Captain Francis Marion Bishop

Obituary:

Capt. Francis Marion Bishop Closes Colorful Career

Captain Francis Marion Bishop, 90, Civil war veteran, member of the Major Powell Colorado river expedition of 1879, instructor at the University of Deseret and first illustrious potentate of El Kalah Temple, Arabic Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, died at the family residence, 2638 Alden street, Monday.

His wife, Mrs. Ella Derr Bishop, died last November.

Captain Bishop was born in Essex county, New York, Aug. 2, 1843. When 17 years of age he ran away from home and enlisted in the Union Army as a private. From 1861 to 1863 he served with the Second regiment, U.S. volunteers, with the army of the Potomac. He was transferred to the department of Missouri under General Pope, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war with the rank of captain.

After being mustered out of the service, he attended Illinois Weslyan University, Bloomington, Ill. He was graduate from this institution in 1870. While attending this school he made the acquaintance of Major Powell, who was an instructor at the university. When Major Powell organized his Colorado river expedition Captain Bishop was selected as topographer. In this capacity he made the first map of the Colorado river from actual notes and completed this map at a fort located at Kanab in 1871. This map is now on permanent exhibition in Washington, D.C.

On a recent visit of Captain Frederick Dellenbaugh, another member of the expedition, to Utah, the two veterans got together and recounted many of their experiences during this famous trip down the Colorado river.

After completing his map of the Colorado river section, Captain Bishop came to Salt Lake to become instructor of sciences at the Morgan Commercial college. He afterwards became an instructor at the University of Deseret at the time the late Dr. John R. Park headed that institution.

Captain Bishop was actively interested in many of the mining ventures in Utah and for a number of years maintained an assay office on West Temple street. He was also active in political affairs, serving at one time as justice of the peace of Salt Lake, judge of the juvenile court and his last political position was bailiff of the third district court in 1926.

Captain Bishop on his mother’s side was a direct descendant of John and Priscilla Alden of the “Mayflower.” He was a son of Dellivan DeLance and Pamelia Alden Bishop. Early in life Captain Bishop married Miss Belle Conklin, who died before he came to Utah. He later married Miss Alzina Pratt, daughter of the late Apostle Orson Pratt. She died many years ago and he married Ella Derr, who died Nov. 12 last.

Surviving are the following sons and daughters, Mrs. Fred C. Graham, Mrs. Victor Christopherson, Alden M. Bishop, Dr. W. DeLance Bishop of Duchesne; Miriam Derr Bishop and Virginia Pamelia Bishop; also nine grandchildren and one great grandchild.

SOURCE: Deseret News, May 22, 1933