Their wagon train arrived in Salt Lake City in time to witness the laying of the foundation stone for the Mormon Temple.

He set up shop there as a blacksmith and around 1860 married Lydia Jane Holland, built a home, and began raising a family of 5 children.

At some point he bought the Volcan gold mine, which he then sold in 1874 to purchase acreage in Ventura, California on Telephone Road to engage in agricultural pursuits.

He did not think much of the post Civil War east coast, and was an ardent booster of the West for the rest of his life.

Cannon resumed agricultural pursuits until his death at Ranch Home, near Ventura, August 27, 1920.