View source for Charles W. Nibley

{{short description|American Mormon leader (1849–1931)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox Latter Day Saint biography
| name                = Charles W. Nibley
| image               = Charles W. Nibley 1931.JPG
| image_size          = 150px
| alt                 = Photo of Charles W. Nibley ca. 1931
| caption             = {{circa|1931}}
| birth_name          = Charles Wilson Nibley
| birth_date          = {{Birth date|1849|02|05|mf=yes}}
| birth_place         = Hunterfield, [[Scotland]], United Kingdom
| death_date          = {{Dda|1931|12|11|1849|02|05|mf=yes}}
| death_place         = [[Salt Lake City]], Utah, United States
| death_cause         = [[Pneumonia]]
| resting_place       = Logan City Cemetery 
| resting_place_coordinates = {{Coord| 41.7492|-111.8061|type:landmark|display=inline|name=Logan City Cemetery}}
| baptism_date        = 
| known_for           = 
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| occupation          = 
| employer            = 
| organization        = 
| notable_works       = 
| title               = 
| spouse              = Rebecca Ann Neibaur<br> Ellen Ricks<br> Julia Budge
| children            = 24
| parents             = James Nibley<br>Jean Wilson
| relatives           = 
| awards              = 
| signature           = 
| signature_size      = 
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| website             = <!-- {{URL|www.example.com}} -->
| footnotes           = 
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| portals             = LDS
<!-- Latter Day Saint Leadership  -->
| position_or_quorum1 = Second Counselor in the [[First Presidency (LDS Church)|First Presidency]]
| called_by1          = [[Heber J. Grant]]
| predecessor1        = [[Anthony W. Ivins]]
| successor1          = [[J. Reuben Clark]]
| start_date1         = {{start date|1925|05|28|mf=yes}}
| end_date1           = {{end date|1931|12|11|mf=yes}}
| ordination_reason1  = Death of [[Charles W. Penrose]]
| reorganization1     = J. Reuben Clark added to the First Presidency
| position_or_quorum2 = [[Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)|Presiding Bishop]]
| called_by2          = [[Joseph F. Smith]]
| predecessor2        = [[William B. Preston (Mormon)|William B. Preston]]
| successor2          = [[Sylvester Q. Cannon]]
| start_date2         = {{start date|1907|12|04|mf=yes}}
| end_date2           = {{end date|1925|05|28|mf=yes}}
| end_reason2         = Called as Second Counselor in [[First Presidency (LDS Church)|First Presidency]]
| list_notes          = Nibley was also the fifth [[Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)|presiding bishop]] of the LDS Church between 1907 and 1925. He is one of the few individuals to serve in the First Presidency without having been ordained to the priesthood office of apostle. 
| poly_date           = 30 March 1880
| poly_wives          = 3
| poly_notes          = 
}}
'''Charles Wilson Nibley''' (February 5, 1849 – December 11, 1931) was a Scottish-American religious leader, businessman, and politician.  Nibley was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as the fifth [[Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)|presiding bishop]] of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church) between 1907 and 1925 and a member of the church's [[First Presidency (LDS Church)|First Presidency]] from 1925 until his death.  He was also a businessman and was involved in various industries, such as lumber, sugar, and railroads.

==Early life==
[[File:Charles W. Nibley.jpg|thumb|155px|left|{{center|Charles W. Nibley<br>1873 (age 24)}}]]
Nibley was born in Hunterfield, [[Midlothian]], Scotland to James Nibley and Jean Wilson. In 1855, his family moved to the United States to join with the main body of [[Latter-day Saint]]s. They spent some time living in [[Rhode Island]]. In 1860, they moved to the [[Utah Territory]].<ref name="godfrey">{{cite book|last=Godfrey|first=Matthew C.|title=Religion, politics, and sugar : the Mormon Church, the federal government, and the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company, 1907-1921|url=https://archive.org/details/religionpolitics00godf|url-access=limited|publisher=Utah State University Press|location=Lehi, Utah|year=2007|pages=[https://archive.org/details/religionpolitics00godf/page/n194 188]–190|isbn=978-0-87421-658-5|oclc=74988178}}</ref> The family was sent north to settle in [[Cache Valley]], and eventually settled in [[Wellsville, Utah|Wellsville]].  In Wellsville, Nibley worked as a sheepherder and a store clerk.

As an adult, Nibley moved to [[Brigham City, Utah]], where he worked for [[Morris Rosenbaum]] (a Jewish convert to Mormonism)<ref>Jenson, Andrew. ''LDS Biographical Encyclopedia'', Vol. 4, p. 766</ref> and later became a partner in the store where he worked. It was there he met Rebecca Neibaur (who was the sister of one of Rosenbaum's wives) and was married in 1869. Following the 19th century practice of [[Mormonism and polygamy|plural marriage]], Nibley married Ellen Ricks in 1880 and Julia Budge in 1885.

==Business ventures==
In 1879 to 1885, Nibley managed a lumber company that was part of the LDS Church's [[United Order]] program.<ref name="godfrey" /> He then joined with [[David Eccles (businessman)|David Eccles]] and [[George Stoddard (lumberman)|George Stoddard]] to form the [[Oregon Lumber Company]] in 1889.<ref name="godfrey" /> As one of Nibley's grandsons, [[Hugh Nibley]], related, Charles Nibley used economic tricks<!-- cited, twice -->, including manipulating the [[Homestead Act]] to acquire large swaths of land, then would pay off government agents who investigated.<ref name="godfrey" /><ref>Hugh Nibley, ''Approaching Zion'' (The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol 9), p. 469</ref> Nibley was a firm believer in monopolies, believing competition was "economic waste".<ref name="godfrey" /><ref>Nibley, "Facts are Given About the Sugar Industry", [[Salt Lake Tribune]], June 25, 1916</ref> He also believed that LDS Church members who didn't support paying higher prices to Mormon businesses (versus lower prices to non-Mormon businesses) were betraying the church.<ref name="godfrey" /> This attitude of loyalty was also supported by [[Heber J. Grant]] in the October 1919 General Conference.<ref name="godfrey" />

Nibley also became involved in railroads, insurance, banking, politics, and major agricultural endeavors, eventually becoming a [[multimillionaire]].<ref name="christensen">{{cite book|last=Christensen|first=Michael Elvin|title=The Making of a Leader: A Biography of Charles W. Nibley to 1890|publisher=Department of History, University of Utah|year=1978|oclc=13937089}}</ref> The [[sugar beet]] growing town of [[Nibley, Oregon]] was named for him. He was later instrumental in forming the [[Amalgamated Sugar Company]] and the Utah and Idaho Sugar Company (later known as [[Utah-Idaho Sugar Company|U&I Sugar Co]]). He was chairman of the executive committee of the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company, President of the Standard Investors Inc. (comprising all of the Nibley holdings) and a valued director of the following business institutions: Zion's Cooperative Mercantile Institution, Utah State National Bank, Zion's Savings Bank & Trust Company, Utah Power & Light Company, Western Pacific Railroad Company, Hotel Utah, Utah Lime and Stone Company, Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph Company, and Beneficial Life Insurance Co.

==Church service==
===Missions===
Nibley served two missions for the LDS Church. His first mission, from October 1869 to March 1870, was to the eastern United States and was primarily a goodwill mission, trying to counteract the negative press surrounding polygamy in Utah. His second mission, from May 1877 to May 1879, was to England and proved to be influential to later Church history. He traveled with the new mission president, [[Joseph F. Smith]], and while serving in England became good friends with the future Church president.<ref name="christensen" />

===Stake Presidency===
After Nibley had moved to Oregon to participate in the lumber business, an LDS stake was organized in the area, and Nibley was called as the first counselor in the stake presidency. He served from June 1901 to December 1907.<ref name="christensen" />

===Presiding Bishop===
[[File:J.G.McDonald Dedication.jpg|thumb|Charles Nibley, second from the left of the seated row of men, in front of the house of J.G. McDonald in 1911]]
Nibley was called as the [[Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)|presiding bishop]] of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] in December 1907 by Joseph F. Smith, with whom he had served in England a few decades earlier.  It was during Nibley's term as presiding bishop that the LDS Church built the [[Joseph Smith Memorial Building|Hotel Utah]].

"Charles W. Nibley was one of the most liberal industrialists of his time. But he had to compromise. Thus to finish the Hotel Utah, it was necessary to borrow $2,000,000, so President Smith sent Brother Nibley to Barney Baruch in New York to raise the money. He succeeded, and President Smith was delighted; but he was also alarmed when he heard the terms: it would all have to be paid back in two years. "Charley, what have you done? How in the world will we ever pay it back in that time?" Not to worry, they would have the whole thing paid off in two years. How? "I'm going to build the largest and finest bar in the West in the basement of the Hotel, and will see that we will pay off every penny of that debt." President Smith went through the ceiling; which was it to be, the Word of Wisdom or fiscal soundness? ''The dollar won"''<ref>{{Cite book|title=Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol.9, Ch.15|last=Nibley|first=Hugh|publisher=FARMS|date=November 13, 2009}}</ref>

===First Presidency===
In 1925, he was released as presiding bishop and was asked to be second counselor to [[Heber J. Grant]] in the church's First Presidency. He is one of the few individuals to serve in the First Presidency without having been ordained to the [[Priesthood (Latter Day Saints)|priesthood]] office of [[Apostle (Latter Day Saints)|apostle]].

==Nibley Park==
[[File:HeberJGrantGolfingWithCharlesNibley.PNG|400px|thumb|right|[[Heber J. Grant]] dedicating Nibley Park golf course in [[Salt Lake City]] [[Utah]] on May 20, 1922 by hitting the first golf ball off a tee. Charles Nibley is standing on the left.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=Aul-kAQHnToC&dat=19820519&printsec=frontpage&hl=en The Deseret News - May 19, 1982]</ref>]]
In 1921 Nibley bought Wandamere (Calder) Park in Salt Lake City, and donated it to the city on Christmas Eve of that year.<ref name=slchamber>"Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce [https://slchamber.com/chamber-history-bishop-nibley/ Bishop Nibley Bides His Time] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206133055/https://slchamber.com/chamber-history-bishop-nibley/ |date=December 6, 2021 }}" January 23rd, 2015</ref> The gift to the city had the stipulation that it would never be sold and remain a golf course or be returned to the Nibley family.<ref>Christopher Smart "[https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=2360202&itype=CMSID Deed: Nibley must remain a golf course or be returned to owners]" The Salt Lake Tribune April 6, 2015</ref> The idea was to provide a public golf course where the general public, both poor and rich, could enjoy the game of golf.<ref name=slchamber /> At the dedication on May 22, 1922, Nibley said, "When I think that this generation and the generations of men and women yet to come shall find healthful enjoyment and rare pleasure here in playing that splendid outdoor Scotch game known as golf, and also in other outdoor amusements which shall not interfere with golf, that thought gives me the highest satisfaction and most genuine pleasure."<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Christensen |first1=Connie |title=Nibley Park prepares to celebrate 60th birthday |journal=The Deseret News |date=19 May 1982 |page=29 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=Aul-kAQHnToC&dat=19820519&printsec=frontpage |access-date=14 November 2022}}</ref>

==Death and legacy==
Nibley died of [[pneumonia]] in [[Salt Lake City, Utah]];<ref>[http://images.archives.utah.gov/data/81448/2259926/2259926_0001468.jpg State of Utah Death Certificate] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718171929/http://images.archives.utah.gov/data/81448/2259926/2259926_0001468.jpg |date=July 18, 2011 }}</ref> he was buried in [[Logan, Utah|Logan]] City Cemetery. [[Nibley, Utah]] is named after him.

Charles's son [[Preston Nibley|Preston]] became a church leader and author of several Mormon books.  [[Hugh Nibley|Hugh W. Nibley]], a Mormon apologist and academic, is Charles's grandson, through his son, Alexander. Musician [[Reid Nibley]] was a grandson, and [[Martha Nibley Beck]] is a great-granddaughter.

==See also==
{{Portal|Latter Day Saint movement}}
* [[Council on the Disposition of the Tithes]]
* [[David Asael Smith]]
* [[John Wells (Mormon)]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
{{refbegin|2}}
*{{cite book
|last=Christensen
|first=Michael Elvin
|title=The Making of a Leader: A Biography of Charles W. Nibley to 1890
|publisher=Department of History, University of Utah
|year=1978
|oclc=13937089
}}
*{{cite journal
|last=Christensen
|first=Michael E.
|title=Charles W. Nibley: A Case Study of Polygamy
|journal=Journal of Mormon History
|volume=7
|year=1980
|pages=101–114
|jstor=23285965
}}
*{{citation |last=Godfrey |first=Matthew C. |title=Religion, Politics, and Sugar: The Mormon Church, the Federal Government, and the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company, 1907 to 1921 |year=2007 |publisher=Utah State University Press |isbn=978-0-87421-658-5}}
*{{cite book
|last=Godfrey
|first=Matthew C.
|chapter="My Dear Charlie": The Friendship of Joseph F. Smith and Charles W. Nibley
|editor-last=Manscill
|editor-first=Craig K.
|editor2-last=Reeves
|editor2-first=Brian D.
|editor3-last=Dorius
|editor3-first=Guy L.
|editor4-last=Haws
|editor4-first=J. B.
|title=Joseph F. Smith: Reflections on the Man and His Times
|publisher=Religious Studies Center; Deseret Book
|year=2013
|pages=181–197
|location=Provo, UT; Salt Lake City
}}
*{{cite book
|last=Nibley
|first=Charles W.
|title=Reminiscences of Charles W. Nibley 1849-1931
|publisher=Stevens & Wallis, Inc.
|year=1934
|location=Salt Lake City, Utah
|oclc=10078714
}}
{{refend}}

==External resources==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101129212842/http://tillwegettoadam.net/wiki/index.php?title=Reminiscences_Charles_W._Nibley Autobiography of Charles W. Nibley]
*{{cite archive |date = 1932 |collection = In Memoriam: Charles W. Nibley |collection-url = https://archives.lib.byu.edu/repositories/ltpsc/resources/upb_vmss228|repository = L. Tom Perry Special Collections |institution = Brigham Young University |location = Provo, Utah}}

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{{succession box
|title  =Second Counselor in the [[First Presidency (LDS Church)|First Presidency]]
|years= {{start date|1925|05|28}} &ndash; {{end date|1931|12|11}}
|before=[[Anthony W. Ivins]]
|after= [[J. Reuben Clark]]
|}}
{{succession box
|title= [[Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)|Presiding Bishop]]
|years= {{start date|1907|12|04}}&ndash;{{start date|1925|05|28}}
|before= [[William B. Preston (Mormon)|William B. Preston]]
|after= [[Sylvester Q. Cannon]]
|}}
{{s-end}}
{{LDSfirstpresidency}}
{{LDSpresidingbishopric}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nibley, Charles W.}}
[[Category:1849 births]]
[[Category:1931 deaths]]
[[Category:Counselors in the First Presidency (LDS Church)]]
[[Category:Presiding Bishops (LDS Church)]]
[[Category:Scottish emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Scottish Latter Day Saints]]
[[Category:People from Brigham City, Utah]]
[[Category:Deaths from pneumonia in Utah]]
[[Category:People from Midlothian]]
[[Category:Scottish general authorities (LDS Church)]]