BIOGRAPHIES
A. L.
DOTSON
A. L. Dotson, engaged in farming
and holding a government license as a stock salesman, makes his home at
Minersville, in Beaver county. He was born at Frisco, Utah, October 12,
1889, a son of R. W. and Sarah E. (Myers) Dotson. The father came to
Utah with his parents in the early '60s and has been a prominent factor
in the upbuilding of Minersville, where he was connected with mercantile
interests, as he was at Frisco, his identification with commercial
pursuits thus covering a period of a quarter of a century. He also
managed a large farm and is still active in agricultural pursuits and
stock raising. His father was an early pioneer of Utah and afterward
settled at Minersville. For two terms he served as a representative of
his district in the state legislature and was a leading and influential
citizen of Beaver county for many years, taking active part in promoting
its civic interests and church work. He is yet living—one of the honored
pioneer residents of the state. His son, R. W. Dotson, has also filled
various positions in the church.
A. L. Dotson, after acquiring a
public school education at Minersville, entered the Brigham Young
University at Provo, from which he was graduated with the class of 1909.
He afterward pursued a special course in the University of Utah. When
twenty years of age he began teaching school but after a year turned his
attention to mercantile pursuits, which he followed for several years.
He is perhaps best known as a most successful salesman and he won a $200
Liberty Bond selling Maxwell automobiles. He holds a government license
for the handling of grain and stock and has been most capable and
successful in that direction. He has also acquired 300 acres of land and
at the present time is engaged extensively in raising
hogs.
In Salt Lake City, on the 13th of
December, 1911, Mr. Dotson was married to Miss Lola Irene McAdams, who
was left an orphan when quite young and was reared by A. L. Stoddard, of
Minersville, who was one of the pioneer settlers and who proved a
splendid father to Mrs. Dotson. She was educated in the public schools
of Minorsville and in a high school of Oklahoma and for two years prior
to her marriage taught school. To Mr. and Mrs. Dotson have been born
three children: Paul M., whose birth occurred October 14, 1912; Roma H.,
born at Salt Lake City, October 1, 1914; and Dorothy A., whose natal day
was February 28, 1917. All were born at Minersville.
The religious faith of the family
is that of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Mr.
Dotson is now president of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement
Association. His political allegiance is given to the republican party
and when twenty-one years of age he was elected to the district school
board, holding the office until the counties consolidated, after which
he was elected to the board of education of Beaver County. At the
present writing he is serving on the town board. His wife is the
secretary of the local chapter of the Red Cross and takes an active part
in promoting the interests of the young people of the town. Both are
well known and prominent in social circles and Mr. Dotson has made for
himself a most creditable place in the ranks of Beaver County's business
men.
(Source: Utah Since Statehood,
1920; Submitted by: Cathy Danielson)
ETHELBERG B.
FAlRBANKS, M. D.
Dr. Ethelberg B. Fairbanks, a
physician and surgeon of Beaver, was born in Payson. Utah, May 18, 1892,
his parents being Franklin and Minnie (Tanner) Fairbanks, who were also
natives of Payson. The father followed the occupation of farming and the
profession of teaching and for two years, beginning with 1898, filled a
mission to the southern states. He now has a home in Salt Lake City and
also holds property in Idaho, dividing his time between the two places.
He had previously spent ten years in Canada before removing to Salt Lake
and was there engaged in the hotel business and in merchandising. The
mother was a daughter of Joseph S. Tanner, who for more than twenty
years was bishop of Payson, and both Mr. and Mrs. Fairbanks belonged to
old pioneer families of the state.
Dr. Fairbanks of this review
acquired a common school education in Payson, in Raymond, Alberta,
Canada, and in Salt Lake as he accompanied his parents on their removal
to these different localities. He also pursued a course in the Latter
Day Saints College at Salt Lake, from which he was graduated in 1910,
and he secured his degree of Bachelor of Science from the University of
Utah as one of its alumni of 1916. In preparation for a professional
career he attended the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, and was there graduated in May, 1918. He spent a year as
interne in the Philadelphia General Hospital, the largest hospital in
the United States, having seven thousand and eighty beds. He thus gained
valuable experience and through his comprehensive college training and
his hospital work came to Utah well qualified for the onerous and
responsible duties of the profession. On the 1st of June, 1919, he
opened an office in Beaver, where he has since engaged in general
practice with good success.
On the 4th of September, 1919, Dr.
Fairbanks was married to Miss Vera Anna Larson. Her father is now
deceased, while her mother lives in Salt Lake City. They were natives of
Sanpete county, their respective parents having located in Utah in
pioneer times. Dr. Fairbanks belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. During the period of the World war he joined the
Medical Reserve Corps, with which he was connected for eighteen months
or until honorably discharged after the signing of the armistice. He is
a young man possessed of laudable ambition and has thoroughly qualified
for his profession, in which he is now doing excellent
work.
(Source: Utah Since Statehood,
1920; Submitted by: Cathy Danielson)
JOHN F.
JONES
Very extensive farming interests
are managed and directed by John F. Jones, whose success is the direct
outcome of his own labors and who at all times displays sound judgment
in the conduct of his important agricultural interests. He was born in
Goshen. Utah, July 20, 1858, a son of William P. and Emma (Jay) Jones,
who were natives of Birmingham. England. Emigrating to America in 1850,
they made their way across the country to Utah, settling at Salt Lake
City, and later were called to open up for settlement Las Vegas, Nevada,
but owing to the hostility of the lndians at that time returned to Utah.
They resided at Goshen, where their son John F. was born, and they also
lived for a time at Fillmore, but finally settled at Beaver. The father
was a tinner by trade and for years he made most of the tinware sold by
stores of Beaver. He also opened a hardware store, carrying a full line
of shelf and heavy hardware and stoves, obtaining the latter by the
carload. He built the business block now occupied by the Beaver State
Bank and the Mansfield-Murdock Mercantile Company. He continued actively
in business for many years, gaining substantial success, but eventually
sold out at Beaver and opened a similar establishment at Tintic, where
he passed away.
John F. Jones acquired a common
school education at Beaver and when about twenty years of age took up
the occupation of mining, which he followed for a decade. He then
returned to his native county and bought a farm near Beaver, after which
he concentrated his attention upon general farming and stock raising. He
also opened a general merchandise store at Adamsville and managed the
business for several years, but eventually sold out and built the Beaver
Hotel. Near this he established an implement and hardware business which
was destroyed by fire in 1912. He immediately rebuilt but rented the
building to the Consolidated Wagon & Machine Company. He turned over
the management of his hotel to his daughter, Mrs. Pearce, and he is now
concentrating his efforts and attention upon the control and development
of his three farms, one of which contains two thousand acres, and the
care of his live stock. In everything that he has undertaken he has won
success. In his vocabulary there is no such word as fail and obstacles
and difficulties in his path seem but to serve as an impetus for renewed
and determined effort on his part.
In Beaver county, in 1883, Mr.
Jones married Mrs. Theda Ennes Paschall, to whom two daughters were
born, by her former husband, their names being Lottie and Brucie V. Mrs.
Jones is the daughter of William and Anna (Lambson) Ennes. Her father
was a Union soldier in the Civil war, was made a prisoner and was shot.
The mother came to Utah from Michigan and first settled in Juab county
but is now living in Beaver. Although well advanced in years she is
still hale and hearty. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been born six
children. Eva, born March 8, 1885, is the wife of W. B. Fennemore and
the mother of three children; Emma, born November 28, 1886, is the wife
of R. H. Barton and has three children; Ennes, born March 17, 1889,
married Sadie Fotheringham and they have two children; John W., born
September 8, 1891, married Lydia Nielsen; Lucy, born March 17, 1894,
married Edgar H. White, by whom she has two children; and Celia, born
April 9, 1896, is teaching in the public schools.
The religious belief of the family
is that of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In his
political views Mr. Jones is a republican and for two terms has served
as county assessor, and was one of the first republican councilmen
elected in Beaver city. Mr. Jones has also served Beaver county several
terms as county commissioner and in 1908 was one of the principals in
the establishment of the First National Bank of Beaver city. In 1910 he
was elected president of the bank and has held that position until the
present time. Progress and improvement find expression in his life, and
his enterprise has carried him into successful and important business
relations.
(Source: Utah Since Statehood,
1920; Submitted by: Cathy Danielson)
JOHN M. MURDOCH
With the agricultural development
of Beaver, John M. Murdock is closely associated, having a large farm
which is most carefully and successfully cultivated. He also raises
stock and is meeting with substantial prosperity in that branch of his
business also. Mr. Murdock is a native of Lehi, Utah, born September 11,
1852. His parents were Orice and Margaret (Molen) Murdock, both of
American birth. They cast in their lot with the pioneer settlers of Utah
in 1849, were married in this state and in 1851 took up their abode in
Lehi, where the father followed farming until 1867. He then removed to
Beaver, where he remained for five years, when he took up his abode in
Nebraska. After several years, however, he returned to Beaver, where he
passed away in 1916.
John M. Murdock obtained a public
school education at Lehi and is a practical farmer and stockman, having
continued in the business very successfully throughout his entire life.
His persistence and energy have overcome all obstacles and difficulties
in his path and he has made steady progress, owning now a large farm on
which stands a splendid residence and all modern improvements and
equipment. He has reduced the amount of stock to what he can now feed in
the winter months, finding this the most profitable way. He thus obtains
a double profit from what he raises and there is very little loss in the
stock. He likewise has mining interests in Beaver county claiming some
of his attention and is one of the stockholders in the Farmers &
Stock Growers Mercantile Company.
In 1877 Mr. Murdock was united in
marriage to Miss Elizabeth Hamblin, who passed away in 1879. The only
child of that marriage died in infancy. In 1884 Mr. Murdock wedded Susan
J. Smith, of Beaver, and they have become the parents of six children.
Warren F., born April 26, 1887, married Myrtle Eyre and has four
children. Julia M., born September 17, 1889, is the wife of Loren Hall
and has three children. John P., born December 11, 1894, married Lucile
Beck and has two children. Lacy J. was born December 11, 1900, Clark G.,
November 18, 1903, and Wallace S., October 14,
1906.
The religious faith of the family
is that of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Mr.
Murdock has been an active church worker, serving as bishop for two
years, at the end of which time he resigned. At present he is a member
of the stake high council. His political endorsement is given to the
republican party, for he firmly believes that its principles contain the
best elements of good government. He served as chairman of the board of
county commissioners for four years, has been a member of the city
council for four years, and for two years was mayor of Beaver. In 1909
and 1910 he was a member of the state legislature and he was also
elected assessor and collector, but resigned the position in order to
give his undivided attention to his private business interests. He is a
member of one of the oldest, best known and most substantial families of
southern Utah, a family that has contributed largely to the work of the
church and to the upbuilding of the state.
(Source: Utah Since Statehood,
1920; Submitted by: Cathy Danielson)
HARRY H.
PlTCHFORTH
Although formerly a most active
business man, Harry H. Pitchforth, of beaver county, is now practically
living retired, for his successful management of lumber interests and
farming and stock raising in former years brought to him a very
substantial income that now enables him to rest from further labor. A
native of Utah, he was born at Nephi, December 11, I860, his parents
being Samuel and Sarah Ann (Goldsbrough) Pitchforth. The father came to
Utah in November, 1847, while the mother arrived in this state, October
4, 1849. Mr. Pitchforth settled in the seventh ward of Salt Lake City
and in 1853 was called to settle at Nephi, where he managed a farm and
conducted stock raising interests. He was also the clerical man of the
county for years, filling various positions, such as county recorder and
probate clerk, while for seventeen successive sessions he was clerk of
the legislative assembly during territorial days. He died at Nephi in
November, 1877, and the mother passed away in 1900.
Harry H. Pitchforth acquired his
education in the schools of his native city and after his father's death
managed the property until 1885, administering the estate. The farm was
then leased and Mr. Pitchforth engaged in farming and stock raising on
his own account. In 1902 he removed to Milford, where he became
representative for Grace Brothers, lumber merchants, with whom he thus
continued until 1906, when he purchased the yard. Later other interests
were acquired by himself and his sons and he remained for a long period
one of the most active, enterprising and progressive business men of the
district. In 1910 he disposed of his lumberyard and invested in live
stock and farm land, managing the stock until January, 1919, when he
sold out. He has since practically lived retired, giving his attention
only to some invested interests.
In Logan, Utah, on the 6th of
November, 1886, Mr. Pitchforth was married to Miss Isabel Ord, a
daughter of Thomas and Helena (Grant) Ord. Her father came to Utah with
a handcart company in 1856 and settled at Nephi, where he followed
farming. He also held a number of minor offices with the church and also
in the city and county. He continued to reside at Nephi until his death
in October, 1890, Mr. Pitchforth was called upon to mourn the loss of
his wife, who died leaving two children: Ralph H., who was born in Nephi
in 1887; and Sarah Elinor, born in 1889. The former wedded Marie
Smithson and has one child. The daughter became the wife of Thomas E.
Banning and has three children. On the 7th of November, 1894, Mr.
Pitchforth was married in Salt Lake City to Miss Hannah Hartley, a
daughter of John Hartley, of England, and in 1909 she was called to her
final rest. Her children were: John H., who was born December 19, 1895,
and was married June 13, 1917, to Lucile Schmitty; Samuel E., who was
born in Nephi, April 18, 1898, and married Theresa Mendleson; Lehi L.,
who was born in Nephi, June 1, 1900; and Merle, born in Milford, June
28, 1904. On the 1st of May, 1912, Mr. Pitchforth was again married, at
which time Ada Alice Simmonds became his wife. She is a daughter of
Edward and Emma (Penfold) Simmonds, who were natives of England and have
now passed away. On the 4th of May, 1917, Mr. Pitchforth's son, Samuel
E., joined the army, going to San Francisco. He was on the Battleship
Oregon for eight months and was then transferred to a United States
transport, going to New York by way of the Panama canal in February,
1918. He made thirteen round trips to Brest, France, with troops, one of
the ships beating the world's record as to time. He was discharged in
April, 1919.
Mr. Pitchforth is a member of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and filled a mission to
England of twenty-five months, going in 1892. He has labored with the
Sunday schools for years and has been active in other church work. His
political support is given to the republican party but the honors and
emoluments of political office have never had an attraction for him. He
has concentrated his efforts and attention upon other interests and
duties, and the careful conduct of his business affairs has claimed much
of his attention, enabling him now to rest in the enjoyment of the
fruits of his former toil.
(Source: Utah Since Statehood,
1920; Submitted by: Cathy Danielson)
HOMER DOUGLAS THOMPSON
Homer Douglas Thompson, engaged in the meat and
grocery business at Beaver, Utah, where he was born September 7, 1876,
is a son of James and Rebecca Thompson. The father was born June 1,
1854, at East Durham, England, and on coming to Utah settled at Beaver
in June, 1858. He served against the Indians in the wars of pioneer
times and shared in all of the hardships and privations incident to the
settlement of the frontier. His wife, Rebecca (Gale) Thompson, was born
at Sydney, Australia, March 23, 1851, and in February, 1858, came with
her parents to Utah, where she met and married James Thompson on the
21st of November, 1867. They were both converted to the Mormon church
and James Thompson filled a two years' mission in England in the '80s.
He died in Beaver, November 10, 1897, but his wife is still living. They
had a family of nine children, seven sons and two daughters, of whom
four have passed away, namely, Heber, Elinor, Charles and Edwin. Those
who survive are Willard, lda, Homer Douglas, Leo and
Kenneth.
Homer D. Thompson was educated in
the schools of Beaver and worked in various mining camps in this state
as a stationary electrical engineer. In 1917 he established a meat
market and grocery business in Beaver and is still conducting his store,
in which he has won a substantial measure of success owing to his
thoroughly reliable business methods and his
enterprise.
Homer D. Thompson was married
December 25, 1900, in Beaver, by Elder J. F. Folton, to Miss Alice
Morris, a daughter of Andrew and Mary Jane Morris. She was born in
Beaver, October 3, 1880, and died September 4, 1909, beloved by all who
knew her. Of the Mormon church she was a devout follower. Her father,
Andrew Morris, was born at Manchester, England, January 9, 1854, and in
1856 came to Utah, remaining in Salt Lake until 1857, and then becoming
a resident of Beaver. In 1875 he married Mary Jane Speakman, who was
born at Salt Lake, May 14, 1856, and came to Beaver in November, 1857.
Both are devout members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. They reared a family of ten children, all of whom are living
with the exception of Alice. The others are Albert, William, Edward,
Eugene, Hilton, Elizabeth, Blaine, Larue and Arvilla. Mr. and Mrs. Homer
D. Thompson had three children: Morris, born February 18, 1902; Warren,
born November 16, 1905, and Alice, who was born August 14, 1909. On
October 5, 1913, Homer D. Thompson married again, this wife being Miss
Sadie Atkin, also of Beaver City, with whom he is living. They are both
members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in which Mr.
Thompson is an elder and teacher. Since starting out in the business
world he has made steady progress, using his time and talents wisely and
well, and today he is numbered among the prosperous merchants of his
native city.
(Source: Utah Since
Statehood, 1920; Submitted by: Cathy Danielson)
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