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Show Volume XV Issue XXII The Ogden Valley news Page November 1, 2008 Early History of Liberty—Part II Note: History contributed by Rod Clark of axe on the side of the wagon as they took a load of produce to Ogden. They someLiberty times would have to stop and chop the tree Carrying the mail to Ogden Valley in stumps and growth from the road in order pioneer days found in an old newspaper to get the load by. They road would wear clipping written by Joseph A. West, states, down with travel and there was always “I well remember though but a boy, I car- enough moisture for new growth. They ried the mail on horseback to North Ogden would always leave early of a morning for to the home of Crandal Dunn, thence across the trip and maybe stay until the next day the mountain through Liberty to Eden to before starting for home. Hay and grain was and still is the main Richard Ballantynes, then to the home of Captain Hunt of Mormon Battalion renown, crop raised here. Thrashing is a big projand thence down the Ogden canyon over an ect each fall, as the men went from farm old Indian trail, that the early settlers will to farm helping one another get the grain remember, in making these trips which I into the bins before the snow fell. It was a did twice a week, I had good opportunity much slower process than the modern comto note the progress of the Ogden canyon bines of today. On each farm the grain was road, built originally under legislative char- cut by horse drawn binders that would cut ter as a toll road.” David Moore secured and ite the grain into small bundles. The the government contract for carrying the bundles would be hauled by wagons from the fields and stacked according to variety. mail to the valley in 1869. There is a certain knack or knowhow to In 1893 through the efforts of Robert N. Ames, Justice of the peace at Liberty, stack grain in order for them to stay stacked a post office was established with Joshua until it was your turn for the thrasher to B. Judkins as postmaster. The first mail come and separate the grain from the straw. carrier was Walter Lindsey. He carried The men worked hard by enjoyed working the mail from Eden to Liberty, then at together. The women would have three the home of John Marshall with Christina hot meals to cook for the crew as long as as Postmistress for many years. From they were at their ranch. Any breakdowns Marshall’s to the Penrod store, William H. would prolong the job. The first thrasher was a horse driven Chard store and the last establishment was in Thomas and Isabell Rhodes home. The one owned by Warren Campbell, Andrew first mail route was in 1841 and it serves Clark, Charles Clark, Robert Montgomery, and John H. Ward. This machine was sold the community today. Next to farming and stock raising, the to Joseph Southwick, Oatha Southwick, lumber industry was of much importance. Edwin Clark, and William Chard. The second horse driven machine was In 1861, Thomas Bingham erected a hand driven shingle mill on the North Fork owned and run by B. A. Montgomery and just west of where the state road cross- Walter Lindsey and others, and eventually es the stream between Eden and Liberty ended up as Southwick owned and oper(Chambers place) later it was moved to ated. another site (Wolfcreek). That same year, C. W. West and Levi Wheeler built the first power wheel sawmill in Wheeler canyon. In order to reach the canyon, they traveled over North Ogden pass through the valley and down the river by boat. This was thought to be the first power driven wheel sawmill ever built in Utah. Mr. Samuel and Josia[h] Ferrin put up a power driven mill near the previous site (Chambers place). Another mill was erected by Orson Short in North Fork at the mouth of Cutler canyon. In 1867 David Garner was partners on a mill up Broadmouth canyon, and they lived on the east side of the North Fork river in Liberty. In 1870 Thomas Durfee had a mill up Durfee canyon. Joseph Southwick Sr. located the second mill on the North Fork in 1870. Farming, dairying, and stockraising remain the main industry in Liberty today. Before the road was surfaced down the canyon, the farmers would always carry an A large steam-driven power machine was owned by Lindseys, Chadwicks, and Willards. Bill Lindsey was the engineer, Alf Willard the oiler and troubleshooter, Will Chadwick was the bagger. This thrasher engine had to be kept in water in order for it to get enough steam to run. It was stored in winter time on the James Lindsey farm. The steam thrasher was replaced by a gasoline operated one owned by Alma Chambers and one owned by Robert F. Holmes. Mr. Holmes had the last thrasher in Liberty. Boyd Storey was the first Liberty resident that owned and did custom work with a modern-day combine. The pea industry was a very profitable crop. The valley peas were well known for their exceptionally good flavor and quality. In 1913 a few acres were tried on an experimental basis to see if the climate could produce a worthwhile crop. These peas were hauled to 12th Street to a canning factory. In 1914, a small viner was installed in Eden at the fork of the road leading to Huntsville and Ogden canyon. The peas were hauled there until a large viner was built in Liberty in 1916. It was started and used until the late summer of 1917. It was built on land bought from Alf Penrod by the Wasatch Canning Co. through the efforts of Mr. Parker manager. The viner that was installed in Liberty was the largest in the country. It contained five double unloading viners run by steam with a huge smoke stack that took several wagons to bring it through the canyon. It had to be brought in sections it was so tall. There would be around 20 men employed at harvest time. There were no eating establishments in town, a cook shack was secured and supplied with a stove, a coal stove that is, and three tables and benches; also some white granite dishes. Two women would take the job of cooking for the crew, furnishing the food for so much for each person per meal. Three hot meals a day were served as well as early morning coffee. The men also slept at the viner at night as at four in the morning the whistle would blow for them to start thrashing peas. There would be as many as 40 to 50 wagon loads lined up in all directions for blocks around. The farmers soon learned that cool temperatures produced more tender and juicy peas, better tests, and more money for the product. In the heat of the afternoon, the viner would close down and quit thrashing. The farmers would cut and load peas in the evening after the sun would go down in order to have them ready for morning. The peas would be loaded into trucks as soon as possible after they were thrashed and hauled to the canner. The run usually lasted about three weeks. The Wasatch Canning Co. was merged or sold to the California Packing Co., which it is still known by today. The viner was torn down in 1958-9 and a few peas were raised until 1961. Portable viners were brought in to thrash them. There were only four producers the last year—Parley Clark, John Shupe, Lysle Chard, and Clive Poulson. They were hauled to Smithfield to test and can. You might ask the question, “Why after 48 years aren’t peas raised for commercial purposes today?” In later years, not a fair profit was made, and the farmers could use the water to better advantage and more profit. Historical Photo The Ogden Valley News is looking for Ogden Valley and Ogden Canyon historical biographies, stories, and photos to use in its publication. Please mail, email, or call Shanna at 745-2688 or Jeannie at 745-2879 if you have material you would like to share. Picture of the pug stack just before the Liberty pea viner closed. Photo courtesy of Rod Clark of Liberty. www.iversondental.com |