Biographies of Piute Co., Utah

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Piute County, Utah

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BIOGRAPHIES

BENJAMIN CAMERON, Jr.

Benjamin Cameron, Jr., the newly elected mayor of Panguitch, was born March 18, 1883, in the city which is still his home. His parents were Benjamin and Sarah E. (Allen) Cameron, the former born in Provo, April 20, 1859, while the latter was born in Greenville. Benjamin Cameron, Sr., followed farming and at an early date came to Panguitch, assisting in the development of the town and county. He continued to engage in farming and stock raising for many years, is a stockholder and director of the Garfield Exchange and manager of the Garfield County Telephone Company. He became a member of the High Priests' Quorum and Stake High Council and he has served on the school board. His parents were pioneer settlers of the state.

Benjamin Cameron, Jr., acquired a common school education in Panguitch, after which he spent four years as a student in the Murdock Academy at Beaver and was there graduated in 1903. He followed this with a two years' course in the University of Utah and for some years he was engaged in teaching at Orderville, at Circleville and at Panguitch. In January, 1918, he accepted the management of the Garfield Exchange and continues in this position.

At St. George, on the 27th of August. 1902, Mr. Cameron was married to Miss Mary Ella Batty, who died January 18, 1919. She was a daughter of John and Mary Ann (Duffin) Batty. The former came with his father from England to the new world and through his active business career followed mercantile pursuits but is now deceased. To Benjamin and Mary Ella Cameron were born seven children: La Reta, who was born at Fort Cameron, Beaver, May 24, 1903; Benjamin A., who was born at Orderville, December 2, 1906; Karl, born at Orderville, November 2, 1908; John A., born at Marysvale, March 20. 1910; Fred, born at Circleville, August 18, 1913; Fay Ella, born at Circleville, August 8, 1915; and Deloa, born at Circleville, July 8, 1917. On the 1st of October, 1919, at St. George, Mr. Cameron wedded Effie Cannon, a daughter of David H. Jr. and Camilla (Mason) Cannon. Her father followed stock raising and farming for many years and is now filling a mission in the St. George Temple. Mrs. Cameron after completing her high school education pursued a two years' business course in the Dixie Business College and was for three years employed by the Southern Utah Power Company.

Mr. Cameron is a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has held several minor offices in the church; is chairman of the stake social organization and from August 22, 1915, until June, 1919, was bishop of the Circleville ward.

In his political views Mr. Cameron is a stalwart republican, recognized as one of the local leaders of his party, and has served as a member of the county and state conventions for several terms. He was elected prosecuting attorney of Garfield and Piute counties, serving from 1905 until 1907 in Garfield county and was appointed prosecuting attorney of Piute county for 1912 and 1913, while election continued him in the office through the two succeeding years. During the period of the World war Mr. Cameron was a member of the Piute County Council of Defense, was chairman of the labor organization, was one of the Four Minute men of Garfield county and handled the Liberty Loan drives in Piute county. His activities thus constituted an important element in war work and he did everything in his power to sustain the interests of the government and promote the welfare of the boys in the field.

Utah Since Statehood: Historical and Biographical

By Noble Warrum, Charles W. Morse, W. Brown Ewing

Published by S.J. Clarke, 1920

Transcribed by K. Torp

LOWE SEVY, Jr.

John Lowe Sevy, Jr., son of John Lowe and Mary (Heywood) Sevy, is one of Richfield's best known young men, who after qualifying for the bar and practicing successfully for some time, is now largely abandoning the work of the court for that of the ranch. He was born in Panguitch, Utah, September 15, 1880. His father is a leading farmer and sheep raiser of southern Utah and also a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The son was educated in the graded schools of Panguitch, in the Brigham Young University and the University of Utah, pursuing his law course in the latter institution. In May 1909, he was admitted to practice and in the fall of the same year was elected county attorney of Garfield county, which position he filled until 1911, when he was chosen for the office of district attorney of the sixth judicial district. He filled the latter office for one term of four years in a most creditable and acceptable manner and then in 1915 decided to withdraw from active work at the bar and turn his attention to some pursuit or vocation that would enable him to live largely out-of-doors. Accordingly he purchased a ranch in Piute county and became a farmer and sheep raiser. His large ranch holdings embrace many acres, on which he has more than fourteen hundred Rambouillet sheep. He is prospering in his new line—a fact which indicates his adaptability, enterprise and sound judgment. His popularity in Piute county is indicated by his election from that county to the state legislature—a position which he now fills.

Mr. Sevy has always been active in church affairs and was called to a mission in Germany, on which he served from 1902 until 1905. He was likewise secretary of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association of Panguitch ward, was teacher in the theology class of the Sevier stake ward and in every way has been an active, able and helpful member of the church. He has been ordained a high priest and was counselor to Bishop W. A. Seegmiller of the second ward of Richfield.

On June 14, 1906, Mr. Sevy was married to Miss Mae Houston, of Panguitch, a daughter of Thomas Houston, whose father was one of the early settlers of Panguitch and was called to settle St. George in pioneer times. Since the earliest days the Houston family have been leading farmers and cattle breeders of the southern district of Utah. Mr. and Mrs. Sevy have an interesting family of six children: Velta, Mary, Jean, J. Lowe, Thomas Houston and Bernice. While the ranch home is in Piute county and Mr. Sevy calls that place home, his family reside in Richfield a large part of the year so that the children can attend school there.

As a lawyer Mr. Sevy was held in the highest esteem by his fellow members of the bar and regret is felt that he has given up active practice, for he held to the highest professional standards and ethics and was a credit to the Sevier county bar. However, in the work which he has chosen he is making steady progress and is contributing in substantial measure to the agricultural development of his section of the state.

Utah Since Statehood: Historical and Biographical

By Noble Warrum, Charles W. Morse, W. Brown Ewing

Published by S.J. Clarke, 1920

Transcribed by K. Torp

EDWARD G. GEARY.

Edward G Geary, identified with general merchandising at Huntington and also interested in farming and stock raising, was born at Morgan, Utah, May 14, 1878, his parents being Edward L. and Alice (Criddle) Geary, who were of English parentage. The father came to Utah in 1869 and the mother arrived in this state a few years later. They were reared in Bountiful and were married in Salt Lake City. They settled at Morgan, Utah, and Mr. Geary took up the occupation of farming. In the spring of 1884 he removed to St. Johns, Arizona, but the following fall returned to Utah and settled in Huntington. He is now living retired, making his home in Salt Lake City. The mother, however, has passed away. Edward L. Geary has been quite active in the work of the church and is a member of the Quorum of Seventy. He has also served for two terms on the town board of Huntington and for three terms as a director of the Huntington Canal & Reservoir Association.

Edward G. Geary obtained a common school education in Huntington and pursued a commercial course in the Salt Lake Business College, from which he graduated in 1901. He then returned to Huntington, where he followed farming and stock raising and he has continued to manage his farm to the present time. He has also been active along other lines and in 1914 and 1915 was cashier of the Castle Valley Banking Company. In May, 1919, he purchased the business of J. W. Nixon of Huntington, a well established business of nineteen years' standing and widely known all over the valley for years as the largest concern in eastern Utah. Mr. Geary is now conducting a general merchandise business as the owner of the store and is accorded a liberal patronage. He also owns and operates a threshing machine and at the same time he carries on farming and stock raising. Thus various branches of business claim his attention and contribute to his success.

In Salt Lake City, on the 3d of February, 1905, Mr. Geary was married to Miss Alice Grace Wakefield, who was born at Huntington, November 7, 1886, a daughter of John and Julia Ann (Johnson) Wakefield. Mr. Wakefield became a convert to the teachings of Erastus Snow in Pennsylvania and thence made his way to Nauvoo, Illinois, where he was driven out and his father's house burned. He then removed with the family to Iowa, where his father died. In 1854 John Wakefield came to Utah with his mother and six brothers and sisters. He drove across the country with cattle and cows and sold his stock at Springville. He was a pioneer settler of Utah, becoming one of the earliest residents of Sanpete county, and was a veteran of the Black Hawk war. Later he became one of the pioneer residents of Huntington and for years has been an active member of the church, assisting in the organization of the stake in all of its branches and serving as a member of the High Priests' Quorum. At the age of seventy-two years he still manages a forty-acre farm and is very comfortably situated in life. His wife, however, has passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Geary have been born three children: Lauretta Fawn, born at Huntington, November 21, 1905; Merlin Glenn, born at Huntington, March 1, 1909; and Elmo G., born May 31, 1914.

Mr. Geary has long been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has been counselor to the bishopric for thirteen years, serving now with Bishop Leonard. He filled a mission to the northern states in 1902 and 1903. In politics he is a democrat and for two years served as town clerk, for a similar period has been a member of the school board and during the past two terms has been clerk of the county school board. His official service and activity in business affairs as well as in the church rank him with the substantial and valued residents of his community.

Utah Since Statehood: Historical and Biographical

By Noble Warrum, Charles W. Morse, W. Brown Ewing

Published by S.J. Clarke, 1920

Transcribed by K. Torp

GEORGE THOMAS HENRY.

George Thomas Henry, recognized as one of the leading mining experts in southern Utah, making his home at Marysvale, was born in the town of Bagillt, North Wales, in 1843. He was educated in the graded schools of that country and early in life took up the study of mining and mineralogy and was graduated from the University of Cambridge. Subsequently he pursued a course in the Royal School of Mines in London and with this wide and thorough training entered upon the practice of his profession. After a few years spent as manager of smelting and reduction companies in North Wales he came to the new world, making his way to Utah, where he visited all the important mining fields, purchasing ores at Bingham, Tintle and all the large camps. In 1878 he removed to Marysvale, his judgment enabling him to recognize the mineral values of this section, be decided to make his home in Piute county. He soon established the only assay office in this section and for more than forty years has been conceded to be one of the leading mining experts in southern Utah.

Mr. Henry was married to Miss Joanna Dennis, daughter of Dr. W. T. Dennis, one of the pioneer physicians of Piute county. Their children are as follows: John W. operating the Henry Garage at Marysvale; Carrie A., who is associated with her brother, Thomas R., in conducting the Miners Mercantile Company at Marysvale;

Mrs. Joanna Hagedom, residing in Rockford, Illinois; and George E. and Dorothy, who are living in Marysvale. Both George E. and Thomas R. volunteered after America's entrance into the World war. The former was a member of the famous Ninety-first Division of the A. E. F. and served for eighteen months with that gallant command in France. Thomas R. volunteered in the United States navy and was in the submarine service during the war.

Mr. Henry certainly has reason to be proud of the record of his children. He has not confined his efforts solely to his profession but has given much time to public good. He has served his neighbors as district recorder, postmaster, at Marysvale, justice of the peace and mayor and in every capacity has served them faithfully and well. His life has been actuated by strong purposes and high ideals and he has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world with its opportunities along the line of his profession. In Utah he found an excellent field of labor and has contributed much to the development of the great mineral resources of the state.

Utah Since Statehood: Historical and Biographical

By Noble Warrum, Charles W. Morse, W. Brown Ewing

Published by S.J. Clarke, 1920

Transcribed by K. Torp

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