| Show LETS MARD GUARD WHAT 18 13 LEFT A centennial artor of southern utah by W V earl arl rhinehart district conservationist soil conservation service ER XI G graham Or derville it long after glendale was settled that some families moved into frito upper long valley north of the lava narrows this was a small email area of highly fertile land plenty of water and good forage available tor for dairy cattle all social and religious activities centered at graham between 1874 and 1912 this area was known own as stanch fanch i post office the site was chosen by graham D mcdonald in 1865 1866 abandoned and the then n resettled by six families rn 1872 1972 this area Is still farmed by descendants of the original group was founded to make effective provisions of the united order in 1875 all members of the order deeded over all real and personal property to the board of management who had authority to direct all community activities 9 the history of the organization in long valley started in mt carmel carinel in 1874 with a membership of because of vigorous opposition of some who disapproved of the cooperative labor in the mt aft carmel area some of the group sold fhelt heir lands and moved three miles upstream and founded order city this was later named Or derville the town was built exclusively tor for the members of the society A large dining room was the first building erected it was used by the group for five years soon a sawmill tannery and woolen factory were built and hats outside hoes boes and soap made farmlands outside town were purchased ownership of the surrounding jan rangeland geland was assumed with very little friction by the time 1890 rolled around most of the cooperative activities had ceased the order was officially dissolved in 1900 A good many people now living in Or derville are related to the founders they are farming their share of the 1800 acres of irrigated lands which make up long valley active erosion along stream banks which has taken a toll of good farmland in the past are are being by new methods prescribed by soil conservation service technicians working with the kane county soil conservation district CHAPTER XII alton upper kanab sink valley while we are still in kane kan e county it might be well to mention that scouts investigating lands in this section between 1860 1850 60 dad not search beyond long valley those who visited the area drained by chanab kanab an and johnson creeks talked favor favorably ably of good stock ranges but did not mention land favorable for farm and orchard lands many of these original observations have today pr proven ven to be correct the present town of alton served as headquarters for ranchers for many adny years agriculture was not developed until much later livestock raising at kanab and fredonia Fre donla has always been the principal industry all but one of the original farms along kanab creek between alton and kanab have been abandoned very few towns in southern utah were a direct development of the livestock industry the town of alton is one exception byron S roundy and his brothers hared and lawrence on a scouting trip in 1865 found the meadow lands and adjoining benches at the head of kanab creek they were well watered easily cultivated tall grass thick enough to be mowed tor for hay the canaan compera tive stock company in 1872 chose this site for their summer range the field of operations of 0 the company covered much of southwestern utah about ten famille took up farms along kanab creek and sink valley between 1873 74 during the next ten years the scattered town of upper kanab was formed with a reported population of about farm crops produced high yields range pastures were excellent and as a center tor for stockmen stoc kmen the place was well located the area suitable for cultivation however was very small it included 8 tream stream bottom land between the canyon walls Dam sites were lacking and irrigation ditches ex pensive to construct to condoll consolidate and provide better homes for our children and space tor for school house and church the people comprising upper kanab selected the present site of alton in 1908 here a compact town could be built and range lands converted to farmland by the construction of a high level ditch in 1909 the town was organized as alton named for alton fiord norway |
