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Hooper, W. H. (William Henry), 1813-1882

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1813 - 1882

Biographical History

William Henry Hooper (1813-1882) was a pioneer, successful mercantile business man, and Utah congressman.

William Hooper was born on December 25, 1813 in Cambridge, Dorchester County, Maryland to Henry Hooper and Mary Noel Price. In 1835, he moved to Illinois where he engaged in merchant trading on the Mississippi River. He married Elects Jane Harris there in 1836. She had two duaghters before pasisng away in 1844. In 1850, Hooper trekked to Salt Lake City, Utah where he then married Mary Ann Knowlton on December 24, 1852. Together they had 9 children. Through his first few years in Utah he learned about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was baptized a member in 1854.

William Henry Hooper was deeply involved in the politics of Utah and served the state through years of political service. He was the secretary of the Territory in 1857 and 1858, then was elected as a Democrat to Congress from 1859-1861. Hooper was then elected to the Senate in 1862 and reelected to Congress from 1865-1873. After finishing his last term, Hooper reentered the business force as superintendent of Zion’s Cooperative Mercantile Institution from 1873-1877 and as its President from 1877-1882.

William Henry Hooper was also the President of the Deseret National Bank, from 1872 until his death on December 30, 1882 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Citation:
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, via WWW, Nov. 3, 2017 (HOOPER, William Henry; b. December 25, 1813 in Cambridge, Dorchester County, Md; moved to Illinois in 1835; traded on the Mississippi River; moved to Salt Lake City, Utah 1850; secretary of the Territory in 1857 and 1858; elected Democrat to Congress March 4, 1859-March 3, 1861; member of the State senate 1862; elected Congress 1865-1873; superintendent of Zion’s Cooperative Mercantile Institution 1873-1877, president 1877-1882; president of the Deseret National Bank, Salt Lake City, from 1872-death; d. December 30, 1882 Salt Lake City, Utah)

Find a Grave, via WWW, Nov. 3, 2017 (William Henry Hooper, Sr; b. Dec. 25, 1813 in Cambridge, Dorchester County, Maryland, USA to Henry Hooper and Mary Noel Price; Married Elects Jane Harris 1836; children May Daire Hooper, Wilhelmina Hooper; Married Mary Ann Knowlton, 24 Dec 1852, Salt Lake City, Utah; Children, William Henry Hooper, George R. Hooper, Mary Hooper, Harriet Hooper, Elizabeth Hooper, Annie Corrinne Hooper, Cora Ella Hooper, Sidney Knowlton Hooper, Alice Hooper; 1st wife died 1844 and both daughters died before 1866; d. Dec. 29, 1882 Salt Lake City, Utah; baptized 1854)

Found in 9 Collections and/or Records:

Correspondence

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230334432]
Identifier: MSS 1069
Scope and Contents

Photocopies of handwritten letters dated 3 Jan. 1882 and 6 Dec. 1883. John T. Caine and George Q. Cannon write of the death of William Henry Hooper in the 1882 letter, and James Sharp writes to Caine about how the activities of the United States Congress might have an impact on Utah in the missive of 1883.

Dates: 1882-1883

W. H. Hooper letter

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197232489085]
Identifier: MSS 885
Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed letter written March 21, 1861 at the Kirkwood Hotel in Washington, D.C. and addressed to Col. Thomas W. Ellerbeck in Salt Lake City, Utah. Hooper writes about the possibility of sending arms to Utah and of arming immigrants coming to Utah.

Dates: 1861 March 21

William Henry Hooper letter

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230318583]
Identifier: MSS SC 1949
Scope and Contents

Handwritten letter addressed to the "Hon. E. Smith, Probate Judge for Great Salt Lake Co." Hooper states that he is submitting an inventory of the estate of the late Almon Whiting Babbitt. The estate items were to be set apart for the use of the deceased's widow and family.

Dates: 1856

Inventory and appraisement of the goods and chattels found of the estate of Almon W. Babbitt

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230237734]
Identifier: MSS SC 746
Scope and Contents

Handwritten list of goods dated 25 and 26 Nov. 1856 from the estate of Almon W. Babbitt who was killed by Indians in 1856.

Dates: 1856

Clark S. Knowlton family photographs

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS P 231
Scope and Contents

Collection includes 13 family photographs, four tintypes, a photograph of Congressman William H. Hooper, and one negative collected by Clark S. Knowlton. Dated approximately 1880-1953.

Dates: approximately 1880-1953

W. Medieo letters

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230318823]
Identifier: MSS SC 2111
Scope and Contents

Handwritten copybook letters apparently signed by W. Medieo and addressed to Brigham Young and William H. Hooper. The letter addressed to Brigham Young informs him that his account has been adjusted for the fiscal year 1856-57 with the Treasury. The item addressed to Hooper relates to his application to be the acting "Secretary Pro tem" of Utah.

Dates: 1857

Executive Committee memorandum to W. H. Hooper

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197232562964]
Identifier: MSS 9066
Scope and Contents

Three-page document from the executive committee of the National Immigration Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, addressed to William H. Hooper, U.S. Representative from Utah Territory. The memorandum summarizes recent Congressional measures pertaining to immigration, and requests Hooper's support of these laws being passed to improve immigration to the United States. Endorsed by William C. Staines, Utah Emigration Agent on a back panel. Endorsement dated April 29, 1871.

Dates: 1871 April 29

Elisha Whittlesey letter

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230324243]
Identifier: MSS SC 2505
Scope and Contents

Letter-press copy of a handwritten letter. The item is dated 21 March 1857 and addressed to Lewis Cass (1782-1866), Secretary of State for the United States in the Buchanan administration. Whittelsey's letter relates to a request of William H. Hooper, Secretary of the Utah Territory, regarding requisitions for 1857.

Dates: 1857 March 21

Brigham Young resolution

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 2112
Scope and Contents

Handwritten copybook copy of a resolution. The item was signed by Brigham Young and W. H. Hopper. The document states that the seat of government in Utah should be moved from Fillmore to Salt Lake City due to a lack of facilities in Fillmore.

Dates: 1856

Filtered By

  • Type: Collection X

Additional filters:

Subject
Politics, Government, and Law 7
Letters 6
Territorial Government 4
Utah -- History 3
Civil Procedure and Courts 2