OCR Text |
Show Volume XXII Issue IX The Ogden Valley news Page 9 April 15, 2014 Early History of Liberty: Part II Note: This is part two of a history that began in the April 1 issue of The Ogden Valley News. The history has been provided courtesy of Rod Clark of Liberty. The name Ogden Valley was taken, of course, after Peter Skeen Ogden who came through here in 1825. The name Ogden is an honored one in both England and America. It is of Saxon origin, from the word Oak and Dean, meaning oak vale or valley. Oak denotes strength, health, and durability. At the time, the Latter Day Saint Ward was organized in December 1892 in Salt Lake City, the question came up as to what to name this newly organized ward. Mr. James Monroe Wade suggested “Mountain Dell,” but Liberty seemed to be favored by the majority so it was retained. On the 3rd of December, 1859, a Moroni Campbell and his wife Leora Margyann Talmabe Campbell and his grandmother were the first white people to spend the winter in Liberty. They built the fist log house in pine canyon. The log house didn’t have any windows in it. It had a hole in the roof to let the smoke out. The roof was made of wheatgrass and dirt. The stove was rock piled against the logs to keep them from burning. While the husband was away to North Ogden, an awful storm came up; it was a very hard rain. The house leaked all over, not clear water, but mud. There was a place from about the middle of the bed to the head that did not leak. The grandmother put the mother cross- wise of the bed, and put a feather bed over her to keep her dry. She put the quilts under the bed to keep them dry. Wet boards were laid down to lie on. A sheet was hung at the foot of the bed and one at the head to help keep the wind out. The house was chinked but not plastered. Under these conditions, the first white child was born in Liberty. They named her Rozilla. The next spring they moved back to North Ogden. The first settlers came in 1860, the Dan and Ammon Campbell families. John Riddle took up the homestead in the center of town on the south banks of Spring Creek (Robert Holmes place). John Freeman built a cabin about three blocks east of Joels Campbell’s home. James Fisher erected a rock house near the Fisher springs (Clark’s place), and a Mr. Murray lived in a dugout on the Murray springs, now the Shupe Fish Hatchery. Charles Card came at this time and Erastus Bingham lived between Liberty and Eden at the site of the sawmill in 1861. There were only about 30 acres of land being farmed. Other people owned land here, but because of the severe winters they did not live in Liberty the year around. In the winter the snow was on the average of 5 feet deep. Mr. Freeman did not get out in time one winter and was snowed in. He lived on a little salt pork and potatoes. Most of the permanent settlers that came with their families are still represented today. James Burt Sr. and the Walter Lindsey families came to America on the same boats, arriving Readers Identify Names “From The Past” Photo We would like to thank our readers who called in the names for the picture “From the Past” in the March 1 issue of the paper--Quinn McKay and Ned Clarke. Joyce Montgomery recently called to correct and add to the names. A corrected list of names is as follows: From left to right, beginning with the back row: Kenneth Olso/en and Quinn McKay. Center row: Gwen Robbins, Lois Berlin Shepherd, Jean Jude, Evelyn Wilson, JoAnn Jensen, and Mr. Ernest Rauzi. Front row: Joyce Stoker, Elmer Hogge, Janice Felt, Marvin Fuller, Eleanore Montgomery, and Rulon Shaw. in Utah in the same year, 1862. Both families later settled in Eden then in Liberty. By the years 1869 -1870, there were four homes built in the center of town. They belonged to Thomas Atkinson, Walter Lindsey, James Burt Jr., and John Marshall—all brothers-in-law. Temple Short and Robert Gould owned property. Others who owned property were Alfred Berrett, who came in 1872, Edmond Riley Shaw sometime in the middle 60’s. Also, Frank and Daniel Campbell, James M Ferrin, Joseph Southwick and a Mr. Reese, and William R Holmes. In 1883 Henry Chard came, John Shaw in 1886, GG Dunbar was here in 1889, Mr. Summers in 1887, Richard Jones 1893, Joshua B Judkins was here in 1892, Edward J Davis, Samuel Berrett, Samuel Higgenbottom and Abe Armstrong came with the early settlers. Following is a list of names that became permanent settlers, as to time they are not in sequence. Joseph Gardner, Elijah Shaw, Andrew Clark, Charles Clark, Oliver Penrod, Geroge Shaw, Orson Shaw, Franklin and Monroe Wade, Wilts and William Bailey, Albert Ward, William A Chadwick, Joseph Rhodes, James H Ward, Robert Bailey, Walter Lindsey, Walter Whiteley, Hyrum Chauncy Gardner, Edmon Shaw Jr, Robert Montgomery, Edwin Hill, B.A. Montgomery, William Orem, and Charles Leila. The people were thankful for the friendliness of the Indians. No fights were had although sometimes their talk became very ugly. In order to keep the peace the settlers were sometimes left with very little to eat. Sometimes as many as three hundred Indians would ride across the mountain from Cache Valley begging for food. The children of the settlers were always afraid of the Indians. They would pull down the blinds and hide into the cellars, if they would see them coming. Carrying the mail to Ogden Valley in pioneer days, found in an old newspaper clipping written by Joseph A West, states, “I well remember, though but a boy, I carried the mail on horseback to North Ogden to the home of Crandal Dunn, thence across the mountain through Liberty to Eden to Richard Ballantynes, then to the home of Captain Hunt of Mormon Battalion renown, and then down the Ogden Canyon over an old Indian trail, that the early settlers will remember, in making these trips I did twice a week, I had good opportunity to note the progress of the Ogden Canyon road, built originally under legislative charter as a toll road.” David Moore secured the government contract for carrying the mail to the valley in 1869. In 1893, through the efforts of Robert N Ames, Justice of the Peace at Liberty, a post office was established, with Joshua B Judkins as postmaster. The first mail carrier was Walter Lindsey. He carried the mail from Eden to Liberty. Then at the home of John Marshall with Christina as Postmistress for many years. From Marshall’s to the Penrod store, William H Chard store, and, the last establishment, was in Thomas and Isabell Rhodes’ home. The first mail route was in 1941 and it served the community today. From The Past . . . WSu’s Stewart library Spotlights life on ogden’s Historic 25th Street Weber State University’s Langsdon and her staff received a grant Stewart Library Special Collections will present “25th: The Street that Never Slept,” a new exhibit about Ogden’s notorious street, opening April 4 at 6:00 p.m. at Union Station’s Gallery 51 (2484 Washington Blvd. Suite 101, Ogden). 200 25th Street: Originally a saloon, John Cosmos turned this building into the Beehive Confectionery in 1932, one year before this photograph was taken. The exhibit features photographs from the library’s collection of historical images as well as new photographs by WSU students and excerpts from oral history interviews with men and women who have lived and worked on 25th Street. Sara Langsdon, associate curator of Special Collections, said the exhibit is the culmination of the yearlong “Business at the Crossroads” project designed to document the history of 25th Street after World War II. “Little of that time has been documented, and we really wanted to capture the spirit and vibrancy of 25th Street—both then and now,” she said. last year from the Richard K. and Shirley S. Hemingway Foundation to collaborate with faculty and students from multiple departments. History students completed internships in Special Collections, researching buildings and events and conducting oral history interviews. “It has been such an incredible opportunity to meet these people and listen to their stories,” said student intern Lorrie Rands. “Some of their stories are funny; some are sad. Some even touch on the more dangerous aspects of 25th Street. I think people will love reading them all.” WSU photography students documented the evolution of 25th Street. Joshua Winegar, assistant professor of photography, worked as their mentor as they took portraits of current business owners and recreated historical images. Other faculty who have worked on the project include Kathy Payne, associate professor of library science; Kathryn MacKay, professor of history; and Pepper Glass, assistant professor of sociology. The exhibit will open as part of Ogden’s First Friday Art Stroll and will be on display throughout April. Additional opening night events include a presentation by high school students from Venture Academy titled “King of O-Town: Joe McQueen,” a multimedia timeline of McQueen’s life and career in jazz. Val Holley, author of “25th Street Confidential,” will speak at 7:00 p.m. and sign books after. This event is also sponsored by a grant from the Utah Division of State History, the Utah Humanities Council and Friends of the Stewart Library. For more information about the exhibit, please visit library.weber.edu/25thstreet. Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University. St. Florence Easter Masses: Thursday, April 17 – Holy Thursday Mass at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 18 – Good Friday Service at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 19 – Easter Vigil at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, April 20 – Easter Masses at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. FACulTy oF 1909. If you can identify any of these teacher’s names, please call Shanna at 801-745-2688 or Jeannie at 801-745-2879. Photo courtesy of Kathleen Clements, daughter of Marvin Gardner. Jeffrey D. Shepherd DMD, MSD Specialist in Orthodontics shepherdorthodontics Fast Treatment Times • Children and Adults • Flexible Payment Options Call to schedule your complimentary exam today! Eden Professional Center 2580 North Highway 162, #A EDEN 801.745.2519 Tuesday 6:00-6:30 pm Sunday 9:00-10:00 am or by appointment. South Pointe Plaza 5300 South Adams Ave, #9 OGDEN Saint Joseph Catholic Elementary, Middle School, and High School Providing a challenging, college-focused education in the proven tradition of Catholic schools, for the families of the Ogden Valley. We want to teach your children! For information on our program, financial assistance, tours, or application, please call Daniela Quintana at 801-814-8192 or 801-393-6051. 801.479.9448 Located just one block from Snowcrest Junior High Students can walk from school to appointments! shepherdorthodontics.com |