--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Whitney, Orson F. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 6 number: 6 published: 1903-04 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Orson F. Whitney, "John Nicholson II: Biographical Sketch," *Improvement Era* 6, no. 6 (April 1903): 447–454.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0606unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera0606unse start_page: 447 end_page: 454 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1903-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0606unse publication_year: 1903 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1903, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # John Nicholson II: Biographical Sketch JOHN NICHOLSON. BY ORSON F. WHITNEY. (Concluded from page 368.) John obtained employment as a house painter, but was soon called away from it by his sometime president. Apostle George Q. Cannon, who requested him to canvass in the interest of the Juve- nile Instructor, which he had just established. In this capacity he traveled over a large portion of the Territory on horseback, a mode of travel entirely new to him, though the horse he rode was old enough and stiff enough to make up for his rider's lack of ex- perience. Experience came quickly in the shape of several in- voluntary somersaults performed over the neck of the tall, gaunt animal, who had a disagreeable and dangerous habit of falling on his knees when going down hill. Fortunately no serious injury re- sulted to the horseman. Several years later, however, in 1869, while riding another ani- mal near Wellsville, Cache valley, he met with a serious accident His horse, slipping on the ice, fell upon him with such force as to lacerate, in a terrible manner, his right leg, tearing apart the bones at the knee joint. Surgical treatment and good nursing, under the blessing of God, gave him back his health, but he was partly lamed for life. This injury was to the same limb that had been hurt by a fall when he was a youth of eighteen, practicing his trade of painter and paperhanger. On June 1,1867, John Nicholson became a married man, wed- ding Miss Susannah Keep, a very estimable lady, who has borne to him ten children. On October 12, 1871, he entered into the same relationship with Miss Miranda Cutler, another amiable and worthy 448 IMPROVEMENT ERA. lady, sister to Bishop Thomas R. Cutler, of Lehi, and to the Cutler Brothers of Salt Lake City. By this wife he has had five children. While in the British mission, our friend had been a frequent contributor to the Millennial Star, and this exercise had increased his desire to write. In Utah he furnished occasional articles to the Salt Lake Daily Telegraph over the nom de plume of "Yno." The proprietor of the paper,T. B. H. Stenhouse,discovering the iden- tity of the writer, offered him employment, to begin January 1, 1868. He accepted the offer, but remained with the Telegraph only until April, when he was tendered a position on the Deseret News by Apostle George Q. Cannon, then in charge of that estab- lishment. Excepting occasional periods of absence while fulfilling missions or performing other labors, he remained with the News for nearly twenty-five years. Daring the early part of this time he was city editor. In later years, he held the position of asso- ciate editor with that able and brilliant journalist, Charles W. Penrose. In the winter of 1872-3 was organized the Twentieth Ward Institute, which may be regarded as one of the forerunners of the great Mutual Improvement system now spread like a network over the entire Church. Its object was the intellectual, moral and religious improvement of its members—especially the young. It was a prosperous association, well attended by both sexes. John Nicholson, its principal founder, was its first president, twice re- elected; but he was unable to serve the third term, owing to the division of the Twentieth ward, a portion of it—the one in which he resided—being given back to the Eighteenth ward, out of which the Twentieth originally came. In February, 1876, he was ordained a Seventy, and set apart as one of the presidents of the twenty-fourth quorum. On the eighth of the ensuing July he was ordained a High Priest by President Daniel H. Wells, and set apart as first counselor to Bishop Lorenzo D, Young, of the Eighteenth ward. December eighth of the same year, when the Mutual Improvement system was centralized, he became secretary of the general committee; and in the spring of 1878, was appointed president of the Y. M. M. I. A. of Salt Lake Stake, but was unable to fill these places for any length of time, as he was called on a mission to Europe. JOHN NICHOLSON. 449 Leaving home in August, 1878, he arrived in Liverpool on the sixth of September. His chief duty while abroad was editing the Millennial Star, under the direction of President William Budge. In the intervals of literary labor he visited most of the confer- ences and preached the gospel indoors and outdoors, wherever he found opportunity. He had the pleasure of baptizing nine con- verts, who afterwards came to Utah. In charge of a company of three hundred and fifty Saints, on the steamship Wyoming, he left Liverpool on the twenty-third of October, 1880. He arrived in Salt Lake City on the eleventh of November. He continued to reside at his old home, but in the spring of 1881 was appointed by President John Taylor editor of the Ogden Herald, a journal newly established to succeed the Ogden Junction; and during the next six months he spent most of his time in that city. Among his associates on the Herald was Edward H. Anderson, now United States Surveyor-General for Utah, and associate editor of the Improvement Era, who relates the following incident: To have a definite understanding with people on important matters appears to be one of John Nicholson's characteristics, marked as strongly as his open and emphatic expressions of meaning which need never be misunderstood. As local editor of the Ogden Herald was Prof. Leo Haefeli, a man possessing more knowledge of language than discretion and judgment, but withal a pleasant and energetic newsgatherer. He was, however, often in trouble with "toughs" and "hobos" who infested the city and its saloons, because he insisted upon airing their faults in his local notes. On one occasion, a sorely vexed character of this class, with revolver in hand, chased Haefeli up two long flights of stairs into the editorial rooms where the writer of locals sought protection from his chief. John Nicholson faced the culprit with a look that apparently made him forget both his revolver and his business, and ordered him to get out. He turned to go out, but in passing through the door swore, with a flourish of his weapon, that he would fix Haefeli. Going down one flight of stairs, he rushed into the business office, and, placing his pistol in a convenient spot on my desk, coolly informed me that he was "laying" for the local editor who had slandered him, and that he would "fix" him in short order when he came down stairs. He asked for a lawyer, and I hurried him into Attorney D. W. Felshaw's office, next door, greatly 450 IMPROVEMENT ERA. relieved to get rid of him. I had no more than got seated before Nichol- son came into the office and with great determination said: "Did you see that man?" "Yes; all I want to see of him." "Well, he must be found, and we must have an understanding with him. Will you go with me to find him?" We then confronted the stranger, and John, unarmed save in deter- mination, put the question to him: "What did you mean by saying you would 'fix' the local editor?" After considerable talk and much bluster on the part of our friend with the pistol, an amicable understanding was arrived at. We left a greatly tamed stranger, fully confident that the local editor was safe from any further "fixing," which proved true. He continued to edit the Ogden Herald until the autumn of 1881, when he was recalled to Salt Lake, to resume his former position on the News. Near the close of 1884, owing to the absence of Editor Penrose, in Europe, the conduct of the paper devolved upon Associate-Editor Nicholson, and at that time the author of this sketch was its city editor. Brother Nicholson continued to do the work of chief editor until October, 1885. This was in the very thick of the anti-polygamy crusade, and the vigorous manner in which the News thundered away at the abuses of the hour, sparing neither high nor low, when necessary to vindicate truth and justice, soon brought upon the courageous journalist, whose caustic pen had excoriated judges, prosecutors, marshals and raiders in general, the inevitable visi- tation. He was arrested March 7, 1885, on a charge of unlawful cohabitation, and placed under bonds to await the action of the grand jury. That body promptly indicted him. Arraigned before Chief Justice Zane, he declined to plead, and a plea of not guilty was directed to be entered in his case. At the solicita- tion of the defendant, an agreement was reached between counsel on both sides that the prisoner would himself give all the evidence necessary to insure conviction, provided the prosecution would not insist on compelling members of his family to testify. Accordingly at the trial, on the thirteenth of October, the accused admitted his relationship with his wives, stating that he still recognized them as such, and the jury forthwith found a verdict of guilty. JOHN NICHOLSON. 451 To a question from the judge, as to whether he had anything to say before sentence was passed upon him, Elder Nicholson re- sponded with a very earnest and impressive address, noted for its marked effect upon the court and all present, embodying a most logical argument in support of his position. His remarks, and those of the judge in reply, appear in full in "Tullidge's History of Salt Lake City," and in synopsized form in "Whitney's History of Utah." The defendant was sentenced to pay a fine of three hundred dollars and costs, and to undergo a term of six months' imprison- ment in the Utah Penitentiary. He was incarcerated on the day of his sentence. Prior to entering the Penitentiary, he had an interview with President John Taylor, who was in exile for the same cause to which he was now to become a convict for conscience sake. He will never forget that final meeting, nor the impression made upon him by the grand man then standing at the head of the Church. Three times, when bidding him farewell, the aged and stalwart leader said: "John, never surrender." He entered the prison with Elder Andrew Smith, who had been a police officer of Salt Lake City. As they passed into the yard, they were greeted by a noisy crowd of striped convicts, who howled, swore and shouted, "Kill him, lynch him, hang him," etc. For a moment Elder Nicholson thought some of these hostile greetings were meant for him, but he quickly recalled the fact that his companion had been a peace officer, and in that capacity had been called upon to give vigorous attention to certain members of the uproarious throng, which soon parted and permitted them to pass along. While in prison, our friend framed a bill to lessen for good conduct the terms of the convicts. This bill was placed in the hands of a member of the Legislature of 1886, and was passed by that body and approved by Governor Murray. It is a liberal measure, still in force, and commonly known as the "Copper Act." It is based upon the principle that the penitentiary process should be corrective, and not merely punitive. He made copious notes, during his imprisonment, of incidents, both humorous and pathetic, which have not yet been published. One of his principal books, "The Martyrdom of Joseph Standing," was also written in the 452 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Penitentiary, from data furnished by his fellow prisoner, Elder Rudger Clawson, an eye-witness to the murder of the young missionary. In addition to these works and his journalistic writings, Elder Nicholson has written and printed various other books and pam- phlets; among them "The Means of Escape," "The Latter-day Prophet," and "Comprehensive Salvation," pamphlets published in England, in 1879; "The Preceptor—A Simple System for Enabling Young Men to Acquire a Knowledge of the Doctrines of the Gospel and the Ability to Preach Them," published in 1885; "The Tennessee Massacre and Its Causes, or the Utah Conspiracy," a lecture delivered, first in the Twelfth Ward Hall, and afterwards, by request, in the Salt Lake Theatre, September 22, 1884. He has bsen a contributor to various local magazines, occasionally to eastern publications, and is also the author of hymns and poems. His style, both in speaking and in writing, is vigorous and impressive, and may be either humorous or pathetic. He is a master of satire, a logical reasoner, an original thinker, and when strongly moved, an intense and powerful speaker. His lecture on the Tennessee Massacre was one of the most remarkable emanations of satire and denunciation to which this writer ever listened. He underwent a severe ordeal while in prison. His father, then seventy-five years old, was taken ill, and it was soon evident that he was nearing the end of his earthly life. He expressed a desire to see his son, and application was made to the United States marshal to permit the prisoner to visit his dying parent. The marshal flatly refused. When the veteran passed away, a similar effort was made to have the son attend the funeral, and again Marshal Ireland peremptorily denied the privilege. The imprisoned man spent several days struggling with his feelings, trying to bring himself into a condition to forgive the marshal this inhuman treatment. He succeeded, and shortly afterwards returned good for evil by defending him through the Salt Lake Herald against certain correspondence and articles published in that paper, describing alleged abuses at the penitentiary. Elder Nicholson in his communication pointed out the baseless char- acter of many of the charges, showing that some of the so- called abuses had no existence, while in other instances, involving JOHN NICHOLSON. 453 the absence of facilities necessary to make the lives of the inmates fairly endurable, the marshal was not responsible. On emerging from the Penitentiary in March, 1886, Brother Nicholson resumed his position as associate editor of the News, and remained upon the staff of the pioneer journal until Sep- tember 30, 1892, when he with Brother Penrose and other old- time employes went out with the incoming of a new management. Said the veteran editor in his valedictory: "For twelve years I have had the editorial charge of the Daily, Semi-weekly and Weekly Deseret News, and have been aided by a corps of talented, faithful and diligent assistants, with whom I have been upon the most friendly terms and whose work I now most cordially commend. Of my associate editor, Elder John Nicholson, who also retires from this office, I cannot speak but in terms of the highest praise. The soul of honor and integrity, a man of sound judgment and unswerving faith, he has given his whole force of mind and character to the promotion of the public welfare, which has been identified with the Deseret A^ews. I part with these gentlemen with profound regret, and with the same feeling I close my communications to the public through these columns." While yet upon the News, in the spring of 1891, Brother Nicholson, for the benefit of his health and with the consent and approval of the First Presidency, took a trip to Great Britain, being set apart as a missionary before leaving home. He departed on the thirtieth of May and returned the following September. While abroad, by direction of the president of the European Mission, Apostle Brigham Young, he visited a number of conferences, preaching the Gospel wherever opportunity offered. He also obtained some valuable genealogical information concerning his ancestors. Upon the completion of the Salt Lake Temple, in April, 1893, he was appointed by the First Presidency chairman of a committee to take sharge of and conduct the admission of the Saints to that edifice to witness and take part in the ceremonies of its dedi- cation. The proceedings lasted from April 6 to April 18, in- clusive, and continued on the 23rd and 24th. It was estimated that about seventy thousand people passed through the building. In 454 IMPROVEMENT ERA. addition some six thousand Sunday school children were admitted on April 21 and 22. Pending the beginning of regular work there, Brother Nicholson was appointed by the First Presidency chief recorder of the Temple, which office he still holds. He also retains the p Dsition of clerk of the General Conference, to which he was appointed in April, 1884. Since November 13, 1894, when the Genealogical Society of Utah was established, he has been a director and the vice-president of that organization. He has always taken a great interest in education. On June 28, 1888, he was elected a member of the Board of Edu- cation of the Salt Lake Stake, and one of the trustees of the institution first known as the Latter-day Saints' Academy, next as the Latter-day Saints' College, and now as the Latter-day Saints' University. He still sustains that relation to it. In the midst of all its difficulties and obstacles, he never lost faith in its final success, and has seen it develop step by step into the flourishing institution that it now stands. Since April 6, 1S97, he has been a member of the General Church Board of Education. Despite his pronounced religious nature, his high spiritual temperament, John Nicholson has a strong vein of practicality in him, and as an executive officer is efficient, energetic and thorough. He was one of the founders of Zion's Benefit Building Society, organized in June, 1884, and was a member of its board of directors; but withdrew from the society in October, 1885, owing to his pending imprisonment. On March 21, 1897, he was appointed by Governor Wells a member of the State Board of Labor, Conciliation and Arbitration, and on April 19, 1899, was re-appointed for the four-years term. He has been chairman of the Board continuously since its inception. On the eleventh day of May, 1887, John Nicholson became a member of the High Council of the Salt Lake Stake of Zion. He was ordained and set apart as such by President Angus M. Cannon, assisted by his counselor, President Joseph E. Taylor. Except when abroad, he has been a home missionary of the Stake ever since the system was established,and placed, by the Twelve Apostles, under the direction of Bishop Lorenzo D. Young. He takes pride in punctually and faithfully fulfilling his appointments. In ad- dition to these labors, his voice is frequently heard from the lecture