Nathan Davis papers
Collection
Identifier: ACCN 0275
Scope and Contents
The Nathan Davis papers (1847-1956) consist of an account book, a letterpress book, and a brief essay published in the Western Humanities Review.
Dates
- 1847-1956
Creator
- Davis, Nathan (Person)
Language of Materials
Collection materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
Conditions Governing Use
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.
Biographical Sketch
Nathan Davis (1814-1894), was born in Hannover Township, Columbiana County, Ohio, on 2 October 1814. He was raised as a farmer and miller. He married Sarah Woolley on 31 March 1836. Shortly after his marriage his father died, leaving Nathan, who was his eldest son, in charge of the estate. Being raised a Quaker he was a zealous member of that denomination until 1850, when he was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) by his brother-in-law, Edwin C. Woolley. The following year he immigrated to Utah, having previously lost most of his property through hard times. The family crossed the plains in Isaac Allred's company, which arrived in Salt Lake City on 3 October 1851. On 18 December 1852 he was ordained a High Priest, having previously been ordained an Elder, and had also received his endowments, together with his wife. On 7 February 1853 Brigham Young appointed him to take charge of the machine shops of the Public Works, a position which he occupied for a number of years. In his younger days he sustained a high reputation as a mechanic and business man. In February 1867 he was sent east to purchase machinery for the manufacture of woolen goods in the Salt Lake Valley. On that occasion he bought $30,000 worth of machinery. Part of this machinery was later used in the Deseret and Wasatch Woolen Mills on Canyon Creek, Salt Lake County and another part in the woolen mills at Ogden. From 1869-1872 he was employed as master-mechanic of the Utah Central Railway shops, and in 1873 he established an iron foundry in Salt Lake City under the firm name of Nathan Davis and Sons (later Davis Howe and Co.). Davis served as Territorial sealer of weights and measures from 1858-1869, and again from 1886 until his death. He served several terms in the Salt Lake City council, part of the time as alderman. He also served as school trustee and filled numerous other positions. Davis died at his home in Salt Lake City on 29 December 1894.
Extent
0.25 Linear Feet
Abstract
The Nathan Davis papers (1847-1956) consist of an account book, a letterpress book, and a brief essay published in the Western Humanities Review. He was raised as a Quaker, but was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1850. He and his wife, Sarah Woolley Davis, crossed the plains in Isaac Allred's company, which arrived in Salt Lake City in October 1851. He was sent to the East by Brigham Young in the 1860s to purchase machinery for the manufacture of woolen goods. He later established an iron foundry under the name of Nathan Davis and Sons. Davis was Bishop of the Seventeenth Ward in Salt Lake City from 1861 to 1876.
Processing Information
Processed by Della L. Dye in 1970.
Addendum processed by Karen Carver in 2003.
Addendum processed by Karen Carver in 2003.
Creator
- Davis, Nathan (Person)
- Title
- Inventory of the Nathan Davis papers, 1847-1956
- Author
- Finding aid created by Della L. Dye
- Date
- © 1970 (last modified: 2018)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid encoded in English in Latin script.
Repository Details
Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository
Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu