This weeks Vision comes from the Logan City Cemetery. The Thatcher family has a decent-size section in a back corner of the cemetery. I didn't know anything about the Thathcher's but apparently they were once a prominent family in the area.

BELOW: George Washington Thatcher.  George was born February 1, 1840 in Springfield, Illinois. In 1844 his family moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, and in 1847 they moved to the Salt Lake valley. In 1849 the Thatcher family moved to Auburn, California working in California’s Gold Rush. During this time George worked for his father as a hotel keeper, rancher, and in merchandising. In 1857 the Thatcher family returned to the Utah Territory. In 1858 George worked with the Native American Agent, Jacob Forney, on a mission to the southwest Native American tribes, and from 1860 to 1861 he was employed by the Russell, Majors, & Waddell Co. as a Pony Express rider.

In 1861, George married Eunice (Luna) Caroline Young (daughter of Brigham Young, who was the territorial governor and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). From 1861 to 1867 George was the manager of his father-in-law's property in Big Cottonwood. He also managed the Salt Lake Theatre and Brigham Young’s interests within Salt Lake City. In 1867 George took a second wife, Fannie Young (another daughter of Brigham Young). From 1868 to 1869 George and John W. Young supervised the construction of the railroad grade for the Union Pacific Railroad in Echo and Weber Canyons. In 1871 George, along with John W. Young and H. P. Kimball, oversaw the construction of track for the Utah & Northern Railroad Company.

In 1873 George served as a missionary in Great Britain for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After serving for one year, George returned to the Utah Territory and formed another partnership with John W. Young and H. P. Kimball to construct the Utah Western Railroad. In 1847 George was elected as a member of the Salt Lake City Council and served a two-year term.

In 1876 George moved to Logan, Utah were he worked as the Superintendent of the Utah & Northern Railroad Company until 1882. In 1877 he became the Trustee for the Brigham Young College (now Logan High School). In 1883, George, his brother Moses, H.E. Hatch, W.D. Hendricks, S.T. Josselyn, and W.A. Rossiter, formed Logan’s first bank, the Thatcher Brothers & Banking Company. George served as the bank president until 1902.

 

From 1893 to 1896 George was a member of the Utah Commission and in 1894 he was elected Mayor of Logan for a two-year term. In 1900 he was the Utah Democratic party’s candidate for nomination as Governor of Utah. In 1900 he also represented Utah as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention held in Kansas City. George died at his home on December 23, 1902.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BELOW: The Thatcher momument.