ACTIVE CAREER OF ABRAHAM H. CANNON ENDS IN DEATH AT 37

A meteor bursts into flaming light as it strikes the earth's atmosphere, streaks across the sky and suddenly disappears. Such was the life of Abraham Hoagland Cannon.

Ordained to the First Council of the Seventy at the age of 23, and an apostle at the age of 30, he seemed destined to fulfill a brilliant mission in life. In addition to his outstanding record in the Church, he was remarkably successful in the business world.

He was for a time, business manager of the "Deseret News" where, as a lad, he had served his father, George Q. Cannon, as errand boy. Other activities included editor and publisher of the "Contributor"; business manager of the "Juvenile Instructor"; promotion of two railroad lines--one of which is now the Western Pacific, the other, the Union Pacific route to Los Angeles, Calif.; vice-president of a mining company; director of two banks and a furniture company; executive of a printing firm and owner of a retail book store in Ogden.

Elder Cannon also was active in civic affairs, serving as a vice-president in the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce.

Other Church activities included a mission to Europe where he served in England, Switzerland and Germany. He also was a member of the Sunday School General Board.

In the midst of all this activity, Elder Cannon found time to gather his large family around him for the delightful experience that children remember even when they have grown old. Among these memorable occasions were the weekly family nights when he taught his youngsters the Gospel--and the German language which he had learned on his mission.

His busy career was interrupted for a time by a six-months term in the Utah State Penitentiary during the "anti-polygamy crusade" of the 1880's. The prison was filled with Church members during those years.

Even an a youngster, Abraham showed a broad scope of interests. He studied at the University of Deseret, worked on the Temple Block as a carpenter when the great temple and tabernacle were being built. This work may have led to his interest in architecture which he studied for a time.

He fulfilled his mission from 1879 to 1882. In October 1882, soon after his return from his mission, he was called to the First Council of the Seventy. Seven years later, he was ordained an apostle.

But the promising career of Elder Cannon came to an abrupt end when he was only 37 years of age. He died July 19, 1896, in Salt Lake City, following a series of mastoid operations.

The high esteem in which he was held was typified in a floral tribute at his funeral service. It was sent by a group who had been bitter rivals of his in the newspaper business. It bore the simple inscription, "Honest Abe."