The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-27
FOUNDER OF UNION
LABOR IN UTAH DEAD
Robert C. Sleater, Prominent
in Development of City,
Dies of Old Age.
LEADER OF LOCAL GAR.
Was at One Time Command
er of Salt Lake Post; Fu-
neral Services Sunday.
LEADER OF LOCAL GAR.

Robert G.. Slenter, prominently known
in union labor circles III Utah, died at
his home, IS Ounce street, yesterday
morning at the age OF 73 years. Old
age was the cause Of death, Mr.. Slcater
was born in England, and came to
Utah at an early age. He fought in
the Civil war and was a stanch advo-
cate all his life OF unionizcd labor. He
was founder and president OF the first
labor union in Utah, six times presi-
dent of the Utah Federation of Labor,
western organizer of the Western Fed"
Grafton of Labor and at one time vice
president of the international union.
Besides his widow he is survived by
six daughters and seven sons, all of
whom live in Salt Lake except two, who
live III Los Angeles Cal, He was
member, and at one time commander-in-
chief of the Salt Lake post OF the G.
A. R., and his funeral services Sunday
will be held under the auspices Of the
G.. a. r. Tho services Will begin
promptly at O'Clock in the [. o. O. F,
hall. in Postoffice place, and it is prob
able that the principal speaker will be
tho Rev. p. A. Simpkin. Members of
the g. A, R. will accompany the family
to the soldiers plot in Mt. Olivet
cemetery. where Mr.. Sleater will be
laid to his final rest 1t will be ar
ranged to have street car service from
the /. o. O. r. hall to the cemetery to
accommodate those who wish to ac-
company the body.
Well Known in West.
Mr.. Sleater was familiarIv known in
tho west as the father Of Utah union
labor, He took the initiative in
organizing practically every union labor
organization in Salt Lake up to few
years ago. Among those which he
organized are the plumbers, the car
molders, building laborers, BARRIERS,
plasterers, stone masons, street car men
and black smiths. AT the time these
unions were started be was western
organizer of the American Federation
of Labor, having been given his COM
mission to that position by President
Samuel Gompers in 1869.
Mr.. Sleatcr was prominent member
of the Grand Army of the Republic,
President Lincoln S call for volunteers
in 1861. He enlisted as member of
company II. Sixth Iowa infantry, when
81 years of age, and fought at VicRs-
burg, Shiloh and Missionary Ridge, and
took part in twenty nine other engage
ments during the -FOUR years or the war.
He participated in Sherman 3 famous
march to the sea, and was under Grant
for several years. He was promoted for
bravery at the battle Of Shiloh.
Started Business.
At the conclusion of the Civil war
Mr.. Sleater came west to Salt Lake
and started in the printing business.
He worked for time on the old Daily
having the first labor day parade held
in Salt Lake, and was the grand mar
shaI of the first three parades.
Later he was made commander~in-
chief of the Oliver o. Howard post Of
the G. a. r., and in that capacity was
sent to the Saratoga, N. Y, encamp-
ment in 1908. With the assistance of
the Salt Lake Commercial club he was
successful in bringing the national en-
campment of the G. A. R. to Utah in
1909. At that time his son, Thomas B.
Sleater, was department. commander of
the Spa nish- American war veterans, the
son being commissioned at the close of
the war with Spain as a second lieu
tenant.
Mr.. Sleater is survived bv his widow,
Mrs. Robert G.. Sleater; his sons, Will
liam NJ, Sleater, Robert f. Sleater,
Henry NJ. Sleatcr, n. E, Sleater, Thomas
3. Sleater, Joseph r. Sleater and A. R.
Seater and his daughters, Mrs, lydia
NJ. Cody, Mrs. Lawrence Cassell, Miss
Mamie Sleater, Mrs. Charles Robson.
Mrs Louis Vandemark and Miss Eliza
l.ll