Children of Samuel Christian Backman, part 2

 Gustave Hilmer Backman was the third child in this family. I believe he was the first to make the migrant's journey, with his brother William Jacob following soon after. Gustave came with his uncle John in order to receive the child discount fare. 

There have been questions about his birth place and I accept his own account that "I was born May 18th, 1864, in Mastuget in the city of Goteborg, Sweden." This is from a mimeographed autobiography that came into my possession after my grandfather's, or perhaps my grandmother's death. I am sure others have a copy as well, but I transcribed it and downloaded it to www.familysearch.org as one of his 'memories'. Gustave died in November 1931, almost 20 years (to the day) before I was born.

The Utah State Death certificate states that death was due to angina pectoris, following several years of heart problems, at age 67, in Salt Lake City.

In this autobiography Gustave notes that: 'Though I was regarded a good young man, I had taken no part in religion, except my connection with Sunday school, mutual and the choir. I had been ordained a deacon when I was thirteen [by] Bishop R. V. Morris in the 19th Ward, but no further promotion had been made. I was like most of the boys of that day. I smoked cigarettes, played pool, but I never dank. When I say like other boys, let me not forget to say the Ashtons, Lewis and Moyle above mentioned, were all exceptions, they did neither of these things, but all boys with whom I came in contact at work and elsewhere did.'

Previously he has written that the first part of life in Utah had been dissatisfying, moving from home to home often to be used as "help" or abused. The arrival of his parents, especially his mother, was a boon to his stability and attitude. He put himself to develop in mature and admirable directions.

Gustave did serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in his native Sweden, and when he returned furthered his education through a correspondence program, ultimately becoming a lawyer and accepted in all Utah courts. He built numerous associations, including clerking in Washington D.C. with congressman King of Utah. He served in Salt Lake City and County Clerks offices, opened his own law firm serving property and probate cases. By the time of  his death he had served or was serving on Salt Lake City board of education, the public library board and various city zoning and neighborhood development commissions. These efforts, concerns and enthusiasms flowed through the lives and careers of his sons as well.

Gustave married Grace Bailey Pollard in 1890, she a daughter of Bishop Joseph Pollard with whom he had worked in his youth. They were the parents of Gustave Pollard, LeGrand Pollard, Melvin Hilmer (who died as a child), Milton Vaughan, Grace Lucille, Ralph Vernon, Edna Louise and Harold Samuel Backman. Gustave and Grace are interred in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.