Sevier-Salt Lake County UT Archives Biographies.....Seegmiller, William H. 1843 - ************************************************ 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 September 2, 2011, 3:50 pm Source: See below Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher WILLIAM H. SEEGMILLER. In every community one finds outstanding figures who by precept and example become leaders in the work of general upbuilding and development. That William H. Seegmiller is such a man is uniformly acknowledged in southern Utah. He makes his home in Richfield and his life story is one of devotion to his principles and of unselfish work for the people among whom he lives. Mr. Seegmiller was born at Baden, in the province of Ontario, Canada, in 1843. His father was a native of Bavaria, Germany, but upon reaching manhood objected to the enforced military service of that country and took up his residence in Paris. After a short time there he crossed the Atlantic to Canada, where he became associated with his brother in the tanning business and in the manufacture of harness, saddles, boots and shoes. The brothers prospered in their undertakings, becoming wealthy and influential citizens of that country, where they operated three large manufacturing plants. The father died in Stratford, Ontario, in 1857, leaving not only some property to his children but also the priceless heritage of an untarnished name. When eighteen years of age William H. Seegmiller, being of an adventurous spirit, started for the United States with the intention of going through to California. He was accompanied by two of his brothers, and as there were no railroads through the west farther than St. Joseph, Missouri, they made the journey with mule and ox teams. On the way the boys encountered a party en route for Utah with whom they traveled to Florence, Nebraska. There Mr. Seegmiller of this review became a convert to the Mormon faith and determined to study questions relative thereto with the result that he was baptized and has since been conspicuous for his fidelity and steadfastness to the church. He gave up the idea of continuing his trip to California and in 1861 became a resident of Salt Lake. He was first employed by Brigham Young, who recognized in the young man the making of a sturdy and substantial citizen. During this period of his life Mr. Seegmiller made two trips by team to the Missouri river for President Brigham Young for the purpose of bringing to Utah freight and the many converts who were constantly swelling the population of the state. He also took up the occupation of farming near Salt Lake City but left the farm in charge of his brother Charles W. in 1867, being called to strengthen the colonies of the Moapa valley of Nevada, where it was known cotton could be raised, for clothing was scarce in Utah on account of the War of the Rebellion. He remained there until the winter of 1870-71. Mr. Seegmiller returned to Salt Lake City in 1871 and soon afterward started for his old home town in Canada to close up his father's estate there. This work occupied six months of his time and upon his return in 1872, at the solicitation of Joseph A. Young, a son of Brigham Young, who was at that time in charge of Sevier stake in southern Utah, Mr. Seegmiller located at Richfield and has since been a resident of Sevier county. Through the intervening period he has been closely associated with its material development and the advancement of the church interests. He was ordained an high priest and set apart to preside as bishop over Richfield, retaining that office until 1877, when he became second counselor to President Spencer, serving as such for ten years. In 1887 he became first counselor to President A. K. Thurber and about this time was called to a mission to Canada but was soon recalled to take charge of the Sevier stake and in 1888 was sustained as president of the stake, in which office he labored for a quarter of a century, retiring in 1910. Richfield and Sevier county owes him much and freely admits the debt. Not only as a churchman but as a citizen and as a man he has always carried more than his share of the public burdens and has been untiring in his efforts to promote public good. He represented Sevier county in the territorial legislature in 1888 and was elected councillor from the county in 1890 and speaker of the house of representatives in 1892. During his long and useful life he has also served as county treasurer, as city councilman, as school trustee, superintendent of the district schools, superintendent of Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations, and mayor of Richfield and in all these positions has won praise from the people of all political creeds, though he proudly proclaims that he is a "rock-ribbed" democrat. His position is never an equivocal one. He stands loyally for any cause which he espouses and only concerns of public worth need seek his cooperation. In 1916 Mr. Seegmiller was awarded a Master Farmers diploma by the Utah Agricultural College, being today the proud possessor of one of a very few diplomas issued to recognized farmers of Utah. Another phase of his activity is represented in the beet sugar industry. In 1878, in connection with Bishop C. A. Madsen, he raised the first sugar beets in Utah, demonstrating that a commercial beet could be raised in the state. These beets were sent to Claus Spreckles at San Francisco, who pronounced them satisfactory in every way, and thus was born the beet sugar industry of Utah. To Mr. Seegmiller is also due the introduction of flowing wells for irrigation purposes and on his 235 acre farm he has twelve flowing wells, which at the depth of sixty-five feet furnish a good supply of water. This farm he has given over to three of his sons, who have profited by their father's wisdom and have put in more wells until they now have all of the water they need. For two years Mr. Seegmiller was president of the Richfield Irrigation Canal Company, which is the strongest irrigation company in Sevier county, and through the efforts of all of these companies in organizing the Otter Creek Reservoir Company, Sevier has the distinction of being the best watered county in the state, one canal being sixty-five miles long. In 1867 Mr. Seegmiller was married to Miss Mary Helen Laidlaw, by whom he became the father of fifteen children: William Adam, of Richfield, who is bishop of the second ward of the city; Dan; Chariton, also a resident of Richfield; Mrs. J. J. Toronto, of Salt Lake City; Frank K., of Salt Lake City, teacher of the Latter-day Saints University; Derondo C; Lizzie B.; Junius; Amelia; Louisiana; Irene; Marion; Call; Ferry L.; and Mary, who died at the age of four years. The mother of these children died September 12, 1919. Mr. Seegmiller's second wife was Miss Sarah Jane Stewart and they became the parents of four children: Joseph W., of Ogden; Minnie Neal, the wife of Lester Quist, and Rulon H. of Richfield; and Sarah M., the wife of Harvey Ross, of Salt Lake City, who is president and manager of the Gunnison Valley Sugar Factory. The passing years do not seem to affect either the health or the spirit of William H. Seegmiller, a most sturdy pioneer, who at the age of seventy-six years is as vigorous as many a man of fifty. His position in the church and in citizenship as well as in business is still one of leadership. His powers remain undimmed and his sound judgment is a guiding element toward success and improvement along many lines relating to the welfare of Sevier county. His last effort to do something substantial for the community for which he has worked so many years was to convey to the presidency of the church for an up-to-date hospital a block in the northeast part of the city, containing 4 and 36-100 acres, one block from any public highway, where travel would annoy patients. His propositions were accepted and he hopes with a reasonable time to see a hospital in Richfield which will be efficient in providing for the patients of this part of the southern portion of the state. He had the pleasure of being present at the dedication of the St. George, Manti, Logan and Salt Lake temples. He expects to devote the remainder of his life to temple work and genealogical research, and with this end in view intends visiting his old home in Stratford, Canada, and also his many relatives scattered in various counties, and the ancestral home of the Seegmillers in Germany, where he expects to gather data concerning the genealogy of the family. He is now engaged in laboring in the St. George Temple and intends remaining until May. In 1879 he was sent as a missionary to his native land and succeeded in organizing branches of the church at Stratford and Kingston. In 1882 he received a diploma from the Brigham Young Academy at Provo; in 1892 was elected a member of the University Land Board and made its chairman; and during his incumbency the board placed on sale land to the amount of two townships and sold all but a few acres. The interest of the money thus obtained was the first public money ever used in this territory or state for educational purposes. Additional Comments: Extracted from: UTAH SINCE STATEHOOD HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL ILLUSTRATED VOLUME IV CHICAGO-SALT LAKE: THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1920 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ut/sevier/bios/seegmill18gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/utfiles/ File size: 9.6 Kb