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Show Volume XXV Issue X The Ogden Valley news Page 9 January 15, 2019 History of Eden Note: This narrative, written in 1917, was contributed by Fern Manning, formerly of Eden. Eden is located in the central part of Ogden Valley, the center of town being situated on the east bank of the north fork of the Ogden River and four-and-one-half miles northwest of Huntsville. About one-third of the people live on the town site, and the remainder resides on their respective farms in the surrounding countryside. During the period when Ogden Valley was used as a summer herd ground, the cattlemen built a few log cabins for their use. The first of these houses was erected in 1857 by Erastus Bingham and Joseph Hardy on a spring near the middle fork of the Ogden River. It stood about one-and-one-half miles east of the present settlement of Eden. The second house in Ogden Valley was erected on the north fork about a mile west of Eden by Sidney Teeples. Stephen Wilber, a drum player in the Mormon Battalion, built the third house in Eden. It was made of sawed logs. In 1865 he sold this home to Francis Clarke for a yoke of oxen. Later, Clarke made additions to it. The first permanent settlers of Eden arrived in 1859, coming via North Ogden Canyon and pass, since the road had not been completed through Ogden Canyon. The party consisted of Joseph Grover, Sidney Teeples, Stephen Wilber, Peter Geertsen, Joseph Ferrin, Francis Clarke, Elisha Wilber, Moffat, Burket, Farrels, Callahan, Worden, Pease, Lyons, and others. Soon they were joined by John Taylor, Robert Taylor, Richard Ballantyne, and Robert Wilson. In fact, the infant settlement by 1863 had a population of 250 people and by 1870 it had increased to 1051. When the home seeker first arrived, they did not locate close together in village style but resided on their farms. It was not until the Black Hawk War broke out in 1865, when Indians all over Utah began to cause serious trouble [so] that the people of Eden began to build their homes in the center of the town. Brigham Young sent an order to the people to settle close together in order to better defend themselves against raids of attack from the savages. Eventually the Indians became less hostile. Then many [settled on?] of the radius of about a half mile on the town sight. When the people decided to live in town, they hired Washington Jinkens, a government engineer from Ogden, to survey and lay the settlement out in blocks. Mr. Jinkens thought that it was one of the most beautiful towns he had ever surveyed. He remarked, “We shall call it Eden after the famous Biblical times.” Thus, the town was named Eden for its pleasant situation. The Union Pacific Railroad owned alternate sections of land throughout Eden district, which it had received from the Federal government to help pay for building the road. The settlers bought this land for $2.50 per acre. Government land, however, was homesteaded. Industries - During the pioneer period, most of the land was covered with wheat grass, which grew about five feet high. It made excellent hay when cut and dried for winter use. In clearing this land for farming purposes, the pioneers found the grass roots very difficult to dislodge. Finally, the wheat grass disappeared and alfalfa, grain, and vegetables grew in its stead. Robert Burns planted the first Lucerne in Eden, having obtained the seed from a missionary. Elisha and Ellen Wilbur brought the first watercress to Ogden Valley. All the settlers produced sufficient potatoes, vegetables, grains, fruit, hay, eggs, and dairy products for their own use during pioneer days, but very little to sell. Transportation was such that they could not get their produce to a market even if frontier conditions had permitted them to farm on a large scale. Yet, from the first, agriculture was the chief industry. Irrigation was first begun in 1861 by Richard Ballantyne. He took the water out of Wolf Creek, digging the ditch in the most convenient route. The ditch dug by Ballantyne is still used for Wolf Creek water. Other farmers joined in, constructing two main canals—one running in a southerly direction from Wilmer Ferrin’s place and the other east from there passing by Bachman’s. In laying out these ditches, the people used a level made of boards. Lon Pritchett and Josiah Ferrin played an important part in planning and constructing this irrigating system. As more people began farming, Wolf Creek water proved sufficient; therefore, in 1867 the people of Eden had David Jenkins survey a canal from the north fork of the Ogden River. It required several years to build the canal, but when completed, it gave the people an adequate supply of water. Those who owned this water organized the Eden Irrigation Company with Francis Clarke acting as secretary and treasurer. This company controls the irrigation water of Eden. In 1889 an artesian well, the first in the valley, was drilled on the premises of James Ririe to a depth of 84 feet. It flowed forty gallons of water per minute. Since that time, Ogden Valley has become famous for its artesian wells. Sawmills played an important part in the early development of Eden. Timber abounded plentifully in most of the canyons. The mills were located near good stands of timber where there was adequate water supply to run the saws. As the timber became exhausted, the mills were moved to new sites. The sawmill built in Ogden Valley stood just south of the present sight of William Chambers’ house. It was erected in 1862 by Samuel and Josiah Ferrin. Later, they moved the mill to Wolf Creek. In the same year, Levi Wheeler built a mill over the Ogden River about where the bridge crosses at Pine View. He named the canyon Wheeler’s Canyon (Pine View). A dam was constructed, which held the water coming from both the Ogden River and Wheeler Creek. Another sawmill was built in Wolf Creek by Moffet and Garnet. Fredrick Froerer constructed a lath and picket mill on the South Fork, south of Eden on the John Wilson site. This mill was driven by an old over-shaft wheel. Al Taylor ran a mill on Wolf Creek for making lath and shingles and pickets. It had an up-and-down saw with a flutter wheel. Later he sold out to Enoch Fuller. Besides these numerous sawmills in Ogden Valley, there were at Eden blacksmith and carpenter shops. Armstead Moffet operated the first blacksmith shop. Enoch Burns was one of the town’s first carpenters and cabinet makers. He made much of the furniture used in the various homes, directed and assisted many of the settlers in making their homes, and manufactured most of the coffins for the burial of the deceased. Carpenters who were prominent a little later were Robert Gould, Lon Prichett, and Enoch Fuller. The settlement also had its merchants. Mary Ballantyne ran the first store in Eden. In 1879 John Farrell opened a store in part of his home. Later he erected a building, but it was eventually destroyed by fire. Ether McBride ran a store in 1881. He, too, used part of his dwelling at first, but later erected a separate building. The second story of his store, having a hardwood floor, was built for a dance hall. Here the citizens danced for a number of years. Eventually the building sagged and the top story was taken off, leaving the stores as it stands now. The Eden merchants in pioneer days experienced many difficulties. Horses were the only mode of travel. It took a two-day trip to secure merchandise in Ogden. Most of the farmers had to have credit until their crops were harvested. If the crops were insufficient, the merchant had to wait until the second year for his pay. Most of the farmers, however, were able to turn to Ogden for disposal, a definite expense and inconvenience to the merchant. 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 801-745-2688 or Jeannie at 801-745-2879 if you have material you are willing to share. Saturday Night 4:30 p.m. Sunday Morning 8:00 a.m. Sunday Morning 10:00 a.m. Tuesday Night 5:00 p.m. Fr. Charles Cummins 801-399-9531 Before and after any Mass or by appointment. 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 801-393-6051 or 801-394-1515. Church and School - For a number of years, Eden was under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Huntsville Ward. During this period, Richard Ballantyne was the most prominent church and community leader. He conducted many of the church meetings, presided at other public functions, and served as justice of peace. Before moving to Eden in 1859, Mr. Ballantyne had had many wonderful experiences. He was the originator of the Sunday Schools of the church, organizing the first one on December 9, 1849 at Salt Lake City. Later he traveled around the world when he fulfilled a mission in India. Previous to settling in Eden, he engaged in merchandising in Ogden. Then he purchased a farm in Eden, where he raised several crops. Later, however, after six successive years of crop failures caused by grasshoppers, Richard Ballantyne moved back in 1877 to Ogden and purchase called “The Ogden Junction.” The same year that Ballantyne moved back to Ogden, the Eden Ward was established with Josiah M. Ferrin as bishop. Up to this time, the people had been holding meetings in private homes. Now the first schoolhouse was built. It also served as a meeting place for the church. Bishop Ferrin’s successors were the following: John Farrell, 1881-1883; David McKay, 18831885; Josiah M. Ferrin (serving a second term), 1885-1895; Henry J. Fuller, 1895-1905, serving through the end of the century. The first school in Eden was taught by Johanna Teeples in 1866. The following year the Eden School District was organized. The school was supported entirely by tuition, which amounted to five cents per day for each student. Richard Ballantyne was the person primarily responsible for the establishment of the school and school district. John Farrell was one of the first trustees. The log schoolhouse, which had the peculiar distinction of a shingled roof, served as the first room for the children to meet in. It was replaced by a frame building, which in 1884 was sold to the people of Liberty and was immediately moved to the new site. Another frame building was erected on the old site at Eden. It cost $1,004.50. Its dimensions were 26 by 40 feet, and its seating was seventy-eight. Following is a list of the teachers who taught in the Eden school up to 1887: Johanna C. Teeples, Edmund Burke Fuller, Richard Ballantyne, Myron Butler, Francis Clarke, Ether E. McBride, Delecta Ballantyne, Mr. Witten, Mary E. Ballantyne, Josie Ballantyne, Alice Fellows, James A. Thompson, A. T. Waldram, George H. Carver, Irvin T. Alvord, W. W. McDonald, Nami Fiefield, and B. C. Jackson. From The Past . . . Valley Basketball 19?? If you can identify any of these Valley students with Principal Ballif, please call Shanna at 745-2688 or Jeannie at 745-2879. Photo courtesy of Valley Bulldog yearbook. 2668 Grant Avenue, Suite #104A, Ogden, UT 801-612-9299 |