Thatcher family

Hezekiah Thatcher was one of the first merchants in Cache Valley. During the 1860's and 1970's Hezekiah and his sons George and Moses became some of the areas most prosperous businessmen. They operated the Thatcher Brothers Bank, Thatcher and Sons store, and Thatcher & Sons Milling and Elevator Company. Moses and Hezekiah were also officials in the Utah Northern Railroad Company. Hezekiah and Alena Kitchen's third son, John Bethuel, was also a merchant, first in Logan and later in Thatcher, Idaho. In 1858 John B. married Rachel Davis, the oldest daughter of Nathan and Sarah Woolley Davis. Fifteen years later John married Rachel's younger sister Sarah Maria. Sarah was eighteen years younger than John. John Bethuel's younger brother Moses Thatcher was an eminent businessman and church official. He was born on February 2, 1842. He was superintendent of Cache Valley Sunday Schools from 1868 to 1877 and served ten years in the Territorial Legislative Council. He was president of Cache Valley State from 1877 to 1879 when he was appointed to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. Moses became active in Utah's political affairs particularly in the contest just prior to statehood between Republicans and Democrats.

Like the Thatchers, Abraham Owen Smoot was a prominent businessman, politician and church official. He was born on February 17, 1815 in Owen County, Kentucky. He emigrated to Utah in 1847 and was active in hauling goods from the East for the Church. In 1857 he became Mayor of Salt Lake City. Later, when he moved to Provo he became Mayor of that city. He was active in the support of the Brigham Young Academy. Abraham Owen Smoot died in 1895. Abraham Owen Smoot had four wives. He married Margaret Thompson McMeans in 1838. Although she had no children, Margaret became the matriarch of the Smoot family. Everyone, including Abraham's other wives and their children called her Ma. In 1850 Abraham married Emily Harris. They had three children. Abraham's third wife was Diana Eldredge, daughter of Ira and Nancy Black Eldredge. Diana had twelve children. Abraham's fourth wife was Annie Kristina Morrison. She had eight children. Olive Smoot was the second daughter of Abraham Owen and Diana Eldredge Smoot. She was born in 1860. In 1876 Olive married James William Bean. Olive and Will lived in Provo, Utah and in their later lives in Teton, Idaho. In 1885 Will married Pauline Hardy as a plural wife.

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