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Show SALT FLAT NEWS, AUGUST, 1970 4 m& mm cum ro (Ml rvn UJUJ Park Valley, Box Elder Comity, Utah (Editor's note) The NEWS in attempting to report on the significant events of The Great Basin Area of Utah and Nevada feels especially privileged in covering the Centennial festivities of Park Valley. As a major part of series on the history of The Centennial is historical , The NEWS shall do a special two-pais gratefully indebted to Mrs. Norine K. Carter, Chairman of The this area. Centennial Committee and her two hardworking assistants, Mrs. Letitia W. Palmer and Mrs. Dorothy K. Morris. 33 rt The-NEW- S PREFACE As we have tried to collect a history of Park Valley from many sources, we realize more and more the size of the task. We know this isnt complete, and we hope there are very few mistakes, but some of the facts are from the memories of those who call the valley Home. This is why some of the facts and dates are given as about. That is the way they told us. We sincerely say thanks to those who aided by answering our Accounts differ as to the first permanent settlers, but it is believed that William P. (Cotton) Thomas was the tint to have actually lived here. In the fall of 1869 he entered a contract to winter about 1500 head of cattle for one dollar a head. These he drove to Park Valley and set up his headquarters on a spring about 6 miles south of the present store and school house. The Indians killed 2 of the cows for food but gave the hides to him so he could get the dollar for pasturing them. Cotton Thomas thought the valley was a beautiful place, with the grass and groves of cedar trees. It resembled very much the park land of his native country, Wales, so he gave it the name Park questions, loaning pictures, looking up material, driving many miles to contribute their memories, and answering letters. Also, thanks to our families who have been so patient. We lovingly dedicate this small Valley. Thomas Dunn is reported to booklet to those who have called, the next person to have or who now call this peaceful val- come been to Park Valley. He came ley Home; to those who came with the desire to farm and ranch. with dreams and left with shat- He settled in the east end of the tered hopes but contributed to Larour life here; to those who stayed valley. Others say that Adam to was Kelton from sen freighting here and found a way of life that, his in and towns trailed Idaho in some respects, is still untouched by the newest fads of a runaway horses from his camp at fast moving world; and to those Emigrant Springs to Dunn Canwho pass through and say, Yes, yon. He decided to settle here and so returned in 1870 and built a that is a good place to live. near where the Larsen 'home We hope that you will enjoy is home now. Another report says the information and that the picCallahan was workAndrew that tures will bring back pleasant on the His horses railroad. ing memories, or help to renew old in the he and found them strayed friendships. setHe came and 1871 valley. to more have iq If you something side on tled the road the south of find we or facts that didnt share, in limited time, or events we in Rosette near Pugsley s. Lucinda Campbell came in didnt record because of limited 1871, along with her sons, Jonaspace, please add your contribuand Helaman. They settled than tion. some on springs in the west side We acknowledge, with sincere the of Soon after this, valley. thanks, the use of material col- James Yates and Morris, Hyrum lected and recorded by Rex R. William Callahan to settle came LaPugsley, Philbert Lind, and Hir-sctoo. In 1877 Christian there, readMar Tracy. You will enjoy and Jacob Kunzler came ing their complete material. from Tooele to settle in Rosette". Norine K. Carter Other names we find among Letitia W. Palmer the first settlers were Jonathan Dorothy K. Morris Love, Mr. Nelson, Joseph Fisher, Orson and Sam James, Moroni HISTORY Coleman, Abraham Chadwick, Park Valley a secluded val- Joseph Godfrey, William Me- ley nearly surrounded by mountains on the edge of the Great Basin. This small collection of material will use Park Valley to refer to the entire valley that includes the communities of Park Valley, Rosette, Rosen Valley, Dove Creek, and Muddy. Before the advent of the white man this valley was the home of wild animals and Indians. Then explorers and trappers followed the mountain streams that are today the means of a livelihood to ll most of the residents. The Party and others traveled through the valley on their Way to hi - Bid-we- California. The first settlers were attracted to the valley because of the possibilities for raising sheep and cattle. The area was covered with grass but drought, hard wi- and maybe overgrazing caused the grass to die. It was replaced with sagebrush and cedar trees, except where the natural springs or mountain streams made irrigation possible. nters, Uttle Miss Muffet? cham, Charles J. Rohwer, Andrew Rose, Absalom Yates, E. D. Mecham and others. These first settlers that came brought with them their livestock and household belongings in wag-- ; ons pulled by oxen and horses. They settled near springs or on the banks of the mountain streams. They used their cattle for meat and milk. They planted orchards and gardens as well as grain. Wild animals, wild fruits, pine nuts, fish, and game birds helped to supply the families with food. Some say there are places in the valley where the first little while tiie settlers lived in dug-out- s until they could build better homes. Logs were brought from the canyons and made into cabins with dirt floors and a dirt roof. Before long lumber was hauled from the railroad station at Kelton or sawed at sawmills ran by Mr. Fisher, Mr. Yates, or Christian Hirschi. Some of the early settlers lived in their wagons for one winter. These wagons were grouped around one log cabin near the E. F. Carter home. The Indians didnt have a permanent home here but they passed through'and came here to hunt. The settlers made friends with them and gave them food. The early settlers learned to depend upon their own skills and to help one another. They cleared the land and fenced their fields. They started a school and found time to worship God. In these times when a doctor was so far away the people turned to Mrs. Agnes Holtman, Lucinda Campbell, Martha M. Burton, and Martha J. Mecham in times of sickness or when a new baby was expected. Erastus Darwin Mecham had learned the medicinal value of many plants and how to use medicines. He could set broken bones and pull teeth. He and his wife, Martha, worked as a doctor-nurs- e team in those early years. Then Mrs. Anderson came to the valley and for many years she served the communities as midwife and nurse. She and her family lived in the Tithing Granary or the old Relief Society Building. There were deaths in the valley. Erastus Carter and William Carter would make the caskets while Martha Burton and Jane Rose made the burial clothes and lined the casket. There were a few scattered graves but the first com-- , munity cemetery was the one north of the school house. Then, because of the hard digging and the trouble with water, it was moved to the small ridge east of the school house. The first one to be buried in this cemetery was William Erastus Mecham who died in 1896. There were other times of sorrow in 1883 diptheria killed the Hirschi children and others. There was a little boy who froze to death while trying to walk to Grandmas house. There was the accident with a pitchfork that resulted in the death of Vernal Caddy at the age of 15. Curtis Hirschi ' NEWS photoi courtBsy Norint K. Carter Two young ladies from Park Valley pote for a photograph in 1910. The young lady on the left it identified only at Aunt Maye and the lady on the right at Mia Cryttal Smith. .')&? " i' , ' s V - ' i'jt i 'JL . ' .''(i' ,'rvv I V . v s v1 g s ! . uj' v;. v - - A ggain binder thawing a thock of grain bundlet in the foreground. The time this picture wax taken was around 1909. The two people in this picture are oily referred to at Henry and Birtha who farmed and lived in Park Valley. houte wat built in 1878. It wat the home of Mrs. Louise Kunzler (standing in doorway) who wat one of Park Valleys original settlers. This log and Irwin Carter were killed at the same time while sawing wood. In recent years there is the unsolved riddle of what happened to Tommy Novak. These early people were re- sourceful. They used what they could find to make life easier or to improve their living conditions. Charlie Chadwick and Erastus Mecham were blacksmiths and helped to build needed items as well as to repair broken ones. A lime kiln was set up east of the valley center, a grist mill was operated at Rosebud by Mr. Play-o- r. Most of the men owned a shoe repair outfit and put new soles on their childrens shoes as well as sewing up holes. The growth followed much the same pattern as that of other towns in the west. The town of Terrace on the railroad south of the valley served as a shopping center and also a source of cash money. Typical of some of the enterprises they undertook was the raising and selling of onions by Mr. Morris, the butchering and selling of meat by Jacob Kunzler, and freighting. Jan Chadwick was a dressmaker and went to Terrace in a lumber wagon to sew for the women there. There was lf a market for eggs, garden vegetables, and fruit from their pr-char- Kelton, the railroad center south and east of the valley, became the point where they caught a train to town, took livestock for shipment, and sold some of their produce. Many of the men used their teams and wagons to haul freight from Kelton to places as far away as Boise, Idaho and Helena, Montana. About 1910 a land boom started. This, coupled with the use of the Homestead Act, brought hundreds of people into the valley. The Pacific Land and Water Company, with Harold as leader, bought 136,949 acres of railroad land in the valley and induced many settlers to come here to dry farm. Hundreds of acres of laqd were plowed and planted to wheat. Most of these people were disappointed. The soil was fertile and the climate was suitable but there just wasnt enough rainfall to make dry farming successful. Some harvested one crop and some none. When asked how long the dry farmers . La-Fo- nt stayed, someone answered, Only a few years were starved but. until they The story of the Russian Colony who came here at this time is typical. From the writings of Philbert C. Lind I quote: A colony of exiled Russians were seeking a mecca where they could enjoy isolation and peace. These were located in the dry sagebrush flats below Park Valley, along the lower part ofDove Creek. The main reason for their migration to this isolated area was so their children could grow up in their own culture and traditions. A. P. Ka- ryakin was their presiding authority." The opening of the Century Mine also 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, NEWS photos by At the Dance Bttty Rica meat, and fruit from the farms and ranches. After the dry farmers left and the mines closed, the people who had water available, for their ranches continued to live and progress along with the rest of Utah. It sent service men into World (Continued on page 5) |