Park Valley History



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Research by Dorothy K. Morris
Historical Context by LeGrand Morris
Typing and Editing by Rod Morris


In Cooperation With The Box Elder County Centennial History Project


1996
Preliminary Draft


INDEX:

LOCATION

Park Valley is located in the northwestern part of Utah, in Box Elder County.{S2}. It is 150 miles northwest from the state capitol at Salt Lake City, Utah and 100 miles west of the County seat at Brigham City, Utah. State Highway 30 runs through the center of the valley, generally from east to west. The “valley” is a roughly oval shape of about 30 miles in length east to west and about 25 miles north to south, covering a major portion of the western end of the county. In actuality it anchors the northern end of the Great Basin, and the Raft River mountains to the north mark the boundary between the Great Basin and the Snake River Plain. What we now call Park Valley includes name locations that formerly were nearly separate communitiest, such as known ones that are still separate geographical locations, as Rosette, Dove Creek, Muddy, Rosebud, and Kelton, as well as ones that have been almost forgotten by time as Ten-Mile, Clear Creek, Rosen Valley, Terrace, Golden, Matlin and other lesser camps along the old railroad grade. Since all these areas currently belong to a homogenous community, they are all know collectively as “Park Valley.” The valley center, or Park Valley proper, is the community center, which contains the church house, store, hotel, the park, and the schoolhouse.


NATURAL DESCRIPTIONS

Park Valley is bordered on the north by the Raft River mountains and on the south by the Hogup and Dove Creek Hills, and again on the west by the Dove Creek Mountains. To the east, but out of the sphere of influence of Park Valley, lie the Snowville flats and the Hansel Mountains. To the southeast lie glistening white salt pans, and a bit further, the Great Salt Lake itself; never really a part of the valley, but always there as on the edge of consciousness of the inhabitants. Twila Van Leer, an editor of the Desert News, said of the valley, “Mountain ranges seem to fold their arms protectively around the valley to ensure it doesn’t slip away to meet the rest of the world.”15 The elevation of the Park Valley area varies from about 5,600 feet above sea level on the valley floor to about 10,050 feet in the Raft River Mountains9. It is characterized by gently sloping plains, low hills, and fairly high mountains. The northern portion of the valley is covered with extensive and ancient talus slopes extending southward from the Raft River Mountains. The valley floor of Park Vally indicates the presence of an ancient sea. This may have been at the time of Lake Bonneville, but probably predates it. The Raft River Mountains are covered with quartzite stone, which probably underlies all the valley floor. The mountains were pushed up out of the valley floor by an intrusion of lava, which is indicated in the canyons cut into the overlying layers of quartzite. Though the rocks here are said to be of very ancient origin, the mountains were probably created after the glaciation period which occurred in the Wasatch Mountains and the Ruby Mountains. The climate is arid to semiarid. The precipitation is low, estimated at six inches annually in the valley and twelve inches in the mountains. Summers are quite hot and the winters very cold.9 Early trappers to the area followed the mountain streams that were their livelihood. The streams also became the livelihood of early settlers, who built their cabins near the streams to use them to support their fields and gardens, though they relied upon the natural springs that fed the wild meadows to provide the most dependable sources of water year-round.
Early explorers in northern Utah returned with glowing reports of bunch grass waving around their horses knees, and occasionally nearly as high as the horses themselves1. George Parosns, the second herdmaster for the Brigham City community said, “The Promontory was a mountain of waving grass when I became the flockmaster.”25 The abundance of grass attracted settlers, who brought their livestock to graze here. There was always some sagebrush and Juniper, but they were not the predominant species as they are today. Even up to the 1920's, grass and flowers among the sagebrush were much more prevalent. During good years the grass was reported to be high above the sagebrush1. Heavy grazing resulted in a sharp decrease in grass and an increase in sagebrush and Juniper trees. Early settlers were located homesteads on a series of natural springs along the foothills of the Raft River mountains. In conjunction with the springs, they found there natural meadows which provided fresh green feed for livestock and hay for winter months. In addition to the springs, spring snow melt from the canyon streams provided irrigation water to increase hay supplies and for other crops. In the early settlement days, antelope were plentiful throughout the valley. Later, especially as the range decrease through overgrazing, the antelope were mostly found to the hills and desert areas to the south of the valley. Mule deer were plentiful, as were Jack Rabbits and Cottontail Rabbits. Game birds found included Sage Hen, Mourning Dove, and Pine Hens. Mountain Lions were found mostly in the Raft River mountains. Coyotes are also abundant. Early settlers reported finding Buffalo skulls in the mountains above, however, there were none found living when they arrived. Upon occasion, moose wandered into the area from Idaho, but didn’t remain long. Moose and elk have also been seen in the Black Pine Mountains to the east. In recent years the kit fox, usually found only to the desert to the south has been seen in increasing numbers in the valley. Large vegetation in the area, besides Juniper trees-- called by the local settlers “Cedar” trees, includes cottonwood, mountain mahogany, birch, and pinyon pine. Choke cherries, wild currants, and sarvice berries were plentiful. The settles also found mushrooms, sego lilies, and pinenuts to extend their food supplies. Higher in the mountains are found the quaking aspen, larger species of pine, such as Douglas fir, Engleman Spruce, and others. There are also some plant species, or so it has been reported, unique to this area, but there exact names have not been determined.

NAMES


THE INDIANS

The Indians inhabitants northern Utah , known through archaelological evidence, are divided into two groups by modern scientists. These three groups, or time periods, have been called the Desert Archaic, the Fremont Culture, and the Late Prehistoric or Proto-historic Period.36 The Desert Archaic period extends from the retreat of the glaciers, which are evidenced in the Wasatch Mountains above Salt Lake City and in the Ruby Mountains in Nevada. Their area extended throughout the Great Basin. This is generally said to have been from about 10,000 years ago. This period lasted until about 400 A.D. The Indians living during this time were hunters-gatherers, not much different from the Indians found here when the first modern settlers arrived. Much of the information about the Desert Archaic lifestyle has come from excavations in caves, particularly Danger Cave in Tooele County, and in Hogup Cave in Box Elder County. Hogup Cave is a large south-facing cave. in the Hogup Mountains to the southeast of the valley.36 According to archaeologists, Hogup Cave may be the most important Desert Archaic site in the west.37 Artifacts found in Hogup Cave were in distinct, separate layers of accumulated debris from many years of human activity, covering a time span of approximately 8000 B.C. to 1470 A.D., and thus it extends in time through all three time periods. In these layers they left behind evidences of their tools, utensils, clothing, fuel, medicine, and ritual gear. Their food sources included 40 species of animals. Most frequent were rabbits, but also included antelope, deer, bison, mountain sheep, and wild birds. They also harvested roots and seeds, which were parched, ground, and eaten.36


The second time grouping for the Indians was the Fremont Culture. Its range was almost entirely restricted to Northern Utah, Southern Idaho, and Eastern Nevada. In time it extended from about 500 A.D. to 1300 A.D. It was pretty much contemporary with the Anasazi Culture in Southern Utah.36 During this period at least some of the Indians were primarily farmers. They grew corn, beans, and squash in small plots along streams at the base of the mountain ranges. Some were also nomads, collecting wild plants and animals to sustain themselves. Some undoubtedly shifted between these two lifestyles.38 In addition to their evidence in Hogup Cave, their remains have also been found in other caves, in excavations at Willard, along the Bear River, and on wetlands along the shore of the Great Salt Lake. Early Willard settlers reported mound sites with pit houses and above ground structures indicative of farming practices. Over 500 sites have been recorded between Ogden and Brigham City. When the Salt Lake receeded from the record high of 1987, it uncovered the remains of numerous skeletons and pit houses.39 A study of them indicated a short, muscular people who suffered from many of the same ailments known today.36 There has been Indian rock art found at various locations in Box Elder County. These are generally attributed to the Fremont Culture. Usually they are on a smaller scale than Southern Utah rock art. Perhaps the greatest concentration of rock art in Box Elder County is above Connor Spring southwest of Penrose and Thatcher. Some has been found near the Promontory Indian Caves and on the hillsides above Willard and north of Brigham City. There is a small one found on the east end of the Raft River Mountains at the mouth of Clear Creek.36
The third phase of Indian habitation is the Late Prehistoric or Proto-Historic Culture. This period was dominated principally by the Shoshoni Culture.22 This period follows the Fremont Culture, but wether the Fremont peoples left the area or were assimilated into the Shoshoni culture is not known. It is apparent, however, that the culture changed about 1300 to 1350 A.D. There was an apparent abandonment of agriculture, less time was spent in building permanent shelters, the use of pottery changed, and the way people moved about changed. The Shoshoni did not take on many of the Fremont Culture attributes. Instead of pit houses they constructed curcular wiki-ups, or teepees. Their pottery was made by slabs instead of coiling.36 The Shoshoni Indians did occupy the same sites as the previous one, but this may have been due to their favorable locations rather than any relationships between the peoples. After all, many are the same sites later occupied by pioneer settlers.36
The Indians who lived in the area when the first white explorers arrived were the Shoshoni Indians. They covered northern Utah, eastern Nevada, southern Idaho, and Wyoming into the Wind River Mountains. They consisted of about six principal groups; the Eastern Shoshoni, the Fort Hall Shoshoni. the Northern Shoshoni, the Boise and Bruneau Shoshoni, the Western Shoshoni, and the Northwestern Shoshoni.13 The Eastern Shoshoni, led by Chief Washakie, ranged in the Wind River Mountains, from South Pass to Fort Bridger, in the Bear Lake area and the northern Wasatch Mountains. They had many horses and had a culture more related to the plains Indians. They hunted buffalo primarily, but also relied on small game as well as roots and berries. Chief Washakie was a strong leader who tried to keep peace with the rapidly increasing emmigrants.13 In fact, he became well known for helping emmigrant trains.31 Though the main part of the Eastern Shoshoni eventually were settled in the Wind River area of Wyoming, one group later inhabited the Bear River Valley to the east. There was at first an attempt to settle them in a place called Indian Town, located in the vicinity of Elwood. They were later moved to the northern end of the Bear River Valley to the reservation at Washakie.10
The Fort Hall Shoshoni ranged around the confluence of the Portneuf River, the Blackfoot River, and the Snake River. They also used horses for mobility and buffalo hunting, but caught salmon along the Snake River and foraged on the Camas Prairie for camas root. They were associated at Fort Hall with the Bannock Indians, who were not part of the Shoshoni but who were a Northern Piute group. Though the Bannock hunted and intermarried with the Fort Hall Shoshoni, they kept their language and tribal identity separate.13 (When the Fort Hall Reservation was established, the land was owned by Shirley and Sweitzer. The Government bought their land and located the Reservation there. In exchange, Shirley and Sweitzer were given six sections of land on the Raft River, at the mouth of Cassia Creek, in Southern Idaho.24) The Northern Shoshoni ranged north of Fort Hall in the Salmon River Mountains into western Montana. This was the group to which Sacajawea belonged. They were similar in habits to the Eastern and Fort Hall groups. They were also led by a strong leader, Chief Tendoy, who tried to keep peace with the white neighbors.13 The Boise and Bruneau Shoshoni were quite early settled into the Fort Hall Reservation. The Western Shoshoni were a much fragmented group inhabiting the valleys of Nevada.13
The Indians located in the Park Valley area were part of the Northwestern Shoshoni Indians. 11 They occupied the northern Utah valleys from Cache Valley west and also into Idaho. They were the principal Indians at the Battle of the Bear River in 1863 near present-day Preston, Idaho, at which time the power of the Indians was broken. These grassy valleys, especially along the Bear River, were their principal wintering grounds.13, 25 When the white settlers arrived there was a well worn trail all along the Wasatch front. It passed right along where the main street of Brigham City is now located.22 The Northwestern Shonshoni had a powerful leader in Chief Wirasuap, or Chief Bear Hunter as he was better known by the whites, but he was killed in the Battle of the Bear River. In the treaty signed afterwards, the Northwestern Shoshoni were divided into ten loosely knit bands, led by Chiefs Pocatello, Toomontso, Sanpitch, Tosowitz, Yahnoway, Weetahsoop, Pahragoosahd, Tahkuetoonah, Omrshee, and Sagwitch. These Northwestern groups had traits of both the plains-related hunters to the east and north, but also food-gathering habits of the Great Basin Piutes. Their horse herds were not as large as their neighbors, but they used them to make buffalo hunting forays into Wyoming. Prior to the coming of the white man to the intermountain west, the were large herds of buffalo in Utah, but especially northward on the Idaho plains. By about 1840 the buffalo in Idaho were all gone, and the Indians were forced to travel to Wyoming to hunt buffalo. The valleys of northern Utah and southern Idaho provided good summer living, and the banks of the rivers and streams provided winter shelter and feed for their horses.
Chief Pocatello, also known as “White Plume,” became the most famous of the Northwestern group, at least to the white settlers. In the year 1857 Chief Pocatello described his territory as being--in the summer--the Deep Creek Mountains, the Raft River Mountains, and their neighboring valleys. The winters he spent closer to the settlements at Brigham City, Cache Valley, and at Ogden.13 Prior to about 1840 Chief Pocatello hunted buffalo on the Snake River Plain in Idaho and pastured his horses on the meadows along the Raft River.20

At the time of the settlement of Utah by the Mormon Pioneers, the Eastern Shoshoni were considered the “aristocrats of all the Shoshoni,” due to their great wealth in horses. However, earlier, Captain Benjamin Bonneville had called the Northwestern Shoshoni, “as a class more civilized than Washikee’s band.”13 In 1813 Robert Stuart recorded in his journal that the Shoshoni in the Bear River delta had few horses or firearms, and that they were terrorized by some of the tribes to the north.36 This Northwestern Shoshoni group ranged principally further north and east of Park Valley, but they also often ranged into the valley and to the south and west as far as the western arc of the Salt Lake shore and even into Nevada. They did not keep a permanent home in the valley, but they often passed through and also came here to hunt.12 The Northwestern Shoshoni, with insistence from the Office of Indian Affairs in Washington, but after much resistance from the different bands, eventually were settled on the Fort Hall Reservation, and since have been lost to history.{S13}.
There are remnants of Lake Bonneville along the foothills of the area. In referring to them, the Indians told the early settlers that their ancestors used to go across the Curlew Valley area, which lies east of Park Valley, in canoes.12 Park Valley was settled after the Battle of the Bear River of 1863, so the Indians were never a great threat during the settlement of the area. Their power was still held in memory strong enough that it still brought a shock and a quick lump in the throat when the shadow of an Indian darkened a cabin door, but not unfavorable incidents with the Indians were ever reported.. The Indians came to the area especially in the fall to gather the pinenuts. They shared with the settlers their knowledge of native herbs used for healing.12 As they passed through they also traded with the early settlers for food. Besides pinenuts, they also harvested roots, grass seeds, berries, bird eggs, and rabbits. Chief Pocatello’s band was known among the other groups as “wild wheat eaters.” The men made arrows from obsidian which they obtained from the “Big Butte” on the plains north of the Snake River. The women made rabbit skin baskets with which to gather seeds and berries. They beat the seeds from the luxurious grasses that covered the hillsides. The seeds were used for flour to bake into cakes or as a very nutricious mush. They made grinding stones from very high quality, fine grained granite found in the area. They had antelope hunts near the Terrace Mountains to the South and in the Grouse Creek Valley. They had rabbit drives near Lucin. The men used nets to catch the rabbits. ThThe men hunted in the mountains for deer, mountain sheep, bear, fox, beaver, wildcat, porcupine, water fowl, or pack rats. They gathered trout from the mountian streams.21
At one time 14 families of Shoshoni wintered at Kelton, 6 families at Lucin, about 12 families were scattered along Grouse Creek, and a small cluster of 6 families wintered near Lynn, and another 8 families were at Yost, and there was a “larger camp” located on Dove Creek. These were all part of Chief Pocatello’s group. They had to move their camps often for their horses to find feed. In a report for the year 1859, Indian Agent Jocob Farney enumerated 6 bands of about twelve hundred Northwestern Shoshoni, who were occupying the northern valleys of Utah and the Raft River and Grouse Creek area.21 When the white settlers moved into the valleys of northern Utah, they also hunted the wildlife. Their livestock ate the grasses. This left the Indians short of food and led to many of the “Indian problems.” The Indians were beginning to starve, and this led to the friction with the settlers and to the eventual Battle of the Bear River.20 The Indians would often come to the homes of the settlers and ask for food. Louise Kunzler, one of the early settlers of Rosette, would often find Indians at her door, asking for food, which she always gave them. She said, “The Indian women could scrub the floors whiter than anyone else.” She always gave them something to do to earn their food so they wouldn’t have to fell like beggars.26

EARLY EXPLORERS

The first explorers, the mountain men, unfortunately did not leave behind many records of their passing. There is a report of a date of 1756 carved in a cave at the north end of the Oquhirr Mountain Range. This cave is now covered by slag heaps from Kennecot smelters, so it is not practically possible to verify this report. If it is true, it is assumed that it would have been carved by French fur trappers from the north, from the Hudson Bay Company. There apparently were early explorers whose travels were not recorded, since Brigham Young had said about the year 1850 that rumors of an inland salt sea had been circulated for about 150 years.31 Early trappers generally came from the north and explored the Bear River Valley, one group as early as 1811, but it is not known how far to the west they explored. In 1819, Michael Bourdon of the British Northwest Company, entered the area. He had been working the Snake River area, but he wanted to see the area and the river the trappers of 1811 had reported. Bourdon is credited with naming the Bear River. During that same year, Donald Mackenzie was trapping in the Malad Valley when his men became sick from eating beaver meat. The beaver had been eating some kind of roots that had an effect upon their meat and left the Mountain Men sick when they ate it. They, therefore, decided to call the river “Malade” meaning Sickness.31 In 1824 General Ashley, of the Ashley Fur Trapping Company, established a camp just over the Idaho line in Cache Valley. Jim Bridger came from the Ashley camp. He “paid more attention to the lay of the country than most,” and is credited with being the first non-Indian to see the Great Salt Lake and taste its waters. Legend has it that he stood on Willard Peak and surveyed the country, proclaiming it to be rich in furs, a trapper’s paradise. The historian Chittenden says that a controversy arose in the Ashley camp as to the course of the Bear River after it left Cache Valley. A wager was laid and Jim Bridger was selected to follow the river and determine the bet. This he did, and soon arrived at its outlet into the Great Salt Lake. Tasting the water, he discovered it to be salty, and on reporting to his companions, all assumed it to be an arm of the Pacific Ocean.11 Another member of the Ashley company was Mountain Man Jedidiah Strong Smith. He was commisiioned by Ashley to explore the area to the west of Cache Valley. He and his group traveled from Cache Valley through Box Elder Canyon in 1824.22 Jedidiah Smith circled the Great Salt Lake to the north, and thus passed within the reaches of Park Valley and probably even passed through the valley itself. Another Mountain Man who circled the Great Salt Lake to the north and possibly passed through Park Valley was James Clyman.19 The first explorer known to have definitely entered Park Valley was Peter Skene Ogden, and his Snake River Country Expedition. His journey is recorded in the archives of the Hudson Bay Record Society in London, England9. He passed through Montello, Nevada, on into the Park Valley area through Dove Creek, and went across Park Valley to Ten Mile Springs and on to Snowville. He said it was a barren country.28 The second known exploration took place in 1833 by Captain B.L.T. Bonneville9.

THE BARTLESON-BIDWELL PARTY

In 1841 the Bartleson-Bidwell party passed through the south end of Park Valley, becoming the first to take wagons through Box Elder County.They had a number of wagons, which were pulled by mules and oxen.28 They were looking for a quicker route to California.27 They brought with them Benjamin Delsey’s wife and daughter, who were therefore the first white woman and child to enter the valley. However, since they were just passing through, they were not the first to reside here.11
The Bartleson-Bidwell Party originated in Missouri. The twenty-five year old “handsom, intelligent, and imbued with the pioneer spirit” John Bidwell went west in the fall of 1839 to teach school at Weston, Missouri. Soon after arriving there he heard of the wonders of California through a letter from John Marsh, an early settler who had sailed around the Cape Horn. The letter fired Bidwell’s already smoldering enthusiasm, which proved so contagious that during the winter of 1840-1841 he was successful in convincing five hundred Missourians to join his Western Emigration Society. In the early spring of 1841 they were to meet at Sapling Grove. Each family was to come with its own wagons, provisions, and camping equipment.32 All went well until Thomas Farnham returned from leading a small party to Oregon. His reports of the hardships encountered on the overland journey were enough to discourage most of the Missiouians. When Bidwell himself reached Sapling Grove, he found only sixty nine men, women, and children. Worse still, those who had remained were poverty stricken, and most of them were undecided as to wether they wanted to go to California or Oregon. There was less than 100 dollars cash among them.32 Some of the group were driving ox-drawn wagons, a few had come in carriages, others were on horseback and several were on foot. Knowing only that the starting point of the trail was at Independence, and that California and Oregon lay beyond the Rocky Mountains, the forlorn little party set out.32
They had the fortune to fall in with a company led by Father DeSmet, on their way to Oregon. This group was being led by the Mountain Man Thomas Fitzpatrick.19 With this group, they traveled safely to Soda Springs on the Bear River. However, discord broke out in the Bidwell Party soon after taking the trail. By the time they arrived at South Pass, the they were divided into two factions. One was determined to go to Oregon and the other to California. At the bend in the Bear River, Bidwell, with a group of thirty two men, one woman, and one child decided to strike off for California.32 Here they left the DeSmet group and continued on their planned course.30 The only directions Fitzpatrick could give them was to follow the Bear River to the Great Salt Lake, skirt the northern end, and continue westward to pick up Carson’s old trail to the Humboldt.32 After leaving the Oregon Trail at Soda Springs, they followed the Bear River south through Cache Valley, coming over the divide northwest of the Bear River Canyon. They followed the Bear River westward until in came in contact with the Malad River at about East Garland. They found the rocky crossing in the Malad River at Rocky Ford, where they crossed and continued south to Corinne. Here they turned west and passed Promontory, on August 27, 1841, and saw the Great Salt Lake,30 coming within 10 miles of it.32 They skirted around the north part of the Great Salt Lake, traveling almost northwest. Upon leaving Promontory, they recorded that they saw green grass on a declivity of the mountains which they were approaching. They found there an excellent spring of water and an abundance of grass. They camped in a cedar grove near the spring of water. This was south of Snowville, Utah.28
They continued traveling northwesterly, directly to Ten Mile Spring just below the eastern end of the Raft River mountains. They were at Ten Mile Springs about August 29, 1841. They recorded that they were being careful not to go too far south lest they enter a wasteland country without grass, but neither too far north lest they enter a broken country with steep canyons.28 Therefore, from Ten Mile Springs they struck southwest, through the lower part of Park Valley, to skirt Bovine Point and beyond to Owl Spring. From here they struck a course almost due south toward Pilot Peak and from thence westward into Nevada. They failed to find the trail and did not discover the headwaters of the Humboldt River until late September. With incredible suffering they followed the Humboldt along its course to the sinks.11 They often subsisted on the flesh of the mules that gave out along the way. There they were forced to abandon their wagons before crossing the Sierra Nevada Mountains, but they had already history by being the first to cross Utah with their wagons.{S30}
THE SALT LAKE CUTOFF

The route which became known as the Salt Lake Cutoff was pioneered by Captain Samuel J. Hensley about the middle of August in 1848. He took a route around the north end of the Great Salt Lake, leading ten U.S. troops with saddle and pack horses. He was after a shorter way to California, which prior to that time went north to Fort Hall and then struck south along the California Trail through Emigration Canyon south of the City of Rocks in Idaho. This circuitous route was taken in order to avoid the Salt Flats to the west of the Great Salt Lake. The territory between the Raft River and the Porteneuf Mountains contained many important crossroads of the intermountain area.41 But many people dispaired of the long circuitous journey to the north and desired a shorter route toward California. In order to find a more direct route, Hensley and his group forded the Bear River west of Collinston, rode west down Potts Hollow (originally called Spring Hollow), crossed the Malad River, went through the present town of Riverside, on to Point Look Out. Leaving the Bear River Valley there, they struck west to Blind Springs, on to Blue Springs, through the present town of Snowville, on to Pilot Springs, and continued on into Idaho past present day Strevell and joined the California Trail in Emigration Canyon to the north of the Raft River Mountains. On Sunday, August 27, 1848, Hensley met a party of discharged Mormon Battalion men and sent them over his new route, thus saving them eight to ten days. These men were the first to travel the Salt Lake Cutoff with wagons. However, they forded the Malad River at Rocky Ford, which was four miles north of where Captain Hensley’s party had crossed, since it afforded an easier crossing for the wagons. They thus made the Salt Lake Cutoff a permanent route to California. The Gold Rush of 1849 increase the use of this trail. Later wagon trains to California passed along this Salt Lake Cutoff to the north of Park Valley, on the north side of the Raft River mountains and through the City of Rocks area on their way west.

SETTLEMENT

Early workers on the Central Pacific Railroad first noted the possibility of settling the valley when their horses and mules strayed to the fertile meadows surrounding the natural springs in the valley.2
The first one to actually settle in the valley was William P. (Cotton) Thomas in 1869. He was attracted to the valley by the abundant native grass and the groves of “cedar” trees which he found there. Prior to this time he had owned a livery stable, store24, and hotel in Brigham City, which he left behind when he moved to Park Valley.11 He had probably heard of Park Valley from the railroad workers who had frequented his livery stable. His homestead was in Park Valley, where the Larsen family later resided. He and his sons ran both sheep and cattle on the open range. Cotton Thomas was also appointed the Indian Agent for the area. He later moved to Grouse Creek and was one of the first settlers there as well. The Cotton Thomas Basin still bears his name.35 In the fall of 1869 he entered into a contract to winter some 1500 head of cattle for a dollar a head9,11. The community at Brigham City had started the practice of combining their herds with the surrounding communities and hiring a herder to care for them. Their herds ranged across the Bear River towards Promontory in the west. It is presumed that the contract Cotton Thomas had was an extension of these efforts. Thomas drove the cattle to the valley, and he and his family settled near Willow Creek Spring, located about 6 miles south of the present store and school house. The Indians killed two of the cows for food, but gave the hides to Mr. Thomas so he could get the dollar for pasturing them. This more-or-less friendly cooperative relationship marked the interaction of the settlers and Indians from the very beginning of settlement here.11 Thomas Dunn was said to be the second man to settle in Park Valley. He came specifically with the intent to farm the land. He settled in the eastern part of the valley. The canyon of Dunn Canyon still bears his name. Other settlers soon followed. The majority of them were Mormon Pioneers but some may have been railroad workers who liked the area and decided to stay.2 Most of them established themselves on natural springs and near the mountain streams. They fenced in the meadows and cleared the junipers and sagebrush and planted crops. The lack of rainfall made dryfarming impractical, but farming from the springs and mountain streams was possible, and the rich grasses made the area ideal for grazing.2 Adam Larsen was said to have been freighting from Kelton to towns in Idaho. He was camped at Emigrant Springs when some of his horses ran away. He trailed them into the valley to Dunn Canyon and liked the area so well that in 1870 he returned to settle. He built a home near where the Larsen home is located today.11,34 Andrew Callahan was one who was working on the railroad, which passed to the south of the valley. His horses also strayed, and he followed them into the valley. He came back in 1871 and settled on the south side of the road in Rosette near Pugsley’s.11,34 Lucinda (Shipman) Campbell and her sons Jonathan and Helaman came in 1871 and settled in Rosette, in the west part of the valley.11,34 Helaman, at least, lived on the Dane Spring’s Ranch west of Rosette. At least one of Helaman’s sons lived at Clear Creek, and about 1912 two of his sons homesteaded at Juniper, Idaho.12 In 1877 Christian Hirschi and Jacob Kunzler came from Tooele and settled in Rosette. James Newberry Morris, Hyrum Yates, and William Callahan came to settle about 1887 and settled in Rosette.11,34 James N. Morris owned the first white topped buggy in the valley, which in those days was quite a luxury. In the Spring of 1910 James N. Morris had a large building in Terrace cut in to sections and moved it to Rosette on sleighs. He hired two men to remodel it into a store. The upper story had a hardwood floor, was used for an amusement hall where many dances were held. James Morris was appointed the Postmaster of Rosette and the Post Office was located in the his store. This store later burned down. Other names among early settlers were Jonathan Love, a Mr. Nelson, Joseph Fisher, Orson and Sam James, Moroni Coleman, Abraham Chadwick, Joseph Godfrey, William Mecham, Charles J. Rohwer, Andrew Rose, Absalom Yates, E.D. Mecham, and others11.
Moroni Coleman brought cattle in to the valley and fenced some land and built a high cupola (tower) in the center where he could look out over the country. In spite of all his precautions, most of the cattle were stolen9. Pine trees were obtained from the Raft River mountains for building log cabins and larger outbuildings. One road up to the top of the mountain and over to the other side into Johnson Creek, where the largest timber is still to be found, is still known as “The Drag Road.” Juniper trees provided material for fences and smaller buildings and livestock sheds. The settlers brought with them their livestock; cows, horses, and sheep and other farm animals. They brought their household belongings in wagons pulled by oxen or by horses. Farming and Ranching became the principal means of sustenance. The settlers used their cattle for meat and milk. They planted gardens, orchards, and grain crops. Food supplies were extended with wild game, wild fruits, pine nuts, fish, and game birds. Some of the first settlers were said to have lived in dug-outs until they could build better homes. Some were said to have lived in their wagons for the first winter, which were grouped around one log cabin near the E.F. Carter home. The first homes built were log cabins with dirt floors and dirt roofs. Before long, lumber was hauled from the railroad at Kelton. Early sawmills were begun by Mr. Fisher, Mr. Yates, and Christian Hirschi. The Indians were quite friendly by the time the valley was settled, and the settlers always tried to make friends with the Indians, and gave them food.
THE CREATION OF THE STATE OF UTAH

At the time of the first explorations of the area now comprising Park Valley, it was then part of Mexico. When the Mexican War was concluded in February of 1848, the territory held by Mexico north of the Rio Grande River was ceded to the United States. In about 1849, the Mormon Pioneer settlers adopted a constitution and attempted to gain statehood for the State of Deseret. They picked their own governing body and sent Almon W. Babbitt to Washington with a petition to Congress asking for the passage of an act admitting the State of Deseret into the Union with its constitution. This constitution included religious rights and self government. He was courteously received by Congress but the petition was denied. Mr. Babbitt made plain that the people of this area were in need of, and entitled to some form of government. On September 9, 1850, President Millard Fillmore approved an act providing for the organization of the Territory of Utah. This territory included all of the present states of Utah and Nevada, the western part of Colorado, the southwest corner of Wyoming, and the southern tip of California.10 The federal government then allocated the sum of $20,000 for the building of a suitable meeting place for the territorial government. A site almost in the center of the territory was chosen, and named Fillmore in honor of President Fillmore. Plans were drawn up by Truman Angell, who was the architect for the Salt Lake Temple, for a four-winged building in the shape of a Maltese Cross, with a rotunda in the center covered by a dome. After four years one wing was completed, which was used for two or three years.10
On September 20, 1850 President Fillmore appointed Brigham Young to be Governor. He took the oath of office on February 3, 1851. Broughton D. Harris of Vermont was appointed Secretary. Joseph Buffington of Pennsylvania was appointed Chief Justice. Perry C, Brocchus of Alabama and Zerubbabel Snow of Ohio were appointed Associate Justices. Seth M. Blair of Utah was appointed U.S. Attorney. Joseph L. Heywood of Utah was appointed U.S. Marshall. All of these men except Brigham Young were “Gentiles,” meaning men not of the LDS Church. The appointment of Gentiles didn’t set too well with the public in Utah, especially since they had already picked their own governing body. However, on March 28, 1851 this governing body was dissolved. Before adjournment, they adopted a resolution expressing good feelings on the part of the people of Utah toward the U.S. Government for the organization of the Territory under the territorial form of Government. Now a representative could be sent to Congress to communicate the desires and problems of those living in the area, but he was not given a vote. So in reality, the people were not represented in the true sense of the word, and were really governed by outsiders.10 For five years the people lived under the territorial form of government. Delegates held daily sessions and adopted another constitution, and the name Deseret was again selected. In March 1856 they again proceeded to Washington to petition for statehood. A hearing was given and the petition was declined. The men from the East that were appointed by the President of the United States were corrupt men. When their sessions were over and they returned to the East, they told many lies about the Mormon people. This, along with the Mountain Meadows Massacre, and improprieties by judges and officials, created so much hate in the East that President Buchanan mobilized an army, since called Johnston’s Army, to come to Utah. U.S. Mail was stopped and the people were denied pre-emption rights on government land. The author B.D. Madsen in the book Corinne stated, “Even the bitterly anti-Mormon J.H.Beadle noted that the territory began to be regarded as the `Botany Bay’ of worn-out politicians, a place to be sent as a reward for political service for the incompetent and mediocre. His paper, the Corinne Reporter, advised the Gentiles of the area to take care of themselves because they could not depend upon the federal officials who were the chief instigators of trouble between the non-Mormon and the saints.”10 By an act of Congress, approved by President Buchanan on March 2, 1861 Nevada was cut off from Utah Territory, and was organized as a separate territory, reducing in size by a large degree the size of the Utah Territory.10 Six years later, in January 1862, a third attempt was made to obtain statehood. Again a constitution was adopted and elections were held. The name of Deseret was still presented. By this time Lincoln was President, the Civil War was underway, and Johnston’s Army had thus left the Territory. The returns of the elections and a copy of the amended constitution were sent to Washington, but Congress declined again and Utah remained a Territory. Another slice of land was taken off the western border of Utah in 1862 and given to the Territory of Nevada. A third piece was taken off in 1866 and again given to the Territory of Nevada.10 On July 25, 1868 President Andrew Johnson approved the act of Congress creating Wyoming Territory and the northeast corner of Utah was added to this new territory. Judge William A. Carter owned a ranch at Fort Bridger. He had enough influence in Washington to make the change in the state border, and is the man responsible for cutting the corner out of the upper right hand part of Utah.10 Congress did re-establish a land office in Salt Lake City on March 6, 1869, and people again had pre-emption rights to public land restored, and they could then buy or homestead. On May 10, 1869 the Golden Spike was driven at Promontory Point. The boundary between Utah and Idaho was established in 1871.10
By this time some of the delegates at the convention from the different areas were Gentiles. On March 2, 1872 they adopted another constitution, which was ratified by the people on March 18, 1872. Just after this Thomas Fitch and William H. Hooper were elected United States Senators, and became the first representatives with voting rights in Washington. George Q. Cannon and Frank Fuller were elected delegates by the local convention to go to Washington to cooperate with Senators Fitch and Hooper. The constitution was presented to both houses of Congress in April 1872. It was referred to committees, but eventually failed. The western boundary between Utah and Nevada was established in 1873 and 1874. The boundary between Colorado and Utah was established in 1878, and reaffirmed by survey in 1885.10 On April 10, 1882, ten years later, a fifth convention met in Salt Lake City and again a try for statehood was made. At this convention there were 72 delegates, three of whom were women, and every county in the territory was represented. They adopted another constitution and by unanimous vote the name Utah was adopted instead of Deseret.10 A sixth attempt was made about five years later. A new constitution as adopted on July 7, 1887, containing a provision not found in any of the previous ones. It read, “Bigamy and Polygamy being considered incompatible with a republican form of government, each of them is hereby forbidden and declared a misdemeanor.” It was taken to Washington by Franklin S. Richards, W.W.Riter, and E.G. Wooley. They were assisted by John T. Caine, Utah’s delegate in Congress. However, their petition was again declined.10 About this time the political climate in Utah changed, introducing a new element into the statehood attempt. In all six previous attempts, the people of Utah acted upon their own initiative and without authority from Congress to petition for statehood. In 1890 the people of the territory divided upon national party lines. Joseph L. Rawlins was elected delegate to the 53rd Congress in 1892. Soon after taking his seat, he introduced a bill providing for the admission of Utah. This bill, the Enabling Act, passed the House on December 13, 1893, and it was sent to the Senate. There it was referred to the Committee on Territories. On May 17, 1894 it was reported back with certain amendments, and in the amended form it was passed by the Senate on July 10, 1894. The next day the House concurred on the amendments and the act was approved by President Grover Cleveland on July 16, 1894. This act enabled the people of the Territory of Utah to form a constitution and a state government, and to be admitted into the Union. It took a year and a half for President Cleveland to sign the bill It states, “Done at the City of Washington this 4th day of January in the year of our Lord 1896 and the Independence of the United States the one hundred and twenty.” Two days later President Cleveland issued his proclamation that the Utah State Government was put into operation. Thus some histories place the statehood date as January 6, 1896. Thus on the seventh attempt, after 46 years, Utah was successful, longer that any other state. It also ended up with only one-fourth the area with which it started out.10

THE CREATION OF BOX ELDER COUNTY

Some writers consider that Park Valley area originally was considered part of Weber County. On the one hand, it may have been, because in 1851 the area around Brigham City was considered part of the Weber Stake, under the leadership of President Farr. However, on the other hand, the book Utah Since Statehood shows the county seat to be Brigham City, organized in 1856 with the parent county shown as “Unorganized Territory.”10 In this year the Territorial Legislature organized Box Elder county and defined its boundaries.25 Lorenzo Snow had sent Saints to settle the Brigham City area in 1853. He came to join them in 1855, at which time he presided.
During the Fifth Session of the Territorial Legislature, held at Fillmore, Utah on December 20, 1855, Governor Young approved an act creating the counties of Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Cedar, Greasewood, Humboldt, Malad, St. Mary’s, and Shambip.41 Park Valley fell within the area of Greasewood County. Greasewood County was later combined with Box Elder County, and thus ceased to exist. These counties were organized under the territorial government, with a court system with a judge and three selectmen. The judges were appointed by the governor, and the selectmen were elected from local precincts. The three selectmen were the same as the county commissioners of today, except that they, as a body, had more power. They appointed marshals, constables, justices of the peace, assessors, collectors of taxes, road supervisors for each precinct, pond keepers, and they levied taxes. The tax collectors went out to collect the taxes, and sometimes in tough cases had to take the marshal with them. After statehood was granted to Utah in 1896, the judicial system changed, and a commission form of government as today was begun. The three selectmen then became the county commissioners.

LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY


The first settlers to the Park Valley area brought small herds of cattle, sheep and horses with them.1 These herds were an integral part of typical farms of the time. Tax records1, collected first in 1879, indicated a total of 147 cattle, 202 sheep, and 78 horses. These records list only those who paid taxes and therefor may not be complete. Reports1 between 1879 and 1920 show considerable increases:
YEAR CATTLE SHEEP HORSES
1879 147 202 78
1890 369 700 135
1900 934 1050 128
1910 786 4385 (none given)
1920 2079 5285 242


No reason is known for the fluctuation in cattle. Sheep numbers during this period, however, steadily increased. The mountains to the north were used for summer ranges, while during the winter months the cattle were fed hay cut from the natural meadows found growing around the numerous springs throughout the valley. As the herds increased in size, winter ranges to the south of the valley were used. This was especially true for the sheep herds, as they increased in importance. In 1881 John W. Kerr trailed a large herd of sheep eastward from California to the Bear River Valley. About 1882 John P. Lind crought a large herd of cattle from Grantsville to Lind, Utah.35 Others in the Communities to the east and into Idaho kept large herds of sheep24 As the sheep industry increased from a sheep and cattle boom in the 1880's on through the 1890's, large herds of sheep and also some cattle, were trailed through the valley from other northern Utah communities, from Idaho, Wyoming, and some say even from Montana while on their way to the deserts to the south.The large herds moved, grazing as they went, to winter desert ranges to the south of the valley and into Nevada. One company alone, the Lindsay Company1, would trail 25-30 sheep herds through; each herd consisting of approximately a thousand head of sheep. Herds in the valley also increased as settlers either bought from herds passing through, or from picking up stragglers left behind.
In 1886 the Promontory Ranch Company, organized by Charles Crocker, a promoter of the Central Pacific Railroad Company, gained control of all the land extending from Snowville on the North to Promontory Point on the south, and from Penrose on the east to Park Valley in the west. This area was obtained because of Charles Crocker’s stock in the railroad company, which gained its rights from congress to alternating sections for twenty miles on either side of the railroad right of way. He established his headquarters at “The Big House” just a mile north of the Promontory Station. His brand was known as the Bar M25. The Promontory Ranch Company stocked their land with 45,000 head of cattle. Some of them were summered in Idaho. However, the winter of 1886-1887 was very hard, and the company lost 30, 000 head of cattle, bankrupting the company. For many years after their skeletons were piled 3 and 4 deep in the ravines and scattered about.25 Crocker sold his ranch to the Promontory, Curlew Land Company, which was financed by capital from David Eccles.
In the summer of 1887, 6,000 head of cattle were purchased from Fussell and Bradley in Nevada and trailed into Utah. Daddie Andreason said he used the hot iron constantly, working long days for more than three weeks to get all those cattle branded.25 In the early 1890s the Bonnemont Sheep Company were keeping herds in the Dove Creek Mountains to the west of the valley. Chubb Canfield and Johnny Ango were their herders. One of the early sheepherders in the valley was a chinaman, Hong Luy. He had been one of the gang of chinese workmen building the railroad through Terrace. After the railroad was finished, he stayed in the area and eventually hired out as a sheepherder.20 The sheep industry reached it’s peak in the 1920's, with everyone in the valley owning at least a small herd, and some even 2 or 3 complete herds. There were from 10-15 herds of sheep owned by valley stockmen alone within this period1. Sheepmen to the west of the valley, at Lynn and Junction, kept a sheering corral and a dipping vat on the head of Dove Creek. Ed Bonnemotte built a sheering corral on the head of Muddy Creek. 35 It was said that there was a sheep camp on every hill. Herders would gather during the heat of the day while sheep were shaded up, and would play horseshoes or otherwise socialize. At the same time there were also large numbers of cattle within the valley. The most famous cattle outfit to have used the valley was that of Miller and Lux1. They were a large company with outfits throughout the western states. They ranged mostly on the south and east of the valley, totaling approximately ten thousand head of cattle. They would trail herds, grazing as they went, in a large circle from California and back again. Cattle were left horned, and were not sold until they were three or four years old. Several stockmen in the valley also attained fairly large numbers of cattle. There were up to ten or twelve thousand head within the area at one time1. At times there was some friction between the cattlemen and the sheep men, but it never reached any great proportions. E. Ray Morris reported having once heard shooting in the hills to the south1,6. Upon investigating the cause, he found the sheep men on the hills and the cattlemen in the draws. Every time one moved, they would blast away with their guns, but no one was hurt. In another clash, one stockman, John Blith, was shot, resulting in a limp for the rest of his life1. A sheep man, Joe Burton, was once threatened to be dragged behind a horse1. When settlers came to Lynn, Utah to the west of the valley, the lands upon which they homesteaded were claimed by larger cattle owners on the lower Raft River in Idaho. They tried to force the settlers to leave. John Lind had his home burned to the ground in the fall of 1885, but the settlers stayed and made their claims stick.35 These incidents, though, appear to have been minor differences, and no range wars ever ensued.
Moroni Coleman brought cattle into the valley and fenced some land and built a high cupola (tower) in the center where he could look out over the country. In spite of all his precautions, most of the cattle were stolen9. When the first settlers arrived there were also wild horse herds in the hills to the west, and near Black Pine Mountain to the east. Pete and Andrew Larsen, who lived not in the valley, but in Lynn, Utah to the west, kept a large herd of horses on the head of Dove Creek and in the south Junction valley. Most ranchers, however, only kept enough horses to operate their ranches.35 At first everyone ran livestock wherever they wanted to. The only fences were around homesteads. There were no controls, and forage seemed to be plentiful. The forage was considered the right of whoever got there first. By the 1920's, the large numbers of sheep and cattle had already begun taking their toll on the range. The bunchgrass began to disappear and the sagebrush began to grow in its place. The livestock numbers started to decline. The range simply could not support so many livestock, and was being seriously depleted. At first few could see it. However sagebrush and Juniper began to increase to a great extent. Most of the grass of the lower ranges was killed out. Feed started to become scarce. Noxious weeds, such as halogeton, increased and took their toll. At one time John Ward from the Snowville area lost over 900 head from poisioning1. Dry years and tough winters also caused heavy losses. Snow was reported to have reached a depth of three feet on the level, whereas normally it only reached one foot. Sheep became drifted under and had to be dug out. Many were lost in the heavy snow. Hay had to be purchased and brought in by train to feed them. Herds numbering several thousand were lost during these winters.
Predators were always a threat to the stock raiser, and losses from them were quite common. [When did predator control measures begin?] Disease also quite often took a heavy toll of numbers. James N. Morris lost most of a herd of sheep to Foot-and-Mouth Disease1. Others also experienced significant losses. During the Depression the Government bought all good stock for $20.00 a head. Rejects were also bought, but for $8.00 a head, and were just taken out and disposed of. The government also bought the property of many homesteaders. During the summer of 1940, half of the herd of sheep of Roy Pugsley’s was killed during a lightning storm1. Lightning actually hit it twice. During the first strike, the herd was split in half. During the second strike, about half the herd was killed, or about 1000 head of sheep.5 There were also herds of wild horses found in the hills to the west, and also on Black Pine Mountain to the east. In 1907 the government established the Forest Service Program. The Forest Service boundaries were set and permits were sold to individual stockmen. A fee was charged for grazing sheep and cattle. The fee was 55 cents per head, plus 8 pounds of salt, which was placed out for the benefit of the cattle. Originally each permit holder was allowed to turn 60 head of cattle on the Forest for a period of six months, from May 1st to October 31st. The range then began to be managed and limits set to the amount of cattle to prevent further overgrazing. Most people agree, however, that the most single important cause for the decline in livestock numbers was the enactment of the Taylor Grazing Act. Grazing districts were set up with an advisory board consisting of 18 local stockmen. Park Valley was represented on the board by Charles E. Kunzler and Roy P. Pugsley. Roy was appointed as one of the range riders.
Through the Taylor Grazing Act, livestock numbers were decreased to what the range could efficiently carry. This act often put the smaller operators out of business. When allotments for grazing permits on public lands were granted, they were based on existing herd size, and then reduced to reflect the actual carrying capacity of the range. The small operator often received an allotment number from which he could not maintain and economically viable operation. If he did not have enough private land, or could not obtain it, he was forced to sell out. At first, allotments were seldom checked by the ranger, so trespassing was quite common. Stockmen ran more cattle than was their reserve right. Some feel that this did more to injure and deplete the range than any one thing. Later, as allotment numbers were better enforced, some lost all their reserve rights because of repeated refusal to control their numbers and refusal to adhere to regulations. Three wells were drilled near Park Valley by the Drought Relief Board, which were turned over to the Taylor Grazing Service for stock watering. These wells ranged in depth from 100 to 300 feet deep, and were powered by gasoline engines. Federal lands were fenced in the early 1940's, and most private lands were fenced in the late 1940s and the 1950s. This removed the last of the open ranges. Again, without the open range, the stockmen had to either obtain private grazing lands or rely on a good Federal land grazing allotment. Since this was not always possible, it also helped to reduce livestock numbers. Eventually, almost all sheep herds were sold out, leaving only Max Kunzler’s one remaining sheep herd within the valley. Most ranchers kept a few sheep within the pastures surrounding the ranches themselves, but Max’s herd was the only remaining free-ranging herd operating for many years. Eventually LeGrand Morris returned to the sheep business with a herd about the 1980s, renting grazing south into the desert in winter and summering east of Mantua, above Brigham City. During the same time the sheep were declining, the beef cattle industry reverted back to the way they were during the early settlement period. Cattle were grazed on the mountains above during the summer and fed hay or supplements during the winter months. Those with Federal land allotments grazed cattle on the forest service land during the summer. Very few had winter range to the desert in the south that permitted them to graze on the range during the winter. A group of ranchers pooled their resources and leased several sections of land from the railroad. This land they later were able to purchase from the railroad. After the open range became fenced, range improvement projects began. The Park Valley Herford (Livestock) Association was formed during the 1940s by a group of Park Valley Ranchers1. With the use of fences, ranchers started using proper stocking rates, rotating livestock, and resting some pastures. Brush and Juniper control began, slowly at first, but gradually increasing. Water resources were developed to evenly distribute livestock utilization of the range. As these measures increased, the available forage increased and livestock numbers stopped declining and regained in strength from their serious declines of the 1920s. As the use of irrigation increased, along with the production of hay, the possibility of wintering more livestock also increased. As deeper wells were drilled at Kelton and on the lower Dove Creek, the production of hay increased significantly. During the winter of 1969-1970 Jerry and Al Morgan constructed a feed mill on the Kelton Flat that chopped they alfalfa hay and pressed into pellets for cattle feed.11

THE CHINESE HERDERS

Earl Morris told the story, “We had a Chinese sheepherder by the name of Hong Luy working for us and I wanted to see him. So I left my flocks some distance away and went to his camp, which made him very angry. He thought I was getting my herd too close. I told him not to worry, that my flock was not near his. He said, “Damn fool kid, you no fool `em my long eye,” meaning his field glasses. He was a very good sheep herder. He kept such good check of his herd that he could tell if one was missing out of 2,000. He could tell if one had died or had been killed by coyotes. He worked for us for many years. He always wore a cue, his hair braided, and rolled up on his head. he used to get out just as the sun was coming up and he used to say, “Damn fool kid, what’s the matter with you?” He used to watch the clouds certain times of the year and predict the weather, and he was often quite right.33 He used to find the sage hen’s nest in the spring and then watch them for a while until the chicks had developed to a certain point. Then he would take the egg with the quite developed, but yet unhatched chick and eat it raw, whereupon he would exclaim, “Um, chicky, he heap good!”5 Ray Morris told of visiting him one time to find him rolling around on the ground groaning. When he asked what was the matter the Chinese man replied, “Too much of the black chick.” He had caught some crows and had eaten them.6
FARM AND HOME ENTERPRISES

The early settlers used all forms of husbandry to care for their families. They planted gardens and orchards. They planted and harvested their own grains. They butchered their own animals and learned to care for the meat so that it would not spoil. They preserved their own fruits and vegetables for winter. Each family had a root cellar adjacent to the home where they stored potatoes, carrots, beets, parsnips, turnips, onions, and cabbages. They kept at least one cow for milk for the family. They kept chickens for eggs and for their meat. They also kept some sheep and calves for meat. Most families kept a hive or two of bees for honey. Earl Morris, the son of James N. Morris, wrote, “One time as we (my father and I) were out mending fencce. All at once my father began beating the fence with the hammer, yelling with all his might, and looked at the sky. I thought for sure he had suddenly lost his mind. When I looked to see what he was looking at I discovered there was a large swarm of bees going overhead. The noise my father was making checked them in their flight and they came down and settled on the limb of a cedar tree, a short distance away. He sent me home about a half mile distance to get a box. He brushed the bees off into the box and we took them home. He seemed to be able to go among them and they did not harm him but I am telling you I kept my distance and did not trust them. By this method be came to acquire twenty hives of bees.”33 Each family kept a few pigs. They served several purposes. Some were sold to provided ready cash for the family’s needs. They were the beneficiaries of all the table scraps and garden waste. They also provided the family bacon throughout the year. The process to cure the bacon was a family affair, almost like a festival. A large 55 gallon barrel was filled with water and a fire was lit underneath to heat it to a boil. Such a large volume of water seemed to take forever to boil, but when it finally was ready, the pig, which had already been killed and cleaned, was hoisted into the air with a derrick or some other overhead pulley and rope, and was then dunked into the hot water. This loosened the coarse bristles on the pig, which could then be easily scraped off. The pig was then butchered and quartered. The quarters were hung in a smokehouse, a small building that was made as airtight as possible. A potbellied stove was set beside the smokehouse with the chinmey pipe running into it. A fire was kept burning it the stove for several days. In time the heat and the smoke “cured” the pork into very fine bacon, which then was hung in a sack cloth in as cool a place as possible and could be used a little at a time as the family needed.

THE RAILROAD

While the railroad coming to Utah did not pass directly through the valley, its proximity played an important part in the settlement and development of the area. Even before the rails were joined a Promontory on 10 MAY 1869 the effect of the railroad on Park Valley had begun. At first the railroad companies were granted by congress, for their efforts in creating the transcontinental road as a benefit to the entire nation, the rights to alternating sections of land for twenty miles on either side of the railroad bed. In many cases the railroad sold this land to settlers at beneficial prices to both, which greatly aided in the settlement of the west. In the Bear River Valley Alexander Toponce purchased 52,000 acres from the Central Pacific Rail Road Company for $1.25 per acre.24 Even beyond the twenty mile limit, just the expectation of the proximity of the railroad spurred economic growth and activity. Prior to the railroad, not many settlers had pushed their holdings beyond the Bear River. After the driving of the Golden Spike, expansion mushroomed westward toward Park Valley. Ranches were established at many locations such as the Dilly Ranch owned by Burt and Lonigan. Another was the Hillside Ranch at Blue Creek owned by L.C. Lee, which was an extensive horse business for several years. Many of their horses escaped and joined wild horse bands estending from Promontory to the hills of western Box Elder County and into Idaho. Other ranches were the Old Fort Ranch at southwest Promontory, the Rock House north and west of Snowville, at Curlew Sinks, at Locomotive Springs. Charles Crocker established “The Big House” a mile north of the Promontory Station and soon acquired the Dilly Ranch. His Bar M brand soon became well known in Box Elder County. Many communities sprang up such as Snowville, Clear Creek, Stanrod, Park Valley, Grouse Creek, George Creek, Yost.25 It is not known if any of the early settlers in Park Valley purchased their property from the railroad, or if they first homesteaded the alternate sections of government lands. At any rate, if they did not originally settle on railroad property, many people soon bought land from the railroad. Also before the completion of the rails, the construction of the railroad brought many workers and support people into the area. All along the right-of-way camps were built to facilitate construction. Some of them were only temporary but others lasted for quite a period of time. During the winter of 1868 and 1869 there were 10,000 men located between Kelton and Ogden.41
After the completion of the rails, the trains provided much more convenient and easier transportation. It also brought the conveniences of civilization, with doctors and hospital, goods and services, with in reach of a widely scattered region which would have, at the very least, taken much longer to attract settlers than if the railroad had not passed through. As the valley was settled following the arrival of the railroad, the transportation of supplies as well as goods going to market was greatly facilitated.11 Kelton and Terrace became important railroad terminals. As they increased in size and importance, the produce from the farms and ranches in the valley supplied the growing populace. Beef, pork, eggs, milk, butter, cheese, and vegetables were marketed in the railroad towns. During at least one year, James Newberry Morris raised a large field of onions on his farm in Rosette which he hauled to Terrace to market. He was thereafter known as “the onion man.”11 The coming of the railroad began the settlement of the Park Valley area. First of all, the Railroad was granted alternating sections for 20 miles on either side of the railroad right of way. To obtain it, they first had to survey it. At the same time, needing cash, began offering land to settlers.
In the beginning the railroad was predicted to continue on from Kelton into Idaho. It was anticipated so much that the residents in the surrounding communities graded several miles of railroad bed. As the grade reached Strevell, a terminus was planned and an elaborate hotel was built to accommodate the anticipated passengers. The grade continued northward for some ways into Idaho.12 By 1873 Pocatello was competing with Kelton as the railroad point for Boise.24 Eventually, however, the decision was made to take the railroad northward from Brigham City through Pocatello instead of Kelton, and the dream for a northern extension from Kelton died.

FREIGHTING INDUSTRY

The completion of the railroad at Promontory made the budding town of Kelton a terminal for goods being shipped north into Idaho, principally to the Boise area. Several early settlers in park Valley engaged in freighting for the quick cash it provided them for goods for their homesteads in the Valley.

MINING INDUSTRY

Early in the 1890s Chubb Canefield and Johnny Ango were herding sheep for the Bonnemont Sheep Company in the hills about ten miles west of Park Valley. Both men were intrigued with some of the rock formations. As they studied the rocks, they noticed signs of mineral content. After some digging they were convinced that mineral deposits existed in the hills. When the sheep were moved, the two men quit and remained behind. They chose a spot to dig and built a cabin nearby. They began a small underground tunnel, and collected some promising looking samples. The two men made a trip to Salt Lake City to have the samples assayed. The assay report results showed a fair amount of gold, with smaller amounts of lead and silver. After finding someone to “grub stake” them, the two men returned to the valley and commenced serious digging9. The mine was named the Century Mine. Additional machinery and financing soon became necessary. Men with money and larger interests moved in an soon a mill and machinery were installed. Tunneling on a larger scale began to follow the rich main veins of ore. Canfield and Ango left without realizing much financial gain, and their interests were taken over by businessmen from Salt Lake. It wasn’t long until a small town “mushroomed” into existence in the Century canyon, named after the Century Mine. Many log cabins were built to house the growing number of miners and workers. Then shops, an assay office, a store, a post office, several saloons, a cook shack, and other buildings were built and the mining town of “Golden” was born. One of the saloons became known as the “Hurry Back Saloon,” acquiring the name because some of the freighters and teamsters passing by it on the way up the creek to unload their loads of coal and supplies passed it to dump their loads and hurried back to the saloon. A little later the West Century Mine, a little higher up the hill was developed. The Golconda, the Buffalo, The Susannah, and other mines soon followed. The Susannah Mine was named after Susannah Booth, who was a cousin to Verna Carter.20 In fact, there is hardly a canyon in the Raft River and Black Pine Mountains that does not have numerous mine dumps where prospectors attempted their luck at striking it rich.
There were three levels to the Century Mine. Ore was first hauled from the second, or middle level and the third, or top level, down the steep hillside by teams of horses and wagons. Underground water became a problem and a continuous hindrance with which they had to contend. As the water problem continued, they came down to a level with the mill and drove a new level, the first level. The water problem still continued, especially when they began making shafts between the levels. The water was an advantage, however, as larger mills were added. Water for the large boilers in the mills and the sluicing beds was piped about ½ mile down the hill from the West Century Mine and from the upper levels. As the mining operation increased a larger new five-stamp mill was built about 1000 feet south of the original smaller mill. This mill was powered by steam and large boilers and much heavy equipment needed to be installed. The boilers each weighed over seven tons. A drive wheel of over twelve feet in diameter was required. Great difficulties were encountered in moving this heavy equipment. These heavy pieces of equipment were first shipped on a flat car on the railroad to Terrace, which was about fifty miles to the south. A special wagon was constructed, 3 and 3/4 sized, to haul the equipment to the mine. It was pulled by a team of 16 horses. The trip to the mine was slow and laborious. When they got within three miles of the mine, the road became too steep for the horses to pull the heavy wagon. The equipment was reloaded onto bob-sleighs, which then required 30 head of horses to pull it up the steep and rocky road. Sometimes the sleighs would drop through the snow onto the rocks underneath. Then they would jack up the sleigh and skid them on planks to get the sleigh off the rocks. When the larger mill was finished, the large boilers supplied power to different parts of the mill. Coal was the principal source of fuel for the boilers, but cord wood was also used, and was cut in the surrounding area. This mill crushed the rock much faster, as it was brought from the tunnels. The minerals were separated from the waste material and was made in to concentrate, or bricks. Many of these bricks were concealed under the seats of wagons leaving the mine. Many of these were in wagons trains in which the wagons were pulled by two, four, and six teams; which hauled coal and the mail to the mines from Terrace or Kelton. “Most any time of day” these wagon trains could be seen slowly pulling their loads of coal and supplies toe the mine, and taking ore concentrate back to the railroad. The opening of the mining industry greatly added to the economy of the valley. It provided work for many of the men, as well as a close market for the vegetables, eggs, fresh churned butter, milk, meat, and fruit from the ranches. Some of the local men haired to freight supplies to and from the mines were James W. Palmer, and his sons James and Joseph, David James and his sons, William and Amasa Callahan and their sons. The mines remained prosperous for many years, but at last they began to dwindle as the ore veins began to be pinched out. It was estimated that a fault in the earth’s crust had at some time slipped and hidden the main rich veins of ore deep away from the miners reach. The mining operations gradually began to decrease until finally it stopped altogether and Golden became a true ghost town. Before then, some unknown millions of dollars worth of principally gold were removed from the mines. The ghost town of Golden didn’t remain empty and quiet for too long. Many of the buildings and equipment made its way to the ranches in the valley to become building material for additional barns and outbuildings. About this time Johnny Ango returned, by now a much older man, and began living in his old original cabin again. he spent several years there and finally one spring after the snows began to melt his frozen body was found in his cabin.
In 1929 and 1930 John Marshall headed a new group which called themselves The Century Consolidated Mining and Milling Company. They leased the mine holdings, opened the tunnels and tried, with more modern machinery, to pick up the lost and elusive veins. They explored above and below the old main strata, drove new stapes and drifts, and found some smaller deposits, but were never able to locate the main vein. Because of the low content of the ore found, it was not long until it was considered an unprofitable venture, and again the workers left and the mines once again abandoned. Gradually even the old mills were torn down piece by piece by individuals trying to find any gold which may have fallen among the timbers or lost in the sluicing beds.

BOX ELDER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Paraphrasing the minutes from the Box Elder County Courthouse Record, in the 1890s, there were 21 districts in the county. The county was served by five men known as County Superintendents. They were J.D. Peters, F.WW. Fishburn, Nephi Anderson, Angus Vance, and A.E. Jensen.11 In 1902 Box Elder County Superintendent Nephi Anderson, in his annual report to the county commissioners called for county consolidation of school districts. It was hard to divide the county to make equal distribution of funds. The Box Elder County School District was conceived on May 10, 1907, when the citizens of the county petitioned the Board of the County Commissioners to consolidate the county schools. This petition was passed and granted by the Commissioners on June 20, 1907. The county commissioners fixed the boundaries for five school districts in the county. They then appointed the following Board of Education members from the respective districts. Precinct #1, Charles Kimber; Precinct #2, Charles W. Hall of Portage; Precinct #3, Peter M. Hansen; Precinct #4, Clark Hubbard; Precinct #5, Frank W. Fishburn. The clerk was instructed to communicate with all the trustees of the local school districts, of which there were about 30 in number, to have them immediately execute and deliver to the board of Education, the necessary legal deeds for transfer of all school property to their charge, together with all monies, bills, accounts, bonds, debts, and obligations. An inventory was required of all school supplies and articles of school property showing the numbers and kinds of school buildings, the names and addresses of the teachers employed for the coming year, together with the amount of salary agreed to be paid. Each board member was instructed to see that a school census was obtained in their respective districts. On August 13, 1907 A.E.Jensen was named the Superintendent of Schools. The schools of Box Elder County that were turned over to the Board of Education in 1907 were:
Appledale Grouse Creek Salt Creek Bear River Garland Snowville Beaver Dam Garland North Thatcher Booth Valley Honeyville Terrace Bonita Junction Tremonton Blue Creek Kelton Union Clear Creek Lakeside Willard Central or South Collinston Mantua Willard North (closed in 1908) Dewey (Deweyville) Perry Washakie Elwood Park Valley Yost Elwood North Point Lookout Brigham City High School (academy) Elwood South Portage West Central (Brigham 1st Ward) Etna Plymouth Whittier (Brigham 2nd Ward) Evans Promontory East Emerson (Brigham 3rd Ward) East Garland (Sunset) Penrose Columbia (Brigham 4th Ward) Fielding Rosette Webster School Fruitville Riverside

Also listed were the schools at Calls Fort, which was not used since students were taken by wagon to Honeyville; and at Rowerville, whose name was changed to Bothwell on May 1, 1912. In 1912, several new schools were built. They were Lucin, Lincoln, Muddy, Lafant, or the Russian Village School, Wheatland, and Upper Blue Creek. It was reported on February 25, 1908 that the County School Board was having a lot of trouble keeping children in school. On September 9, 1909 a truant officer was appointed, Mr. Joseph Lilywhite, who was paid $2.00 per day and expenses for actual services. On September 16, 1910 it was decided to enforce the law which provided for thirty weeks attendance on the part of children between the ages of eight and sixteen, and to instruct the truant officers to see that these provisions were enforces and lived up to, unless under special circumstances, as also provided by law. School Board members appointed by the county commissioners for the five districts were set to expired on December 31, 1908. It was decided to start on an alternate plan, in which three districts vote for two year representatives and two districts for four year representatives. The first general school election was held on the first Wednesday in December in 1908, for the election of five members to the Board of Education. On June 5, 1909, the first order of business taken up by the new board was the matter of organization. All the motions and voting of the Board of Education were as follows: District #1, Charles Kimber, 2 years; District #2, T.F. Coombs, 4 years, building and Grounds; District #3, Peter M. Hansen, 2 years, President; District #4, James M. White, 4 years; District #5, John W. Peters, 2 years, Vice President. Hyrum W. Valentine was appointed clerk. He resigned on June 10, 1909 and became the superintendent of schools. Ernest P. Horsley was then named clerk. J.D. Call was appointed treasurer. A.E. Jensen was retained as superintendent until June 10, 1909 because he was named by the previous Board to serve to that date. On January 12, 1911 the third County Board of Education took over, with the following officers: District #1, E.H. Jones; District #2, Coombs, President; District #3, P.M. Hansen; District #4, James M. White, Vice President; District #5, F.W. Fishburn. On February 23, 1911, County Superintendent Valentine read a letter to the Board received from governor Spry and State Superintendent of Schools, A.C.Nelson asking for a donation of ten cents from each school student for the purchase of a silver service set for the battleship “Utah.” Upon motion, it was duly carried, and Supt. Valentine was authorized to give the school children of each district the privilege of contributing ten cents each. On April 4, 1911 the Judges of Election for the School Board had a special election for a 3 mill tax increase on property. It was defeated county wide by a vote of 338 to 457, but it didn’t do any good because the Board of Education, through the County Commissioners, and by State Law, levied a 4 mill tax on property for school funds. In 1911 the State abolished the Common Drinking Cup, which was a dipper that hung on a bucket of water at the school, and everybody used it to dip a drink from the bucket. At the Park Valley School, the students usually brought water from home in a bottle. They also went out into the field west of the school and drank from a spring of water that was there.
For the election of December 1912, G.R. Coombs and Mr. Walker were nominated. Coombs was elected, and on January 8, 1913 President Coombs announced that the first order of business was to reorganize the Board of Education. It was moved and duly carried that the rules be suspended, and that Mr. Coombs be elected President of the Board by acclamation. By unanimous vote, T.F. Coombs [were T.F. and G.R. separate individuals?] was made President of the Board. Upon motion, duly seconded and carried, E.H. Jones of Kelton was made Vice President. On April 9, 1913 it was moved and duly carried that it be the consensus of the Board of Education, that principals of the schools be instructed to make Arbor Day a general clean up day, and that if teams were not furnished voluntarily to haul off the rubbish, the Board would OK payment claims for the teams that were necessary. The superintendent was to send a circular letter out at once to this effect. On January 13, 1915 the Board was again reorganized. President T.F. Coombs declined the nomination on the grounds that he felt it should be passed around, giving others equal opportunity to serve.

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

From the very first the people who settled Park Valley had a thirst for knowledge. Even thought most of the first pioneers who came here had very little or no formal schooling, they wanted more for their children. Soon after they arrived a school was started. The first school is thought to have been held in the home of Mr. Jackson. In 1878 the first building for school was built near the present Park Valley school house. This building was used for church, social affairs, and could be used as a fort if necessary, which purpose it fortunately was never needed. During that first year in the new building there were 36 students. William Godfrey and Mr. Jackson were the first teachers.11 In 1888 a new school house was built. It was 32 feet by 18 feet. The old school house was torn down. Some of the children from Rosette walked to this school.11 Again this building was not only the school house, but also the community center as well. In October 25, 1890 bids were let out for the construction of a brick school house. This building became the north room of the school house that stood until ____? There was a long entrance hall on the north end. “Modern outdoor toilets” to match the new school building were built in the northwest corner of the school yard. The first teachers in the new building were Charles M. Olsen and Miss Lottie (Louie) Wixom. A well was dug and trees were planted at the north end of the school yard, just east of the present tennis court. A windmill was put up to pump water from the well. By 1913, the school board offered to sell the windmill. Charles Goodliffe suggested that a gas engine be purchased to pump water for the trees or they would die, which they eventually did.11 The schools at Park Valley and Rosette, including all the area as far south as the Tooele County line, was known as School District #18. E. F. Carter, David Hirschi, and Sarah J. Campbell were the trustees in 1904, when Joseph Burton deeded the land on which the school house stood to the School District.11 On August 15, 1907 the land belonging to School District #18 was deeded to the Box Elder County School District by the District Trustees, Jacob Kunzler, Charles M. Olsen, and David Hirschi.11 After this, each school in the county had an appointed Supervisor who resided in the area. The Supervisors of the Park Valley School were David Hirschi, Newton Woodruff, Joseph Burton, and Charles W. Goodliffe.11 In 1907 teachers were paid $50.00 per month.11 It is thought that at the Park Valley School the west room and hall were built and first used in 190815 or 190911. There was a sliding door between the two rooms, and the original hall on the north became a book storage room.11
In 1920 a third teacher was added to the Park Valley School. The three teachers were William Nish, Zelphia Simons, and LaVon Green. The north room was for the first, second, and third grades. The fourth, fifth, and sixth grades used the hall. The seventh, eighth, and ninth grades used the west room. A third room was added on the east and was first used in the fall of 1921. The entrance was now on the south instead of the east. There was a large cement slab in front for the students to line up on before they entered the building for classes.11 Verna Tracey describes the schoolas having, “narrow slats around the bottom of all the rooms and the hall. The top was painted a lighter color. There was no carpet and the floors were oiled. If you fell down, you got mighty greasy.”15 In October of 1925 the Mecham family gave a deed to the School Board to allow water to be piped from their spring located about a mile north of the school house. Indoor toilets were added to the school and an outdoor hydrant was installed. Between 1935 and 1940 there was again water trouble at the school because the pipeline from Mecham’s Spring had rusted and became unusable. Some of the time water was carried by the older boys from the hotel in a ten gallon can which had a spigot at the bottom. A well was dug on the west side of the school house in 1953 which was equipped with a gas motor to pump the water. There wasn’t enough water in the well, so in 1954-1955 the well was drilled deeper.11 The original fence around the school yard was a board fence that was said to have been mostly used to walk upon. By 1950 it had been torn down partly and many of the boards were broken, so a new fence was built and extended to include the well.11 Again in 1954 the school house was remodeled. New floors were laid down, the front entrance was added, the kitchen was built on, the rest rooms and the janitor closet was changed and modernized, and the original hall on the north side became a sick bay and storage area. The retaining wall in front was built and dirt was pushed in for the lawn. The lawn was planted in 1957.11 The area in front of the school was blacktopped in 1966. At recess the school children played, as most children do, ball games, duck-on-the-rock, tippy, marbles, annie-over, tag, etc. Being at a rural school gave recess other advantages. If a cow came close the boys would drive her into the school yard and attempt to ride her. The hour long lunch period allowed time for magpie egg hunts in the spring, chasing lizards or rabbits, and even building small bonfires in the sagebrush to work on scout cooking requirements. There were many arrowhead hunts conducted in the sagebrush surrounding the school yard. The board teeter-totter and the high rope swing were probably the first playground equipment. The metal swing set was bought in 1948. The tennis court was built in 1949. In 1957 the P.T.A. gave the school the merry-go-round, the jungle-gym, the slippery slide, and the horizontal ladder. In the early years the building was heated with a large pot-bellied stove in each room. The wood was supplied by the men in the valley. In 1912 Archie Holtman was hired to furnish wood at $4.50 per cord. It needed to be properly racked and not have too much green in it. Later coal was hauled from the railroad at Kelton.11 Verna Tracey remembers a coal shed sitting to the side of the school house.15 In 1936 the coal furnace was installed. In 1969 a new gas furnace was installed, and new windows were put in the west and east rooms to cut down on the draft and improve insulation.11 In the beginning the janitorial work was done by the teachers, with the help of the students. When a janitor was first hired, they were paid $4.00 or $5.00 a month. Among the janitors names found were:
Joseph Burton Minnie Burton Marie Goodliffe Thelma Hatch Pamela Barlow Varley Dutson Lorin Dutson Walter Funk Ira Burton “Bish” Hastings Iven Burton John Vance Antonio and Mary Olague Kay and Clarene Carter Antonio and Lillian Olague Calvin and Lois Larsen Lynn Palmer
In 1940 the number of students had decreased, and there was a teacher shortage, and Park Valley was again made into a two teacher school. In 1943 the ninth and tenth grade students went “away” to school. It is thought that was probably for just a couple of years, and then the ninth and tenth grades stayed at Park Valley ever afterward. After the tenth grade, however, students have to go “away” to finish high school. When the school lunch program started, the north room became the lunch room. Mrs. Annie Mecham was the first school cook. Those who have been cooks since include:



A history of the Park Valley School wouldn’t be complete with out a mention of the track meets. A track meet featured competitions of the main track and field events, high jump, broad jump, shot put, individual races, and relay races. The often ended the day with a softball game. The track meets started about 1933, and were held with Park Valley, Grouse Creek, Yost, and Snowville, and even Howell competing. They have continued to the present with the exception of a few years during World War II. Many cherished a track meet ribbon or remember a track meet dance or ball game. The school play was another event not to be forgotten. it is traditional that there be a play at Christmas time and again at the end of the school year. It was a social event for the entire community, with the school children presenting the entertainment. It was often a play, but also used were skits, songs, dances, operettas, and talks.
A May Walk was also a must. For the whole day the students and teachers would hike to the canyons and return, tired and dirty, covered with wood ticks, but happy. In the early days they walked from the school house, with no bus to take them to the mouth of the canyon. Those who returned from the May Walk to help fight fire that burned John Carter’s shed would remember it. And those who went on a May Walk when the teacher said “no” should remember how long it took to copy the pages of fine print in the back of their biology book.11 On Tuesday, May 4, 1993 the Box Elder School District Board passed a $28.5 million bond issue permitting two aging schools to be replaced. One of them was the Lincoln Elementary School in Brigham City, and the other Park Valley School. The new Park Valley School was planned to be smaller, but better fitted for technology and providing better amenities that the old school.15

TEACHERS AT THE PARK VALLEY SCHOOL



Kindergarten was held for the first time in Park Valley from January to May in 1970. 19??-19?? Carol Spackman (Principal), Carrie Hedahl, Don Wilson, Shelly Kunzler There were other teachers names known, but it is not known when they taught. They include: Walter Wilcox, Miss Knoss, Mr. Dual, and J.W. Thorton.

THE ROSETTE SCHOOL

The first school house in Rosette was built in 1890 in the meadow between Henry Kunzler’s and Pugsley’s places. Ten or twelve students attended that year, and Maggie Rohwer was the teacher. Another early teacher was Lottie Wixom or Jensen. Between 1890 and 1892 a new building was constructed on Section 27 of railroad land, where the bricks can still be seen. It was built on the same plan as the Park Valley School. James Morris built the building from bricks he made in Campbell’s field, south of the Max Kunzler home. This one-room school was used for church, parties, and dances also. Lorenzo Larsen was probably the first teacher to use this building, and he taught for five years. His students were Emma Hirschi, Pauline Kunzler, Josephine Campbell, Julia Raleigh, Mary Jane Callahan, Charlotte Campbell, Caroline Campbell, Rose Hirschi, Henry Kunzler, William Kunzler, Cornelius Campbell, Julia Campbell, Louise Kunzler, Margaret Callahan, Eva Callahan, Grace Raleigh, Eliza Shipback, Mary Kunzler, Lilias Morris, Frank Armstrong, William Morris, Earl Morris, James Yates, Frederick Hirschi, David Yates, Leo Yates, Ruby Campbell, Alonzo Campbell, Walter Campbell, Raleigh Campbell, and Mary Yates. In 1906 the other room and east entrance hall were built. The carpenters on this addition were William (Billy) Newman and Mr. Barnes from Stanrod, Idaho. F.E.(Frank) Carter hauled the large sandstone rocks that were used as a foundation from the small hill just south of the school. James Morris made the bricks in Rosen Valley, and they were hauled by Will Eckersley and Henry Kunzler. There was a belfry on it and also on the Park Valley School. Each bell had a different tone, and could be heard for many miles. It is not known where they went after they were removed from the schools. In April of 1910 it school board decided to send the upper grades from Rosette to Park Valley. There must have been quite a controversy over it because in September 1910, the school board couldn’t get a van driver and the people in Rosette said they would rather have a mixed school than to send their children to Park Valley. It apparently was settled this way because in 1911 the teacher, Margaret Nelson, was teaching the eighth grade in Rosette. In 1914 and 1915 the school board was wondering about another teacher in Rosette. Could they have meant a third teacher? In 1916 the older students went to Park Valley in a white topped buggy driven by Leland (Jim) Seely. By 1917 the population was going down, but they still had two teachers. From then on there was only one teacher, and the older students went to Park Valley in a buggy. Later the buggy was changed to a car. In the fall of 1930 the Park Valley and Rosette Schools were consolidated and the Rosette students were transported to Park Valley where there were three teachers. Edna Pugsley drove the bus the first three years and also taught school. Then Rudger and Letitia Palmer became the bus drivers and remained so for many years. After them their son Lynn Palmer became the bus driver. During the winter of 1931-1932 the roads became blocked. Instead of the bus a sleigh covered with canvas, similar to the old covered wagons, was used. In the spring the roads were so muddy that a wagon was used. Alma Palmer drove the team on the sleigh and also on the wagon. The Supervisors for the Rosette School were James N. Morris, Jacob Kunzler, and Art M. Seely. Among the janitors were Abraham James, Charles Watts, Harold Watts, Ada Reeves, Leland Seely, Antonio Olague, and David Olague

TEACHERS AT THE ROSETTE SCHOOL



OTHER SCHOOLS

There was a school established at Kelton soon after the railroad was finished. A large school house was built just a little west of town. By 1914 there was talk of closing the school because there were only 9 students. Especially when the Lucin Cutoff was built there was no longer a need for such a large school. As far as we know it did stay open though until 1937. In 1932 the school was being held in the E.H. Jones store, and in 1934 the earthquake knocked the plaster from between the logs and also the chimney was partly knocked down. A Pullman car was moved in and served as the school house.

A few of the teacher’s names, as far as is known, who taught at Kelton were:

There was also a school at Terrace during its boom days, but by 1907 some people in Park Valley were offering to but it for $200. The School Board wanted $300. Some agreement was made, because there is record of payments being made on it, and apparently it was moved to Park Valley. The furniture in it was moved to the Lucin and Muddy Schools. The Lucin School was built in 1907. The first school in Muddy was a log building with a dirt roof. Maye Bower was the first teacher, starting in 1907, and was paid $50 per month for 8 months. She lived with the Larsen family at Rosebud and drove a light wagon to school, taking the Larsen children with her. There were 12 or 15 students in the fall, and more in the winter months when the older boys were not required on the farm and thus had time for book learning.
By 1908 a frame building had been built by a contractor, P.A. Isakson, for about $1000. Miss Bower taught again that year. The next year Annie L. Thompson taught, and then Mrs. Pete Larsen. In the school board minutes the Muddy school was still referred to as the Terrace School. Transportation was a problem at the Muddy School. In 1910 H.P. Larsen was paid $12 per month to transport his seven children the 4 ½ miles to school, and John Warren was paid $8 to transport his seven children the 2 ½ miles. In 1912 Mr. Larsen wanted the school moved to his home, as 12 of the 14 students lived near it. By 1913 the van driver was offered $40 per month for the “Terrace” Route. About 1917 the Muddy School was closed. There was also a school established for the Russian Colony. In August 1914 Harold LaFont had asked for a school there, stating that there were 19 families with 40 school age children. A portable school house was ordered, and by February 1915 it was being put on a foundation. In March the Pacific Land and Water Company offered to pay the teacher if the school would be opened at once. In May blackboards were to be installed before the school opened. The teacher was reported to have been one of the colonists. In November 1915 the school board was wondering if the school should be kept open any longer, because the Russians were moving away. Then in August 1916 the stove from it was sent to the Lucin School. In September it was decided to take the Russian School apart and ship it to North Promontory.

HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION

On August 15, 1908, bids were opened for the building of the Box Elder County High School at Brigham City. The low bid was $27,099. The Box Elder County High School opened for the school year of 1909-10. The entrance fee was $5.00.
A committee met with the school board in January of 1918 and asked for a high school to be established somewhere between Garland and Tremonton. The request was given careful consideration and deferred. In March a petition was presented again for a new high school, but it was again denied. On February 14, 1919 a committee presented their reasons why the Bear River Valley should be granted a high school. On February 28, 1919 another committee was present at the board meeting, and the matter of a high school was discussed, and voted down by a bote of 3 to 2. By this time feelings were getting bad, so the committee then presented their case to higher authorities. State superintendent of schools, Mr. George Thomas, said if the Board of Education does not agree before February 16, 1920 to build the Bear River High School, that he felt a serious effort would be made to cut the county in two. Then President Hoopes said he felt that the high school would be built. Arta M. Seely said he felt that there is no question but what the high school would be built. Communication from State Superintendent Thomas was read, asking the Board to send the Superintendent a written statement to the effect that a Bear River High School building would be erected this season, and that this statement be signed by all the members of the Board. This action finally got results. A resolution was passed to build the Bear River Valley High School with all board members voting yes. A committee was appointed to purchase a suitable site for a campus. The committee reported they had an option from William. A. Poll for ten acres between Garland and Tremonton, and it could be purchased for $3,150. On January 9, 1920 a pencil sketch for the first unit was presented and the architect C.F.Wells was instructed to provide plans and specifications at the next meeting. They were presented and approved. Although the Board had committed to have a building finished by September 1, 1920, they were unable to put it together that year. By September 23, 1921 only one month into the school year, the Superintendent of Schools reported that Bear River High School was overcrowded and needed immediate attention. It was decided to finish the rooms in the basement. Dedicatory services were held January 11, 1922. The LDS Seminary building was erected on the north side of the street in 1924. In 1934 a Science and Home Economics Building was approved with a grant from the Federal Emergency Administration of the Public Works Administration, which was set up to aid in the recovery of the economy under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. It was finished on January 25, 1935. It contained the Economics, Agriculture, and Biology Departments, as well as the library, and a dining room. On July 12, 1935 the Board submitted another application to the P.W.A. for a grant to build a new Auto and Farm Mechanics Building. In October it was approved and was finished by June of 1936. Both grants were for 30% of the building costs. In 1937 the swimming pool addition was added onto the main building. In 1940 the Drivers Training Course was started. In the fall of 1956 the 7th and 8th grades went to the High School, and the Junior High School was organized. They held classes in Old Main until the new Junior High School was finished across the street to the east. Today (1992) the Old Main, the Auditorium and Gym with the Swimming Pool are gone. All that is left is the old heating plant.

RELIGION

In 1855 Apostle Lorenzo Snow, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was called to preside over the Saints in the Box Elder county area. He acted in this position until August 18, 1877, when the Box Elder Stake was organized at the Weber Stake Conference. This new stake included the Willard ward and the wards and branches north of there. At the Box Elder Stake Conference held in Brigham City on February 12, 1888 the Malad Stake, the 26th Stake in the church, was organized; which took away the northern part of the Bear River Valley under the Portage Ward from which the many other wards and branches were organized.. The Park Valley area first fell within the jurisdiction of the Box Elder Stake. The first presiding Elder was Thomas Dunn. He held meetings in his home as early as 1871. Meetings were held in various other homes while Thomas W. Stewart presided, beginning in 1873. When the Stewarts moved away, Moroni Coleman became the temporary presiding Elder. A Sunday School was organized in Park Valley in 1877, with William Godfrey as superintendent.11,16 Park Valley was organized into a ward on July 14, 1879. This was done under the direction of Oliver G. Snow, president of the Box Elder Stake, with the assistance of Arnold Goodliffe, Bishop of Snowville, and others. This probably means that Park Valley was up to this time a Branch of the Ward at Snowville. At this time Erastus D. Mecham was chosen bishop, with Carl J. Rohwer and William Godfrey as counselors.11,16 The entire valley was included in this new ward. They used the log school building for their meetings. A Relief Society was organized on October 21, 1879, with Martha Mecham as president, Charlotte Dunn as first counselor, and Lucy E. Godfrey as second counselor. On August 25, 1881 the Y.W.M.I.A. was organized with Martha M. Burton as president, and Mary Jane Callahan and Margaret E. Gerrard as counselors. After 1888 the Park Valley Ward used the new school house that was 32 feet by 18 feet. By 1889 Rosette had a separate Sunday School, with Jonathan Campbell as Superintendent. Shortly after this there was also and M.I.A. program, with Lorenzo Larsen and James Morris as leaders. After the brick school houses were built, they were used for Church services as well. The meetings were held for one month in Rosette and then for the next month in Park Valley.11 In 1892 William H. Mecham replaced Erastus Mecham as Bishop of the Park Valley Ward. James W. Palmer became the Bishop in 1899.16
On May 22, 1910 the Rosette Ward was organized in the western part of the valley, with Jacob Kunzler as Bishop and James N. Morris and Fred J. Hirschi as counselors. Jesse B. Grover was the Ward Clerk. The Relief Society was organized with Louise Kunzler as president, with Emiline Bartlett and Lottie M. Peterson as counselors. Jesse Grover was named superintendent of the Sunday School with James Morris and Fred J. Hirschi as counselors. The Y.M.M.I.A. officers were Fred J. Hirschi, Jesse B. Grover, and Charles K. Watts. The Y.W.M.I.A. officers were Louise K. Pugsley, Anna Newman, and Pauline K. Cobia. Miss Lilias Morris, with Nellie Ashment and Tina Kunzler were the Primary Officers. Meetings were held in the school house until the chapel was built in 1916.16 In 1912 David Hirschi became the Bishop of the Park Valley Ward. In 1913 Arta NcLain Seely replaced Jacob Kunzler as Bishop of the Rosette Ward.16 The Curlew Stake was organized on 17 MAY 1915, with the headquarters in Holbrook, Idaho. Jonathan C. Cutler was the Stake President. Joseph James Larkin was his first counselor. Brother Larkin’s father, Joseph Smith Larkin, was called to be the Stake Patriarch. Apostle Rudger Clawson was in attendance to organize the stake. The Curlew Stake included the Snowville, Stone, Holbrook, Juniper, Black Pine, Park Valley, and Rosette areas. Some of these, especially the Black Pine Ward were taken from the Malad Stake. By 1916 the school board felt that the church should not longer use their buildings. The decision was made to build their own buildings. The Rosette chapel was built at a cost of $4,500. Shortly before this the Park Valley Ward had bought from Charles W. Goodliffe the large hall that he had built adjoining his store. This was used by the ward as a meeting house and recreational center.11 In 1920 William Nish became the Bishop of the Park Valley Ward.16 On 22 JUN 1922 Jonathan C. Cutler, president of the Curlew Stake, died. At Stake Conference on 6 AUG 1922 the stake was reorganized, with Joseph James Larkin sustained as President. He was set apart by Apostle David O. McKay. Colen H. Sweeten was set apart as first counselor by Apostle Melvin J. Ballard.11 In 1923 Ira J. Burton became the Bishop of the Park Valley Ward.16
At Stake Conference on 19 OCT 1924, attended by Apostles Stephen L. Richards and Melvin J. Ballard, the Stake Presidency was released. Colen H. Sweeten was set apart as Stake President. Joseph James Larkin was ordained Stake Patriarch.11 In the mid 1930's many of the homesteader’s moved away from the area, due to the Depression and to drought. On 11 FEB 1940 the Curlew Stake was dissolved, and the wards belonging to it were attached to the Bear River Stake. Joseph James Larkin continued as Stake Patriarch in the Bear River Stake.11 Probably about that same time Elijah Palmer, though not ordained as bishop, presided over the Park Valley Ward. He served for nine months.16 The Bear River Stake had been organized on October 1, 1908, with Milton Welling as President. Peter M. Hansen was called as first councilor and Joseph Jensen as second councilor. It was the 59th Stake of the church. It took the Beaver, Bothwell, Deweyville, East Garland, Elwood, Garland, and Thatcher Wards from the Box Elder Stake. From the Malad Stake it took Fielding, Plymouth, and Riverside. At first the new stake didn’t have anywhere to meet so the Garland Ward shared the Social Hall that they were then using. They shared the Social Hall until the Stake purchased the old Garland School from the School Board. The Bear River Stake Tabernacle was built in 1914, with a seating capacity of 1200, and at a cost of $55,000. It was added onto the old Garland School. The choir loft and pulpit used to be in the east end of the building, but they were later changed to the west end. The building was dedicated on November 17, 1914 by President Joseph F. Smith. In the spring of 1929 a pipe organ was installed at a cost of $10,794, 50% being paid by the church headquarters. This was the first of its kind in Box Elder County. In 1964 an extensive renovation was undertaken, costing $120,000. Gale Welling was called to be superintendent of the renovation On May 1, 1949 the Bear River Stake was divided, with the people south of the road at Bear River High School being organized into a new South Bear River Stake. It was later changed to the Tremonton Utah Stake. On this day the Stake Presidency consisted of Vernald W. Johns, Robert J. Potter, and Charles J. Wood [which was president?]. The name of the Bear River Stake was officially changed to the Garland Utah Stake on January 14, 1974. On May 12, 1985 the Fielding Utah Stake was created, taking away the Beaver Ward, Belmont 1st and 2nd Wards, the Fielding Ward, East Garland Ward, as well as the Portage Ward from the Malad Stake. Louis Hirschi was called as Bishop of the Park Valley Ward in 1930.16 Due to the population decline from drought and the Depression in the mid 1930s, both the Park Valley Ward and the Rosette Ward had diminished to the extent that they were both combined into one ward, called the Park Valley Ward, in the year 1941. Fred J. Hirschi, who had been Bishop of the Rosette, was called to preside over the consolidated ward.16 At first the meetings were held in Rosette, and the amusements were held in the hall in Park Valley. In the meantime, ward members and leaders began planning a new chapel for the new ward.11,16 The Ward Building Finance Committee consisted of Antone Olague (Chairman), Rudger Palmer, Ray Carter, J. Henry Kunzler, Laurence G. Carter, Louis A. Hirschi, and Durward G. Palmer. Kenneth G. Carter was sustained as Bishop of the Park Valley Ward in 1948, with Ferris James as first counselor and Ferd C. Hirschi as second counselor. LeGrand Morris served as Ward Clerk and Dee C. Hirschi as Assistant Ward Clerks.16 Ground for a new chapel in Park Valley was broken in December, 1951, with work getting underway in ernest the following April. It was sufficiently completed for use in the fall of 1953, and meetings were begun in the new building. The small chapel at Rosette was sold and moved to Lynn, Utah to be used as a chapel there.11,16 The new Park Valley Chapel cost $65,000 to build. Chester P. Boss was the Building Supervisor. The chapel was a brick structure, and provided space for an attractive, well lighted chapel, a spacious recreation hall with a stage, an adjoining kitchen, a Relief Society room, a Bishop’s office, and six classrooms. The classrooms were delineated by folding doors which could be opened up to greatly enlarge the recreational hall. A baptismal font was included in the new building, thus ending the requirement of new members to be baptized in the ponds and streams located trhoughout the valley. There were also a store room and a furnace room. Water for the building is provided by a well. At that time the ward membership at the time was 175.16 In 1970, at the time of the Park Valley Centennial, it stood at about 120. These figures reflect fairly accurately the population of the valley at these times, since nearly everyone in the valley was a member of the church.11 The new building was dedicated March 14, 1954. J. Reuben Clark of the First Presidency offered the dedicatory prayer. Robert J. Potter, President of the Bear River Stake, was also in attendance.16 Religion classes were started about 1916. These classes were somewhat similar to the modern Seminary program. In 1922 and 1923 Laurence G. Carter was the supervisor of the Park Valley Religion classes. In 1926 Delila Olague was principal in Rosette. In 1927 Julia Kunzler was the principal in Rosette. The Seminary program was started in Park Valley in 1964, with Melva Larsen ans the teacher. In 1969 and 1970 it was taught by Letitia W .Palmer.
The earliest record of baptisms being performed tells that some boards were placed across a creek to dam up the water to form a small pool. Then as ponds were constructed, they were used for baptismal services. Each family probably has its own records of when and where its children were baptized, but some of note that were used often were the pond at the Seely’s in Rosen Valley, the Warm Springs reservoir, the Mecham’s pond, Charlie Kunzler’s pond, the Pugsley’s pond, the pond on Irwin Carter’s place, and Nigger Springs.

Bishops of the Park Valley Ward



ROSETTE WARD BISHOPS



MISSIONARIES

Most of those who settled in Park Valley were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and since many of them and their families were recent converts as well, missionary service has been an important part of their lives. The fact that they left the valley, learned other cultures, peoples, and places, and then returned home has itself enriched the valley immeasurably. At list of know missionaries and when and where they served follows:


There are also several who have served as Stake Missionaries. Among them are: Iven Burton, Harold Kunzler, Antonio Olague, Rudger E. Palmer, Henry Kunzler, Gordon Carter, Eli Ray Morris and Tina K. Morris.

MAIL SERVICE

The area at one time boasted at least five Post Offices; at Park Valley, Rosette, Golden, Kelton, and Terrace. The first Post Office was at Kelton, which was established on December 16, 1869. At first the only mail service to the valley was when someone made a trip to Kelton, where the train brought the mail. The Kelton Post Office continued full operation until the Lucin Cutoff was completed, after which it received mail only three times each week. It was discontinued completely on November 14, 1942.11 It is assumed that Terrace had the same mail service as Kelton, and continued operation as long as the trains ran. The first Post Office to be opened in the valley itself was at Park Valley, which opened in 1874. The first postmasters were William Godfrey and William Mecham. Sometime before 1901 Mrs. Elizabeth Goodliffe was appointed postmaster, and the Post Office was in a little lean-to next to the store which she operated. This store was later remodeled and increased, and the Post Office was built inside. Charles W. Goodliffe became the Postmaster.11 In 1915 Gertrude Vance, wife of John A. Vance became the postmaster, and the Post Office was moved to inside the Co-op store. The pay the postmaster received then was based on the cancellation of stamps. It amounted to twenty or thirty dollars a month. A few years later a little black Post Office was built at the top of the lane by Vances. It was there until 1934, when it was moved a number of rods south to annex the Vance home.11
On October 31, 1949 Kay L. Carter became the postmaster, with the help of his wife, Clarene. Soon after this a small building from the old CCC camp was moved near the store and remodeled into a post office. In 1961 Kay and Clarene Carter moved from the valley and Kay’s father, Lawrence Carter became the postmaster. In March 1964 Gerald H. Rose was appointed postmaster, and the Post Office building was moved to his ranch about a quarter mile east of the store. It remains at that location to this day.11
The Post Office in Rosette was opened March 15, 1876. Jonathan Campbell was the first postmaster. He named the post office, and thus the area, Rosette, because of the numerous wild rose bushes growing in the surrounding fields. James Raleigh was postmaster at Rosette for a while, until he moved in 1903. Then Louise Kunzler, wife of Jacob Kunzler was postmaster for a while, and kept the Rosette Post Office in a small enclosure on her porch. When the Rosette Store was built by James Newberry Morris in 1910 he was appointed Postmaster and the Post Office was moved to the store. In about 1915 or 1916 it was still located in the Rosette Store, with Earl Morris, James Morris’s son as postmaster. Next Edna Kunzler, wife of Henry Kunzler, was postmaster for a few months. It was then moved west to Rosen Valley to the home of Arta M. Seely, which was the old red brick buildings on the west part of the current Rudger and Letitia Palmer farm. When Mr. Seely moved from the valley his daughter, Verna, wife of Kenneth Carter was postmaster. When Kenneth and Verna left the valley temporarily Mrs. Vinnie Kunzler had it for one winter. William (Billy) Newman then became postmaster, and built a new building to serve as the Rosette Post Office. When Billy Newman died his wife became postmaster. When she moved, Madalyn Olague, wife of David Olague became the postmaster for a while. On June 30, 1944 the Rosette Post Office was discontinued, and the Park Valley Post Office served both areas, as it does today.11
Exactly when the Post Office at Golden, next to the Century Mine, was opened is not certain. One government report says it was established January 4, 1910. However there is at least one post office stamp in existence from there dated on November 20, 1909. It was also said officially to have been discontinued July 31, 1913.11 At first mail was brought by horseback from Kelton to Park Valley and Rosette. Some say the first mail carriers were Steve and Amasa Callahan. William (Bill) Callahan carried the mail for twelve years. David James served before, and during, 1909. Walt James carried it from 1918 to 1922. Willianm (Bil)l Cobia was carrying it in 1915 from Kelton to Park Valley, Rosette, and the Century Mine. His brother Ruben Cobia helped him. Bogan Tucker also carried it for a while. Ed Gestaveson (Gustaveson?) became mail carried and served for eight years. Part of the time he drove a big car that used lots of gas. He was nicknamed Gasoline Gus. Walter Funk hauled the mail from 1922 to 1926, and then Ira Burton from 1926 to 1929. In 1929 Albert Hirschi became the mail carrier. He served for the next twenty years. Dee C. Hirschi became the mail carrier in 1949, after his father Albert died. He still serves to this day.11 After the Lucin Cutoff was built the regular train service to Kelton ended. Trains continued to come to Kelton, but only three times a week. The valley then received mail only on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The Post Office at Kelton ended on November 14, 1942. Afterward the mail to Park Valley was routed through Naf, Idaho. This didn’t prove too satisfactory, however, so it was changed to come through Snowville, as it does still.11 Other nearby Post Offices were in Black Pine, established in August of 1910. Their mail was brought out of Snowville. The Post Office at Juniper was granted in the fall of 1915. The Juniper Post Office was closed on February 27, 1943. After that delivery was made to rural road side boxes, being delivered out of the Snowville Post Office.12

EARTHQUAKE!

On 12 APR 1934 there was a quite large earthquake, centered in the Hansel Valley area23, which was felt over a large area of northern Utah and southern Idaho. It occurred in at least two stages, with first a big quake, and then followed shortly by another quake. At Juniper, Idaho it was said that it sounded like a “herd of horses running against the house.”12 The ground broke into crevices in many places. In some areas new springs broke through. In many others springs dried up and the water table dropped. The water in some wells was considerably lower and some new wells had to be dug. One of the springs that dried up was Showell Spring in the Black Pine area.12 In the Grouse Creek areaa large, beautiful brick house a little south of the community center had the windows all popped out, the doors were all sprung, and inspectors declared the house unsafe. The owners were forced to move elsewhere and the building has stood empty ever since.22 Ray Morris was by the railroad tracks near Kelton. He and others saw the railroad bed rippling toward them.
In 1940 there was another fairly large earthquake, centered in the Curlew sinks. It caused cracks in North Canyon, near Holbrook, as much as 6 to 8 inches wide. I severely affected the Black Pine Spring.12

THE RUSSIANS

A colony of exiled Russians, seeking a “mecca where they could enjoy isolation and peace” came to the area in 1914 and homesteaded in the dry sage brush flats below Park Valley and along the lower part of Dove Creek. The main reason for their migration to this isolated area was so their children could grow up in their own culture and traditions, with out the corruption of the outside world. A.P. Karyakin was their presiding authority.11 About 100 of them left the Los Angeles, California area in early April, where they had previously established a colony, to make the journey to Box Elder County, Utah. Another “large contingent” soon followed. In the Park Valley area they had already purchased large tracts of land. There they immediately set out to farm and raise livestock, and declared their intention to build a town of their own on their property. They began the journey to Utah “splendidly equipped” on a special train of four cars, two for baggage and two for passengers. The coaches were outfitted for comfort and were supplied with their own stoves so that the women could cook their own meals on the way, and not have to come in contact with Americans. The older generation especially strongly objected to their young adopting the American customs, especially in dress. They left California purposely to seek isolation and to be free to follow their own customs they had brought with them from their native land.17 Among the persecutions they had to endure was a recent court decision rendered in Los Angeles by a Judge Monroe, who held that a young woman named Sarah Katoff was not legally married to Jacob Ural, who claimed her as his wife, and that the marriage which had been entered into under the Russian colony’s customs, was annulled. This action greatly incensed the older Russians, and they at once began their preparations for fleeing from what the termed the “persecution.” They thus began looking about for a place to go and became aware of the Park Valley area that was currently being touted by the Pacific Land and Water Company as a place with “splendid possibilities.” They became interested and one of their leaders was sent to Utah to make a “thorough investigation” of the conditions in the valley. His report was satisfactory and negotiations were then begun, resulting in the purchase of “several thousand” acres of the land which was boasted of as being very rich. The Russians were reported to be excellent farmers, skilled in several branches of husbandry, and their coming was awaited as a boost to the region. The first of the group was said to have passed through Salt Lake City on about April 10, 1914.17 Among the Russian colonists was Andrew Kalpokoff, said to be the group’s president, and his wife. They had resided for about the ten years previous in Los Angeles, California. During that time Andrew had become well known and was looked upon favorably. For the five years previous he had been engaged in the mercantile business and had met with considerable success. He won the respect of not only the Russians, but all with whom he did business. He labored hard to provide for his family, and with his wife’s assistance, he succeeded well. About March or April of 1914 they moved with the other Russian Colonists to the Park Valley area. Together they looked forward to the time when they could enjoy life on their own farm.3
A very sad situation happened about a month after the colonists arrived. Andrew Kalpokoff had just emptied the magazine of his 22 rifle in order to clean it. His wife, who was frightened of weapons, sat at his side. Mr. Kalpokoff raised the gun to show her that it was empty, and pointed it toward her and pulled the trigger, only to find that a cartridge remained in the chamber. The bullet, upon discharging, struck Mrs. Kalpokoff in the heart. She fell to the floor and in ten minutes was dead.3 The grief stricken husband lost his mind and it was with considerable difficulty that three men who witnessed the accident prevented him from terminating his own life. When he regained self-control, his grief was almost more than he could endure.3 His wife was said to be “an extremely good woman, loved dearly by all who knew her. She was generous and always willing to assist those in need. She could be found with the poor and at the bedside of the sick--a true, devoted wife and loving mother, in the prime of life, being but 36 years of age, and in perfect health and spirits.”3 The funeral was held Monday, May ??, 1914. “Impressive services” were attended by the entire Russian colony, and a large number of Park Valley residents as well. She was buried in Park Valley.3 Some of the names of the colonists, appearing on the tax rolls of the county, include Kolpakoff, Kobzeff, Shegloff, Chernobeaff, Voldareff, Danetrieff, Karyahin, Kunahoff, Volkoff, Shubin, Eleen, Rudsmetkin, Melnikoff, Coepoff, Homenoff, Dofapoff, Slevin, and Tabbot. The name Neff may have also belonged to this group.18 In time, however, the crops of the colonists failed. The Pacific Land and Water Company refused to carry the colonists any longer. They were forced to liquidate their holdings. They had traded as well at the Park Valley Store on account. There they attempted to settle their accounts honorably, with the store taking back horses, cattle, wagons, machinery, and various other items, but the store as well was shorted several thousand dollars.20

ROCK INDUSTRY

During about the 1970s an industry obtaining rock for building stone was begun fueled by the demand for housing along the Wasatch front. It was used mainly for decorative facing on the outside of homes and public buildings, for fireplaces, patios and garden walls. The Park Valley area became quite well known for the quality of the quartzite stone in abundance there. The nature of the rock allows it to be split with hammer and chisel into thin, smooth, flat pieces ideal for ready use in construction. The presence of mica in much of the rock gives it a sheen or sparkle which adds to its appeal.11 The first rock to be developed was the green colored rock found, appropriately, in Rock Canyon. It was owned and operated by Glen Fuller of Salt Lake City. He obtained the rock in two forms. The first was in the original slabs in any many different sizes. He also installed a crusher with which he produced crushed rock which had many applications, principally though to be poured into crushed rock panels which enhanced its sparkle and appeal in building facings.11 Other rock quarries were subsequently developed. Harold Sandall had one of the largest, on his property in Dove Creek. Max and Roy Kunzler had one, and there were others on government property. The rock from these was almost pure white. It was also extracted in slabs, or crushed to form pre-cast stone panels. It was used to beautify new public buildings, such as the new church office building in Salt Lake and the new Temple in Ogden. Some was even shipped as far as Holland. Beuhner Block and D.W. Brimhall Construction in Salt Lake were the primary ones to develop the pre-cast panels.11
Several others developed rock quarries in various canyons. Among these were Preston Brown, Max Cooper, Yates and Robertson, and Star Lite Quarries. In addition, many of these entrepreneurs as well as local ranchers scoured the surrounding field and foothills obtaining surface rock, which with its weathering and the presence of lichens provided its own appeal to homeowners and builders. Some of these individuals were John Hichtle, Jay Bown, LeGrand Morris, Chester Kunzler, and Rex Sessions. However many others from the valley were involved in this activity from time to time.11 The new administration building marking the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad at Promontory Point is faced with Park Valley Rock. Some of the finest brown colored flag stone from Park Valley is found in the Juniper Lounge of the Student Center at Utah State University in Logan, Utah. When the chapel in Park Valley was remodeled, the local stone was also used to beautify the building.11 Other rock related industry was the development of a volcanic Rhyolite rock.20

TELEPHONES

On April 11, 1923 the Park Valley-Rosette Telephone Company was formed by the residents of the valley. The phones that were installed were the old-fashioned crank kind that could be listened to by everyone simply by taking the receiver off the hook. They were operated by a set of batteries installed in each phone. The telephone lines themselves were a simple, but thick, steel wire. The first Officers of the telephone company were Roy Pugsley, David Hirschi, Ferdinand Billeter, and Will Carter. Later Art M. Seely and E. Ray Morris served. The first length of lines built was from the Co-op Store to the home of David Hirschi. The lines finally extended from the E.H. Jones Ranch and the Morris Ranch on the west to Kelton on the east. At the home of Will Carter was a phone that would connect to the “outside.” To call long distance, one had to go to his home, call Kelton on the special phone, and then you could talk to the party you wanted. If someone outside the valley wanted to get a message to you, they called the Carter home and Mrs. Carter (usually) called you on the local phone and relayed the message to you. The first subscribers to the Park Valley-Rosette Telephone system were: Ferdinand Billeter Tom James Rudger Palmer Amsa Callahan E. H. Jones Joseph Palmer J. Irwin Carter E. H. Jones Jr. L.(Lige) P. Palmer E. William Carter Jacob Kunzler Roy Pugsley Francis (Frank) E. Carter J. Henry Kunzler Henry Rose John M. Carter John (Jack) Kunzler Art M. Seely Charles A. Goodliffe Adam Larsen M. J. Sorenson Albert Hirschi Oscar Larsen John Vance David Hirschi John H. Mecham Absalom Yates Fred J. Hirschi Antonio Olague Elisha Whitaker David James

When the electricity was brought into the valley in 1948, the power lines made such a buzz in the phone lines that they fell into disuse. There were some parts of the system that continued to function beyond this time, but most ended then. In 1953 when the road was “oiled,” or surfaced with asphalt, many of the old phone poles were removed as the fence was replaced for the road right-of-way. However, a few can still be seen along some of the fences throughout the valley.
In about the 1970's phones again began returning to the valley as Art Brothers, owner of the Silver Beehive Telephone Company started to install phone lines to the ranches in the valley.11

IRRIGATION AND WATER DEVELOPMENT

Perhaps water has played the largest part in shaping the lives and destiny of Park Valley. As the Indians frequented the valley, on their annual migrations, hunting and gathering food, they left behind evidence of their passing, in arrowheads and corn grinding stones, mainly near the natural springs flowing along the foothills. As the first settlers arrived, they also made their homesteads by the springs or along the mountain streams. When the first settlers first arrived, the intermountain west was in a much wetter cycle than normal. The cattlemen and sheep men stocked the range to what the available water and annual rainfall would then allow. Within a few years they found that this was too much, and that the range was being overgrazed. When drier years set in, many families who were not fortunate enough to have settled on more permanent water sources were forces to move away or seek elsewhere for a better livelihood. Many took with them shattered dreams, but left behind their contributions to the history of the valley. Some of their home sites can still be seen, in empty cabins or outlines of forgotten fields in the sagebrush. Many have been entirely forgotten as the cabins were removed or the traces in the sagebrush disappeared. Some, especially like the Russian Settlers who were lured her by false promises, found the area just too dry to dryfarm. For the Park Valley area this adjustment was made fairly early, so that by the really dry years of the 1930's when other communities such as Black Pine and Juniper, Idaho were severely affected12, the adjustment to the valley here had already been largely accomplished. During the history of the valley there were some fights, both fistfights and legal battles, over the rights to the springs and streams. Soon however the streams came to be controlled by organized irrigation companies, with each member having a portion of the water that comes from the canyons. The main streams used for irrigation are, starting on the east, Indian Creek, Dunn or Marble Canyon, Fisher Canyon, Rock Canyon, Pine Canyon, Big Hollow, Dove Creek, Muddy Canyon, and finally Rosebud on the west. In Rosette, the irrigation company on Pine Canyon Creek was formed in 1914. In order to control the division of water a settling pond and head gates were constructed during 1918 and 1919. During the drought year of 1934, with the help of federal agencies, they laid some 8 inch concrete pipe from the mouth of the canyon to aid in getting more late runoff water to the fields. Many of the ranchers dug their own additional ditches to facilitate the distribution of this water. In 1948 there as an addition made to this pipeline.11 Fisher Canyon was incorporated into an irrigation company on April 28, 1915. They developed some springs and installed 1 mile of 8 inch pipe from the mouth of the canyon. Then they tried to stop more of the water loss with an additional three fourths of a mile op pipe in 1934. There was still a great water loss from the end of the pipe to the ranches further down stream, so in 1953 a 15 inch concrete pipeline was installed, and the earlier one was abandoned. The cost for this new pipe was $40,000. Government agencies helped with the surveying and plans, and $23,000 of the amount was borrowed from the Utah Water and Power Board, with 17 years to repay it. This pipeline was four miles in length.11 Dunn Canyon or Marble Creek was the first irrigation company to install a large pipeline. Many years before the amount of water that each ranch was allocated from the creek was settled in a court decision. In 1949 they all worked together and installed almost 4 miles of 12 inch concrete pipe. The cost was almost $37,000.
Many wells have been dug through the years in an attempt to obtain more water. At first, they were all hand dug, and the sides were rocked in to supply drinking water for families, gardens, or stock water. Water was usually pulled to the surface with a pulley and rope attached to a bucket. Often the lot of drawing water from the well fell to the daily chore of the older children in a family. Fred Zaugg had a horse powered well driller that he used to drill for artesian water. The well on his place, where Fred Hirschi later lived, was over 400 feet deep. Water was found, but not enough to flow freely. Then he hand dug a well about 8 or 10 feet across and timbered it up like a log cabin. It was about 60 feet deep. A windmill was installed to pump water from the drilled well into the hand-dug well. If the wind didn’t blow, then a hand pump was used to provide water for the household, garden, and livestock. There was one flowing well on the Christian Hirschi place next door, however. Several other people installed windmills. These were used for quite some time. They didn’t prove too successful and people then turned to hand pumps. Some gasoline motors were used to pump water. They did the work until electricity arrived in the valley in 1948.11 About that time, in 1948, several people again tried drilling deep wells to obtain water. In Rosette, Charles Kunzler, Harold Kunzler, Roy Pugsley, and Henry Kunzler all had a well drilled. Some of these resulted in enough water for the household use, but not enough for irrigation. One of Henry Kunzler’s is a flowing well, but again the amount was not significant.11 The first deep well that proved successful for irrigation was drilled by Alma Fehlman on the Kelton Flat, about 2 miles north of the old Conant Ranch. It was drilled in 1951. It is a 16 inch well, and when tested pumped about 300 inches of water. Since then more wells have been drilled on the Kelton Flat, where hundreds of tons of alfalfa hay are now raised.11 Other deep wells were drilled by Chester Kunzler on the old Rosevere Ranch, or E. H. Jones Ranch, and also by Roy and Max Kunzler on the Clark and Johnston Ranch on the lower Dove Creek.11 All of these better producing wells are in the lower part of the valley, and it is still the only part of the valley where sufficient amounts of water for irrigation have been found.

RECREATION

The early settlers of the valley were industrious, but they also had time for fun. Visiting and Sunday dinner at neighbors were early forms of recreation. As the number of people increased, dances became a vital and exciting part of valley life. There were no outside bands to be hired to come and play, so the people provided their own mucic. Fred Zaugg played the accordion and mouth organ at the same time. He played for dances, and could play all night and never play the same tune twice. One group which played together was that of Effie Campbell on the piano, Bill Jardine on the violin, and James Palmer on the mouth organ. For many dances James Palmer also played the violin while his wife, Lilas, played the piano. There was also a teacher, Mr. Walton, who could play the violin and mouth organ at the same time. These people and others provided the rollicking tunes for square dances, polkas, two steps, and waltzes. In the early days hunting and fishing were a form of recreation as well as a means of adding to a families food supply. Hunting also was a means of limiting the numbers of animals that preyed upon the livestock and forage supplies upon which ranchers depended for a living. Hunting Jackrabbits was always a popular sport. During the 1960's a mink company out of Wyoming came into the valley with a large refrigerated semi-van and announced they would buy Jackrabbits for 10 cents each. This immediately spurred a continuous series of hunts, late-night spotlighting, and rabbit drives. For some, this added a considerable amount to the family income. Hunting coyotes or mountain lions was always popular, since they could often be a large drain on a ranchers yearly calf or lamb crop. The annual deer hunt was raised to the level of a local festival. Friends and relatives gathered from other communities. The school children peered from the windows of the schools beginning the day or two before to count the number of hunters vans and campers streaming into the valley. Each family had its favorite hunting area, usually in conjunction with their own property and the neighboring Forest Service land. The menfolk rounded up horses, made sure they had adequate horse shoes for climbing the rocky hills, packed campers or saddle bags, and cleaned rifles. The women prepared food for the departing hunters, while the children reveled in the excitement of the break in the daily routine. On the night before the opening day of the hunt, the hunters headed for the hills and set up camp in their favorite spots, from which they would depart long before daybreak. They usually had their favorite spots, along trails or overlooking canyons or cliffs, from which they awaited the dawn. As the darkness faded and the light crept grew on the eastern horizon each hunter peered anxiously into the fading gloom for the first glimpse of what they hoped to be their greatest trophy, along with the associated bragging rights. As the first shots began ringing out, the deer began moving through the canyons and along the trails, and then a fusillade of shots rang from hill to hill. Later in the day, as the deer retreated to their hiding places, the younger hunters were assigned to “brush,” or walk through, the groves of trees and thickets to scare them from hiding. And thus the hunt continued until after the weekend was over and the final tally for the group was taken and the stories were told and retold . Meanwhile, back at the Ranch--literally, as soon as the men departed for the hunt, the women folk took advantage of the “holiday” to relax and visit and renew acquaintances. The children and cousins had the opportunity to run and play, while at the same time listening for the shots to ring out from the hills. One of the favorite pastimes of the children in the spring was the annual hunt for magpie nests. Likely trees were spotted early and watched to see if the nesting birds would return to nest there again this year, or where a new nest might be forming. Then they were watched until the eggs began appearing. Hunting for Indian arrowheads, as well as grinding stones, was another favorite hobby of the youth. The grinding stones, and occasionally a grinding bowl, were found near the springs or meadows, and were often turned up by plows. The arrowheads were to be found in many areas throughout the sagebrush, but each family had its favorite areas which had proved productive in the past. The Fourth of July was another holiday that was early celebrated by the settlers, though in later years especially, it was far overshadowed, and even replaced by the Twenty-fourth of July. This day celebrated the arrival of the early pioneers into the Utah territory, partially increasing in importance because many of the Utah Pioneers came almost directly from Europe, who thus had no appreciation for the July Fourth holiday. For many years the 24th Celebration was held in a grove of trees just south of the James Palmer home. Here they had a dance floor built, that could be disassembled and stored for the winter. Once they even put an organ in the back of a wagon and took it to the canyon, where the celebration was held. Most of the older people told of the lemonade barrel that was a part of every celebration, the ball games, tug-of-wars, kangaroo courts, races of all kinds, and a dance.
The day of the 24th usually started with a flag raising ceremony. It was followed by a children’s parade. Often the theme of entrants from the Primary School groups was of the Utah Pioneers, but many entrants were just for fun. Sometimes they were old cars or wagons, and even Cowboys and “Indians” on horseback.. This was followed by a program in the church house or school with skits, music, readings, or jokes making fun of various valley “characters.” After this everyone adjourned to the Palmer farm, where the Palmers had just mowed the large yard and the surrounding hayfield in preparation. There every family brought its own potluck lunch, which was extended by drinks, ice cream in a half cantaloupe, and other treats provided by the Seventies group. After lunch, everyone had a chance to visit for a short time with friends, and the many relatives who came just for the “grand reunion,” while lunch was given time to settled. Soon, however, a series of races began; individual races by age groups, three-legged races, sack races, egg or potato on a spoon races, in which mostly the youth, but also a number of adults participated. Afterwards, all the men and boys, as well as many of the young women, joined together in a game of softball. In the recent years an evening dance was once again added to the days events. When the community park and rodeo grounds were build, to the south of the school house, the festivities were moved from the Palmer’s yard to the park. The rodeo took the place of the foot races and games. The young men took their turn at riding or roping calves. The young women had a barrel racing event. The youth would have a chicken or greased-pig race, in which they could keep the prize they caught. Weddings in the valley were always a special time for celebrating. Two of the first weddings in the valley were of Adam Larsen and Mary Ann Rose, and also of Helaman Campbell and Blanche Raleigh Thompson. These were both in the 1880s. Many of the weddings were held in the Larsen home where Wallace and Melva Larsen lived. There was always a dance and a shivaree. A shivaree included all kinds of pranks on the bride and groom. There are stories told of being stranded and made to walk for miles, of being separated for more than just a few hours, of being left in empty houses, of having their new home or bedroom “rearranged,” wild rides in buggies or cars, of being dressed in all manner of unusual clothes, of oyster suppers prepared by the bride from food that the groom was forced to gather from neighbors who were sleeping, and many more. Yes, sometimes the fun was carried too far, and the groom became upset (sometimes fighting mad), but that didn’t seem to stop the merry makers.11 During the winter months there were sleigh rides, house parties, and plays to practice for. Many remember the painted scenery that was used on the stage of the amusement hall. Here, in the words of Evan B. Murray, is a description of Park Valley social life in 1924-1925: “I taught school there just one year--1924-25; but it was a glorious year. One of the sad aspects of the year is that I did not get any pictures of the students, buildings, etc. I have regretted so many times that I did not get pictures of the buildings at Kelton. I am sure I could now give the names of all my students, I had the students in the 7th, 8th, and 10th grades. Elma Wood (Carter) taught the 4th , 5th, and 6th grades, and Florence Zollinger (Burton) taught the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades, Grace Thompson (Seely) taught the first six grades in Rosette, we brought the 7th, 8th, and 10th from Rosette, even at that time, over to Park Valley. Edna Pugsley drove an enclosed Dodge truck to transport the Rosette youngsters. Edna was one of the six girls in my 10th grade.
One of the highlights of the year was the Park Valley Dramatic Company. We worked during the winter to get plays ready to present to the Park Valley folks, of course. Then when the weather would permit we went “on tour.” About the middle of March I, as principal, sent word to our school supervisors in Brigham City that they weren’t to plan a visit on a certain Friday because the school would not be in session. The Dramatic Company, which included the teachers, was going on tour. On the designated Friday we piled into 3 Fords and took off for Holbrook. We played at Holbrook Friday night. We stayed with some of the natives of Holbrook over Friday night, Saturday we drove down to Snowville and played Snowville Saturday night, stayed with the Snowville folks over Saturday night, and returned to Park Valley on Sunday. I remember I stayed with the Larkin family that lived in a large 3 story frame house across the creek north and west of Snowville proper. We put on a three act drama, The Arizona Cowboy, and a one act farce, “Nellie.” I do not remember that we received any invitations to take the shows to Broadway. This project used a lot of hours during the winter. Erwin Carter was the power behind the operation. I think he and Mr. Caddy chose the plays, selected the cast and directed the operation.
Another important event was the Friday Night dance, not every Friday night, but periodically we had a dance. Amber Palmer on the piano, James Palmer on the violin and alternately on the accordion, and Brother Funk on the drums. That was the orchestra. The highlights of these dances arrived when a special “basket dance” was arranged. The ladies, young and not so young, would prepare a basket of food for the dance. Then about mid-way through the dance the dancing would stop and the baskets would be auctioned off to the highest bidder. The successful bidder than ate lunch with the lady who had prepared the basket. The theory was that you bid on the basket, not the girl who prepared it. One of the activities in the early part of the dance was to engage in a little spy work to determine what basket belonged to what girl. If there were any competitive romances budding--two fellows who wanted to get the same basket--some spirited dollar bidding ensued. This helped to finance the ward.
A few times during the year dances were held at the hotel in Strevell, and Park Valley folks would make the long dirty ride to Strevell and back on a Saturday night. This was a special outing. Some of the most memorable aspects of my year was riding the train from Brigham City to Kelton. When I went to the fall convention of the U.EA. in October, I was asked to be in charge of two car loads of cattle that were being shipped from Kelton to Ogden. I got my tickets on the train in and out for my services in escorting these two car loads of beef cattle. Another aspect of this train travel was the matter of determining whether the train was going to be along on the day it was scheduled. We used to speak of it as a tri-weekly, if it didn’t make it this week it would try next week. When we were ready to go home for the Christmas holidays, we called Kelton to determine if the train was coming through that day, we had had a good bit of wind and the report was that the tracks were drifted in and the train was not on schedule. I remember we did get home--to Brigham City at midnight two days late from the regular time schedule. We went to Kelton in a bob sleigh--a two horse team on a sleigh. During this year Park Valley was on the regular circuit for the traveling picture show man. About every third Friday the picture show man would come to Park Valley with his film and a touring Ford car. The Ford would be backed up before the door of the church, a rear wheel would be jacked up on a standard, then the Ford would provide power to turn the picture machine. Those western serials provided topics of conversation for the next three weeks, with the youngsters trying to guess what was going to happen in the next episode. For these picture show nights the Goodliffe store had to have a plentiful supply of peanuts. I still remember the depth of the peanut shells that would accumulate in the store before the show got underway, and then the follow-up peanut ball that took place in the church during the show.
Another interesting project was keeping the lights in the church in working order. We had a carbide light system. Theoretically we generated our own gas for power for the lights. If there was to be an evening function the great mystery was whether the lighting system was going to work. On several occasions the night function was canceled or delayed while the light specialists went to work on the generating system. The Bishop during this memorable year was Ira Burton, his counselors were Joseph Palmer and Louis Hirschi. The town barber, at least for the north string of homes where I lived was Gordon Carter, the postmaster was Mr. Vance with the post office located about a mile or 1 ½ miles west of the business district--the store and the church.”11 Early in the existence of Park Valley, playing ball became the Sunday afternoon entertainment for the young people, both boys and girls. No celebration was complete without a ball game, either between Park Valley and Rosette, or with some visiting team. There were games, both baseball and basketball, with teams as far away as Samaria, Stone, Holbrook, and Juniper, Idaho, as well as with the surrounding towns in Utah.11 In the 1940s, Park Valley, along with teams from Yost, Grouse Creek, Almo, Strevell, and Elba formed a league--even complete with uniforms. Saturday afternoons were for the ball games. Most of the valley stopped work and came to cheer the home team on.11 After the Park Valley Ward was put in the Bear River Stake, the young people participated in softball, basketball, and volleyball with the other wards in the stake. Both the boys and girls have been stake champions many times and have competed in region tournaments. The boy’s basketball team in 1963 won the chance to go to Salt Lake City and play in the All-Church Tournament.11

THE 4-H CLUBS

During the late 1930s the 4-H program was introduced into the valley. For a few years the girls of the valley participated in a cooking club. Then again in 1959, 4-H was started again under the direction of Clarene G. Carter. This was a sewing club. There were 2 sewing and cooking clubs during 1960 and 1961. Then in 1963, due to the influence of Rudger and Letitia Palmer, the young people of 4-H age met at their home and organized a livestock club. Ed and Diane Mott were asked to be the leaders, and they served for quite a few years.11 Many trophies and ribbons have been won by the 4-H Club members as they have competed in the Box Elder County Fair and in State contests. They have carried projects in sewing, cooking, home improvements, gardening, pigs, calves, lambs, range management, and turkeys. The newest addition is a riding club. The have cleaned the ball diamond and put up new backstops and benches. They painted the fire house, and in other ways have been encouraged to take pride in their community. The annual 4-H Field Day in early August has attracted the attention of State 4-H leaders.11

Some of the young people who have won county and state events include:11

For numerous years there have been members of the Park Valley clubs on the County and State livestock judging teams and range management teams.11 The 4-H Club leaders have been: Clarene Carter, Ed and Diane Mott, Melva Kunzler, Dorothea Palmer, Deon Hirschi, Phyllis Kunzler, Bernice Kunzler, Helen Pugsley, and Norine Carter.11

ELECTRICITY

In 1940, Ferd Hirschi, Howard Larsen, Floyd Carter, and Gordon Carter went to the Rural Electrification Association (REA) in Malta, Idaho and asked for electric service for Park Valley. An engineer was hired and plans were nearly completed when World War II was declared. Progress was thus delayed on the line for several years. After the war work was resumed and the valley people eagerly watched the poles go up and asked one another, “Have they reached your place yet?”11 Local men from the valley helped build the line. By early 1948 the central part of the valley had power. It was turned on at the store at Christmas time in 1947. Then it was taken west to Chester Kunzler’s Ranch and on to Muddy. It was also extended east to Royal Morris’s Ranch and on to the Kelton Ranches.11 At first the poles were found to be too far apart. There were many power outages because the lines kept crossing and breaking.11 When there was heavy frost in the winter the hoarfrost would accumulate so heavily on the lines that the weight would cause them to break. The men would be called out to “ride the lines.” They would throw a rope over the line and pull in along the line on horseback to clear the frost off the line. Eventually the REA put up more poles so the distance between poles was shorter.11 Everyone welcomed the electricity and especially the work savers that it made possible. All the valley went “modern,” with electric lights, appliances, irrigation pumps, and millers for the cows.11 Gordon Carter was a member of the REA board of directors from the time Park Valley joined the REA, and served for many years.11 In recent years, LeGrand Morris has been the meter reader for the valley.

WEATHER REPORTING


Years ago the government became interested in keeping accurate records of the weather. In order to do this they established an official meteorological observer in Park Valley. The first one we know of was Ferdinand Billeter, who ran the Co-op Store. The boxes and thermometers for recording the maximum and minimum temperatures, as well as a gauge for measuring the amount of rainfall, were established at the store.11
When the Co-op Store was closed, David Hirschi received the assignment, and the equipment was moved to his home. On December 16, 1927 John A. Vance became the observer, and the equipment was again moved. Kay Carter did the reporting from 1951 until 1961. Then the equipment was moved to the old Zaugg home (and David Hirschi home), where Ferd Hirschi lived. Ferd then reported on the weather conditions in Park Valley.11

THE C. C. C. CAMPS

During the depression years of the 1930s, when so many men were out of work, the government established the CCC Camps to occupy some of these men and boys and give them something constructive to do, as well as to feed and care for them. One of these camps was established in Park Valley in 1936, and remained here until 1941. The camp was located about 2 miles east of the valley center, on property owned by Laurence G. Carter. There were about 300 young men in the camp. They lived in barracks somewhat like army barracks. They received some money each month which they used for their own personal needs or sent home to help support their families.11 While the CCC Camp was here the men worked on projects building roads on the desert ranges and in the canyons, building and rocking up stock watering ponds near stock watering wells that had been drilled by the government, and other range developing projects.11 Local men who participated in the CCC Camp Program in other areas were Durward G. Palmer and Kenneth G. Carter in the Forest Service.11

SOIL CONSERVATION

Much has been done in the Park Valley area in recent years to encourage ranchers to conserve and improve natural resources and manage our lands in a way we can see improvement and progression, rather than taking all we can from our lands and natural resources and replacing none of them.11 In the 1950s the Western Box Elder County Soil conservation District was organized, and most of the ranchers became affiliated with it. Since then much improvement can be seen throughout the area. Many acres of cedars have been chained and removed, and grass is growing where cedars grew before. Vast acreage has been seeded into crested wheat grass and other forage grasses, which give improved grazing and water retention. Grazing is being controlled and better use of the range land in realized. Water systems have been improved and water is conserved.11 Richard Harris was one of the first technicians who came into the area under the old A.A.A., which later became A.S.C.S. He was later transferred to the Soil Conservation Service part time under unit conservationist LaMar Mason. In 1956 LaMar Mason was advanced to a state office, and Richard Harris became Work Unit Conservationist. In this he worked closely with the valley people, and encouraged and helped them, and became a dear friend. In 1963 he was transferred to the Brigham Unit, and Don Braithwaite took his place. These fine men and the many other state officers who worked with them have done and are doing a great service to the Park Valley area.11 Local directors of the West Box Elder County Soil Conservation District who have served our community are Jess James, Gearald Rose, Rex Pugsley, and Ed Mott. Each year they have encouraged and conducted a poster contest at the Park Valley School which has stimulated interest in soil and water conservation among the young and old alike.11 The encouragement and service the Soil Conservation District and the A.S.C.S. committees and organizations have given in helping finance projects is gratefully acknowledged.11

MILITARY SERVICE


“I saw a peaceful old valley
With a carpet of grass for a floor
And a voice within me whispered
This is worth fighting for.”
(author unknown)


Park Valley has always had a love for law and order. Many of the first settlers came to the valley for the freedom it would afford them, and their descendants have willingly served their country in the armed services of the Untied States. To these young men we express our thanks, and to the others that had their roots here but had moved from the valley before they served their country. This land of freedom really is worth fighting for.11

KNOWN VETERANS OF WORLD WAR I

Louis A. Hirschi Harold Watts Alvin D. James William (Bill( Hirschi Guy A. Rose Alvin Morris John R. Bates A. Bert Coleman Abraham James Francis (Dick) Callahan Lee Rose

VETERANS OF WORLD WAR II

In the spring of 1941 some young men from the valley volunteered in the National Guard. They were still in uniform when World War II started on December 7, 1941. During the next four years many more were called to serve. They were:11 Max Kunzler Roy Kunzler Jay Pugsley Richard Pugsley Rex Pugsley Alma Vance Carl James Lynn James Kay Carter Lael Carter Eldon Barnes Clarence Carter Delbert Hirschi Wayne Hirschi Duane Carter Dee Hirschi Dee Kunzler William (Bill) Carter Royal Morris Reed Palmer Parley Carter Glen Larsen Richard Mecham Chester Mecham Calvin Larsen Don Hansen Eldred Carter Douglas Carter Robert Carter Doris Kunzler Thompson

Since World War II there have always been someone from the valley in the service of their country. Some of the ones who have served since then are:11
John Hansen Richard (Dick) Kunzler Sydney James Maun Hirschi Sherwin Larsen Mack Palmer Weston Hirschi Arlo James John (Jay) J. Kunzler James (Jim) Palmer Paul Palmer Larry Hirschi Boyd (Kelly) James L. Elliott Morris, Jr. David Pugsley Rod Morris

BIBLIOGRAPHY

  1. A Brief History of the Park Valley Livestock Industry. Rodney A. Morris. Unpublished manuscript. 1974.
  2. An Early History of Park Valley. Rex R. Pugsley. Unpublished manuscript.
  3. President of Russian Colony Accidentally Kills His Wife. The Box Elder News. May 7, 1914.
  4. Interview with Kenneth G. Carter. 1974.
  5. Remembrances of LeGrand E. Morris. Interviewed at various times between 1974 and 1996.
  6. Interviews with E. Ray Morris. Between 1974 and 1981.
  7. Interview with John Ward of the Ward Ranch at Snowville, Utah. 1974.
  8. Interview with George Nelson of Juniper, Idaho and Logan, Utah. 1974.
  9. Settling of Park Valley Utah. 22 NOV 1985. Tammy Anderson. An English research paper written for Dixie College, St. George, Utah.
  10. Fielding, The People and The Events that Affected Their Lives. Gale Welling . Second Printing, 1992. Herff Jones: Logan, UT.
  11. Our One Hundred Years, 1870-1970. Park Valley Centennial. by Norine K. Carter, Letitia W. Palmer, Dorothy K. Morris.
  12. Juniper and Black Pine, A History of Two Southern Idaho Communities, 1870s to 1995. Compiled by Lillian Barrus Nelson. 1996. Publishers Press:Salt Lake City, Utah.
  13. The Shoshoni Frontier and the Bear River Massacre. Brigham D. Madsen. 1985. University of Utah Press:Salt Lake City.
  14. The Historical Guide to Utah Ghost Towns. Stephen L. Carr.1972. Western Epics:Salt Lake City, Utah.
  15. Sagebrush Scholars. Twila Van Leer. Deseret News. Thursday, May 6, 1993.
  16. Program for the dedication of the Park Valley Ward Chapel, March 14, 1954.
  17. Russians Come to Utah for Freedom. The Box Elder News. Thursday, April 9, 1914.
  18. Tax roll of Box Elder County. (The exact source of this list in unknown. It was probably printed in The Box Elder News).
  19. The Salt Lake Tribune. July 13, 1941. W.P.A. Utah Writers Project.
  20. Research notes of Dorothy K. Morris, gathered from 1992 to 1996.
  21. Chief “White Plume” Pocatello. Brigham D. Madsen. {Check for the book at the library].
  22. Notes of the Box Elder County History Committee Meeting, Thursday, January 9, 1992, Brigham City, Utah.
  23. Earthquake Awareness & Risk Reduction. Video. Utah Geological & Mineral Survey, Public Information Series, #10. 1991. Utah State University.
  24. Remniscences of Alexander Toponce.
  25. Box Elder Lore of the Ninetheenth Century. SEP 1951. Published by the Box Elder Chapter of the Sons of the Utah Pioneers. Printed by the Box Elder News and Journal. Brigham City, Utah.
  26. History of Tina Kunzler Morris.
  27. Salt Desert Trails. Charles Kelley. (He quotes from John Bidwell’s Diary).
  28. The Bidwell-Bartleson Party, 1841 California Emigrant Adventure, Documents and Memoirs of the Overland Pioneers. Edited by Dr. Doyce B. Nunis, Jr.
  29. [Combine provious #29 #28].
  30. Utah-A Guide Book. Salt Lake Tribune. (date?). Taken from, “Utah’s Years--Before The Beginning” by the Utah Writer’s Project of the W.P.A.
  31. The Founding of Utah. by Levi Edgar Young. 1924. Charles Scribner’s Sons:New York.
  32. Old Trails West. Raliegh Moody. 1834. Thomas Y. Crowell Co.:New York.
  33. Earl W. Morris Life Sketch.
  34. The Salt Flat News. August, 1970. Wendover, Utah.
  35. Personal correspondence from Philbert C. Lind. September 12, 1975.
  36. Prehistoric Peoples of Box Elder County. Sarah S. Yates, Brigham City, Utah. Box Elder County Centennial History Project.
  37. Prehistory of Utah and the Eastern Great Basin. Jesse D. Jennings. 1978. Anthropological Papers, Number 98, pg 15.
  38. Exploring the Fremont. David B. Madsen. 1989. Utah Museum of Natural History. University of Utah.
  39. Prehistoric Human Skeletal Remains and the Prehistory of the Great Salt Lake Wetlands. Simms, Loveland & Stuart. 1991. Utah State University, No. 6, ppg 62-79.
  40. Archaelogical Test Excavations in the Great Salt Lake Wetlands. Fawcett & Simms. 1993. Utah State University, No. 14, pg 16.
  41. When History Was Being Made, Box Elder Towns Were Progressing, Too. The Leader. Section Two. May 4, 1994.
  42. History of Box Elder County. 1937. Compiled by the Box Elder Chapter of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.