David Eccles
⎯⎯⎯
Northwestern Shoshone--Early Sojourners of Ogden Valley

David Eccles, also, Northwestern Shoshone--Early Sojourners of Ogden Valley. . , David Eccles , (1849-1912) , Western Industrialist and Utah's First Multimillionaire , A Remarkable "Rags to Riches" Journey, This statue of David Eccles bringing him to life as a hardworking boy of 14 - embodies the great hope in the future manifest in the pioneer spirit, which led thousands away from home and country in search of a better life. It reflects the beginnings of a young David's remarkable journey from an impoverished Scottish immigrant to, eventually, one of the most successful industrialists and business entrepreneurs of the Western United States. Though he labored as a youth to support his family, which immigrated to the harsh mountainous terrain of Eden, Utah from a life of poverty near Glasgow and Paisley, Scotland, he would successfully overcome each obstacle to eventually found more than 50 businesses - from railroads and lumber mills to mines, construction companies, banks, factories, hotels, and more - creating thousands of jobs and economic vitality for his fellow citizens through his integrity, drive, self-reliance, and keen business sense. , , Even in his youth, David embodied the pioneer spirit of Eden's early settlers, as did his father, William Eccles, a blind woodworker who brought his Irish wife. Sarah Hutchinson Eccles, and their children to Ogden Valley in 1863. Converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they came with little education and few possessions save William's wood lathe for making household utensils to sell or trade for food. Relying on their son to make the family's living, young David would walk throughout the Valley and down the rough canyon road to Ogden to peddle his father's wooden rolling pins, bowls, spoons, and other wares, which were often tied around his waist with a rope belt. , , Struggling to survive in Eden, the Eccles family moved for a time to Oregon where David, undaunted by hard work, cut cordwood to fuel a woolen mill and worked on the California and Oregon Railroad lines. Returning to Ogden Valley at age 20, he again put his "strong back and sharp axe" to work, saving enough to purchase his own yoke of oxen a pivotal achievement that enabled him to start his first real business cutting and hauling logs in Ogden Canyon. His legendary business career had begun. , , David's enterprises and business partnerships would expand quickly in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Among them was Utah Construction Company in 1890, which ultimately led the construction of Hoover Dam in the 1930s and built more than 700 miles of track for the Western Pacific Railroad. Though he would go on to become Utah's first multimillionaire, David never forgot the poverty of his youth. His generosity and aid to families, businesses, and communities including Ogden where he served as mayor were well known and much admired. , , David met and married Danish immigrant Bertha Jensen in 1875, and later, in 1885, Ellen Stoddard, daughter of business partner John Stoddard, who was among the first settlers of Cedar City, Utah. Following the pattern of his youth, David put their children to work early in life alongside the crews of his many businesses. He never slowed the pace of his own life, telling friends he preferred to "die in the harness rather than slow down. On December 6, 1912, while running to catch the evening train from Salt Lake City to Ogden, he died suddenly of a heart attack at only 63 years of age. , , David Eccles was a legendary Western industrialist an example of a remarkable "rags to riches journey At the time of his death, he was president of 17 corporations and seven banks, and acting director of 24 businesses in various industries. News of his death reverberated across five Western states, where flags were lowered to half-staff. On the day of his funeral, government offices and private businesses throughout the West halted operations in his honor and memory. Such was the far-reaching impact of this remarkable individual whose legacy of determination, hard work, integrity, achievement, and service to others continues to benefit all Utahns in innumerable ways, including the continuing generous philanthropy of his Eccles family descendants, whose roots began in the small mountain valley community of Eden. , , Northwestern Shoshone--Early Sojourners of Ogden Valley , Prior to the permanent settlement of Ogden Valley, this was summer home to Northwestern Shoshone, the Newe people as they were known among themselves. Ango-we-ya-dye (where the red berries grow) was the Shoshone name describing this mountain valley hideaway. "Red berries likely indicates the rich supply of life sustaining berries found here - elder berry, currents, service berry, and ever abundant choke cherry. , , The Shoshone resided in portable, conically shaped shelters known as kahni-a (tipi) erected with interlocking pine poles wrapped in buffalo skin covering. Tipis were carefully designed to set up and take down quickly. An entire Shoshone village could be packed up and ready to move within an hour. , , In the first half of the 19th century, this valley fell within the territory of the Northwestern Shoshone which stretched from Davis County to Northern Idaho and Wyoming to Nevada, led by Chief Sagwitch and Chief Little Soldier. Trappers and explorers, including Peter Skene Ogden, Osborne Russell and Captain Howard Stansbury interacted with Shoshone in and around Ogden Valley during this time period. During the settlement years (1850-1900) of Eden, Huntsville, and Liberty frequent encounters between settlers and Shoshone occurred, resulting in both trade and friendships. , , The Shoshone subsisted on critical resources this location provided water, fish, small and larger game, along with various berries, roots and seeds. When immigrants began arriving in the mid 1800's, competition for these resources soon created conflict. Infectious disease, appropriation of land and water by settlers, the transcontinental railroad and consequent warfare each played a part in the decimation of the Shoshone population. On Jan 19, 1863, hundreds of Northwestern Shoshone lost their lives at the infamous Bear River Massacre some 60 miles north of this (Eden) location near Preston, Idaho. , , Today, Northwestern Shoshone no longer frequent Ogden Valley in large numbers as they once did. In spite of their assimilation into modern American society, local Northwestern Shoshone continue to preserve and maintain their identity and rich culture.