History of Salt Lake City, Part 129

Author: Tullidge, Edward Wheelock
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Salt Lake City, Star printing company
Number of Pages: 1194

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In the fall of 1852, I was called upon and appointed by the general conference of the Church to take mission to St. Louis, Mo., to preside over the St. Louis Conference, to act as general Church agent for the immigration and as purchasing agent for the Church,

In the spring of 1853, our immigration from Europe amounted to about three thousand souls and required over three hundred wagons and a thousand head of cattle to transport them. These, together with what was termed the American emigration, swelled the number to over four hundred wagons and nearly two thousand head of cattle. It required an immense amount of labor to deliver these at the overland starting point, besides purchasing the provi-

HORACE S. ELDREDGE.

sions, outfits and all the necessaries for a three or more months' camp life. After seeing the last company started, I returned to St. Louis to enjoy the short season of rest which very much needed ; but about this time I received an extremely kind letter from President Brigham Young, suggesting that, as the heated and perhaps sickly season was coming on I had better not remain in · St. Louis but take a trip north. This suggestion I accepted and went to New York State where I spent a few pleasant weeks with my relatives and friends in the place of my birth and early child- hood. On my return to St. Louis, I had to look to some Church matters, and, after visiting several branches and giving them the necessary counsel, I began, by contracting for wagons. etc., to lay my plans and arrange for the coming season's immigration. Having formed many agreeable ac- quaintances, I spent the winter much pleasanter than I had the previous one. The following spring brought its cares and responsibilities, as a large emigration from Europe as well as many from St. Louis and vicinity and different parts of the States were preparing to migrate to our mountain home, and all were more or less looking to me as agent to provide for them their outfit by the way of teams, provisions, and the various necessities for a trip across the plains. I also received orders from Salt Lake City to purchase a large quantity of merchandise, machinery, agricultural imple- ments, and to provide wagons, teams, teamsters. etc .. for their transportation. Having but little or no help that I could rely upon, nearly this whole labor devolved upon me, and I was compelled to give it my personal attention.

Several of our brethren organized what they called the " Mormon Social Club," and spent their leisure evenings in meeting together and enjoying themselves with singing, recitations, instrumental music, etc. They kindly proposed to give me a complimentary benefit, and accordingly they rented a theatre, and got up a very respectable programme. The entertainment was quite a success, and was liberally patronized, as the house was filled. This was highly appreciated by me, more from the kind spirit manifested by my friends than the pecuniary aid it gave me, yet both were acceptable un- der the circumstances. Near the close of the performance one of the committee requested mne to step behind the scene and when the curtain dropped to announce a short recess while they were pre- paring for the closing farce. The curtain was immediately lifted and I stepped forward to the foot- lights and was met by one of the committee who presented me with a letter, and as I extended my hand to receive it, he replied I will read it for you, to which I bowed assent. This took me by sur- prise as I had not the least idea of what the letter was or what they meant in placing me in that seemingly awkward position. I stood motionless while he read, as one listening to his death war- rant. Having the original letter before me, I here give it verbatim, as well as my answer, which I have preserved with great care.

"ST. LOUIS, January 30th, 1854. "H. S. Eldredge, President of the St. Louis Conference.

" We, the 'Mormon Social Club,' having viewed with entire satisfaction, your labors in the re- sponsible situation which you occupy, and having seen with what anxious care you have discharged arduous duties, and with what impartiality you have ministered to the Saints. We approbate the same with pleasure, and therefore we voluntarily give to you this complimentary benefit, and also herewith present to you this gold ring as an abiding testimony of the same.

"That we, the 'Mormon Social Club' have not alone been the interested observers of your conduct is manifest by this crowded hall of Saints and friends, who have assembled with us to contribute their meed of praise, and by their presence to express approbation of this testimony of our esteem.

"Our wishes are for you in the future that your course may continue prosperous, and always found in the path of goodness.

"Signed on behalf of the St. Louis M. S. Club.

"S. J. LEES, ANDREW SPROWL, J. SEAL, "Committee of Management."

At the close of his reading the foregoing letter the other two committee stood at my left with a beautiful gold ring, suspended on a ribbon ornamented with two beautiful rosettes, and stepped for- ward, placed the ring on my finger, and then stepped back again. I replied :

" It is with a heart full of gratitude to my brethren of the ' Mormon Social Club,' that I accept of this token of their love and esteem for me. As well do they have my heartfelt thanks for their perseverance and untiring zeal which they have manifested in preparing and presenting this com- plimentary benefit.

" I also tender my thanks to this assembly for the liberal patronage which they have favored us with on the present occasion. And as my past course has been viewed with entire satisfaction by

HISTORY OF SALT LAKE CITY.

you, my brethren of the club, as well as the good feeling that seems to be manifest upon the present occasion, so may I ever live and conduct myself that I may secure the confidence, esteem and kind feelings of all good people, both in time and in eternity."

During the winter of 1854-5, I remained home with my family, having been elected a member of the Legislative Assembly. Forty days of the time was employed in assisting to enact laws for our young and growing Territory.

In the fall of 1856, I entered into an arrangement with W. H. Hooper to take a stock of goods to U'tah County, and on the 23rd of October, started a train well loaded with merchandise, amount- ing to $15,000. I proceeded to Provo, rented our store and opened our goods. Our adventure was tolerably successful, as I sold quite a quantity of goods and bought several hundred head of cattle. It was my first mercantile transaction with W. H. Hooper. In the month of February, I was notified that I was requested to return to St. Louis and to be ready to start the Ist of March to again resume the Presidency of the St. Louis Conference, and to act as a general Church and emigration agent. I therefore commenced arranging my business, turned over my goods and cattle to W. H. Hooper, effected a satisfactory settlement and was ready to start at the appointed time.

During this season, great excitement prevailed throughout the United States regarding the " Mormon War"-or President Buchanan's war upon the Mormons,-in which General Johnston was placed in command of two thousand, five hundred men, who were called the "Flower of the American Army," and with all the necessary supplies, arrangements, arms, ammunition and imple- ments of war, to march against and, as many supposed, to put to the sword and annihilate the" Mormons. It was frequently remarked to me, while attending to business in St. Louis, that they would " use up" the Mormons and not even leave a " grease spot." One prominent business gen- tleman expressed himself, in the kindest feeling, I believe:

"If I were you, I would immediately fetch my family away from Utah, for they are bound to use up your people.'

I remarked that I considered my family safer in Utah than I would if they were in St. Louis. He seemed surprised and almost ridiculed the idea; but during the late war between the North and the South-if my memory serves me it was in 1864-I stood in St. Louis in company with the same gentleman, viewing a regiment of soldiers marching down to a steamer that was waiting to bear them to the battle-field. He said to me:

" I would to God that my family and effects were in Utah."

Circumstances had somewhat changed his feelings in the intervening six years.

I continued my labors as usual until July gist, when I started for the Eastern cities, having business in Washington, Philadelphia and New York. On my way, I called at Indianapolis, where I had formerly resided, and called on several of my old acquaintances. On the 4th of August, I arrived in Washington, and as is very difficult to hurry business in Washington, sometimes difficult to accomplish it at all, I was detained longer than I anticipated. Having business with the auditor of the U. S. Post Office Department, and also with the Treasury Department, Mr. Suter, of the firm of Suter, Lee & Co., rendered me what assistance he could, and closing my business on the 8th, 1 left for Philadelphia, where I remained until the 10th, and I then proceeded to New York. On the 11th, I took the steamer Isaac Newton, for Albany, and landing there on the morning of the 12th, took the cars for the west and arrived in St. Louis on the 16th.

Before reaching St. Louis I overtook the previous train, a perfect wreck,-several persons killed and many injured. I was expecting to have been on this train, but had been persuaded by some of my friends to remain over one train, otherwise I might have been one of the unfortunates. My business now required me to do a great amount of traveling. I received several remittances from Washington, in compliance with arrangements made while there.

On September 17th I left St. Louis for Florence and other places up the Missouri River, took the cars to Jefferson City, steamed from there to St. Joseph, and staged to Florence.

While in Florence I enjoyed the hospitality of Brother Alexander C. Pyper, who always wel- comed me to his house, for which I always felt grateful, as my business called me there frequently ; and the kindness that I received from him and his family will ever be remembered with feelings of gratitude.

Having been absent over a year, General Eldredge felt anxious to return to his mountain home. On his arrival in Salt Lake City he found that the community had removed South at the approach of Johnston's army. The autobiography continues :

HORACE S. ELDREDGE.

Myself and animals were very much fatigued with the long and tedious journey, and after rest- ing a day I started for Provo to find my family, who, like the rest, had forsaken their home and taken to almost a camp life. My animals being so worn down, it took me nearly two days and a night to reach there.

About this time it was considered safe and advisable to return to our homes ; and as the exodus had been general, there was now a general moving north, the roads being thronged with teams and stock.

After getting my family and effects moved back to our home, I began to make preparations for another trip to the States; and on the 14th of September, I took leave of my family and friends and started, being joined by several other parties that were going east. Our company included G. Q. Cannon, J. W. Young, H. D. Haight, and F. Kesler, my wife and child forming a part of the company.

My trip to the States this time was for the purpose of purchasing merchandise and machinery and freighting the same the coming spring. I arrived in St. Louis November Ist, and on the morning of the 2nd, I made my deposit in the bank of J J. Anderson & Co , having brought with me $26,000 in gold, and it being rather bulky and heavy to handle I was very glad to get it off my hands in a safe deposit ; and in the evening I removed to private boarding.

I left on the 9th for Chicago, where I arrived on the roth and put up at the " Brigs House " I called on Mr. P. Schuttler and settled with him for wagons that had been previously bought of him, and contracted with him to furnish me nearly two hundred wagons for the next season, advan- cing him $3,000 on the contract, and on the 12th, started on the return to St. Louis, arriving on the 13th.

Having a large amount of machinery and merchandise to purchase, I concluded to visit the Eastern cities and manufacturing districts, and accordingly left St. Louis per steamer Shenango, for Cincinnati, arriving on December 3d. After spending several days in Cincinnati, examining ma- chinery, we proceeded to New York and other Eastern cities. From New York I visited several manufacturing districts in the New England States, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and spent several days in Washington. While in New York I made purchases of merchandise and settled consider- able business for W. H. Hooper. I soon left for the West and arrived in St. Louis February 23d.

April 2d, I again left St. Louis for Chicago to purchase more wagons, finding that I needed more than I had engaged. After settling with Mr. Schuttler for the wagons already engaged, I con- tracted for seventeen more for my own individual use, and returned to St. Louis.

On April 23d 1 left St. Louis for Parkville, Mo., to purchase more cattle. While on board the steamer John D. Parry, on our way up the river, we came into collision with the steamer Michigan, in which the latter and her freight were much damaged. I purchased seventy-five yoke of oxen and eight mules of Mr. Thomson, sent them on to Florence in charge of James Brown and James Lemmon, and returned to St. Louis on May 3d.

Having completed purchases for my first train, I shipped the balance of my freight for this train, and a number of passengers on the steamer Isabella for Florence, leaving St. Louis on the 18th of May.

On the 19th, I closed my business up to that time, and having negotiated a loan from J. J. An- derson & Co. for $4,000 on my own account, I proceeded to Florence, where I loaded my own wagons, and moved out into camp. It was the handsomest train that I ever saw on the plains. It consisted of seventy-two wagons, all of uniform style, each drawn by three yoke of oxen, and rolled out under the charge of Capt. Horton D. Haight, provided with all the necessary outfit. It reached Salt Lake in seventy-two days, all in good trim, about the quickest trip that a freight train of that size ever made.

On June 12th, I visited James Brown's camp, a few miles from Florence, consisting of about fifty wagons of emigrants. Having organized them, on the 13th they also moved out and proceeded on their journey. After attending to the loading and starting of my own train, under the charge ot Jas. Lemmon, with seventeen wagons, loaded with my own merchandise, I returned to St. Louis, accompanied by F. Little and his son, James, to make further purchases and to load several mule teams that had been sent from the Valley by Prest. B. Young, H. C. Kimball and others.

July 5th, we closed the most of our purchases, and settling our bills, shipped the goods and prepared to leave. On July 6th, I left for Florence and arrived on the 10th. I there commenced preparations for a start as soon as the steamer Emigrant arrived with our goods. Leaving the mule train in charge of F. Little, I left Florence with a light carriage and mules, taking with me J. W.

HISTORY OF SALT LAKE CITY.

Coward, accompanied by Joseph W. Young and a few others with light vehicles for making good time, intending to overtake the trains that bad started.

We arrived in Salt Lake City, August 15th, with tired teams and ourselves pretty well worn out

On the arrival of my train, in charge of James Lemmon, I sold to W. H. Hooper an interest in the goods, and we opened them in a part of the building since occupied by the Salt Lake Herald. We were very successful in our business during the winter, George Cronyn and myself managing the business, for Hon. W. H. Hooper having been elected Delegate to Congress, proceeded 10 Washington.

In the spring of 1860, President Brigham Young desired me to go East again and purchase machinery for a paper mill, and other machinery and merchandise. We made preparations to re- plenish our stock, and I left my home again on the 2nd day of April, engaging H. D), Haight to accompany me to take charge of our train on the return.

I arrived in Florence, May 9th, and leaving 11. D. Haight in charge of the mules and wagon, proceeded to Washington and called on W. H. Hooper. I spent a day and a half looking around. visiting the Capitol and White House, had an introduction to President Buchanan, and on the 23rd of May left Washington, in company with W. H. Hooper, for New York, to make our purchases. After accomplishing these, I returned to Philadelphia and purchased and shipped the machinery for the paper mill, after which I left for the West.

Having purchased wagons from P. Schuttler, of Chicago, our arrangements were pretty well completed, and I proceeded on to Florence. On the arrival of our goods, we commenced loading the wagons, and started our ox train in charge of Capt. II. D. Haight, and a mule train in charge of John Y. Green. In the meantime, Capt. Hooper had arrived, to return with me to Utah, and hav- ing arranged for a baggage wagon, and driver and night watch, together with a comfortable phaton drawn by good mules for ourselves, we again set out for our mountain home.

On the arrival of the train, we opened our goods in a store then owned by W. H Hooper. which has since been torn away to give place to the Deseret National Bank, and commenced a suc- cessful business under the firm name of Hooper, Eldredge & Co .- George Cronyn being the silent partner, with a small interest in the firm. During the fall and winter our business was as successful as we could have expected, and I remained in Utah during the spring and summer of 1861.

There seemed to exist, for some unknown cause, a degree of prejudice against merchants, par- ticularly Mormon merchants, to that extent that we concluded to retire for a season at least. Hence we wound up our business in the fall and divided our goods on hand, I concluding to store mine for the present.

In the spring of 1862, after the close of the session of the Legislature, of which he had been elected a member, General Horace S. Eldredge was again requested by Brigham Young to go to New York to superintend the emigration, and to purchase machinery and merchandise. This year's mission was performed with the fidelity and executive ability which has ever characterized Horace S. Eldredge's missions and business journeys to the States. In the spring of 1863, he was again appointed to the same work for the Church, and at this point we reach another link of our commer- cial history. He says :

Having been called upon to go again to New York to superintend the emigration, I left by overland stage in company with F. Little and L. S. Hills-the two latter to remain at Florence, on the frontiers, to attend to the outfitting, and I pracceded to New York to attend to forwarding the immigrants from that point to Florence. Having some means of my own, I invested between $8,000 and $10,000 in machinery for a cotton factory, which was got up under contract by Messrs. Dan- forth & Co., of Patterson, New Jersey, with the understanding that Prest. Brigham Young would have the same freighted to Salt Lake City and erect buildings for them.

While in New York, I was induced to purchase some small lots of staple goods which I con- sidered would meet a ready sale on their arrival. I therefore invested a few thousand dollars, and on arriving home found that my friend Hooper had been doing the same as a similar venture. On comparing invoices, we found we had a very fair assortment and including what I had in store of my original stock would justify us in opening a retail store which would give us employment during the approaching winter.

Having a very fair line of staple goods, we had a successful trade and realized fair returns for our investment. In the meantime, W. H. Hooper had invested between $12,000 and $15,000 in woolen machinery for the sake of encouraging home manufacture, and President Brigham Young proposed purchasing our interests in the cotton and woolen machinery, and to pay us in freighting

HORACE S. ELDREDGE.

merchandise from the Missouri River the coming season. This arrangement was entered into, and in the spring of 1864 we proceeded to New York and other Eastern cities and purchased our goods, amounting to over $150,000 first cost, the freight on the same amounting to over $80,000.

Our goods arrived in due time in the fall, and we opened them in the store then known as the Livingston & Bell building, since known as the " Old Constitution Building." We had a very suc- cessful trade during the winter, and in the spring of 1865 W. H. Hooper sold out his interest to H. B. Clawson, and the firm was changed from Hooper & Eldredge to Eldredge & Clawson.

In the spring of 1865 H. B. Clawson went to New York to purchase goods for the firm and con- tracted with parties known at the time as the Butterfield Co. to freight our goods from the Missouri River to Salt Lake City. This company having inexperienced managers, and knowing but little about freighting over the plains, were late in starting, and the consequence was that the fall storms overtook them and much of their stock perished. Their trains were snowed in in the mountains and never reached here until the next spring. But our goods had to be paid for and were not received until twelve months after they were purchased; this very much embarrassed us, and the loss that we sus- tained by this delay could hardly be estimated. However, we were not discouraged, for in the spring of 1866 Mr. Clawson went east and purchased a fine stock of goods and effected a settlement with the Butterfield Co. for our freight the previous year.

During this season, we were more successful in getting our goods freighted, being fortunate enough to find responsible parties for freighters ; but the following year, in 1867, we met with another misfortune. Mr. Clawson purchased a fine stock of goods and shipped the same to the care of the U. P. R. R. at Omaha to be forwarded to Julesburg, or the terminus of the U. P. R. R. A train with about twenty thousand dollars worth of our goods was attacked by Indians near Plum Creek on the Platte River, and burned, and the goods destroyed. On learning of this, Mr. Clawson re- turned to New York and duplicated the purchases. The loss of these goods, and the delay in getting the second purchase were great drawbacks to us. The managers of the U. P. road at that time refused to settle for our loss, and we were compelled to commence a suit against them and obtained a judgment for about $19,500. They took an appeal and seemed disposed to keep us out of our money for an indefinite time, but we finally settled with them for $16,500, and got our money in 1871-after waiting about four years.

Our second purchases arrived safe, but quite late in the season. During the season of 1868, we were more fortunate, and by a strict application to business succeeded in satisfying all our credit- ors. Notwithstanding our various reverses, no one ever lost a dollar by thein except ourselves, we always paying principal and interest, and never asking a discount. Considerable business in mer- chandise was done here by men having no local interest, and liberal profits were made, and while they made their money here they would go elsewhere to spend it and do little or nothing to en- courage or build up the Territory. It was therefore thought best to adopt a plan by which the profits of at least a portion of the business would be retained here and give the real settlers and consumers some of the benefits. Hence "Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institution" was organ- ized in October, 1868, and in the spring of 1869 commenced business, and an opportunity was given for all who wished, to take stock in the Institution. Between four and five hundred persons availed themselves of this opportunity and thus became partners, as it were, and could purchase their own goods and share in the profits. Eldredge and Clawson sold out their stock of goods to the Institution, and I took twenty-five thousand dollars stock in the same to start on, I afterwards bought in and increased my stock to over sixty thousand dollars. I was elected one of the di- rectors in the first organization, and have held the position ever sinne, except six months in 1872. during which time I was president of the Institution.

In June, 1869, W. H. Hooper, H. S. Eldredge and L. S. Hills opened a bank in a small adobe building under the name of Hooper, Eldredge & Co., with L. S. Hills, cashier, with a paid- up capital of $50,000. In 1870, we increased our capital and organized under the name of the "Bank of Deseret," and in 1872 we increased our capital to $200,000, and organized as the "Deseret National Bank," deposited the necessary bonds and issued $180,000 National Currency, with W. H. Hooper, President, myself Vice-President, and L. S. Hills, cashier.

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History of Salt Lake City, Part 129

Author: Tullidge, Edward Wheelock Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Salt Lake City, Star printing company Number of Pages: 1194

Author: Tullidge, Edward Wheelock
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Salt Lake City, Star printing company
Number of Pages: 1194