William Jennings (mayor)

William Jennings
William Jennings
Mayor of Salt Lake City
In office
1882–1885
Preceded by Feramorz Little
Succeeded by James Sharp
Constituency Salt Lake City, Utah
Personal details
Born September 13, 1823
England
Died January 15, 1886 (aged 62)
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Religion The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

William Jennings (September 13, 1823 – January 15, 1886) was the mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, from 1882 to 1885. A merchant and financier, Jennings has been described as "Utah's first millionaire".

Jennings was born in England and immigrated to the United States as a young man. In St. Joseph, Missouri, he married Jane Walker, who was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The newly married couple moved to Salt Lake City in Utah Territory in 1852. Shortly after arriving in Salt Lake City, Jennings was baptized into the LDS Church. Soon afterwards, he married a plural wife.

Jennings opened a butchery and tannery in Salt Lake City and later founded a successful mercantile business. In 1864, he had become so successful that he constructed an expensive building, the Eagle Emporium, and used it as the headquarters of his mercantile businesses. The state of his business at that time made Jennings a leading merchant west of the Mississippi River. Eagle Emporium was later sold to the LDS Church and became a central component of Zions Cooperative Mercantile Institution. His mansion, devereaux, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]

Jennings became a member of the LDS Church's Council of Fifty in 1880. He was elected mayor of Salt Lake City in 1882 and served until 1885. He intended to run for a second term, but he was deemed ineligible under the Edmunds Act because he was a polygamist.

Jennings died in Salt Lake City and was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

References

  1. Smith, Melvin T. (November 23, 1970). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Devereaux House". National Park Service. Retrieved 1 March 2014.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Feramorz Little
Mayor of Salt Lake City
1882–1885
Succeeded by
James Sharp