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State of Utah, State of

Formed a part of the territory acquired from Mexico in 1848. It was settled in 1847 by Mormons, led thither by Brigham Young. They formed an independent government and called it the State of Deseret—the land of the honeybee—in March, 1849. This was superseded by a territorial government, organized by act of Congress, Sept. 9, 1850, under the name of Utah, the name of an Indian tribe. It then contained over 220,000 square miles, embracing portions of what are now Colorado, Nevada, and Wyoming. In 1856, having a requisite number of in- [574]

On the shore of the Great Salt Lake.

habitants, the legislature framed a constitution for the “State of Deseret,” and application was afterwards frequently made for its admission into the Union. without success till 1896, when it was regularly admitted, with an area of 84,928 square miles.

Territorial governors

Brigham Youngassumes office1851
Alfred Cummingassumes office1857
John W. Dawsonassumes office1861
Stephen S. Hardingassumes office1862
James Duane Dotyassumes office1863
Charles Durkeeassumes office1865
J. Wilson Shafferassumes office1870
Vernon H. Vaughnassumes office1870
George L. Woodsassumes office1871
S B Axtellassumes office1874
George W. Emeryassumes office1875
Eli H. Murrayassumes office1879
Caleb W. Westassumes office1886
Arthur L. Thomasassumes office1889
Caleb W. Westassumes office1893

State Governor.

Heber M. Wellsassumes office1896

United States Senators.

Name. No. of Congress.Date.
Frank J. Cannon54th to 55th 1896 to 1899
Joseph L. Rawlins54th to — 1897 to —

The soil of the State is largely impregnated with salts, which makes it practically unfit for cultivation. There are, however, some portions which are cleared of alkali, and by means of irrigation there has grown up a considerable agricultural industry. Manufacturing industries began early, owing to the distance and lack of communication with manufacturing centres, and now there are cotton-mills, tanneries, and machine-shops of different natures that thrive, and the beet-root sugar, industry is comparatively large.

In 1857 an incident occurred that illustrates the wildness of the Territory less than fifty years ago. A party of emigrants going West were attacked by the Mormons and Indians at a place called

Territorial seal of Utah.

Mountain Meadow. Many emigrants were killed, others defended themselves bravely. Then two Mormons, named Lee and Haight, offered to help the emigrants eastward if they would follow their guidance. [575] This being agreed to, the two Mormons led the men and women into an ambush and killed all but seventeen of them. It was not till 1874 that it became known that the Mormons and not the Indians were responsible for this. See Mormons; United States, Utah, in this volume.

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