Show mormon colonies in the spring of 1878 a party of latter day saints from the southern states decided that the valley of salt lake where the great colony of mormons cormons had been established in 1847 was no better than the san luis valley of colorado and se set t about digging ditches and developing agriculture ri along the conejos and rio grande rivers they founded i a town they called manassa naming it for one of the sons of joseph of ancient israel they were joined shortly by mormons cormons from utah who started a nearby town ephriam named for another son of joseph this town was abandoned later because it became swamp land the mormons cormons also settled near lajara balara colorado and in 1885 the hard working saints de founded the town of sanford an successful agricultural area even though it quite cold the farmers in this part of the country are getting their spring plowing done and land ready for bean planting |