28th Utah Territorial Legislature
The 28th Utah Territorial Legislature met in 1888. The regular election for the Territorial Council and the House of Representatives was held August 1, 1887. Earlier in the year, the Edmunds-Tucker Act had further overhauled elections in the territory, disenfranchising women voters (most of whom were Mormon) and requiring that men registering to vote take an oath that they would obey anti-bigamy laws (in particular, the earlier Edmunds Act of 1882). The territory was also reapportioned into new electoral districts.[1]
Session
The legislative session convened on January 9, 1888, in Salt Lake City, and ended on March 11, 1888.[2][3]
Territorial Council
- President: Elias A. Smith
- People's Party: 10[4]
- Liberal Party: 2
Members
| Name | Party | District | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| William A.C. Bryan | People's | 10 | Juab |
| John E. Carlisle | People's | 1 | Cache |
| Richard Howe | People's | 7 | Salt Lake |
| Thomas Marshall | Liberal | 5 | Salt Lake |
| Christian F. Olsen | People's | 2 | Cache |
| Lewis W. Shurtliff | People's | 3 | Weber |
| Elias A. Smith | People's | 6 | Salt Lake |
| Abraham O. Smoot Jr. | People's | 8 | Utah |
| Luther T. Tuttle | People's | 11 | Sanpete |
| John P. Wimmer | People's | 9 | Emery |
| Edwin G. Woolley | People's | 12 | Washington |
| John M. Young | Liberal | 4 | Salt Lake |
House of Representatives
- Speaker: William W. Riter
- People's Party: 21[4]
- Liberal Party: 3
Members
| Name | Party | District | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarence E. Allen | Liberal | 8 | Salt Lake |
| John Clark | People's | 10 | Salt Lake |
| William Creer | People's | 15 | Utah |
| Philo T. Farnsworth Jr. | People's | 22 | Beaver |
| Abram Hatch | People's | 18 | Wasatch |
| Levi P. Helm | People's | 14 | Salt Lake |
| Robert W. Heyborne | People's | 23 | Iron |
| Enos D. Hoge | Liberal | 12 | Salt Lake |
| Joseph Howell | People's | 2 | Cache |
| Ricy H. Jones | People's | 3 | Box Elder |
| Elias S. Kimball | People's | 1 | Rich |
| William H. King | People's | 19 | Millard |
| Anthon H. Lund | People's | 20 | Sanpete |
| David C. McLaughlin | Liberal | 7 | Summit |
| Nathaniel Montgomery | People's | 5 | Weber |
| James H. Moyle | People's | 11 | Salt Lake |
| Charles C. Richards | People's | 4 | Weber |
| William W. Riter | People's | 9 | Salt Lake |
| Thomas F. Roueche | People's | 6 | Davis |
| William H. Seegmiller | People's | 21 | Sevier |
| George M. Spencer | People's | 13 | Salt Lake |
| William T. Stewart | People's | 24 | Kane |
| Samuel R. Thurman | People's | 16 | Utah |
| Lyman S. Wood | People's | 17 | Utah |
In a possible attempt at subterfuge during the election, at Park City in District 7 there was an independent ticket circulating which matched the Liberal ticket except that it substituted a different candidate for the House in place of David C. McLaughlin. While McLaughlin still won the seat, a saloon debate over the matter resulted in a man being shot and killed.[5]
References
- ^ "The Election". Deseret Evening News. August 2, 1887. p. 3. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
- ^ "The Legislature. Opening of the Twenty-eighth Session". Deseret Evening News. January 9, 1888. p. 3. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
- ^ "The Work of the Session". Deseret Evening News. March 12, 1888. p. 2. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
- ^ a b "People's Ticket". Deseret Evening News. July 30, 1887. p. 2. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
- ^ "Homicide at Park City". Deseret Evening News. August 2, 1887. p. 3. Retrieved February 14, 2026.