I previously posted a biography of my grandfather, Edwin Q. Cannon here. Following is a more comprehensive biography of my grandfather put together by my first cousins, Mary Alice Barnes Pearson, who started it, then finished by Kathryn Barnes Luke (Taffy).
The following is a forward by Karhryn Barnes Luke:
Here is a biography of Edwin Quayle Cannon. I have not included footnotes throughout the story but do have all sources carefully documented - and can easily send you documentation for each statement in this story.
This biography was originally started by Edwin’s oldest grandchild, Mary Alice Barnes Pearson. She was a major Cannon Family Genealogist since the early 1960’s and she had in her possession many original letters and sources for the George Q. Cannon family. She was also one of the main contributors to several Cannon family books and articles, including:
The Cannon Family Historical Treasury” - edited by Beatrice Cannon Evans and Janath Russell Cannon and printed in 1967. (Janath, by the way, is a daughter-in-law of Edwin Q. Cannon)
George Q. Cannon - a Biography - written by Davis Bitton and printed in 1999.
Other sources include several personal letters from George Q. to his wife, and Edwin’s mother, Eliza Lamercia Tenney Cannon. These were in a trunk that belonged to Eliza Tenney Cannon. These were in Edwin Q. Cannon’s possession. He gave them to his daughter Mary Cannon Barnes. Mary’s son William Cannon (Bill) Barnes transcribed these letters and printed them in a volume entitled, Letters to Eliza Tenney Cannon from her Husband George Q. Cannon. Writings by both Edwin Q. Cannon and his wife, Luella Wareing Cannon, were also used. Luella put together a rather extensive genealogical scrapbook on our ancestors which I have, and she wrote and published her own story in a book she called My Cup Runneth O’er, printed in 1969. Again, Mary Alice Barnes had much of the original information about Edwin’s life that was used in these books. Finally, some of the grandchildren of Ed and Luella have happy memories that are shared in this biography.
Unfortunately, Mary Alice Barnes Pearson died before she was able to complete this story so, as the next oldest grandchild, it has been my pleasure to continue with this project. I have the cooperation, review, and approval of my cousins in this project. If you have questions or would like further documentation of anything in this story, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Kathryn Barnes (Luke)
kvluke@hotmail.com
Edwin Quayle Cannon
EDWIN QUAYLE CANNON 1886-1971
A short biography compiled from family records, his and his wife’s writings, and recollections of his grandchildren. Compiled by his granddaughter Kathryn Barnes Luke
Success
That man is a success
Who has lived well
Laughed often
And loved much.
Who has gained the respect
And the love of children.
Who has filled his niche
And accomplished his task.
Who leaves the world
Better than he found it -
Whether by an improved poppy,
A perfect poem,
Or a reached soul,
Who never lacked appreciation
Of earth's beauty Or failed to express it.
Who looked for the best in others
And gave the best he had.
- Robert Louis Stevenson
(Copied from Ed's personal notebook. It was a favorite guide in his life)
This describes Edwin Quayle Cannon! Ed was born 7 September 1886, the third son of George Quayle Cannon and his third wife, Eliza Lamercia Tenney Cannon. He was born on the George Q. Cannon Farm at a time when federal agents were hounding Mormon polygamists.
The surviving Cannon Farm buildings (and many are surviving) are located today south of California Avenue, on 1000 West in Salt Lake City. On Feb. 4th, 1885, about a year and a half before Ed's birth, George Q. wrote Eliza from Salt Lake City:
"These are the days when we have an opportunity of testing the value of our religion and also of being tested ourselves. It is a blessed privilege to have the opportunity of suffering with the Saints of God. If we expect to reign with Christ we must be willing to suffer with him. Such times as these we are now having are such as we have been led to expect. The redemption of Zion will only be accomplished by the earnest labors and sufferings of the Saints, and we must make up our minds to bear our part."
She was instructed to write to him under cover through Abraham H. Cannon (fourth child of first wife Elizabeth Hoagland Cannon) at the Juvenile Instructor Office.
In March 1886, while Eliza was pregnant with Edwin, George Q. wrote the following letter (It was written one month after having been arrested in Nevada on February 13 while attempting to escape to Mexico to avoid arrest. He forfeited bail and was in hiding until he voluntarily turned himself in in September 1888.):
“My Dear Wife,
“How I would like to see and talk with you and learn how you are. I sincerely hope you are all right and that you have had no mishap. If you could only send me a line, telling me how you are it would be a great comfort to me. I pray for you constantly that no accident or evil of any kind may befall you and that you may be able to go your full time and have a child that will be healthy and perfect and full of the Holy Ghost from its birth.
“How are you and the boys and how are they doing? I hope you will find it convenient to have William go to school at Provo. The discipline there is of such a character as I am sure would do him good.
“My health is good and I am feeling well at being out of the hands of my enemies. Even the partial liberty I have I appreciate and think it far superior to being in some conditions and circumstances. I pray that we all may be kept out of the power of our enemies.
If we will only be patient, we shall see these enemies of ours go down. The Lord will not leave us to their mercy, but will stretch forth his arm in our behalf.
“Kiss the boys for me and give them my love and accept the same to yourself, my dear wife, from
Your loving Husband,
Geo. Q. Cannon”
Wives of polygamists were often summoned to court to testify against their husbands. Ed's mother was the only one of George Q. Cannon's wives who successfully avoided being subpoenaed.
For some time during her pregnancy, Eliza spent a lot of time living in Payson, Utah with her older sister, Jane Simon. When she was back on the Cannon farm, she, on more than one occasion, took baby Edwin in her arms and hid from the Marshals in the willows that grew thick along the banks of the Jordan River. For the rest of her life, her health was never very good.
Ed was the youngest of the three sons of Eliza and George Q. His oldest brother was William Tenney Cannon, born 5 September 1870 in Salt Lake City. He was named after Eliza Tenney's father, who had died of cholera about three months before she was born in Quincy, Illinois. Read Tenney was the second son, born 12 May 1875, also in Salt Lake City. Read was probably named for Eliza's grandmother. Her father's parents were William Tenney and Judith Read Tenney. Edwin was probably named after his mother's older brother, Edwin Rich Tenney, who died in Quincy, Illinois in 1857 at the age of 21.
Ed was two and one-half years old before he was able to get to know his father. In fact, the year of his birth and the one following were particularly difficult years for the whole Cannon family. In 1885, political persecution for the practice of polygamy became more intense, forcing the religious leaders into hiding. His father was then serving as first counselor to John Taylor, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He had been ordained an apostle in 1860 and subsequently served as a counselor to four Presidents, Presidents Young, Taylor, Woodruff, and Snow. By 1886 George Q. Cannon was the most sought-after political target in the Church because of his vast influence both inside and outside of the Church.
George Q., along with the other members of the First Presidency, were in hiding through most of 1888. We know that during this time he made several very brief visits to members of his family, but it is not known how many of the family members were able to meet with him during these surreptitious visits. It is certain that little Eddie was not able to spend enough time with his father to get to know him.
On September 17, 1888, George Q. turned himself in and spent the next 175 days in the Utah State Penitentiary. In the journal he kept while in prison, he recorded having many visitors, including several visits from the older children and other family members. It didn't record any of the younger children or any of his wives coming. However, on Saturday, December 1st the Warden took him to his farm for a visit. He recorded:
"On Saturday the Warden was kind enough to take me down to my house on the river to see my son Read who I was told was dying. I had a brief visit, with the Warden's permission, with my folks and my sister-in-law, Jane Simon. Read is very low. I felt well in administering to him. I took dinner at my wife Elizabeth's late residence - the best meal I have had in eleven weeks."
Read [Ed's older brother] had been seriously ill with a fever for some time, but did recover from this illness. It is probable that his father was able to see Eddie at this time, for a few minutes at least. George Q. was released from the penitentiary on February 21, 1889.
In a 20th Ward newsletter written in 1945, Ed wrote:
“My earliest memory is that of kneeling at the banister of the first balcony ‘box’ of the Salt Lake Theater and of being frightened at the tragedy being enacted on the stage. The ‘box’ was quite ample to comfortably seat six people so that the stage could be seen, and in addition had sufficient depth to permit a withdrawal from any view of what was going on. I took advantage of this means of escape from the terrible drama being enacted. In order to get to the theater, we drove the horse and buggy from the Cannon Farm to the old tithing yard, which was surrounded with a high cobble stone wall and was located just off Main Street, where the Presiding Bishop’s Office now stands.”
The Cannon Farm was a good place for a young boy to grow up. There were five homes - one for each of the five wives and her family. There were spacious lawns and gardens connecting the homes. There were other buildings, including the Cannon farm schoolhouse. On a map of the Cannon Farm as it was in the 1890s, hand-drawn by Ed’s brother Collins T. Cannon it shows a small building at the southwest corner of the farm, behind Eliza’s home, labeled ‘Wood Shed’. In Collins’ writing it says: “Ed got licked here frequently”.
In 1889 a streetcar line (called the Dinkey Car) ran out from town along 13th south so the kids could ride the streetcar into town to attend school. Then the schoolhouse became the family dining room. In 1896 the Cannon Ward was organized in the old School House/dining room and met there for two years until a new chapel was built.
Many years later Ed wrote the following concerning life on the farm:
"Father's Life on the Farm"
“During the latter years of Father's life, he was away a great deal, but due to the arrangement of family all eating together we saw a great deal of him when he was at home.
“It was during the early nineties that Father equipped the old school house as a dining room. All the families gathered together three times a day for their meals. At that time the cook was a Chinaman named Ye Sing. Fifteen minutes before mealtime the waiter rang the large school bell on top of the schoolhouse, and it was again rung five minutes before the time to start. Woe to him who was late! Sing, the cook, would stand by his meat block with his huge meat ax in hand and if the late comer cut thru the kitchen to the dining room Sing would bring down the ax on the block with exclamation "Chop 'em dam head off." On fast Sunday with the first meal at 4 p.m. after Fast meeting, you can bet there were no late comers.
“Before breakfast and before dinner in the evening the family knelt in family prayer. One evening Collins and I were playing in front of the Gashouse and forgot to come in until Father came after us. He merely lashed us three or four times with his napkin as we ran ahead of him, but the fear of his displeasure was greater than fear of the lashes.
“Sing served 'Bloston Blown Blead' Mondays, fish cakes Tuesdays, 'Black Belly pie' Thursday and 'Lice pudding' on 'Fliday'."
At another time, Ed wrote:
"One of my earliest memories of Father was being taken into his and Abram's presence with one or two of the other boys for some infraction of good behavior. The manner in which Father and our elder brother impressed us with the necessity of true repentance left no doubt or idea in our young minds that to be caught at the same offense would result in dire calamity."
There were many good times to be had on this farm for young people. Ed had five half-brothers close to his age for him to run around with (Radcliffe Quayle, Clawson Young, Espey Telle, Collins Telle, and Wilford Young). One of these five, Clawson (son of the fifth wife, Carlie) told of the activities he and his brothers took part in. There was rafting and boating on the pond, playing on an old, abandoned water wheel in the Jordan River, swimming in the swimming hole where their father swam with them on the rare occasions when he was home, ice skating in season and horses to ride. They had parties and dances frequently, a "really good" tennis court, and always enough fellows to form two teams for 'Rounders' (a game similar to softball). They also played such games as Run Sheep Run in the evenings on the spacious lawns. As they grew, older friends from town would come out to the farm for ice skating parties, dances, etc.
Even though George Q. Cannon had hired men to do the heavy work on the farm and gardeners to take care of the greenhouse, beautiful gardens and extensive lawns, and someone to take care of the teams and elegant coach, he made sure his children learned to work. All the children had their chores to do. According to his age and ability, each boy was assigned to milk and care for some of the cows. He was to separate and care for his portion of the milk and the last one done had the job of cleaning out the separator (after the family acquired one). The boys were also responsible for keeping the barns clean. Ed did his share along with his brothers. He told how his mother always kept a cow, and she taught him how to milk it when he was about six years old. He wrote, "Mother always kept chickens, generally one of the fancier breeds such as 'Silver Spangled Hamburgs' and 'Black Minorcas’.”
Ed also wrote of the family's celebration of the 24th of July. He wrote:
"I think there was no more enjoyable time had than at the family excursion to the West Jordan farm (Westover, Father called it) on the 24th of July. We got an early start necessitating very feverish activity from a very early hour so as to be ready when the carriages came around. Races and games were arranged, for Father got so much pleasure out of seeing his children contest athletically. However, the main interest centered around the luncheon held out in the orchard. If the season happened to be unusually early the June Red apples would be ripe enough to eat. I don't know why the excursion was abandoned in later years.”
Ed felt that:
"No father ever enjoyed more providing his children with things that would produce pleasure and congeniality among them. He frequently provided oranges for a feast among the children. One time he got a bunch of bananas and sat by and witnessed a banana eating race."
George Q. Cannon's birthday was always celebrated by the family with an elaborate dinner and program, and at least as early as 1895 with a nice, printed program which listed the complete menu and all the events and participants on the program. In that year, the younger children and older grandchildren all took the part of various flowers in a little skit. Ed was "Mignonette." These gatherings continued after George Q.'s death, and were held for many years on January 11th, George Q.'s birthday. It was a gathering the family looked forward to each year, and was always called "The Cannon Birthday", instead of the family reunion.
George Q. Cannon died on April 12, 1901, in Monterey, California. Ed later wrote:
"The last time that I saw father that I remember of was at a meeting at Aunt Carlie's after his return from his trip to the Sandwich Islands. (George Q. had gone to Hawaii in 1900 for the Mission Jubilee) His whole concern seemed centered in arranging his financial holdings in such a way as to provide the greatest benefit and protection to each individual of his family. He undertook the impossible in this matter however, as there is no plan of financing that is broad enough in its scope to keep funds intact for such a large group with their divergent activities and inclinations. Father's personality was so predominant and his family love so great that even years after his death we remember him and miss his example and wise council.”
Ed was just 14 years and seven months old when his father died.
Eliza, Ed's mother, had a strong streak of independence which she demonstrated a number of times. She forestalled punishment by their father by promptly punishing her boys herself when the occasion required. In 1897, she took Ed with her on the train to Taylor, Arizona to visit with the family of her older brother, Warren Tenney. And in about 1899 she took him back to the East Coast to meet his brother, Read, returning from his mission in Germany, and to Philadelphia, to see his other brother, William, graduate from medical school. George Q. demurred at letting Eddie go on two such choice trips, foreseeing correctly that the boys his age in the other families would demand similar favors. But she took him anyway and George Q. had to pacify the other boys by taking them on some of their own trips.
In 1905, his brother Read died, and in 1906 Eliza sold her house on the Cannon Farm and she and Eddie made their home with William T. Cannon, her eldest son, at 530 East South Temple.
Ed attended the Grant Elementary School and LDS High School, after which he worked for a while for the D & RGW and Union Pacific Railroads, and Western Union as a telegraph operator. While doing this he was transferred to several different locations, including Thistle, Utah; Cokeville, Wyoming; and Pocatello and Weiser, Idaho.
He then enrolled at the University of Utah. In a newsletter for the 20th Ward in 1945, he wrote:
“During my first year there, I regularly passed a red-haired girl on my way from the Library building to an 11 o’clock class in the Science building. She was on her way to a class in the Library building. Not having made her acquaintance, I could no more than look at her. I was introduced to her later in the year at a dance incident to the opening of the new (now old) gym. That was her last year at the “U” for she graduated. In spite of the separation in school activities, I managed to meet her from time to time despite her school teaching activity and the competition of some more favorably situated fellows. In the summer of 1907, I had to leave the field to the rest of them to answer a call to a mission in Germany. From that vantage point, I demonstrated the sanity of regular, but not too frequent letters, because upon my return home after an absence of three years, I found I was still in the running. Luella Wareing, the girl referred to, and I, in due course, became engaged and a year later, on June 21, 1911, we were married.”
His schooling at the “U” was somewhat limited because he left school to go back to work. The summer of 1907, he and two of his half-brothers (Wilf and Collie) went to Cherry Creek, Nevada to work for the Imperial Mining Co. He received his mission call by mail when he arrived in Cherry Creek. In a letter to Luella from Cherry Creek, dated July 22nd, 1907, he wrote:
“We had a great trip from Salt Lake, we got lost three times and were tied up on the desert three days with only enough water for one day, and only escaped choking to death by a mere chance, that chance being a good team. It took us ten days when we only expected to be six.
Later in the same letter he went on:
“I expect to be home in about twenty days as I am called to go on a mission to Germany & Switzerland about August 28th. You can’t imagine my anger at receiving a call on the day of my arrival here. I don’t see why the[y] couldn’t have sent it three days sooner, then I wouldn’t have left Zion to come out to this God-forsaken hole.”
The mission call was to the Swiss-German Mission where he served from 1907 to 1910. When he and his mother determined he should go on a mission, they knew she would likely not live to see him return. She died when he had been in the mission field for about six months. He left Salt Lake on August 14, 1907, by train and traveled to Chicago, where he spent several days. From there he went to Niagara Falls, then on to Boston, where he spent a few days before his ship sailed. They landed in Liverpool, then on to London, then crossed the Channel to Holland where he spent a couple of days in Rotterdam visiting with his older brother, Sylvester, who was serving as president of the Holland Mission. He went on to Brussels and stayed a day or two with his brother Clawson, who was serving a mission there. When he finally arrived in Zurich, the mission headquarters, he was assigned to go to Tilsit. In route to Tilsit, Ed spent a couple of days in Berlin where he visited with his brother Tracy Y., who was there studying music. In Tilsit, Brother Hermann Babbel was his first companion. Brother Babbel later immigrated to Salt Lake where he had a home on the corner of 1st Avenue and A street. He was a tailor by trade and had his shop in his home. He and Ed remained life-long friends.
Success
That man is a success
Who has lived well
Laughed often
And loved much.
Who has gained the respect
And the love of children.
Who has filled his niche
And accomplished his task.
Who leaves the world
Better than he found it -
Whether by an improved poppy,
A perfect poem,
Or a reached soul,
Who never lacked appreciation
Of earth's beauty Or failed to express it.
Who looked for the best in others
And gave the best he had.
- Robert Louis Stevenson
(Copied from Ed's personal notebook. It was a favorite guide in his life)
This describes Edwin Quayle Cannon! Ed was born 7 September 1886, the third son of George Quayle Cannon and his third wife, Eliza Lamercia Tenney Cannon. He was born on the George Q. Cannon Farm at a time when federal agents were hounding Mormon polygamists.
The surviving Cannon Farm buildings (and many are surviving) are located today south of California Avenue, on 1000 West in Salt Lake City. On Feb. 4th, 1885, about a year and a half before Ed's birth, George Q. wrote Eliza from Salt Lake City:
"These are the days when we have an opportunity of testing the value of our religion and also of being tested ourselves. It is a blessed privilege to have the opportunity of suffering with the Saints of God. If we expect to reign with Christ we must be willing to suffer with him. Such times as these we are now having are such as we have been led to expect. The redemption of Zion will only be accomplished by the earnest labors and sufferings of the Saints, and we must make up our minds to bear our part."
She was instructed to write to him under cover through Abraham H. Cannon (fourth child of first wife Elizabeth Hoagland Cannon) at the Juvenile Instructor Office.
In March 1886, while Eliza was pregnant with Edwin, George Q. wrote the following letter (It was written one month after having been arrested in Nevada on February 13 while attempting to escape to Mexico to avoid arrest. He forfeited bail and was in hiding until he voluntarily turned himself in in September 1888.):
“My Dear Wife,
“How I would like to see and talk with you and learn how you are. I sincerely hope you are all right and that you have had no mishap. If you could only send me a line, telling me how you are it would be a great comfort to me. I pray for you constantly that no accident or evil of any kind may befall you and that you may be able to go your full time and have a child that will be healthy and perfect and full of the Holy Ghost from its birth.
“How are you and the boys and how are they doing? I hope you will find it convenient to have William go to school at Provo. The discipline there is of such a character as I am sure would do him good.
“My health is good and I am feeling well at being out of the hands of my enemies. Even the partial liberty I have I appreciate and think it far superior to being in some conditions and circumstances. I pray that we all may be kept out of the power of our enemies.
If we will only be patient, we shall see these enemies of ours go down. The Lord will not leave us to their mercy, but will stretch forth his arm in our behalf.
“Kiss the boys for me and give them my love and accept the same to yourself, my dear wife, from
Your loving Husband,
Geo. Q. Cannon”
Wives of polygamists were often summoned to court to testify against their husbands. Ed's mother was the only one of George Q. Cannon's wives who successfully avoided being subpoenaed.
For some time during her pregnancy, Eliza spent a lot of time living in Payson, Utah with her older sister, Jane Simon. When she was back on the Cannon farm, she, on more than one occasion, took baby Edwin in her arms and hid from the Marshals in the willows that grew thick along the banks of the Jordan River. For the rest of her life, her health was never very good.
Ed was the youngest of the three sons of Eliza and George Q. His oldest brother was William Tenney Cannon, born 5 September 1870 in Salt Lake City. He was named after Eliza Tenney's father, who had died of cholera about three months before she was born in Quincy, Illinois. Read Tenney was the second son, born 12 May 1875, also in Salt Lake City. Read was probably named for Eliza's grandmother. Her father's parents were William Tenney and Judith Read Tenney. Edwin was probably named after his mother's older brother, Edwin Rich Tenney, who died in Quincy, Illinois in 1857 at the age of 21.
Ed was two and one-half years old before he was able to get to know his father. In fact, the year of his birth and the one following were particularly difficult years for the whole Cannon family. In 1885, political persecution for the practice of polygamy became more intense, forcing the religious leaders into hiding. His father was then serving as first counselor to John Taylor, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He had been ordained an apostle in 1860 and subsequently served as a counselor to four Presidents, Presidents Young, Taylor, Woodruff, and Snow. By 1886 George Q. Cannon was the most sought-after political target in the Church because of his vast influence both inside and outside of the Church.
George Q., along with the other members of the First Presidency, were in hiding through most of 1888. We know that during this time he made several very brief visits to members of his family, but it is not known how many of the family members were able to meet with him during these surreptitious visits. It is certain that little Eddie was not able to spend enough time with his father to get to know him.
On September 17, 1888, George Q. turned himself in and spent the next 175 days in the Utah State Penitentiary. In the journal he kept while in prison, he recorded having many visitors, including several visits from the older children and other family members. It didn't record any of the younger children or any of his wives coming. However, on Saturday, December 1st the Warden took him to his farm for a visit. He recorded:
"On Saturday the Warden was kind enough to take me down to my house on the river to see my son Read who I was told was dying. I had a brief visit, with the Warden's permission, with my folks and my sister-in-law, Jane Simon. Read is very low. I felt well in administering to him. I took dinner at my wife Elizabeth's late residence - the best meal I have had in eleven weeks."
Read [Ed's older brother] had been seriously ill with a fever for some time, but did recover from this illness. It is probable that his father was able to see Eddie at this time, for a few minutes at least. George Q. was released from the penitentiary on February 21, 1889.
In a 20th Ward newsletter written in 1945, Ed wrote:
“My earliest memory is that of kneeling at the banister of the first balcony ‘box’ of the Salt Lake Theater and of being frightened at the tragedy being enacted on the stage. The ‘box’ was quite ample to comfortably seat six people so that the stage could be seen, and in addition had sufficient depth to permit a withdrawal from any view of what was going on. I took advantage of this means of escape from the terrible drama being enacted. In order to get to the theater, we drove the horse and buggy from the Cannon Farm to the old tithing yard, which was surrounded with a high cobble stone wall and was located just off Main Street, where the Presiding Bishop’s Office now stands.”
The Cannon Farm was a good place for a young boy to grow up. There were five homes - one for each of the five wives and her family. There were spacious lawns and gardens connecting the homes. There were other buildings, including the Cannon farm schoolhouse. On a map of the Cannon Farm as it was in the 1890s, hand-drawn by Ed’s brother Collins T. Cannon it shows a small building at the southwest corner of the farm, behind Eliza’s home, labeled ‘Wood Shed’. In Collins’ writing it says: “Ed got licked here frequently”.
In 1889 a streetcar line (called the Dinkey Car) ran out from town along 13th south so the kids could ride the streetcar into town to attend school. Then the schoolhouse became the family dining room. In 1896 the Cannon Ward was organized in the old School House/dining room and met there for two years until a new chapel was built.
Many years later Ed wrote the following concerning life on the farm:
"Father's Life on the Farm"
“During the latter years of Father's life, he was away a great deal, but due to the arrangement of family all eating together we saw a great deal of him when he was at home.
“It was during the early nineties that Father equipped the old school house as a dining room. All the families gathered together three times a day for their meals. At that time the cook was a Chinaman named Ye Sing. Fifteen minutes before mealtime the waiter rang the large school bell on top of the schoolhouse, and it was again rung five minutes before the time to start. Woe to him who was late! Sing, the cook, would stand by his meat block with his huge meat ax in hand and if the late comer cut thru the kitchen to the dining room Sing would bring down the ax on the block with exclamation "Chop 'em dam head off." On fast Sunday with the first meal at 4 p.m. after Fast meeting, you can bet there were no late comers.
“Before breakfast and before dinner in the evening the family knelt in family prayer. One evening Collins and I were playing in front of the Gashouse and forgot to come in until Father came after us. He merely lashed us three or four times with his napkin as we ran ahead of him, but the fear of his displeasure was greater than fear of the lashes.
“Sing served 'Bloston Blown Blead' Mondays, fish cakes Tuesdays, 'Black Belly pie' Thursday and 'Lice pudding' on 'Fliday'."
At another time, Ed wrote:
"One of my earliest memories of Father was being taken into his and Abram's presence with one or two of the other boys for some infraction of good behavior. The manner in which Father and our elder brother impressed us with the necessity of true repentance left no doubt or idea in our young minds that to be caught at the same offense would result in dire calamity."
There were many good times to be had on this farm for young people. Ed had five half-brothers close to his age for him to run around with (Radcliffe Quayle, Clawson Young, Espey Telle, Collins Telle, and Wilford Young). One of these five, Clawson (son of the fifth wife, Carlie) told of the activities he and his brothers took part in. There was rafting and boating on the pond, playing on an old, abandoned water wheel in the Jordan River, swimming in the swimming hole where their father swam with them on the rare occasions when he was home, ice skating in season and horses to ride. They had parties and dances frequently, a "really good" tennis court, and always enough fellows to form two teams for 'Rounders' (a game similar to softball). They also played such games as Run Sheep Run in the evenings on the spacious lawns. As they grew, older friends from town would come out to the farm for ice skating parties, dances, etc.
Even though George Q. Cannon had hired men to do the heavy work on the farm and gardeners to take care of the greenhouse, beautiful gardens and extensive lawns, and someone to take care of the teams and elegant coach, he made sure his children learned to work. All the children had their chores to do. According to his age and ability, each boy was assigned to milk and care for some of the cows. He was to separate and care for his portion of the milk and the last one done had the job of cleaning out the separator (after the family acquired one). The boys were also responsible for keeping the barns clean. Ed did his share along with his brothers. He told how his mother always kept a cow, and she taught him how to milk it when he was about six years old. He wrote, "Mother always kept chickens, generally one of the fancier breeds such as 'Silver Spangled Hamburgs' and 'Black Minorcas’.”
Ed also wrote of the family's celebration of the 24th of July. He wrote:
"I think there was no more enjoyable time had than at the family excursion to the West Jordan farm (Westover, Father called it) on the 24th of July. We got an early start necessitating very feverish activity from a very early hour so as to be ready when the carriages came around. Races and games were arranged, for Father got so much pleasure out of seeing his children contest athletically. However, the main interest centered around the luncheon held out in the orchard. If the season happened to be unusually early the June Red apples would be ripe enough to eat. I don't know why the excursion was abandoned in later years.”
Ed felt that:
"No father ever enjoyed more providing his children with things that would produce pleasure and congeniality among them. He frequently provided oranges for a feast among the children. One time he got a bunch of bananas and sat by and witnessed a banana eating race."
George Q. Cannon's birthday was always celebrated by the family with an elaborate dinner and program, and at least as early as 1895 with a nice, printed program which listed the complete menu and all the events and participants on the program. In that year, the younger children and older grandchildren all took the part of various flowers in a little skit. Ed was "Mignonette." These gatherings continued after George Q.'s death, and were held for many years on January 11th, George Q.'s birthday. It was a gathering the family looked forward to each year, and was always called "The Cannon Birthday", instead of the family reunion.
George Q. Cannon died on April 12, 1901, in Monterey, California. Ed later wrote:
"The last time that I saw father that I remember of was at a meeting at Aunt Carlie's after his return from his trip to the Sandwich Islands. (George Q. had gone to Hawaii in 1900 for the Mission Jubilee) His whole concern seemed centered in arranging his financial holdings in such a way as to provide the greatest benefit and protection to each individual of his family. He undertook the impossible in this matter however, as there is no plan of financing that is broad enough in its scope to keep funds intact for such a large group with their divergent activities and inclinations. Father's personality was so predominant and his family love so great that even years after his death we remember him and miss his example and wise council.”
Ed was just 14 years and seven months old when his father died.
Eliza, Ed's mother, had a strong streak of independence which she demonstrated a number of times. She forestalled punishment by their father by promptly punishing her boys herself when the occasion required. In 1897, she took Ed with her on the train to Taylor, Arizona to visit with the family of her older brother, Warren Tenney. And in about 1899 she took him back to the East Coast to meet his brother, Read, returning from his mission in Germany, and to Philadelphia, to see his other brother, William, graduate from medical school. George Q. demurred at letting Eddie go on two such choice trips, foreseeing correctly that the boys his age in the other families would demand similar favors. But she took him anyway and George Q. had to pacify the other boys by taking them on some of their own trips.
In 1905, his brother Read died, and in 1906 Eliza sold her house on the Cannon Farm and she and Eddie made their home with William T. Cannon, her eldest son, at 530 East South Temple.
Ed attended the Grant Elementary School and LDS High School, after which he worked for a while for the D & RGW and Union Pacific Railroads, and Western Union as a telegraph operator. While doing this he was transferred to several different locations, including Thistle, Utah; Cokeville, Wyoming; and Pocatello and Weiser, Idaho.
He then enrolled at the University of Utah. In a newsletter for the 20th Ward in 1945, he wrote:
“During my first year there, I regularly passed a red-haired girl on my way from the Library building to an 11 o’clock class in the Science building. She was on her way to a class in the Library building. Not having made her acquaintance, I could no more than look at her. I was introduced to her later in the year at a dance incident to the opening of the new (now old) gym. That was her last year at the “U” for she graduated. In spite of the separation in school activities, I managed to meet her from time to time despite her school teaching activity and the competition of some more favorably situated fellows. In the summer of 1907, I had to leave the field to the rest of them to answer a call to a mission in Germany. From that vantage point, I demonstrated the sanity of regular, but not too frequent letters, because upon my return home after an absence of three years, I found I was still in the running. Luella Wareing, the girl referred to, and I, in due course, became engaged and a year later, on June 21, 1911, we were married.”
His schooling at the “U” was somewhat limited because he left school to go back to work. The summer of 1907, he and two of his half-brothers (Wilf and Collie) went to Cherry Creek, Nevada to work for the Imperial Mining Co. He received his mission call by mail when he arrived in Cherry Creek. In a letter to Luella from Cherry Creek, dated July 22nd, 1907, he wrote:
“We had a great trip from Salt Lake, we got lost three times and were tied up on the desert three days with only enough water for one day, and only escaped choking to death by a mere chance, that chance being a good team. It took us ten days when we only expected to be six.
Later in the same letter he went on:
“I expect to be home in about twenty days as I am called to go on a mission to Germany & Switzerland about August 28th. You can’t imagine my anger at receiving a call on the day of my arrival here. I don’t see why the[y] couldn’t have sent it three days sooner, then I wouldn’t have left Zion to come out to this God-forsaken hole.”
The mission call was to the Swiss-German Mission where he served from 1907 to 1910. When he and his mother determined he should go on a mission, they knew she would likely not live to see him return. She died when he had been in the mission field for about six months. He left Salt Lake on August 14, 1907, by train and traveled to Chicago, where he spent several days. From there he went to Niagara Falls, then on to Boston, where he spent a few days before his ship sailed. They landed in Liverpool, then on to London, then crossed the Channel to Holland where he spent a couple of days in Rotterdam visiting with his older brother, Sylvester, who was serving as president of the Holland Mission. He went on to Brussels and stayed a day or two with his brother Clawson, who was serving a mission there. When he finally arrived in Zurich, the mission headquarters, he was assigned to go to Tilsit. In route to Tilsit, Ed spent a couple of days in Berlin where he visited with his brother Tracy Y., who was there studying music. In Tilsit, Brother Hermann Babbel was his first companion. Brother Babbel later immigrated to Salt Lake where he had a home on the corner of 1st Avenue and A street. He was a tailor by trade and had his shop in his home. He and Ed remained life-long friends.
Edwin Quayle Cannon as a missionary, signed
“Love Ed, Frankfort Main, Oct 14th, 1909
Serving a mission in Germany at that time was a difficult undertaking. The governments of the various provinces did not accept the Church, and proselyting by the missionaries was against the law. The missionaries were registered in the country as students, and if they were caught proselyting, or were turned in to the police by neighbors as being missionaries they were banished from the province. They had to be very careful. One way the missionaries kept "secrets" was to speak ‘Pig Latin’ among themselves. They were building a strong base of membership in the Church despite the difficulties. After a couple of months in Tilsit, he was re-assigned to Königsberg.
In notes from his mission he tells of ice skating, roller skating, and sword fighting. He also attended an air show in Frankfurt and took a trip to Heidelberg. He attended operas and theater. His complete mission journal has been transcribed by his grandson Bob Cannon and can be accessed at: http://cannundrum.blogspot.com/search/label/index%20%20cannon%20family
At the conclusion of his mission, Ed, his brother Wilf, and two other missionaries who were released at the same time, made the "Grand Tour," touring much of Europe, then going to Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Egypt, and Palestine.
Soon after his return from Germany, William and Ed bought an interest in the Salt Lake Stamp Company, with money that came from their share of the proceeds from the sale of George Q. Cannon and Sons (which later became the Deseret Book Company). Ed became its President and manager and remained so for almost forty years.
It didn't take long after his mission for Ed to become engaged to Luella Wareing, whom he had corresponded with throughout his mission. Elder Joseph F. Smith, then President of the Church, performed their wedding in the Salt Lake Temple on June 21, 1911. Following the ceremony, they had a wedding breakfast in Ed’s brother William’s home and a reception that evening in Luella’s parents’ home on 5th Avenue. Ed's brother, Rad (Radcliffe Quayle, son of fourth wife, Martha Telle Cannon) married Maude Jennings Riter on 22 June 1911, and the two brothers plus another friend and their new brides went on their honeymoon together. They spent several days in three cabins owned by family friends in Brighton Canyon, Utah where they hiked to some of the lakes, did some fishing, played cards, and enjoyed playing and singing to the organ, which was found in one of the cabins. They hung a sign on the outside of the cabin saying, "JUST MARRIED - the agony is now over."
Ed and Luella first lived briefly in a home on Fourth East, then moved into an apartment in the home of his brother William, which was located at 530 E South Temple. They then built a home at 231 D Street in 1913. It was in this home that all three of their children were born and raised, and eventually, where both Ed and Luella died.
The year following the move to their new home, which was just half a block from Luella's parents' home, their first child was born. Their daughter, Mary Alice, was born on 24 May 1914. Four years later, on 6 May 1918, a son, Edwin (Ted) Quayle Cannon Jr., was born. A few months after Ted's birth the deadly influenza epidemic hit Salt Lake City. Luella became sick and lost her milk. Ed's brother, Collins T. (Collie) and his wife, Ida May lived across the street and had a baby, Bud (Collins T. Jr.) who was just couple of months older than Ted. Ida May was able to nurse Ted along with her own son. Seven years later, on 10 April 1925, their third (and last) child, William Wareing Cannon, was born. The births of all three children were attended by Ed's older brother, Dr. William T. Cannon.
The Cannon's led an active social life. For a number of years, they went dancing once a month as members of the Bonneville Knife and Fork Club. They would dress up, with the women wearing formals and the men in tuxedos and the group would have dinner then spend the evening dancing.
In the 1930's when B. H. Roberts' "History of the Church" was first published, Vida Fox Clawson, who was a widow at the time, approached Ed and Luella and asked them to arrange a study group in their home to study that history. Among those attending the first meeting were B. H. Roberts, Judge Oscar McConkie and his wife, and Mr. and Mrs. Henry D. Moyle. They decided to rotate homes and meet monthly. The hostess would provide the refreshments and the host would give the lesson. When Bryant S. Hinckley joined the group, he enjoyed giving the lesson, so he was invited to be the teacher. The group finally became too large to meet in the homes, so they started meeting at the Lion House. This group continues as the Cannon/Hinckley Church History group. Throughout the years, many prominent Church leaders have been members.
Ed was successful in business and turned the Salt Lake Stamp Company into a very successful venture. In addition to the Stamp Company, he held several other prominent positions. He was a leader in civic affairs, service clubs, and in politics. He was one of the founders of the Business Men's Alliance, and of the Executives Association of Salt Lake City. He was a charter member of the Salt Lake Kiwanis Club. He was on the Advisory Board for the Salvation Army, was involved with the Boys Clubs, and a member of the Sons of Utah Pioneers, where he served as President in 1955.
Ed was equally active serving in church callings. He held many leadership positions in the auxiliaries and Priesthood Quorums. He served as one of the Seven Presidents of the Thirteenth Quorum of Seventies in the 20th Ward area for many years. On May 22, 1938, he was put in as the Bishop of the 20th Ward. His first counselor was Lee A. Palmer, second counselor was Eldred G. Smith with Howard Cook as Ward Clerk. In December 1940, he was released as Bishop and called to serve as President of Ensign Stake. He held this position until October 1949. While serving as Stake President, he inaugurated a Stake Farm project which had its beginnings on south Second West, then later moved to 11th West, just north of 33rd South. During the years that he was Stake President, the whole family was included in trips to the Stake Farm out along the Jordan River to help pull weeds, pick corn, or thin beets - all the while swatting at mosquitoes.
He was encouraged to run for the Utah State Legislature by Pres. J. Rueben Clark, a member of Ed’s Ward and of the First Presidency of the Church, and Albert E. Bowen, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve. He was elected in 1947 and again in 1949 but left in June 1950 when he was appointed to be the Mission President of the West German Mission.
Ed served as President of the West German Mission for 39 months, from June 1950 until November 1953. At that time, the mission covered West Germany - north to Denmark, west to Holland and France, south to Switzerland, and east to the Iron Curtain. The country was still recovering from the devastation of World War II and was struggling with the political unrest caused by the control of East Germany by Russian Communists. While serving in Germany a large building program began and chapels were built in Frankfurt, Stadthagen, Munich, Hamburg, Eppendorf, Herne, Langen, Saarbrücken, and Essen. Land was acquired and plans drawn for several other chapels. They remodeled what had been the Anheuser Mansion in Frankfurt to be a beautiful new mission home. It was a bombed-out shell when they acquired it, and they made it into a beautiful home and office. In 1953 the Church was recognized by the German government. One of the highlights of their mission was the visit of President David O. McKay in June 1952.
With President and Sister McKay in Germany, June 1952
L to r: Edwin Quayle Cannon, Luella Wareing Cannon, President David O. McKay, Sister Emma McKay, Mildred McKay, Lawrence McKay
After returning from Germany, he served as a Salt Lake County Commissioner for ten years, from 1954 to 1964. This was a time when many decisions were made which greatly affected the future of the county. Ed Cannon was instrumental in making many of these decisions. There was much pressure to build the Salt Palace Convention Center at other locations in the valley, but he wisely influenced the decision to build it in downtown Salt Lake City. The State Penitentiary on 21st South and 13th East was torn down and replaced by the then new facility at the Point of the Mountain. Many different uses were being recommended for the old prison property. He responded to the appeal of the Sons of Utah Pioneers to turn it into a public park and his strong influence resulted in the creation of Sugar House Park. The Metropolitan Hall of Justice in downtown Salt Lake City was also started during his term in office. He participated in the ground-breaking for that facility.
He later became a sealer in the Salt Lake Temple for a number of years. In this capacity, on September 16, 1966, he performed the wedding ceremony for his granddaughter, Kathryn Barnes.
His administration of the Ensign Stake Farm, the Salt Lake Stamp Co., and Salt Lake County government demonstrated his innate fairness. He guided the Stamp Co. through the depression by reducing his own intake to assist others in staying afloat during that very difficult period. While administering the affairs of the Stake Farm, he would never ask others to do what he was unwilling to do. He was often observed taking the lead in dangerous and/or dirty tasks. One such example was the time Ed crawled into a tight culvert to break up an obstacle which impeded the flow of water. It seemed like a dangerous job, but he went at it with complete confidence. As a County Commissioner, he was given a county car for his use but after a couple of years, when he was told he needed to replace this car with a new one, he refused. He continued to drive the older model Buick, much to the consternation of his fellow commissioners. Ed's son, Bill, tells of how Democrat Marv Jensen, who served alongside the Republican Ed as County Commissioner, said, "Ed Cannon was one of the fairest men I have ever had anything to do with."
Ed enjoyed activities that increased physical fitness. While on his first mission to Germany, the missionaries often got together and held races, jumping contests, walks in the forest, etc. He was a long-time member of the Deseret Gym and would meet regularly each week to play volleyball. During fair weather, he would often walk to work. At lunch time, he had his meal at home followed by a short nap, usually on the small bed on the back porch. He claimed this helped his digestion and increased his ability to concentrate. He had a healthy and varied diet and used food supplements that he felt would assist him in remaining healthy and feeling good. One of these was alfalfa tea. He felt that it was beneficial to drink several glasses of water at the start of each day. He loved buttermilk, and during a period prior to World War II, he often took his family to Colville Ice Cream, located on the south side of First South between West Temple and Second West (where the Salt Palace stands). He would purchase ice cream cones for everyone except his son, Bill; then he and Bill would proceed to drink cold buttermilk, at the bargain price of five cents per glass. Grandfather’s taste in foods amused his grandchildren. Bill Barnes remembers a time when he stayed at their home for several days. Grandmother would ask if Bill would like a particular food, and Grandfather would respond, “Of course he would.” Bill, like all of us, could never say no to Grandfather so he ate cooked carrots and other foods he would never eat at home. Grandfather ate turkey gizzards and Chow Chow pickles at Thanksgiving dinner. He liked sauerkraut and strange cheeses. In fact, there were very few foods he did not enjoy.
Ed inherited a love of animals from his mother and passed it on to his children. They always had pets. There were many cats and dogs, and at various times, chickens, rabbits, and ducks. For a while they had a family of goats that were a gift from Uncle William. Ted also had a monkey and a parrot that he won from a radio station contest. At one time Ted had arranged to buy a horse for an extremely reasonable price and figured it could graze in the vacant lot next door, (where they later built a rental duplex), but his mother finally put her foot down.
Ed’s family was extremely important to him, and they enjoyed many activities together. When their family was young, they often went camping over the 4th of July. In 1918 when Ted was just two months old, they were camping and fishing up in Daniels Canyon for the 4th of July holiday. And in 1920 they were up American Fork Canyon for the 4th of July.
At least one summer while the children were all still at home, they went to Monticello to vacation with Judge Oscar McConkie’s family at their ranch. Mary often talked about this trip up into the Abajo (or Blue) Mountains where they made up one big, long bedroll and all of them (both families) slept in this one long bed.
Because of his ownership of Salt Lake Stamp Company, Ed joined the Marking Device Association. They held annual conventions in various places around the country. Ed went to most of the conventions, occasionally taking the family with him. He and Luella went to the East Coast in 1920, taking Luella's father, George Wareing, with them. On this trip they went to the Church history sights in New York and to Niagara Falls.
The next year, in June 1921 he piled his own three children, Luella, her two sisters, Norma and Lucille, and her mother Mary Ann Critchlow Wareing, all the camping gear and food into the car for a trip to the Grand Canyon. He had made two long wooden boxes to fit on the running boards of the car to hold all their equipment. They went to Bryce and Zion Canyons and stopped in St. George to visit the temple and then went on to the Grand Canyon. On the way back, the car broke down up on the Kaibab Plateau. Someone came along and towed them into Kanab where they had to camp for three weeks waiting for the part to fix the car to be shipped from Salt Lake.
In the summer of 1929 the family, including the three children, Luella, her mother Mary and her youngest sister, Lucille, drove back to the East Coast to a Marking Device Association convention in Providence, Rhode Island. Paved roads were a rare occurrence and were worth commenting on in the journal they kept of that trip. They were gone for five weeks and visited all the church history sites in the Midwest and the East, visited relatives and friends all along the way and conducted Stamp Company business in several places. They saw the sights in Washington D.C. and Mount Vernon. They visited the dirigible base at Lakehurst, New Jersey, (where on May 6, 1937, the German Airship, Hindenburg caught fire and was destroyed). They went swimming in the ocean at Atlantic City, stayed with relatives in New York City, took the train to Boston where they toured the city, visited Concord and Lexington and Plymouth. They returned to New York by overnight boat and then attended the Convention in Providence. One of the sessions of the convention was a clambake at a country club out on Narragansett Bay where a photograph of the whole group was taken. While they were in Providence, a reporter from the Providence newspaper called and wanted Luella to consent to be interviewed. She had found out that they were Mormons from Utah, and that Ed was the son of George Q. Cannon. The article was published the following day. After the convention, they went to the birthplace of Joseph Smith in Vermont where they spent the 4th of July, then crossed Lake Champlain and toured the Adirondacks. They went to Palmyra, then Niagara Falls, and finally headed home. A car trip such as this in those days was uncommon and difficult, but it was a treasured memory.
In 1936, Ed and Luella went east again. This time Mary was married, so just Ted and Bill went along. On this trip they visited Luella's brother George and his wife Dora, and their daughters Elaine and baby Barbara in Cleveland. They also visited her other brother Clarence, and his wife Ruth, in Rochester New York. On that trip they went to a Major League baseball game between the World Champion New York Yankees and the Cleveland Indians. Players included the home run king and MVP of 1936, Lou Gehrig, in addition to future Hall of Famers, Joe DiMaggio (Yankee) and Bob Feller (the young pitcher for the Cleveland Indians).
At some point, probably in the late 1930's or early 1940's, Ed made a pack trip into Rainbow Bridge. At that time the only way to reach Rainbow Bridge was either by hiking, or by horseback across the Navaho Reservation. This was a trip very few people made, unlike today when it is easily accessed from Lake Powell.
The 1930‘s brought changes to the Cannon family. Mary graduated from the University of Utah, and on her father's birthday, September 7, 1935, she married Robert (Bob) H. Barnes in the Salt Lake Temple. (Incidentally, that was also Bob's mother's birthday and the anniversary of Luella’s parent’s wedding). Ed and Luella's first grandchild was born March 19, 1937, to Mary and Bob. She was named Mary Alice after her mother. The doctor who delivered her was Ed's brother, William T. Cannon. He had also delivered all three of Ed and Luella's children.
The latter part of 1937, Ed’s son Edwin Q. Jr. (Ted), received his mission call to the German Mission. He left the end of January in 1938, and experienced Germany during the lead up to World War II. This must have been a worrisome time for his family at home. By the first part of September in 1939 the war was on, and the German missionaries were sent back to the United States and Canada. He finished his mission in Ontario, Canada. It was here that he got to know his future wife, Janath Russell, who had been serving a mission in France and was also evacuated to Canada to finish her mission.
Ted and Janath were married on 13 August 1941 in the Salt Lake Temple. Within four months of their marriage the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and the United States was at war. They went off to Camp Lee, Virginia where Ted attended Quartermaster School - a welcome alternative to going overseas.
In the meantime, Ed’s son William Wareing (Bill) completed high school and enrolled in the University of Utah. He had the opportunity to enroll in the V-12 program, which allowed him to join the Navy, and enroll at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. While there, Bill was hit by a car and very seriously injured. Ed and Luella were on the train headed for Chicago almost immediately. Ed stayed for a few days then had to return home, leaving Luella to care for Bill.
By 1942, Bill and Ted were both in the military and far away from home. Also in that year, on July 20th, Bob and Mary had their second daughter, Kathryn (she was the last baby delivered by Ed's brother, William T. Cannon).
When the war ended, Ted went to work as an officer and full-time employee at the Stamp Co. Then, when Ed received his call to preside over the West German Mission, Bill agreed to come into the business.
For Ed, or “Pop”, or “Grandfather”, as he was known, traditions were important. One of the most cherished traditions was the celebration of Christmas. On Christmas Eve the family would gather in his and Luella’s home about 5:00 in the evening. In the early years, Luella's parents and her brothers and sisters and their families who lived in Salt Lake were always included. If Jack Sears (a very close friend and well-known artist) and his wife were in Salt Lake, they were invited. Later, as grandchildren came along, there was often a re-enactment of the nativity scene and performances on various musical instruments. Then presents would be exchanged. There was always an abundance of good food to eat. This was an evening the grandkids would look forward to all year.
While Luella's parents were living, Christmas Day afternoon was spent at their home at 373 5th Avenue, one half block from Ed and Luella’s home. There was a big Christmas dinner, and it was great fun getting together with all the cousins. For many years, New Year's Day meant another big dinner next door to the Luella’s parents at Tom and Norma (Luella’s sister) Brown’s home.
Sunday evenings were often spent together. At times, the family would get together at Tom and Norma's for the evening where singing was the highlight. Tom had been in Vaudeville before marrying Norma and had a very good voice. Lucille's husband, Mac, also had a good voice, as did Ed & Luella's sons, Ted and Bill. There were several songs that were old standbys. "When You and I Were Young, Maggie" was a particular favorite, and "Carry Me Back to Old Virginy" was always sung.
Summer Sunday evenings, saw the family frequently gather on the large front porch at Ed & Luella's. There was a glider swing at the far end with a number of chairs filling in the rest of the porch. The brick wall on the porch made good seats if there was a large crowd. Granddaughter Ann remembers arguing over who would get to sit on the glider swing and how “Pop” took delight in giving a squeeze on our leg just above the knee to make us squirm. Myra remembers Sunday visits on the porch when Grandmother would pass around the See’s Chocolates - we could have “just one”!
On other occasions the family gathered in the back yard. The big green Adirondack chairs were great to sit on. A cherry tree and two big old Astrakhan apple trees were great for climbing and provided shade for much of the yard. (These apple trees also yielded small apples with a wonderful flavor for applesauce, apple pies, and jelly.) Grapevines covered the area next to the house where tables of food were usually set up.
Ed Cannon had a true love of adventure and never seemed afraid of anything. He bought a car soon after he was married and enjoyed driving out in the country. He liked to go to Pelican Point on Utah Lake to fish for catfish, often taking Luella and the children with him, and in later years, taking some of the grandchildren. He used to go deer hunting every year and would go pheasant and duck hunting and even rabbit hunting on occasion. Early on he started what became a traditional rabbit hunt on Armistice Day (now Veterans Day), and all the fellows who worked for him at Salt Lake Stamp would go. This tradition lasted for many years.
While Ed was serving in the State Legislature, he drew out in the annual antelope license lottery. Once he took Ted and Bill up into Daggett County where he bagged a 210-pound buck. The amazing thing is that the three of them made the approximately 500-mile trip in Ted's small Crosley automobile, bringing the big antelope home with them and meriting a picture in the newspaper. In the caption under the picture, the reporter stated: "Rep. Cannon is one of the most ardent fish and game boosters on the current legislative roster."
One fun story that has been passed down was about a drive out to the Uintah Basin. The narrow dirt road, which has now become Highway 40, was dusty and the day was hot and dry. They soon caught up with a car with an eastern license plate which was going slowly and refused to move over to allow Grandfather to pass. Obviously, this car did not want to “eat the dust” and was going to stay in the lead. After several unsuccessful attempts to pass, Ed reached under the seat and pulled out the pistol that he kept there. He unrolled the window, aimed the gun straight up into the air and pulled the trigger. Never has a car moved over to be passed so quickly. Grandfather laughed as he recalled the way he taught that “Easterner” about the “Wild West”.
He taught his children to shoot. He set up a shooting range in their basement where they could practice. When Mary was in her teens, he bought her a little .25 caliber pistol. He taught her to shoot, and wanted her to carry it in her purse, but she refused. Several of his grandchildren would borrow his .22 rifle to go rabbit hunting.
It was Ed and Luella who took the grandkids (and their parents) to the Shrine Circus when it came to town, to the Days of '47 Parades, to the Zoo and to see the trains down behind the Union Pacific Depot. Sometimes they just went for a ride in the evening to get an ice cream cone, or to follow a dirt road somewhere just to see where it went. All the grandchildren recall numerous rides. Grandfather always drove - Grandmother never even had a driver license - yet she never hesitated to give him directions. We often heard her say, “Oh, Ed, slow down!”
While he was serving as County Commissioner, several of the younger grandchildren and older great-grandchildren remember going to his office after the Days of ‘47 Children’s Parade. His secretary got popsicles for all of them.
Labor Day was another day for a family get-together. In addition to the holiday, it was a celebration of Ed's birthday (Sept 7th). After he and his sons acquired the ranch in Oakley, this gathering was always held there. The family also gathered at the ranch on the 4th of July. They would attend and/or participate in the Oakley Parade in the morning. This was followed by either a big lunch at the ranch or, on occasion, lunch and a program at the Oakley Ward house. Some of the grandchildren participated in the Kids Rodeo, winning chickens or a pig, or getting thrown from a calf. This 4th of July tradition continues.
There were several visits to Southern Utah over the years. In 1947, Ed’s son Ted had been invited to run the Colorado River from Moab to Lees Ferry with Don Harris and Jack Brennan (Harris & Brennan River Expeditions). They were going to put into the river at Moab on July 5th, and Ed and Luella decided to go down and camp with them the night before to see them off. They stopped in to visit Mary and Bob the night before they were going to leave and invited them to come also. The answer was, “no “. But apparently after the ‘folks’ left, and the Barnes children had been put to bed, Bob and Mary talked it over again and decided to go. They woke the children early the next morning and left. Everybody camped on the old sand dunes just north of the river. The next morning the boats were loaded, and the boaters took off down the river. Trip member Al Morton filmed the trip, and the film later won an award at some film festival.
In April 1947, Bill and his wife Marg were called on a mission to Hawaii. The following spring, as Bill was serving as 2nd counselor to the Mission President, Ed and Luella spent 2 months visiting the Islands.
After the Villa Theater opened in December of 1949, Ed and Luella took the whole family, including the grandchildren, to the big movies which opened there. It was exciting to see the new Cinerama movies including "Around the World in 80 Days," "The Ten Commandments” and, Ann especially recalls, “How the West Was Won”.
In 1956, Ed and Luella, Ed's niece, Marjorie Pingree, and her husband Fred, and son John, started off on another adventure. They drove from Salt Lake, down through Mexico, to Guatemala to pick up the Pingree's oldest son, Toby, at the completion of his mission.
At some point in the 1950’s, they also added to the growing list of travels by taking a trip to Alaska. They loved all their great adventures.
In August of 1957, Ed and Luella decided that the entire family should take a trip to Yellowstone together. Each of their children had a big station wagon, and Ed & Luella took turns riding in the different wagons. At this time Mary, Ted, and Bill each had five children. The first night’s camp was at Tony Grove, a big camping area in Logan Canyon. Then on to Grand Teton National Park where the family camped at the new campground at Colter Bay. There were boats that would take visitors out for a cruise on the lake, so the whole family went on a cruise. The next stop was in Yellowstone, where it was fun to watch Grandfather feed the bears out of the car window, and to see Grandmother cautioning him frequently not to feed the bears. While camping, we chased a young bear out of camp by banging on pans and were sworn to secrecy by “Pop” so Grandmother would not be frightened. The visit to Old Faithful was a fun highlight. Everyone had lunch in the Old Faithful Lodge, sitting around one long table.
In 1964, Ed and Luella signed up to take a trip to the Holy Land over Easter. They arranged for Ted and Mary to meet them in Rome at the close of the tour and together they spent about a month touring Europe in the car Ted and Mary had picked up in Germany on their way to Rome. They toured Switzerland, Germany, England, and the Isle of Man, (where they found that the big motorcycle races were being held, and all the main roads around the island were closed to cars.) On this trip, they were able to visit Mary's daughter, Kathryn, who was serving in the French Mission.
A year or two later, Ed and Luella decided to take a tour of the Pacific Rim. They invited Ted and Janath to go with them. Janath went with them as far as Hawaii, then returned home, while Ted accompanied them for the entire trip. They spent some time in New Zealand and in Australia, where Ted and Ed met with businessmen concerning ‘Leader Tags’ (plastic ear tags for sheep and cattle that were sold and exported by Salt Lake Stamp Co.). They also went to Hong Kong and to Japan.
In 1971, Ted was called to be the President of the Swiss Mission. He and Janath left on July 10, sadly knowing that his father would probably not live to see them return. Shortly after Ted left, Ed called Ted’s home in the middle of the night (Ed’s granddaughter, Ted and Janath’s daughter Ann, was living in her parent’s home while they were away) and said, “I am locked inside the Stamp Co. and don’t know how to get out!” Ann called her Uncle Bill, and he found his father at home, hallucinating because of his advancing illness. Ed passed away within that week on 3 August 1971.
Ed was born in very trying times. He never had his father in his home and available to him on a regular basis. But from his childhood he learned a strong moral work ethic and a total devotion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He did not have advanced education or great wealth, but he ran a very successful business and was one of the top civic and political leaders in the Salt Lake Valley throughout his adult life. He was trusted, respected, and admired by all who knew him - even by his opponents. His testimony of the restored Gospel was total and unwavering. He accepted callings given to him and served faithfully. He practiced “pure religion” as defined in the book of James. He had no hypocrisy or guile. No one will ever know the countless ways he helped others, both spiritually and physically, because they were known only to those directly involved. Neither his father nor his mother saw him reach maturity or knew his wife and children, but he learned the meaning of “family”. As a husband to Luella, he was loyal and supportive. As a father to his children, he was attentive and instructive. As a grandfather he was fun and loving. He was a source of strength and an example to all of his family. Though he was soft spoken and a man of few words, he gave clear direction and insight. He found the best in others because he made them see their potential. He gave the best he had, and we are all better for having him touch our lives.
At the time of his death, on 3 August 1971, he and Luella had three children, their spouses, 18 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, as follows:
Daughter Mary Cannon Barnes, born 24 May 1914, married Robert H. Barnes 7 Sep 1937
Mary Alice Barnes Pearson, born 19 Mar 1937, married M. Ray Hansen 1st, (married R.
Clair Pearson 2nd)
Michael Ray Hansen, born 25 Dec. 1957
Paul Robert Hansen, born 19 Apr 1959
Philip Carlton Hansen, born 30 Mar 1962
Kathryn (Taffy) Barnes Luke, born 20 July 1942, married Robert G. Vernon 1st,
(married Stacy Luke 2nd)
David Vernon, born 25 Apr 1968
Linda Vernon, born 11 June 1970
Robert (Pat) Patrick Barnes, born 1 Dec. 1946
Edwin (Ted) Cannon Barnes, born 18 Dec. 1951
William (Bill) Cannon Barnes, born 27 July 1953
Son Edwin (Ted) Quayle Cannon Jr., born 6 May 1918, married Janath Russell 13
Aug 1941
Ann Cannon, born 14 Jan 1947, married Richard D. LeVitre 1967
Jonathan Brett LeVitre, born 11 Dec. 1968
Edwin (Ned) Quayle Cannon III, born 30 Nov 1948, married Lois Kay Hinckley,
1971
Melissa Cannon, born 4 Sep 1950
Russell Rich Cannon, born 24 Nov 1953
Tenney Wareing Cannon, born 19 July 1956
Myra Oertel Cannon, born 20 Apr 1957
Son William (Bill) Wareing Cannon, born 10 Apr 1925, married Margery Sorensen,
13 Sep 1946
Michael Melville Cannon, born 28 Oct 1947, married Patricia Jane Jackson 29
May 1969
David Dana Cannon, born 6 Jan 1949
Layne Wareing Cannon, born 27 Nov 1950
Wendy Cannon, born 2 Sep, 1952
Robert Wareing Cannon, born 18 Apr 1957
Merrilee Cannon, born 17 Dec. 1959
Christian Cannon, born 28 Dec. 1963
Edwin’s youngest grandchild – Matthew William Cannon was born to William Wareing Cannon and Margery Sorenson Cannon on April 3, 1973, after Edwin’s death.
MY GRANDFATHER
Final comments by Kathryn Barnes Luke, the author of this biography
I consider knowing my Grandfather Cannon one of the great blessings of my life. Because I was old enough to know him longer than most of the ‘cousins’, I would like to share a little of what made him so important in my life.
There is much I could say about the many stories he told me, or about the strange foods he liked to eat, or how I looked forward to him dropping by to take us for a ride – and the unusual places we would visit. But I choose to focus on three guidelines I received from him which have greatly influenced my life:
First
During my senior year of high school my parents gave me a Bible. In the front of the book, my mother wrote:
May 26, 1960
To Kathryn with all our love
From Mother and Dad
The following is from the fly leaf of your Grandfather’s Bible.
To
Edwin Q. Cannon
From his Father
George Q. Cannon
Christmas,
1898
“How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Refuse not instruction, reject not reproof. Love the Lord with all thy Heart.”
This has been wise guidance and has served me well. I not only appreciate the scripture (Proverbs 16:16), but the admonition. Each time I open my Bible I am reminded of where I come from and the expectations my family has for me. I know that Grandfather heeded the advice of his father. I want to follow in his footsteps.
Second
While I was in high school, Grandfather was a County Commissioner. Because the County provided a car for him to drive, he allowed me to drive his 1949 Ford. West High School was a long walk from our home and most of my friends lived several miles from me, so my mom spent a lot of time taking me to places I needed to go. When he gave me the keys to the car, he simply said that he hoped this would save my mom from spending so much time chauffeuring me. He added that he knew I would never do anything with this car that would be irresponsible. Knowing how much he trusted me was enough. I never went anywhere or did anything that I would be uncomfortable telling him about. He had a very understated, clear way of expressing his love and his expectations. He didn’t have to say a lot to get his point across.
Third
I had always assumed that I would attend the U of U as everyone else in the family had done, but during the summer before I started college, I visited BYU with a friend. I was very impressed with the school and started thinking about going there. In discussing the possibility with Grandfather, I stated that perhaps I should just go try it out and then make up my mind later. He told me to decide what I wanted to do, make sure my decision was right, and then stick to it. He said that I should not waste my time waiting to decide what was right. I learned that this is a good way to live – it saves a lot of time and frustration. I haven’t always followed this advice, but I can tell the difference in my personal growth when I have.
We often talk about the importance of a “Hero” in a person’s life. To me a hero is someone who is wise and caring and who can help you reach your potential. Grandfather was such a person in my life.
TAFFY (Kathryn Barnes Luke)
July 2000
L to r: Edwin Quayle Cannon, Luella Wareing Cannon, President David O. McKay, Sister Emma McKay, Mildred McKay, Lawrence McKay
After returning from Germany, he served as a Salt Lake County Commissioner for ten years, from 1954 to 1964. This was a time when many decisions were made which greatly affected the future of the county. Ed Cannon was instrumental in making many of these decisions. There was much pressure to build the Salt Palace Convention Center at other locations in the valley, but he wisely influenced the decision to build it in downtown Salt Lake City. The State Penitentiary on 21st South and 13th East was torn down and replaced by the then new facility at the Point of the Mountain. Many different uses were being recommended for the old prison property. He responded to the appeal of the Sons of Utah Pioneers to turn it into a public park and his strong influence resulted in the creation of Sugar House Park. The Metropolitan Hall of Justice in downtown Salt Lake City was also started during his term in office. He participated in the ground-breaking for that facility.
He later became a sealer in the Salt Lake Temple for a number of years. In this capacity, on September 16, 1966, he performed the wedding ceremony for his granddaughter, Kathryn Barnes.
His administration of the Ensign Stake Farm, the Salt Lake Stamp Co., and Salt Lake County government demonstrated his innate fairness. He guided the Stamp Co. through the depression by reducing his own intake to assist others in staying afloat during that very difficult period. While administering the affairs of the Stake Farm, he would never ask others to do what he was unwilling to do. He was often observed taking the lead in dangerous and/or dirty tasks. One such example was the time Ed crawled into a tight culvert to break up an obstacle which impeded the flow of water. It seemed like a dangerous job, but he went at it with complete confidence. As a County Commissioner, he was given a county car for his use but after a couple of years, when he was told he needed to replace this car with a new one, he refused. He continued to drive the older model Buick, much to the consternation of his fellow commissioners. Ed's son, Bill, tells of how Democrat Marv Jensen, who served alongside the Republican Ed as County Commissioner, said, "Ed Cannon was one of the fairest men I have ever had anything to do with."
Ed enjoyed activities that increased physical fitness. While on his first mission to Germany, the missionaries often got together and held races, jumping contests, walks in the forest, etc. He was a long-time member of the Deseret Gym and would meet regularly each week to play volleyball. During fair weather, he would often walk to work. At lunch time, he had his meal at home followed by a short nap, usually on the small bed on the back porch. He claimed this helped his digestion and increased his ability to concentrate. He had a healthy and varied diet and used food supplements that he felt would assist him in remaining healthy and feeling good. One of these was alfalfa tea. He felt that it was beneficial to drink several glasses of water at the start of each day. He loved buttermilk, and during a period prior to World War II, he often took his family to Colville Ice Cream, located on the south side of First South between West Temple and Second West (where the Salt Palace stands). He would purchase ice cream cones for everyone except his son, Bill; then he and Bill would proceed to drink cold buttermilk, at the bargain price of five cents per glass. Grandfather’s taste in foods amused his grandchildren. Bill Barnes remembers a time when he stayed at their home for several days. Grandmother would ask if Bill would like a particular food, and Grandfather would respond, “Of course he would.” Bill, like all of us, could never say no to Grandfather so he ate cooked carrots and other foods he would never eat at home. Grandfather ate turkey gizzards and Chow Chow pickles at Thanksgiving dinner. He liked sauerkraut and strange cheeses. In fact, there were very few foods he did not enjoy.
Ed inherited a love of animals from his mother and passed it on to his children. They always had pets. There were many cats and dogs, and at various times, chickens, rabbits, and ducks. For a while they had a family of goats that were a gift from Uncle William. Ted also had a monkey and a parrot that he won from a radio station contest. At one time Ted had arranged to buy a horse for an extremely reasonable price and figured it could graze in the vacant lot next door, (where they later built a rental duplex), but his mother finally put her foot down.
Ed’s family was extremely important to him, and they enjoyed many activities together. When their family was young, they often went camping over the 4th of July. In 1918 when Ted was just two months old, they were camping and fishing up in Daniels Canyon for the 4th of July holiday. And in 1920 they were up American Fork Canyon for the 4th of July.
At least one summer while the children were all still at home, they went to Monticello to vacation with Judge Oscar McConkie’s family at their ranch. Mary often talked about this trip up into the Abajo (or Blue) Mountains where they made up one big, long bedroll and all of them (both families) slept in this one long bed.
Because of his ownership of Salt Lake Stamp Company, Ed joined the Marking Device Association. They held annual conventions in various places around the country. Ed went to most of the conventions, occasionally taking the family with him. He and Luella went to the East Coast in 1920, taking Luella's father, George Wareing, with them. On this trip they went to the Church history sights in New York and to Niagara Falls.
The next year, in June 1921 he piled his own three children, Luella, her two sisters, Norma and Lucille, and her mother Mary Ann Critchlow Wareing, all the camping gear and food into the car for a trip to the Grand Canyon. He had made two long wooden boxes to fit on the running boards of the car to hold all their equipment. They went to Bryce and Zion Canyons and stopped in St. George to visit the temple and then went on to the Grand Canyon. On the way back, the car broke down up on the Kaibab Plateau. Someone came along and towed them into Kanab where they had to camp for three weeks waiting for the part to fix the car to be shipped from Salt Lake.
In the summer of 1929 the family, including the three children, Luella, her mother Mary and her youngest sister, Lucille, drove back to the East Coast to a Marking Device Association convention in Providence, Rhode Island. Paved roads were a rare occurrence and were worth commenting on in the journal they kept of that trip. They were gone for five weeks and visited all the church history sites in the Midwest and the East, visited relatives and friends all along the way and conducted Stamp Company business in several places. They saw the sights in Washington D.C. and Mount Vernon. They visited the dirigible base at Lakehurst, New Jersey, (where on May 6, 1937, the German Airship, Hindenburg caught fire and was destroyed). They went swimming in the ocean at Atlantic City, stayed with relatives in New York City, took the train to Boston where they toured the city, visited Concord and Lexington and Plymouth. They returned to New York by overnight boat and then attended the Convention in Providence. One of the sessions of the convention was a clambake at a country club out on Narragansett Bay where a photograph of the whole group was taken. While they were in Providence, a reporter from the Providence newspaper called and wanted Luella to consent to be interviewed. She had found out that they were Mormons from Utah, and that Ed was the son of George Q. Cannon. The article was published the following day. After the convention, they went to the birthplace of Joseph Smith in Vermont where they spent the 4th of July, then crossed Lake Champlain and toured the Adirondacks. They went to Palmyra, then Niagara Falls, and finally headed home. A car trip such as this in those days was uncommon and difficult, but it was a treasured memory.
In 1936, Ed and Luella went east again. This time Mary was married, so just Ted and Bill went along. On this trip they visited Luella's brother George and his wife Dora, and their daughters Elaine and baby Barbara in Cleveland. They also visited her other brother Clarence, and his wife Ruth, in Rochester New York. On that trip they went to a Major League baseball game between the World Champion New York Yankees and the Cleveland Indians. Players included the home run king and MVP of 1936, Lou Gehrig, in addition to future Hall of Famers, Joe DiMaggio (Yankee) and Bob Feller (the young pitcher for the Cleveland Indians).
At some point, probably in the late 1930's or early 1940's, Ed made a pack trip into Rainbow Bridge. At that time the only way to reach Rainbow Bridge was either by hiking, or by horseback across the Navaho Reservation. This was a trip very few people made, unlike today when it is easily accessed from Lake Powell.
The 1930‘s brought changes to the Cannon family. Mary graduated from the University of Utah, and on her father's birthday, September 7, 1935, she married Robert (Bob) H. Barnes in the Salt Lake Temple. (Incidentally, that was also Bob's mother's birthday and the anniversary of Luella’s parent’s wedding). Ed and Luella's first grandchild was born March 19, 1937, to Mary and Bob. She was named Mary Alice after her mother. The doctor who delivered her was Ed's brother, William T. Cannon. He had also delivered all three of Ed and Luella's children.
The latter part of 1937, Ed’s son Edwin Q. Jr. (Ted), received his mission call to the German Mission. He left the end of January in 1938, and experienced Germany during the lead up to World War II. This must have been a worrisome time for his family at home. By the first part of September in 1939 the war was on, and the German missionaries were sent back to the United States and Canada. He finished his mission in Ontario, Canada. It was here that he got to know his future wife, Janath Russell, who had been serving a mission in France and was also evacuated to Canada to finish her mission.
Ted and Janath were married on 13 August 1941 in the Salt Lake Temple. Within four months of their marriage the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and the United States was at war. They went off to Camp Lee, Virginia where Ted attended Quartermaster School - a welcome alternative to going overseas.
In the meantime, Ed’s son William Wareing (Bill) completed high school and enrolled in the University of Utah. He had the opportunity to enroll in the V-12 program, which allowed him to join the Navy, and enroll at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. While there, Bill was hit by a car and very seriously injured. Ed and Luella were on the train headed for Chicago almost immediately. Ed stayed for a few days then had to return home, leaving Luella to care for Bill.
By 1942, Bill and Ted were both in the military and far away from home. Also in that year, on July 20th, Bob and Mary had their second daughter, Kathryn (she was the last baby delivered by Ed's brother, William T. Cannon).
When the war ended, Ted went to work as an officer and full-time employee at the Stamp Co. Then, when Ed received his call to preside over the West German Mission, Bill agreed to come into the business.
For Ed, or “Pop”, or “Grandfather”, as he was known, traditions were important. One of the most cherished traditions was the celebration of Christmas. On Christmas Eve the family would gather in his and Luella’s home about 5:00 in the evening. In the early years, Luella's parents and her brothers and sisters and their families who lived in Salt Lake were always included. If Jack Sears (a very close friend and well-known artist) and his wife were in Salt Lake, they were invited. Later, as grandchildren came along, there was often a re-enactment of the nativity scene and performances on various musical instruments. Then presents would be exchanged. There was always an abundance of good food to eat. This was an evening the grandkids would look forward to all year.
While Luella's parents were living, Christmas Day afternoon was spent at their home at 373 5th Avenue, one half block from Ed and Luella’s home. There was a big Christmas dinner, and it was great fun getting together with all the cousins. For many years, New Year's Day meant another big dinner next door to the Luella’s parents at Tom and Norma (Luella’s sister) Brown’s home.
Sunday evenings were often spent together. At times, the family would get together at Tom and Norma's for the evening where singing was the highlight. Tom had been in Vaudeville before marrying Norma and had a very good voice. Lucille's husband, Mac, also had a good voice, as did Ed & Luella's sons, Ted and Bill. There were several songs that were old standbys. "When You and I Were Young, Maggie" was a particular favorite, and "Carry Me Back to Old Virginy" was always sung.
Summer Sunday evenings, saw the family frequently gather on the large front porch at Ed & Luella's. There was a glider swing at the far end with a number of chairs filling in the rest of the porch. The brick wall on the porch made good seats if there was a large crowd. Granddaughter Ann remembers arguing over who would get to sit on the glider swing and how “Pop” took delight in giving a squeeze on our leg just above the knee to make us squirm. Myra remembers Sunday visits on the porch when Grandmother would pass around the See’s Chocolates - we could have “just one”!
On other occasions the family gathered in the back yard. The big green Adirondack chairs were great to sit on. A cherry tree and two big old Astrakhan apple trees were great for climbing and provided shade for much of the yard. (These apple trees also yielded small apples with a wonderful flavor for applesauce, apple pies, and jelly.) Grapevines covered the area next to the house where tables of food were usually set up.
Ed Cannon had a true love of adventure and never seemed afraid of anything. He bought a car soon after he was married and enjoyed driving out in the country. He liked to go to Pelican Point on Utah Lake to fish for catfish, often taking Luella and the children with him, and in later years, taking some of the grandchildren. He used to go deer hunting every year and would go pheasant and duck hunting and even rabbit hunting on occasion. Early on he started what became a traditional rabbit hunt on Armistice Day (now Veterans Day), and all the fellows who worked for him at Salt Lake Stamp would go. This tradition lasted for many years.
While Ed was serving in the State Legislature, he drew out in the annual antelope license lottery. Once he took Ted and Bill up into Daggett County where he bagged a 210-pound buck. The amazing thing is that the three of them made the approximately 500-mile trip in Ted's small Crosley automobile, bringing the big antelope home with them and meriting a picture in the newspaper. In the caption under the picture, the reporter stated: "Rep. Cannon is one of the most ardent fish and game boosters on the current legislative roster."
One fun story that has been passed down was about a drive out to the Uintah Basin. The narrow dirt road, which has now become Highway 40, was dusty and the day was hot and dry. They soon caught up with a car with an eastern license plate which was going slowly and refused to move over to allow Grandfather to pass. Obviously, this car did not want to “eat the dust” and was going to stay in the lead. After several unsuccessful attempts to pass, Ed reached under the seat and pulled out the pistol that he kept there. He unrolled the window, aimed the gun straight up into the air and pulled the trigger. Never has a car moved over to be passed so quickly. Grandfather laughed as he recalled the way he taught that “Easterner” about the “Wild West”.
He taught his children to shoot. He set up a shooting range in their basement where they could practice. When Mary was in her teens, he bought her a little .25 caliber pistol. He taught her to shoot, and wanted her to carry it in her purse, but she refused. Several of his grandchildren would borrow his .22 rifle to go rabbit hunting.
It was Ed and Luella who took the grandkids (and their parents) to the Shrine Circus when it came to town, to the Days of '47 Parades, to the Zoo and to see the trains down behind the Union Pacific Depot. Sometimes they just went for a ride in the evening to get an ice cream cone, or to follow a dirt road somewhere just to see where it went. All the grandchildren recall numerous rides. Grandfather always drove - Grandmother never even had a driver license - yet she never hesitated to give him directions. We often heard her say, “Oh, Ed, slow down!”
While he was serving as County Commissioner, several of the younger grandchildren and older great-grandchildren remember going to his office after the Days of ‘47 Children’s Parade. His secretary got popsicles for all of them.
Labor Day was another day for a family get-together. In addition to the holiday, it was a celebration of Ed's birthday (Sept 7th). After he and his sons acquired the ranch in Oakley, this gathering was always held there. The family also gathered at the ranch on the 4th of July. They would attend and/or participate in the Oakley Parade in the morning. This was followed by either a big lunch at the ranch or, on occasion, lunch and a program at the Oakley Ward house. Some of the grandchildren participated in the Kids Rodeo, winning chickens or a pig, or getting thrown from a calf. This 4th of July tradition continues.
There were several visits to Southern Utah over the years. In 1947, Ed’s son Ted had been invited to run the Colorado River from Moab to Lees Ferry with Don Harris and Jack Brennan (Harris & Brennan River Expeditions). They were going to put into the river at Moab on July 5th, and Ed and Luella decided to go down and camp with them the night before to see them off. They stopped in to visit Mary and Bob the night before they were going to leave and invited them to come also. The answer was, “no “. But apparently after the ‘folks’ left, and the Barnes children had been put to bed, Bob and Mary talked it over again and decided to go. They woke the children early the next morning and left. Everybody camped on the old sand dunes just north of the river. The next morning the boats were loaded, and the boaters took off down the river. Trip member Al Morton filmed the trip, and the film later won an award at some film festival.
In April 1947, Bill and his wife Marg were called on a mission to Hawaii. The following spring, as Bill was serving as 2nd counselor to the Mission President, Ed and Luella spent 2 months visiting the Islands.
After the Villa Theater opened in December of 1949, Ed and Luella took the whole family, including the grandchildren, to the big movies which opened there. It was exciting to see the new Cinerama movies including "Around the World in 80 Days," "The Ten Commandments” and, Ann especially recalls, “How the West Was Won”.
In 1956, Ed and Luella, Ed's niece, Marjorie Pingree, and her husband Fred, and son John, started off on another adventure. They drove from Salt Lake, down through Mexico, to Guatemala to pick up the Pingree's oldest son, Toby, at the completion of his mission.
At some point in the 1950’s, they also added to the growing list of travels by taking a trip to Alaska. They loved all their great adventures.
In August of 1957, Ed and Luella decided that the entire family should take a trip to Yellowstone together. Each of their children had a big station wagon, and Ed & Luella took turns riding in the different wagons. At this time Mary, Ted, and Bill each had five children. The first night’s camp was at Tony Grove, a big camping area in Logan Canyon. Then on to Grand Teton National Park where the family camped at the new campground at Colter Bay. There were boats that would take visitors out for a cruise on the lake, so the whole family went on a cruise. The next stop was in Yellowstone, where it was fun to watch Grandfather feed the bears out of the car window, and to see Grandmother cautioning him frequently not to feed the bears. While camping, we chased a young bear out of camp by banging on pans and were sworn to secrecy by “Pop” so Grandmother would not be frightened. The visit to Old Faithful was a fun highlight. Everyone had lunch in the Old Faithful Lodge, sitting around one long table.
In 1964, Ed and Luella signed up to take a trip to the Holy Land over Easter. They arranged for Ted and Mary to meet them in Rome at the close of the tour and together they spent about a month touring Europe in the car Ted and Mary had picked up in Germany on their way to Rome. They toured Switzerland, Germany, England, and the Isle of Man, (where they found that the big motorcycle races were being held, and all the main roads around the island were closed to cars.) On this trip, they were able to visit Mary's daughter, Kathryn, who was serving in the French Mission.
A year or two later, Ed and Luella decided to take a tour of the Pacific Rim. They invited Ted and Janath to go with them. Janath went with them as far as Hawaii, then returned home, while Ted accompanied them for the entire trip. They spent some time in New Zealand and in Australia, where Ted and Ed met with businessmen concerning ‘Leader Tags’ (plastic ear tags for sheep and cattle that were sold and exported by Salt Lake Stamp Co.). They also went to Hong Kong and to Japan.
In 1971, Ted was called to be the President of the Swiss Mission. He and Janath left on July 10, sadly knowing that his father would probably not live to see them return. Shortly after Ted left, Ed called Ted’s home in the middle of the night (Ed’s granddaughter, Ted and Janath’s daughter Ann, was living in her parent’s home while they were away) and said, “I am locked inside the Stamp Co. and don’t know how to get out!” Ann called her Uncle Bill, and he found his father at home, hallucinating because of his advancing illness. Ed passed away within that week on 3 August 1971.
Ed was born in very trying times. He never had his father in his home and available to him on a regular basis. But from his childhood he learned a strong moral work ethic and a total devotion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He did not have advanced education or great wealth, but he ran a very successful business and was one of the top civic and political leaders in the Salt Lake Valley throughout his adult life. He was trusted, respected, and admired by all who knew him - even by his opponents. His testimony of the restored Gospel was total and unwavering. He accepted callings given to him and served faithfully. He practiced “pure religion” as defined in the book of James. He had no hypocrisy or guile. No one will ever know the countless ways he helped others, both spiritually and physically, because they were known only to those directly involved. Neither his father nor his mother saw him reach maturity or knew his wife and children, but he learned the meaning of “family”. As a husband to Luella, he was loyal and supportive. As a father to his children, he was attentive and instructive. As a grandfather he was fun and loving. He was a source of strength and an example to all of his family. Though he was soft spoken and a man of few words, he gave clear direction and insight. He found the best in others because he made them see their potential. He gave the best he had, and we are all better for having him touch our lives.
At the time of his death, on 3 August 1971, he and Luella had three children, their spouses, 18 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, as follows:
Daughter Mary Cannon Barnes, born 24 May 1914, married Robert H. Barnes 7 Sep 1937
Mary Alice Barnes Pearson, born 19 Mar 1937, married M. Ray Hansen 1st, (married R.
Clair Pearson 2nd)
Michael Ray Hansen, born 25 Dec. 1957
Paul Robert Hansen, born 19 Apr 1959
Philip Carlton Hansen, born 30 Mar 1962
Kathryn (Taffy) Barnes Luke, born 20 July 1942, married Robert G. Vernon 1st,
(married Stacy Luke 2nd)
David Vernon, born 25 Apr 1968
Linda Vernon, born 11 June 1970
Robert (Pat) Patrick Barnes, born 1 Dec. 1946
Edwin (Ted) Cannon Barnes, born 18 Dec. 1951
William (Bill) Cannon Barnes, born 27 July 1953
Son Edwin (Ted) Quayle Cannon Jr., born 6 May 1918, married Janath Russell 13
Aug 1941
Ann Cannon, born 14 Jan 1947, married Richard D. LeVitre 1967
Jonathan Brett LeVitre, born 11 Dec. 1968
Edwin (Ned) Quayle Cannon III, born 30 Nov 1948, married Lois Kay Hinckley,
1971
Melissa Cannon, born 4 Sep 1950
Russell Rich Cannon, born 24 Nov 1953
Tenney Wareing Cannon, born 19 July 1956
Myra Oertel Cannon, born 20 Apr 1957
Son William (Bill) Wareing Cannon, born 10 Apr 1925, married Margery Sorensen,
13 Sep 1946
Michael Melville Cannon, born 28 Oct 1947, married Patricia Jane Jackson 29
May 1969
David Dana Cannon, born 6 Jan 1949
Layne Wareing Cannon, born 27 Nov 1950
Wendy Cannon, born 2 Sep, 1952
Robert Wareing Cannon, born 18 Apr 1957
Merrilee Cannon, born 17 Dec. 1959
Christian Cannon, born 28 Dec. 1963
Edwin’s youngest grandchild – Matthew William Cannon was born to William Wareing Cannon and Margery Sorenson Cannon on April 3, 1973, after Edwin’s death.
MY GRANDFATHER
Final comments by Kathryn Barnes Luke, the author of this biography
I consider knowing my Grandfather Cannon one of the great blessings of my life. Because I was old enough to know him longer than most of the ‘cousins’, I would like to share a little of what made him so important in my life.
There is much I could say about the many stories he told me, or about the strange foods he liked to eat, or how I looked forward to him dropping by to take us for a ride – and the unusual places we would visit. But I choose to focus on three guidelines I received from him which have greatly influenced my life:
First
During my senior year of high school my parents gave me a Bible. In the front of the book, my mother wrote:
May 26, 1960
To Kathryn with all our love
From Mother and Dad
The following is from the fly leaf of your Grandfather’s Bible.
To
Edwin Q. Cannon
From his Father
George Q. Cannon
Christmas,
1898
“How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Refuse not instruction, reject not reproof. Love the Lord with all thy Heart.”
This has been wise guidance and has served me well. I not only appreciate the scripture (Proverbs 16:16), but the admonition. Each time I open my Bible I am reminded of where I come from and the expectations my family has for me. I know that Grandfather heeded the advice of his father. I want to follow in his footsteps.
Second
While I was in high school, Grandfather was a County Commissioner. Because the County provided a car for him to drive, he allowed me to drive his 1949 Ford. West High School was a long walk from our home and most of my friends lived several miles from me, so my mom spent a lot of time taking me to places I needed to go. When he gave me the keys to the car, he simply said that he hoped this would save my mom from spending so much time chauffeuring me. He added that he knew I would never do anything with this car that would be irresponsible. Knowing how much he trusted me was enough. I never went anywhere or did anything that I would be uncomfortable telling him about. He had a very understated, clear way of expressing his love and his expectations. He didn’t have to say a lot to get his point across.
Third
I had always assumed that I would attend the U of U as everyone else in the family had done, but during the summer before I started college, I visited BYU with a friend. I was very impressed with the school and started thinking about going there. In discussing the possibility with Grandfather, I stated that perhaps I should just go try it out and then make up my mind later. He told me to decide what I wanted to do, make sure my decision was right, and then stick to it. He said that I should not waste my time waiting to decide what was right. I learned that this is a good way to live – it saves a lot of time and frustration. I haven’t always followed this advice, but I can tell the difference in my personal growth when I have.
We often talk about the importance of a “Hero” in a person’s life. To me a hero is someone who is wise and caring and who can help you reach your potential. Grandfather was such a person in my life.
TAFFY (Kathryn Barnes Luke)
July 2000
