134
CACHE VALLEY
BEFORE THE SETTLEMENTS
A talk
given by
M. R. HOVEY
before the
Cache Valley Chapter
Utah State Historical Society
Logan, Utah
Wednesday Evening, April 28, 19$k Early Explorations and Compiled by Activities in Cache Valley M.R.Hovey, Before the Settlements. Logan, Utah. April 28,1954. Introduction. Purs. In his book on Astoria, Washington Irving says," Two leading objects of commercial gain have given birth to wide and daring enterprises in the early history of the Americas; the precious metals of the South, and the rich peltries of the iforth. While the firey and magnificent Spaniard in flamed the mania for gold has extended his discoveries and conquests over those brilliant countries scorched by the ardent sun of the tropics, the adroit and bouyant Frenchman and the coll and calculating Briton, have pursued the less splendid, but no less lucrative traffic In furs admist the high mountainous regions of the Canadas, until they advanced even with in the Artie Circle . " These two pursuits have in a manner been the pioneers and precursors of civilization. Without pausing on the borders, they penetrated at once,in /defiance of difficulties and dangers, to the heart of the savage countries; laying open the hidden secrets of the wilderness; leading the way to remote regions of beauts'- and fertility that might have remained unexplored for ages and beckoning after then the slow and pausing steps of agriculture and civilization". The history of the fur trade is so closely interoven with the early history of America that it is difficult to narrate one without reference to the other. Among all the industries that helped to make this country one of the great commercial nations of the world, there was none which exerted such an important influence upon the early prosperity of the colonies as that which was represented by those who took pelts of fur bearing animals and prepared them for manufacture in its various articles for the use of man kind. It was the rich peltries that attracted many of the hardy British and "snch adventurers to the shores of America. In the early days of the history of our country, it was the hunter and trapper who explored the Unkncwn regions in their journeys to the distant and inacessible parts tbs land to obtain furs. In order that they might have a haven of afety to store their pelts and rest secure from the Indians, they established '^H stations which later some of them grew into prosperous settlements. It *as the fur trader who was the real pioneer in North America. He al\vays *a5 in advance of civilization and led the way for the settlements of the
lQ Unt m by establishing trails and giving reports on places. 2- 186 The French pioneersof Canadian territory soon found the value of fur
trading, especially with the Indians. The Indians were ignorant of the real value of pelts and for a few trinkets ©r terms, they disposed of their pelts with great profit to the fur traders. This practice was so much abused that a licensing system was adopted. This also was later abused. The Hudson Bay Company 1670.
Competition in the fur business became keener and the British fur merch ants in New York began to encroach upon the Canadian trade. This condition along with others brought into existence the Hudson Bay Company formed in England in 1670. It was chartered by King Charles II of England and had the exclusive priviledge of planting trading stations on the shores of the Hudson Bay and all its tributaries. A century later when the French lost their Canadian colonies, the British took control of the fur trade in America. > Indirectly the fur trade was one of the causes which led to the final stru ggle in the French and Indian War at the Battle of Quebeck, Canada,Sept. 1759 when General Wolfe of England decisioned Gen.Montcalm of France. The treaty which followed in 1763, France ceded all of Canada and east of the Mississippi River to England, so England the American colonies had full sway of the fur trade for 200 years. After the French relinquished their rIghts in 1763, the Hudson Bay Ccbmpany grew rapidly and expanded their derations especially in the British Northwest. It exerted a powerful in fluence on the affairs of the Dominion of Canada before Canada became a u°»inion. At Its peak the company had 3000 employees. Aa immigration in cased,the trapping territory was invaded more, so the company sold its ei>ritory fo the Dominion of Canada. Trapping had to give way to the
ionizers. - After Marly 50(3 years the Hudson Bay Company is still doing bu si-ness. Its headquarters are in Winnipeg, Canada, and it has 196 out- **i!£& -some of which are located in the most far-removed reaches of Canada. 3. i oj
VQ colonization is not feasible. According to reports the Hudson Bay
fflpany sold approximately three million beaver skins on the London market D«t*ee n the years 1853-77. The Northwestern Pur Company. 1783-1821.
ipne Ivorthwestern Fur Company was started on a cooperative basis and was agnized in Montreal, Canada in 1783. The stockholders were a group of Scotti: or0 ttish merchants. Later the company was amalgamated with a rival company 3co in. 1787 and became the famous Northwest Company. The company begand to expand its operations and came In direct (6'onflict with the Hudson Bay Company and later with the American Pur Company. At its maximum operations the company employed about 2000 persons as clerks,guides, interpreters, and boatmen. These were distributed at various trading posts established for and wide on the interior lakes, and rivers at long distances from each other in the heart of the trackless countries and savage tribes. Their famous annual Council Place was at Ft. Willi am, a considerable village on the banks of bake Superior/ The competition with the Hudson Bay and other companies was so keen that 'at times there was actual warfare. The Hudson Bay and the Northwestern did each other so much damage that they merges in 1921 under the name of the "-udson Bat Company. The enlarged company extended its operations and cane B°re into the territory of the American Fur Trappers.
The Missouri, Pur Trading Company KI808J In 1796 the government of the United States began to look with concern n fche growing influence of foreigners with our own Indian tribes in the
t A >* * rritories. Government agents were sent out to establish rival trading " ations but without success. The acquisition of the bousiana territory in I803 by our government from Napoleon, Framce excited keen interest h / Resident Thomas Jefferson in expansion and exploration of the new lands succeeded in getting an appropriation of £2500.00 from Congress to send xPedltion to explore our new territory to the Pacific Coast. His private 4. 1^8
cretary, Meriwether Lewis with William Clark as his Lieutenant were appointed
Dead the expedition. '• " In the spring of 1804 the; with a company of about forty men started agtward from the mouth of the Missouri River. They ascended the river to its
urce, crossed the "Great Divide" of the Rockies and descended the Columbia River in the summer of 1805 and reached the Pacific Ocean. The mouth of the
[0Xumbia River had been discovered by Captain Grey of Boston in 1791 on his bjlp Columbia. The river was named Columbia after Captain Grey's ship. £ewis and Clark made their return journey in 1806. Their report excited much interest throughout the country. Major Andrew Henry, a native son of Virginia, but an adopted son of Missouri, organized the Missouri Fur and Trading Company at St.Louis in 1808. In 1809 he selected a group of brave hunters and trappers and went into the Wild /vest, by way of the Missouri River over the Lewis and Clark route. Ee established the first American Trading Post In the Rockies at Three Forks, «on tana at the head waters of the Missouri River. Major Henry and his party ran into stiff opposition from the -lackfeet Indians. An Indian of the Tribe had been killed previously by Cap tain Lewis en his return trip in 1806 and the Blackfeet Tribe was determined t° get revenge. A similar act was to repeat itself later with another sroup of American trappers. It was the opinion that the Indians had been in cited by traders of the Northwest Company, a rival British organization, W&t did not want competition in this area. Major Henry and his group had to ^don the Post at Tnree Porks but did not retreat entirely. They crossed ne Contlnantal Divide and located another Post farther south on the north aficb. of the Snake River, later named Henry's Pork not far from where St.
^thony is rl0W located in Idaho. The Blackfeet Indians were determined to dislodge the brave traders and r enew ed their fighting and killed some of -henry's men. The little band was not nS enough to withstand such opposition. Major Sepry decided the time was PlPe for his venture, Ee withdrew temporarily out of the Rockies and 5. i 'iU- ated down the Yellowstone River'into the Missouri ana to St.Louis with 10' *>&nt7 C?S'ree°offHenry's men decided to remain in the mountains a littlo three old Kentucky hunters, Edward RObinson, John Hoback, . They were long er ,b Rezner. Major Henry outfitted tn«m and tt» company baae them good ,4 3J.0O0
Iri left them or taeir own. K0*« *L*W be heard of ^aj or Menry en a later gapping *nd exploring expedition. Tne old hunters who remained in the mountains had many thrlllinfe, dangerous and trying experiences ahead of them. Robinson was a veteran backwoodsman and one of the first settlers L Kentucky. He had engaged In many conflicts of the Indians. In one of these battles he had been scalped and still wore a cloth wound around his head to protect the part/ American Pur and Trading Company. 1910- 1914.. John Jacob Astor. * i: John Jacob Astor was born at ?»aldorf near Heidelberg, Germany, in 1763. As a young emigrant of 16 years he left Germany for England. He emigrated to America in I783and landed at New York. He became interested in the fur business, he acquired all the information he could about furs and the large profits made from them. He was induced to Invest his small savings in fur to take back to England for sale. He made good profits and this started "im in the fur business in New York City. By persevering industry, rigid economy a«d strict integrity and an aspiring spirit, he became one of the great fur Merchants of the world. It was Astor's idea to make the American fur trade independent of the -Udson Bay and Northwest Pur Caompanies . He was therefore impressed with the report of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. He could visualize a plan GO estab- isk a connecting chain of trading posts from the Gre&t Lakes to the Pacific UCQ an, with a central depot at the mouth of the Columbia River . From here the r*ta and other merchandise could be shipped to China and India with a pro- n sicn station at the Hawaiian Islands; and In return, bring rich merchandise °m China for the New York markets. Pur Company Organized. Following on the heels of the Missouri Fur Trading Company,
iStor took the initiative in organizing afur trading company in June T9I0, known as the Pacific Pur Company, later the American Pur Company. -—«*"- and associated with him were Alexander M'Kay, Dona Id M'henzie,/Duncan McDougal. these men were formerly with the Northwest Company and had had considerable gxperience in the fur game and knew parts of the trapping territory.in Canada and the united States. They were dissatisfied with certain policies of the Northwestern Fur Company and were willing to join astor in this new venture. Wilson Price Hunt of New Jersey was added to the group as Mr. Astor's chied agent. Mr.Astor held fifty per cent of the stock and the re- other maining shares were divided among the/stockholders. Hunt,McKay,McDougal, and McKenzie were to play important parts later in blazing the trails in the new territories in the west for the colonizers who came later. Mr .Astor had big disappointments ahead. Quoting Washington Irving he says," In prosecuting his great scheme of comr erce aid colonization, two expeditions were devised by Mr.Astor; ^ one by sea and the other by land. The former to carry out the people,stores, amnunition,an d merchandise , requisite for establishing a fortified trading Post at the Columbia River. The latterr, conducted by Mr.Hunt, was to pro ceed up the Missouri, and across the Rocky Mountains, tc the same point; explo/ring a line of communications across the continent, and noting places 'here interior trading posts might be established." The Water Expedition. For the voyage by water a fine ship called the Tonquin of 200 tons Counted with ten guns and with a crew of twenty men was provided.A general asaortment of merchandise was being carried for trading with the natives of the the seaboard amd/interior. Seeds were also provided for cultivation of the 8oil and help make the post more self supporting and permanent. John Thorn of the Jnited States Navy was appointed as captain of the shi P.He was a man of courage, very strong headed and accustomed to the 7. ,,sCipline of the Navy. The partners of the company to go with the ship
r0 McKay,McDougal,David Stuart and his nephew,Root.Stewart. In addition ttere were twelve clerks, natives of Canada and thirteen Canadian voy eurs and several mechanics. September 8, 1810, the Tonquin put to sea for its long voyage around Cape Horn to the mouth of the Columbia River on the Pacific Coast, fith such a mixed group it was surprising that the voyage fared as well as it did. There wwre many disputes,quarrellngs and jealousies. Some of the partners, especially McDougal was always interfering and attempting to give orders. He thought he was running the ship instead of Captain Thorn. Captain Thorn made it known decisively that he was Captain Of the ship and put McDougal and others in their proper places. McDougal showed his true colors later. February 28, I811, the Tonquin reached the Hawaiian Islands for a short stop and then set sail for the mouth of the Columbia River. where they landed March 22, I8II.
Reach the Columbia River. The mouth of the Columbia is anout four miles wide with a peninsula and prcmotory on one side and a long low spit of land on the other, between »hich a sand bar and a chain of breakers almost blocked the entrance. For a distance of 30 or 40 miles the river is an estuary indentured by deep bays. This made it intricate and dangerous by shoals reaching nearly from sho re to shore. April 12 a launch was sent out from the Tonquin with sixteen men oard to make soundings in the harbor and locate a site for the trading ?°st. The Tonquin was to follow later and deposit its cargo at the new tra- I aking the place for the residence store and powder magazine. These were be built of logs. Spring was here and various vegetable seeds were to 0ianted. It was decided to name the place Astoria in honcr of Mr .Astor who had sponsored and was the main supporter of the project. This was the ^rst American Trading Post and later the first settlement in Oregon. There was trading with the Indians and frequent visits to the ship. The store house to receive the cargo was not completed so there were delays week after week which irritated Captain Thorn very much. The Tonquin finally got under way June I for its voyage up the coastline. It was decided that Partner McKay and Mr.Lewis to act as the ship's clerk would accompany Captain Thcrn. The Last of the Tonquin. Steering to the north for a few days Captain Thorn came to Vancouver island and anchored Inthe harbor of Neweete. Lamazee,the Indian interpreter advised not to stop at this place as the Indians were unreliable. Soon Indians came on the ship from their canoes with otter skins to trade. Mr. iicKay went ashore to visit Wiananish, the Indian Chief of the surrounding .territory. McKay was treated royally and remained over night. Erarly the next morning a group of Indians under the direction of Noo- iaml^a shrewd old Indian trader, came to the ship with pelts to trade. °aptain Thorn did not know the ways of the Indians or How to trade with them. ae spread out his wares on the deck such as highly colored blankets,cloths, "fclves, fish hooks,beads etc. and expected to make a prompt proftiable sale f A 0r the peltries. The Indians under the direction of old Nookamis were shar P bargainers and kept trying to beat Captain Thorn down on his price t r the goods. Captain Thorn had no patience and became angry, snatched e of the otter skins and rub it in the face of Old Nookamis and kicked * off the ship. He scattered the pelts around, the deck and forced the a*ans to leave the ship at once. This was a terrible insult to the Aans ^3 serious results were bound to follow. 148 9. When Partner McKay returned to the ship and learned what had happ- nedihe with the others were much concerned. Lamazee urged that the ship I ill at once. Captain Thorn made light of their fears and pointed out the cannon add firearms they had on the ship to protect them. He certainly did n0t know Indians and what was ahead of him.. Nothing occured during the day and at night the Captain and crew retired. Early the next morning several Indlans arrived in a canoe at the a side of the ship and showed/friendly attitude with some pelts to trade. The Night Guard did not hesitate to let the Indians on the ship as he knew it wasthe policy to trade for the peltries. Soon other Indians followed and more got on the ship. Captain Thor was awakened and since the Indians began to indicate they desired to trade and spread out a few pelts,Partner McKay proceeded to jet out the merchandise. A brisk trading took place on the ship for the knives in the list of mmprchaniise, thus the Indians f were arming themselves on the deck of the ship with the knives for which they traded. Captain Thorn became suspieious with the others of the crew and ordered the vessel-, to set sail at once. When the Indians saw what was about to happen, they gave their usual war whoop and began to attack the crew. Partner McKay was hit with a war club and tossed overboard, Captain Thorn killed and wounded several Indians *-n trying to get to the cabin to get some firearms but great odds were against him and he was killed and tossed into the water. LgwJjS the Clerk Was wounded. There was a fierce fight with the other sailors but there *9re too many Indians. The sailors who climbed the rigging to set the Sails could see below what was happening. They came down and attempted 0 3et to the cabin where the firearms were. Four of the sailors managed 0 get to the cabin where they found Lewis. They began firing through the P0l,tholes and this soon cleared the ship of the Indians. This left the ship with not enough men to man her. Since Lewis qas Ur>ded and would no doubt die, he urged the four sailors to leave the ahin I and make their way back to the trading Post at Astoria and let the r I0- 244 orew there know what has happened. This seemed to be the only outlet g0 the sailors left the ship with Lewis wounded and the only survivor on the vessel.No thing oc cured that day. The next morning the Indians began to arrive near the ship. Lewis though wounded made friendly signs and they began to come on board. The Indians were keen about looting the ship* and crowded the decks full. At the proper time Lewis set the powder magazine off and the explosion blew th.4 ship, the Indians Including Lewis to pieces. Pieces of the ship and the Indians were strewn over the harbor, lewis was determined that the Indians would not gain by their treachery. The four sailors who left the ship were caught later in the forests by Indians and suffered a terrible death through the usual Indian tortures. The men at the Trading Post did not hear of the fate of the ship until in August through Lamazee the Indian interpreter, who was spared by the Indians. This was terrible shock to the men at Astoria since they de pended on the Tonquin to return from the north and leave supplies for them before returning to New York. It was months before Mr.Astor heard of the fate of the Tonquin but he was determined to continue with the venture. Later he sent out two more water expeditions, The Lark and The Beaver. Tfte Land Expedition. Since the land expedition would take more time than the one by water to reach the mouth of the Columbia River on the Pacific Coast, Mr.Wilson ce hunt add Donald McKenzie in charge of the journey by land went to Montreal, Canada in July 1810 and began to recruit some experienced Canadian voyageurs who had had trapping experience and knew some of the r- *ild country. They purchased a canoe of the type usually used by fur traders for navagating the intricate streams. The canoe was 30 to 40 feet long and several feet in width; consisted of birch bark,sewed with if Ubers of the roots of the spruce tree and daubed with resin of the Pine instead of tar. The canoe could sustain a load of four tons but "°Ulai be carried on the shoulders of several men at the portages. II. 145 Prom 8 to 10 wen usually operated the one canoe. A sail was A when the wind was favorable. Captain Hunt laid in a supply of usaeu ^nition, provisions and Indian goods for trading and was ready to embark & the Ottawa River on his way to St.Louis at the mouth of the Missouri on for the filial outfitting for the journey west, in checking his crew he found that he had some who able bodied but inexpert, others were expert hut lazy while the third class was expert and willing but broken down veterans incapable of toil. July 22 they reached the Mackinaw at the confluence of Lake Hurron and Michigan. It had been a famous old French Trading Post. Here Captain Hunt continued to complete his assortment of Indian goods and recruit more voyageurs. Through previous correspondence Captain Hunt engaged Ramsay Crooks as a partner in the expedition and met him at Mackinaw. Mr.Crocks had served — -"—" -^Trading under the Northwest Fur>CoBipany and knew the conditions of the country and Indians quite well. He had good judgment and was energetic and reliable ib every way. Captain ^unt rejoiced in getting Mr.Crooks as a partner. Mr.Crooks urged the importance of having a large crew to make such a long and arduous journey. He had met up with the Indians before on the Missouri and had had a narrow escape. They had 30 men in the crew now and decided to increase the number to sixty at St.Louis. It was Aug.12 before Captain Hunt could get fully organized to leave •*th his crew. They pursued the usual route by Green Bay,Fox ah Wisconsin rlvers, Prairie De Chien and thence down the Mississippi to St.Louis and ianded there Sept.3. They Head up the Missouri. CaPtuin Hunt had more competition at St.Louis in recruiting his extra men tha I at Mackinaw due to the Missouri Pur Trading Company. He with his mot- le r crew did not get away until the 21st of October. He had three boats well loade d with men, ammunition, provisions and Indian goods. They were bouyant In aPirits but did not realize the dangers and trials ahead of them. 12. . 146 gy November 16 they arrived at the mouth of the Nodowa River, a trib- tary of the Missouri, a distance of 450 miles from St.Louis. There was good ng and it was decided to establish a winter camp here. At this point J>nt i experienced hunter-trappers joined them. They were Robt.McClellan and bo ^n pay. They had been in the service of Mr .Crooks before en the Missouri. in the meantime Captain Hunt went back to St.Louis to engage an Ddian Interpreter and more good hunters who could help supply the game and jrotect them against the Indians. He secured the services of Pierre who w^.s the 3 son the Dorion French Indian Interpreter who accompanied Lewis and Clark their expedition. Pierre would not go unless he could take his squaw ind two children. Captain Hunt had a difficult time to get the men he desired. !n his group was John Bradbury a Botanist of the Linnaean Society of Liver- Pool .and ^r.Nuttal and English author also interested in American plants. fcey wanted to do scientific research. The party finally got under way but with the early rise of the Missouri the ascent was slow and toilsome. Jan.17 the boats touched at Charette one of the old villages founded by the French colonists. Here they met Daniel ^one, the renowned patriarch of Kentucky. He had kept in advance of civi lization and was leading the life of a hunter. Ee had recently returned from 'stinting expedition with sixty beaver pelts. Despite his age he was erect in Jorm and strong of limb with an unflinching spirit. Boone flourished for everal years after this meeting and died at the age of ninety two in 1818. The party continued its journey and reached Fort Osage April 8th. At t ls Point they met Ramsy Crooks who had come down the river with nine men to DDipany Captain back to winter quarters, at Nodowa. The Osage Indians warned ?"ain Hunt about the Sioux Indians farther up the river .Captain Hunt and s " crew arrived at Nodowa ipril 17. After a few days and the raining spell "4Q Suhsided, they broke camp and embarked with four boats, sixty people all their ammunition, provisions and Indian goods. They continued up the | kut it w„g siow an(} toilsome against the strong current. is. 147 L JO they arrived at the Omaha village about 830 miles up the river from #kouis. There were about 80 Indian lodges here. The lodges are built St. she' "decorated with colors to distinguish ohe particular tribe. The Omahas a^e fast diminishing due to a disastrous small pox epidemic in I8o2 and the * ~ * the frequent raidsfro:u the Sioux. May 15 Captain Hunt and his party left/Omahas ^Q continued upthe river toward the formidable SIouxs. They Meet Robinson,Hoback and Rezner. May 26 as they were all on shore breakfating on the banks of the river, they noticed two canoes descending the river on the ooposie side. With field glasses they could see it was two white men in one boat and one in the other. They fired a shot and t is brought the voyageurs over. Their names were Sdward Robinson, John Hoback and Jacob Rezner. They were the- ahree Kentucky hunters Major Henry left behind in IyOy when he returned down the Yellow stone River and Missouri to St.Louis. The trappers had made their way to St. Louis. It did not take long to induce these trappers to return back to the mountains again witn Captain Hunt and his crew. A deal was made and Captain able Hunt rejoiced that he could get the sorvicesof such three/men who knew the country. Their experience and information caused Captain Hunt to change his cou course and not follow that of Lewis ah Clark because of the hostile Sioux and Blackfeet Indians. This new mountain trail would be shorter and they *ould find wild game and beavers most of the way. To take the new course it would be necessary to abandon the river route and provide pack horses from the Aricara Indiams farther up the river.?he Party continued its voyage up the river with beautiful May waether and scenery along the river banks with many wild flowers and green foliage. finroute they met some Indian scouts and later a band of Indian warriors of the Sioux Tribe. They held a peace council and presented the Indians with s°oe tobaccoand bags of -i-ndian corn. Farther up the rive* they met an ad vanced guard of the Aricara Tribe. Presents of knives, blankets, and powder were given to the Chief so he could show his people the presents before ft aPtain Hunt and his party arrived. 14. j 4a June It they arrived at the Aricara village, 1430 miles from St.Louis, nd m a conference with Chief Left Hand and Chief Big Man, Captain Hunt eeured them his party would leave the river and take the overland route 0ver the mountains and they desired to purchase some horses from the Aricaras Ike Aricaras had many horses and they were expert riders. After much ceremony Captain Hunt finally got down to business to trade for some horses. Chief Left Hand said he did nnt know whether they could spare the number of horses Captain Hunt desired. Chief Crey Eyes said they could because they would steal what horses were needed. The negotiations continued for sveral days aid since Captain Hunt would have to abandon his boats, he made a deal with Mr.Lisa, a rival trader of the Missouri Fur and Trading Company, for more horses in exchange for the boats. Lisa's company had a post at the Mandam village some 150 miles up the river. In about two weeks Captain Hunt had the horses and his party was now ready to leave the river route for the overland trail with Robinson,Hoback and Rezner as guides. They Head West Overland. The calvalcade consisted of 82 horses most of them heavily laden with Indian goods, ammunition, beaver traps, Indian corn and corn meal and other Provisions. Most of the party had to walk and lead the pack horses. They "**"*' s ome left July 18 for the overland route. The party had/pleasant and numerous tinpleasant experiences corssing the Black Hills, the Big Horn Mountains before they reached the south Fork of the Snake River, called the Mad River *a the Jackson Hole area. By Sept.9 they had reached a point where they c°uid see the mighty Teton peaks. They called them the Pilot Knobs. A few days later they arrived at the headwaters of the Hoback river and followed lt down to Jackson Hole and camped here for several day's. After some ex- Woringof Mad Riber it was decided It was not navigable and it was agreed 0 °orss over the Teton Pasa . This Pass shoould have been named the Hunt 38 since this was the first large group to pass over it. The tree Ken- c*7 hunters, Robinson,Hoback and Rezner advised Captain Hunt to strike cne Trading Poast established by Major Henry the year before on the north 15. 149 jiorit of the Snake River not far from where St.Anthony is located. Ihis route was chosen and by Oct.8 the party had reached the Henry Trading post. Decide to Take the Snake River Route. At this point some important decisions and changes were made. •. Robinson,Hoback and Rezner felt that they had fulfilled their agreement in guiding the party over the mountains. They desired to leave the group and trap on their own and bring the peltries to the Post or Astoria on the Columbia. They were outfitted with pack horses, beaver traps,ammunition and supplies. Mr.Miller, one of the partners decided to cast his lot with the old trappers. Since Miller was not accustomed to this strenuous life, Cgtain iaunt advised him not to go with the trappers, but he was determined to go. He little realized what was head of him. The Canadian voyageurs had had all the mountains and land travel ^ they wanted and were keen to take the river route down the Snake River to the Columbia. It was decided to leave the horses at the Post in care of two Indian Scouts. By Oct.18 fifteen canoes had been completed and the following day they embarked. This party like the old trappers did not fully realize what was ahead of them. They had some trying experiences with some losses in getting past the Idaho Falls, the American Falls, the Shoshone falls, Twin Falls and other rapids of the river. The winter was upon them. December 24 Captain Hunt and those who were still with him were ^ady to strike westward over the Blue Mountains to the Columbia River. *"«y had had enough trouble ,acndt hardships and serious disasters in t?ying to navigate the treacherous Snake River where they half starved BW found little to eat since the Indian lodges were so scarce. They had eaten everything that couldbe eaten from beaver carcas to Indian °8s and horses wherever and whenever they could get them. They Arrive on the Columbia R$.ver. an/6 they reached the suranit of the Blue Mountains in Oregon and they 5«e waters of the Columbia River. They arrived at the Columbia just 16. .0,« walla Walla. They secured some boats and proceeded down the Columbia arrived at Astoria Feb.15. The joy and emotion of meeting old comrades toria are well described by Irving. " After elevn months wandering it *s A the wilderness, a great part of the time over trackless waste, where the ight of a savage r[igwam was a rarity, we may image the delight of the poor isatherbeaten travelers, at the beholding of the embryo establishment, AS toria Lb its magazines, habitations, and picketed bulwarks, seated on a high point of land, dominating a beautiful bay, in which was a trim built shallop riding quietly at anchor. A shout of joy bufcst from each canoe at the long wished for light. They urged their canoes across the bay,and pulled for eagerness for jhore, where all hands poured down from the settlement to receive and welcome them. As to the Canadian voyageurs their mutual felicitations as usual were loud and vociferous, and it was almost ludiicrous to behold these ancient comrades conferes. hugging amd kissing each other on the river bank". " A day was now given up to jubilee, to celebrate the arrival of Captain Bunt od his companions and the joyful meetings of the various scattered bands of adventurers at Astoria. The colors were hoisted, the guns, great and small, wre fired; there was a feast of fish,of beaver,and venison which relished "eU with men who so long had been glad to revel on horse flesh and dog's meat, a Senial allowance of grog was issued, to increase the general animation P festivities wound upas usual with a grand dance at night by the Canad- tjoyageurs. " i^r^ The distance from St.Louis to Astoria, by the route traveled by Ptain Hunt and McKenzie was upwards of thirty five hundred miles, though in I di r> re°t line does not exceed eightteen hundred. Activities at Astoria. The re were various activities at Astoria. Groups were sent up the Jolumbia ^v "4 *e> establish more trading posts and trap on the tributaries. The ^-orth 9«t fc r trappers were keen competition. j ft was decided to send a small group overland headed by Robt.Stuart 17. iiii f present a report to Mr.Astor in New York, the sponsor of the project. since Captain Sunt and his group had come over the trail they could give jdvice and information. The mis son was one of hardship and peril and r*- quired men of nerve and vigor. Four trusty and well tried men who had been flth Captain Hunt over the trail were selected as guides for Mr.Stuart who ^d come by water on the Tonquin and had not been on the overland route. ewas young and vigorous-and one who could be trusted. The men assigned to |r,Stuart were BenJTones, John Day, the Kentuckians; Andri Vallar and Frances LeClerc, Canadians.McClellan and Crooks decided that they wanted to special group. J return with this party/despite all the suffering they had had with the Hunt I 4-~ Party. Message to Garcia (John Jacob Astor) Stuart and his party left Astoria June 29, 1812 up the Columbia River for the overland journey. After a few days out John Day went beserk and had tote sent back to Astoria. He died a year later. The John Day Valley in Oregon was named after him. August 20 as the party was traveling along the prairie parallel to the Snake River,tteey came in contact with Hobak, Miller, Robinson and Rezner *Qo left the Hunt Party at Fort Henry the year before to trap on their own. ft was a happy meeting. The trappers had had terrible experiences with Indians and other conditions and looked hagard and in a naked condition. ifter leaving the Hunt Party at Port Henry in Oct.191 o, they had gone south 'bout 200 miles and trapped on the Bear River near Alexaander and east to- ^ Soda Springs. They did not get into Cache Valley. They had trouvle with tilQ Crow Indians and went eastward about 200 miles and then south where .. * or Absoraka &e »ind RiverVmountain chain comesto a bold stop with high bluffs. Beyond •^ese bluffs is a rolling plain that slopes gently up to the crest L the continent. This was the South Pass, over which thousands of immigrants 11(1 settlers and colonizers were to pass a few years later. To those trappers || :°the honor of finding the South Pass. ?be Pass is approximately 40 miles uth of fchere Dander is now located. 18. Jo. The trappers decided to accompany Mr.Stuart and his party to St.Douis. -ugy went for caches at Caldron Linn Mr .Hunt had left there the year before. •4% of the caches had been rifled by the Indians. When the other caches had oeen opened up and Robinson,Hoback and Rezner saw: that they could be and try again for outfitted they desired to chance/their fortunes in the wild country. They would wait at the Caldron Linn for the John Reed Party which was scheduled to come a little later and would havemore equipment. Stuart and his party including Miller who had decided to accompany Stuart left the three old trappers and continued on their way. Stuart was pleased to have Miller along since he had been over most of the country they desired to traverse and knew the South Pass farther south and would not have to go to the north over the Teton Pass where Captain Hunt and his party crossed in 1910. Their course eastward along the Snake River was bounded on both sides with sandy,dusty plains with fringes of willows, cottonwoods and scant pasturage occasionally aong the river banks and bottoms. Game was scarce. It was a hot tiresome journey until they reached the Portneuf River and followed it and came to the Bear River where Miller had been before. It was a little east of where Alexander is now located. They lingered in the Bear River area with its pleasant surroundings for three days and fished. They soon encountered a band of Crow Indians who were out to Pillage and kill if necessary. Stuart gave them some ammunition and a few utensils to pacify them temporarily and then at the opportune time SQt on their way. Stuart and his party hastened eastward and came to the Star Valley on the Salt River. After After many reverses and hardships in trying to avoid the Crow n^ians and locate a route to the South Pass and on their way eastward, the uey arrived at the SOuth Pass and wintered on one of the tributaries the Plat River. In the spring of 1913 they broke camp and followed th e Plat River to the Missouri and floated down the river to Port Osage *he*> re Lieutenant Browning received them. By April 30 they arrived at 19, 18& St.Louis and Mr.Stuart sent his report on to Mr.Astor at New York. All of St.Louis were interested and somewhat excited to hear of 0f the new route to the west and the adventures of the Stuart Party. They had blazed a new trail over which thousands of pioneers and coloni zers would take to go to the West. As previously stated the old trappers, Robinson, Hoback and Rez- >r ner remained at the Caldron Linn to meet the lohn Reed Party from Astoria flMMH •••• with more equipment. They trapped during the fall of 1813 and the winter of 1814. Reed should have returned to Astoria in the spring of 1814 but he could not do so. He and his party including, Robinson,Hoback and Rezner had been killed and scalped by a revengeful band of Indians on the Boise River. The cause of this massacre dates back several months when Lieut.Slarke had a group of trappers at the mouth of the Walla Walla river and had a young Indian hanged before the eyes of his tribe for , stealing a silver globlet from Clark. When Clarke made his report , at Astoria with pride, he was severely criticized by Stuart and Mc- Kenzie. They knew it would lead to trouble and the act was inhuman. Mr.Astor Sold-Down The River. True to his nature of being too officious and selfish and lack of loyalty to the cause, McDougal, who was one of the original partners and was in command at Astoria, took the initiative to break up the establishment and sell al the peltries to the Northwest Company. McDougal bad worked for the Northwest Pur Company before and was friendly with them. He trumped all kinds of excuses for his acts including the War that was now on between Great Britian and the united States. The other Partners signed the articules of agreement very reluctantly and tried to Persuade McDougal to wait for further developments. July 5, 1814, the Articles of Agreement were signed and delivered to McTavish of the North West Fur Company. Also a letter with a report of what had taken place Was to be delivered by the overland route of the Northwest Company to Mr.Astor at New York. 154 20. In the transfer of the furs from the American Pur Company to the northwest Company only #40,000.00 was received when they were worth jl00,000.00. McDougal became a member of the Northwest Company and received a handsome Income. He certainly sold Mr.Astor and the other partners"down the river." and played his cards well. In addition he married the beautiful Indian daughter of the Old Indian Chief Concomley. The kind of furs listed in the inventory were beaver,land otter,sea otter, mink, lynx,fox,black bear and grizzly bear. At the return of peace, Astoria with the adjacent country reverted to the united States by the treaty of Ghent and Captain Biddle was dispatched in the sloop of War, Ontario to take formal possession. Oregon Controversy Settled. The British could see the value of the Oregon terriotry and desired to have it in their domain. Mr.AStor kept urging Congress through various sources and contacts to follow up and possess and protect the enterprise * he had started in this new terriotry. Ibbecame a perplexing question between the two countries so a ten year treaty was signed Oct.20,1818 that left the question unsettled but the country would be left open to colonizers. The agreement was extended for amother ten years In 1828. But this condition could not continue with conflicting interests between the British and the united States in the territory with two masters In stead of one. By 1843 there were about 1000 settlers in the Oregon ^errotory, and Congress had made no move to take them under the protection °f the United States. Bach year more emigrants came by the hundreds. °y 1846 the tension had become such that some action had to be taken. A proposal to England had already been madethat the division be along the line of the 49th north latitude. This would give most of the valley of the Columbia River to the United States. This was at first re- Uea by England. The expansionists in the United States took up the cry, b.. ' Forty *•"•! of urej-on or none " amd g Fifty Four/or Fight." It appeared we 21. **™ -fl might come to blows with England again. Congress annulled the treaty gf 1827. for the joint occupation of Oregon.* Shortly England sent over a draft of a treaty dividing Oregon on the parallel of 49 degrees from the jjockies to the Pacific. The U .S.Congress accepted the treaty and thus the Oregon Territory cams in possession and control or tne Doited SratJws. of America, in the spring of 1846. John Jacob Astor During his lifetime, John Jacob astor amassed a fortune of some twenty million dollars. For years the Astor families were notable people in this country. - . • .. • • 22 I ltd The Rocky Mountain Pur Company. 1823. As a result of an advertisement in the Missouri Republican March 20, MmUflrUlLiJ] • ••• 1822, calling for one hundrea men to ascend the Missouri River to ics source to be employed from one to three years with Major Andrew Henry in charge signed by Wm.H.Ashley, the Rocky Mountain Fur Company was organ- bac,K ized April 15, 1823. Major Henry was keen to go,/ backn into the Wilds again since he did not do so well with his expedition in 1811 when the Blackfeet Indians in Montana attacked him and his crew. He was one proper one to lead the expedition because he knew the trails ana the game. His mettle haQ been proved in the firey furnace of Indians wars. The advertisement was answered by some of the best trappers anu huntera ixi one country among whom was Jim Bridger, a blacksmith of 18 years.Other noted trappers in one group were Wm.L.Sublette,Thomas Fitz- i patrick,Jedeiah Strong Smith, David Jackson, Etine Provot. Ashley chose Kentuckians who were men of iron and had been bred to hardship on the upper waters of the Missouri. In 1822: Major Henry and his mountaineer army went up the Missouri to the mouth of the Yellowstone where he planted his post and spent the first winter. The Blackfeet Indians were not idle but Major Henry was able to hold his own and was determined to remain their as lteng as he chose. In 1823 Mr.Ashley recruited another hundred men and struck up the Missouri to make contact with the Hhery forces. Ashley ran Into trouble *ith the Aricara Indians and he sent young Jedeiah Smith to make contact wlth Najor Henry for reinforcements. Major Henry in a keel boat with J°ung Smith and a number of his mountaineers came down the Missouri River to rescue Ashley and his crew. The Indians blackade was broken and the •*ute cleared to the mouth of the Yellowstone River. Due to the agressiv/eness of the Blackfeet Indians, Major Henry and ls crew had to move farther south on the Big Horn and Wind Rivers. They Qnt over the South Pass and located an outpost on one of the branches 23 257 t the Green River and it was called Henry's Fork, The Rocky Mountain Fur Trappers In Cache Valley 1824. To cover the Bear River and Its tributraies more fully,Major Henry decided to divide his forces with experienced leaders. Wm.Sublette was the leader of the group assigned to go to the headwaters of the Bear iiver and trap it and its tributaries. Among this group was young Jim Bridger. They were now on their way to discover the Northern Mystery Land, near which various trappers in times past had been but had never entered Cache or Willow Valley. Sublette and his crew followed the Bear River and entered Willow Valley later named (Cache Valley) in the fall of 1924. They probably stopped near where Cache Junction is located. Their tempore rary winter quarters a little later may have been on the Cub River. It had been a question with Stuart,Robinson,Hoback and others who had camped on the Bear River to the north just where the stream emptied. They had different ideas. The same with Sublette and his men. They selected young Bridger with a raw hide boat to descend the river through the Bear Siver Canyon and see where the River flowed, in other words to see what *as' on the other side of the mountain. There was a wager among the trappers as to where the river emptied. The Great Salt Lake Discovered. Young Bridger canoed down the river for about 20 miles and came to the •••r River Bay. He tasted the water and it was brackish. He assumed that be had found an arm of the Pacific Ocean. Instead he had discovered the Jr>eat Salt Lake. On a monument over James Bridger's grave in the Mount ashington cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri are engraved the words, "Liscovere r of the Great Salt Lake". Bridger rushed back to tell his companions what he had discovered. tappers trapped the main streams In Cache Valley that winter of -45 and beat the Hudson Bay trappers to the game. This is evidenced by . * a statement of Peter Skene Ogden in his Journal when he led the brigade J 58 24. Lfco Cache Valley to trap the streams in yhe spring of 1825. He commented tliat he had been preceded by the American trappers otherwise his trappers' vfould have caught more beaver. Hudson Bay Trappers in Cache Valley April 2 6-June I, 1825. Peter Skene Ogden. Through the Hudson Bay Record Society which a few years ago made available / the Journal of Peter Skene Ogden's first expedition ijbto northern Utah In 1825 and the resent publication of the Journal in the Utah Historical Quarterly of April 1852, new light is thrown on the geography, flora,fauna weather and other condtions in Cache Valley during the spring of 1825. Peter Skene Ogden was born in Quebeck, Canada in 1704.At the age of 17 he joined the Northwest Pur Company and remained with them until the company was merged with the Hudson Bay Company in 1821. During that period and later he was one of the most widely traveled trapper-explorers to enter the west. After the merger In 1821 he vas hired by the Hudson Bay Company to assume the leadership of the trapping of the Snake River Country. Quoting from the Utah Historical Quarterly , " after leaving Flathead Post located north amid west of Missoula, Montana, December 20, 1824, Ogden tapped up the Bitterroot River through Gibbon Pass Jan.13, 1825; to &ig Hole River, continuing in the same general direction to the present ^stead region Jan.30. Early in February the brigade corssed the con tinental divide via the Lemhi Pass and spent almost two months trapping tributaries of Salmon River, primarily the Lemhi River. Prom this region Erected his course toward the south in an effort to reach the Snake River assing by the"Three Buttes" he struck the Snake River April 6 near the \ Present site of Biackfoot, Idaho. After trapping up Blackfoot River for CBl9 distance, Ogden turned south to the upper waters of the Portneuf Plil 20, probably in the northwest part of Caribou County. He was ri-king as rapidly as possible for the Bear River. According to Ogdenfs compilation in his Journal he had a large party 25. ^d equipment consisting of 58 men,61 guns,268 head of horses,and 352 Straps. William Kitcson, Ogden's right hand man, supplements this by- stating that they had 22 lodges including Mr.Ogden,Kittson and Charles McKay, and Indian interpreter of the Piegan language. 10 engagees,53 freemen and lads,30 women and 35 children, all well furnished in arms, ammunition, horses, and traps, able in all appearances to face any war party brought into the plains. This party of 131 people was supplemented / from time to time by addition of others and by births, at least three babies were born during the first weeks Of the expedition during the severest winter months. To supply foo<8 for such a large group was no small task, especially since the policy of the company was for the party to live of the "fat of the land" rather than to rely on goods of the company. Hence the con stant interest in elk, deer, buffalo and other game arid beaver. The beaver was a favorite item on She menu. If the trapping was good, the expedition waj was well fed though other game was not found. If both sources of supply failed, then the horses had to be alaughtered for food. This wasthe last resort. To find forage for such a large number of horses was no easy task. One of Ogden's chief responsibilities was to steer a course that would produce the necessitiesof life. According to a route map worked out through a field trip in November I95J by Dr.E.Miller of the History Department of the University of Utah, ^r.C.C.Crampton and Jesse H.Jameson with the aid of the Ogden and Kittson Journals and maps, the daily movements of Ogden and his party into Utah and out were traced indicating present day landmarks. The maps and dally Journal showthat Ogden and his party arrived on the Bear River a little below where Alexander Is nov/ located, April26, 5s• April 27 they passed Grace and titer and May 1st they reached Etcher and May 2nd the Oneida Narrows on the Bear River in Gentile i-Ley. They followed around on the present highway and struck Bear Ver again. They followed Battle Creek and off to the south east to i m 26. preston and to Franklin on the Cub River. May 3-4 they came to Bear River again west of Richmond and then south east to Smithfield by May 8. They arrived at Logan May 9-10 and were impressed with Logan River and Black- / gmith Pork River. They went to the Little Bear River by way of Hyrum and then to Paradise by May 13-14. They continued on south over the pass into Ogden Valley and reached Liberty May 16, Hunfesville May 20-21 below Morgan and Mountain Green/on the Weber River May 22-24. They met trouble In Ogden Val ley and Weber Canyon with American trappers. Some of Ogden's men began to desert him because they could do better with die American trappers. The American trappers received con siderable more for their pelts than Ogden could pay. Ogden decided to / retrace his steps toward and through Cache valley to the Snake niver Country. He followed the same course until he arrived at Richmond and thea went northwesterly along the present U.S.Highway 91 past Banida, Swan Lake ,Downey and on to the Portneuf River . He trapped the upper Snake niver the remainder of the season. ' 27. 16 Later Trappers and Explorers in Cache Valley. In all probability there was aot a year between 1824 and 1855 when Cache Valley was not visited by trappers or explorers. Among these was james Beckwort who came here in 1826 and subsequently. He tells of two K,en whoses lives were lost in a cave-in while they were caching their furs. Osborne Russell is another trapper who was in the valley in 1824 and 1840. He met a number of French and half breed trappers with their Indian wives and half breed children. Joseph Gale led a small group of trappers in the Valley in 1840. A Major Harris, a trapper was in the valley before 1847 and met Brigham Young and the Pioneers before they entered the Great Salt Lake Valley. In answering inquiries it was his opinion that Cache Valley was a much more desirable place to live in than the Great Salt Lake Valley. Tradition tells us that some Important caches were made in the south bank of the Little Bear River now covered with water from the Hyrum Reservoir! Another cache was made in the north bank of the Logan River Basin south of the Bouelvard and opposite the Fifth Ward Church. The trappers left a few names which have carried over such as Bear River, Logan River, Blacksmith Fork River,Little Bear River and Cub River. Also the name "Cache Valley". —explorers. Captain John Charles Fremont. Io40 . In the summer of 1843 Captain John Charles Fremont extended his exploring and scientific expedition to the North West. He reached the valley of the Bear River Aug.21. The traveled it alo; g the Old Oregon Trail and enroute met a number of emigrants who were on their way to the west. He and his party made a stop for several days at the Soda Springs which he called the Beer Springs. He analyzed the water and was quite impressed with the mineral found init. He followed the course of Bear River and traveled through xhe ^entile Valley. m 162 28. He visistea with several Indian villages on the way. He ascended a high peak and for the first time he beheld the beautiful Sache Valley to the south. He did not follow the course of Bear River through Cache Valley but took off to the west and entered Malad Valley through the canyon west of where Weston is located. In this canyon he passed the Standing flock and maae special mention of it. The Standing Rook stills stands today. It appearsto have fallen from one of the high cliffs above. Captain Fremont and his party followed the Malad River which he called the Reed River, to where it empties into the Bear River. They followed the Bear River to the shores of the Gret Salt £ake where Fremont repaired his rubber boat and went across the Lake to Antelope Island. He did some exploring and then returned north to Ft.Hall in Idaho to join other membersof his party for their journey to the north west. Captain Howard Stansbury 1849. Captain Howard Stansbury of the Corps of the Topographical Engineers of the U.S.Army maae a preliminary survey of Cache Valley in the summer of 1849. The object of the reconnaisance was principally to ascertain the capabilities of the valley to afford maintenance for a military • post. In talking with some of the Mountain men Captain Stansbury and His associate Col.Porter were i; pressed that Cache Valley would be an Ideal place to winter stock. Upon these observations all the cattle and mules at the Government cantonment at Fort Hall, IdaBao were driven to Cache Valley. The winter was very severe and as a result more than half of the herd perished. This occurence may have some influence in determining whether this valley would be a good site for a Military i Post near Salt Lake. Captain Stansbury was much Impressed with the soil conditions, -- i. .. t" r;n _29. 163 tles facili for irrigation,timber, farming and grazing. He considered A Military eStablishing a/Post Road through the Blacksmith Pork Canyon to connect with Fort Bridger in 'Wyoming. The L.D.S.Church Ranch in Cache Valley I855T56 As the Salt Lake Valley became more thickly populated and the live stock increased, it became necessary for the owners to seek mere land and better grazing territory. The Latter-Day Saint Church, President Brigham loung of the Church and others owned several thousand head of livestock. President Young turned his attention to the dertile Cache Valley. He called the cattle owners together and recommended that a compare be organized to take a good portion of the stock into Cache Valley where the feed was good and the grazing excellent. A company was organized with Bryant Stringham as Captainj He was in charge of the Church cattle and Andrew Moffat'.had charge of President Young's stock. Other members of the company were Simon Baker,Lieutenant; Brigham ioung Jr., Joseph Baker, Privates; Thomas Clayton, Cook; George Twist, ihemas Kenuall, Wm.imylor, and Samuel Roskelly, hired help. The company arrived in Cache Valley July 20, 1855 and camped at the Haw Bush Spring in the south part where Wellsvllle is located. They scouted the valley for three days and finally decided to locate the ranch about one half mile south of the present Logan Sugar Factory site near the highway in •est Kibley, by a large spring of water. First The/Ranch Buildings. Captain Stringham and his men began at once to build some log :aMns and their corrals for the other herders and cattle that soon were arrive. Martin Ensign of Brigham City and John C.Dowdle of Willard, car? enters arrived and had been employed to assist in the building of the ins and corrals. In the Blacksmith Pork River basin to the east were Se groves of cbtton wood trees where the ranchers secured their house lo Ss e dd poles for the fences and corrals. 30- 161 In his diary concerning this period Mr.Dowdle says that Martin Ensign (j charge of the hewing of »**£<£ tne bouse logs and got them prepared for use. Dowdle did the scoring t the logs for the hewers. He and William Garr put the logs in places under fvie dir®ction of Ensign. In a short time the house was finished and was the fj_rSt one ever erected In Cache Valley. A large number of fence poles were cUt with the idea of using them the next season. About two hundred tons of -1" wild hay wer cut and stacked at the ranch. A large elk head was placed top top of the main gate. It was called the Elkhorn Ranch for several years. The Livestock and Herders Arrive. * The Garr Boys, LLoyd and Barnes and Shurtliff,George Baker began to brin? the cattle herds from the Salt Bake Valley. By fall nearly 3000 head of cattle and horses had been driven into the valley for the winter. ;\bout 2000 head of the livestock belonged to the Church. Other cattle owners were Bishop Edward Hunter, A.O.Smoot, Weaver boys. The ,,'Inter of 1855-56. The winter of 1855-56 was perhaps the most severe winter the people of northern iltah had ever experienced. A heavy snow came early in November amd the ranchers at the Elkhorn Ranch became fearful that many of the cattle would die before spring since they had only a little hay for such a large nerd and the forage would be scarce and difficult to get. The herders began at once to round up the stock and drive them into the Box dlder "alley by Way of the Sardine Canyon. The snow fell so fast and so much of it that the Orders had to drive the cattle night and day to keep the trail open. In a short time the snow as more than four feet deep on the level and much Q eeper ^n ^ae canyon . Only the stock In good condition were driven over he trail and many §£ these perished, before they reached the feeding ground atj the mouth cf the Weber River in the marshes. The snow as not so deep *ere and there wwre high grasses and reeds. A.lcng the entire trail at ' tlQ tiiaa. of starvation. All the rushes and everything above and Undp the snow that could be eaten by the cattle were devoured by the Qtt ^y herds. Of the 2000 head of Church cattle, only 420 survived the ^ wint-er. . 31. 165 Those at the Elkhorn Ranch Snowed In. Ur and Mrs .Wm .Warner and Mr.and Mrs.Thomas Stolworthy,emigrants who arrived recently in Salt £ Dowdle and Garr sent to the Elkhorn Ranch. In his diary John C.Dowdle states that he and William Garr, who were with the cattle herders at the mcuth of the Weber River during part of this severe winter, were ordered to go to the Elkhorn Rnach in Cache Valley and see how the people were getting along and help look after the property. 'About the midale of January 1856 they rode their horses to Brigham City and left them and started for Cache Valley on Indian snow shoes with a few food supplies. The snow shoes consisted of a birch hoop in the form of a circle with raw hinde strings expending across in a web-like fashion.A Sni&ll circle was made with a strong cord at once end into which the toe of the shoe was inserted. The heel of the shoe was aulloweeto awing free So the toe would not dig Into the snow. buring the first few miles the route was on the side of the mountain n Srigham City Canyon and was easy going because the snow was not so deep. Aft er leaving the place in the little valley where Mantua is now located, th ? found the snow very deep and they were nearly exhausted before they :3 s0 they took them. They did not stop long since they wanted to get tc the / Slkhorn Ranch that evening. Late in the afternoon they arrived at the Sar dine Spring and rested. By the time they reached the Haw Btrsh Spring, 5arr was completely exhausted. Dowdle had to keep urging Garr along to jjeep him awake. It appeared that Sowdle would have to leave Garr and go to the ranch for help. They finally arrived at the -Little Bear River late that evening and made a fire. Their colthing was wet and frozen and they were nearly overcome with cold and fatigue. William Garr took off his shoes and his feet were frozen. Dowdle took the frozen onions , thawed them out and made apoultice and applied it to Garr's feet with good effect .Before morning they had a struggle to keep from freezing to death. Since Garr was not able to walk, Dowdle struck out for the Elkhorn Ranch for help, about six miles distant. At the Ranch they had one little Indian pony. fine,of the herders and an Indian and the pony went to rescue Garr. The snow was frozen so hard that it held the pony up and made travel easier. They arrivarrivee d at the Ranch later with Garr. The onion poultices, had saved his feet. Conditions at the Ranch. The provisions for those at the Ranch became low and it appeared may would have to go hungry for several weeks before messengers could get through the canyon with supplies. What cattle were alive were too poor to ill for beef. In her diary Mrs.Warner says they had very little wheat and the and 7 ground it in a coffee mill/to make it last longer they made a gruel of H. Aftv r the wheat was gone Dowdle said he would go in the other valley ana Set supplies or die in the attempt. He had to go on foot and this was Serous because of wolves and Indians. Luck was with the herders since wild chickens came to the Ranch and cake r and 3-arr shot a number and cleaned them and put them in cold storage thae jt ° snow bank next to the cabin. They broke open Captain Stringham's s oox and found one bushel of wheat and seme peas. They made peasoup, 33. 167 ground the wheat in a coffee mill, made wheat cakes and with the chicken with eat did very well. Dowdle arrived on a mule XXX a sack flour^Later ore messengers got through the canyon with supplies. The first thaw . I_d not come until in April. In the spring of 1856 the men at the ranch plowed and sowed about 60 acres of barley but the crop was a failure and they did not get their seed back. The ranch contained about 100 acres and during the summer the men fenced the land. The First White Child Born in Cache Valley. The Warnersand Stolworthys remained at the Ranch until the summer of 1856. In he diary Mrs.Warner says she and her husband planned to leave the valley in July. Up to this time she had saved 23 pounds of flour from their share. They left the valley July 22. and went to Ogden. Che flour she had saved helped them at the time their baby was born Aug.14. Ac ic According to Mr.Stolworthy's record their baby was borm at the Ranch in Cacne valley July 19, 1856. They named her Eliza Cache. A number of Indians came to see the little pale face baby. Shortly Mr.Stolworthy was back called jibe Salt lake City and sent to Iron County to help build a foundry. ihey lei't too v • ana early explorers. 168 Compiled by M.R.Hovey The Nature of A Cache April 28 1954. Logan.Utah. " A cache is a term common among traders and hunters, to designate a hiding-place for provisions and effects. It is derived from the French word "cacher" to conceal, and originated among the early colonists of Canada and Lousiana; but the secret depository which it designates was in use among the aboriginals long before the intrusion of the white men. It is, in fact the only mode that migratory hordes have 6T preserving their valuables from robbery, during their long absences from their villages of accustomed haunts, on hunting expeditions, or during the vicissitudes of war. The utmost skill and caution are required to rend these places of concealment invisible to the lynx eye of an Indian. The first care is to seek out a proper situation, which is generally some dry, low bank of clay, on the margin of a water course. As scon as the precise spot is pitched upon, blankets, saddle cloths, and other coverings are spread over the surrounding grass and bushes, to prevent foot tracks, or any other derangement; and as few hands as possible are employed. A circle of about two feet in diameter is then nicely cut into the sod, which is carefully removed , with the loose soil immediately beneath it, and laid aside in a place where It will be safe from anything that may change its appearance, The uncovered area is then digged perpendicularly to the depth of about three feet,and is then gradually widened so as to form a conical^, chamber six or seven feet deep. The whole of the earth displaced by this process, being of a different gplor from that on the surface, is handed up in a vessel, add is heaped Into a skin or cloth,in which it is conveyed to the stream 2. 169 The Nature of a Cache & • and thrown into the midst of the current, that it may be entirely carried off. Should the cache not be formed in the vicinity of a scream, the earth .thus thrown up is .carried to a distance and and scattered in such a manner as not to leave the minutest trace. The cave being formed, is well lined with dry grass, bark", sticks, and poles, and occasionally a dried hide. The property intended to be hidden is then laid In, after having been well aired; a hide is spread over it , and dried grass and brush, and stones thrown in and trampled down until the pit is filled to the neck. The loose soil which had been put aside is then brought and rammed down firmly to prevent its caving in, and is frequently sprinkled with water to de stroy scent, lest wolves and bears should be attracted to the place and root up the concealed treasure/ Yihen the neck of the cache is nearly level with the surrounding surface, the sod is again fitted in with the utmost exactness, and any bushes, stocks or stones that may have oeen originally been about the spot are restored to their former places, the blankets and othercoverings are then removed from the surrounding herbage; all tracks are obliterated, the Trass is gentl raised by the hand to its natural position , and the minutest chip or straw is scrupulously gleaned up and thrown into the stream. After all this is done, the place is abandoned for the night and if all be right the next morning, it is not visited again until there is a /i necessity for reopening the cache. Jompiled by KAR.Hovey THB AMERICAN 11001 AN April 28, 1954. ORIGIN. Logan.Utah. The origin of the American Indians is a problem that has long baffled students of history and archaeology. When Columbus discovered America the native Red len spread over the entire Continent: and from that day to the present it has been a much mooted question as to their genesis. Scholars have given much thought and study. One theory advanced is that the Indian is an autocthon ; that is he has evolved from lower forms on the American Continent. Ameghino, one noted anthropologist, has accepted this theory. Most scientists, however, have come to the conclusion that the Indians represent but one strain of humanity, one race, but that there was an American Origin of the Indians is extremely improbable. There are no discoveries of skeletal or cultural remains of a geological or ancient man on the American Continent, and according to Dr.Ales Hrdlicka, no one is justified in even accepting the theory of any geological antiquity of the American race. Hrdlicka reaches the con clusion, therefore, that the American Indians represent a single race; and that they originated in Asia. They possibly crossed, he says, from the eastern shores of Asia to America by way of the Bering Strait and the Aleutian Islands, and spread gradually southward over the land. Man as a rule does not migrate like birds; he spreads. He is gre garious, is a creature of habits, and moves only by compulsion, AS he moved upward on the Pacific Coast in search of food, he finally crossed to America. The people scattered and tn time we have them represented by the Algonquins,Iroquois,Siouan, and Shoshonian stocks; and farther south, the Piman-Aztec. Next came the "Toltec" type whicn settled In Mexico and Central America, as well as in Peru and other parts of South America. Such is the theory of the leading modern school of anthro pologists as represented by Hrdlicka and Wissler. " The above information was taken from a paper written By Levi Egdar Young of the University of Utah. 171 B.B.Blackman, Curator of the Nebraska Historical Society declares that the American Indian has been the greatestracial mystery of the ages. " ^ne ox the reasons that the biologists have classed the Indians as white is that they are the only race where children coming from inter marriage with the white or Anglo Saxon are never marred with throwbacks. Tne claim is tn« red or copper race will eventually disappear in sued a union, The Indians In Cache Valley Before the Settlements. We have no record that any or trio Indians tribes established perma nent lodges in Cacne Valley. When game was plentiful here they no doubt made summer camps but usually the winters were too severe to make per manent lodges. There is no question but that the Indians always trailed tbrougn Caono Valley on their migrations nortd ^na suutn. They were mostly from the Shosiionu tribe . Records show that ordinarily hunting,fishing and trapping were pretty good In Cache Valley. The mountain streams and abundant forage and timber would naturally attract wild game and produce fish and beaver. The early trappers and explorers aiway came In contact with Indians in Cache Valley. Today there is a definite Indian Trail on the north slope of the Blacksmith Fork River In the canyon which the Indians used to travel into Y<[yoming and the Bear Sake country to the east. Much can be said about the Indians after the settlers came to Cache Valley but that is another story and not a part of this paper. - The Beaver ompiled by M.R.Hovey 172 . April 28, 1954. Logan.Utah* The beaver is an aquatic rodent animal of the northern part of the orXd. It is distinguished, from its nearest relatives, the marmots, not only by adaptation to an aquatic life and has lar^e fully webbed hind feet which form the principal instruments for swimming, but especially for its extraordinary tail which is broad and covered with a horny integument resembling scales. A large beaver is about two feet In length from the root 0f the tail to the nose. It will weigh about thirty five pounds. There is an authentic record of one weighing eighty two pounds. The average weight is from thirty five to fifty pounds. Its flesh is edible but not particularly good. Its front teeth are large and faced with yellow enamel. The back part of the tooth is softer material. It wears away mere rapidly and leavesthe enamel with asharp chisel like edge. They gnaw around the tree until it falls. Some they have cut have been eighteen inches in diameter. They are very dexterous with their front feet in handling the logs,poles or trees in the construction of the dam. Some reports are the flat tail is used for a trowel in smoothing the mud for the dam. This is not auth entic but it is the opinion that the tail is used more for a warning with a loud slap on top of the water. They work mostly at night, especially in the moun light. Each does by instinct whatever it thinks best. There is no supervision by one or more. They use grass,mud and stones to mix between the poloa of the dam. On the top of the dam they build a cOnical house or lodge of six by seven feet in breadth lined with dry grass. The lodge has no opening in the top but hastwo under the water line.One is used as an escape opening when necessary. The water must be deep enough not to freeze on the bottom °f the pond since the winter supply of wood or poles with bark on them is stored on the bottom of the pond. They feed on the bark of trees such as linden, aspens,birch, and maple but never on coniferous trees. *he beaver is a strict vegetarian.In the summer time it feeds on many 2. l'/tf He plants found in the ponds. They make canals from the pond to the •6 »Jj>3a . Some of the canals extend several hundred feet ad are kept from grass and other obstructions so the logs or poles will float t0 the pond ,-yePfl eiy * Tne fur is exceedingly close and fine, and when freed from the long ard baits that are scattered through it and overlie the undercoat,forms e 0f the most valuable furs of commerce and one which figured,largely in •he early history of America. The eagerness with which some sought this valuable commodity, going farther and farther Into the wilds of the country, caused the beaver to disappear where it once had been so numerous. When America was first entered by the Europeans the beaver was found Inhabiting almos• t all the woodland streams of the whole northern continent from the Artie Circle to Central Mexico. Its temperment and manner of life aade it an easy prey for the trappers. In the days when the beaver pelts were the most popular, the fur was used fro the making of beaver hats. These were maae and very popular in England, as the beaver became scarce, a substitute for the hat covering wfchh silk was adopted. Beaver at Present in Utah. The Utah Fish and 6Fame department put beaver on the protected list in 1908. There were few. beaver in Utah at that time.The first transplanting • *aa done in I9I8.The first scientific transplanting program In the State *as in 1938 under the Pittman-Robinson Act. The beaver have continued to increase bub still are on the protected list.Trapping is done by permit trappers and state trappers,only under the supervision of the State Game Department. The beaver harvest has been about S200 annually. The pelts have sold on an average of sp9«50 per pelt. According to som• e tagging records in Utah and other places, the long- vity of the beaver is from 12 to 15 years. • 3. Domestic Beaver. 74 The Weaver-Beaver Ranches. Mark Weaver, the pioneer fur man in the intermountain states in domesticating the silver fox, chinchilla and beaver, has the only successful domestic beaver operations in Utah and Montana and In the world world. Ihe MicMgan Department of Conservation started In 1928 to ex periment in raising beaver successfully in pens. After 18 years of work, the department admitted their experiment was not a success. Their beaver did not reproduce, in captivity. Mark Yieaver had started to experiment with the beaver on a private basis in 1825. He has put 27 years of hard work and a small fortune into the undertaking. After many adverses and trying circumstances he Is now making a suceess of his beaver operations. Ee established ranches at Kaysville,Springville,Murray, Butlerville,Collinston,and Hyde Park, Utah; and Hamilton, Montana; and is expeanding as fast as feasible. He has made a close,intensive study of the habits, feed and conditions which would tend to get the beaver to reproduce in pens. I A variety of colors in furs has always been the aim of the latter day only fur breeders since/ohe color in the fur business becomes monotnous and hiwtders a wider use of the furs. Mr.Weaver claims that it will not be long until he will produce beaver at least in three colors. For a thousand years or more the beaver in the wild has produced only one color. The feed is important. The bulk of the diet is still bark,leaves, and twigs.Mr.Weaver has developed a pellet to supplement the feed. The chemical analysis of the pellets is a secret. Other factors in the success of the operations are the pen arrangements, handling and a knowledge of breeding habits. The beaver breed once each year between January and April. Their i litter range from one to Sight kits, an average of four in the wild. They have musk glands called castors. When beaver were plentiful the musk from the castors made the best base for the most expensive perfumes. Those who know the domestic beaver program predict that the leaver in time will become the dominant factor in the fur business.