The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-08-03


Logan, both young and old who know
the familiar face of Samuel A. Whit
ney possibly but a comparative few
could tell even a brief outline of his
life's history. AS a pioneer of 1877
he deserves all the respect and honor
that we are pleased to give those
hardy empire makers who came to
Utah during the first year of its settle
ment. But Whitney Is more than a
pioneer of 1S47 he is pioneer of
Cache Valley, having come here at a
tine when the first settlement was be
ing made here in 1860. Being thereby
pioneer of both the state and the
county We could select no one living
today who would represent more faith
fully the pioneer type that has con-
quered the dessert and made il the
bountiful garden the fruits of which
we enjoy.
Samuel Whitney's father, A. L.
Whitney, died at Nauvoo in 1S45 leav
ing the mother with two small boys in
the midst of the worst prosecutions
through which the early adherents Of
Mormonism were forced to pass.
At one time when the battle was rag.
ing at Nauvoo between the Saints
and the mobs, his mother with other
women moulded the bullets, many of
them, with which the Saints answer.
ed the onslaught of the mob. After
the storm of battle had blown over,
at least temporarily, she with one
other woman and a man went in a
light rig and brought off the dead,
three of their number having been
slain.
Then came the exodus from Nauvoo
across the Mississippi to the Mis-.
souri,. Our subject relates that his
mother walked the entire distance
from the crossing of the Mississippi
to the Missouri. So great was the
hardsh ps that they passed through
during this time that the youngest
child could not recover from them
and died soon after they reached
Missouri. About this time the moth.
er married Newell X. Whitney. AL.
though having the same name as the
first husband 1t is not definitely es.
tablished that the two were related.
Newell X. Whitney was with the first
company Of pioneers that reached
Salt Lake valley and the next com.
pany that arrived included his wife,
Samuel's mother and the subject of
this sketch. He was then about Z
years OF age.
What relation are you to o. f.
Whitney," We asked our worthy pio.
neer.
Well" he replied, you know o.
F. Whitney is my nephew, his father
was my oldest brother, and his grand
father was my father, but none OF
them are related to me-"
"Tell us about crossing the plains, II
We asked.
NO, I've nothing to tell about
that There was a man in the com,
pany named Ambrose Shaw. He was
not Mormon, but a good man just
the same. He lived in Ogden after
wards, Well, he let me ride in his
wagon most of the way. lie never
had any children then. Later his
wife fell into a well in Ogden and
drowned. Then he married another
woman and l think they had quite a
family. Before he died he Joined the
church.
Samuel Whitney lived in and
around Salt Lake during the years
Immediately following his arrival
here. During this time he worked
about at various kinds of labor III
for a young man such as he who
found 1t necessary to make his own
living. While at work on a trashine
machine OF the old type he had the
misfortune to lose his arm. This was
in his sixteenth year. His hand get
ting caught in belt he was thrown
by the pulley wheel three times
against the side of the machine. Be
fore the belt could be stopped and
his hand taken out, that member was
so badly crushed and torn that II
was necessary to have It amputated
In 1860, one year after the first
settlement in Logan, he came to
Logan in company with William Lew.
Is and Beaston Lewis. The party
passed through Logan north 10 HYDE