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Show MAY THE AMERICAN ORK CITIZEN Published Every Thursday at American Fork. Utah, by the ALPINE PUBLISHING CO. Entered as Second Class Matter, at the Postoffice at American Fork, Utah, under the act of March 3. 1879 NNmI AeVrtUJf ftepreieiifenVe NBIWfPAPIB AltVlBTlSINfl flOVICt, Mti peWWeBail IMp Mw Vop Mt Subscription Rate $2.50 Per Year American Fork Church Organizations A Centennial Feature by RELVA BOOTH ROSS EARLY YEARS WITH BISHOP HARRINGTON First settlers canie to American Fork July 17, 1850, (Diary of Matthew Caldwell). Mr. Caldwell built the first house and his fam ily with the boys who herded cattle were the first white people to live in the settlement. In the spring of 1851 several families moved here with plans to make It their permanent home. In May President Brlghairt Young decided there were enough DeoDle to organize a ward. It would be interesting to know Just who attended that first meeting but few names were mentioned 1 n the minutes. At that time Ansa and Sabina Adams and family, Stephen and -Amanda fThimrmn onrt four chil dren, John S. and Sinah Chlpman Eldredge, John Cole, William and Alice Greenwood and their fam ily of several children, James and Mary Ann Ouyman and their little family, Henry Mott and his four grown sons. "Leonard E. and Lois Harrington and three or rour children, Soloman Thomas, James B. Shelley and his sons, James, John and Joseph, and perhaps others, had settled here Minutes of the first meeting read as follows: "Meeting of the inhabitants living near the American Fork Creek held at Hyrum Mott's May 25, 1851. Meeting opened by prayer. John Banks chosen to preside. Meeting appointed for the organizing the people Into a branch of the Church cf Jesus rgggs ';otth L:s Con' -1 W - v W - f "... .K': ... ,, i -j...; - ;. " j- - ' - i ki - - 1 - -"' '"x ' ' it i 1st First Bishopric in American Fork Bishop Leonard E. Harrington Arza Adams James Guymon Counsellor (left) 2nd Cousellor (right) 9 CU. ft. De Lux Modal thowa $309.75 Full-Width Freexer Chest New Ice-Blue Interior trim New full-length door New Super-Storage design New all-porcelain, twin, stack-up Hydrators New Chili Drawer Sliding Basket-Drawer for eggs, small Hems All-aluminum shelves New split shelf Adjustable sliding shelf All-porcelain Multi-Purpes Tray . Exclusive .Qufckvbe Troys , , Famous Meter-Miser mechanism Wherever you live whatever the size of your family, kitchen or budget be sure to see the new Frigidoire Refrigerators for 1950. See the complete line of sizes from 4 to 17 cu. ft. see ail the reasons why your No. 1 choice is America's No. 1 Refrigerator, FR1GIDAIREI Come In! Got the facts abort till th new Frlgldalre models for 1950 ! FREE 50 P1ECE ROYAL RUBY DINNER SET New Square Design With Each Refrigerator Sale NIELSEN'S f - 16 East Main AmericarT Fork Christ of Latter-day Saints where upon Leonard E. Harrington was chosen presiding bishop of the same and Arza Adams and James Guyman counselors and John S Eldredge clerk. Next S. all appointed ap-pointed for baptisms." The next minutes read: June 1, 1851. Met according to appointment. After the meeting opened by prayer and appropriate remarks by Elder John Banks the Brothern and Sisters repaired to the waters of baptism." Nov. 10, 1851. At a meeting held at Bishop Harringtons it was moved and carried that Bishop Harrington be a committee to build a- school house in American Fork Branch. First Building Completed The men must have made good use of the winter months because the minutes, of Jaiu25, 1952, read: "This day the Inhabitants of American Fork Branch by their industry and faithfulness had the pleasure of meeting in the new school house having been erected for schools and meetings. The meeting was opened by prayer when some excellent remarks were made by Elder John Banks and the House was dedicated to the Lord by an appropriate prayer pray-er from Elder John Banks and dismissed by same." This first meeting house was one room built of logs located near what is now the corner of Second East and Second South streets. When the fort was built in 1853 the school house was moved on the lot of Bishop Har -rington where an addition was made to provide for the growing number of school children and the developing community. Plan Meeting House Dec. 2, 1855, not long after the enlarging of the schoolhouse, it was voted to build a new meeting house. In size about 30 by 50 feet. Bishop Harrington was to be the superintendent of building, Arza Adams, foreman of woodwork, Thomas J. Filcher, foreman of adobe and rock work. At the same meeting John Bourne was voted watermaster. progress on tne bunding was slow. According to the Journal of Bishop Harrington the comer stones- were "laid nd'the-spot dedicated in March 1860. The rock basement was partly underground under-ground and was to be used for schools; and the upper part, built of adobes, was designed for the meeting house. The building was financed by donations and selling of shares at $25.00 each. Minutes of Sunday, Dec. 30, 1860, read: First meeting in the new meet ing house basement story. Sing ing by the choir. Praver bv Bishop Harrington, dedication as iar as completed. The Bishop. John Bourne and William Green wood each expressed their grati tude for the ODDortunity of meet ing in this house of worship and enjoy the ordinances of the church and hoped no unhallowed thing might come there. Buildlnr Dedicated By President Young Minutes of the meetinsr of the dedication of the structure, which took place Just ten years after the organization Of the ward, are of too great interest to pass over lignuy. They read: 'May 15, 1861. Wednesday 4 p. m. Meeting at the new- meeting house. Present President rri. ham Young, Daniel H. Wells of the First Presidency, and George A. Smith of the Twelve, also Bishop Edward Hunter, David Evans, Hensen Walker, T. J. Mc-Cullough, Mc-Cullough, Aaron Johnson, C. H. Wheelock and a large number from the surrounding settle ments. In consequence of the large number It became necessary to assemble on the east side of the meeting house. Opened by prayer by George A. Smith. The President gave good Instructions and the great advantages or good buildings and beautifying Zlon. Followed by President Daniel H. Wells and Joseph YoungThj President then reqtfesIScI the Bishop and Counselors, and high council to retire Into the house to dedicate the same. The President Pres-ident then spoke of the object of prayers and offered lip the' dedication dedi-cation prayer which was very appropriate ap-propriate and solemn." - The following Sunday morning Bishop Harrington spoke of the approbation of the President in the meeting house. No further building program is mentioned until the close of 1877 when the minutes read: We have accomplished the enlargement of our meeting house, adding on the north end 50 feet by 30 feet, mak ing it comodious. The addition also had a base' ment but with no windows. For several years it was used as a Jail, but-there were not many confined in the dungeon-like quarters. Conferences Just ten years from the time of the coming of the first settlers a conference of the four settlements, settle-ments, Alpine, American Fork, Lehl and Pleasant Grove was held in American Fork July 14 and 15. A big bowery was constructed on the meeting house lot and many people attended Conferences were frequent and long. We would think we were terribly abused If we had to listen to the long sermons from the many speakers mentioned in the conference reports. In the days of early settlement the church authorities exercised much more dominance over the members than is done today. Some of the minutes are rather amusing but at the time were probably" tragic. As Brignam Young told the people where to settle and what to do as each company entered the valley, so the bishops of the wards In turn told the members of their flock what to do in both temporal and spiritual matters, in a Bishop's trial one of the brethern asked another if the bishop had not a perfect control over every member of the ward, and the second brother answered flf propery is true he has," which answer was received with astonishment but today we would recognize as true. Another broth er likened a church trial to the Spanish Inquisition for which he wasj"cut off the church" to use a frequent expression in the old minute book. , ? . Bishop Beloved ' During the more than 30 years Leonard E. Harrington was bish op he retained the love and re spect of most of the ward mem bers. The children looked up to him as a man of God and not one of them would have thought of calling him anything but Bishop. Among the things begun while he was bishop was an attempt to live the United Order, the holding hold-ing of Thursday evening Prayer meetings, and the ever present question of keeping the people contented and happy In surrounding sur-rounding vastly different from their old life in Europe and the Eastern States. Counselors to Bishop Harring ton were: Arza Adams, resigned 1853; James Guyman, moved 1853; Jofin Mercer, died March 8, 1860; "Thomas Crooks, released 1856, because Bourne, died William of Feb. reD- 24 Ureenurnj " Clarke. did m,. . J JohnHlndiey . William Grppnu- ward clerk as well eN Bishop Harrington SS 21, 1883, in his 68th J? serving for 32 yeai, ever be remembers kl3 munlty for his vteinn ?l .acvlUesS vuujui cannot ho ri story. , v W,Q U Days Campus Eve, Slated for Next DITm . , wuvfi CITY, Ma, J Days, biggest campuj 72$ the spring quarter, will t2 way, at the Unlversit.- Wednesday. Thursita. ... day, May 17-19, Sterling iw tnn vernal ut .., . w viittu man ol Bk bration, announced todaT " c wauiircnaid uie cempnt it Vtll . . .. v um America s first, incinJ will open festivities On Thursday sororit. wiu noid the spotlieht m A ouiigicai, m scneauied tv stadium at 7 p. m. 0..l1 A oueciai events on ram .9 .... ... . aay fnaay will be cllnuai me evening with a dance goon at 9 p. m. The nnv i invited toflll events. Mr D vvii., earn. Mr- tf ? -"Tm poof ooH at HsVest is demonstrated oy experts each year at The National Skeet Championships. 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