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| Isaac Chase |
My Great, Great, Great, Great
Grandfather Abner Chase had a very successful and influential brother named
Isaac.
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| Gristmill |
Shortly after he arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, September 20, 1847, Isaac began construction of
a grist mill. His daughter Louisa had driven an ox team across the plains bringing a mill stone and mill irons, which were to be used in the manufacture of flour. The building was constructed of adobe bricks
and massive timbers and later covered with stucco. Completed in 1852, the mill
is the oldest commercial building still standing in the state of Utah.
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| Brigham Young |
Two years after the mill began
operating, the prophet Brigham Young became partners with Isaac in the mill
business, in 1854. President Young invested more capital for new machinery,
modernizing it and making it more efficient.
This well-timed upgrade proved very
beneficial to the city. During the famine of 1856-1857, free flour from the
mill saved many families from starvation.
Isaac’s wife, Phebe, would bake 16
loaves of bread at a time from the freshly ground flour and would never turn
away a hungry guest.
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| Phebe |
Isaac and Brigham continued as
partners for six years until Isaac traded his ownership for property in
Centerville. At this time Isaac became Brigham Young’s Superintendent,
supervising the building of mills throughout the territory.
When the mill partnership ended, the
name changed from Chase Mill to Brigham Young’s Lower Mill.
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| Chase Home |
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| Chase Home |
Near the mill, Isaac built a two
story adobe house, which later became home to some of Brigham Young’s
family.
In 1880 the farm and buildings were purchased
by Salt Lake City for $27,500 and the mill ceased to operate. The home and mill were used for storage
for many years until the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers procured a lease in
1933.
The farm is now Liberty Park. The
current lake in the park is the old millpond that used to furnish power to the
mill. The home is now the Chase Museum of Utah Folk Arts. Over 200,000 guests have
visited the museum and enjoyed its Utah Folk Art collection and programs.
