HISTORY OF BRIGHAM JAMES LUND 1854-1905 By Lamar Lund - A Grandson, Assisted by Family Members Brigham James Lund was born December 14, 1854 at Salt Lake City, Utah. He was the fifth child born to his parents, Wilson and Eliza Brace Lund. He was eight years old when he arrived in St. George, Utah with his family. Brigham s boyhood was much the same as that of other pioneer children. He was baptized on July 2, 1863. He helped with the chores around the home and was kind and considerate of his mother. He respected the rights of his brothers and sisters. Though schooling in St. George was somewhat limited in those earlier days Brig took every advantage of opportunities for any schooling available. He was blessed with a bright mind and keen intellect which in the future was developed to a good insight into the field of business. As a young man Brig s social life wasn t neglected, and he took a fancy to Rosilla Polly Branch. As a result of their friendship these two fine young people were joined in the holy wedlock in the St. George Temple by a servant of God on September 12, 1881. For a short time Brig drove mail from St. George to Mesquite, Nevada. This trip required one day going and one day on the return. He carried a lunch from St. George and also a lunch from Mesquite. It seemed that eggs in Brig s diet didn t agree with his system, but Aunt Hepsie, Hephzibah Cornelia Hirst Branch, wife of Uncle Henry Branch, who made lunch when he left Mesquite didn t think eggs should bother him. She made cookies in which she put just one egg and felt sure he wouldn t know the difference. On his next trip to Mesquite, he immediately approached Aunt Hepsie. "What did you put in those cookies?" he asked. "Just one egg wrong," was her reply. So she then had to admit that the egg situation in his diet wasn t just his own fantastic idea. During the Boom Days at the Silver Reef mining town some 20 miles north and east of St. George near where the town of Leeds is now located the big store in this town was Wooly, Lund, & Judd Mercantile Establishment. The Lund and Judd at the head of this store were Brigham*s brother, Robert Lund and his brother-in-law, Thomas Judd (his sister, Millie*s, husband). Here Brigham was gainfully employed in the store and following the lines of business which in later life proved very beneficial for the business experience he obtained. Here in Silver Reef Brigham and Rosilla made their home and started their family. Their humble home was made happy by the arrival of their first son who was named after his father, Brigham James, on October 18, 1882. This little fellow was not permitted to remain with them very long, and he passed away June 20; 1886. However, they were blessed with another son, William, June 16, 1884. Next came Minnie who was born April 20, 1886. Minnie also was not permitted to remain long with them, and she passed away September 7, 1887. The next little newcomer was Rosilla who was born ApriL12, 1888. She was followed by another sister, Eliza, born August 1,
1890. All of these, a beginning of a fine family, saw light at Silver Reef while Brigham was still employed in the business of merchandising with Wooly, Lund, & Judd. During Brigham s time at Silver Reef he saw the opportunity to better himself and a partner in the cattle business. So with much of the money he had saved and was earning each day of his employment in the store he financed his partner in the cattle business. The cattle and pasture lands in and around the areas of Parashant and Cainan were the investment of his partner. Through some legal aspect his partner in the cattle business saw fit to break the partnership whereby Brigham would lose all he had put into the venture, and the partner would be much the better off. This was a very disheartening thing to Brigham who had many family responsibilities. He was, however, comforted by his ever faithful wife and companion when she made the statement, "Don*t worry Brigham. You have been faithful and honest in your dealings, and you have been done unfairly by. You can just wait and you will see the day that the man who wronged you will pay his debt to society." True enough were her words, because in a few years time this man was on the streets asking for help, and he died a very poor man. In the early 1890 s Silver Reef became a ghost town owing to the depletion of the silver ore. Brig and Rosilla moved back to St. George and made their home there. After they were settled in St. George another son was born to them; Thomas, who came in April 19, 1892. Margaret was born February 1, 1894; died November 17, 1896. Next came Mary who was born July 10, 1897, and Robert was born November 26, 1898, died November 28, 1898. The last member to come to them was Cornelia who was born January 9, 1900. During the early days in Silver Reef there was some very ill conduct of some nature. A band of mobsters were after the life of a man who was deserving of the punishment which they were going to deal him. The Marshall of St. George, Sheriff Hardy, took the man prisoner and so jailed him in the St. George jail waiting fair trial. One night the mob came all masked and overpowered the Marshall, took his keys, and took the prisoner. The next morning they found the prisoner hanging from a tree in back of the court house. After moving to St. George, Brigham was employed as a farmer. He did his farming in the Washington fields, and at that time he was the water master for that area. Much of his pay was in the form of wheat and molasses. He also traded hay for various other commodities. It was a big day for the children when their father, Brigham, came home with molasses in 50 gallon containers and also wheat to be taken to the mill. Such things as going to Washington mill with the wheat was something that left lasting impressions on his growing family. They would take the wheat to be milled in the stone building that is still standing today. They would bring back brand, shorts, and flour from the wheat. The brand and the shorts were used to feed the livestock, and the flour for their own use. During this time Brig had overcome many of his setbacks, supplied the needs of his family, and built them a nice home in St. George. Brigham was a good manager of his affairs and had a keen mind for values and business possibilities.
Having had much valuable experience with the business side of life Brigham desired to follow something in this line whereby he could supply a means of livelihood for his family and at the same time make for them a job to keep his family together. With the advent of the first railroad to Southern Utah and Iron County, Brigham J. Lund could foresee an opportunity for a small business which in time could grow into something very stable. This was the starting of a venture which has lasted for better than a half a century and is still in operation. He desired to establish a small business at the railroad terminal in Modena, Utah located about 65 miles north of St. George. From this point he would freight to St. George, Pioche, and Delamar areas. This first railroad was then under the construction of the Utah Pacific Railroad Company and then nearing the point of what is known as Modena, Iron County, Utah. This was in December 1899. Brig took with him two partners, also very close friends, E. M. Brown, and Joe Price. These three-men set up their partnership and started in the forwarding business, Feed, Livery Stable, and Hack Line. The first office of the new partnership was in a very large tent which stood near where the water tanks of the railroad are now standing. Soon after Brig moved his office into the depot of the Utah and Pacific Railroad Company. His main business was the receiving and paying charges on, and rebilling and checking out to teamsters all incoming freight to various points out from Modena. Together with this line his feed business rapidly grew as there was a great deal of freighting out by teams and the hay and grain business soon required more help. The livery business was also good as teams were required to transport men to various points so that the addition of a number of light teams and buggies and additional teamsters were required. At this time the bookkeeper for the partnership was Alma A. Nelson, for whom the first house was built by Brigham here in Modena. Shortly after that another house was built where men were fed and various other living accommodations were furnished. The United States Weather Bureau was operating at this time but the office was in the railroad depot. Mr. Kimball was in charge then. The railroad agent employed here in Modena at that time was Mr. Blackburn. There was a small railroad boxcar in which Mr. Darling operated a small store or exchange where he sold cigars, tobacco, sox, candy, and other miscellaneous small items. After a short time Brig bought the interests of his two partners, and in the year 1903 he incorporated under the laws of Utah under the name of B. J. Lund & Company for which title it holds today. By the year 1904 or shortly before the railroad had extended on southwest to Nevada some nine miles away to the place that is known as Uvada.. Due to the financial condition of the railroad it
was taken over by the Oregon Short Line Railroad Company, and the road construction continued. This necessitating a greater water demand that Brig could foresee. He bought surplus water rights from the railroad and also hauled water from Desert Springs to sell to teamsters at l0 cents per team watering and l0 cents per barrel for the road. With Modena established as railroad terminal assistance was rendered to the Utah & Eastern Copper Company which at that time was operating their smelter at Shem on the Santa Clara Creek mining their ores at the Apex mine out of St. George. This mining not only increased teaming and hauling to Modem but also opened the field of receiving and caring for the Copper Bullion being shipped out and the importing of coke for the smelter. With such increases the business also increased in size and wealth with its help and organization so covering a large field with also a larger payroll and a continued growth in the Modena settlement. The demand for assistance through teaming, feeds, billing, etc. continued to grow with the opening of such mining towns as Stateline, Utah, and Fay, Nevada about 18 and 20 miles away respectfully with Modem as their center for teaming, trading, etc., and a center for shipping gold bullion and silver ores. Each camp averaging a population of 600 men with their wives and a good payroll. Frank Knight was operating a store and saloon serving the mining camps around Modena. Mr. Knight suddenly died leaving heavy obligations to B. J. Lund & Company. By proper law and procedures B. J. Lund & Co. took over the store and turned the saloon to William A. Bond. The Company then started into general merchandising with the post office attached which was run by the bookkeeper, William DeFrieze. Joe Farnsworth, a faithful employee of Brig*s and a brother-in-law, (Husband of Brig s sister Liza Anne) hauled water and freighted to the mining camps from Modem. Young Tom, interested in his father s business and interested in the fun attached to riding with the teamsters, joined Uncle Joe on many trips to the mining camps and learned the bumps and the nooks in the road. One morning before leaving for one of the camps, Brig asked Uncle Joe how the old wagon was holding up. He answered, "Brig, this darn front wheel has more play in it than a bull frog in Lake Erie." This little story stayed with Tom and was a source of amusement all his life. Brig was well known for his generosity to people in need and such deeds were made or done by making very little light of them. It wasn t until after Brig had passed away that it was learned that the widow with a big family, Mrs. Ida Morris Seegmiller of St. George whose husband was killed by his horse while plowing, was delivered 500 lbs. of flour from Brig s warehouse without charge. Also the fine civic minded doctor, Silas Higgins who donated more professional advise and medicines to the citizens of St. George than he ever sold, was given such a liberal gift from Brother Brigham. Much of Brigham s tithing was paid in this way. As the girls would come out and spend a few days or a holiday from school with their father they would go back to St. George with exciting stories and experiences to relate to their friends. Lyle while visiting in Modena with her father was eating breakfast with some of the men and said, "hit me in the head with a piece of toast." The words had no sooner left her mouth when from the other end of the table came a piece of toast which hit and broke the skin on her forehead. She decided a person was taken for what he said and not what he meant.
Another story that stayed with Rosilla, another of Brig s daughters, was when freighting to Fay to a Mr. Moody who was running a store there, she happened to be present at the time of a sale of a pair of hose to one of the women in town. After the woman looked the hose over quite thoroughly and hesitantly in fear of the price she asked Mr. Moody, a rough speaking Dutchman, "How high do your hose run, Mr. Moody?" "Just as high as any blasted hose is supposed to go, Madam," was the snappy reply from the storekeeper. Trains were also a fascination to the people from the neighboring towns and often they would visit Modena to watch the trains pass and wave at the trainmen. Brig was very stern and would not permit anything what would in any way be indecent to his children. Big-to-do as it was said was made of it when some of the relatives of his family came and the girls were permitted to wave at the trainmen. On one occasion a wire came to Brig to stand by if he desired to watch the first automobile to come to Modena on the railroad. The news, of course, was passed on to the town; and it was a real affair to witness the first automobile hauled into the little community. Because of the standing and reputation of Mr. B. J. Lund with the railroad and the business which he gave the railroad he was honored by a permanent railroad pass which would entitle him to travel any place he desired on the system free of charge. This pass is still in the possession of B. J. Lund & Company at Modena (the mother store). Brother Brigham was a fine man and carried a real fine reputation with all his business associates and a credit-rating which enabled anyone to take his personal checks to Salt Lake City, or Los Angeles and they were, as stated by Brother Arthur P. Jones, "practically as good as a money order or a cashiers check." In the development of this part of the state B. J. Lund was known as a servant to the settlers and banker to all with a personal interest in the welfare of the country as a whole. Brigham is what might be called a self made man and by that he lived and taught by example the things he wanted his children to know. He was a firm believer in education. Even after his passing his children continued on to school. William attended the Brigham Young Academy just shortly before his father s death. Rosilla also attended the same school in 1907 and was followed by Thomas who attended in 1910-11 and thereabout. Such education shows his desire for his family to gain a good education and a faith in God which is essential in the success of any man. His desires have been passed on even to his grandchildren, five of them having attended the Brigham Young University, two the University of Utah, and one to an Eastern bakers school. Brigham s brother, Robert Lund, after whom the town of Lund, Utah is named, worked in Salt Lake City on the State Board of Equalization. His wife was Mary Romney Lund. Robert arrived in Modena in route to St. George to spend the winter on September 17, 1905. Brigham accompanied his brother on his journey home. Since the trip from Modena to St. George was more than a days journey, they always made the over night stop at Chadburns Ranch or Chadburns Inn as it was so called near Veyo, Utah. On that evening the party retired to their beds and Brig and his older brother Robert slept in separate beds but in the same bedroom. They visited until about 2:00 o clock in the morning. The
next morning when Mary called the two men for breakfast, they found to their sorrow that Brother Brigham had passed away in his sleep on September 18, 1905. One might say that Brigham J. Lund s death was very untimely since he was but 51 years of age. Indeed he was in the prime of life, but during his sojun he lived each day to the fullest. He left his six children the heritage of an honored name, also a pattern by which they have shaped their lives to become useful men and women in the different places they have resided. Brigham and his wife were religious and their home was centered around the gospel teachings, a fact the children have appreciated and followed throughout their lives. After Brigham s passing the management of the company went into the hands of R. C. Lund Jr., who remained in the company for only a short time when he was bought out by the B. J. Lund heirs, and the management went over to William Lund, Brigham s oldest son. As time moved on and further development was made in the area in and around Modena the company opened up another store in the community of Enterprise which was just being settled by people moving down from the old town of Hebron. This store helped serve Enterprise people as well as people from the town of New Castle, made up of people moving from the town of Pinto. The Enterprise store being managed by William Lund and the Modena store by Thomas Lund after his return from his mission and service in the World War I. One story often heard was on one occasion when a very fussy, hard to please customer came into the store and it fell to young Tom (before the death of his father) to wait on this person. But true to form the person left the store without buying anything after having the young clerk pull out boxes of about half the things in the store. When Tom started cleaning up the mess his patience was about exhausted, and he felt like throwing the shoe boxes and other merchandise at the departing customer rather than straightening them back on the shelves. But his father in his kind but firm manner explained to him that any store clerk was a servant of the public no matter how annoying a person might be. The clerks were to be courteous and kind to their customer, making them want to come back again. The two boys, Will and Tom, continued to manage the two stores with their sisters as stockholders in the company and their faithful mother to help guide them on. Thousands of sheep were ranged on the open desert near Modena, and with considerable foresight on this matter William Lund and Thomas Lund built and operated the largest sheep sheering plant in Utah and one of the largest in the United States here at Modena. The plant sheered annually approximately 175,000 to 200,000 head of sheep from Iron, Washington, and Kane Counties. This was one of the first machine sheering plants in Utah. This made it necessary to operate a boarding house which the Lunds did to accommodate the shearers as well as the travelers. Ever at the side of her beloved husband was the devoted wife and mother, Rosilla, who kept the home fires burning and gave confidence and assistance to her family. She carried on the
important phases of holding the family together and resided in St. George until July 19, 1933 when she passed away. On the 21 st of the same month she was lovingly laid to rest beside her husband in the St. George Cemetery. Brigham James Lund, a prominent figure in the history of the development and growth of Southern Utah, has now been gone for nearly a half century, but his name lives on in the business that he established and in hearts of his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.