Talent Show

Elam Cheney was a man of many talents and abilities.  His father, Aaron Cheney, started a steel mill in Freedom, New York, so Elam 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 was also a cobbler, one who makes shoes.  After reaching the Salt Lake Valley in the fall of 1847, he had to make some shoes to get food to feed his family.

Once in Utah, he and the family moved several times and settled just north of what is today, Mona, Utah.  This became Cheney Ranch (on what is now Young Living Farm).  Here he raised cattle and farmed.

He then moved to Fairview, Utah, where he constructed a grist mill and made the mill stones from the granite in Cottonwood Canyon, east of Millcreek.  He operated the grist mill for several years before selling it.

Elam also became skilled in surgery, dental work, and medicine.  He removed teeth from several people including one sister that had all her teeth removed by Elam.  Unfortunately, there was no antisthetic in that day, but Elam was well regarded in this respect and did not have any patients with complications.  He set a broken arm and a broken leg for different men.  One brother, George Bryant had fallen from a horse and broken his neck.  He had been determined a lost cause and was told he would die.  Elam was called and he set his neck and saved his life.

Elam could also read palms. On one occasion, while making shoes a group of men came in for Elam to read their palms. When looking at one of the man’s hands he looked up and said, “you are a murderer”. The man was going to kill grandfather, but the other man held him and took him away. A few days later, officers came from the East and arrested those men for murder. Brigham Young then told Elam he had a wonderful gift and he thought it was alright to use it among the people, but not to tell them anything he thought would cause trouble. 

Elam Cheney's descendants are also very talented with many abilities.  We invite all those that would like to share their talents with us.  We have set aside some time around the lunch hour and welcome performances of all kinds.  We also invite you to bring crafts, woodworking, artwork, or whatever talents you have to display for everyone.  Please sign up for the talent show so we know and what special accommodations you may need.