Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1904-05-07
THOMAS DURHAM
IS HONORED.
Veteran Choir Leader of ParOwan Given
Pleasant Surprise Tuesday.
WAS HIS SEYENTY-SKTH BIRTHDAY.
Over SO Quests Show Their Respect to
Useful Old rIan and Spend
Pleasant Evening.
WAS HIS SEVENTY-SKTH BIRTHDAY

Monday, May 2 marked the seventy
sixth mile stone in the life of Thomas |
Durham, Parowan's veteran choir lead |
err, and in honor of the event members |
of the choir with Bishop Richards as
ISOLATED, prepared very pleasant sur.
prise for Tuesday evening.
Bro. Durham was found at home with |
his family. he having received no in
timation OF what was proposed. The !
guests, over fifty in number, foclxed in
upon him shortly before 0 M, and
were most cordially received. A COM
mittee selected from the choir had been
appointed TO presided, and the COM
pany was given into its hands. Wal
ter C. Mitchell acted as master of cere-
monies.
The evenings entertainment opened
with devotional exercises, consisting of
singing by the choir and prayer by Ell
der Dayid Matheson, after which an in
teresting impromptu program was car
ried out. Every body present who had
ever in their lifetime been known to
sing or recite in public, received n cor
dial invitation to contribute to the
evenings enjoyment.
The guests came provided with well
filled picnic baskets, the contents of
which with ice cream and home brewed
beer, constituted sumptuous repast.
A collection was quietly taken up and a
small money token of the esteem in
which the honored guest is held was
made. William Matheson acting as
spokesman. Bro. Durham responded
in his usual happy frame, expressing
his appreciation of the spirit which
prompted the gift. The entertainment
concluded by the singing of some of the
airs which Bro Durham has composed.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Thomas Durham was born at Oldham,
Lancashire, England, May 2, 1928, Up
to the time he was 10 years of age he
attended the public school, and later
went to night school some little. Al
the age of ten years he went apprentice
to the trade of wood turner, at which
he became an adept, following the &C.
cupation until he was 25 When IL
years old he commenced the study of
music, which has been his souls de-
light. Under the tutorage of well.
known professor and choir director his
next 6 years were spent, or at least such
time as he could spare from his other
occupations On Sunday the professor
would take the members of his class to
the churches to sing. Thomas had ma.
tural talent ia this direction and made
good progress, particularly in oratory
music.
AT the age Of Is years he was made
director of the L. ID. ). choir in Lam
cashire, though he did not join the
church for some three years after, De-
tober 90, 1s49, he was married to Mary
Morton, having embraced Mormonism
the previous May.
For seven years more he had charge
of the choir until he emlgrated to
America in May, 1855. He cross.
ed the ocean on the ship Horizon
| dnu ldhuSu III pOSJOu 81 uue ~. from
there he went by rail to Iowa City ar.
riying about the Gtn of July. He
crossed the plains.in Edward Martins
hand cart company, leaving Winter
Quarters August IT, and arriving in
Salt Lake City Nov. 30. The trials and
hardshps of this journey are too well
known to need explanation here. For
a number of days the ration consisted
of four ounces of flour to the individual;
no meat or other support. The weary
travellers became so weak and emaciat
ed that very slow progress was made.
For six weeks they were obliged to
make their beds on the snow, vet the
subject of our sketch escaped withou,
so much as having finger or a toe
frozen.
Two DAYS after reaching Salt Lake
City he set out for Parowan, arriving
here Dec. ~. Two days later he was
called to take charge of the choir, and
he has continued to direct it eyer since.
or his career since coming TO southern
Utah, 1t is needless for us to write, il
being very familiar to you all.
He has been a useful citizen and a de-
voted member of the church. lie is
sprightly and well preserved for his