About the Original Teams
Who were the first players?
Walter Pyramus Reid
Age at time of 1st baseball game-( 27) - Pitcher on Whitmore Team
Born- 1848 - Middlesex, England, United Kingdom
Death- 1918 Salt Lake City, buried in Salt Lake City Cemetery
Married Martha Ann Pond in 1872 and were parents of 5 sons and 3 daughters.
His family arrived in Salt Lake City in 1861. At the age of 16 he entered the harness business and remained in that vocation for the ensuing 16 years. The latter 10 years he owned and controlled the business located at Nephi. Upon the sale of his harness business, he devoted himself to railroad building and in 1879 formed a company know at Juab Contract Company.
In 1876 he was elected and served as Sheriff of Juab County, Utah. He also had the honor of being the first City Marshall of Nephi, being elected in 1889.
A man of splendid physique, undaunted willpower, coupled with the ability to learn from others and profit by their experience, no matter how limited, has made his career one of the most striking illustrations of what energy, application, and industry can accomplish. Gifted with a pleasing personality and a kind and genial manner, he has become one of the best-known and most popular men throughout this region.
"Walter P. Read," Biographical Record of Salt Lake City and Vicinity, Chicago: National Record Co., 1902, 143. FamilySearch and obituary K2HC-BBN
Lyman Lorenzo Hudson
Age at time of 1st baseball game- (27) - Catcher on Whitmore Team
Born- 1848 in Hambden, Ohio
Death- 1932 in Salt Lake City and buried in Salt Lake City
Married- Nellie Slocum before 1870, Nellie died in 1870, married Celestia Jane Grace in 1874. They were parents of 4 girls and 1 boy.
The following life sketch, mostly about Lyman, is taken from an article written by their daughter Eva Hudson Owen:
“In 1864 Lyman was a big sturdy boy of sixteen. This was the period of the festering sore of slavery and secession in the Southern States, culminating in the terrible Civil War. Lyman's manly soul thrilled with patriotic spirit, and his desire to throw his effort into the cause of the Union led to his enlisting in the 150th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, being mustered into service for one hundred days beginning on May 5, 1864. He easily passed for the older age required for enlistment, being quite a large boy. While serving at Washington, Mr. Hudson had the honor of shaking hands with President Lincoln.
He felt the call of the West and in the fall after the close of the war, in 1865, he started for California, working his way at different things until reaching Cheyenne, Wyoming.
He remained in Ruby Valley until early in the fall of 1869, when he returned to Utah and settled at Nephi, intending however, to return to Ruby Valley. Up to this time he had paid little or no attention to the religion of the Latter-day Saints. He was treated kindly by the people of Nephi, became acquainted quite widely, and being of a sociable disposition made many friends. The spirit of the people was kindred to his spirit, they drew together, and he joined the Church, being baptized in the creek there at Nephi, on July 3, 1874, by Joel Grover.
Lyman was active in community and church activities. He organized a company of local people into a stage production group. They presented many plays on the stage for the entertainment of the community. He was also in the band, which was a town organization.
The family moved to Salt Lake City around 1900. Here he was to live the remainder of his life.
FamilySearch.org KW6C-QGR
Samuel Henroid
Age at time of 1st Baseball game - (16) - 1st Base Whitmore Team
Born 1859 in Nephi, Utah
Died 1892, buried in Vernal Memorial Park, Vernal Utah
Married- Ann Margaret Blyth 1889 in Uintah, Utah
Lived in West Jordan Utah in 1880
Samuel's father grew in France. He was approached by Mormon missionaries and decided to be baptized in 1851. He and his family chose to embark on a journey to Utah, like many others. After their long trek to America and eventually to Salt Lake City, Utah, they arrived in August of 1853. Soon they moved south to Nephi where Samuel was born in 1859.
No picture found.
FamilySearch.org K2WN-P51
Charles Haynes
Age of 1st baseball game-( 23) - 2nd base on Whitmore Team
Born 1852 in Lancashire, England, United Kingdom
Died 1940 in Nephi, Utah, buried in Nephi Cemetery
Married Chelnesia Morris in 1879 in Nephi, Utah Parents of 4 sons and 3 daughters
Charles reported the account of the 1st baseball game played this side of the Missouri River on April 9, 1929 in which he was a participant.
Charles came to Utah at the age of 12. He was choir leader for more than 30 years. Charles was a member of the first National Guard unit in Nephi and was a Juab County Assessor for two terms.
Until his retirement he worked as a freighter, bricklayer and plaster.
Taken from FamilySearch.org KW69-T39 and Desert News, Salt Lake City, Utah June 11, 1940, pg 34
George Carter Whitmore
Age of first baseball game (21) 3rd base for Whitmore Team
Born- 1854 in Ellis, Texas
Died- 1917 in Pasadena, California at 63 years of age.
George met and married a Nephi girl named Mary Elizabeth Hague in 1874. They raised 8 children.
He moved to Nephi in 1872 when he was 19 years old from St. George, Utah.
George built a big beautiful home made of Utah red sandstone for his family between the years of 1898 and 1900. It was known as "Colonial Villa". The home, now known as the Whitmore Mansion, still stands in Nephi, Utah and is located at 106 South Main Street. It was posted to the National Registery of Historic places on December 12, 1978. Many Leaders of the state were entertained in the Whitmore mansion and Nephi
people also were always made welcome by the Whitmores who were said to be “very generous with their contributions and gave liberally to many public charities. There were real builders in the community and state. The Salt Lake Tribune Home Magazine.
George organized the First National Bank of Nephi and was a member of the Utah State Senate from 1900-1908. Mr. Whitmore also served for a time as member of the board of trustees of the Utah Agricultural College and the board of regents of the University of Utah. He also was a well known cattle rancher. George was offered the chance to run for Governor of the state of Utah, however he declined the offer because
Of poor health. Due to his health situation George and his wife decided to move to Southern California in hopes the warmer climate would improve his health. George passed away in 1917. He was returned to Nephi and buried in the Vine Bluff Cemetery.
(History taken from FamilySearch.org and brief history written by Linda Harley Smith in 2011.) K2M4-RGF
David Bigler
Age of 1st Baseball game- 29- Shortstop for Whitmore Team
Born 1846 in Nauvoo, Illinois
Died 1882 in Nephi, Utah buried in Vine Bluff Cemetery
He died from a tragic train accident at 35 years of age.
Married Eliza Betts in 1867 and were parents of 3 sons and 2 daughters.
David came with his father to the mountains in the year 1852 and then moved to Nephi. He has grown up with us through all the difficulties experienced in new settlements always being a “minute man in all cases of danger and as a constable or deputy sheriff, cool, brave and manly in his bearing, always willing to assist. (Obituary)FamilySearch.org KWJ8-WH7
Joseph Departy
Age of 1st baseball game- 30- Right Field for Whitmore Team
Born 1845 in Council Bluffs, Iowa
Died 1915 in Moscow, Idaho at 70 years of age
Married Mary Jane Holden in 1866 in Nephi, Utah and were parents of 4 sons and 1 daughters.
Joseph C. DePartee - taken from History of North Idaho
Our subject was taken at the age of two to Rockport, Missouri, remaining there until 1862. when he came across the plains with his uncle. Daniel Fuller, his mother, and brother James, and sisters Angeline and Elizabeth. They travelled with the ox team of the day and stopped at Salt Lake, where the family remained for fourteen years. Our subject farmed there for one year and then went to the mines in Montana, near old Virginia City, and Bannock, returning to Utah and recrossing the plains as wagon guard.
In 1873-4 he mined at Pioche, Nevada, then returned to Utah and mined at Nebo, and finally in 1876 came to Colfax, going to Dayton to winter and the following year came to the Latah country.
FamilyHistory.org LH7T-6N7
James Thomas Belliston Jr.
James Thomas Belliston Jr.
Age of 1st baseball game- 27 - Left Field
Born 1848 in Warwickshire, England
Died 1915 in Nephi, Utah buried in Vine Bluff Cemetery at age of 67
Married Mary Shill January 12, 1875 in Nephi, Utah. They were parents of 3 sons and 2 daughters.
James came to Utah with family in 1853, moved to Payson in 1858 and to Nephi in 1859
“Grandpa Can Even Take You To the Top of Mount Nebo”
by Sadie Greenhalgh.
In 1900 a group of women reached the top. It is not know if these were the first women to make the hike or not. The group consisted of George and Charlotte Howard, James Thomas Belliston, his son James L. Belliston, and two daughters, Lilly and Maude a friend, Dot Wilson, Walter Brough, his son Wally Brough and W.C. Andrews
The first official record available of a trip to the top of Mount Nebo was in 1849 when W.W. Phelps made the trip to determine its height. Government surveyors were among the early hikers to make the climb.
familySearch.org LL9N-1T3
James Thomas Belliston Jr.
Edward Cole Ockey
Age of 1st baseball game- 20 - Center Field for the Whitmore Team
Born 1855 in Nephi, Utah
Died 1928 in Sutherland, Utah, buried in Salt Lake City
He was 73 of age at time of death.
Married Emma Louise Simpson in 1894, They were parents of 1 son.
Edward lived in Nephi, Salt Lake City and Millard County
Mr. Ockey was a graduate of the University of Utah.
familysearch.org KWVR-PLG Times News 4 May 1928 pg1
Samuel Henry Gilson
Age at 1st baseball game- 39 - Pitcher for the Gilson Team
Born 1836 at Plainfield, Illinois
Died 1913 in Salt Lake City, Utah buried in Salt Lake City at the age of 77
Married Alice Larkin Richardson in 1865 and are parents of 4 sons and 10 daughters
From IRISH INFLUENCE IN SALINA CANYON AND CASTLE VALLEY
In 1874, Sam Gilson challenged George Whitmore to the first baseball game held in Nephi. This game was held on January 1, 1875. The game lasted five hours and the Gilson’s lost to the Whitmores 17 to 87.
How did this Irish influence penetrate into Salina Canyon, Fish Lake, Thousand Lakes, Quitchunpah and Castle Valley? It all started from an ex pony express rider of Irish descent from born on May 28, 1836, in Plainfield, Illinois. His name is Samuel H. Gilson, a gentile, non-Mormon. Because he was a non-Mormon in the State of Deseret, the history of Salina, Nephi, Salina Canyon, Castle Valley and Carbon County tends to skip by him. At least Carbon County gives Gilson some notation as he is painted on a mural there in the Price City Municipal Building. Samuel Gilson was all over the map in Utah and made appearances in some pretty interesting places. He was present for the laying of the cornerstone of the Salt Lake Temple in 1853 which was a pretty big deal for a gentile. He was also present for the celebration of joining of the eastern and western rails at Promontory Point in Utah in May of 1869. There is also some mention that Sam Gilson was present for the execution of John D Lee in 1877 for his part in the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Samuel Gilson was a large and intimidating man. He was 6 foot 4 and weighed 280 pounds. The Benion family described Sam as being a man that scorned hardship and traveled without food or bedroll.
Aside from ranching, exploring and inventing, Sam was a United States Marshal. He was relentless in pursuing Mormon men that were practicing plural marriage.
More about Samuel Henry Gilson at familysearch.org 297C-FL9
Jabus T. Nowlin II
Age at time of 1st ballgame- 27 Catcher for Gilson Team
Born-1848 Salt Lake City, Utah
Died- 1911 in Idaho Falls, Idaho at the age of 63 and is buried in Bonneville, Idaho
Married- Maria Tolley 1871 and were parents of 7 sons and 4 daughters.
From “Progressive men of Bannock, Bear Lake"
Was a quiet and useful citizen of Nephi for 30 years , then moved to Bingham County, Idaho in 1889 homesteading 160 acres. His father and family became the first settlers in Provo City, Utah, then moved to Payson and then to Nephi.
familysearch.org KWNN-JB3
Abraham Madison Boswell
Age at time of 1st baseball game- 21- 1st Base
Born 1854 in Manti, Utah
Died 1915 in Elgin Oregon
Married 1877 Hannah Mariah Dodge, they are parents of 5 sons and 5 daughters.
Lived in Nephi at age 5 and apparently lived in Nephi until the 1880’s where they lived in Pima, Graham, Arizona. At age 55, 1910 his residence was Elgin, Oregon. At age 61 he died in Elgin Oregon.
familysearch.org KVPR-8QV
Abe and Hannah
Robert Collingwood Blackett
Age as of 1st baseball game- 19 - 2nd base for the Gilson Team
Born 1856 in Hartlepool, Durham, England
Died 1932 in Salt lake City, buried in Salt Lake City cemetery. He was 76 at time of his death.
Married Mary Ellen Morris in 1884 in Nephi, Utah
They were parents of 1 son.
Robert helped his father develop the farm at Nephi.
He also made freighting trips into Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. For many years he was interested in the development of the Nebo Mining District. In the early part of 1865, George and Hannah Blackett (Roberts parents) were called by the church to help settle Sevier Valley, Monroe. Indians were troublesome so eventually in 1867 they settled in Nephi. Robert would have been about 10 years old at the time
From “children of George and Hannah Smithson Blackett”
And from familysearch.org KWJ6-97G
James Robert Black
Age at time of 1st baseball game- 24- played 3rd base for the Gilson Team
Born- 1851 at St. Hilliers, Island of Jersey
Death-1932 at Nephi, Utah 81 years of age at time of death.
Married Mary Emily Sperry in 1874 and were parents of 7 sons and 6 daughters. Emily was the daughter of of Charles and Emily Louisa Miller Sperry, who had helped settle Nephi in the year 1851.
In 1854 his mother and her sister and James Robert who was nearly three set sail for America. They sailed around the Gulf of Mexico to New Orleans and to St. Louis.
They crossed the plains and arrived in Salt Lake City in 1854. They went to Payson, Utah for two years, then to Santaquin and to Nephi or Salt Creek as it was called then, and has lived in Nephi since.
James prospected in the hills east of Nephi, Utah for coal and later in life he worked as custodian in a bank.
James Robert wrote many beautiful poems.
taken in part from familysearch.org KWZQ-HCD
Jacob G Bigler Jr.
Age at time of 1st baseball game (27) Shortstop for Gilson Team
Born- 1848 in Pottawattamie, Iowa, a way-station of the Mormons on their way to the Great Salt Lake Valley.
Died- 1914 in Central, Graham, Arizona at age of 66.
Married Hannah Elizabeth Harley in 1868, in Salt Lake City, Utah. They were parents of 5 sons and 3 daughters.
His parents and family made the thousand mile trek across the plains to Salt Lake City and then to Nephi, Utah arriving in 1852. Jacob G.Bigler Jr. was then about 4 years old.
Jacob lived in Nephi for 15 years. In 1881-82 Jacob served a mission for the church in the Southern States.
In 1883 Jacob and Hannah were called to help colonize the Gila Valley in Arizona. It was a sacrifice to leave their comfortable home, friends and relatives. He bought 160 acres of land. Jacob was a carpenter by trade and helped build many of the houses in the early days. He served as Justice of the Peace.
He worked hard helping to build a rock dam across the river. One day he was washed down the river. He swam to shore, but the wet, cold, and exposure seemed to affect his health from then on, which later developed into paralysis of his left side. He was unable to do much work for 17 years before his death.
-Taken from Family Search.org- KWNY-M8P from “A Century in Central”
Alexander Gardiner Pyper
Age at time of 1st baseball game (26) Right Field for Gilson Team
Born-1849- St. Louis, Missouri
Died-1899 - Nephi, Utah, at age of 50, buried in Nephi, Utah
Married- Harriet Ann Grace in 1872, in Salt Lake City, Utah. They were parents of 4 sons and 5 daughters.
When a young man he worked in the granite quarry in Little Cottonwood Canyon getting rock for the Salt Lake Temple. While there he was taken sick and started down the canyon alone on foot. He was found by Porter Rockwell and taken to the home of his uncle, Judge Alex C. Pyper, where he was cared for.
He courted and won the hand of Harriett Ann Grace. She was the first white girl born in Nephi. It took them 3 days and 2 nights to make the trip from Nephi to Salt Lake City to get married.
In 1875, he was appointed Constable for Nephi precinct. He served as County Road Supervisor, some of the biggest bridges in the county were built under his supervision. He also was a City Councilman.
Harriet remembers one incident concerning her husband. He mother had hung her washing on the fence as she had no lines. A storm arose and the washing was lost. Next morning Mr. Pyper found part of the washing and brought it home. Mrs. Grace, in a humorous mood said to him “You are a good boy, you can have one of my girls for this”. She often laughed over the incident when Harriet and Alex were married.
In 1881 Alexander and Harriet lost 3 children in a matter of 3 months due to illnesses.
Taken for Biography of Harriet Ann Grace Pyper and FamilySearch.org KWZD-QBW and from history of Alexander Gardiner Pyper
James Harve Mangum
Age at 1st baseball game ( 27) Left Field for Gilson Team
Born- 1848 in Salt Lake City, Utah
Died- 1919 in Pima, Graham, Arizona at 71 years of age, Buried in Nephi, Utah
Married- Amy Lorett Bigler, 1870 in Salt Lake City. They were parents of 6 sons and 3 daughters.
In his early manhood Mr. Mangum was called on a mission to St. George, where he worked on the temple. He later moved to Nephi and to Idaho. He moved to Arizona for his health, but the change of climate failed to give him relief. He died in Pima, Arizona at the age of 71.
-Taken from FamilySearch.org and obituary- KWNN-SXB-
Joseph Park
Age at time of 1st ball game (27)
Born- 1848 in Millcreek, Salt Lake City, Utah
Died- 1935 in Millcreek, Salt Lake City, Utah
Married- Agnes Boardman Chappell in 1878. They were parents of 4 daughters.
Joseph Park was one of the first white children born in Salt Lake City following the first pioneer train. Prior to his death, he was said to be the oldest living person born in this city, Millcreek, Salt Lake City, Utah.
For 70 years of his life he had been engaged in farming in Salt Lake County.
Taken from obituary and FamilySearch.org KWNJ-GRG and Salt Lake Tribune
Charles Foote
Age at time of 1st baseball game- 67- umpire
Born- 1832- St. Lawrence, New York
Death- 1900 Salt Lake City, 68 years old at time of death, buried in Nephi City Cemetery
Married Miriam Rollins in 1855, parents of 1 daughter
Family came to Utah in 1848 and subsequently moved to Nephi where he engaged in cattle and mercantile business making a success in both. He served Juab County as probate judge, county attorney and county selectman. He was a substantial citizen, a credit to his State and an ornament to the community in which he lived.
Taken from familysearch.org KWJ1-3VF and obituary
John Chapman
Age at time of 1st baseball game- 36- Scorekeeper
Born- 1839 in Kent England, United Kingdom
Death- 1920 at age of 81 in Nephi, Utah
Married Eliza Jackson in 1866 and were parents of 3 sons and 5 daughters.
Taught school to youth of Nephi in a house west of the “Forrest Hotel”
familysearch.org KWNK-JFL
Alma Thomas Hague
Age at time of 1st baseball game- 23 - Scorekeeper
Born- 1852 - St. Louis Missouri
Death- 1923 - in Nephi at age of 71, buried at Vine Bluff Cemetery.
Married to Emma Elizabeth in 1872 parents of 2 sons and 2 daughters
Alma served on the city council as Prosecuting Attorney from 1882-1884. He also served as Mayor during years 1913-1915. He holds the distinction of being Nephi City’s first mayor. In addition he held the positions of President of the Board of Education, School Board Trustee, Justice of the Peace, County Attorney and Probate Judge. He also served as the business manager of the Bailey Furniture Supply Co. in Nephi.
He was a supporter of local baseball having help establish
The first team in 1875 for which he served as scorekeeper.
familysearch.org KWJ8-STR
Billy Sperry, (William Sidwell Sperry)
Age at time of 1st baseball game- 25- Catcher
Born 1850 in Salt Lake City
Died 1911 in Nephi, Utah
Married Julia Sarah Ann Jackson in 1870. They were parents of 8 sons and 1 daughter.
Quoted in its entirety from McCune, Alice P. History of Juab County.pp. 84-87
“The townspeople at that time were so enthused they turned out enmass to witness the game. Billy Sperry was the backstop for Gilson, but after one inning had been played, he was called home because of the arrival of son, and Jabus Nowlin took his place behind the bat.”
The son was Ernest LaMont Sperry- Jan. 1, 1875-1931
(From his obituary)
Mr. Sperry in partnership with his sons had been in the sheep business for 16 years and was regarded as very successful. Everyone liked “Billie” as his friends called him.
