. Utah since statehood, historical and biographical . up a small busi-ness. Brighter opportunities and the irresistible lure of the new country had broughtthem to America but instead of finding here the good fortune for which they hadhoped, prayed and of which they dreamed, the next year they met with the direst oftragedies, when the father and two daughters were fatally stricken during the cholerascourge of 1851. The situation which then confronted the mother and her four sonsmay well be imagined; it was one approaching utter desperation and which wouldhave daunted even braver hearts. The boy
. Utah since statehood, historical and biographical . up a small busi-ness. Brighter opportunities and the irresistible lure of the new country had broughtthem to America but instead of finding here the good fortune for which they hadhoped, prayed and of which they dreamed, the next year they met with the direst oftragedies, when the father and two daughters were fatally stricken during the cholerascourge of 1851. The situation which then confronted the mother and her four sonsmay well be imagined; it was one approaching utter desperation and which wouldhave daunted even braver hearts. The boys secured positions in fancy goods and notionstores, Joseph R. going into one on Broadway in St. Louis. In this manner the sonsmanaged to support themselves and their mother as well as accumulate a small four of the boys early exhibited the talents of born merchants and in the fewmonths of apprenticeship which they served in St. Louis they learned many thingspertinent to business life and at the same time came into the notice of William. UTAH SINCE STATEHOOD 73 Nixon, a prominent merchant of St. Louis and later known as the father of Utahmerchants. At this time the broad areas beyond the continental divide were attracting attention,especially the gold excitement in California, and too, land thought to be arid waste wasblossoming under the care of the settlers, communities were growing, business of allkinds was being established, so it was only natural that Mercy Walker and her sonsshould consider seriously the advisability of emigrating to the new country. In April,1852. their decision was made. They disposed of most of their household goods, purchased a stout wagon and someoxen and then joined a wagon-train which was beginning the journey across theplains. This long trip proved to be one of great hardship, superinduced in largemeasure by the fact that they lost most of their cattle en route and were forced to tradethe remainder to the Indians, in exchange for ponie
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookidutahsincesta, bookyear1919
