Weber State University - Acorn Yearbook (Ogden, UT)

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HISTORICAL 7 conferences, and traveled extensively in England. Wales, Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark. Germany. France, and Italy, doing faithful missionary- work as he went. After returning to Utah he served as Bishop of Plain City until 1883. as Weber County Commis- sioner for eight years, as a member of the territorial legislature, and as Pro- bate Judge of Weber County, lie was a delegate to the Trans-Mississippi Commercial Congress, and to the Nat- ional Irrigation Congress. He was a member of the State Constitutional Convention, and after Utah became a State, he was elected to the Senate, where he served for two years. I Ie was also Postmaster of Ogden for four years. It was in 1883 that Mr. Shurtliff was called to be president of the Weber Stake, which position he held until his death. Charles F. Middleton, another of the founders, was born February 24. 1834. in Washington County. Illinois. I le helped with the building of Nauvoo. and shared the joys and sorrows that came to the Saints in their journey to Utah. After arriving in Ogden, he ac- companied President Shurtliff on the colonization mission to the Salmon River country, Oregon. After returning from that State, he served successful Iv- in a number of civil position in Ogden. Between August 7, 1871, and January 21. 1883, he labored as second counselor to David H. Peery in the Weber Stake, and on the latter date was chosen First Counselor to President Shurtliff. He filled a short mission to Illinois, Mis- souri. and Iowa; at all times he worked for the betterment of humanity. Nils Christian Flvgare was properly titled when the name Christian was given him. He was born in Sweden, February 3, 1841. While in his native country, he labored three years as a missionary, traveling extensively throughout Sweden. After being re- leased from his position as president of the Stockholm Conference, in 1864 he immigrated to the United States with a large company, and arrived in Sail Lake City in September of the same year. Shortly afterward he moved to Ogden, where he engaged in the work ot contracting and building. In 1874. President Brigham Young called him on a mission to Scandinavia where he again became president of the Stockholm Con- ference. serving for one year, then for two years as president of the. Scandin- avian Mission. On his return he ccmi- ducted a company of emigrants from Liverpool to Utah. Willing men are al- ways in demand: Elder Flvgare was called again to preside over the Scand- inavian Mission after one year of rest at home. During the two years he held this position, he assisted FMer A. W. Carlson in translating and publishing the Book of Mormon in the Swedish language. On returning, he again led a company of immigrants to ! tab. Six years later (1885), he was called a third time to preside over the Scandinavian Mission which mission resulted in the conversion of many people. Between 1877 and 1883, he was Bishop of the Fourth Ward; and from 1883 until the

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HISTORICAL EBER is a name that in- spires, a name that will live in the memory of thou- sands forever, representing a school whose influence is felt the world over. It was due to the leadership and ability of honest, coura- geous and persevering men that Weber Academy was established, an institution developed from the early Church sys- tem of education which was inaugurated in 1888. The following is an extract from a letter sent that year to the presi- dency of Weber Stake from the First Presidency of the Church: We feel that the time has arrived when proper education of our children should be taken in hand by us as a people. Religious training is practically excluded from district schools. The per- usal of books that we regard as divine is forbidden. Our children, if left to the training they receive in these schools, will grow entirely ignorant of those principles of salvation for which the Latter Day Saints have made many sacrifices. To permit this condition of affairs to exist among us would be crim- inal. The desire is universally expressed by all thinking people in the Church that we should have schools wherein the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and Book of Doctrine and Covenants can be used as text books, and where the prin- ciples of our religion may form a part of the teaching of the schools.” After receiving this letter with the authorization that accompanied it. Pres- ident Lewis W. Shurt I iff. President of the Weber Stake, met with other Stake officials to consider the matter. The bcxly decided to organize a Board of Education which would establish a Weber Stake Academy. The Board as then organized included Lewis W. Shurt- liff, iNils C. Flygare. Charles F. Middle- ton (Presidency of the Weber Stake); Joseph Stanford of the High Council; Robert McQuarrie, Bishop of the Sec- ond Ward; Thomas J. Stevens, Bishop of the Fifth Ward; David McKay, Bishop of Huntsville; and Professor Louis F. Moench. Stake Superintendent of Sunday Schools. The responsibility of establishing a school was rightly placed; for these men, tried in the early experiences and perse- cutions of the Church, had proved their ability. President Lewis W. Shurt I iff, born in Sullivan, Ohio. July 24. 1835, passed through the early trials that came to the Saints. At the age of sixteen he left Council BlufTs with his parents and crossed the plains to Utah, arriving in September. 1851. During the trouble with the Indians here in Weber County. Mr. Shurtliff became a lieutenant in the militia that was raised to defend the settlers. At the age of twenty-three he was called with other men on a coloniz- ing expedition to the Salmon River country in Eastern Oregon. In 1863, he was with Captain Thomas E. Ricks, helping a company of emigrants on their journey to Utah. While on his mission to Great Britain, he successfully pre- sided over the Nottingham and London

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8 HISTORICAL old Weber Stake was first divided, he served as second counselor to President Lewis W. Shurtliff. A Latter Day Saint of this character and ability is also a good citizen of his country, and Elder Flygare was no exception. He held many important positions in the Ogden city government and in various com- panies. He directed the construction of the Utah Agricultural College. His life should be an inspiration; it is one worthy of remembrance. David McKay, son of William Mc- Kay and Ellen Oman, was born in Thurso, Scotland. May 3, 1844. At the age of nineteen he came to Utah, and a few years later made his home in I lunts- ville. When twenty-three years of age. he married Jeanette Evans. I le held a number of positions in the Huntsville ward, all of which he filled successfully. In 1882. he was called on a two-year mission to Scotland; in 1891, he left for a second mission to his native country. After returning, he was chosen president of the Weber Stake High Priests quorum, and in 1884 became the first Bishop of the newly organized Eden Ward. In addition to the Church posi- tions he held, he was elected a repre- sentative and later a senator to the State legislature. The busy days spent in the service of others did not cause Elder McKay to neglect his home duties, for he reared a family, the members of which have become great leaders in our Church and State. Robert McQuarrie is another typi- cal example of a man who faithfully served his Church and nation. Like David McKay he was a “bonnie lad of Scotland, being born at North Knap- dale, August 17, 1832. I le came to Utah at the age of twenty-five, arriving in Salt Lake City, September 12, 1837. He filled a two-year mission to Great Brit- ain. was later Superintendent of the Second Ward Sunday Schools, Stake Tithing Clerk, and Bishop of the Sec- ond Ward from 1877 until shortly before his death. In civil offices, he served as County Treasurer for eight years, City Alderman for three years. City Council- man for six years. School Trustee for six years, Ogden City Treasurer for two years, and County Commissioner for three years. At the time of the founding of Weber Stake Academy, Joseph Stanford was a member of the I ligh Council. I le was born August 16, 1834. in Sussex County. England, where he later attended the National School, and at the age of fifteen was graduated as pupil-teacher. He had a desire to be graduated from Oxford, but when he was sixteen, he and his parents came to Utah, arriving in 1861. Their emigration was a result of their conversion to the Latter Day Saint faith. After settling here, he taught school and later engaged in the mercantile business. I le served in Ogden as City Councilman, Alderman. Justice of the Peace, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ogden City Schools. County Recorder for six years, and six years as County Commissioner. I le was a member of the territorial legislature for two terms.