History of Jonathan Edward Openshaw:

Jonathan Edward Openshaw, as son of Job and Nancy Bestwick Openshaw, was born at Swinton, Lancashire, England, April 17, 1859. He was baptized by Daniel Stones on April 12, 1872. He was confirmed on April 15, 1872 also by Daniel Stones. This was in England shortly before he migrated to the United States.


His education commenced at Swinton, England in 1866 but it did not go far. However, he was a great reader and a good student, and after he arrived in Salt Lake he continued to "educate himself" doing much studying at home and going to night school when he had the opportunity.


In May of 1874, while still in England, he was ordained an Elder by Joseph Birch. In July, with other members of his family, he arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah. The date of his arrival was July 2, 1874.


Soon after his arrival in Salt Lake City, he became acquainted with Bessie Lees and on December 8, 1881 in the Salt Lake Endowment house they were married. Daniel A. Wells performed the ceremony.


From 1876 until 1855 he worked as a Teamster. From 1885 until 1940 he worked various positions at the Utah State National Bank. This was the first national bank in the state of Utah (at the time of its opening, Utah was not yet a state) and J. E. Openshaw worked for two weeks getting ready for the opening day, June 10, 1890.


In 1935, the Bank held a party honoring him at the Hotel Utah. He was presented with a gold watch by President Heber J. Grant on December 23, 1935, for his faithful service over the years. He was allowed to remain on the payroll of the bank as a temporary working during vacation periods, etc. to complete 50 years of service.

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, he was also very active. In 1907, James Lawson gave him a Patriarchal Blessing. He was ordained a Seventy by Joseph W. Summerhays. He was set apart as a President of the 24th Quorum of Seventy by President Seymour B. Young. He was later made Senior President of the 24th Quorum and served for many years.
In the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association in the 16th Ward, he served as an assistant in the Superintendency with Alonzo P. Kesler as President and Brigham F. Grant as the other assistant.


For a number of years he was superintendent of the 16th Ward Sunday School with Robert H. Haslam and Joshua Selley as assistants.


He served to Home Missions in the Salt Lake Stake. The first was for three years--1914 through 1916 and a second from 1917 to 1919.


On December 15, 1916 he was set apart as Salt Lake Stake Superintendent of Religion Classes. He served in this office until his wife died in 1925. The Religion Class was the forerunner of the present Church Seminary Program.


On December 20, 1925, he was ordained a High Priest by Apostle Joseph Fielding Smith. For many years he served as High Councilman in the Salt Lake Stake.


He was also an Ordinance worker in the Salt Lake Temple for a number of years. He enjoyed doing family history research and did temple work for many of his ancestors.


In June of 1928 he was married to Dora Butler in the Salt Lake Temple.


Politically he was a Republican and was very interested in party activities. He served as City Councilman, and two terms as a Representative in the House, Utah State Legislature. The terms in the Legislature were 1921 and 1923.


His chief interests were wrapped up in his family and activities of the Church.


On February 21, 1940 he suffered a coronary occlusion and died very suddenly. His funeral was held in the 18th Ward in Salt Lake and he is buried in the Openshaw Family Plot in the City Cemetery, Salt Lake City, Utah.


LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, Andrew Jenson, Vol. 3, p.476
Openshaw, Jonathan E., senior president of the 24th quorum of Seventy and a resident of the Sixteenth Ward, Salt Lake City, Utah, was born April 17, 1859, at Swinton, Lancashire, England, the son of Job Openshaw and Nancy Bestwick. He was baptized in April, 1871, by Daniel Stones; ordained an Elder in May, 1873, by Joseph Burch; emigrated to Utah in 1874 and settled in the Sixteenth Ward, Salt Lake City, where he has been an active member ever since. He was ordained a Seventy in 1878 by Joseph W. [p.477] Summerhays, acted as superintendent of a Sunday school about five years; served as second and first counselor and later as president of the Ward Y. M. M. I. A.; was for several years a home missionary in the Salt Lake Stake and became a president of the 24th quorum of Seventy in 1884, having previously acted as secretary of the quorum. In November, 1917, he was appointed Stake superintendent of religion classes in the Salt Lake Stake. Although only receiving a common school education in his youth, Bro. Openshaw added to his education by taking a night school business course and thus, aided by private instruction, learned the banking business. After serving as cashier in several country banks, he is at the present writing a teller in the Utah State National Bank. In 1881 (Dec. 8th) he married Bessie Lees (daughter of John Lees and Martha Needham), who was born Dec. 13, 1863, in Salt Lake City and has borne her husband ten children, namely, Martha, Jonathan E., Clarence, Edna, Adelbert W., Melvin, Ida A., Frank M., Florence and Glen.


Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, p.1079
OPENSHAW, JONATHAN E. (son of Job Openshaw and Nancy Beswick of Bolton, Lancashire, Eng. Came to Utah 1874). Born April 17, 1859.


Married Elizabeth Lees Dec. 8, 1881, Salt Lake City (daughter of John Lees, Jr., and Martha Needham, pioneers October, 1855, Milo Andrus company), who was born Dec. 13, 1863, Salt Lake City. Their children: Martha b. Oct. 22, 1882, d. infant; Jonathan E. Jr. b. Oct. 6, 1883, m. Adaline Coalter; Clarence R. b. Aug. 15, 1885, m. Margerite Coalter; Edna b. Sept. 28, 1887, m. Daniel K. Rawlings; Adelbert W. b. April 12, 1890, d. aged 15 months; Melvin b. July 1, 1892, m. Esther Roberts; Ida b. Nov. 19, 1894; Frank M. b. April 5, 1897; Florence b. Aug. 15, 1899; Glenn b. June 14, 1905. Family home, Salt Lake City.