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Calder, David O., 1823-1884

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1823 - 1884

Biographical History

David O. Calder (1823-1884) was a Utah businessman and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

David O. Calder was born in Thurso, Caithness, Scotland in 1823. He was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1840 by Orson Pratt. In 1851, Calder and his widowed mother Anne Johnston Calder, his brother George Calder, and five other siblings departed for Utah as pioneers. In 1854, he married Ann Mackay. In 1857, Calder was appointed chief clerk to the Trustee in Trust of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This position enabled him to create systems and accounts in all departments of the church. From 1859 to 1870, Calder served as Territorial Treasurer of the Utah Territory under Brigham Young. After returning from a mission to Scotland, Calder was appointed business manager and managing editor of the Deseret News. In the 1850s, Calder ran the Deseret Musical Association, a school largely focused on teaching children to sing in choruses. In 1867, Calder was asked by Brigham Young to establish a commercial college in Salt Lake City. This college would later become part of the University of Utah. Calder was also a founding shareholder of the Utah Central Railroad and was elected a director of Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institution (ZCMI). Calder died July 3, 1884.

Citation:
The Deseret News, via WWW, July 27, 2021 (David O. Calder born in Thurso, Caithness, Scotland in 1823; baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1840 by Orson Pratt; arrived in Salt Lake City in 1853; after returning from a mission to Scotland, Calder was appointed business manager and managing editor of the Deseret News; founding shareholder of the Utah Central Railroad and elected a director of Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institution (ZCMI))

Wikipedia, via WWW, July 29, 2021 (in 1851, Calder and his widowed mother Anne Johnston Calder, his brother George Calder, and five siblings departed for Utah as pioneers; 1854, married Ann Mackay; in 1857, Calder was appointed chief clerk to the Trustee in Trust of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, enabled him to create systems and accounts in all departments of the Church; 1859-1870, Calder served as Territorial Treasurer of the Utah Territory under Brigham Young; in the 1850s, ran the Deseret Musical Association, a school largely focused on teaching children to sing in choruses; in 1867, Calder asked by Brigham Young to establish a commercial college in Salt Lake City--this college would later become part of the University of Utah; died July 3, 1884)

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

David O. Calder papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Vault MSS 53
Scope and Contents

Handwritten and printed certificates, correspondence, and legal documents. The materials relate to education in Utah, to Zion's Savings Bank and Trust Co., and to ZCMI. Some of the correspondence is between Calder and his son, David G. Calder, and deal with family matters.

Dates: 1852-1884

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  • Subject: Business, Industry, Labor, and Commerce X