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Show I immit jlilx J AHBii ' -JS wBBBBBBBBBBBBBBJbx i TffBBBBBjPf I i tAbBBBk! r 5 LTAbbbK - TffBBBr f i 1 t PAUL eaitDox I FIFTH OLDEST INHABITANT INTERVIEW Mr. Paul Cardon Tells of Early Roadmaking, the Minute Men, Silk Culture and Italian Part in Eaify Work The Italians are not numerous 4n Cache valley but they have done their part In the development of thecounty. Their work may not be so extensive as that of the Germans, English or Scandinavians, Scan-dinavians, but It is characterized by that good taste, Intelligence, high degree de-gree of skill and love of beauty which are Inborn In all those so fortunate as to have a drop of Italian blood In their veins. Among the early converts of the Mormon church were several of the Waldenses of Piedmont In northern north-ern Italy. This religious sect, starting start-ing in Lyons, in the twelfth century, was one of. the earl lest forms of 'Prates--tanttatr. and spread quickly Into the valleys of Switzerland and northern Italy, where It still exists and where Its church holds a synod each year. The state of Utah has been fortunate In having among Its inhaoltants some of these enemies of the Roman Catho-llo Catho-llo church, these sturdy defenders of their faith, for the martyr blood and the desire to fight for their opinlous are strong In them yet, even after many centuries One of the first converts from this church to come to Logan was Paul Cardon, now living in the Benson ward. Born at Plnerolo near Turin he came to America In 1854 at tho age of fifteen and lived at Ogdtn until 1659.. The commotion caused In the territory terri-tory by tho coming of Johnson's army started a general shifting of tho population popu-lation and Mr. Cardon late In tho fall of 1859 came up to Logan and selected a suitable location. He then went back to Ogden and returned with his father and brother PhllTp In February, and when all was ready to receive his fjmlly he went to Ogden In April and brought It back, with him. Like all the other settlers he lived first In a log house, but about 18GS or '70 he built tho largo adobe house which is still standing on First North, a little west of tho po3tortlce. It was the first adobe of any size to bo built in Logan and tho bricks were made just west of where the station now is. The cost was $3,000. Here for ten years Mr. Cardon ran a hotel called tho Cacho Valley (louse. Mr'. Cardon was early connected with the publlo enterprises of the new com- i munltv.' James H. Martlneau, the town surveyor, had made the plans, first for the Logan and Hyde Park canal, and then for the Logan and Richmond, and In the construction of these two Mr. Cardon was active About '1865 Peter Maughan selected him, with Thomas E. Ricks, Joseph Rich and Joslah Rlcks,.to construct the canyon road" through to Bear lake. Three or four months of each of the next live years were spent by these men camping in the canyon and working on. the road. They followed an Indian trail along the river up the left fork through Beaver and St. Charles canyons down to the settlement settle-ment of St. Charles. Thanks to these men Cache and Bear Lake counties were put Into direct communication and have been ever since. This is probably the earliest engineering feat in the history of Cache and the early roadbuilders had many difficulties to overcome. But game was abundant, such as elk, bear and deer, and they were sustained by the feeling that they were working not only for themselves them-selves but for church and state. For ten years Mr. Cardon belonged to the minute men of Logan, a regular militia organization of 300 men which followed up and punished the Indians when they stole horses or killed any of tl.e settlers. Every year Brigham Young visited tho valley, and in his trip to the now settlements ho was usually accompanied by some of the mlnuto men and In this capacity Mr. Cardon has many times had tho honor of traveling with him. To tho Italian origin ot Mr, Cardon Cache alley owes its mulberry trees and its attempts at sUk culture. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cardon had become familiar fa-miliar with all branches of silk culture cult-ure In their youth and seeing the similarity of conditions in. Cacho valley val-ley and northern Italy determined to start tho culture here. Mr. Cardon sent to Franco for mulberry seeds and silk worms. Tho trees grew well and many of them are still living. Tho worms spun silk of excellent quality, which Mrs, Cardon reeled and which was woven In Salt Lake. Mrs. Cardon Conttuued on Page 4. Fifth' Oldest Inhabitant Interviewed, Inter-viewed, Continued From Page 1 reeled the first silk produced in Utah and Is probably now the only woman in the state who knows the art. She has received me'dals for the excellence of her work from New Jersey, California Cali-fornia and the World's Fair at Chicago aod for awhile taught a class at Logan Lo-gan In silk reeling. The mulberry trees are still flourishing but the'sllk worms are dead and with them 'the industry. It would be an excellent subject for some student of economics In Utah to prepare a monograph on the history of silk culture In the state, how It started and why It has not become be-come a leading industry. The work ot Mr. and Mrs. Cardon Is only one of the many European influence that have come Into the county. It wai one of vast possibilities and we wish It might have prospered, Mr. Cardon, however, stands for much more than this one industry and the state should be grateful to Italy for sending it such a hard working, public spirited, pleas-ant-natured citizen with so many artistic taste's. |