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The Youngs at West Point

The Youngs at West Point

University BYU ScholarsArchive

Faculty Publications

2002

The Youngs at West Point

J. Michael Hunter - Provo, [email protected]

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BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Hunter, J. Michael, "The Youngs at West Point" (2002). Faculty Publications. 1408. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/1408

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PUBLISHER Pm/RkAtmls FEATURES ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER John w. AMmtm 2 Two SIDES OF BRIGHAM YOUNG PRESIDENT·ELECT /..-is Pk/i.ttU by Marilynne Todd Linford EDITOR Ir 6 A H ERITAGE OF ART MAGAZINI DISIGNIR Mahonri Mackintosh Young S....La/gml by Brandi Rainey EDITORIAL STAFF JemtifarAdmtu 16 SUSA YOUNG G ATES T hirteenth Apostle EDITORIAL by Janet Peterson ADVISORY 80ARD Dr. F. C/uula C-. Clutirmdn 22 ZINA YOUNG CARD Dr./. Elliol Ctlmnon A Sister and Friend to All Dr. R,,,,_,J E. &df.1-o Riduwd S. Frt171 by Janet Peterso WEBSITE DESIGN 'Patrida &:lttmlbl NATIONAL HIADQUARTIRS JJlll Eat 2920 SoutA s.11 ~'City, Uflllt &1109 (801) 484-4441 E-milil: ~,,.,,,, -~ PUBLISHED QUARTERLY , ~ 112.00 per,,-. Forrerints-1 ~ ~. f'l-amllld the SUP.

MISSION STATEMENT Tiu Nlllional Society ofSons of UIM Pionem llontm etlrly """ ffKll'iml-tlay pioneers, w ,_,,""" olJer; for their faHh ;,, God. dwolJon to fotnily. loyaby to t:li11rdl """ _,,,, Mml -it stnlia to otllfrr. -.in flllwni'Y>. J1lfl'SOf#ll inugriry, - rmyidtlinf ilelmnitN#ion. Pioneer Magazincntpparts • rhissioo ofI/re Socidy.

COftRMT ~lly~M...... c bfsnpJm ...... lJlii«nily°"""" Mu#lltlf of.M. 411. Ritjltl RamttttJ. senator or representative. It was considered a third child of Clarissa Ross Young and the The great honor to be nominated. It was also con­ eleve nth son of Brigham Young. At the age of Milita1y Academy was sidered an opportunity for a young man to thirteen, W il lard asked his father if he could established at 1-#st Point, increase his social standing. After fo ur years, leave school and go to work. Brigham was an New York, in 1802 to e nun sa the cadet earned a Bachelor of Science degree advocate of formal education, but he also prepare to and received a commission in the U.S. Army. believed strongly in practical education. H e serve as officers in the By]. M ichae l Hunter In 1871 when Brigham Young's son, hoped that Willard would work for a few United States Anny (pic­ Willard, was nominated to attend West Point, years and then "be will ing to go to school and tured in background). Duty, Honor, Country­ Latter-day Saints viewed it not only as an work hard at that." After a year of working on n March 1802, Congress established the opportunity for Willard, but as an opportun­ a fa rm in teaming and wood hauling, United States Military Academy on an I ity fo r the in general to advance Willard was "eager enough to get back a Lifelong Pledge ofFa ith army site at West Point, New York. The their social standing in the country. After in school." 1 Willard enrolled at academy's purpose was to prepare young W illard, other descendants of Brigham Young Deseret University (fo rerunner men to serve as officers in the United States would attend the academy in what would of the ). In June Army. Students at the academy were called become somewhat of a fa mily tradition. 1871, the Deseret Evening News cadets. To be considered for admission to the was born in Salt Lake declared that Willard was academy, a candidate had to be nominated by City on 30 April 1852. a government official, usually a United States H e was the strongest boy" at the be sober and temperate in all your habits." when his nephew was born, Richard entered the U.S. Military Academy hile university.2 When a vacancy arose at West Brigham explained that such an '"'upright _Y(i}l ":{ !/. Youngs would follow very similar life courses. at Wes t Point. According to Heber J. Grant, W Willard Point in May 1871, the Secretary ofWar gave course on your part will give you favor with Richard's father, Joseph A. was engaged Richard was set apart as a missionary to West was William H. Hooper, Utah's territorial del­ and ensure you valuable aid from your (ello}N,.1 ,,... ~,/o/ ) •'IO/ll;tn/ 1 in many building projects in the Salt Lake Point by Brigham Young sometime before teaching at West egate to Congress, the honor of naming a students."8 _ / - Valley, including the building of the Salt Brigham died 29 August 1877.21 His Uncle Point in 1879, a candidate. Deseret University President Brigham was, no doubt, pleased ·wti6Jl a ud of f.,J"l'JC R...\.Tr 1! w ke Theatre and the construction of the Willard had paved the way for him, proving second Latter-day John R. Park suggested that they send the , who had visited Willard on a ~ --=-- Utah Central Railroad from Ogden to Salt that a Latter-day Saint from Utah could be Saint entered the university's "best scholar and strongest east, reported that "whateve r may have b g n ,l,,.~k.-.. J:';r/.-;1.-/ N n hake City. 14 From 1871 to 1873, Richard successful at West Point. Willard had academy­ boy," Willard Young.3 the feelings of the cadets toward [Willard] at ' worked m the office of the Utah Central returned to West Point that same year as Richard W. Willard was nineteen at the time, first, [he was] now looked upon by them M MN ,lrtk ; ~ I/ ,/,~ .-id~ .,.~;µIway, gaining valuable business experi­ assistant professo r of civil and military engi­ Young, Willard's and he went to his father for permission pretty good fellow. "' Brigham wrote Willar.d, ence. In 1872, Joseph A. was called to preside neering.22 Richard 's stay at West Point lacked nephew and to enter the academy. Brigham said, "I stating, "we hope yet to see you set a pa(t9'.R / .-uu/ /,, /j 1; ./lll r 1 ftV r the Church in Utah's Sevier district. the fanfare and controversy that accompa­ Brigham's grand­ will let you go, but will send you as a mis­ for all ofthem."9 / / / Moving there with his family, Richard nied his Uncle Willard's tenure, and in 1882 son. he graduated fifteenth in his class of 128. H e sionary."4 Willard was set apart for his "mis­ Willard wrote his father, explaining: "J(r. 11,, ,,_; );,4r·J'I _, //, ~9 rked as a telegraph operator in Richfield sion" to West Point by the First Presidency. have heard several young men here, who, no f ; from 1873 to 1874. 15 In 1875, the family was a second lieutenant. In that same year, he At the time of Willard's admission to doubt six months ago were 'death Of! thJlt•cfiibtnt J/, 1 J;?j, ; ; P,9yed to Ma~ti, where Joseph A. supervised and Willard both married. Richard married West Point, the national press was enamored Mormons,' say that the U.S. officials were- ,:::~· - -"' /1 the construction of the Manti Temple. That Minerva Richards, and Willard married with eradicating the "twin relics of bar­ entirely wrong."10 In another letter Willard (c summer, Utah's congressional delegate, Hattie Hooper, daughter of Utah's former barism," slavery and polygamy. First Willard wrote, "My constant desire is to satisfy your .._ ~ _ George Q. Cannon, made his first nomina- territorial delegate William H. Hooper, who was admitted to West Point and then two wishes, my dear father, and to honor<$i€{ M ij; ... "'~lth.t ~Jodion of Richard as a ca.det to the U.S. Milita.ry had given Willard his appointment to West years later the first black American, Henry 0 . people whom I represent."!! Willard o~ i- --;:::::..- ~ 0 ':, i.....,. ..., l ~a demy at West Pomt. However, a family Point.23 Flipper was admitted-this caught the eye of ously saw his attendance at West Point as a I .L/ ( / ' . ,. / tragedy prevented Richard from accepting After graduation, Richard discovered I r • f 'tl'/' ~( '/'I /N //N /; . . the press. As the first Utahan and Latter-day "mission" in the Latter-day Saint sense of tVe the appomtment. On 5 August 1875, that there was a surplus of graduates from Willard Young (below) in Saint to enter West Point, Willard made the word. His letters show that he also felt the Richard's father, Joseph A. Young, age forty- West Point, and more second lieutenants Cuba, ca. 1899. headlines. In June 1871, Brigham wrote to weight of his mission which his father co~- j one, died suddenly of an apparent heart than the army needed. The government, Willard: "It appears from some of the eastern stantly reminded him of in letters. "The eyes attack. 16 papers, they are rather exercised over your of many are upon you to see what is likely to Joseph A.'s family returned to Salt Lake admission among the cadets and one corre­ be your future," Brigham wrote.12 City, and Brigham took a fatherly interest in spondent writing from this city to the N. Y Willard's stay at West Point did not dis- his fatherless grandsons. In September 1875 Herald wants to know, 'Will the boys permit appoint his father nor the Saints at home in in a letter to his son, Alfales, Brigham wrote, the outrage?'"S Utah. He graduated with the class of 1875. "Of Joseph A.'s sons, Brigham T. has chosen While the press played up the "outrage," Out of the forty-three students in his class surveying as a business, whilst Richard W is Willard and his fellow black American class­ Willard ranked second in discipline, fifth' in preparing to conquer both the theoretical mate, Henry, went about successfully passing engineering, sixth in ordnance and gunnery, and practical parts of the duties of an archi- their entrance exams. The Chicago Evening eighth in mineralogy and geology, and fi(., tect." 17 In preparation for this, Brigham Post reported that Henry passed his entrance teenth in law. In general standing, he w~ arranged for Richard to work in the carpenter exam with higher marks than a large number fourth in his class. 13 shop on . According to Orson of Caucasian applicants and that Brigham Willard was one of four graduates i F. Whitney, Brigham's aspirations for Young's son "came out from the ordeal 1875 to be commissioned second lieutenan Richard to become an architect did not match unscathed."6 Willard next went to work win­ in the Corps of Engineers. He serve&. with Richard's personal interests.18 In December ning over the press and his class mates. The the School of Engineers at Willitts Poin 1875, Richard went down to Manti to take New York Herald described him as "a fine, New York (1875-1877), and then the : harge of the high school.19 During this time manly looking fellow, robust and tall, and, Wheeler Survey in , Utah, Nevada, ,... ,Richard also worked as a carpenter and was taken altogether, the best looking man physi­ California (1877- 1879). H e went back to Wc · ""employed on the railroads.20 cally among the greenies." The Herald also Point in 1879, where he served as assista By 1877, George Q. Cannon again reported that Willard was "frank in speech" offs:red the cadetship to Richard, but Richard and "conducted himself in such a straightfor­ s reluctant to accept it because he had the way that he has already made no small -~J>Ossiqility of a large promotion in a railroad number of fri ends among the cadets." While mpany. When a larger company suddenly Willard Young (oval) and Willard in Willard was bothered by the preponderance ught out the railroad company Richard Cuba (p. 29), ©by Intellectual · .s working for, he saw his chances at pro­ Reserve, Inc.; courtesy of LDS of swearing at West Point and was laughed at Family and Church History Archives. by other cadets for not smoking, he stood by tion dim and accepted the appointment to Clarissa Ross Young (p. 28) © Utah ~jjlfi, State H iston'cal Society, all nghts his principles.7 His father had counseled him reserved. before he left to 1 ' b ~ kind and couri:~;us tff all; ~ wanting to avoid paying officer salaries, wel­ C hrist, with authority to call people on mis­ (1912- 1914). H e also served as president of N o t es he Young comed resignations from the graduates. After sions? "Ri chard repli ed, "I certainly do." the Ensign Stake and on the general board of legacy 1. Susa Young Gates and Leah D . Widtsoe, The L ife of T H eber J. Grant said, 'i\ll right .. . I call you the YM.M.I.A. During this time he contin­ consulting with his Uncle Wil lard, Richard Brigham Young (New York: Macmillan, 1931 ), 347. lived on at decided to resign from the military and pur- on a mission to go to President Woodruff, ued to practice law in Salt Lake City. 29 2. Deseret Evening News, 8 June 1871. West Point long sue a law degree. Learning that it would and ask for his advice." Richard said, "D arn W hen the United States entered World 3. W illard Young, address at the semicentennial celebra­ after the deaths tion of Brigham Young University, 15 October 1925, The cost four to six thousa nd dollars to attend you, H eber G rant." H owever, H eber J. G rant War I in 1917, W illard and Richard again vol­ Utah Genealogical and H istorical Magazine 17 (Jan 1926): of Willard and law school, Richard secured funding from was surprised when Richard returned from unteered their services. T he army appointed 10-11; Leonard J. Arrington, "Willard Young: The Richard. The fri ends like H eber J. G rant. Yet Richard his interview with President Woodruff and W illard as U nited States Agent in charge of Prophet's Son at West Point," Dialogue (Winter 1969): 39. Military 4. Arrington, 39. was sti ll uncertain about resigning from reported, "President Woodruff is as full of all army engineering work on the Missouri 5. Dean C. Jesse, Letters of Brigham Young to His Academy motto of the army. "H eber," he asked his fri end, fight as an egg is fu ll of meat. H e remarked, River. H e served from 1917 to 1919. The Sons, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1974), 166; Brigham "Duty, Honor, "inasmuch as G randfa ther blessed me 'If you don't go back to the army, Brother army made Richard a brigadier-general in You ng letter to Willard Young dated 17 June 1871 . Country" became 6. C hicago Evening Post, as cited in Deseret News, 14 and set me apart as an army missionary, Young, after graduating from West Point, you charge of training soldiers at Fort Kearney. June 1871. a lifelong pledge do you think it is proper for me to resign will disgrace the name you bear, and it will be Richard W Young died from compli­ 7. New York Herald as reprinted in the Deseret Evening of faith exempli­ News, 8 June 1871. that missionary labor without consulting his a refl ection upon your dear, dead grandfa­ cations fo llowing an appendectomy on fied by the decen­ 8. Jesse, 164-65; Brigham Young letter to Willard You ng successor, President ?" H eber J. ther, President Brigham Young."'25 27 December 1919. At his fu neral, H eber J. dated 19 May 1871. dants of the G rant recommended that he talk with Richard enlisted as a volunteer and was G rant said, "I have referred to him, all my 9. Jesse, 170; Brigham Young letter to Willard Young Young family for dated 25 July 1871. President Taylor. When President Taylor told made captain of Battery A, Utah Light life, in public and in private, as my most inti­ I 0. Willard Young to Brigham Young, 9 December 1871, ye ars to come. him to stay in the army, Ri chard did so, being Artillery. Two months later, he was appointed mate, my nearest and dearest fri end! . . . H e manuscript, L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Brigham assigned to Gove rnor's Island, not far from a major, commanding Utah Light Artillery. was my near and dear friend was because I Young University. 11. Jesse, 175. N ew York City. H e entered Columbia Law Richard participated in the capture of Manila never discovered in him a thought or a desire 12 . Jesse, 168. School and graduated with honors in 1884 and twenty-fi ve other engagements in the that I did not fee l in my heart was a desire to 13 . Arrington, 44. and was admitted to the bar of the State of Spanish- American War and the Filipino do the right thing."30 14. Jesse, 5. 15. , Latter-day Saint Biographical N ew York. Insurrection. From May 1899 to June 190 I, Willard Young returned to Salt Lake City Encyclopedia, vol. 1 (Salt Lake C ity: Andrew Jenson Richard was later assig ned to Fort Richard served as associate justice and presi­ and served the remainder of his life as H istory Company, 1901), 671. Superintendent of C hurch Building 16. Deseret Evening News, 6 August 1875. D ouglas in Utah. In 1888 while visiting with dent of the criminal branch of the Supreme 17. Jesse, 22 1-22; Brigham Young letter to Alfales You ng H eber J. Grant in his offi ce, President John Court of the Philippine Islands.26 Richard's Construction. H e died in Salt Lake City on dated 2 1 September 1875. Taylor said, "I see by the morning paper that service would earn him the Medal of 25 July 1936 at the age of eighty-four. H e had 18. Orson F. Whitney, H isto1y of Utah (Salt Lake City: George Q. C annon and Sons, 1892), 560. your dear fri end Richard W Young's term has H onor.27 been the oldest surviving son of Brigham 19. Jesse, 158; Brigham You ng letter to Ernest Irving expired at Fort D ouglas and he is about to go Willard Young also volunteered for the Young.31 The Salt L ake Tribune stated, "H e Young dated 13 December 1875. East. You may tell him that the time has now war. H e served as colonel of the Second was courageous and he was determined. 20. Jenson, LDS Biographical, 671. 2 1. Grant, 267. N ote: It is not clear when Richard arrived for his missionary labors in the army Regiment of the U.S. Volunteer Engineers in W hen he set his eye upon a goal he was deter­ learned of the cadetship or when Brigham You ng set to end, and he is at liberty to resign."24 H avana from May 1898 to May 1899. mined to reach it. H is West Point days were him apart. Richard resigned that year and took up a President McKinley commended Willard fo r attended by jibs and jibes from his classmates 22 . Jenson, "Richard W Young," 435. 23. B. H . Roberts, "Brigadier-General Richard W priva te law practice in Salt Lake C ity. His valiant service in connection with the provi­ which would have conquered a less deter­ Young," fmprovemelll Era (Feb 1920): 323; Jesse, 162 . Uncle Willard would retire from the army sion of sanitary works in C uba. After the war, mined souJ."32 24. Grant, 270. T he Young legacy lived on at West Point 25. Grant, 272. three years later to take a position as the prin­ Willard served as president of the National 26. Jenson, LDS Biographical, 672. cipal of what was called Young University in Contracting Company, supervising the con­ long after the deaths of W il lard and Richard. 27. Junius F. Wells, "Utah's Brigadier Generals," Salt Lake C ity. struction of the N iagara Falls Power Willard's son, Sidney Hooper Young attended, (Oct 1918): 1076. 28. N ew York Times, 18 February 1902. In April 1898, a conflict broke out Company, the drainage works of the city of as did Sidney H ooper Young, Jr. The Military 29. Wells, I 076. between the United States and Spain over the New O rl eans, the tunnels of the Boston sub­ Academy motto of "Duty, Honor, Country" 30. Brigadier General Richard W. Young: Biographical liberation of C uba. T he conflict escalated way, the Boston sewer system, and the became a lifelong pledge of faith exemplified Sketch, Funeral Ceremonies, Resolutions ofR espect (Salt Lake C ity: H eber J. Grant & Co., 1920), 18, 21. into the Spanish- American War. "When the H udson River Power Company dam. In by the decendants of the Young fa mily for 31. Salt Lake Tribune, 26 July trouble broke out between the United States 1906, the First Presidency called Willard to years to come.T 1936; Deseret N ews, 28 July Gathering of living sons and Spain," H eber J. Grant wrote, "I was vis­ be president of the Latter-day Saints 1936. and daughters of Brigham 32. Salt Lake Young ca. 1927 (below). iting Ric hard in his office. He remarked that U niversity in Salt Lake City. In 191 5, the Tribune, Front row, left to right: First Presidency called him to serve as a 28 July 1936. as a graduate of West Point it was his d uty to Susa Young Gates, Phoebe volunteer again to enter the army." Heber J. counselor in the Logan Temple Presidency. Y. Beatie, Zina Y. Card, Grant advised Richard to consult with Meanwhile, President Theodore Brigham Heber Young, President Richard replied Roosevelt appointed Richard to the Board of Emily Y. Clawson. that President Woodruff "is one of the most Visitors at West Point in 1902.28 Richard also Back row: Bngham Morris Young, Jeannette Y. Easton, Mary Ann Angel Young, Joseph A. tender-hearted men in the world . .. . I feel served as Regent of University of Utah (ovals} © by Intellectual Reserve, Inc.; , Clarissa courtesy of LDS Family and Church sure he would not advise me to volunteer." (1905- 19 17), trustee of Brigham You ng Y. Spencer, Maria Y. History Archives. Richard W (oval) and H eber J. G rant replied, "Do you accept me, U niversity and Brigham Young College, and Dougall, Col. Willard group picture (p. 31) © Utah State Historical Society, all rights reserved. Richard, as an apostle of the Lord Jesus President of Internati onal Army Congress Young, Mabel Y. Sanborn.

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