Westons Go West 4 - Arrival in Utah - part 2

“My name is Thomas Leek. What I want to know is what about Thomas Coleman’s murder?”

“I'm getting rather annoyed with all these quesions,” said Mr. Richards. “Thee are putting me to the test. I assumed that thee, as pilgrims to Zion, were already committed to the Latter Day Saints. However, I have promised to answer thy questions fully and truthfully, and so I will.

"Some of thee might not know to what our friend is alluding. Thomas Coleman, a black man, was in good standing as a member of our Church. Coleman was apparently secretly courting a white Mormon woman, contrary to both territorial law and Mormon teachings. At one of their clandestine meetings behind the old Arsenal, Coleman was discovered by friends of the woman. The group of vigilantes hit Coleman with a large rock and using his own knife, killed him most brutally leaving behind a rather pointed notice as to why he had been killed.

"Even though it was the middle of winter, a grave was dug and Coleman's body was buried. The body was disposed of in less than three hours after its discovery. Less than twelve hours after that, Judge Elias Smith appointed George Stringham as the foreman of the Coroner's Jury; they briefly met and summarily dismissed the case as a crime that was committed either by a person or by persons unknown to the jury, abruptly ending all official enquiry into the murder.”

“So what you are saying is that it is all right to kill black people?” said Thomas Leek.

“There was a public sermon made three years earlier by Brigham Young in March, 63.  In this sermon, Young stated, 'I am a human being, and I have the care of human beings. I wish to save life, and have no desire to destroy life. If I had my wish, I should entirely stop the shedding of human blood.' He continued, 'Shall I tell thee the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so.' Young continued his sermon by condemning whites for their abuse of slaves with the proclamation, 'for their abuse of that race, the whites will be cursed, unless they repent.'

“However, the practice of 'blood atonement' is said to apply to endowed Mormons who apostatized. Coleman was a member in good standing and was not endowed. His death most likely was the result of racism, and unrelated to the Church,” postulated Richards.

Thomas Leek persisted in this line of questioning. “So although thee stated that thee feel black people are inferior, yet the church allowed Thomas Coleman to become a member. How did that happen?”

“I really do not know. We do not usually encourage membership of black skinned people. And, a black Mormon male cannot hold the highly regarded Priesthood because of his dark skin. And since he could not hold this Priesthood, he could not enter the Mormon Temple. But can we now get back on track to talk about the town of Ogden. Mr. Canfield, will thee take over again please.”

“Let me tell thee a bit more about your new home,” said Mr. Canfield. “Ogden, the county seat of Weber County, ranks in importance as the second city in the territory. - the population is now about 6,500. Ogden has inherent the elements of prosperity, being the center of a productive agricultural region, containing first class manufacturing facilities and being wisely and economically governed. To these facilities were added, in 1869, the passage through the city of the overland rail roads and then its prosperity was assured. It became apparent that Ogden, the first city of importance on the line after passing the broad mountain ranges, was the point of railroad polarization and it was not two years before the Utah Central Railroad was running to the South and the Utah Northern to the North. Ogden, thus fixed at the crossroads, received all the benefits that come from the building of stations, and the employment of a large force of men for the transferring of freights that are here distributed to the East, West, North and South.

“In the adjacent mountains has been organized the Weber Mining District which contains about forty locations on lodes of gold, argentiferous galena and iron. Of these the most promising are the latter concerning which, experts have said: 'There is enough first-class iron ore in sight around Ogden to keep our hundred blast furnaces in constant blast, night and day, for a hundred years.' For the utilization of these deposits, the Ogden Iron Manufacturing Company will expend this year, the sum of $120,000 on the erection of blast furnaces and buildings. Within four miles of the town are also large quarries of sandstone, free stone and slate that enable the citizens to add to the architecture of Ogden at no great cost.

“The natural beauties of the surrounding scenery are varied and of interest. Taylor's and Waterfall Canyons are within a few minutes walk and only a mile or two away is the entrance to Ogden Canyon with its roaring waters and magnificent cascades. The scenery at this point is picturesque and grand, the mountains crowned with snow that contrasts clear and dazzling against the deep blue of distant hollows.

“Ogden has a number of good business blocks and public buildings, prominent among which are the tabernacle, capable of seating 2,000 people. In the city are nine good schools, some of which are graded, and all well attended with satisfactory results. The business men of the "Junction City" are sufficiently enterprising to be ready, whenever an opportunity offers, to engage in any legitimate pursuit that promises a reasonable return. As a result, there are in operation a number of mills and manufactories which include flouring, woolen and planing mills; sash and door, soda water, broom, vinegar and other factories; tanneries, breweries, and machine shops. There are also some good hotels; those at the railroad depot, the Keeney House, kept by Keeney and Ziegler, and the Union Depot Hotel, by M. H. Beardsley, being both first-class houses.”

“Thank you Brother Canfield for that very thorough lesson in the wealth of this area. Now let me recall Brother Richards, who will tell thee of thy assignments in Ogden. He knows it well, as one of his families is settled there.”

“As thee know, we have had access to thy details of past employment and qualifications. So we have tried to put thee in a job which will most suit those qualities which thee possess. If thee are unhappy with this choice, please see me afterwards, and I will see if I can do anything to reassure thee,” said Mr. Richards.

“Mr. James Clark and your wife Salera. Thee have worked as a laborer in England, I see. I think the best position for thee will be helping with the erection of the many new buildings that are now going up in Ogden. Mrs. Clark, until thee has children, we would like thee to assist in one of the schools under Austin Brown, one of the teachers.

“Miss Sarah Carr. I see that thee have worked as a servant in England. We would like thee to now work at the Keeney House hotel, starting as a chambermaid, but if thy work is satisfactory, thee might be upgraded to working as a waitress.

“Miss Sarah Grant. You also can also start work as a chambermaid, at the other fine hotel in town, the Union Depot Hotel, and if thee do well, there will no doubt be a promotion.

“James Greenwall, with your wife Elizabeth. I see thee are down as having worked a brick layer in England. I would like thee also to join Mr. Clark in the building scheme we have going in Ogden. As thee have a young child, Mrs. Greenwall, we will not ask thee to take on a position. If thee has no more children before Elizabeth becomes school age, we will ask thee to take on a job in some area.

“Claud Flowers and your wife Mary. Thee were a clerk in a store in England, Mr. Flowers, and we have many shops that require clerks. Thee will start at Barratt Brothers, one of the shops that Brethren are asked to buy from and sell to. Your wife, until she has children, can work with Sarah at the Union Depot Hotel.

“William Burdett, with your wife Eliza. Thee are a skilled man, as a journeyman tailor. Thee will be given work with Thomas Holrre, in his tailoring shop on the corner of Second and Pearl. He will give thee work fitted to your qualifications. Eliza, I would like thee also to work at the Keeney House, as a chambermaid, until thee has children.

“Thomas Leek, thee have not yet achieved a profession, but I will have thee work with our new pilgrim, Simon Weston. I see from the form that thy father was a shoe maker in York. Mr. Weston is a very experienced shoe and boot maker, and will be given the opportunity to open a shop. His sons, Israel, and young Simon Eben will also be apprenticed to him. Mrs. Weston, as thee still have children under school age, thee will not be required to work at the time being.

“If there are any problems or questions, I would like thee to come to see me individually. Tomorrow at 9 a.m. we will all meet at the train station here in Salt Lake City to take the train to Union Station in Ogden, and I will give thee a pack of instructions regarding where thee will be living when thee gets there.”

“This concludes our meeting,” put in President Blake. “Thank thee all for attending. We would invite thee to talk amongst yourselves and get to know each other, as thee will now be close neighbors and hopefully good friends as well as Brethren in our Latter Day Saints church.”