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Nuttall, Leonard John, president of the Kanab Stake of Zion from 1877 to 1884, is the son of William Nuttall and Mary Langhorn, and was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, July 6, 1834. His early education was had at St. Brides School, Liverpool. At the age of thirteen and a half years he was bound an apprentice as a ship and boat builder. He and his parents and brother Joseph were baptized in Liverpool Oct. 8, 1850, by Apostle John Taylor, and L. John was confirmed by Elder John Lindsay Oct. 11, 1850, his elder brother William having been baptized one month earlier. The family, composed of parents and children (William, L. John and Joseph) emigrated to Utah in 1852. They sailed from Liverpool March 6, 1852, crossing the Atlantic in the ship "Rockaway," which arrived at New Orleans the latter part of April. This ship carried the machinery for the first beet sugar factory that landed in or was built in America. The machinery left the Missouri river in fifty-two wagons on the 6th of July and arrived at Salt Lake City in November. L. John arrived Oct. 10, 1852, and moved with his parents to Provo in November, 1852, where they made their home and took part in the early development and building up of that city. July 3, 1853, he took part in the suppression of the Indian outbreaks, which resulted in much hardship to the Saints in the southern part of Utah and Sanpete counties during that fall and winter. In the fall of 1853 he, associated with Elder William W. Allen, Henry White and Sister Elizabeth Roper, organized a Sunday school at Provo, wherein classes were conducted in the first log meeting house at that place, these persons officiating as officers and teachers. L. John was ordained a Teacher Feb. 22, 1857, by Bishop Elias H. Blackburn, and was ordained a Seventy, May 19, 1857, under the hands of William F. Carter and Seely Owens; he became a member of the 20th quorum of Seventy. From August to September, 1857, as regimental adjutant of the First Regiment, Utah Military District, he took an active part in defending the rights of the people in what was known as the Buchanan war. He was in the mountains, exposed to the perils, hardships and winter weather, and again went out on the frontiers in the following spring (1858), at the time of the move south. He was one of one hundred and ten men detailed, in case the order should be given, to destroy Salt Lake City, and make it a barren, desolate waste. He was elected a member of the city council of Provo, and served as councilor in 1861 and 1865, and as alderman and justice of the peace for the years 1864, 1872-73 and 1874. Feb. 28, 1861, he was appointed recorder and auditor of Provo city, and continued in that office until February, 1875, except the year 1863. His father, William Nuttall, died at Provo March 14, 1864, aged 67 years. L. John was appointed probate and county clerk of Utah county by Judge Zerubabbel Snow, and took the oath of office March 21, 1864, and held said office until September, 1875. August 31, 1861, he received orders and fitted out for an exploring expedition to Uintah valley for the purpose of locating and making settlements of the Saints in that section of country. He left home on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1861, in company with William B. Pace, James W. Loveless, John W. Turner, Peter M. Wentz, Alex Wilkins, James W. Cummings and four others. They joined another company from Salt Lake City for this same purpose in Strawberry valley. They thoroughly explored that country, then occupied by the Ute Indians, and returned home on Sept. 17th. On Monday, Aug. 8, 1864, he was elected county recorder for Utah county and was re-elected five subsequent terms, holding the office till September, 1875. He was elected colonel of the first regiment, First Brigade, Utah Military District, May 8, 1866, and received his commission from Governor Charles Durkee. Aug. 15, 1866, he left Provo in command of a detachment of cavalry and proceeded on an expedition against the Utah Indians in Sevier county, accompanied by Major Samuel S. Jones, Captain Caleb W. Haws and sixty-nine officers, rank and file. The expedition was a part of the Black Hawk war; the command was made up mostly of young men from Utah county, only eight of whom were married. Aug. 31, 1867, L. John was ordained a High Priest under the hands of Aaron Johnson, and set apart as High Councilor in the Utah Stake of Zion; he was also set apart as clerk of the High Council, which position he had held for two years previous. Feb. 4, 1869, Pres. Brigham Young, with Pres. Abraham O. Smoot called a few of the brethren together and submitted the propriety of organizing a co-operative institution, the result of which was that the "Provo Co-operative Mercantile Institution" was organized. L. John was elected secretary. The buildings and stock of merchandise owned by Henry W. Lawrence were purchased and the first co-operative organization in Zion was effected and brought into existence. Feb. 2, 1870, Elder Nuttall did the first printing performed in Utah county at Provo City, on his own printing press. May 28, 1870, he assisted Pres. Abraham O. Smoot and others in the laying of the southeast corner stone of the Provo Co-operative Woolen Factory. On Sunday morning, Sept. 3, 1870, while Elder Nuttall was at Springville, attending the Sunday services, his home and all his household effects were destroyed by fire. The citizens being called out of the meeting house did all in their power to save what they could, yet his household property, grain and hay stacks were destroyed in a short time, his loss being estimated at from five to six thousand dollars. The first intimation he had of the fire was by telegram from Pres. Abraham O. Smoot, which read, "Your property is all destroyed by fire. The family are all safe." At the twentieth session of the legislature of Utah, January, 1872, Elder Nuttall was elected chief clerk of the legislative council; he also served in the same position in the 21st session (1874), the 23rd session (1878), and the 25th session (1882). June 29, 1874, his health having become much impaired and having been appointed to take a mission to Great Britain, he left home in company with Elders David McKenzie, John Henry Smith and Peter Sinclair; they sailed from New York July 14th, and arrived at Liverpool, July 26, 1874. Elder Nuttall labored in the Durham and Newcastle conferences, also in the Liverpool office, 42 Islington, under the presidency of Pres. Joseph F. Smith. In August, 1875, Elder Nuttall was ordained a Bishop and set apart as Bishop of the Kanab Ward, and to preside over the six adjoining Wards. He left Provo for this field of labor in November, 1875, he having made a trip in company with Pres. Daniel H. Wells, Apostle Lorenzo Snow and others, in September, to St. George, via Kanab and returned. May 21, 1876, he left Kanab in company with Pres. Daniel H. Wells, Erastus Snow, Brigham Young, jr., Daniel D. McArthur, Lorenzo W. Roundy and twelve others with teams and carriages to visit the settlements of the Saints in Arizona. While crossing the Colorado river on the 24th of September, the boat sank with Elder Nuttall and six other brethren, one carriage and two wagons on board. Bishop Lorenzo W. Roundy was drowned, the others were all saved. The carriage and one baggage wagon was lost, so that ten of the party went on and the balance returned home. In December, 1876, Elder Nuttall was called by Pres. Brigham Young to attend the dedicatory services of the St. George Temple, in which he was appointed to labor and was recorder therein for over three months. Having been called to preside in the Kanab Stake, he left St. George in company with Apostles John Taylor, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow and others for Kanab, and on April 17, 1877, the Kanab Stake of Zion was organized, with L. John Nuttall as president; Howard O. Spencer and James L. Bunting, counselors. He magnified his calling and continued in this position until June 4, 1884, when he was honorably released, having been called to labor as private secretary to Pres. John Taylor. September 10, 1878, in company with Apostle Erastus Snow and others, he left his home at Kanab to visit the settlements of the Saints in Arizona. The company consisted of Erastus Snow, L. John Nuttall, Ira N. Hinckley, Jesse N. Smith, Edward A. Noble, Charles H. Oliphant, Bateman Williams and John Starley; also three horses, ten mules and three wagons. The company visited each colony, organized Wards, preached to and encouraged the Saints, an returned to Kanab Nov. 2, 1878. June 14, 1879, Elder Nuttall was called by Pres. John Taylor to act as his private secretary. Elder George Reynolds who had previously served in that capacity, having been sentenced to prison for conscience sake. Elder Nuttall served in that position for eight years; he was with Pres. Taylor during the years of his exile, and was at his bedside at the time of his death, July 25, 1887. He continued in this office, as private secretary to Pres. Wilford Woodruff until the spring of 1892, when, in consequence of ill health, he was released to perform other duties that would give him more outside exercise. Feb. 24, 1892, he was appointed by Pres. Wilford Woodruff to take charge of the Church and Ward real estate matters and to look after the legal interests of the Relief Societies of the Church, in which work he has since been actively engaged. Feb. 20, 1880, he was elected a regent of the Deseret University and held his position for several years. Sept. 2, 1880, he became an incorporator and stockholder of the "Deseret News" company. His mother died at Wallsburg, Utah, April 27, 1880, aged 81 years and 4 months. Aug. 1, 1881, he was elected Territorial superintendent of district schools for Utah Territory, and was re-elected in 1883 and 1885. April 24, 1882, he met in convention with the superintendents of district schools for the selection of school books, etc., and was elected president. Seven sessions were held. April 21, 1883, he was elected a director of the Salt Lake City Railway Company, also one of the auditing committee. July 12, 1883, he was elected a director of the Deseret Telegraph Company and continued in that office during the existence of the company until the spring of 1900. Nov. 23, 1883, he was elected secretary and member of the executive board of Zion's Savings Bank & Trust Co. During the year 1884, in company with Pres. John Taylor and party, he made an extended trip to the settlements of the Saints, as far south as St. George, returning by way of Sevier and Sanpete counties, thence north by way of Logan, Bear Lake and Snake river country, at which time (November) the Bannock Stake was organized. Nov. 22, 1887, he was appointed to assist Hon. John T. Caine, delegate from Utah, at Washington, D.C., in his labors in the interest of Utah during the years 1888 and 1890. Nov. 11, 1897, he was appointed an aid, and afterwards a member of the Deseret Sunday School Union Board. He now holds the position of director in Zion's Savings Bank & Trust Company, the Salt Lake & Los Angeles Railway Company and the Saltair Beach Company. Elder Nuttall is one of the busiest men in the Church, and has discharged every duty imposed upon him with that zeal and fidelity which characterizes God's faithful servants.
Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia: A Compilation of Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4 vols. Salt Lake City 1:355. |
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