Letter from John William Cooley, Wilford Hudson, and Arieh Coats Brower, 17 July 1856
Grantsville, .
To President Willford Woodruff:
Dear Sir: The undersigned, having been unan-
imously appointed, by the people of Grantsville, a com-
mittee, to petition the First Presidency, through yourself,
for an organization in this place, by giving them a Bishop
and President, that they may have some one to look
up to for counsel and advice. The organization hereto-
fore, on account of bad management and many missteps,
the people have entirely lost confidence in them;
they therefore have declaired themselves, (with
the exception four besides the Bishops own family,)
from under their rule and administration, which
has heretofore kept them in poverty and dis-
grace, and wished to be freed from them, and
have other men appointed to rule over the
affairs of this place, who are competent, and
who have the confidence of the people. And
we are further authorized and instructed to mention
names to you who would be qualified to act in any
office, and who would have the entire confidence
of the people, to wit: Joseph F. Fippin, Harrison
Severe, Jas. McBride, John Thirkell, Aroet L.
Hale and Alma H. Hale.
Yours, truly,
John W. Cooley,
Willford Hudson,
A. C. Brower.
