THE ACORN VOL. I. MAY, 1904. No. 4 BIOGRAPHICAL. LOUIS F. MOENCH. Louis F. Moench, former principal of the Academy, was born in Germany, July 29, 1846. He finished his primary education in the grade schools and then entered a German gymnasium or high school. Like Dr. Maesar, he received the inspiration of teaching from German schools. He was compelled to leave before graduation because his parents emigrated to America. After he came to America his father's straightened circumstances compelled him to struggle for self-education. Under these conditions he had great difficulty to advance, but it seems that he was determined to get a good education, and it was only by hard self-application and by attendance at night schools in the best of institutions that these obstacles were overcome. He took a course at Bryant and Stratton's college at Chicago and was acknowledged the best penman of the institution. His high standard in this branch is acknowledged by all who have seen his work. He was on his way to California to teach school when, fortunately for Utah, he was converted to Mormon-ism, and remained in Salt Lake City. In 1868 and 1869 he taught in a Church school in Salt Lake City. From 1869-1871 he was a teacher in the Deseret University. The next year he came to Ogden. From 1872 to 1902 a period of thirty years he has been connected with the schools of this city. This is the longest period of time any one man has been a teacher in the same town in Utah. Brother Moench was principal of Ogden City schools for nine years, and while in this position brought the first school desk into Weber County. During this time the schools had the name of ranking best in the state. He was the first principal of the Central School. For ten years he was Superintendent of the schools of Weber County. In 1882 the Edmunds law was passed in congress and Brother Moench was debarred from holding office. He assisted in founding the Weber Stake Academy and drew the plans for the erection of the institution. He became the first principal and held the position nine years. At first he had to struggle against adversity for lack of means. The school had a gradual growth and increase until it is acknowledged to be one of the best in the state. Improvements were made at the Academy externally with lawns, flowers, and shrubbery, and internally with apparatus and furniture. Professor Moench was Deputy Assistant Superintendent of Utah Territory under Superintendent John Taylor. He was also a member of the Weber Stake Board of Education, which place he still holds. For 25 years he was Assistant Superintendent of Sunday Schools to Superintendent THE ACORN 5 Ballantyne, and for five years was clerk of Weber Stake of Zion. He aided in establishing the Religion Classes in Weber Stake and was Superintendent for four years. He was on a mission to ermany for over 4 years and at that time was Secretary and Editor of the German Star. He was President of 53rd Quorum of Seventy and now Senior President of the 77th Quorum of Seventy. He is now attending to his own private business. Professor Moench was to the north of Utah what Dr. Maesar was to the south and Dr. Park to Salt Lake City. He was a natural teacher and his students are found throughout the state, who praise him for his work. His efforts in education placed him among the leading educators of Utah. LIFE OF BISHOP DAVID McKAY. Bishop David McKay was born in Thurso, Caithness County, Scotland, May 3, 1844. His father, William McKay, was a highlander but came to the lowlands while a young man and there married Miss Ellen Oman. They lived for a few years in Edinburgh, and from there moved to Thurso. It was here that they first heard the principles of truth and were the first people of that town to embrace the gospel. Brother Wm. McKay presided over that branch of the Church until, with his wife and five children, he emigrated to America in 1856. They landed in New York on June 16, and remained there for two years while earning enough to defray the expenses of the journey across the plains. In 1859, the simple outfit was completed and the little party traveled alone to Florence where they joined the emigrant train under James S. Brown. They arrived in Salt Lake in September, and in a few days afterward started for Cache Valley, their intended future home; but circumstances altered their plans and they remained in Ogden. Brother David McKay was just fifteen years old when he reached Utah. While crossing the plains he did a. man's share of the work; and after arriving in Ogden he worked for Bishop Bunker for three years, getting out building material from the mountains. The wages from this work he invested in stock, and in 1862 he and his brother Isaac went to Ogden Valley and for five years conducted a stock business. When, in 1867, he married Miss Jeanette Evans of Ogden, he retired from the partnership and bought land in Huntsville. When 18 years of age he enlisted in the Utah militia, being assigned to the infantry, where he rose to the rank of captain in the Huntsville and Eden company, and was commissioned Major of the Fifth Battalion, under General West. In 1884 he was appointed Bishop of Eden Ward, but the next year Bishop Hammond was called away and Brother McKay took his place, which position he still holds. He has held a number of political positions; and was elected a member of the first state legislature, and the term to the senate, where he was a prominent figure, and in 1902 he war-; re-elected to the state senate which position he now holds. In addition to his farms in Huntsville he has other outside projects being a stockholder in the Ogden Valley Creamery Co., Huntsville Co-op-