Henry Grow

Henry Grow, Jr. (October 1, 1817 – November 4, 1891) was a Latter-day Saint (Mormon) builder and civil engineer in pioneer-era Utah.

Born in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, he spent his childhood on his father's sixty acre (240,000 m²) farm.

He eventually superintended the construction of all bridges under George G. Whitmore, president of the railroads and ex-mayor of Philadelphia.

Following the leadership of Brigham Young, Grow traveled across the Great Plains to Utah in 1851 as part of the James Cummings Company.

Grow settled north of present-day Ogden, Utah, but was called to Salt Lake City by Young in 1852 to oversee construction projects for Utah Territory and for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

From 1876 to 1877, Grow served a mission for the church in Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, where he was able to visit old relatives.

When asked how large a roof he could construct using a Remington bridge-style lattice, Grow replied that it could be "100 feet wide and as long as is wanted."

Henry Grow
The Tabernacle in the 1870s
Grow's design is particularly remarkable because he built the roof with almost no nails, which were scarce in pioneer Utah
Trusses were bound with wood blocks and rawhide