Henry Lavendar Adolphus Culmer
Born 25 Mar. 1854 in Davington, Kent, England.[1] Son of Frederick Culmer and Mary Kennett.[2] Baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 9 June 1862.[3] Educated in free schools in London, until 1864.[4] Emigrated with his family from England to New York City aboard the Hudson, arriving 19 July 1867.[5] Migrated to the Salt Lake Valley with the Chester Loveland pioneer company, arriving by 20 Aug. 1868.[6] Attended the University of Deseret and participated in the Delta Phi Debating Society, 1870s.[7] Participated in the Wasatch Literary Association and the Home Dramatic Club, 1874–1878.[8] Worked as associate editor of the Salt Lake Times Dailey and the Provo Enquirer, 1876–1882.[9] Married Susan Annette (Nette) Wells, 31 Dec. 1878.[10] Exhibited his paintings at the Utah Art Association, 1881–1893; served as secretary of the Society of Utah Artists, 1882–1898, and president of the Utah Art Institute, 1899–1902.[11] Cofounder of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce; editor and publisher of the Salt Lake Journal of Commerce and numerous pamphlets, 1887–1904.[12] Served as a writer and illustrator for the Western Galaxy Magazine, 1887–1888.[13] Traveled with the Utah Exposition railcar to sixty eastern cities, 1888.[14] Founded a printing and publishing business whose products included the Utah Miner, the Times, and the Utah Directory and Gazetteer, 1891–1900.[15] Led two companies that provided stone for many structures, including the federal building, the Salt Lake City post office, and the Salt Lake City and County Building, 1892–1904.[16] Founded a company with his brothers that installed the first asphalt roads in Salt Lake City, 1893.[17] Socialized with EBW on numerous occasions, 1894–1901.[18] Created two electroplates illustrating a story in the Woman’s Exponent, 25 Apr. 1894.[19] Illustrated the History of Utah, published by Orson F. Whitney, 1899–1904.[20] Served as financial manager and partner in the G. F. Culmer & Co. grocery, painting, and glass stores.[21] Died 10 Feb. 1914 in Salt Lake City.[22]
[1] “England and Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837–1915,” database, Ancestry.com (https://ancestry.com, accessed 17 July 2018), vol. 2a, p. 547, General Register Office, London. “Endowments of the Living, 1868–1872,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. G, p. 246, line 4, Henry Lavender Adolph Culmer, microfilm 1239501, DGS 7751472 (restricted access), FHL. 1861 England and Wales Census, Bermondsey, Southwark, Kent, p. 18, Henry L. Adolphe Culmer. “Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org, accessed 17 July 2018), Henry Lavender Adolph Culmer (KWZS-8D5).
[2] 1861 England and Wales Census, Bermondsey, Southwark, Surrey, England, p. 18, Henry L. Adolphe Culmer. “Endowments of the Living, 1868–1872,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. G, p. 246, line 4, Henry Lavender Adolph Culmer, microfilm 1239501, DGS 7751472 (restricted access), FHL. “Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org, accessed 17 July 2018), Henry Lavender Adolph Culmer (KWZS-8D5).
[3] “Endowments of the Living, 1868–1872,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. G, p. 246, line 4, Henry Lavender Adolph Culmer, microfilm 1239501, DGS 7751472 (restricted access), FHL.
[4] Albert Nelson Marquis, ed., Who’s Who in America: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Men and Women of the United States (Chicago: A. N. Marquis, 1910), 6:494.
[5] “Frederick Culmer,” Saints by Sea (https://saintsbysea.lib.byu.edu/, accessed 16 Sept. 2019). Genealogical Society of Utah, Genealogical Society of Utah Biography Class Collection, 1932–1937, Mary C. Simmons, 1932, MS 2305, box 4, folder 15, CHL.
[6] “Henry Lavender Aldolphus Culmer,” Pioneer Database (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/overlandtravel/, accessed 16 Sept. 2019). “List of Passengers,” Deseret Evening News (Salt Lake City), 17 Aug. 1868, 2. Genealogical Society of Utah, Genealogical Society of Utah Biography Class Collection, 1932–1937, Mary C. Simmons, 1932, MS 2305, box 4, folder 15, CHL.
[7] Orson F. Whitney, “Henry L. A. Culmer,” History of Utah (Salt Lake City: George Q. Cannon and Sons, 1904), 4:652.
[8] Ronald W. Walker, “Growing Up in Early Utah: The Wasatch Literary Association 1874–1878,” BYU Studies Quarterly 43, no. 1 (Jan. 2004). Orson F. Whitney, “Henry L. A. Culmer,” History of Utah (Salt Lake City: George Q. Cannon and Sons, 1904), 4:652.
[9] Orson F. Whitney, “Henry L. A. Culmer,” History of Utah (Salt Lake City: George Q. Cannon and Sons, 1904), 4:652–654.
[10] “Sealings of the Living, 1878–1883,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. L, p. 36, line 11, Henry Lavender Adolph Culmer and Susan Annette Wells, 17 June 1879, microfilm 183402, DGS 5270325 (restricted access), FHL. Elias Smith, Journals, 1836–1888, 31 Dec. 1878, p. 89, MS 1319, CHL.
[11] “Art in Utah,” Deseret Evening News (Salt Lake City), 23 Dec. 1899, 14. Orson F. Whitney, “Henry L. A. Culmer,” History of Utah (Salt Lake City: George Q. Cannon and Sons, 1904), 4:652–654.
[12] “The Earlier Chamber of 1887: A Cautionary Tale,” (https://slchamber.com/chamber-history-the-earlier-chamber-of-1887-a-cautionary-tale/, accessed 6 Aug. 2018). “Sugar Raising in Utah,” Salt Lake Journal of Commerce, 15 June 1888, 1–2. H. L. A. Culmer, comp., The Resources and Attractions of Utah as They Exist Today (Salt Lake City: George Q. Cannon and Sons, 1894). H. L. A. Culmer, Tourists’ Guide Book to Salt Lake City (Salt Lake City: J. C. Graham, 1879).
[13] The Western Galaxy, an Illustrated Magazine (Salt Lake City: E. W. Tullidge, 1888), 410–417.
[14] “The Utah Exposition Car,” Salt Lake Journal of Commerce, 15 June 1888, 4. Photo, Utah Exposition Palace Car, PH 2826, CHL. Orson F. Whitney, “Henry L. A. Culmer,” History of Utah (Salt Lake City: George Q. Cannon and Sons, 1904), 4:652.
[15] H. L. A. Culmer, ed., Utah Directory and Gazetteer (Salt Lake City: J. C. Graham, 1874–1925). Orson F. Whitney, “Henry L. A. Culmer,” History of Utah (Salt Lake City: George Q. Cannon and Sons, 1904), 4:652. Albert Nelson Marquis, ed., Who’s Who in America: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Men and Women of the United States (Chicago: A. N. Marquis, 1910), 6:494.
[16] “This Old House: The George and Annie Culmer House, Formerly 158 N. Main Street,” Bulletin: Capitol Hill Neighborhood Council (Salt Lake City), Mar. 2010, 1–2 (www.chnc-slc.org, accessed Aug. 2018). Albert Nelson Marquis, ed., Who’s Who in America: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Men and Women of the United States (Chicago: A. N. Marquis, 1910), 6:494. Orson F. Whitney, “Henry L. A. Culmer,” History of Utah (Salt Lake City: George Q. Cannon and Sons, 1904), 4:652.
[17] “Some Heavy Operations,” Salt Lake Herald, 31 Mar. 1893, 8. “This Old House: The George and Annie Culmer House, Formerly 158 N. Main Street,” Bulletin: Capitol Hill Neighborhood Council (Salt Lake City), Mar. 2010, 1–2 (www.chnc-slc.org, accessed Aug. 2018).
[18] EBW, Diary, 25 Apr. 1894; 31 May 1895; 12 Dec. 1895; 11 Oct. 1898; 24 Aug. 1899; 27 Oct. 1899; 9 Nov. 1901.
[19] EBW, Diary, 25 Apr. 1894. “An Etching,” Woman’s Exponent, 15 Apr. and 1 May 1894, 121–122.
[20] Orson F. Whitney, “Henry L. A. Culmer,” History of Utah (Salt Lake City: George Q. Cannon and Sons, 1904), 4:652.
[21] Albert Nelson Marquis, ed., Who’s Who in America: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Men and Women of the United States (Chicago: A. N. Marquis, 1910), 6:494. Orson F. Whitney, “Henry L. A. Culmer,” History of Utah (Salt Lake City: George Q. Cannon and Sons, 1904), 4:652. “This Old House: The George and Annie Culmer House, Formerly 158 N. Main Street,” Bulletin: Capitol Hill Neighborhood Council (Salt Lake City), Mar. 2010, 1–2 (www.chnc-slc.org, accessed Aug. 2018).
[22] “Utah State Archives Indexes,” database and images, Utah State Archives (https://archives.utah.gov, accessed 7 Aug. 2018); Utah Department of Health Office of Vital Records and Statistics Death Certificates, series 81448, file no. 227/456 (1914), Henry L. A. Culmer.