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PAYSON PEOPLE

This advertisement for Wilson Millinery & Ladies Furnishings appeared in The Payson Chronicle in the spring of 1933. The shop, which was located along South Main Street in the downtown district, was included in a business directory in the newspaper’s “Industrial Edition” several years before. “With a modern store on Main Street of this city you will find one of the most up to date stores of its kind to be found in any of the smaller towns in this district, featuring millinery, ready-to-wear, and many specialities,” the 1929 directory read. At that time Clyde Wilson had been the owner and manager of the business for 25 years, and had “proven herself to be a very capable business woman as well as a booster for the community.” Throughout its years in business, Wilson hired numerous skilled women who worked with her to maintain the shop’s high reputation for quality and style. 

#paysonpeople #houseofstyle #vogue #paysonchronicle #thepaysonchronicle 

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Our American Story

PICTURED: People gather in Downtown Payson to celebrate the end of World War II with a victory parade.

 

The 250th anniversary of our nation is not only a time to look back, but also to look forward. Many see 2026 as an opportunity to confront the country’s imperfections while honoring its resilience. Conversations about democracy, equality, and freedom are as vital today as they were in 1776.

Join the conversation.

We want to know what being an American means to you. What are your hopes for our nation’s future? 

Send us your American story in essay form, as an original poem, or composed in lyrics to a song—all for consideration of publication in The Payson Chronicle in the weeks leading up to America's 250th birthday celebration. 

Send your submission to paysonchronicle@gmail.com, or submit in person or by mail at 145 East Utah Avenue #5, Payson, Utah 84651.

In this week’s edition of The Payson Chronicle

 

In This Week’s Edition

 

Our American Story

A Decade and a Half After Citizens United: How One Supreme Court Decision Reshaped American Politics

In January 2010, the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States fundamentally altered the landscape of American campaign finance. By a 5–4 vote, the Court held that corporations and labor unions have a constitutional right under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution to spend unlimited amounts of money on independent political advocacy. In doing so, the decision overturned decades of legal precedent and effectively dismantled key provisions of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, commonly known as McCain-Feingold.

At the heart of the case was a dispute over whether a nonprofit corporation, Citizens United, could air and promote a critical film about then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during the 2008 Democratic primaries. Federal law at the time prohibited corporations and unions from using general treasury funds for “electioneering communications” close to an election. The Court’s majority, led by Justice Anthony Kennedy, ruled that such restrictions amounted to censorship of political speech.

The majority opinion framed political spending as a form of protected expression, asserting that the government cannot limit speech based on the speaker’s identity. “The First Amendment does not allow political speech restrictions based on a speaker’s corporate identity,” Kennedy wrote. In essence, the ruling equated the political speech rights of corporations and unions with those of individual citizens, at least in the context of independent expenditures.

Critics, including the dissenting justices led by Justice John Paul Stevens, argued that the decision ignored the potential for corruption or undue influence. Stevens warned that corporations, unlike individuals, are artificial entities with vast financial resources and no direct accountability to voters. Allowing them to spend freely in elections, he argued, risked distorting the democratic process.

The Rise of Super PACs and Dark Money

In the years following the decision, its impact became immediately visible. Perhaps the most significant development was the rise of “Super PACs,” or independent expenditure-only political action committees. These organizations can raise unlimited funds from individuals, corporations, and unions, provided they do not coordinate directly with candidates or campaigns.

Super PACs quickly became major players in federal and state elections, spending hundreds of millions—and eventually billions—of dollars on advertising and advocacy. While candidates themselves remain subject to contribution limits, these outside groups often dominate the airwaves, shaping public perception of races from presidential contests to local elections.

Another consequence has been the growth of so-called “dark money.” Certain nonprofit organizations, often organized under sections of the tax code that do not require donor disclosure, can spend heavily on political messaging without revealing their funding sources. This has made it more difficult for voters to know who is behind the ads they see.

Supporters of the decision argue that it has expanded political participation by allowing more voices to be heard. They contend that independent expenditures do not inherently corrupt the political process because they are not coordinated with candidates. From this perspective, the ruling strengthens free speech and limits government overreach.

Opponents, however, see a system increasingly dominated by wealthy donors and powerful organizations. They argue that while speech may be technically free, it is not equally amplified. A billionaire or major corporation can now spend far more to influence elections than an average citizen, raising concerns about political equality.

Changes in the Political Climate

Since 2010, American elections have grown markedly more expensive. Presidential election cycles now routinely cost billions of dollars, with outside spending playing a central role. Campaigns have become more reliant on media strategies, particularly television and digital advertising funded by Super PACs.

The decision has also contributed to a more polarized political environment. Outside groups often produce highly targeted and sometimes negative advertising, designed to energize specific segments of the electorate. Without direct accountability to a candidate, these groups may take more aggressive approaches, which can deepen divisions among voters.

Additionally, the influence of major donors has become a defining feature of modern campaigns. While small-dollar fundraising has increased in the digital age, large contributions to Super PACs still account for a significant portion of political spending. This dynamic has fueled ongoing debates about whether elected officials are more responsive to major donors than to the general public.

Impact on Everyday Americans

For ordinary Americans, the effects of Citizens United are both direct and indirect. On a practical level, voters are exposed to more political advertising than ever before. During election seasons, television, social media, and even streaming platforms are saturated with messages funded by outside groups.

The decision also influences the types of issues that receive attention. Organizations with substantial financial backing can elevate certain topics, shaping the national conversation. This can mean greater visibility for some causes, but it may also crowd out others that lack similar resources.

There are broader implications for trust in government as well. Surveys in the years since the ruling have shown persistent public concern about the role of money in politics. Many Americans believe that wealthy donors and corporations wield too much influence, which can erode confidence in democratic institutions.

At the same time, the decision has energized reform movements. Advocacy groups across the political spectrum have called for measures such as increased transparency, public financing of campaigns, or even a constitutional amendment to overturn the ruling. Several states and municipalities have experimented with new systems designed to amplify small donors and reduce reliance on large contributions.

More than fifteen years after it was decided, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission remains one of the most controversial rulings in modern American history. It sits at the intersection of two core democratic values: free speech and political equality. While the Court emphasized the former, critics argue that the latter has been compromised.

Mourning the Passing of Our Friend

Garth Peart

Ben Garth Peart, age 87, passed away peacefully on April 26, 2026, at his home in Spring Lake, Utah, surrounded by his loving family after a valiant battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Garth was born on April 30, 1938, in Santaquin, Utah. He attended school in Santaquin and Payson. On November 16, 1956, he married the love of his life, Nedra Ellen Hiatt.

Garth dedicated 30 years of service to the State of Utah as a surveyor. Outside of work, his life centered around his deep love for his family. He was an incredible husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Some of his most cherished moments were spent taking his grandsons fishing and being with his family.

After retiring, Garth found great joy in driving his grandchildren to school each morning, teaching them to appreciate life’s simple blessings. He had a special way of making each person feel known and loved, even giving every family member a unique nickname—names that will be treasured forever.

Garth and Nedra shared a love for their team of mules, participating in parades, weddings, funerals, and wagon trains throughout Utah and Wyoming. He was known for his strength, dependability, and steady presence. If you were fortunate enough to be his friend, you knew you had someone truly solid in your corner.

He is survived by his loving wife, Nedra Peart; his three children: Benny (Susan) Peart, Angela (Brad) Stanton, and Natalie (Mike) Stauffer; his grandchildren: Trevor Peart, Austin Stanton, Brianne Carter, Colten Stanton, Rebecca Oberg, Hilary Larsen, and Bailee Tanner; and his 12 great-grandchildren.

He will be deeply missed. We will honor his life by striving to live with the same love, strength, and devotion he showed to all of us.

Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 1:00 pm at the Spring Lake LDS Church, 12625 S Spring Lake Road with a viewing from 12:00 to 12:45 pm prior to the services. Interment, Santaquin City Cemetery. 

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PAYSON PEOPLE

 

James F. Hiatt Jr. was born in Payson in 1897. A certified electrical engineer—he earned his diploma from the American School in Chicago, Illinois in 1933–Hiatt worked as an electrician for Payson City for 28 years. And he repaired radios at a time when families gathered around the mass medium tech for entertainment and the news of the day. The ad for his repair service that appears here was published in The Payson Chronicle in 1937, when an estimated 75% of U.S. households had at least one radio receiver. It was the Golden Age of Radio.

PAYSON PEOPLE

 

Ella Larsen was born in May 1914 in Odense, Denmark, the tenth child of Lars and Karen Marie Larsen. The family emigrated from Denmark to the United States when she was six years old, and lived for a time in Payson. While finishing school, she studied to become a beautician, and opened a beauty salon at age 16 with a loan from her father that she paid off quickly. Ella met the love of her life Roy Gale when she was 15 and they were married in June 1932 in the Salt Lake Temple—not long after her advertisement for permanent waves at Vogue Beauty Shoppe appeared in The Payson Chronicle’s May 20, 1932 edition.

The Clothiers

 

Eureka

 Turn of the 20th Century Eureka

#eureka #tintic #utah #paysonchronicle #readthepaysonchronicle 

In This Week’s Edition

 

Page Furniture Company of Payson

Page Furniture Company — The House of Quality

Formerly located in Downtown Payson, Utah

From B&W ad published in The Payson Chronicle (1950)

The Payson Chronicle — c1950 advertisement

The Payson Chronicle — c1950 advertisement 

#cocacola #edgarbergen #retro50s #paysonchronicle #utah

John Francis

 

John Francis (1854-1934)

Samuel Douglass

Samuel Douglass:

https://paysonchronicle.blogspot.com/2022/09/discovering-where-we-came-from-downtown.html

Campbell Brothers’ Circus

 

An escape from everyday farm and domestic work was an irresistible invitation that traveling circuses, on occasion, delivered to Payson.

Huish Enterprises

 

Huish Furniture and Casket Co. — https://paysonchronicle.blogspot.com/2016/09/payson-historical-society-pictures-tell.html

Mourning the Passing of Our Friend

 

 

Carolyn Huff

Carolyn Augusta Robbins Huff, age 87, passed away peacefully on April 5, 2026, just one day before her 88th birthday.

She was born on April 6, 1938, in Santaquin, Utah, to Marvin and Dorothy Robbins. Carolyn graduated from Payson High School, where, at the young age of 14, she met the love of her life, Farrell Huff. Their love story was one of deep and lasting devotion. They were married on September 23, 1955, in the Salt Lake City Temple when she was just 17 years old, beginning a beautiful life together centered on faith and family.

Though their time together was far too short, Carolyn and Farrell shared 34 wonderful years of marriage before his passing. The loss of her beloved husband was the great sorrow of her life, yet her strength, faith, and love for her family carried her forward and became a quiet example to all who knew her.

From an early age Carolyn wanted to be a nurse. With the support of Farrell and her two older children, Carolyn attended Brigham Young University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. She later attended Utah State and Weber State University and earned a Master’s degree in Hospital Administration. She dedicated her career to caring for others, working as a registered nurse in Payson Hospital, in Payson, Utah, at Utah Valley Hospital and Utah State Hospital in Provo, Utah. She also shared her knowledge and passion by teaching Health Occupations careers at Springville, Spanish Fork, and Payson High Schools. She deeply loved teaching and found great joy in seeing her students succeed, often encountering them later in hospitals and health centers where they carried on the same work of caring for others.

She spent 70 years living in Springville, Utah, where she created a loving home and built deep, lasting friendships. Carolyn was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her faith was a guiding light throughout her life. After she retired, she served a mission in the Salt Lake City Headquarters, Family and Church History Mission for three years, and then she found great joy and purpose serving in both Provo temples for many years.

Above all, Carolyn cherished her family. She is survived by her four children: Jeri Lynn (Don) Allphin; Terry (Lynn) Huff; Lara (Eddie) Hills; and Tara (Chad) Greenwood; as well as 14 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, each of whom brought her immense pride and joy.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Farrell Huff; her brothers, Gerald and Larry Robbins; her daughter-in-law, Lisa Huff, and grandchildren Josef and Sammi Greenwood.

Carolyn will be remembered for her quiet strength, her unwavering faith, and the love she so freely gave to everyone around her. Her life was one of service, compassion, and enduring devotion, and her legacy will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

Family and friends are invited to an Open House to celebrate Carolyn's life on Friday, April 17th from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 878 W Center Street, Springville, Utah (the smaller church on the east side of the street). A visitation will also be held Saturday at the same location from 9:00 to 9:45 am with funeral services to follow at 10:00 am. The interment will be at 1:00 pm in the Santaquin City Cemetery following a family luncheon.

Share condolences at www.brownfamilymortuary.com

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Our American Story

The American punk rock band Social Distortion was formed in Fullerton, California in 1978 by guitarist Mike Ness, bassist Mark Garrett, drummer Casey Royer, and vocalist Tom Corvin. A descendant of early Payson, Utah pioneers, Christopher Reece joined Social Distortion in 1984 on drums. PICTURED during this period (left-right) are bassist John Maurer, Ness, Reece, and Dennis Danell, rhythm guitar and backing vocals. Reece left the band in 1994. Currently, Social Distortion is composed of Ness (lead vocals and lead guitar), Jonny Wickersham on rhythm guitar and backing vocals, Brent Harding, bass and backing vocals, and David Hidalgo, Jr. on drums and percussion; touring musician David Kalish plays the keyboard and organ.

 

The 250th anniversary of our nation is not only a time to look back, but also to look forward. Many see 2026 as an opportunity to confront the country’s imperfections while honoring its resilience. Conversations about democracy, equality, and freedom are as vital today as they were in 1776.

Join the conversation.

We want to know what being an American means to you. What are your hopes for our nation’s future? 

Send us your American story in essay form, as an original poem, or composed in lyrics to a song—all for consideration of publication in The Payson Chronicle in the weeks leading up to America’s 250th birthday celebration.

Send your submission to paysonchronicle@gmail.com, or submit in person or by mail at 145 East Utah Avenue Suite 5, Payson, Utah 84651.

#socialdistortion #storyofmylife #paysonchronicle #thepaysonchronicle #paysonian

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Submissions Call—Our American Story

PICTURED: Hi Jolly (or Hadji Ali; also known as Philip Tedro) seated next to his bride Gertrudis Serna in Tucson, Arizona. An Ottoman subject of Syrian and Greek parentage, Ali—in 1856–became one of the first camel drivers ever hired by the United States Army to lead an experiment in the Southwest, introducing camels as cargo transports across the “Great American Desert.” He became an American citizen in 1880. Hi Jolly’s work in the US Camel Corps earned him a reputation as a living legend until his death in Quartzsite, Arizona in 1902.

 

The 250th anniversary of our nation is not only a time to look back, but also to look forward. Many see 2026 as an opportunity to confront the country’s imperfections while honoring its resilience. Conversations about democracy, equality, and freedom are as vital today as they were in 1776.

Join the conversation.

We want to know what being an American means to you. What are your hopes for our nation’s future? 

Send us your American story in essay form, as an original poem, or composed in lyrics to a song—all for consideration of publication in The Payson Chronicle in the weeks leading up to America’s 250th birthday celebration. 

Send your submission to paysonchronicle@gmail.com, or submit in person or by mail at 145 East Utah Avenue #5, Payson, Utah 84651.

#hijolly #quartzsite #camels #america

Big Moe

 Lunchtime in Payson today is with a legendary Big Moe Burger, the creation of early Wee Blu Inn owner and proprietor Merlin “Moe” Phillips (1942-1998). Served with hand cut French fries, it’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner in one.

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RED CLOUD

 OUR AMERICAN STORIES 

Red Cloud

PICTURED: Chief Red Cloud (1880; John K. Hillers, photographer)

PINE RIDGE, S.D. — Few figures in the history of the American West loom as large, or as complex, as Red Cloud, the Oglala Lakota leader whose life spanned the violent collision between Indigenous nations and a rapidly expanding United States. Warrior, diplomat, strategist, and elder, Red Cloud’s story is not merely one of resistance, but of adaptation—and of a legacy that continues to shape Native communities into the 21st century.

Red Cloud—born Maȟpíya Lúta around 1822 near present-day North Platte, Nebraska—came of age in a world defined by mobility, kinship, and conflict. Raised within the Lakota’s matrilineal traditions after the death of his parents, he was mentored by his uncle, Chief Old Smoke, and quickly gained a reputation as a skilled warrior in conflicts with rival tribes such as the Pawnee and Crow. 

But it was not intertribal warfare that would define his legacy. By the 1860s, the encroachment of American settlers—driven by gold discoveries and the construction of the Bozeman Trail—brought the United States Army into the heart of Lakota territory. Red Cloud emerged as a unifying leader among the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho in resisting that intrusion.

Red Cloud’s War: A Rare Victory

From 1866 to 1868, Red Cloud orchestrated what became known as Red Cloud’s War, a sustained campaign against U.S. military forts established along the Bozeman Trail. Through coordinated raids and strategic pressure, Native forces effectively cut off supply lines and isolated garrisons in the Powder River country. 

The most infamous episode—the Fetterman Fight of 1866—resulted in the deaths of 81 U.S. soldiers, marking one of the Army’s worst defeats on the Great Plains. 

The war ended not in defeat for the Lakota, but in negotiation. The 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie required the United States to abandon its forts along the Bozeman Trail and recognize Lakota control over the Powder River region. Red Cloud thus became the only Native American leader to force the U.S. government into a treaty following a successful war on American soil. 

Yet victory proved fragile.

From Warrior to Diplomat

Red Cloud understood what many of his contemporaries did not: the overwhelming scale of American expansion. After traveling to Washington, D.C., he concluded that continued war would ultimately devastate his people. He turned instead toward diplomacy, advocating for peace—even as treaties were broken and lands were steadily taken.

He opposed policies such as the Dawes Act, which fragmented tribal lands, and he spoke out against corruption in the reservation system, where promised supplies often failed to materialize. 

By the time of his death in 1909 on the Pine Ridge Reservation, Red Cloud had witnessed the near-total transformation of Lakota life—from free-roaming buffalo hunters to a people confined by federal policy. He was buried at what is now Red Cloud Cemetery, a site that remains sacred to his descendants.

 

A Living Legacy Among Descendants

Unlike many historical figures, Red Cloud’s leadership did not end with his passing. His descendants have continued to play prominent roles within the Oglala Lakota Nation, carrying forward both his name and his responsibilities.

Leadership passed through successive generations—from Jack Red Cloud to James Henry Red Cloud, then to Charles and Oliver Red Cloud—each serving as respected figures within their community.

 

Today, that lineage continues in figures such as Chief Henry Red Cloud and his son John Red Cloud, who see their work not as a departure from tradition, but as its continuation.

For many Lakota families, Red Cloud is remembered not only as a war leader, but as a protector of sovereignty and a symbol of resilience. Oral histories emphasize his intelligence and pragmatism—his ability to shift from battlefield tactics to political negotiation in order to preserve his people.

His descendants often frame his life not in terms of defeat or victory alone, but as a lesson in survival: a man who fought when necessary, and who sought peace when survival demanded it.

A New Kind of Warrior: Energy Sovereignty

On the windswept plains of Pine Ridge, Red Cloud’s legacy has taken an unexpected but deeply fitting form—renewable energy.

The Red Cloud Renewable Energy Initiative, led by Chief Henry Red Cloud, represents a modern extension of the Lakota commitment to self-sufficiency and stewardship of the land. Founded formally as a nonprofit in 2017, the effort grew from earlier work in the early 2000s, when Henry Red Cloud began building solar air furnaces to help families cope with extreme winter heating costs. 

Energy poverty on reservations like Pine Ridge remains severe, with many households facing high utility costs and limited infrastructure. The initiative addresses this challenge through practical solutions rooted in both technology and tradition.

At its core is Red Cloud Renewable, an organization that trains Native Americans in solar installation, sustainable building, and energy-efficient design. Since its founding, the program has trained more than 1,100 Indigenous participants from over 70 tribes, equipping them with skills for employment in the growing clean energy sector. 

The organization’s campus—the Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center—serves as a hub for education, innovation, and community building. There, students learn to install solar panels, build heating systems, and design energy solutions tailored to reservation conditions. 

But the initiative is about more than technology.

“This is a new way to honor the old ways,” Henry Red Cloud has said, linking renewable energy to Lakota values of environmental stewardship and communal responsibility. 

Bridging Past and Future

The philosophy behind the Red Cloud Renewable Energy Initiative echoes the worldview of its namesake. Just as the 19th-century chief sought to protect Lakota land and autonomy, today’s efforts aim to secure energy independence and economic resilience.

Programs such as the “Native to Native Energy Sovereignty” initiative extend this mission across tribal communities, promoting renewable infrastructure and reducing reliance on external systems. 

In this sense, the work is both practical and symbolic. Solar panels and training programs become tools of sovereignty—modern equivalents of the strategies Red Cloud once employed to defend his people’s future.

Remembering Red Cloud

More than a century after his death, Red Cloud remains one of the most photographed and widely recognized Native American leaders of the 19th century. 

Yet among the Lakota, his legacy is not confined to portraits or history books. It lives in stories told by elders, in ceremonies held on ancestral lands, and in the continued leadership of his descendants.

He is remembered as a man of contradictions—both warrior and peacemaker, both defiant and pragmatic. But above all, he is remembered as a leader who understood the stakes of his time and acted decisively to protect his people.

In Pine Ridge today, where wind sweeps across the plains much as it did in Red Cloud’s youth, that legacy endures—not only in memory, but in motion. Solar panels glint in the sunlight. Young trainees climb rooftops, learning skills that promise a different future.

And in those efforts, the spirit of Red Cloud—adaptable, determined, and rooted in the land—continues to rise.