UUS_CAINEmss026.xml Guide to the John W. Young Papers1880-1889 Young, (John W.) Papers1880-1889 Finding aid/Register created by Victor Sorensen Utah State University, Merrill Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library Utah State University 3000 Old Main Hill Logan, UT 84322-3000 Phone: 435 797-8248 Fax: 435 797-2880 Email: scweb@usu.edu
©2011 Encoded in oXygen XML editor by Sara Skindelien, 2011 August 2. Finding aid encoded in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition). 2009 Template information was updated to reflect Archives West best practice guidelines. Overview of the Collection UUS_CAINE MSS 26 John W. Young Papers 1880-1889 Young, John W. Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Manuscript Collection
Merrill-Cazier Library Utah State University 3000 Old Main Hill Logan, UT 84322-3000 Phone: 435 797-8248 Fax: 435 797-2880 Email: scweb@usu.edu
2 boxes 1 linear foot This collection contains the papers of John Young, primarily concerning his business ventures Material in English

Processed in May of 2006

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

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

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.

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.

 Biographical Note

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.

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.

The collection has been arranged chronologically.

 Railroads Mormonism (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Correspondence Young, John W. Young, Brigham, 1801-1877 Mormon Church--History--Sources Railroads--Utah--Records and correspondence Railroads--West (U.S)--Records and correspondence Railroads--Arizona--Records and correspondence Railroads--West (U.S.)--History--Sources Railroads--Utah--History--Sources Railroads--Arizona--History--Sources Utah--History--Sources Atlantic & Pacific Railroad Co. 1880-1884 (12 folders) 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.) 20 October 1880

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)

 2 Letter to J.M. Latta from J.W. Young 17 December 1880

Young agrees to furnish 4,000, 000 feet of bridge timbers for the A. & P. R. R. Co.(2 pages handwritten)

 3 Letter to J.M. Latta from J.W. Young 25 July 1881

Young asks Latta to advance him $10,000 and informs him of progress on work being performed(3 pages handwritten)

 1 2 Correspondence 1881-1882 1 Letter to John W. Young from Ezra D. Carpenter at Albuquerque, NM 1881 September 17

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

 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 1882 January 22

Describing problems with contractors and requesting Young's presence on the job

 4 Letter to J.W. Young from Rulon Wells in Albuquerque, NM 1882 June 5

Informing Young of business matters and Young' possessions in Arizona Territory

 5 Letter to J.W. Young from Rulon Wells in Brigham City informing Young 1882 July 4

Business matters, violence in the region, and trade with Native Americans

 6 Letter to J.W. Young from Rulon Well 1882 July 30

Describing train schedules and travel arrangements

 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. 1883 January (8 pages typescript) 1 4 Compiled affidavits undated 1 Affidavit of Brigham S. Yung 1883 April (3 handwritten pages)

Regarding Young's grievances with the A. & P. R.R. Co.

 2 Affidavit of John W. Young 1883 June (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

 3 Affidavit of Rulon S. Wells undated (2 handwritten pages)

Regarding Young's grievances with the A. & P. R.R. Co.

 4 Affidavit or deposition of John W. Young undated (3 pages handwritten)

Describing problems created by the line engineers and other delays which cost him money

1 5 Compiled affidavits 1883 (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

 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 1883 November 6 (25 pages typescript) 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 1883 November 9 (25 pages typescript) 1 8 Ledgers detailing expenses of the A. & P. R.R. Co. in account with John W. Young 1882-1883 (4 handwritten sheets of paper) 1 9 Typescript draft of Young's complaint against the A. & P. R.R. Co. undated (30 pages, also a 6 page handwritten complaint) 1 10 Handwritten drafts of Young's complaint against the A. & P. R.R. Co. undated (exceeding 30 pages) 1 11 Handwritten drafts of Young's complaint against the A. & P. R.R. Co. undated (exceeding 30 pages) 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. 1884 April 10 (4 pages typescript) Mexican Land Purchases 1889 (11 folders) 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 1889 January 23-25 (9 handwritten pages) 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 1889 January 25 (10 pages) 2 4 Legal document in Spanish (17 handwritten pages) and its English translation (16 handwritten pages) 1889 February

Detailing the transfer of land from Celso Gonzales to John W. Young through William d. Johnson

 2 5 Legal document in Spanish 1889 February 18 (15 handwritten pages)

re: sale of 70,000 acres of land to William D. Johnson by Josiah F. Crosby (cover re-sewn and reinforced)

 2 6 Protest filed by David Price, notary public in New York 1889 February 11

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)

 2 7 Incoming Correspondence 1889 1 Incoming correspondence to J.W. Young from W.D. Johnson in El Paso, TX 1889 February 10 (6 pages) 2 Incoming correspondence to J.W. Young from W.D. Johnson in El Paso, TX 1889 February 27 (4 pages) 2 8 Incoming Correspondence 1889 1 Incoming correspondence to J.W. Young from W.D. Johnson in El Paso, TX 1889 March 2 (4 pages) 2 Incoming correspondence to J.W. Young form W.D. Johnson in Deming, NM 1889 March 2 (3 pages) 2 9 Incoming Correspondence 1889 1 Incoming correspondence to J.W. Young from W.D. Johnson in El Paso, TX 1889 March 22 (7 pages) 2 Incoming correspondence to J.W. Young from W.D. Johnson in El Paso, TX 1889 April 3 (4 pages) 3 Incoming correspondence to J.W. Young form W.D. Johnson in El Paso, TX 1889 April 8 (5 pages) 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 1874 November 6 (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.