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Show Volume XXX Issue X The Ogden Valley News Page 9 August 1, 2023 The Story of Ogden Valley: Part III Note: This series on Ogden Valley was taken from Chapter 18 of the 5th edition of “Beneath Ben Lomond’s Peak” by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Weber County Chapter (1995), which was compiled and edited by Milton R. Hunter, Ph.D. The book was 昀椀rst written and published in 1944. Huntsville Cooperative Association In 1869, a cooperative store was organized in Huntsville with about $700 worth of stock subscribed. William Halls was appointed business manager. This institution did a very good business for several years thereafter. Four years later, the citizens cooperated together and purchased a farm of 450 acres for which they paid $2,000 and spent $600 in other improvements. Andrew P. Lofgren was appointed manager of the cooperative farm. The first year he produced a large crop of oats and barley, but an unfortunate circumstance occurred while threshing the grain. A fire accidently broke out and consumed all of the crop except 75 tons of hay and 150 bushels of grain. The loss was estimated to be $1,500. Lofgren retired and William Halls succeeded him in the management of the farm. George Halls became associated with his brother in the superintendency of the cooperative farm. They built a cheese factory, costing $1,200, and manufactured during the first season 2,000 pounds of cheese, which sold at fifteen cents per pound. As time passed, the amount produced increased. The Huntsville Cooperative Association bought a sheep herd of 600 head from Hammond and McKay in 1875. It was sent to pasture in the Cedar Mountains, west of Salt Lake. The directors of the cooperative association developed considerable jealously toward men of individual enterprise. A year after they purchased the sheep, the company lost $1,200 as a result of mismanagement in herding and the severe winter in which snow was five feet deep on the level in Ogden Valley. At the request of the directors of the cooperative organization, Hammond and McKay bought back the sheep herd. The Halls brothers rented the farm and dairy and manufactured cheese as a private enterprise. The cooperative association was dissolved in 1878. Christian Peterson purchased the store at 64½ per cent on the original stock investment. The farm was purchased by the Halls brothers. Agriculture and Kindred Industries - In the meantime, a number of industries had arisen in Huntsville. Agriculture and stock raising were the two principal ones. The altitude, being approximately 5,000 feet, favored early frosts which made wheat raising rather speculative. However, barley and oats were raised in abundance and potatoes generally gave an immense yield of a very fine quality. It was too cold for fruits, only the small varieties being cultivated. A plenteous supply of grass and fodder of all kinds made that district an excellent dairy country. Halls’ cheese factory had a capacity of 18,000 pounds annually. The proprietors owned 700 acres of land and milked from 100 to 150 cows, all of good breeds, having many imported blooded animals among them. Of course, most of the people produced what butter, cheese, milk, eggs, meat, and vegetables they needed for home consumption, and some of the settlers produced these articles for the market. For example, the yield of barley and oats in Huntsville in 1888 was 50,000 bushels (an exceptionally large crop), and the potato crop was very good. But prices were so low that it did not pay the farmers to haul the produce to Ogden. They found it to their advantage to keep good cows and chickens, as eggs and butter found a ready sale on the market. As early as 1864, a gristmill [which makes wheat flour and corn meal, etc.] commenced operating in Huntsville. It was owned by Jefferson Hunt, Jonathan Browning, and Samuel Ferrin. Hunt, however, soon sold his interest to his partners. This mill, which was situated on Spring Creek, was the only one ever built in Ogden Valley during the nineteenth century. The industry of blacksmithing, essential in an agricultural community of that period, was also established at Huntsville. Christian F. Schade was the first blacksmith. At the time he opened his shop, iron was very scarce in that part of the country. The supply consisted of scraps of iron that were picked up from old wagons on the plains. The cost of old iron was thirty cents per pound, and fifty cents was paid for a bucket of charcoal. Under those conditions, iron was used very economically. Education - The first school in Huntsville was taught by Katherine Conover Hunt during the winter of 1860-1861. Classes were held in a private home in Hunt’s fort. During the coming summer, a log schoolhouse, 16 by 20 feet in dimension, was erected in the public square, and Marcellus Monroe, Enoch Hackshaw and Wilmer W. Bronson were elected school trustees. Mark Forscut, a man who had been a member of the “Morrisite Movement,” taught school during the first summer. He was succeeded by William Halls, who held school during the winter of 1862-1863. Two years later the second room of the schoolhouse was completed, which afforded ample room for both school and public meetings. Joseph Grover, John Blair, Charles Handy, William Burton, Jane Dilworth Hammond, Lona Pratt, and Viola Pratt taught school in that building. “Huntsville, Weber County, Utah Territory, United States of America, July 4, 1866. The following named persons, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, agree to assist in building a house in Huntsville, wherein to worship God and educate their children.” Thus ran the legend that reposed in a bottle in the corner of the rock schoolhouse which replaced the one built of logs. The document was signed with the names of 73 of the most prominent citizens. Apostle John Taylor laid the cornerstone, and several other church officials from Salt Lake participated in the ceremonies. In 1867, the building was completed, and it served for education, amusements, religious services, funerals, and every purpose of a public nature. It was constructed by donations from members of the Mormon Church, and rented to the trustees for public school purposes. The rental for its use consisted of general upkeep and repair of the building. Here George and William Halls, Edward H. Anderson, H. C. Wardleigh, Charles Wright, Mary Bingham, Louisa Goodale, Silva and Survine Perry, Caroline Renstrom, Emma Woods, Ella McKay Barnes, and others taught. The first school trustees who served after the new building was completed were Robert Aldous, William S. Lish, and Thomas Bingham. Church - The settlers of Huntsville, like the early settlers of the other towns of Utah, were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Early in the spring of 1861 a branch was organized with Jefferson Hunt as president. Thomas Bingham and Clinton D. Bronson were subsequently chosen as his counselors. Meetings were held in private homes until the schoolhouse was completed. This building served their needs until a separate church building was constructed—the rock building just described. Late in the spring of 1865, Elder Francis A. Hammond, after his return from the Sandwich Islands Mission, was appointed to succeed Captain Hunt as president of the settlement. William S. Lish and David McKay, father of President David O. McKay, were his counselors. Hammond served as presiding elder until June 10, 1877, when he was ordained a bishop by Apostle Franklin D. Richards and the stake 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. Wednesday Night Saturday Night Sunday Morning First Friday 5:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. 8:30 a m. Fr. Joshua Marie Santos 801-399-5627 FrJoshuaS.Stambrose@gmail.com Saturday 5:30 p.m Sunday 8:00 a.m. or by appt. 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. presidency (David H. Peery, Lester J. Herrick, and Charles F. Middleton) and set apart to preside over the Huntsville Ward. His counselors were William Halls and Niels C. Mortensen. Bishop Hammond was succeeded in 1885 by David McKay, who had recently returned from presiding over the Scotland Mission. David McKay was set apart to preside over the ward on March 22. Soren L. Peterson was his first and Christian F. Schade his second counselors. Brother McKay served as bishop for twenty years and did outstanding work in furthering every community project. His name is revered by the people of Huntsville. The various church auxiliaries also functioned well at Huntsville. The first attempt to start a Sunday School was made in 1862 by Joseph Grover. During later years both James Hawkins and William Halls were active in Sunday School work, serving as superintendents. As early as 1878 a YMMIA [Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association] was operated under the direction of George Halls. He served until 1883-1884. That winter David McKay and Alvin H. Sprague were his counselors. The YLMIA [Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Association] was established at Huntsville the same year as the men’s orga- nization was instituted. Mary Bingham was the first president, with Diana Bingham and Mary Moiselle Hammond, counselors. Two years later the Primary Association was organized with the following officers: Mrs. May Moiselle Hammond Hall, president; Elizabeth Hawkins and Survina Perry, counselors; Emma E. Mortensen, secretary; Mary E. Wood, assistant secretary; and Marinda Allen, treasurer. Huntsville, as did all the other Mormon communities, sent missionaries year after year to the various countries throughout the world to preach the gospel and make converts for the church. Before the nineteenth century closed, approximately 50 elders from that one small settlement had been on missions. Among them were such outstanding characters as Francis A. Hammond, Soren L. Peterson, Peter C. Geertsen, David McKay, William and George Halls, George H. Halls, Angus McKay, and David O. McKay, the named being probably the most illustrious character of Huntsville’s history. It is a distinct honor for a town to produce a man who not only became an apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but also has served for many years as a member of the First Presidency [and later the prophet]. From The Past . . . Photo of Huntsville’s old rock school and meeting house, which replaced one built of logs. A signed document by Apostle John Taylor laid in the cornerstone of the building, stated: “Huntsville, Weber County, Utah Territory, United States of America, July 4, 1866. The following named persons, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, agree to assist in building a house in Huntsville, wherein to worship God and educate their children.” The building was completed in 1867. If anyone knows the history of who the gentleman were in the photo, please contact Shanna (801-745-2688) or Jeannie (801-745-2879). 2668 Grant Avenue, Suite #104A, Ogden, UT 801-612-9299 |