OCR Text |
Show Volume XXX Issue XI The Ogden Valley News Page 9 August 15, 2023 The Story of Ogden Valley: Part IV ing many quarterly conferences in various communities. He is a popular speaker, and his earnestness always makes a good impression on his audience. In the words of Edward P. Kimball: “His sure and unfailing testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ is exemplified in his every thought, word, and deed for the young people of the church. His kindly gentlemanly bearing toward everyone whom he meets is proverbial; his testimony is inspiring, and his example compels admiration.” And since he was chosen and set apart as second counselor in the First Presidency, David O. McKay has had even greater opportunity to serve the church. Before we complete our story of Huntsville, we should discuss the erection of their beautiful church house. Bishop Francis A. Hammond, with a few others, began agitating in 1879 for the building of a new meetinghouse by donations. The people of the ward responded favorably. Work on the project began shortly thereafter. By 1883 the building was completed. It was a beautiful structure with dimensions 70 by 35 feet. It had a tower and steeple with its highest point 98 feet from the ground. The house had a seating capacity of 800, which included the gallery space. The seats, furniture, and all the woodwork were homemade, and attractively finished. Five Gothic windows in each side and two at the south end gave light to the interior. The grounds were neatly fenced and surrounded by trees, which added to the attractiveness of the building. The entire cost of the church house and furnishings was $11,800. On Sunday, July 8, the building was dedicated. President John Taylor and others of the general church authorities came from Salt Lake for the occasion. The president and party arrived Saturday evening. They were greeted by the brass band and a large crowd of citizens who were assembled in front of the meetinghouse where an arch of welcome had been prepared, bearing the words, “Welcome God’s Chosen.” That evening a reception was held at the home of Bishop Hammond. “The Deseret News” reported the occasion as follows: “The erection of such a building by the people of a small settlement like Huntsville is a very creditable and praiseworthy undertaking. The building was commenced in the spring of 1870, and now that it is entirely completed and dedicated, the saints of Huntsville have just cause to be proud of so beautiful a place of worship. The meetinghouse is one of the finest in the stake, and will answer the purpose for which it has been erected for many years to come. At the services on Sunday there were present on the stand: Presidents John Taylor, George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith, President L. John Nuttal, President Jacob Gates and Abram H. Cannon, and Elders John Irvine and Henry Grow of Salt Lake City; also, Apostle F. D. Richards, President L. W. Shurtliff, C. F. Middleton, and N. C. Flygare, Elders F. S. Richards, L. F. Moench and Richard Ballantyne of Ogden, besides bishops and elders from nearly all the settlement in the county.” 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. David O. McKay was born on September 8, 1873, in Huntsville. He was reared in a home where the performance of every religious duty was a part of life, and where respect and honor for parents and for each other were impressed upon him daily, through words and actions. He has always been an enthusiastic member of the Sunday School and Primary Association, and became secretary of the Huntsville Sunday School and Mutual Improvement Association. When he was twenty years old, he was principal of the Huntsville school. Shortly after graduating from the University of Utah (June 1, 1897), he was ordained a Seventy and set apart for a mission to the British Isles. After returning to Utah from his mission (September 1899), David O. McKay became a teacher in Weber Academy [today’s Weber State University] and three years later became its principal. He held this position until 1908. His administrative work and influence upon the school were outstanding. A spirit of love and unity permeated the entire school as a result of his example, teachings, and Christian spirit. For several years he was a member of the Sunday School superintendency of Weber Stake, during which time the organization made great progress. Brother McKay’s leadership was felt especially in lesson outlines and class work. Later he had opportunity to put his ideas into effect for the entire church. David O. McKay was ordained an apostle by President Joseph F. Smith on April 9, 1906. The following October he was sustained as second assistant to the general Sunday School superintendent. Later he was advanced to first assistant and in 1918 he was appointed general superintendent of the Deseret Sunday School Union Board, with Stephen L. Richards and George D. Pyper as assistants. Elder McKay [later becoming President McKay] has the distinction of being the first general superintendent who had not been in the First Presidency of the church while acting in that capacity. Elder McKay has accomplished much social service work. For several years he was president of the Ogden Betterment League, and organization for the improvement of civic standards and, especially, to establish higher standards for young people. He has worked vigorously against the use of liquor and has been an active member of the Red Cross Executive Board of Weber County. For a number of years he served as president of the board of education of Weber Normal College, and in 1919 he was appointed Church School Commissioner of Education. Since being ordained an apostle, Elder McKay has labored zealously and successfully for the betterment of the entire church, attend- Founding 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 Ogden River and four and one-half miles northwest of Huntsville. About one-third of the people live on the townsite, and the remainder reside 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 Wilbur, 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 Wilbur, Peter Geertsen, Josiah Ferrin, Francis Clarke, Elisha Wilbur, 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 seekers 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, 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 attacks…. Eventually, the Indians became less hostile. Then many of the settlers moved back to their farms, but a number of them stayed within a radius of about a half mile on the townsite. When the people decided to live in town, they hired Washington Jenkins, a government engineer from Ogden, to survey and lay the settlement out in blocks. Mr. Jenkins 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. From The Past . . . From the left: Jim, Howard, Maude, Beulah, Ann, and Gertie Stallings. Taken about 1915 in Eden. Jim Stallings was born on August 7, 1905. He died in 1979. Photo courtesy of Ray Wilmot. 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. -Flatwork -Decorative Concrete -Concrete Prep Schedule a Quote Today! 801-857-1567 Danny Graves | @DJFencingLLC Tuesday, August 15th - Mass at 5:30 p.m. for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 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. 2668 Grant Avenue, Suite #104A, Ogden, UT 801-612-9299 |