Appleton Milo Harmon facts for kids

Appleton Milo Harmon (born May 29, 1820 – died February 27, 1877) was an important early member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was also a key pioneer who helped people move to Salt Lake City and settle the Utah Territory. Harmon was born in Conneaut, Pennsylvania. His parents were Jesse Pierce Harmon and Annie Barnes. He married Elmeda Stringham in 1846. Appleton was very dedicated to his church. He was a hard-working person with many skills. He built sawmills, a cotton factory, and roads for the Pony Express. He also made furniture and wagons. Besides building, he worked as a farmer, blacksmith, and even a policeman.

Appleton Harmon: A Pioneer's Life

Appleton Harmon joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois. In February 1846, because of difficult times for members of his church, Harmon and his new wife loaded their belongings into a wagon. They crossed the frozen Mississippi River into Iowa. Then, they traveled to Winter Quarters, near Florence, Nebraska. These were very tough times. Due to the harsh conditions, his mother, sister, and first child passed away. They are buried at Winter Quarters.

Joining the Church and Moving West

In the spring of 1847, Appleton Harmon was chosen to be a leader. He joined Brigham Young's first group traveling west. During this journey in 1847, Harmon is often remembered for creating an early version of the modern odometer. This device measures distance traveled. He used ideas from William Clayton and Orson Pratt.

The Roadometer Invention

The "Roadometer" was placed on Heber C. Kimball's wagon. It made it much easier and more accurate to record how many miles they traveled each day. Using this "Roadometer" was very important. It helped William Clayton create a very accurate guide for future travelers. This guide was essential for everyone who followed the Mormon Trail.

Building a Ferry

Later in the 1847 journey, Harmon and nine other men were left behind. Their job was to build and run a ferry across the North Platte River. This spot is near what is now Casper, Wyoming. After settling in Salt Lake City in 1848, Harmon did well. He lived in downtown Salt Lake City. He built one of the first sawmills there. He also farmed near where Sugar House Park is today.

Missions and New Settlements

Appleton Harmon kept detailed journals of his trip west. He also wrote about his 1850-1853 mission to England. These journals have been published. In 1850, while traveling east for his mission, he saw many gold miners heading west. This was during the second year of the California gold rush. He also saw and survived a serious illness that affected many travelers.

Journey to England

In 1851, he visited the famous Crystal Palace Exposition in London. His mission was successful. When he returned in 1853, he led a group of about 300 Latter-day Saints from England to Salt Lake City.

Settling Southern Utah

In 1862, Brigham Young asked him to help settle southern Utah. After experiencing floods from the Virgin River in Grafton, he settled in Toquerville. There, he built a lumbermill, farmed, and made furniture.

Building a Cotton Factory

In 1865, Brigham Young asked him to oversee a big project. He was to design, build, and equip a factory to make cotton fabric. This factory produced cotton and wool fabrics until 1904. However, interest in cotton decreased after the Civil War and when the railroad arrived. The building that housed the factory is in Washington, near St. George, Utah, and it still stands today.

Later Life and Family

In 1870, Harmon moved to Holden, Utah. There, he built another lumbermill. Appleton and Elmeda Harmon had 12 children together.