| Austin Clark Sloan, United States commissioner and attorney practicing at Evanston, was born at Salt Lake City, Utah, September 6, 1866, a son of William K. and Maria (Townsend) Sloan. The father was a native of Creetown, Kircudbrightshire, Scotland, while the mother was born in Maine. His birth occurred January 1, 1833, his parents being James and Elizabeth (McKean) Sloan. The father probably died in the fall of 1833 and William K. Sloan, with his mother, emigrated to America in the spring of the following year, the mother settling at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, while William K. Sloan went to live on the farm of his uncle, David Murray, west of Pittsburgh. In February, 1838, the uncle with his family and accompanied by William K. Sloan and his mother, started down the Ohio river for Illinois on one of the first, if not the first, steamboats that navigated the Ohio river. At that time it was customary on dark nights for steamboats to tie up at some landing for the night. Three days after the start was made the weather became very cold, and while the boat was tied up for the night it became enclosed with ice and they were forced to remain for two weeks, waiting for a thaw. In April they arrived at Meredosia, Illinois, and by ox teams traveled to their destination–a tract of land about thirty miles from the Illinois river and ten miles south of Jacksonville. A more desolate place could scarcely be imagined. No fences had been built and the only improvement was a small log cabin partially covered with shakes or hand-made shingles. The night following their arrival there was a severe snowstorm. The family went through the usual hardships of pioneer farming and William K. Sloan remained upon that place until August, 1844. rising at five o'clock in the morning and never ceasing his labors until eight o'clock at night. He wore home-made and homespun clothing and he had practically no school opportunities, while the library in his uncle's home consisted only of the family Bible, Fox Book of Martyrs, Watts' hymns and a few other books such as were permitted to be read by the members of the strictly orthodox Presbyterian church. In the spring of 1844 he was taken to Jacksonville, Illinois, where his mother was then keeping house, and there he began to go to school in a little building sixteen by eighteen feet. Up to this time he had spoken as do the Scotch people, and when he entered the American school he became the butt of every boy at school and rapidly, therefore, learned to speak as did the American boys. After a few months spent in school at different periods he secured a clerkship in a store at a salary of fifty dollars per year, to board and clothe himself. The second year, he was paid seventy-five dollars and his duties were such as usually fell to the lot of the assistant in a country store, and he was now permitted to wait on customers. The third year his salary was one hundred and fifty dollars per annum and out of this sum he had to board and clothe himself. In August, 1849, he left Jacksonville and went to St. Louis, being anxious to know something of the world. He thought that he would have no difficulty in obtaining employment, but day after day he tramped the streets in search of work, notwithstanding the fact that he bore several recommendations from his old employers. At length, however, he secured a position, but it was far from satisfactory and as soon as opportunity offered he made a change, securing employment in the wholesale dry goods house of Little & Olcott, January 1, 1850. He there remained for three years and each fall or winter he made a trip into the country districts to sell to country merchants, and when such merchants visited the city they were besieged by salesmen endeavoring to get their trade. In May, 1853, when making his usual evening rounds to look over hotel regigters in search of patrons, he noticed the name of L. Stewart of Salt Lake, Utah. Engaging him in conversation, he had the pleasure of selling him a large bill of goods the next day for cash. His talk with a western merchant awakened in him so strong a desire to go to California that he decided to give up his position and accompany Mr. Stewart as far as Salt Lake City and thence proceed to California. He left St. Louis on the 22d of June, 1853, traveled by boat to Council Bluff's and thence across the country with ox teams, with the usual experiences of the emigrant party of that early day. While en route they were attacked by the Indians when within sight of Fort Kearney, where four companies of United States troops were stationed. The flag on the fort they could see distinctly about eight miles distant, and though they repeatedly tried to get messages through to the fort, each one was intercepted by the Indians, whose band numbered about twenty-five hundred. It was with great relief that the party of western travelers saw these Indians depart. They saw their first buffaloes about sixty miles west of Fort Keamev, and as they proceeded they saw at one time over the vast plains herds that must have numbered a hundred thousand. As they proceeded and grass became scarcer, it increased the difficulties of the trip, as there was little to feed the oxen and cattle. The food supply for the company also became almost exhausted and word was sent on ahead by a post messenger for a wagon to come and meet the party with supplies. It was no difficulty for Mr. Stewart to dispose of his goods when he reached Utah, and Mr. Sloan remained as his active assistant. Hardly had goods been placed upon the counters, which consisted of two carpenter work benches, before they were taken up by the people of the neighborhood, who paid cash at the rate of from a hundred to one thousand per cent profit. Mr. Sloan had not believed that he would be retained in the services of Mr. Stewart, but the latter one day asked him how he would like to return to St. Louis in the early spring and purchase next year's stock, believing that he was well qualified to make the purchase and manage the business of getting the goods to Salt Lake. At length he accepted the proposition, which was a liberal one, his salary to be two thousand dollars per year, with all traveling expenses, or a third interest in the business. Mr. Sloan chose the former proposition, with the privilege of taking the latter if he felt so disposed on his return to Salt Lake. He then began preparations for the journey. On going to Salt Lake, Mr. Sloan and Mr. Stewart learned that a party had already been formed to go to the states by way of the southern route to Los Angeles and San Francisco and thence by steamer to New York. They expected to start November 10th, and still another party was being formed to go overland to Independence, Missouri, in February, 1854. Mr. Sloan, however, preferred to take the former route and, his employer consenting, arrangements were made for the journey. He had to carry with him the money for the purchases in gold coin amounting to forty thousand dollars or over two hundred pounds. Mr. Sloan, however, felt that this could not be done in safety and so thought out the plan by which Mr. Stewart was to place the money in the safe of the firm of Livingston & Kinkead in Salt Lake City, a firm that was well known in St. Louis. The journey was carried through as contemplated and on the 9th of February, 1854, Mr. Sloan arrived in New York. After remaining there for two days he started for St. Louis, where goods were purchased and arrangements made for their transportation. The return journey was at length accomplished in safety and Mr. Sloan was active in disposing of the goods in Salt Lake City. The firm with which he was connected also engaged in trading for cattle and wheat, finding a good market for cattle in California, while there was no difficulty in selling grain to the emigrants and the Mormons. At length he went to Provo to dispose of goods at that place and found business there quite remunerative. After taking up his abode at Provo, it was his custom to make semi-monthly trips to Salt Lake and on one of those trips he first met Miss Maria Townsend, who afterward became his wife. On returning from his first trip to buy goods in St. Louis he had accepted Mr. Stewart's first offer of two thousand dollars as a salary but felt that he made a mistake in this, as the firm had sold their goods at a large profit. In 1855, therefore, he entered into partnership with Mr. Stewart and Louis P. Drexler, and arranged to again go east to make the purchase of shipments. This time they made the trip to California and thence proceeded by way of the Panama route, crossing the Isthmus to Aspinwall on the railroad and embarking for New Orleans by way of Havana on the steamer Philadelphia. Arriving at New Orleans, Mr. Sloan thence proceeded up the Mississippi river to St. Louis. He learned that Indians were causing much trouble on the plains and he could get no freighters to take his goods. He therefore found it necessary to remain in St. Louis for a year and in order to pass the time and pay expenses accepted a clerkship in the house of his old employers. Little & Olcott. During the winter of 1855-56 he made arrangements to buy cattle and wagons and freight the goods himself for the firm, instead of contracting with freighters as he had done the previous year. In 1857 Brigham Young forced the Gentiles to leave and Mr. Sloan and his partner, Mr. Drexler, were obliged to sell out to Mr. Stewart. There was no phase of pioneer life in the west, in travel across the plains, in the settlement of Utah or in other phases of frontier experience with which Mr. Sloan was not familiar. Both he and his wife returned to Salt Lake City and their last days were there passed, his death occurring on June 8, 1803. They had a family of five children: Mrs. C. M. Bissell, who is living in Albany, New York; Mrs. E. M. Cameron, also a resident of Albany; Austin Clark, of this review; Mrs. F. P. Walker, residing in Boston, Massachusetts; and William F., deceased. In his youthful days Austin C. Sloan pursued his education in the schools of Salt Lake City, after which he attended the Collegiate Institute and in due course of time was graduated therefrom. He then came to Wyoming, settling at Hilliard, and worked with his father in the town, which his father had established. Later he removed to Evanston and entered upon an apprenticeship to the machinist's trade. At a subsequent period he turned his attention to the raising of sheep, in which he continued active for three years. On the expiration of that period he sold out and edited the Wyoming Press for a year, at the end of which time Senator Clark secured for him a position in Washington, D. C., and he went to the east. While thus engaged he studied law and was admitted to the bar on the 15th of December, 1903. Returning to Wyoming, he entered upon the practice of law in Evanston and in the intervening period of fifteen years has built up a large practice. His clientage is not only extensive but of an important character and he has figured in connection with many prominent cases tried in the courts of his district. On the 12th of September, 1891, Mr. Sloan was united in marriage to Miss Mary McKenzie, of Evanston, a daughter of James and Charlotte McKenzie, who were natives of Michigan. Mr. Sloan is a Mason and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. He is serving as United States commissioner for the second term and was county assessor for two terms. His has been an interesting career, connecting him with the west throughout the period of its pioneer development and later-day progress. His father, one of the early merchants of Utah, who became by necessity an excellent Indian fighter and scout, was among those who laid the foundation of present prosperity and progress in the west. Austin C. Sloan has carried on the work begun by his father and his aid and influence are always on the side of progress and improvement. He is today upholding the legal status of the community as a prominent member of the bar of Evanston and in office is also proving his loyalty to the best interests of state and nation. |