John W. Young Papers, 1880-1889

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Young, John W.
Title
John W. Young Papers
Dates
1880-1889 (inclusive)
Quantity
2 boxes, (1 linear foot)
Collection Number
UUS_CAINE MSS 26
Summary
This collection contains the papers of John Young, primarily concerning his business ventures
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

John W. Young (1844-1924) was the son of Brigham Young and Mary Ann Angell. John W. Young served as a member of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints prior to his father's death as well as being a counselor to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. But John W. Young is better known for his business enterprises, mainly railroad construction. He was involved in several railroad companies or railroad construction projects during the latter half of the 19th Century in Utah and throughout the West.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection has three sections. The first deals with Young's business with, and complaints against, the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad Co. with whom Young contracted to grade and furnish timbers for their line running near the Mormon settlements in Arizona.>

The second section contains papers and correspondence related to Young's acquisition of property in northern Mexico to aid Mormon settlement in that region. Most of the documents are legal papers related to the transfer of land or correspondence between Young and William Derby Johnson, who acted as Young's agent in acquiring the property. Most of the letters describe difficulties being experienced by Johnson due to Young's failure to supply the necessary funds as stipulated in the contracts.

The last section is one letter from Young to G.W. Thatcher and John N. Pike regarding the establishment of the Utah Western Railway and other family and business matters. The entire collection covers a period from 1874 to 1889.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the John W. Young Papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: John W. Young Papers USU_CAINE MSS 26, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations:USU_CAINE MSS 26, USUSCA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection has been arranged chronologically.

Processing Note

Processed in May of 2006

Acquisition Information

The materials in this collection were purchased by USU Special Collections & Archives for inclusion in the Marie Eccles-Caine Archive of Intermountain Americana.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Atlantic & Pacific Railroad Co., 1880-1884Return to Top

(12 folders)
Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1
Contract and Correspondence
1880-1881
1: Contract between John W. Young and James M. Latta of the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad Co. (A.& P. R.R. Co.)
Detailing the conditions for the furnishing and delivery of 500,000 cross ties by Young to the A. & P. R.R. Co. line being constructed through New Mexico and Arizona Territories(8 pages hand written)
20 October 1880
2: Letter to J.M. Latta from J.W. Young
Young agrees to furnish 4,000, 000 feet of bridge timbers for the A. & P. R. R. Co.(2 pages handwritten)
17 December 1880
3: Letter to J.M. Latta from J.W. Young
Young asks Latta to advance him $10,000 and informs him of progress on work being performed(3 pages handwritten)
25 July 1881
1 2
Correspondence
1881-1882
1: Letter to John W. Young from Ezra D. Carpenter at Albuquerque, NM
Informing Young of problems on the construction site and requesting Young's presence to rectify the situation personally, letter contains a postscript from Rulon S. Wells
1881 September 17
2: Letter to L. Spiegelberg, pres. Of the Second National Bank of New Mexico, from J.W. Young in Brigham City,
1881 December 6
3: Letter to J.W. Young from Rulon Wells in Brigham City
Describing problems with contractors and requesting Young's presence on the job
1882 January 22
4: Letter to J.W. Young from Rulon Wells in Albuquerque, NM
Informing Young of business matters and Young' possessions in Arizona Territory
1882 June 5
5: Letter to J.W. Young from Rulon Wells in Brigham City informing Young
Business matters, violence in the region, and trade with Native Americans
1882 July 4
6: Letter to J.W. Young from Rulon Well
Describing train schedules and travel arrangements
1882 July 30
1 3
Examination of facts, and opinions submitted by Young's attorneys, John F. Dillon and Le Grand Young, regarding Young's grievances with the A. & P. R.R. Co.
(8 pages typescript)
1883 January
1 4
Compiled affidavits
undated
1: Affidavit of Brigham S. Yung
(3 handwritten pages)
Regarding Young's grievances with the A. & P. R.R. Co.
1883 April
2: Affidavit of John W. Young
(1 handwritten page)
Stating that the amounts due to him by the A. & P. R.R. Co., are correct as calculated by himself and his bookkeeper Rulon S. Wells
1883 June
3: Affidavit of Rulon S. Wells
(2 handwritten pages)
Regarding Young's grievances with the A. & P. R.R. Co.
undated
4: Affidavit or deposition of John W. Young
(3 pages handwritten)
Describing problems created by the line engineers and other delays which cost him money
undated
1 5
Compiled affidavits
(36 pages, mostly typescript)
Relating to John W. Young's complaint against the A.& P. R.R. Co. by Rulon S. Wells, M.P. Crandal, N.D. Crandal, R.A. Deal, F.A. Crandal, James M. Latta, M.M. Hammond, John W. Young, H.O. Hanson, J.W. Fox, J.N. Smith, Abraham F. Doremus, Wm. A. McCullough, Brigham S. Young, James S. Burke, Geo. P. Billings, Lot Smith, and Brigham Young Jr., also attached is a petition of H.S. Palmer, E.G. Cherry and others requesting the removal of Mr. Meeds as engineer of the project
1883
1 6
Examination of facts and opinion submitted by J.A. Williamson, General Solicitor of the A.& P. R.R. Co. to Henry C. Nutt, pres. Of the A.& P. R.R. Co., regarding John W. Young's grievances with same
(25 pages typescript)
1883 November 6
1 7
Letter to H.C. Nutt and E.F. Winslow of the A. & P. R.R. Co. from J.W. Young's attorneys, Dillon & Swayne, informing them of actions being taken and offering a chance for settlement before filing suit
(25 pages typescript)
1883 November 9
1 8
Ledgers detailing expenses of the A. & P. R.R. Co. in account with John W. Young
(4 handwritten sheets of paper)
1882-1883
1 9
Typescript draft of Young's complaint against the A. & P. R.R. Co.
(30 pages, also a 6 page handwritten complaint)
undated
1 10
Handwritten drafts of Young's complaint against the A. & P. R.R. Co.
(exceeding 30 pages)
undated
1 11
Handwritten drafts of Young's complaint against the A. & P. R.R. Co.
(exceeding 30 pages)
undated
1 12
Memorandum of settlement and agreement between the First National Bank of Santa Fe, NM and John W. Young in which Young settles his accounts with the bank as well as his complaints with the A. & P. R.R. Co.
(4 pages typescript)
1884 April 10

Mexican Land Purchases, 1889Return to Top

(11 folders)
Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
2 1
Two documents describing the land around Corralitos, Mexico
undated
1: From the Corralitos Company, handwritten, describing attributes of land for sale
undated
2: Entitled "Corralitos, Mexico: Extracts from an Expert's Report in 1882", describes physical features of the region (typescript)
undated
2 2
Memorandum of Agreement between William S. Bolton, Josiah F. Crosby, and John W. Young re: purchase of 70,000 acres of land, terms of payment, and description of the property
(9 handwritten pages)
1889 January 23-25
2 3
Document entitled "Special Letter of Attorney executed by Mr. John W. Young in favor of Mr. William Derby Johnson in relation to the Boca Grande, or Guzman Grant of Land", authorizing Wm. D. Johnson to act in Young's name to consummate the purchase of land in Mexico
(10 pages)
1889 January 25
2 4
Legal document in Spanish (17 handwritten pages) and its English translation (16 handwritten pages)
Detailing the transfer of land from Celso Gonzales to John W. Young through William d. Johnson
1889 February
2 5
Legal document in Spanish
(15 handwritten pages)
re: sale of 70,000 acres of land to William D. Johnson by Josiah F. Crosby (cover re-sewn and reinforced)
1889 February 18
2 6
Protest filed by David Price, notary public in New York
re: a check signed by William D. Johnson to Cruz Gonzales to be drawn upon John W. Young, 20 Feb. 1889; check to Cruz Gonzales for the sum of $5,198.84; check made out in Spanish for the sum of $1,269.36 pesos in American gold to Celso Gonzales from John W. Young, 27 May 1889 (both checks have been encapsulated)
1889 February 11
2 7
Incoming Correspondence
1889
1: Incoming correspondence to J.W. Young from W.D. Johnson in El Paso, TX
(6 pages)
1889 February 10
2: Incoming correspondence to J.W. Young from W.D. Johnson in El Paso, TX
(4 pages)
1889 February 27
2 8
Incoming Correspondence
1889
1: Incoming correspondence to J.W. Young from W.D. Johnson in El Paso, TX
(4 pages)
1889 March 2
2: Incoming correspondence to J.W. Young form W.D. Johnson in Deming, NM
(3 pages)
1889 March 2
2 9
Incoming Correspondence
1889
1: Incoming correspondence to J.W. Young from W.D. Johnson in El Paso, TX
(7 pages)
1889 March 22
2: Incoming correspondence to J.W. Young from W.D. Johnson in El Paso, TX
(4 pages)
1889 April 3
3: Incoming correspondence to J.W. Young form W.D. Johnson in El Paso, TX
(5 pages)
1889 April 8
2 10
Two telegrams to J.W. Young from W.D. Johnson requesting that funds be send immediately
1889 April 16-17
2 11
Letter to George W. Thatcher and John N. Pike form John W. Young regarding Young's business affairs in Utah
(16 pages)
The majority of the letter concerns construction of the Utah Western Railway which ran from Salt Lake west into Tooele County. Young gives instructions regarding materials, routing, and property acquisition, especially concerning the property of one Brother Clinton. He also inquires about his wives and family and gives instructions concerning their maintenance. Other items discussed include donations to the St. George Temple, his interest in some iron works (probably the Great Western Iron Mining and Manufacturing Co.), the establishment of the Utah Western Telegraph Co., and the purchase of the steamer "City of Corinne" for the railway. Numerous references are made regarding an associate named Heber, but no last name is given.
1874 November 6

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Mormon Church--History--Sources
  • Railroads--Arizona--History--Sources
  • Railroads--Arizona--Records and correspondence
  • Railroads--Utah--History--Sources
  • Railroads--Utah--Records and correspondence
  • Railroads--West (U.S)--Records and correspondence
  • Railroads--West (U.S.)--History--Sources

Personal Names

  • Young, Brigham, 1801-1877
  • Young, John W.

Geographical Names

  • Utah--History--Sources