Thatcher, Moses, 1869-1944

Moses Thatcher was born February 2, 1842 in Sangamon County, Illinois the tenth child of Hezekiah Thatcher and Alley Kitchen Thatcher. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often referred to as Mormons), in 1847 Thatcher's family traveled westward across the plains until arrival in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory. In 1849 the Thatcher family moved to California in connection with the Gold Rush. Six years later Thatcher and some of his family returned to Utah. By 1860 Thatcher had taken up residence in the newly settled community of Logan, Utah Territory and began a career as a businessman. During the 1860/1861 year Thatcher attended the University of Deseret (now University of Utah).

From 1866 to 1868 Thatcher served as a missionary in England for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon completion of his missionary labors, Thatcher returned to Logan and renewed his business ventures. Some of his business endeavors and positions included; serving as the Director and Secretary of Utah Northern Railroad Company (1870-77), Superintendent of the Logan ZCMI (1870-79), co-founder of Cache County's first bank; the Thatcher Brothers Banking Company in 1883, and Trustee of the Brigham Young College in Logan (1877-97).

Thatcher was also highly involved with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1879 he was ordained as a Member of the Council of the Twelve Apostles. Some of his duties as an Apostle included overseeing the church's interests in northern Mexico. During the 1880s he organized, supervised, and purchased land for the Mormon colonization of northern Mexico. During the 1890s Thatcher returned to Logan and became active with the Utah Democratic Party. In 1896 Thatcher was expelled from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles because of a ‘difference in opinions' and 'misunderstanding' between quorum members concerning his political and religious views. Thatcher died in Logan in 1909.

For further information on Moses Thatcher, Sr. see: Godfrey, Kenneth W., "Moses Thatcher in the Dock: His Trials, The Aftermath, and His Last Days," Journal of Mormon History, Vol. 24 # 1 (Spring 1998), pp. 54-88.

From the guide to the Moses Thatcher Sr. papers, 1866-1923, (Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives)