of Panguitch and Garfield county and is successfully conducting business interests as
a farmer and stock raiser. He was born in New Harmony, Utah, October 4, 1867, and
is a son of George W. and Phoebe M. (Butler) Sevy. The father, a native of the state
of New York, came as a pioneer settler to Utah in 1848 and was married in Spanish
Fork. He with others was called to settle New Harmony and later called to settle
Panguitch in 1871. For several years he served as bishop in his ward and afterward
assisted in the settlement of Bluff in 1880. There he served as presiding elder. In
1886 he returned to Panguitch and soon afterward went to old Mexico, where he re-
mained until called to his final rest.
Thomas Sevy, after completing his education in the public schools, took up the
business of raising sheep and cattle when nineteen years of age, and has since been
THOMAS SEVY
Vol. IV 29
UTAH SINCE STATEHOOD 453
active along that line. As the years have passed he has prospered in his undertakings
and now has valuable farming and grazing land. He has specialized in the raising of
Merino sheep and shorthorn cattle. His business affairs have been wisely and care-
fully directed and an analyzation of his success shows that industry and determination
have been the basic elements in the attainment of his present prosperity. He is also
a director of the Richfield Commercial & Savings Bank at Richfield, is president of
the Southern Utah Equitable Company, occupying that position since its organization,
and has at the same time been a most active factor in the upbuilding of Panguitch
and the surrounding district.
At St. George, in 1886, Mr. Sevy was married to Miss Sarah E. Crosby, a daughter
of President J. W. and Sarah P. (Clark) Crosby, her father being one of the most
prominent citizens of Panguitch. He with others was called by the church to settle
the town of Cowley, in the Big Horn basin of Wyoming, and there passed away in
1915. In 1899 the death of Mrs. Sarah E. Sevy occurred. Six children were born of
this union: T. Frank, Blaine E., Pauline and Evadine, who are still living; and Jesse
W. and Arthur, both of whom are deceased. In 1900 Mr. Sevy was again married, his
second union being with Amy Clark, daughter of A. D. and Mary (Brown) Clark, of
Provo, her father a very prominent citizen and much interested in the work of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mr. and Mrs. Sevy have become the
parents of eight children, namely: Wendell; V. M. ; Mary; Artois; Albert D., and
Vera, living, and George W. and Amy, both deceased.
Mr. Sevy is a republican. For four years he filled the office of mayor of Panguitch
and for twelve years was a member of the city council exercising his official preroga-
tives in support of all plans and measures for the general good. When twenty-one
years of age he was elected sheriff and was reelected for a second term but resigned
in the middle of the term to become a candidate for the state legislature. He was
elected and served as a member of the first general assembly of Utah after the admis-
sion of the state into the Union and was again elected to represent his district in
1914, becoming an active factor in support of much valuable legislation. His worth
as a man and citizen is widely acknowledged. What he has purposed in business he
has accomplished. He never stops short of the successful achievement of his plans
and has ever recognized the fact that when one avenue of opportunity seems closed he
can carve out other paths whereby to reach the desired goal. In the discharge of
public duties he has been prompt and faithful, and his capability has been acknowl-
edged in his frequent reelections.
HOMER DOUGLAS THOMPSON.
Homer Douglas Thompson, engaged in the meat and grocery business at Beaver,
Utah, where he was born September 7, 1876, is a son of James and Rebecca Thompson.
The father was born June 1, 1854, at East Durham, England, and on coming to Utah
settled at Beaver in June, 1858. He served against the Indians in the wars of pioneer
times and shared in all of the hardships and privations incident to the settlement of the
frontier. His wife, Rebecca (Gale) Thompson, was born at Sydney, Australia, March
23, 1851, and in February, 1858, came with her parents to Utah, where she met and
married James Thompson on the 21st of November, 1867. They were both converted to
the Mormon church and James Thompson filled a two years' mission in England in
the '80s. He died in Beaver, November 10, 1897, but his wife is still living. They had a
family of nine children, seven sons and two daughters, of whom four have passed away,
namely, Heber, Elinor, Charles and Edwin. Those who survive are Willard, Ida,
Homer Douglas, Leo and Kenneth.
Homer D. Thompson was educated in the schools of Beaver and worked in various
mining camps in this state as a stationary electrical engineer. In 1917 he established a
meat market and grocery business in Beaver and is still conducting his store, in which
he has won a substantial measure of success owing to his thoroughly reliable business
methods and his enterprise.
Homer D. Thompson was married December 25, 1900, in Beaver, by Elder J. F.
Folton, to Miss Alice Morris, a daughter of Andrew and Mary Jane Morris. She was
born in Beaver, October 3, 1880, and died September 4, 1909, beloved by all who knew
her. Of the Mormon church she was a devout follower. Her father, Andrew Morris,
454 UTAH SINCE STATEHOOD
was born at Manchester, England, January 9, 1854, and in 1856 came to Utah, remain-
ing in Salt Lake until 1857, and then becoming a resident of Beaver. In 1875 he mar-
ried Mary Jane Speakman, who was born at Salt Lake, May 14, 1856, and came to
Beaver in November, 1857. Both are devout members of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. They reared a family of ten children, all of whom are living with
the exception of Alice. The others are Albert, William, Edward, Eugene, Hilton,
Elizabeth, Blaine, Larue and Arvilla. Mr. and Mrs. Homer D. Thompson had three
children: Morris, born February 18, 1902; Warren, born November 16, 1905, and Alice,
who was born August 14, 1909. On October 5, 1913, Homer D. Thompson married
again, this wife being Miss Sadie Atkin, also of Beaver City, with whom he is living.
They are both members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in which
Mr. Thompson is an elder and teacher. Since starting out in the business world he has
made steady progress, using his time and talents wisely and well, and today he is
numbered among the prosperous merchants of his native city.
L. C. MILLER.
L. C. Miller, general manager and treasurer of the Miller-Cahoon Company, dealers
in lumber, coal, hardware and stoves at Murray, was born December 29, 1874, at Murray,
his parents being James R. and Mary Jane (Gardner) Miller. The father was born at
Dayton, Illinois, October 2, 1838, and was a son of Reuben and Rhoda Ann (Letts) Mil-
ler. The family became early residents of Utah and Reuben Miller served as bishop of
Millcreek ward for many years. He was born in Pennsylvania, December 4, 1811, and as
a young man went to La Salle county, Illinois, where he became a convert to the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, remaining one of its loyal followers until his
death, which occurred July 22, 1882. He was at Nauvoo, Illinois, when the Mormons
were expelled irom that place and in 1849 crossed the plains with his family, settling at
Big Cottonwood, where he took up his abode in an old deserted dugout, in which the
family lived for eighteen months. He was a man of marked energy and enterprise
and soon began to prosper. During the second year of his residence in Utah he was
made county commissioner and for term after term was reelected to that office, which
he was filling at the time of his death, and he was also serving as bishop of Millcreek
ward, filling the office from the time of its organization in the fall of 1849 until he was
called to the home beyond. His wife was a native of Knox county, Ohio, and survived
him for one year.
James R. Miller was a lad of eleven years when his parents crossed the plains.
He at once took an active part in the upbuilding of the country as the assistant of his
father, hauling wood out of the canyons, tending sheep and otherwise proving most
useful in the work of general development and improvement in the early days. He
was full of energy and his labors were crowned with successful accomplishment. At
the age of twenty years he married Mary Jane Gardner, who was born in Warwick.
Canada, February 13, 1843, and came to Utah with the second company of pioneers in
1847. Her father, Robert Gardner, was one of the pioneers of 1847 and erected the
first sawmill in the state of Utah. He is mentioned at length on another page of this
work in connection with the sketch of James H. Gardner. James R. Miller built a home a
mile east of Murray and there resided for forty-two years upon a farm of eighty acres,
which he developed into one of the most valuable, productive and beautiful country
places of his time. He engaged in sheep raising for many years, also made extensive
investments in property and was the owner of land in both Utah and Cache counties.
In 1900 he organized the firm of J. R. Miller & Company for the conduct of a lumber,
coal, hardware and stove business at Murray. This constituted the nucleus of the busi-
ness which has since been developed under the name of the Miller-Cahoon Company.
Mr. Miller was an active churchman, serving as bishop's counselor and in later years
in the presidency of Granite stake. In early days he made several trips across the
plains, freighting with ox teams, and was closely connected with every phase of pioneer
development that has led to the present prosperity and progress of the state. To James
R. and Mary Jane (Gardner) Miller were born seven children: Reuben G., living at
Pingree, Idaho; Mary J., the wife of J. F. Whitney, of Logan; William E., a rancher of
Murray; L. C.; Maude L., the wife of A. L. Davis, of Murray; Leonard M., of Idaho
Falls, and Eva M., the wife of Dr. H. G. Merrill, of Provo.
UTAH SINCE STATEHOOD 455
L. C. Miller was reared upon his father's farm and supplemented his common
school education by three years' study in the University of Utah and a business course
in the Salt Lake Business College. For many years prior to becoming identified with
the Miller-Cahoon Company he was the representative and salesman for the first
Cooperative Wagon Company of Salt Lake and later was connected with the Consoli-
dated Wagon & Machine Company of Salt Lake. In 1903 the Miller-Cahoon Company
was organized and was a consolidation of the business built up by his father and a
similar business that had been developed by the Cahoon family at Murray. In 1903
L. C. Miller was made manager of the new company, which had enjoyed rapid growth
under his direction. The business is now capitalized for a half million dollars and
has an extensive plant at Idaho Falls, which is managed by L. M. Miller, a brother of
L. C. Miller. The company handles lumber, operates planning mills, engages in the
sale of coal, hardware, farm implements, wagons and automobiles. The business has
developed into one of the important commercial and industrial interests of the Inter-
mountain country, and Mr. Miller is a most forceful and resourceful business man,
ready for any emergency and at all times displaying initiative and marked enterprise
in the conduct of his business. He is also interested in banking and is a stockholder in
the Consolidated Wagon Company and other important corporations.
In 1905 Mr. Miller was married to Marjorie Sidley Larkin, who was born in Michi-
gan, but was a resident of Salt Lake at the time of their marriage. They have two
children, Roscoe and Basil, and they occupy one of the attractive homes of Murray,
their position in social circles being an enviable one.
CHRISTIAN W. HOUTZ.
Christian W. Houtz, a prominent farmer of Mapleton, was born at Springville, Utah
county, April 1, 1867, and is a son of Philip and Sarah Jane (Hall) Houtz. The father
was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, and the mother was a native of Des Moines,
Iowa. The grandfather in the paternal line was Christian Houtz, whose birth occurred
near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 16, 1805. He married Susan Pawling, also of
Philadelphia, and in 1848 he removed with his family to Utah, traveling westward
with the Lorenzo Snow Company. The winter of 1846-7 had been spent at Winter
Quarters, on the Missouri river, and in the spring of the latter year he gave a team of
oxen to Brigham Young and remained on the Missouri river until the following year,
when he made the trip to Utah. Reaching his destination, he located in Salt Lake
county, where he followed the occupation of farming. He was a high priest in the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and died in Salt Lake City in 1852.
His son, Philip Houtz, was born September 13, 1838. On reaching manhood he
married Sarah Jane Hall at Springville, Utah, she being a daughter of Edward and
Nancy Eleanor (Ballinger) Hall, who were formerly residents of Jamestown, Russell
county, Kentucky, but became Utah pioneers of 1850, crossing the plains in the David
Evans company. Her father was born at Waterbury, New Haven county, Connecticut,
November 15, 1813, and removed from New England to Kentucky, whence he after-
ward came to Utah. He was a farmer by occupation and passed away at Prove, Utah,
August 26, 1886. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he filled the office
of elder. He was also a member of the Fifty-first Quorum of Seventy and was a high
priest.
Christian W. Houtz was the second in order of birth in a family of twelve children.
He obtained a district school education and was reared to farm life, early becoming
familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. After reach-
ing adult age he was married at Logan, Utah, March 2, 1887, to Miss Mary Esther
Waters, a daughter of John and Sarah (Birch) Waters, who were pioneers of 1853,
crossing the plains in Captain Wheelock's company. They were natives of Kent,
England.
Mr. Houtz filled a mission to the southern states, leaving home May 19, 1893, and
returning June 19, 1895. He was chosen as second counselor to Bishop J. S. Loynd in
Springville fourth ward January 19, 1896, which position he held until removing to
Mapleton on the 28th of February, 1899. Since then he has filled a number of positions,
both civil and ecclesiastical, and at present is presiding high priest in that ward. He
owns one of the best farms in Mapleton, equipped with machinery, horses, cattle, etc.
456 UTAH SINCE STATEHOOD
Mrs. Houtz has also held a number of positions at various times, having been secretary
and president of the Primary Association, secretary of the Young Ladies' Mutual Im-
provement Association, counselor, secretary and treasurer of the Relief Society.
Mr. and Mrs. Houtz have a family of four children, viz., Austin, Jennie M., Zenna
and Leslie B., all Of whom were reared in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, and have filled various positions in church organizations. Austin filled a three
years' mission in South Africa, leaving home before he was twenty-one years of age.
He was married to Martha Allan, of Mapleton, March 13, 1912, and they have three
daughters: Lucile, Mozelle and Delia. On the 18th of June, 1913, Jennie M. was mar-
ried to Professor William T. Tew, Jr., of Mapleton. He had previously filled a mission
to New Zealand. They went to Idaho to make their home. They also have three
daughters, namely: Merline, Naoma and Helen. Zenna was married April 17, 1918, to
C. Ernest Whiting, a soldier in the Ninety-first Division of the United States army.
After serving overseas for about nine months he returned to his home with an honorable
discharge. Before entering the army he filled a mission to the southern states. For
nine years Zenna was organist in Mapleton ward. At the present writing Leslie B.,
who is twenty-one years of age and unmarried, is performing a mission in the western
states.
WILLIAM WORLEY.
William Worley, a contractor and builder of the firm of Worley & Nelson
at Logan, was born July 19, 1864, in Birmingham, England. His father, the late
Henry Worley, was also a native of Birmingham and emigrated to the new world
in 1869. He at once made his way to Logan, Utah, where he resided until his
death, which occurred December 21, 1914, when he had reached the venerable
age of eighty-eight years. He came to America with his wife and nine children
and before leaving his native country he learned the trade of making glass buttons.
Upon his conversion to the faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
however, he gave up everything in his native country and with his family started
for the new world that he might cast in his lot with the people of the faith. After
reaching Utah he followed agricultural pursuits and stock raising and in this
was very successful. He was a most devout man and by reason of his integrity
and enterprise in business and his loyalty to every cause which he espoused he
commanded the respect of all with whom he came in contact. The mother of
William Worley was Catherine (Willmore) Worley, a native of Staffordshire, Eng-
land. They had a family of twelve children, nine of whom reached adult age.
Five of the sons and four daughters came to America with their parents. The
mother, who was born August 4, 1822, died at the age of eighty-four years.
William Worley whose name introduces this review was educated in the public
schools of Logan and in the Brigham Young College, which was then located in
the fourth ward and was called the Lindquist Hall school. It contained several
rooms, with the city jail underneath, and this school constituted the start of the
Brigham Young Academy. When seventeen years of age Mr. Worley began earn-
ing his own living and was first employed at the carpenter's trade, which he has
since followed. For the past twenty-six years he has been engaged in contracting
and through this entire period has been associated with Mr. Nelson. They con-
stitute the oldest contracting firm of northern Utah and have a business second
to none. They have erected all of the principal public and industrial buildings
and churches in this section. As contractors they have erected the following which
in part stand as monuments to their skill and handiwork. They were the builders
of Nibley Hall, the Eccles residence, the Whittier school, the Woodruff school, the
Richmond and Lewiston tabernacles, the mechanical arts building of the Utah
Agricultural College. They had the contract for the paving of the Logan city
street, which was the first paving done in the city, the contract amounting to
ninety-four thousand dollars. They also built the addition to the county courthouse.
From 1883 until 1893 Mr. Worley was employed on the Utah Northern Rail-
road, later the Oregon Short Line, beginning as a helper, and prior to the time when
he resigned his railroad position he had been advanced to foreman, acting in
that capacity for a considerable period. His ability in the line of carpentering
WILLIAM WORLEY
UTAH SINCE STATEHOOD 459
and building has brought him prominently to the front, and in addition to his
work in this connection he is now the president of the Logan Hardware Company.
On the 10th of December, 1885, Mr. Worley was married in Logan Temple
to Miss Alice Pearson, a native of Logan and a daughter of John and Mary Ann
(Potts) Pearson, both of whom have passed away, the father dying in Logan at
the very notable old age of ninety-two years. Mr. and Mrs. Worley have become
parents of twelve children, eight of whom survive: La Verne; Dr. W. R. Worley,
of Salt Lake, who served on a mission in London for twenty-six months; Dr.
Eugene Worley, of Hyrum; Margaret; John Clyde, who was a lieutenant in the
United States army during the recent European war; Catherine Blanche; Dorothy;
and Irma. One son, Lester, died November 20, 1918, at the age of twenty-seven
years.
The family home is at No. 338 West First, South, and in addition to owning
this property Mr. Worley conducts a large farm adjacent to Logan, which is well
stocked with thoroughbred cattle. He was a member of the board of directors
of the Cache Valley Condensed Milk Company which later was taken over by
Bordens Condensed Milk Company. He certainly deserves much credit for what
he has accomplished. He started out a poor boy and worked at all times at hard
labor without the assistance of influential friends or capital. Step by step he has
worked his way upward and his orderly progression has brought him to a most
creditable position as a representative of the industrial activity of his part of
the state. In politics he is a democrat and has twice been elected a member of
the city council of Logan. He belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints in the first ward and has been first counselor to Bishop N. W. Merkley and
also served as counselor to Bishop Anthon Anderson for twelve years. He was
superintendent of the second ward school prior to serving in the bishopric, with
Bishop Anderson. His activities have been broad and varied in character, touching
the general interests of society, his aid being always given on the side of reform,
progress and improvement.
HON. ALMA SWENSON.
Hon. Alma Swenson, a capitalist of Magna, where he now devotes his attention
to real estate activity, was formerly for many years engaged in merchandising at Mer-
cur, where he also became a prominent factor in public affairs, representing Tooele
county in the state legislature in 1913, while during the years 1910, 1911 and 1912 he
filled the office of county commissioner. Utah claims him as a native son. He was
born at Sandy, Salt Lake county, on the 20th day of May, 1870, his parents being Neil
and Permelia (Neilson) Swenson, both of whom were natives of Sweden. The father, a
shoemaker by trade, emigrated to the United States in 1869 and made his way across
the plains to Utah by mule train. In this state he turned his attention to railroad work,
acting as section foreman on the line from Sandy to Wasatch until 1878, when he re-
moved to Pleasant Grove, Utah county, and was put in charge of the construction gang
that laid the track for the Denver & Rio Grande from Provo to Salt Lake City. Later
in life he purchased a small farm at Pleasant Grove, where he continued to reside until
called to his final rest in 1914. The mother passed away in 1913. Neil Swenson was a
Seventy in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and enjoyed the high regard
and esteem of all who knew him.
Alma Swenson is the eldest of four children, the others being as follows: Mary,
the wife of Dr. C. H. Westphal, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work; John, a farmer
residing at Pleasant Grove; and Delia, the wife of T. A. Lovell. Alma Swenson supple-
mented his common school education by a business course in the Brigham Young Uni-
versity at Provo. At the early age of twelve years he worked as spike boy for the con-
struction gang that was building the line of the Denver & Rio Grande from Provo to
Salt Lake City. Subsequently he turned his attention to mercantile pursuits and for
many years conducted a successful establishment of that character at Mercur, his being
the last place of business in the town, which has now passed out of existence. Mercur
*as at one time a camp of five thousand population and Mr. Swenson carried on an
extensive and profitable business there. It was while thus engaged that he was elected
county commissioner of Tooele county and in 1913 was chosen to represent his district
460 UTAH SINCE STATEHOOD
in the state legislature, where he gave thoughtful and earnest consideration to the
vital questions that came up for settlement, making a most creditable and com-
mendable record. It was in 1913 that he established a mercantile store at Magna,
which he conducted until 1916, when he disposed of the business and erected the
Swenson block, a two-story brick structure fifty by one hundred and ten feet, with
full basement. The lower floor is utilized as store space, while the upper story is divided
into offices and a hotel. Mr. Swenson also owns eleven private residences at Magna
and the Toolson Apartments in Salt Lake City. He is now conducting a general real
estate business, buying and selling city property and also handling Idaho ranch lands.
He is, moreover, a director of the First National Bank of Magna and ranks as a leading