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Show THE HISTORY BLAZER WM'S OF UTAH'S PAST FROM THE Utah State Historical Society 300 Rio Gra~~ deS alt Lake City. [' T 8410 1 ( 801) 533- 3500 FAX ( 801) 333- 3503 Brigham Young's Personal Finances IT TOOK YEARS TO SETTLE BRIGHAM YOUNG'S ESTATE because of the difficulty of sorting his personal financial records ( 454 books altogether) from his church books ( 45 shelf feet of them). Although strict differentiation between his two roles was not always made on the books, the clerks did make a general distinction. For instance, separate books were kept for three " Brigham Young" mercantiles. One was the Tithing House, wholly a church operation. The second, called both " Brigham Young's store* and " the Church Store," was churched only in that Young used it occasionally to pay public works employees but primarily to supply his private homes and business ventures. Edwin D. Woolley, as general manager of Young's private business affairs, ran this store. Finally, a small family storeroom was kept by Hiram B. Clawson, Young's personal secretary, next to Young's office. Woolley's store stocked staples such as flour and meat, while Clawson ordered niceties such as yam, lace, and medicines. Among Brigham Young's private endeavors was his part ownership of the Globe Bakery. The Globe was both a public bakery and a supplier of the Young household. Employees of his other companies had accounts there, and Young ( through Woolley) provisioned the bakery with butter, flour, and wood. A periodic total was taken of charges and credits. Usually, Young came out owing. Rather than paying the balance in cash, he settled by exchanging property or relinquishing owner shares. Another Brigham Young company was the Young & Little Lumber Mill up City Creek Canyon. Feramorz Little was part owner and operator with Young the controlling owner. Employee Samuel Woolley ' s diary reveals the extent and style of Young's involvement in the company. Samuel Woolley returned in August 1856 from a mission to India. He spent his first day home with his family. The second day he visited his brother Edwin D. Woolley and other relatives. The third day he went uptown to settle his debts, and the fourth day he called on ' Prest." Young, who was not in. After lunch Samuel tried again. He and Young spent the rest of the day together and had dinner that night in the Beehive House. Presumably Brigham had discussed with Edwin and " Ferrymore" Little the matter of Samuel's working at the mill. Samuel's diary mentions a job Brigham had for him to do when he got his health back " in a month or so." Two days later, meeting Samuel uptown, Young told him more about the work, which was to be done " as soon as Samuel was ready to do anything." Two weeks later Young sent for Samuel, who went to " the office* but could not see Young. The next day he tried again but was able to see Young for only a few minutes. The third ( more) day, Young called at Samuel's house to explain the work, which was to commense either this afternoon or tomorrow." Finally, Feramorz Little drove Samuel to the mill and showed him around. The work consisted of bringing the mill books up to date while Little went to the States on church business. Samuel rented a mill room from Little's wife and immediately began " posting up books. " That is, he brought the daybook ( or journal of daily transactions) up to date, making entries from order slips that had been lying around the mill office for four months. Then he posted daybook entries to the mill ledger, balancing debits and credits account by account. Finally he made out bills and on the weekend delivered them to the post office on Tithing Square. When customers came in for orders of lumber, Samuel took them into the office, showed them their accounts, and made arrangements for payment. He was so efficient that by the end of three weeks there was little left for him to do. He obtained his wages in the form of an order on Livingston and Kinkead's store for $ 5.00 and another order on the Church Store for flour and meat. Thus, for fifteen days' work, he was paid $ 26.25 ( or $ 1.75 per day) plus room and board. A subsistence wage for that time was considered to be $ 2.50 per day. Ten percent tithing was automatically deducted from workers' pay by church clerks. Samuel Woolley ' s employment by Brigham Young, added to the evidence of the financial records, shows several things. Young's management style was hands- on but complicated by his many pressing duties. He used his private resources to help returned missionaries and other church volunteers, often paying minimum wage so that they no doubt felt eager to become independent. And this marriage of resources furthered both Young's and the church's interests. Sources: Rebecca Cornwall, " Of Frogs and Fishes: Edwin Woolley and the Managing of Brigham Young's Business Affairs," paper given at the Mormon History Association meeting in Logan, Utah, 1978; and Brigham Young Salt Lake Merchandising Records, vols. 1- 3, Globe Bakery Account, folio 647 of Ledger B, Brigham Young Main Ledger, Provisions Book, 1856- 1859, Brigham Young Salt Lake Merchandising Series, Tithing Office Account, Ledger B, Brigham Young Main Ledgers, folio 552, and Diary of Samuel Amos Woolley, all in LDS Church Archives. THEH ISTOBRLYA ZER is produced by the Utah State Historical Society and funded in part by a grant from the Utah Statehood Centennial Commission. For more information about the Historical Society telephone 533- 3500. 960412 ( BB) |
