Elam Cheney was a man of many talents and abilities. His was, Aaron, started a steel mill in Freedom, New York, so ealm grew up learning to smelt steel and blacksmithing. He also learned carpentry. This served him well as he built his own wagon and made his own wheels for the trek across the plains to the Salt Lake Valley.
He was a cooper, one who makes wagon wheels and barrels. He could also make shoes and after reaching the Salt Lake Valley in the fall of 1847, had to make some shoes to get food to feed his family.
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