Hiram B. Clawson
Encyclopedia
Hiram B. Clawson was a Latter-day Saint businessman and Church leader in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Clawson was born in Utica, New York
. He was educated at the Utica Academy. In 1838 he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints along with his widowed mother. In 1841 they moved to Nauvoo
.
Clawson went west with the Latter-day Saints, arriving in Salt Lake City in 1848. He supervised the building of the first adobe building in Salt Lake City and then was the head mason for the Council House
of which Truman Angell was the architect. Also for a time while Angell was away on a mission Clawson served as acting architect of the Salt Lake Temple
.
Clawson was a close associate of Brigham Young
and for many years served as his business manager. He also was involved in the building of the Salt Lake Theatre and was often a performer in its plays. Clawson was also for a time manager of the theatre.
Clawson served as an aid-de-camp to Daniel H. Wells
in running the Nauvoo Legion
in 1850. He later served as adjutant general of the Legion from 1863 until the legion was disbanded in 1870.
In 1865 Clawson bought out William H. Hooper to become partners with Horace S. Eldridge. Clawson and Eldridge dissolved their firm in 1868 and sold it to Zion's Cooperative Mercantile Institution (ZCMI). Clawson was then the general superintendent of ZCMI from 1868-1873. After been replaced for a short time by Hooper Clawson took over the head of ZCMI again from 1874-1875. In 1875 Clawson bought the agriculture, hide and wool departments of ZCMI which he ran as an independent business until 1885.
From 1884 until 1902 Clawson served as the bishop of the Twelfth Ward in Salt Lake City.
. Among their children was Spencer Clawson
who ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Salt Lake City.
Clawson's second wife was Alice Young, a daughter of Brigham Young and Mary Ann Angell
.
Clawson's third wife was Mary Judd was from Canada. One of their children was Rudger Clawson
who was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve
. Another of their children, Thomas A. Clawson, became a dentist and served in several callings in the LDS Church including succeeding Orson F. Whitney
as bishop of the Eighteenth Ward in Salt Lake City.
Clawson's fourth wife was Emily Young, a daughter of Brigham Young and Emily Patridge.
Clawson had a total of forty-two children.
Clawson was born in Utica, New York
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
. He was educated at the Utica Academy. In 1838 he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints along with his widowed mother. In 1841 they moved to Nauvoo
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
.
Clawson went west with the Latter-day Saints, arriving in Salt Lake City in 1848. He supervised the building of the first adobe building in Salt Lake City and then was the head mason for the Council House
Council House (Salt Lake City)
The Council House, often called the State House, was the first public building in Utah; being constructed in 1849-1850. The building stood in Salt Lake City, Utah, on the corner of Main Street and South Temple Street...
of which Truman Angell was the architect. Also for a time while Angell was away on a mission Clawson served as acting architect of the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
.
Clawson was a close associate of Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
and for many years served as his business manager. He also was involved in the building of the Salt Lake Theatre and was often a performer in its plays. Clawson was also for a time manager of the theatre.
Clawson served as an aid-de-camp to Daniel H. Wells
Daniel H. Wells
Daniel Hanmer Wells was an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the third mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, United States....
in running the Nauvoo Legion
Nauvoo Legion
The Nauvoo Legion was a militia originally organized by the Latter Day Saints to defend the city of Nauvoo, Illinois, . To curry political favor with the ambiguously-political Saints, the Illinois state legislature granted Nauvoo a liberal city charter that gave the Nauvoo Legion extraordinary...
in 1850. He later served as adjutant general of the Legion from 1863 until the legion was disbanded in 1870.
In 1865 Clawson bought out William H. Hooper to become partners with Horace S. Eldridge. Clawson and Eldridge dissolved their firm in 1868 and sold it to Zion's Cooperative Mercantile Institution (ZCMI). Clawson was then the general superintendent of ZCMI from 1868-1873. After been replaced for a short time by Hooper Clawson took over the head of ZCMI again from 1874-1875. In 1875 Clawson bought the agriculture, hide and wool departments of ZCMI which he ran as an independent business until 1885.
From 1884 until 1902 Clawson served as the bishop of the Twelfth Ward in Salt Lake City.
Family
Clawson had four wives. His first wife was Ellen Curtis Spencer Clawson, a daughter of Orson SpencerOrson Spencer
Orson Spencer was a prolific writer and prominent member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in several highly visible positions within the church and left an extensive legacy of theological writings...
. Among their children was Spencer Clawson
Spencer Clawson
Orson Spencer Clawson generally know simply as Spencer Clawson, was a politician, businessman and inventor in Salt Lake City in the general time frame of 1900....
who ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Salt Lake City.
Clawson's second wife was Alice Young, a daughter of Brigham Young and Mary Ann Angell
Mary Ann Angell
Mary Ann Angell Young was the second woman married to Latter Day Saint leader Brigham Young. They were married on February 28, 1834. Young's first wife, Miriam Angeline Works, had died on September 8, 1832...
.
Clawson's third wife was Mary Judd was from Canada. One of their children was Rudger Clawson
Rudger Clawson
Rudger Judd Clawson was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1898 until his death in 1943...
who was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve
Quorum of the Twelve
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Quorum of the Twelve was one of the governing bodies of the church hierarchy organized by the movement's founder Joseph Smith, Jr., and patterned after the twelve apostles of Christ In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Quorum of the Twelve (also known as the...
. Another of their children, Thomas A. Clawson, became a dentist and served in several callings in the LDS Church including succeeding Orson F. Whitney
Orson F. Whitney
Orson Ferguson Whitney born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from April 9, 1906 until his death.-Early life:...
as bishop of the Eighteenth Ward in Salt Lake City.
Clawson's fourth wife was Emily Young, a daughter of Brigham Young and Emily Patridge.
Clawson had a total of forty-two children.