History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

676 THE LAST DAYS OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.
a native of Mendon, Mass., who worked on his father's farm until he was 16
years of age, afterward becoming hotel-keeper, and later proprietor of a cot
ton-mill in the same state. In 18.39 we find him at Quincy, 111., whither he
had gone in search of a home, and where, during the following year, he was
converted by the preaching of Orson Hyde and John E. Page. In the autumn
of 1840 he was ordained an elder, and in the summer of 1845 an apostle,
most of the interval being passed in missionary work in the eastern states.
In April 1847 he accompanied the pioneers, finally settling in the valley two
years later. After some further missionary work, he was appointed, in 1860,
brigadier-general of militia in the Cache Valley district, where he lived until
the date of his decease, Sept. 3, 1869, his death being probably caused by
heart disease. When the provisional government was established he represented
Salt Lake county in the legislature, and when Utah was made a territory
was chosen a member, first of the representatives for Salt Lake county,
and for the last ten years of his life, of the council for Tooele county. Deseret
News, Sept. 8, 1869. At his death joint resolutions were passed in the assembly
as a tribute of respect, for which see Utah Jour. Legisl., 1870, 185-6.