HYRUM RUSSON KIRKHAM

HYRUM RUSSON KIRKHAM

Hyrum Russon, son of George and Mary Russon Kirkham, was born 15^th July 1882 in Lehi, Utah and died 27^th Jul 1943 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and buried in Lehi, Utah.  He married Mabel L. Woolf 17 February 1904 .  She was born 6^th Apr 1885 in Hyde Park, Utah, and died 31^st Mar 1960 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and was buried in Lehi, Utah.

Hyrum was baptized on his eighth birthday by his father.  He attended his church duties and his schools and was known never to shirk any task that was given him.  He grew to manhood with the love and admiration of all his family.  He was always lovingly known as  Hy Kirkham.

During Hyrum's  early life he was employed by the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company in their sugar beet fields and was later employed in the sugar factory at Lehi, Utah.  He attended the Brigham Young University and was captain of the basketball team.  He was also a member of the baseball team.  Hyrum began the career of grocery man in 1909 as manager of Simons-Woolf store in Ucon, Idaho.  In 1916 he became manager of the Zion  Co-operative Mercantile Institution of Idaho Falls, Idaho.  In later years he was transferred to the grocery department in the main store in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Hyrum was a very likeable gentleman and attracted people to him.  He had a winsome smile and was most courteous to all.  He was a faithful Latter-Day-Saint and was never without a position of responsibility.  He was ordained a deacon 11 Jan 1896 and advanced through the different quorums until he was ordained a High Priest.  He fulfilled a mission for the church to Great Britain during the years 1907-9.  During his missionary labors he baptized seventeen coverts.  Other assignments given him by the church officials were:  Secretary of the Lehi Sunday School, the enrollment being 1280 members.  In 1905 he was Secretary of Bingham Stake Mutual Improvement Association.  He served as counselor to the Bishop of Ucon Ward, Idaho, and was selected as Bishop of that ward in 1915.  In December 1910 he was appointed Justice of the Peace in Fairview, Idaho.  The family moved from Ucon to Idaho Falls, Idaho where he was called to preside of the Y.M.M.I.A.  Later he was set apart as first assistant to the Stake Sunday School Superintendent.  During this calling he arranged five annual Father and Sons Outings.  Here were attended by a total of 1132 persons.  Total miles traveled-520.  In 1925 he was set apart as a member of the Stake High Council, and later was set apart as second counselor to the Stake President.  The family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1926.  His first appointment in Salt Lake was supervisor of Yale Ward Teachers, and also teacher of the high Priest  Quorum.  Later he was appointed as a Stake Missionary, and then set apart as President of Ward Stake Missionaries.  Hyrum lived a full life of service.

Children of Hyrum Russon and Mabel Woolf Kirkham
Vilda Kirkham Campbel            Burdett Alton Kirkham
Fern Kirkham Cornaby              De Esta Kirkham Ludwig
Wynona Kirkham Cottrell        Roma Kirkham Hardy
Emerson Dale Kirkham