Thomas Duncombe Dee
Encyclopedia
Thomas Duncombe Dee was a Utah
businessman.
Dee was born in Llanelli
, Carmarthenshire
, Wales
. His parents converted to the Mormon
faith in 1856, and the family relocated to Ogden, Utah
in 1860.
Dee had been working as an apprentice carpenter in Wales, and soon was building residential and commercial buildings in Ogden. In 1876, Dee joined industrialist David Eccles
and Hiram Spencer in founding businesses in the western U.S. ranging from sugar to lumber to water and shoes and banking.
In 1900, Dee became an investor and first president of the Utah Construction Company
of Ogden, Utah
. On July 3, 1905, Dee slipped into water while inspecting a potential site for a dam. He contracted pneumonia
and died. In 1906, the community of Dee, Oregon
was named for him.
Dee served for over 20 years as the LDS Church's Sunday School
superintendent in the Ogden Third Ward and then in the Mound Fort Ward. For about 19 years prior to his death he served as a counselor to the bishop of the Mound Fort Ward .
Dee served as a member of the Ogden City Council among several other civic positions.
. Latter-day Saints Biographical Encyclopedia Vol. 3, p. 58
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
businessman.
Dee was born in Llanelli
Llanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
, Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. His parents converted to the Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
faith in 1856, and the family relocated to Ogden, Utah
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
in 1860.
Dee had been working as an apprentice carpenter in Wales, and soon was building residential and commercial buildings in Ogden. In 1876, Dee joined industrialist David Eccles
David Eccles (businessman)
David Eccles was an American businessman and industrialist who founded many businesses throughout the western United States and became Utah's first multimillionaire.-Biography:...
and Hiram Spencer in founding businesses in the western U.S. ranging from sugar to lumber to water and shoes and banking.
In 1900, Dee became an investor and first president of the Utah Construction Company
Utah Construction Company
The Utah Construction Company was a construction company founded by Edmund Orson Wattis, Jr, Warren L. Wattis and William. H. Wattis in 1900.-History:...
of Ogden, Utah
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
. On July 3, 1905, Dee slipped into water while inspecting a potential site for a dam. He contracted pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
and died. In 1906, the community of Dee, Oregon
Dee, Oregon
Dee is an unincorporated community and former company town in Hood River County, Oregon, United States, on Oregon Route 281, about 11 miles south of Hood River.-History:...
was named for him.
Dee served for over 20 years as the LDS Church's Sunday School
Sunday School (LDS Church)
Sunday School is an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . All members of the church and any interested nonmembers, age 12 and older, are encouraged to participate in Sunday School.-Purpose:...
superintendent in the Ogden Third Ward and then in the Mound Fort Ward. For about 19 years prior to his death he served as a counselor to the bishop of the Mound Fort Ward .
Dee served as a member of the Ogden City Council among several other civic positions.
Sources
Jenson, AndrewAndrew Jenson
Andrew Jenson, born Anders Jensen, was a Danish immigrant to the United States who acted as an Assistant Church Historian of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for much of the early-twentieth century...
. Latter-day Saints Biographical Encyclopedia Vol. 3, p. 58