embarked at Liverpool with his wife and four children on board the "Monarch of the Sea" for New York. The voyage was accomplished in about six weeks, the vessel being delayed somewhat by drifting from its course and entering those vast fields of ice which at that time of year abound in the North Atlantic owing to the breaking of ice in the northern seas, and which, when making their way in a southerly direction, are such a source of danger to the mariner. From New York the journey to Utah was made by team over the plains, and in the fall of 1861 they arrived in Salt Lake City. After a stay in that city of about two weeks Mr. Kelsey removed with his family, at the solicitations of a Mr. John Waters, to Springville, where he purchased a house and lot.

In the following spring, just when his efforts at gardening seemed to be promising a rich reward, the frequent rains caused the creek to rise and overflow its banks, washing away the house and inundating the land to such an extent that the fruit of his labors was entirely destroyed. This calamity, in itsef sufficient to dampen the ardor of most men, was followed by the destruction of his crops at the time of the grasshopper pest, and later, when matters appeared to be gaining a brighter aspect, the Indian troubles caused martial law to prevail where hitherto farming and its peaceful environments had reigned.

He returned to England as a missionary in 1872, where he labored successfully and visited his old home and renewed former acquaintances. Mr. Kelsey held several ecclesiastical and public positions, among which might be mentioned that in 1881 and 1885, he was member of the Springville city council, an office he filled with credit and to which he was re-elected in 1894 and retained until his death.

The close of this useful career occurred August 5, 1895, at his home, where he passed away surrounded by his friends, who will ever think of him as his life deserved, a loving husband and father and an upright, conscientious citizen.

James Oakley

A man whose career has been sufficiently eventful to deserve more than a passing notice is that of James Oakley. He was the son of Ezra and Elizabeth Oakley and was born September 5, 1826, on Long Island, N. Y.

His father was a wheelwright, although he later entered into a mercantile life, and James showed an inclination to follow in his footsteps and become a wheelwright, although he seems to have had an aptitude for several callings, as

Believing in the Mormon Church and desiring to be closely united with its people, he went in 1846 with his people to Conncil Bluffs with oxen and horse teams, two wagons supplied with sufficient provisions, and prepared for that memorable journey to the unknown Promised Land.

At this time the call came from the government for the Mormon Battalion, the answer to which showed the whole world that, whether the Mormons were sincere in their belief, or merely victims to a form of fanaticism, their religious ardor had not extinguished their loyalty nor that love which every true man feels for his country. The battalion was raised, every man feeling that in serving his country he was doing his duty and honoring his Grod and church simultaneously.

He reached Santa Fe, where he was placed upon the sick list and sent to Pueblo, wintering in Captain Brown's company. From Pueblo they traveled to Fort Laramie, where seven of them received furloughs to overtake the pioneers, who had passed that place eight days earlier. At Green Kiver they were compelled to halt on account of the swollen condition of the stream. One of the men, Thomas Williams, attempted to cross the river upon a horse and endeavor to bring a raft which was moored to the opposite bank, but the current swept his horse from under him and it was only owing to his being an expert swimmer that he escaped being drowned.

their predicament, returned to the camp of the pioneers, about 11 mile distant, and proeured assistance, enabling them to join that hand on the pilgrimage to Utah.

Mr. Oakley settled first in Suit Lake City, hut removed later to Springville, where he made for himself a permanent home. He went east on a broken-legged horse - the best he could obtain - to meet his parents, who were traveling in President John Taylor's company, meeting them on the Sweetwater river. Seeing an object which he took to be Indians, he secreted himself among some willows until he discovered that the much-dreaded sight was a carriage containing President Taylor and Joseph Home, who were seeking a suitable site for camping.

So altered was he by a disfigured nose and strange attire that the president did not recognize him at first, although they were brothersin-law, nor did his father, but his mother, who used a crutch, recognized him in the distance and was so overjoyed at meeting her son that, to quote Mr. Oakley's words, "She forgot her crutch and never again used it."

He was a member of the Springville city council for two years and laid the founnation of the building known as the Mormon church in that town.

In 1857 he was sent to build up Fort Supply, and was one of the sixty Elders sent to the Eastern States to allay prejudice among the people there, and took provisions and met the handcart company, which was traveling under Captain Isaac Evans. He also furnished a

Being ruined by the grasshoppers, I'righam Voung advised eleven of them, of whom Mr. Oakley was one, to go to California, which they did, where, after working a few days in the gold diggings, he was able to send his father $5<X> and returned in the fall well recompensed for the journey.

Heber C. Kimball ordained him a Seventy, and he was also adjutant under Captain William Bringhurst, and was later appointed captain of the company against the Indian chief Walker and figured in all the Indian wars at that period.

He was thrice married, first in September, 1851, to Alvina Ann Cole, by whom he had six children as follows: James H., John E., Susanna E., Ira A., and twins, who died in infancy. He later married Cecelia Lane, the result of the union being six children, whose names were Corcelia, Ammi, David L., Lewis K., Arthur E. and Birdie. His third marriage was with Fanny Palfryman, who blessed him with a family of six, named Richard D., Lilly A., Phoebe L., Carrie, Ernest and Leo.

Mr. Oakley cannot only claim the honor of being a pioneer, but he can feel that he performed his share in the labors which have caused such a transformation in the appearance of Utah county in a comparatively fewyears, and at seventy-one years of age he is living, enjoying the fruits of his work in earlier days, respected by all in the community in which he has lived so long.

Thomas Child

The subject of this memoir, Thomas Child was born near Bradford, Yorkshire, England, Februai-y 11, 1825. His parents were William Child and Elizabeth Battersby Child. The family consisted of seven sons and three daughters, Thomas being the second son. His parents were Methodists and strictly adhered to the tenets of that faith, training their children therein- Thomas and his brother James, the former at the age of sixteen years, asked their parents for the privilege of attending the divine services of other churches than the Methodists, and, obtaining their consent, they heard the different doctrines expounded, among which was the gospel as taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints by the mouth of Henry Cuerden on the last Sabbath of 1841, being the first sermon preached in Bradford, Thomas embracing it on the 27th of April, 184'2. About three months later he was appointed a Teacher, and was ordained a Priest in 1843, and when eighteen years old began to quoted as one of its founders. In addition to mission work Elder Child assisted in organizing a number of branches around Bradford, also in Halifax, Clayton and other towns. The fruits of his labors are found in many parts of Utah, some of whom are men of prominence in the Church.

Eleven months after Thomas joined the Church his mother bee-am? a member; his father and oldest brother a few weeks later, and the remainder of the family in May, 1845, were baptized by Bishop Elijah F. Sheets.

Thomas began working at seven years of age setting cards and worked in a worsted factory at the age of ten years, and in a stone quarry at thirteen. On August 31, 1845, he was ordained an Elder and appointed president of the Halifax branch. He was married to Tabitha Milnes on the 27th of March, 1847. In 1848 he was called into the ministry as a traveling Elder, laboring in the Newcastle conference under the presidency of William Speakman, having charge of four branches. He continued in the ministry until 1852, when he emigrated to Utah in the A. O. Smoot company, arriving in Salt Lake City September 3rd. He was present at the breaking of the ground for the Salt Lake Temple, also at the laying of the corner stone and capstone thereof and at its dedication- Thomas Child learned the Mason trade in Salt Lake City and settled in Springville in 1856. following that trade twenty five years.

He received three successive appointments as home missionary of the stake, and procured the teams three seasons to haul rock from Cottonwood canyon to the temple, and was constantly employed providing teams for bringing in the poor from the states every spring. He was ordained a Seventy December 25, 1852, assuming the duties pertaining to that office forty years, and has been a High Priest since that time. Mr. Childs has collected thousands of dollars for various ward purposes and is yet an earnest and devoted worker at the age of seventy-two. All the family are dead excepting Thomas. They died as they had lived, faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Frederick Weight

Another man who has done much to assist in transforming this country from a barren waste into its present fertile and prosperous state is Frederick Weight, who began his life in the town of Strand, county of Gloucester, England. His parents, James and Ann Fawkes Weight, were poor, honest and thrifty people, his father being a practical machinist, a trade for which our subject seemed to have inherited a taste.

The labors of Frederick began at an early age, as when but eight years old we find him leaving school and contributing his small share towards the general support of the family. He first worked in a doctor's office, and as he grew older and stronger, he assisted some masons and plasterers, until he eventually worked with his father in an iron foundry as a machinist, a line of occupation for which he felt himself to be peculiarly adapted. From his childhood he had always exhibited a marked interest in religious matters, and having opportunities to listen to the expounding of many doctrines, he eventually became a convert to Mormonism, and believing that in Utah he could better serve the Lord than elsewhere, he began to suit the action to the word, and September 3, 1850, we find him a passenger on the ship "North Atlantic," commanded by Captain Cook, leaving Liverpool for the Promised Land.

Two weeks prior to his departure he was united in the bonds of matrimony to Charlotte Burgum, who gave him one son, Martin. He arrived in New Orleans October 31st, at which place he took passage on one of the river steamers to St. Louis, where he lived until June, 9, 1852. On that day he pai 1 his way as a passenger in an ox team and wagon, forming part of Captain Howell's company, and traveling via the South Platte route, he arrived in Utah September 15, 1852. The journey was comparatively uneventful, excepting on one occasion, when the camp was surrounded by Pawnee Indians, whom they pacified by means of an impromptu entertainment, where it need hardly be stated that every member of the company performed his, or her, part with an evident desire to please not always exhibited by more talented performers in the present day. He lived first in the Eleventh ward in Salt Lake City, removing four years later to Springville, his present abode.

He was married twice in Utah, first to Mary Milnes, January 7, 1853, and again July 1, 1865, to Elizabeth Bocock. By his wife Mary he had six children, viz.: Joseph H, Mary C, Frederick H., Sarah E., James E. and Maria E, and in later years Elizabeth increased his paternal responsibilities by nine more, whose names were Alfred W., George A., Wallace F., Amelia A., Arthur B., Alice C, S. Eugene, Claude F. and Ralph B., making a total of sixteen children by his three wives. Mr. Weight suffered a great deal during the years 1854-5 from the grasshoppers, being at one time seven days without bread, and obtaining his sustenance from such roots aid herbs as he could obtain.

In November, 1856, he was appointed Sunday school teacher and choir leader by Bishop Aaron Johnson, retaining his office twenty-four years. In consequence of his musical abilities Bishop Bringhurst appointed him branch orill ganist, a capacity in which he 1i;ih given suoh entire satisfaction that he has continued to pour forth sweet melodies in the Latter Daj Saints Church until this day and claims tin' honor of being the pioneer musician of Springville. In the early sixties he was appointed drum major by Colonel W. Bromley and was one of the home guard in the Indian wars during the years 1866-7, a period in which every man was required to be on the alert to protect their homes and families from those hostile tribes, and under the most discouraging circumstances, as ni.iy readily inferred, thai when Weight, then captain of the guard, was near Bobble Greet canyon with companions, guarding the approaches from tlmt direction, their equipment wis so poor that, while one man had a gun I nit uo ammunition, another had a charge lint uo caps, and many had only one round of ammunition; bul at all times they bravely ami cheerfully responded t" tin1 call of duty, trusting in i'ni\ idence to aid t hem.

Sir. Weight, as already stated, possesses considerable musical talent, ami was a member of the tirst Salt Lake City choir, under the leader ship of .lames Smithers, and in IH','2 he was connected with the first dramatic association in Utah, playing the violincello in Salt Lake City, forming fine of an orchestra in which was Mr. Ballou, the great clarionet ist. He was also a member of the Nauvoo Brass Band, playing the ophicleide in Salt Lake City. Today he has six sons and one grandson, all members of tinsame drum corps.

Being in the band, he stood near President Brigham Young at the time he broke the ground for the Salt Lake Temple, and later Mr. Weight worked upon its foundations. He has assisted in the construction of roads, bridges, canals, ditches and houses, in the latter of which his skill as a plasterer, acquired in his youth, proved to be of inestimable value. He is still a believer in the Church and is at all times ready to assist in promoting its welfare.