Ox ELDER LORE O/ Tlte J\Iuteieentu Geniusim

$Ox ELDER LORE O/ Tlte J\Iuteieentu Geniusim$ -ox ELDER LORE o/ tlte J\IUteieentU GeniuSiM Published By The i Box Elder Chapter 979.242 \ Sons Of Utah Pioneers H2s 33t^ jgo* Clde*. 2o*e of the Nineteenth Century Published by the BOX ELDER CHAPTER SONS OF UTAH PIONEERS Adolph M. Reeder, President a* f Brigham City, Utah <<? September 1951 flfc» Copyright-, 1951 By Box Elder Chapter Sons Of Utah Pioneers Brigham City, Utah • Printed by Box Elder News & Journal Brigham City, Utah — 2^- / GOOD TIMBER 4 The tree that never had to fight For sun and sky and air and light $ That stood out in the open plain And always got its share of rain Never became a forest king. But lived and died a scrubby thing. The man who never had to toil Who never had to win his share Of sun and sky and light and air Never became a manly man, But lived and died as he began. Good timber does not grow in ease; The stronger wind, the tougher trees, The farther sky, the greater length; The more the storm, the more the strength; By sun and odd, by rain and snows In tree or man good timber grows Where thickest stands the forest growth We find the patriarchs of both. And they hold converse with the stars Whose branches show the scars Of many winds and much of strife This is the common law of life. — 3 — CONTENTS • Page Good Timber 3 Contents 4 Picture Index 5 Preface 7 Introduction 9 Chapter 1—A Great Adventure 13 Chapter 2—Sacajawea 19 Chapter 3—Henry's Fort on Snake River ..:. 23 Chapter 4—The Great Rendezvous on Bear River 26 Chapter 5—James Bridger 32 Chapter 6—Mountain Men By Wagons 33 Chapter 7—Romance of 1832 34 Chapter 8—Three Lures of the West 37 Chapter 9—Anson Call At Montrose 1842 38 Chapter 10—Pioneers Explore Box Elder 40 Chapter 11—Davis & Carter—Colony Leaders 41 A Short Sketch of Simeon Carter 49 Chapter 12—John Erick Forsgren 56 Abraham Hunsaker 62 James B. Cole 67 Robert Harris 68 Chapter 13—City Platted—1854-55 70 Pioneer Reminiscenses 71 Chapter 14—Box Elder Boundaries 76 Chapter 15—The Move South 78 Chapter 16—The Three Lures of Agriculture 81 Chapter 17—The Emigrant Ship 86 Chapter 18—Shoshoni Treaty 89 Chapter 19—Pushing Across Bear River With Flocks 94 Chapter 20—Hampton's Ford and Ferry 103 Salmon River Rescue 106 Chapter 21—Bear River City 108 Chapter 22—Corinne in "Boom" Days Ill The City of Corinne 117 The Golden Spike 119 Chapter 23—President Snow and the United Order 127 Chapter 24—President Brigham Young At The Bowery 134 Chapter 25—The Bear River Canal 138 Chapter 26—Turn of a Century 145 Chapter 27—Pioneer Memories 152 Willard 164 Conclusion 169 — 4 — PICTURE INDEX Page Willard Basin 6 Monument To Sacajawea 12 Second Great-Granddaughter Of Sacajawea 20 Intermountain Indians 27 James Bridger 31 William Davis 41 Home of William Davis 48 Simeon Carter 49 George Hamson Jr 55 John Erick Forsgren 56 Abraham Hunsaker 62 Conner Springs Indian Writings 69 Lorenzo Snow 70 Jonathan Calkins Wright 71 Samuel Smith 75 First Alfalfa Field 82 Clearing Land, Threshing, Plowing 84 Re-enactment of Shoshoni Treaty Signing 88 County Court House In Early Days 93 Corinne Ford Over Bear River 95 Driving Cattle To Summer Range 99 Roundup of Wild Horses 100 Steam Threshing Outfit „ 101 Wheat Headers and Threshers ~ „..102 Hampton's Pord 104 Early Stage Coach 105 Pioneer Gardeners 110 Corinne In Boom Days 112 Central Hotel In Corinne 116 "City of Corinne'' 117 Golden Spike Monument 120 Last Spike Celebration 122 Immigrants Meet First Train 123 Rozel Construction Camp 125 Early Brigham City Street Scene 126 Bear River Canal 143 Mowing, Stacking Alfalfa 144 First Automobile Parade 146 Interior of Tabernacle 148 Sugar Beets On Reclaimed Land 150 Wagon Load Of Sugar Beets 151 Box Elder Tabernacle 153 Funeral Procession 160 Lorenzo Snow Floral Tributes 161 Mountain Sheep Camp 163 Willard Grain Threshing Scene 166 Publication Committee 168 ^ Willard Basin Showing Protecting Terraces Designed To Prevent Floods, With Natural Lake In A Setting Of Beauty High In The Wasatch Mountains PREFACE The shore line along the mountain sides in Box Elder Coun ty reveal the evidence of the greatness of the wonders of nature and stretch the imagination. The geological work wrought by Lake Bonneville together with all the attendant changes that have taken place here in the past ages help one to recognize the hand of the GreatCreator and His over-ruling providence in pre paring this land to become a choice land for man's habitation. It could be a symbol of a wholesome attitude to strengthen man and sustain him in cultivating lofty ideals. The nineteenth century is so fascinating in relation to the Bear River 'Valley. Though much has been written, there still remains much interesting history. This being the Box Elder Centennial of the coming of the pioneers we think of 100 years of great achievement. Much of the background of the first half of the nineteenth century is mentioned very little. We, the Sons of the Pioneers, feel that there is still much to be taken from the journals of those who blazed the trails. We are deeply grateful to Dr. Howard R. Driggs for his per mission to quote from his very interesting books: "Hidden Heroes of the Rockies" and "Westward America." He has gath ered some fine stories of historical incidents relating to the Bear River Valley. We acknowledge the Bobbs Merrill Publishing Company for their permission to use material about Sacagawea (a great heroine) quoting from "Star of the West." Many fine biographies are preserved of the pioneers but we use incidents mainly in order to be brief. We emphasize the stories of the men who led the colony to Box Eder and the several battalion men who settled here. They show a fine spirit which should ever remain among us. Many men and women were en dowed with special gifts and talents to fit them for founding community life such as we have. Truly the words of Shakespeare apply in our history: "All the world's a stage and all the men and women are the players. We have our entrances and our exits and each man in his time plays many parts." 7 — * 1 INTRODUCTION When one approaches northern Utah on U. S. highway 30 he travels through miles of sagebrush flats dotted here and there by small communities and ranches. After entering the state the road leads straight as an arrow across the Curlew Flats and over a hill into the town of Snowville. The traveler notes the farms in the valley and on the hillsides. Several miles farther on, the road clings to the side of a steep hill at the head of Han sel Valley. An Eastern traveler might shudder if he knew this area is called Rattlesnake Pass. In the valley one catches a glimpse of well cultivated grain land. But he is little prepared for the sight that greets him as he drops into the next valley. Here the broad acres of cultivated land reach almost to the tops of the hills and the grain grows waste high. Elevators, too numerous to count, dot the landscape. The traveler has enter ed the heart of Utah's great dry farming area. The highway continues over more hills and past a marker which informs the tourist that the Golden Spike was driven some thirty miles to the south in 1869; today that spot is isola ted, miles from the nearest rails. Continuing on his way the traveler notes that every possible spot that is not too steep nor too rocky has been carefully husbanded into prosperous farm land. Its beauty is unsurpassed. But the visitor is ill prepared for the introduction to Box Elder County's irrigated farm area as he sees it from the top of Point Lookout where the road enters Bear River Valley. As he rounds the hill the sight that bursts unexpectedly upon him is a tremendous surprise. Checker board fields of various sizes and innumerable colors hemmed by rows of stately trees stretch over the broad valley. One sees several towns almost within a stone's throw of each other. The fields are neatly laid out and well cared for; the colors are brilliant. Canals of various sizes car ry life giving water to the thirsty land. Elsewhere there is an air of industry and prosperity in the Bear River Valley. A sight equally surprising and breathtaking is witnessed as one descends Box Elder Canyon and the mountain opens up re vealing the city of Brigham situated on the alluvial fan of the mountain stream. The tower of the stake tabernacle stands out prominently both day and night and leads one to admire its — 9 — simple beauty. Upon closer approach to this structure a stran ger is lead to respectful admiration; and well he might because the building has been described as the most beautiful in northern Utah by one who has made a study of such constructions. Brigham's main street is famous for its sveral miles of sy camore trees. Its beautiful homes, well cared for lawns, gar dens, parks, streets, etc., make it a delightful place. At night one notes the porch lights that remain burning and admiration turns to surprise when he is told that these burn without cost to the owner, but are on the city. From the municipal electric power plant.

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