Evening journal., 1899-07-18
PIONEER OF THE WEST.
Interesting Experience of G. B.
Matson, a Delawarean.
MEMBER OF THE MORMON CHURCH

fttOM NAONOO IL SAIL LAKE
CITY IN 1S47-HALE AND VIGOR-
GUS AT THE AGE OF 72.
one OF the most remarkable visitors
Wilmington has had for many a long
day is George b, Matson, of Spring
vile, situated in Utah county, Utah,
forty miles from Salt Lake City.
He is a pioneer OF the great West. He
was born in Centrevlle. seven miles
from this city, seventy-two years ago,
and went West when he was l6 years
old, first locating at Nauvoo, Hancock
county, H. He lived there until 1876.
when he went to Omaha. In AZ he
started across the Great American
Desert, aHd was one of the 144 per-
sons that made the road to the West,
leaving 1000 miles Of civilization be-
hind them.
This. in brief. is a mere outline of
his experience, the details of which
would prove an inexhaustible supply
for the romancer. When he crossed
the plains, buffalo, antelope and deer
were so numerous that the men had to
get out of their wagons and drive
them away. fearing a stampede. Now
there Is not one to be seen in all that
vast expanse OF territory.
They passed thousands OF Indians on
their journey, but had little or no
trouble with them, as they showed
them every indication of friendliness,
making them presents and treating
them kindly. They passed through all
sorts of hardships, at times, and at
Others saw pure virgin gold measured
by the half bushel.
EMBRACED MORMON FAITH.
Mr. Matson embraced the Mormon
faith in 1886 This was when he was
living in Hancock county, Ill. The Leg
islature of that state having revoked
tho charter given to Nauvoo
in that year, and the hostili-
ties of the neighbors having in
creased, he emigrated with them to the
soltudes Of the Rocky Mountains. Mr..
Watson arrived in the Great Salt Lake
Valley on July "a, 1S47. tho same time
Brigham Young did The main body
OF Mormons arrived there in 1S4s. Mr..
Watson raised the American flag on
Ensign Peak, and that land which was
a desolate wilderness began to rejoice
and blossom like the rose"
In 1850 Mr.. Matson was married to a
Mormon lady Although a firm be-
lever in the doctrines OF his faith. he
Is man Of ore wife.
Speaking relative Of his faith he
said: Il see in the papers where Presi-
dent Cannon, of the Mormon church.
has been arrested for living with more
than one wife. Angus Cannon is the man
who has been arrested, but he is not the
president of the church. He is Lorenzo
Snow, a very aged man Only a few
weeks ago he, standing before an inn
mense congregation Of hundreds of
people, stated that not a plural mar
riage had been granted since tho gov
lernment had made the demand for il to
cease. His counsel has been TO the
men who had married wives before the
manifesto, and raised families by those
wives, to support those wives, and take
good care Of them and educate and sup
port the children OF the plural wives.
IF they did not support and protect
those wives would call them the worst
kind of scoundrels," said M.r Watson
THE president, however, advises his
people not to live with those wives.
There have been a great many SEN
sational and untrue reports about Nor
monism, and if the enemies of tn,
church would leave Mormonism alone
the principal Of polygamy would dis
out of itself.
Il want TO say a word about d. II
Roberts. our congressman abou
whom there are such sensational re-
ports concerning his living with NOR
| "-'NH IMAM oAANs 4 KNOW MI. AtODtIl
well. and have reason to believe tha
the published reports are not correct.
have no knowledge of his living bu
with one wife. However, he support
his former wives and gives their chill
tren every educational opportunit
Chat any man can. He is a very fin
lman, and when seated in Congress h
will be leading spirit and second I
none"
Mr.. Matsons has a beautiful gol
, medal presen4ed to him by the state q
Utah on July "a, 1897, just fifty year
fter he entered that state, the occasio
being the Utah Semi-C entennial Pic
neer Jubilee. It was ms de by Titan
& Co, and bears engra, dngs shown
the progress Of the hart century
also bears fine lilzencs Of Brighal
Young.
Though 72 years old IN'r. Matson
hale and hearty and a etive as me