and that words of good cheer cost nothing, yet have marvelous effect. His many friends
are his silent partners and the rapid growth of the Richfield Commercial & Savings
Bank is due largely to the kindly disposition as well as to the business ability of Guy
Lewis, its popular cashier.
JOSEPH F. SQUIRES.
Joseph F. Squires, assistant postmaster at Logan, was born on the llth of February,
1871, in Salt Lake City, a son of John F. Squires, a native of England, who came to
America with his parents, John and Catherine (Fell) Squires, who in the year 1853
arrived in Utah, having crossed the plains with ox team and wagon in Captain Jacob
Gates' company that was thus traveling to the colony established by the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. John F. Squires was born in 1846 and was largely
reared and educated in Salt Lake, where he took up the business followed by his father,
that of bartering. He learned the trade in the shop of his father, who was one of the
first barbers of Salt Lake and who for years served as President Brigham Young's
private barber and was thus associated with him for many years. John F. Squires^came
to Logan, Utah, in January. 1876, and was the forest supervisor for many years* He
is now living retired, enjoying the fruits of an active and well spent life. He served
on a foreign mission to England from 1888 to 1890 inclusive and he was president of
one of the Seventy Quorums for a number of years and took a most active and helpful
part in church work. While he was on his foreign mission Brigham Young, Jr.. was
president of the British mission and Mr. Squires accompanied him to all of the Scandi-
navian countries. He married Alice Penn Maiben, a native of Brighton, England, born
October 16, 1847. She came to America with her parents in 1853 and crossed the plains
with the same company as the Squires family, walking the entire distance. John F.
Squires and Alice Penn Maiben were married in Salt Lake, August 7, 1868, by Daniel
H. Wells. They became the parents of twelve children, eight sons and four daughters,
of whom Joseph F. was the second in order of birth. The mother survives and now
makes her home in Logan.
Joseph F. Squires obtained a public school education in Logan and afterward spent
a year as a student in the Brigham Young College. When his textbooks were put aside
UTAH SINCE STATEHOOD 13
he began learning the barber's trade, which he followed as a journeyman for ten years,
working with hfs father. On the 15th of December, 1896, he entered the Logan post-
office as general delivery clerk and from that position has worked his way steadily
upward until he is now assistant postmaster and during vacancies in the office of post-
master he has served as acting postmaster. In 1897 he was appointed assistant post-
master by Orson Smith and later by Joseph Odell, in which position he has continued
to the present time, proving most capable through the prompt and efficient manner in
which he discharges his duties.
Mr. Squires was married in Logan Temple, September 25, 1895, to Miss Retta Ballif,
who was born in Logan, a daughter of the late Serge L. and Harriet (Vuffry) Ballif.
The mother is still living and both were representatives of pioneer families of Utah.
To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs: Squires, have been born seven children: Joseph F.,
Chester B., Serge L., John Maiben, Harriet, Rulon B. and Luther B.
The family are adherents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in
which Mr. Squires is serving as counselor to Bishop William Evans of the third ward.
He belongs to the Logan Commercial Boosters Club and he gives his political allegiance
to the republican party. During the great European war so recently ended he was a
member of the committee having in charge the Liberty Loan sales in the third ward
and was very active in various branches of war work. His son, Joseph P. Squires, Jr.,
served in the Eighty-second Infantry Supply Company, stationed at Camp Kearney,
California, and was honorably discharged in January, 1919, the company being demobil-
ized at the Presidio in California. The son, Chester B. Squires, was a member of the
Student Army Training Corps at the Utah Agricultural College. Regarding his business
career, Mr. Squires may well be termed a self-made man and deserves all the credit
which the term implies. Starting out in life empty-handed, he has worked his way
steadily upward through persistency of purpose and laudable ambition, assisted by his
good wife, who has indeed been a true helpmate to him. They are widely and favorably
known in Logan, where they have now long resided and where their circle of friends
is almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance.
ANTHON W. MADSEN.
Anthon W. Madsen, residing in Scofield, is numbered among the prominent repre-
sentatives of cattle and sheep raising interests in Utah, in connection with his two
brothers, Andrew C. and Neil M. He was born in Mount Pleasant, Utah, June 18, 1871,
a son of Andrew and Johannah (Wedergren Andersen) Madsen. The father came to
Utah from Denmark in 1856, while the mother had arrived in this state from Sweden
in 1855 Both settled at Brigham. During the move of 1857 they went south to
Ephraim, being married there December 26, 1858, and they became pioneer residents
of Mount Pleasant, taking up their abode at that place in 1859. There the father con-
tinued to reside until his death, which occurred December 15, 1915, when he had reached
the age of eighty years. It was he who purchased the first sheep herd and brought
them into Sanpete county, which now has more sheep than any similar district in the
world. He filled various positions in the church and at the time of his death was a
high priest. He was also a member of the city council of Mount Pleasant for twenty
years and in many ways he contributed to the development and upbuilding of that sec-
tion of the state. He built the first amusement hall and he was the superintendent of
the cooperative mercantile company, known as Mt. Pleasant Z. C. M. I., for a number
of years. He likewise served as a trustee of the school and there was no plan or meas-
ure for public progress or benefit that failed to receive his endorsement and support.
He served all through the Black Hawk war. In 1909 he was the prime mover iji erect-
ing the monument in Mt. Pleasant in honor of the pioneer veterans and he was like-
wise one of the organizers of the Mount Pleasant Historical Society. For many years
he figured as a most prominent factor in the interests and development of Mount Pleas-
ant. To Andrew and Johannah (Wedergren Andersen) Madsen were born five sons
and four daughters, namely: Louise B., Andreas, Annie, Emma, Andrew C., Lauritz
L., Anthon W., Neil M. and Hilda E. Those still living are Andrew C., Anthon W.,
Neil M. and Hilda E.
Anthon W. Madsen obtained his education in the common schools of Mount Pleas-
ant and after his school days were over he and his brothers became associated with
14 UTAH SINCE STATEHOOD
their father in stock raising and farming and the conduct of other business interests.
They are now owners of property in Sanpete, Utah and Carbon counties. The three
brothers still do business together under the name of the Madsen Brothers Land & Live-
stock company. Anthon W. Madsen is acting as manager of extensive ranching and
stock interests and business properties in Scofield, Carbon county.
In Salt Lake City, on the 26th of March, 1919, Anthon W. Madsen wajs married to
Miss Ellen Norris, a daughter of William and Ellen (Moss) Norris. Her father died
in England in 1911 and in 1916 she came with her mother to Utah. Mr. Madsen is a
republican in his political views and in 1911 was elected to represent Carbon county in
the state legislature. He served as fish and game warden for eight years, occupied the
position of town marshal of Scofield and has been deputy sheriff. His public duties have
ever been discharged most promptly and efficiently and he has labored untiringly for
the interests and benefit of his community and the commonwealth at large. In the
^business world he has made for himself a creditable name and place and is today one
of the well known cattle and sheep raisers of Central Utah, where the flocks constitute
a chief source of the wealth of the state.
GEORGE W. THATCHER.
In the death of George W. Thatcher there passed away one who had been an out-
standing figure in connection with the development and progress of Logan and the
state. He is justly classed with the builders and promoters of Utah, so extensive and
important were his business interests and extended was his connection with the work
of progress and improvement. From the earliest epoch in the settlement of Utah he
was identified with its interests. One needs but to picture him as a pony express
rider to know that he experienced all the hardships and privations of pioneer times,
and a review of his business career will indicate how largely he contributed to the
upbuilding of the state.
George W. Thatcher was born in Springfield, Illinois, February 1, 1840, a son of
Hezekiah and Alley (Kitchen) Thatcher. In the spring of 1844, his father, having
accepted the gospel as preached by the Latter-day saints, moved his family to Macedonia.
This was about the time when mobs began to rise in Illinois, where the Mormon people
had found a brief refuge after their expulsion from Missouri. After the martyrdom of
Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum at Carthage Mr. Thatcher's father bought a one
hundred acre farm near the city of Nauvoo, from which the family was driven at the
time of the expulsion of the saints from that city. The spring of 1846 found the
Thatchers traveling westward through Iowa, and they were at the Bluffs when the
Mormon Battalion was mustered into service. After a hard winter and much priva-
tion the family started west to the Rocky Mountains and arrived in Salt Lake valley
in September, 1847. While George was but a boy of seven years, yet many of the tasks
he was called upon to perform in the long journey across the plains would have taxed
the strength and courage of a much older person. The experiences passed through in
his early youth during the drivings of the saints and the crossing of the plains no
doubt did much to prepare him for the responsibilities in after life. The experiences
and hardships of pioneer life were by no means ended when he arrived in Salt Lake
valley, for in the spring of 1849, after having raised one crop, father Thatcher left
with his family for California and after three months of travel landed in Sacramento
on the last day of June. At that time there was not a house in that now important
city. The next eight years of his life George spent working in the mines and on the
ranch where he developed into a very powerful youth, being a great rider, jumper and
very fleet of foot. In 1857 he with his father and mother and one or two brothers and
sister Harriett, returned to Salt Lake City. In this early day of no railroads in the
Rocky Mountains nor yet stage lines, the mail was carried over a great part of the
wildest country through the mountains by pony express. George, being of the cour-
ageous kind, secured a position as express rider and the division given to him was one
of the wildest of the express route. He had quite a number of hair raising experiences
during his services as pony express rider. Upon one occasion, very early in the spring
while the snow was very deep but the sun quite warm, George not being very well,
having a sharp pain in his side, had got off his horse, taken hold of the horse's tail
and was running behind when a large wolverine jumped on him knocking him down
GEORGE W. THATCHER
UTAH SINCE STATEHOOD 17
and breaking his hold on the horse's tail. Having learned to think and act quick,
George doubled up and rolled over like a ball and as the animal rushed upon him
again managed to get his feet under it and with great force threw it several yards
away. Springing to his feet he sped along the trail and before the animal could catch
him he had succeeded in reaching and mounting his horse. In out-distancing the
wolverine one can well imagine that the oft repeated statements that George W.
Thatcher in his youth was one of the fastest sprinters that ever lived was true. Sev-
eral years later, after having been out on an Indian campaign for a number of months
and stiff and sore from exposure, he was met on his return to Salt Lake by one of his
friends who accosted him saying, "George, there are some fellows down here in my
blacksmith shop who say they have a man who can beat any d Mormon that ever
lived, running a hundred yards. I told them that I knew a man who could beat their
sprinter no matter how fast." It resulted in a match being made, and though only a
few days were given him to get into shape less than a week he succeeded in beat-
ing his man quite easily. This man with whom he ran was George Adams, the world's
one-hundred yard champion sprinter, at that time holding the world's record of nine
and four-fifths seconds. He, with quite a large company, was on his way to the coast
and Australia. Their departure, however, was delayed for some time owing to the
fact that they bet practically their entire outfit, horses, mules and wagons as well as
cash, on the race, which left them stranded.
As the years passed on, Mr. Thatcher utilized the opportunities that came in
connection with the development of a new district and his carefully conducted busi-
ness affairs at length brought him to prominence as a mill owner and a banker. With
the extension of railway lines west, he became a contractor and completed a number
of important grade sections. In 1877 he accepted the position of superintendent of
The Utah & Northern Railroad, which then extended from Ogden, Utah, to Franklin,
Idaho. The road was building north and he was given complete charge of the letting
of all contracts and the purchasing of all material. It was but a short time after his
taking charge that the Utah & Northern was purchased *by the Union Pacific interests.
Recognizing his worth to the corporation he was retained and continued the building
of the road north to Garrison, Montana. One can well imagine the difficulties and ob-
stacles that were met with and which had to be surmounted in building a railroad
through Idaho and into Montana in the early '80s the blockades from the heavy snows
in the winter; the extreme cold weather, at times more than forty degrees below zero;
the washouts from floods in the spring; the establishing of sawmills and organizing of
logging companies, etc.; and a hundred and one other things that are comparatively
easy today that were extremely difficult then. Many anecdotes are told of Mr. Thatcher's
resources and quick action when the necessity required. Upon one occasion when mak-
ing a trip over the road, several men, the toughest kind of characters, who had been
discharged for making trouble, got on the train. Mr. Thatcher was in the rear car
and saw the men get on and intuitively knew that they had got on to get him. His
companions were several cars forward so that he was practically alone in this car
save for these men who were behind him. He got up and went forward and the men
followed him, the first one a big husky fellow with his hand on his gun for a quick
draw. Mr. Thatcher knew that one false move on his part spelled death. In order
to appear unconscious he put his thumbs in the arm-holes of his vest and without turn-
ing around went through the car whistling. He passed out onto the platform and
into the next coach and to the other end of that car, the men following close behind
him. The coaches in those days were not heated by steam but by a stove and each
stove was furnished with a very heavy, hooked poker made of about three-quarter inch
iron and about four or four and one-half feet long. As he came abreast of the stove,
he seized the poker and whirled around holding the weapon above the first man's head.
This was so quickly done the man had no chance to draw his gun. "Now what do
you want?" was the query. The man stammered out something about getting on the
wrong train. Just then the conductor and the brakeman came along, the train was
stopped and the men put off.
His orders to his men were always short and very much to the point, the following
story being a good sample. Upon a hot summer day a passenger train pulled into the
station of Camas. When they tried to fill with water they found the big water tank
was empty, and the nearest water was in the creek which was quite a distance away and
hard to get at. The conductor was at his wit's end; he rushed into the station and
sent the following wire:
Vol. IV 2
18 UTAH 'SINCE STATEHOOD
"Geo. W. Thatcher, Supt. Logan, Utah. Tank empty fill how?" (signed)
"Geo. S Conductor."
In about five minutes he received the following answer:
"Geo. S , Conductor, Camas, Dip, how." (signed) "Geo. W. Thatcher."
During the building of the Utah & Northern, north, the Union Pacific decided to
build another line into the northwest connecting with their main line from the east
at Granger, Wyoming. Mr. Thatcher was also given charge of the building of this
road which he completed as far as Huntington, Oregon. The great task and respon-
sibility of building and operating the long lines of railroad began to affect his health
which was the cause of Mr. Thatcher resigning from the Union Pacific in September,
1882, and organizing in January, 1883, the Thatcher Brothers & Company Bank, taking
charge of same. Later the bank was incorporated, January 3, 1889, G. W. Thatcher
being made president which position he held until his death.
In 1893 Mr. Thatcher was appointed one of the Utah commission by President
Grover Cleveland, which position he held until the commission was dissolved by
Utah's becoming a state. Honored and respected by all, no man occupied a more en-
viable position in commercial and financial circles, not by reason alone of the success
he attained but owing to the straightforward business principles which he ever fol-
lowed. He was decisive in his actions, had a quick temper and was at times sharp
of tongue, but whenever he discovered that he had wronged a person, no matter how
humble that person, he would immediately go to the one wronged and make it right.
On the 4th of April, 1861, George W. Thatcher was united in marriage to Miss
Luna C. Young, of Salt Lake City, a daughter of Brigham Young and Mary Ann (Angel)
Young. Mrs. Thatcher was born August 20, 1842, at Nauvoo, Illinois, and by her mar-
riage became the mother of the following named: Virginia Mary, Alice Young, who
died in infancy, Nellie May, George W., Nettie Young, Brigham Guy, Kathryn, Luna
A., Constance, and Phyllis.
Mr. Thatcher was an active and zealous member of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints and in 1871 was sent on a mission to England, where he labored for
one year. His interest in the cause of education is shown in the fact that he was
made president of the Brigham Young College board by Brigham Young. He was
elected mayor of Logan and gave to the city a businesslike and progressive admin-
istration. He died in Logan, December 23 ? 1902, at the age of sixty-two years. His life
had been one of signal benefit and service to the community which he represented,
and his name is associated with events of vital importance to the history of the state
that time cannot efface.
LORENZO TOOLSON.
Lorenzo Toolson, engaged in merchandising at Smithfield and also an active figure
in the work of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, now filling the office
of bishop, was born August 18, 1863, in the town which is still his home, his parents
being Lars and Ingra (Johnson) Toolson, who were natives of Sweden and came to Utah
in 1860. They were among the first residents of Smithfield, where the father took up
farming and stock raising and was also identified with various public interests and
enterprises. He became a director of the Cooperative Mercantile Company and in the
church he was a high priest and filled a mission to Sweden about thirty years ago.
Lorenzo Toolson acquired his education in the public schools of Smithfield and in
the Brigham Young College, which he attended for one term. He then took up farming,
which he followed until 1911, when he purchased a large store at Smithfield, becoming
a partner of Bishop Winn. This they conducted together for two years, after which
Mr. Toolson purchased the interests of his partner and has since carried on the business
alone, meeting with substantial success in its conduct. He carries a large and well
selected stock and is accorded a liberal patronage.
In 1886 Mr. Toolson was married to Miss Alice Harper, a daughter of Richard and
Susan Harper, and they became parents of four sons and six daughters, of whom nine
are yet living. The children born to this union are Lorenzo Vern, who filled a two-year
mission to England; Allie, who married Ezra Neilson and resides in Smithfield, where
Mr. Neilson passed away in 1913; Richard, who married Gertrude Ashcroft, and filled
a two-year mission to England ; Ingra, who married William Hurren ; Tacy, who married
UTAH SINCE STATEHOOD 19
George Chambers; Sybil, who married Willard Hansen; Slone, who married Les Hansen;
and Adrien and Daphne, who are at home. The mother of these children passed away
November 22, 1914. In 1916 Mr. Toolson wedded Helen P. Pilgrim, a daughter of
Thomas and Annie (Peacock) Pilgrim, who were natives of England and came to Utah
in the years 1864 and 1859 respectively. Richard Harper arrived in this state in 1861.
Mr. Toolson was ordained bishop in July, 1919, by Apostle Talmage. He served for
ten years as a member of the irrigation board and for six years was its chairman. In
1913 he was elected a member of the city council of Smithfield and exercised his official
prerogatives in support of all plans and measures for the benefit and upbuilding of his
native city.
CHARLES W. RAPP.
Charles W. Rapp, chief of the fire department of Logan, was born in Ogden, Utah,
October 7, 1887. His father, C. S. Rapp, is a native of Nebraska, where he engaged in
business, spending some time there as a bookkeeper. He is now living at Ogden. The
mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary Wadsworth, was born at Hooper, Utah, the
daughter of a pioneer of this state, who drove across the plains at a period long ante-
dating the building of the railroads.
Charles W. Rapp obtained his education in the public schools of Ogden and after
his textbooks were put aside worked for others for a short time. He then became
connected with the fire department of his native city and throughout his entire life has
been numbered among the fire fighters whose bravery has contributed much to the safety
of the cities in which he has labored. He has worked his way upward through all of
the departments at Logan since coming to the city and in 1917 was made chief of the
fire department, which has three pieces of motor apparatus, a triple combination, and all
the finest chemical appliances for fighting fire. There are seven men in the department
and they have done splendid work through their care and watchfulness and through
their efforts when any conflagration breaks out. The loss through fire in Logan in 1918
amounted to only two hundred and sixty-five dollars. This is the best equipped fire
department to be found in any city of the size in Utah and Mr. Rapp is a member of
the State Association of Firemen. ^
In 1911 Mr. Rapp was married to Miss Ora E. Pinkham, a native of Hooper, Utah,
and a daughter of D. E. Pinkham, one of the pioneers of the state. They have become
parents of two children, Velda Cleora and June Evely. The former is now in school.
Mr. Rapp belongs to the Logan Commercial Boosters Club and to the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He turns for recreation to hunting but he allows
nothing to interfere with the faithful performance of his duties as a fireman. He has
had practically lifelong experience in his work and is today at the head of a very
finely equipped and up-to-date fire department, in which he takes great pride, having
the full cooperation of his men, who, like himself, are young, vigorous and brave, so
that the department has made an excellent record.
FRANK ROBERT SLOPANSKEY, M. D.
Dr. Frank Robert Slopanskey, of Helper, is the division surgeon for the Denver
& Rio Grande Railroad Company and also engages in the general practice of medicine
in Carbon county. Kansas numbers him among her native sons, his birth having