Salt Lake County UT Archives Biographies.....Cahoon, John P. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ut/utfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 27, 2011, 7:42 pm Source: See below Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher JOHN P. CAHOON. It is a trite saying that "there is always room at the top," yet there are too few who take cognizance of the real meaning of this expression. Only here and there are found those who have ambition to push their way forward to positions of leadership. Opportunity, however, did not have to knock twice at the door of John P. Cahoon. Prompted by industry and laudable ambition, he has made steady progress and today is recognized as one of the leading factors in manufacturing circles in Utah and enjoys a reputation throughout the country as a brick manufacturer. The story of his life is an interesting and stimulating one. He was born in Salt Lake county, on the banks of South Cottonwood creek, and is a son of Andrew and Margaret (Carruth) Cahoon. The father was a son of Reynold and Thurzah (Steles) Cahoon and was born and reared in Ohio. The forefathers of Mr. Cahoon early became converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints and were at Nauvoo during the time of the persecution of the people of their faith at that place. In 1848 they came to Utah, settling where John P. Cahoon was born. His father was bishop of South Cottonwood for 18 years and in business life was well known as an able farmer and surveyor. He passed away at Murray in 1900. The mother of our subject is still living with her daughter in Provo at the age of eighty-eight years. John P. Cahoon was the second of five sons and was reared upon his father's farm, his early experiences being similar to those of all farm-bred boys. He pursued a public school education and early in life turned his attention to brick manufacturing on a small scale. He has ever closely studied methods and processes of manufacture, has taken the lead along this line in many ways and as the years have passed his business has rapidly increased. In 1890 he organized the Salt Lake Pressed Brick Company, with a plant located on Eleventh East street, near Thirty-third street South. This plant has been built up under the personal direction of Mr. Cahoon and is today one of the largest brick manufacturing plants in the entire country, having a capacity of two hundred thousand brick's per day and practically running at full capacity all of the time. The plant is strictly modern in every particular-in the matter of kilns, in the handling of the brick and in every other way that contributes to the success of the business and the value of the output. He has clay in abundance and the plant is known throughout the entire country among the brick manufacturers, being visited each year by many of the prominent men in the same line of business from all parts of the United States. His establishment enjoys the reputation of being the most thoroughly up-to-date brick manufacturing plant of the country. At the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, in 1893, the company was awarded a medal as first prize for the best red brick, and at the Panama-Pacific Exposition and succeeding expositions wherever his brick has been displayed he has received medals until his possessions of that character now number nearly a score. He is also the president of the Miller-Cahoon Company of Murray, president of the Progress Company of Murray, president of the Eagle Printing Company of Murray, and is interested in several banks in the state. In a word he is a man of big business, the extent and importance of his interests well winning him classification with America's "captains of industry." In 1877 Mr. Cahoon was married to Miss Elizabeth Gordon, a daughter of James and Mary Gordon, and to them have been born ten children. Mr. Cahoon is a stanch supporter of the republican party but has never been ambitious to hold office. He is a member of no church but is liberal in his views and respects every man's belief. He has concentrated his efforts and attention upon his manufacturing interests and has won a high place in the business world, his name being today a well known one in manufacturing circles throughout the country. He has never stopped short of the successful accomplishment of his purpose and therefore knows the joy of success. Additional Comments: Extracted from UTAH SINCE STATEHOOD HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL ILLUSTRATED VOLUME IV CHICAGO-SALT LAKE: THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1920 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ut/saltlake/photos/bios/cahoon43gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ut/saltlake/bios/cahoon43gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/utfiles/ File size: 5.0 Kb