Franklin, Idaho - An Interactive History

Franklin & whitney Idaho
F
ranklin and Whitney, Idaho, are small, neighboring agricultural communities in
northern Cache Valley near the Idaho/Utah border. A deep, historic connection
runs between these places and the family of William Job Dunkley and his wife, An-
nie Laura Lowe. The parents of both William and
Annie Laura were among the original thirteen
families that settled Franklin in 1860. When William was
a boy his family moved up the road to Whitney where
he and Annie grew up, married and raised their family.
To tell the story of Franklin and Whitney is to tell the
story of William and Annie Laura.
WILLIAM JOB DUNKLEY, center, with his par- FRANKLIN AND WHITNEY, IDAHO Both communities
ents, Margaret Wright and Joseph Dunkley. were established by Mormon settlers from Utah.
Founded in 1860, Franklin is Idaho’s oldest continu- Quick Connection

ously inhabited town. It became an important supply  CLICK on a heading below to go to that section
point for goods and materials flowing north into Idaho
■ A Franklin Timeline
and Montana.
Whitney began as a community of farming families ■ The Franklin Story, from The History and Development
five miles northwest of Franklin and half way between of Franklin, Idaho During the Period of 1860–1864
Franklin and the town of Preston. Mormon President,
■ The Franklin Story, from The Trail Blazer
Ezra Taft Benson, was born and raised in Whitney.
■ The Whitney Story, from The Trail Blazer
‹Click the left edge of any page to bring up
an interactive table of contents ■ Entries from the Journal of Edward Kingsford 
∙ The Franklin Story ∙ 1849 Captain Howard Stansbury and Colonel Por-
ter explore Cache Valley with a contingent
of soldiers. The colonel likes the valley so
well that he sends all of his cattle and mules
there to stay the winter. The winter proves
severe, however, and half of the animals die,
a persuading the colonel not to establish a
military outpost there.
timeline 1855 Brigham Young directs that the Elkhorn Ranch
of or Church Ranch be established between
Logan and Wellsville in what will be the first
EARLY of several ranches set up in Cache Valley. By
the end of the year there are about 3000
• Franklin • head of cattle and horses in the valley. The
idaho same year, a group of settlers is sent to colo-

nize the Salmon River Country in Idaho and
achieve initial success.
•
1856 Peter Maughan and his group are sent to
settle what will become Wellsville, Utah, the
first permanent settlement in the valley. The
following year, elections establish a govern-
ing structure for the region.
1857 Difficulties with the local Shoshone Indians

1847 Brigham Young sends an small team headed and the impending approach of Johnston’s
by Jesse C Little to explore the much talked Army from the US Federal Government
of Cache Valley north of Salt Lake City, Utah. prompt the recall of both the Salmon River
They report on a beautiful valley. group in Idaho and the Wellsville group in
Utah back to Salt Lake City.

History of Franklin, Idaho • Franklin Timeline FULL SCREEN 
1859 With the easing of tension with Johnston’s 1860 June 4 Brigham Young and a sizable group
Army, Brigham Young directs that the re- traveling in thirty carriages begin a tour of
settlement of Cache Valley begin in ear- the settlements in Cache Valley, eventually
nest. Wellsville, Providence, Logan, Mendon, reaching Franklin. President Young calls Pres-
Richmond and Smithfield—all in Utah— are ton Thomas to be the bishop in Franklin.
started. Peter Maughan is called as the
Bishop of Cache Valley. The following year, 1860 June 24 The settlers begin work on ditches
Apostle Ezra T. Benson is called to preside to bring irrigation water from the canyon
over the Cache Valley Stake. down to their fields. Roads are constructed
to the canyon, opening the way for cutting

1860 Hyrum, Paradise, Hyde Park, Utah are started. timber used in constructing log cabins.
At the suggestion of Brigham Young, five
groups from various towns in Utah set out 1860 July A fort comprised of log cabins orga-
for Muddy River in northern Cache Valley. nized in a large rectangle begins to take
shape.
1860 April 14 Thirteen families enter an area
called Green Meadows—that will later be 1860 August The first crops of grain are har-
renamed for Mormon apostle, Franklin vested and threshing begun.
Richards—and build a temporary fort us- 1860 Fall Hannah Comish opens her home to
ing the boxes from their wagons arranged children of the settlement as a school. Bish-
in a circle. op Thomas initiates construction of a log
1860 April 17 Jesse Fox comes from Salt Lake school house.
City to survey Green Meadows into one- and 1861 The school house is completed. On Sundays
ten-acre lots. it is used as a meeting house for worship
1860 April 19 A vote is taken allowing the services. Mail service begins between Utah
unmarried men in the group to draw lots and Franklin. A wet fall leaves the settlers’
for land along with the married men. Work living quarters unpleasant and the flour from
begins immediately on clearing land and the harvested wheat, musty.
planting fields.

1862 The Homestead Act of 1862 opens the way 1863 Franklin emerges as a point of entry and
for each man to legally claim 160 acres of supply for the gold and silver mining boom
land. James Haworth and John Goaslind taking place in central and northern Idaho.
build a flour mill, powered by water coming
from the canyon. 1864 January Work begins on a Mormon meet-
ing house made of sandstone. As it nears
1863 January 29 The growing settlement ex- completion, the roof collapses under the
periences escalating tensions with the local weight of winter snow and remains unfin-
Shoshone Indians. Armed California Volun- ished for another nine years.
teers under the command of Patrick Connor
are called in from Salt Lake. Colonel Connor 1864 In another tour of the small, outlying Mor-
is less accommodating of the Indians than mon towns, Brigham Young again visits
the settlers and orders the massacre of the Franklin. At his recommendation, Jesse W.
entire Indian village twelve miles northwest Fox and J.M. Martineau do a new survey
of Franklin. While isolated acts of Indian of the land in the Franklin area. A ditch is
aggression continue for several years after- constructed from Cub River to the Franklin
wards, Indian violence against the settlers farmland which greatly improves the yield
soon fades away altogether. of the crops.
1863 Samuel R. Parkinson and Thomas Smart 1865 The townspeople move out of the original
build the first sawmill in the area, provid- fort into city lots.
ing lumber for new homes and a new school 1868 February Franklin is incorporated as a city
house. under the laws of Utah Territory.
1863 After three years of service as bishop in the 1869 The Deseret Telegraph line is extended to
settlement, Preston Thomas is replaced by Franklin, bringing near instantaneous com-
Lorenzo H. Hatch as bishop of the Mormon munication to the town in the form of Morse
congregation in Franklin. code messages. The telegraph office is set
up in a corner of the stone Co-op building.

1868 The Relief Society—the women’s charitable ing the Z.C.M.I. department store in Salt Lake
organization of the Mormon Church—is or- City.
ganized in the local congregation. Through
selling eggs, butter and quilts, the women 1874 A mail stage is set up to run between Franklin
support a wide variety of community causes. and Helena, Montana.
In 1877 the Relief Society begins gleaning 1874 The Utah Northern Railroad begins operation
grain from the local fields, a program which of a narrow gauge line from Ogden, Utah to
brings in enough revenue to let the women Logan, and connects with Franklin in May of
pursue medical charities and support the 1874. Most of the men in town participate in
war effort in WWI. preparing the local grade and laying the track.
1869 The Franklin Co-operative Mercantile In- Franklin becomes an important supply point
stitution is organized, with John Doney Sr. for moving goods north into Montana and
as vice president. The Co-op starts doing northern Idaho.
business in the vestry of the meeting house, 1875 When the telegraph in Idaho Falls breaks down,
later to be moved to the stone building that a rider brings the news of Custer’s Last Stand
stands next to the Franklin Relic Hall. to Franklin where it is telegraphed on to Wash-
1870 Candles and bitch lamps are replaced by ington D.C.
Kerosene oil lamps 1875 to 1877 Thomas Lowe Sr. serves as bishop of
1870 Thomas Lowe constructs a water-powered the Mormon congregation in Franklin while
shingle and lath mill. Sod roofs all through Bishop Hatch is in Arizona.
the valley are replaced by shingled roofs 1878 Edmund Buckley heads a group that constructs
using shingles from this mill. and runs he North Star Woolen Mill, bringing
1871 Brigham Young has machinery for a steam a wide variety of woolen goods to the local
sawmill purchased in the East and shipped economy.
to Franklin. John Biggs’ sawmill goes on to 1888 William Woodward starts the first herd of Hol-
produce a large amount of lumber includ- stein milk cattle in Idaho from purebred stock
ing 300,000 feet of lumber used in build- brought over from Holland. J.J. Flack intro-

duces the first herd of pure bred Jerseys to 1905 Electricity comes to Franklin; electric lights gradu-
the area in 1889. ally replace Kerosene lamps.
1890 Idaho becomes the 43rd state of the 1906 Telephone service and a city water system are
Union. installed.
1890 The population of nearby Preston, Idaho, 1910 In honor of the pioneers who founded the town
surpasses the population of Franklin, 1504 of Franklin Idaho, Governor James H. Brady
to 1330. proclaims June 15th as Idaho Day. The first cel-
ebration draws dignitaries and large crowds.
1894 The Oneida Mercantile Union records sales Highlights include the unveiling of a pioneer
of $95,000 for the year. Items sold include monument and a mock battle staged with 75
furniture, saddles, harnesses, boots and Shoshone Indians. The tradition of Idaho Day
shoes, clothing and meat from the company continues enthusiastically for another 50 years.
butcher shop.
1912 Dr. States owns the first automobile in Franklin,
1897 Franklin is incorporated as a village under followed shortly by G. L. Wright and S. J. Han-
Idaho law. dy.
1898 The Oneida Mercantile Union builds the 1918 Elliot Butterworth begins the Franklin Relic Hall
Union Creamery to commercially produce in the old stone Co-op building. Realizing that
butter and cheese. By 1910, the creamery the pioneers are all passing away, he begins at-
is replaced by a condensed milk factory tending local estate sales and buying up their
operated by the Utah Condensed Milk Com- old items.
pany.
1923 Lester Lowe brings home a wild pair of wild mink
1898 A four-room brick school house replaces a from Oregon, starting will grow into a local fur
rock school house built in 1867. The brick industry. The following year he brings in 15 more
schoolhouse stands until 1916 when it is animals from a fox rancher on Prince Edward
replaced by an eight-room school house de- Island in Canada. Soon, backyard mink pens
signed to also serve the neighboring com- show up in all over town until Franklin becomes
munities of Cherryville and Nashville.

known as much for its mink farming as for its
Idaho Day Celebration.
1930 Headed by Mary B. Lowe, the Franklin County

Daughters of the Pioneers publish “The Trail
Blazer, History of the Development of South-
eastern Idaho”. The Trail Blazer will stand as
the definitive history of the area. In 1976, local
historian and publisher, Newell Hart, will update
the volume.

DUNKLEY HISTORIES LOWE HISTORIES FRANKLIN & WHITNEY, IDAHO PHOTO GALLERY CHARTS & MAPS
∙ The Franklin Story ∙ At different times they met Charles Beau-

mont, Moses Harris, and James Bridger, trappers
WILLIAM J. DUNKLEY and traders, of whom they obtained much valu-
ANNIE LAURA LOWE CHAPTER III able information regarding the country ahead.
The Mormon Settlers Harris and Bridger drew extremely dark pic-
tures of the Salt Lake Valley . . . though they
1860-1864 spoke very highly of a valley northward called
Cache.1
FROM
“The From theand
History dissertation, Xxxxxxxx
Development Xxx XxxxxxIdaho
of Franklin, William Clayton in writing his journal gives Jim
During the Period
by Xxxxx of 1860–1900”
Xxxxxxxx, Bridger’s description of Cache Valley as told to Brigham
• By used
James Ira Young
by permission Young and the Saints.
Masters Thesis, Brigham Young University, 1949 In Bear River Valley there is oak timber,
sugar trees, cottonwood, pine, and maple. There
A
s the first members of the Church of Jesus Christ is not an abundance of sugar maple, but plenty
of Latter-day Saints crossed the plains, they came of as splendid pine as you ever saw . . . . . There
in contact with the frontiersmen who knew about was a man opened a farm in the Bear River Val-
the West. Previous to their coming West, the Mormons, ley. The soil is good and likely to produce corn
as they were sometimes called, had read and had stud- were it not for the excessive cold nights which
ied Fremont’s reports; and they had “looked into” the he thinks would prevent the growth of corn.2
possibilities of making a home for themselves in other But Brigham’s faith told him, although he
localities. But, they headed for none of the locations ex- had never seen the “Great Basin” that Bridger
cept the Rocky Mountain area. Brigham Young seemed was wrong. Brigham had a certain knowledge
to know where he wanted to lead his people, and the built upon his mighty faith, that the people of
place was the Great Basin. the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
over whom he presided, would not perish, but
Early enthusiasm for Cache Valley would grow and become strong in the recesses
Major Harris, who had been in the Rocky Mountain of the Rocky Mountains.3
valleys before 1847, met Brigham Young and gave his Even with the glowing reports of Cache Valley and
• opinion to the effect that Cache Valley was a more de-

sirable place to live than the Salt Lake Valley.
of the Bear River that Brigham Young received from time
to time, he would not go there. He was strong enough

History of Franklin, Idaho • The
TheFranklin
FranklinStory,
Story,from
from“The
“TheMormon
MormonSettlers”
Settlers” FULL SCREEN
8 
to stay with his course, where weaker men might have an exploring party to visit it and report its condition. The
gone to Cache Valley. Thus the settlement of the valley party left on the 9th of August 1847 under the direction
awaited future years, and the outlook of the Franklin of Jesse C. Little and went as far as Garland, Utah with
area was different than if Brigham Young had decided Samuel Brannan and Captain James Brown who were on
to go to Cache Valley first. their way to San Francisco. Mr. Little and company went
The companies of Saints reached the Salt Lake Val- eastward into Cache Valley, then southward, and back to
ley and were dispersed up and down the mountain Salt Lake Valley through Sardine Canyon. They reported
valleys of the Rockies, as directed by Brigham Young. to Brigham Young that the valley was beautiful.4
President Young wasn’t quite ready yet to send set-
Preston Saint Charles
Cokeville
50 Miles
Whitney
Franklin
0
0
10 Miles
10 KM 25 KM
25 Miles
50 KM
tlers into this valley, which is one of the best watered
valleys in the Utah Rockies, for there are springs, creeks,
Snowville
Garden City
Richmond
and rivers everywhere, leaving no part of it lacking for
Blue Creek
Smithfield Laketown Sage Kemmerer
Howell
Logan water. Brigham Young was pressed with other problems
Providence Randolph
Paradise such as emigration and statehood. Cache Valley was

Hyrum
Brigham City
Mantua Woodruff side-stepped for awhile.
Willard
In October, 1849, Captain Howard Stansbury visited
Cache Valley from the north with Colonel Porter and a
Pleasant View
North Ogden
Marriott-Slaterville Evanston
Lakeside
Ogden Piedmont
Promontory Point
Roy South Ogden
Clinton Sunset
Wahsatch
Altamont
contingent of soldiers.
Great Salt Lake Clearfield
Layton Morgan
Henefer Emory I was desirous of ascertaining whether a
Kaysville
Farmington
Centerville
shorter route than either of these could not be
West Bountiful Coalville
obtained by pursuing a direct course to the head
Woods Cross Bountiful
Low North Salt Lake
Timpie
Salt Lake City of the lake or to the point where Bear River en-
West Valley City South Salt Lake Oakley
Murray Park City
ters its basin through the Wasatch Range from
SET TLEMENTS FROM SALT L AKE CIT Y TO PRESTON, IDAHO
Cache Valley, if practicable, such a trace would
Mormon set tlements pushed nor th from Salt Lake Cit y
save the emigration the great detour that has
along the east side of Cache Valley, reaching Green Mead-
ows or Franklin, Idaho in 1860. to be made by either of the present routes, and
could have a direct bearing upon the selection
Within two weeks after the first company of Mor- of a site for the military post contemplated for
mons reached Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young, who was this region.5
now curious about the much talked of Cache Valley sent

History of Franklin, Idaho • The Franklin Story, from “The Mormon Settlers” FULL SCREEN 
The Colonel liked the valley so well that he sent keeper were elected. All territorial taxes could be paid
nearly his whole number of mules and cattle to be win- in cash or in territorial scrip. All county taxes were to be
tered in Cache Valley. The winter was severe and they paid in cash, county orders, or wheat at one dollar and
lost about half of their herd. This winter had a decided a half per bushel. All funds not otherwise appropriated
effect upon the establishment of a military post. It was should be expended on roads and bridges.7
first thought that the valley would be ideal, but the In 1855, along with the Church Ranch, Brigham
decision was reversed.6 Captain Stansbury stated that Young reached out in his expansion policy and placed
facilities for irrigation would be splendid. a colony of Saints in the Salmon River Country on the
Lemhi River, now in the State of Idaho. This colony was
The Church Ranch hundreds of miles away from the nearest other Mormon
As the cattle herds increased in Salt Lake Valley, Pres community. They seemed to have success for awhile, for
ident Young investigated Cache Valley for a ranching they were irrigating the land and had built a flour mill
area for them. This was approved, and the first ranch and had established a mission school. In the winter of
was established in 1855. The headquarters were located 1857–1858 Indian troubles and the Utah War forced them
between where Logan and Wellsville are now situated. to come back to Utah.8
It was called “Elkhorn Ranch”, the “Church Ranch”, or Peter Maughan and his group also had to leave be-
“Church Farm”. By fall in 1855 there were around three cause Johnston’s Army was on its way to Utah. All the
thousand head of cattle and horses in the valley. So Saints headed southward from Salt Lake City. When the
began the colonization of the valley, for cabins were army came into Salt Lake City, Johnston was looking for
built and supplies “laid in” for the ranch. a place of encampment for his men. He held a peace
The first permanent settlement in Cache Valley conference with Brigham Young.
was that of Wellsville. In 1856 Peter Maughan and his During the peace conference, Cache Val-
group were sent to settle there. Cache County, of which ley, about 80 miles north of Salt Lake City, was
Franklin became a part, began on April 4, 1857 as a tem- urged upon the attention of the commissioners
porary organization, with a general election scheduled by the church leaders as the most desirable
to follow in August of the same year. Two council men, place for the permanent location of the army;
three selectmen, a sheriff, a recorder, and a treasurer but it was rejected because considered too far
were elected from an area consisting of Cache, Box Elder, removed from the center of population, and
Malad, and Weber Counties. For the precinct a Justice of Cedar Valley, 36 miles distant from Salt Lake
the Peace, Constable, two fence viewers, and a pound City. . . . was selected instead.9

History of Franklin, Idaho • The Franklin Story, from “The Mormon Settlers” FULL SCREEN 10 
With the peaceful settlement of the War, a coloni- over the Cache Valley Stake of Zion, along with Bishop
zation period began again. President Young felt that Maughan.
the Saints would do well to return to their homes. In Irrigation as practiced by the Saints was a must in
the spring of 1859 resettlement of Cache Valley began. every new community. As each new settlement was
Cache County officers resumed their official duties. established water from the newly dug ditches and the
Calls were made by Church leaders for the settlement creeks was turned out upon the land. School houses,
of other sections of the valley, and the rush was on. grist mills, molasses factories, tanneries, and carding
Wellsville began again in April 1859. Providence be- mills all were developed with the new settlements, for
gan in April 1859. Logan began in the summer of 1859. they had come to stay this time. Entertainments and
Mendon began in May 1859. Richmond began in July socials began as soon as the people were settled on the
1859. Smithfield began in August 1859. land and able to enjoy them.
Alma Taylor, Leancum Taylor, Samuel Hiatt, Dugouts were used in many settlements for homes,
John Knight (junior), and Samuel Rose Par- and were extremely damp and dismal. Along with the
kinson were among the very first pioneers to trials of home building came the trials of Indian menace.
take up land claims in that district of country The people of this string of settlements through Cache
of which Franklin now constitutes the center. Valley were constantly menaced by their red brothers.
They began to make improvements in the latter Fights and killings took place in every community. Frank-
part of 1859.10 lin was the outpost to the north on the finger-like string
Hyrum began in April 1860. Paradise began in April of settlements and took the brunt of the Indian visits.
1860. Hyde Park began in April 1860. Franklin began as But the virtues outshone the detriments and soon
one of the many settlements in April 1860. the word was noised about that the valley was a pleas-
Brigham Young could not afford to send colonies ant one in which to live. More settlers came.
far away from the center of population any more as he
once had done with the Salmon River Mission group in Few white settlers in Idaho
1855. The colonization this time was a gradual working At this point we must deal a little with the country
northward through the valleys. On the 14th of Novem- north of Franklin, the present State of Idaho. The State
ber 1859 Peter Maughan had been appointed Presid- of Idaho as we know it today was part of the Washing-
ing Bishop of Cache Valley, and George L. Farrell was ton Territory. In 1860, this area of Idaho was virtually
selected as Secretary. In March of 1860 Apostle Ezra T. abandoned by the white people. All of the settlements
Benson was called to move to Logan and to preside and missions that had been established there had ei-

ther been abandoned or were later abandoned Idaho, There were only three white men in Idaho on August
through which thousands of emigrants had passed on 12, 1860 whose names have come down to us. These
their way to Oregon and California, was now barren of men were William Craig, John Silcott, and Thomas Beall.
white people, except for a few white trappers. Other than the few mentioned white people Idaho was
There had been so much trouble with the Indians, a lonely and silent area, so far as white people were
and travel on the Oregon Trail had grown so small, that concerned except for the Mormon “invasion”.
the Hudson’s Bay Company had abandoned both Fort
Hall and Fort Boise. Five groups called to Muddy River
We have no record that there was a single covered In the spring of 1860 President Brigham Young
wagon or any living white person on the Oregon Trail suggested to some settlers to journey northward and
in Idaho, on August 12, 1860; the broken and burning settle on the Muddy River in Cache Valley. The groups
wagons, and the dead mangled bodies of the Otter mustered their belongings together and journeyed
Emigrant train were lying scattered along the south northward. Five groups started out. Many of these set-
side of the Snake. There vas no real government any- tlers stopped at other settlements along the way. And
where in Idaho, there were few white people to govern of course, there were the stragglers and the families that
or protect. came with the five original groups.
There may have been here and there a lone white From Slaterville, Utah came John Reed, Thomas Mc-
trapper with an Indian wife and half-breed children. . . Cann, Joseph Chadwick, William Corbridge, J. Hutchens,
. In the old mission on the Coeur d’Alene River, the George Foster, William Garner, Henry Wadman, John
missionaries were carrying on their work; the only other Ekins, John Frew, James Cowan (senior), James Cowan
white men in Forth Idaho were down where the waters (junior), and Thomas Slater.
meet, where the Clearwater flows into the Snake. From Kays Creek (Kaysville), Utah came Samuel Rose
Spaulding and his family and their white Parkinson, Alfred Alder, M. Lynex, Peter Pool, E. C. Van
helpers were all gone from Lapwai; the govern- Orden, W. Harris, William Comish, John Comish, Shem
ment was putting up some rough buildings at Purnell, George Alder, W. H. Rogers, James Oliverson,
the Lapwai Agency; there may have been a few James Harris, A. Goodliffe, and William K. Comish.
white workmen there. The Indians did not want From Provo, Utah came Thomas S. Smart, Samuel
any white people on their reservation, and the Handy, William Handy, Enoch Broadbent, Joseph Perkins,
government had promised to keep them off.11 Joseph Dunkley, William T. Wright.

From Payson, Utah came T. C. D. Howell, W. H. Head, snow” there being a sufficiency “to ensure good
D. Reed, Dabner Keel, John Doney, Edward Kingsford, sleighing from four to six months each year.
William Patten, and T. M. Bennett. There is plenty of good water for agriculture and
From Bountiful, Utah came William Woodward, manufacturing purposes, plenty of timber in the
James May, William Fluett, J. Vare, Mark Preece, Peter mountains, and abundance of grass for hay and
Preece, George Shields, Brother Woodhead, William pasturage in the valley, the lime and building
Goforth Nelson, E. Nelson, Joshua Messervey (junior), stone abounds in all or most of the canyons. The
William Hull, G. Mayberry, C. Olsen, Peter Dowdle, N. soil is represented as being very good and the
Hansen, James Sanderson, Leroy Holt, Andrew Morrison, productions similar to the other valleys in this
George Mendenhall, N. W. Packer, Isaac Vail, John Smith, mountainous region excepting that it is a little
James Lofthouse, Preston Thomas, James Nelson, Joshua too cold there for Indian corn.
Messervey (senior), Thomas Hull, Peter Lowe, Thomas Most of the people that have settled there,
Mayberry, Alexander Stalker, E. W. Hansen, Richard according to our correspondent, “profess Mor-
Coultair (Coulters), G. W. Crocheron, J. Morrison, Thomas monism” and many are striving to honor their
Mendenhall, James Packer, Nephi Packer.12 religion, but if there are not some who have
In March the group left from Slaterville and slowly gone there this spring who would not prefer get-
made their way through Cache Valley and stopped at ting a living by stealing, to obtaining a livelihood
Coveville (Cove) until others could join them.13 by honest labor, we are much mistaken. It will
do no harm at least for honest men to keep a
An eyewitness description good watch for such scamps and their wonderful
A correspondent writing from Logan, Cache zeal for religion and honesty, especially when
County, under date of March 21st, gives a very among those who are unacquainted with their
graphic description of that valley, for the ben- true character and proclivities.
efit, as he says, of the hundreds of emigrants Public and private improvements are being
who are making arrangements to go there this made in all the settlements, school and meet-
season. The communication is an interesting ing houses have been built or are in progress
document, but not being in proper shape, we of erection; bridges have been made over the
cannot give publicity to it entire. streams on all the principal thoroughfares and
He says that the first advantage that pres- other necessary things provided for the accom-
ents itself to the emigrant is the “abundance of

modation of the settlers, who are represented awaiting orders from the leaders of the Church in Cache
as being very industrious. Valley, were given the order to proceed to the east side
That Cache Valley is a good enough place and the north end of Cache Valley and locate on what
for farming and grazing operations there can was then called the Muddy River.
be no reasonable doubt and if the reports con- On Friday, April 6. 1860 the Bountiful group
cerning the country are not somewhat exag- began moving northward. The following is a
gerated, those seeking homes there, and there sketch of the journey of the group by William
are many who are doing so, may soon become Woodward,
wealthy by proper industry and economy and Friday, April 6, 1860. Left Bountiful camped
live more contented and happy that they did on sand ridge.
before going to that part of the Territory. Saturday, April 7. Drove over sand ridge over
Most of the communications received from Weber River, camped near Ogden.
that valley speak highly of the presiding of- Sunday, April 8. Drove near Hot Springs.
ficers there as though they were something Monday, April 9. Drove near Box Elder (Brigham
extra and perhaps they are. With most of them City).
we are personally acquainted and know that Tuesday, April 10. Drove near Box Elder Can-
they are good men, but not being given to yon.
personal laudation, we seldom speak approv- Wednesday, April 11. Drove to Cache Valley.
ingly of any person who faithfully performs the Thursday, April 12. Walked to Logan.
duties required of him in any official station, Friday, April 13. Walked to Richmond.
as every man who does so only discharges a Saturday, April 14. Walked to Franklin and
duty which he contracts to perform when he explored and so forth. 13 men on the ground
accepts of the office, and as a general rule, it they were John Reed, Richard Coultoure,
is always safe for men in whatever situation Thomas Slater, William Fluett., Alma Taylor,
they may be placed to be on their guard when William Woodward, Thomas Comm, James May,
14
all persons speak well of them. Joseph Chadwick, James Packer, James Sand-
erson, James Lofthouse, Brother Woodhead.
William Woodward’s account April 15. Thomas S. Smart, William T. Wright,
The Provo group of settlers had arrived in Wellsville Sam Handy, Joseph Perkins, Joseph Dunkley.
early in April 1860; and after a few days of resting and

April 15. Returned to my wagon near Black- company of people came in from the east of us.
smith Fork Canyon. We pulled up camp and joined them.17
Monday, April 16. Hunting my cattle. In the month of March, 1860, (William Go-
Tuesday, April 17. Drove to Richmond, 21 forth Nelson) we started to move to the much
miles. talked of Cache Valley. My mother, Jane Taylor
15
Wednesday, April 18. Drove to Franklin. Nelson, my brothers, Joseph, Edmond, and Mark,
On April 10, 1860 the Provo group left Wellsville also Isaac and Mother Vail, James Packer and
for northern Cache Valley. They reached Coveville and family all came with us. We found the roads
camped for three days. On the 11th of April they looked muddy and when we crossed the divide be-
over the Franklin area and built a bridge over a creek tween Brigham City and Cache Valley we found
(Spring Creek) to be used when the other settlers would a few families living at Mendon, Wellsville, Lo-
join them.16 gan, Smithfield, and Richmond. I stopped at
On the 12th of April, Richmond and the rest of the company came
He (William G. Hull) says they were about to Coveville, just south of Franklin.18
three miles from Richmond, they came to a
small stream of water, his father (Thomas Reaching Green Meadows
Hull) made him take his breeches off and wade On the 14th of April, as has been stated in Mr. Wil-
through to see if they could take their oxen and liam Woodward’s Journal thirteen men walked from
wagon through alright. It was nearly dark then Coveville about two miles distance to the designated
and by this time they had traveled north about area to explore their new home site. “As they crossed
three miles farther; it was very dark when they the bridge, which had already been made a day or two
decided to camp for the night. It was about before, they were confronted by a group of Indians.
nine o’clock. Father sent me out to try and find After some discussion the settlers were allowed to pass
some water to make bread for our supper. I unmolested. They drove to the present town site near
went on my hands and knees down a hill. Next the east end of Main Street at about ten o’clock that
morning found I had gotten water from a slue. morning.
That Morning (13th of April) I went east of camp Because of the abundance of vegetation,
to find some game for our breakfast, could see they first called the spot “Green Meadows”, but
quite a company camped to south and east of later changed the name to Franklin in honor of
where our camp was. That same afternoon a Franklin R. Richards (Franklin D. Richards).19

The men were well pleased with “Green Meadows” I (William Goforth Nelson) had only been
and proceeded to bring their wagons and families, there a few days when Peter Maughan came and
those who had brought them along, onto their newly located the present site of Franklin, as a place
found home. for the Saints to settle.20
As Bishop Maughan was the presiding authority in
A temporary fort of wagon boxes Cache Valley, he appointed temporary leaders for the
On the following day, the 15th, they placed the new “Green Meadows” settlement. Thomas S. Smart
wagons in a circle. The wagon boxes were taken from was chosen as leader, with Samuel Rose Parkinson and
the running gear of the wagons and placed upon the James Sanderson as assistants. Alfred Alder was chosen
ground close together. These wagon boxes served as as clerk. This leadership had charge of the affairs of
homes and a temporary fort for a number of weeks. the colony. They had charge of the public works; they
The running gear of the wagons was useful in gather- presided over meetings and supervised everything of
ing wood from the mountains. a public nature.21
James Sanderson was Captain of the Minute Men. E.
C. Van Orden was Captain of the Infantry. James May was
the road supervisor. All of these functions were vital for
the strengthening and protection of the group.
Cooking, was done over the campfire. Life was out
in the open for the Mormon settlers again. Whenever
there was singing to be done W. H. Rogers or John Frew
would lead the songs, for these two men were the prin-
cipal singers of the group.
On the 17th of April, Jesse W. Fox, government sur-
veyor from Salt Lake City, surveyed the land around the
settlement and in the “South Fields” and “North Bottom
Lands”. The land around the settlement and on the east
WAGON BOX
bench was surveyed into one acre lots for cane plants,
Even with the canvas still attached, a wagon box would and the “South Fields” were laid off in ten acre lots.
have been a small dwelling in which to live. And still they go—Emigrants have been
constantly passing through this city, for two

or three months, on their way to Cache Valley, them; otherwise they may see the want of it
and more especially since the wintry season before harvest.22
ended. How many have gone there this spring
is not known, at least no definite report of Balloting for the first land
the number has yet been made, but judging April 19th was a big day for the men, for on this
from the hundreds of wagons and teams that day they balloted for their land. A discussion arose as
have been moving in that direction, some of to whether the unmarried men should join with the
the cities, settlements, towns, and villages in married men in drawing lots for the land. A vote was
Utah County and perhaps some settlements in taken in which there were only three votes against let-
the southern part of Great Salt Lake County ting the unmarried men draw. The ballots were marked
must have materially decreased in population, with numbers as to choice for the land. William Hull,
in consequence of the great rush northward an unmarried man, drew number one. Peter Lowe an
by those in search of new homes and better unmarried man drew ballot number two. The ballots
locations. were drawn and the land issued. Friends tried, and many
Only a few days since, a company number- succeeded, to get property near each other.
ing some twenty wagons with flocks and herds A road was constructed to the canyon. Wandering
sufficient to make an imposing show, passed cattle were a drawing card for Indians, so the men first
our office going into the north country. On cut poles for a corral. The cattle would be herded in the
stepping into the street an old acquaintance daytime, but at night they were placed in the corral. Wil-
was recognized in the company as it was pass- liam Hull contracted to herd the horses and cattle in the
ing, from whom, on inquiring, we ascertained daytime. He in turn hired Indian Jim to help him.23
that they were from Payson, one of the most “Green Meadows” was located on an old and direct
thriving towns, in Utah County, and that their Indian trail through Cache Valley, and the people of the
destination was “Cache” which place though settlement had their generous portion of Indian visits
within the Territory is a long way from that and incidents. 24
portion of it where most of the wheat and other Land in the “South Fields” was prepared for seed.
grain was raised last summer. All of the people worked cooperatively together in their
Those going there have probably taken projects. When Sundays came around, church meetings
the precaution to carry their breadstuffs with were held around the campfire.

The work in the canyons continued. The men soon
found that mountain lion, prairie wolves and snakes O R EGON IDAHO
Frank lin WYOMING
were plentiful. The lowlands were covered with wild
hay. The higher lands were covered with a large deep
rooted stand of sage brush. On April 25th boundaries
were defined. Grass was burned to make way for plow- NE VADA
ing. No fences were erected for years. Oxen were used COLOR AD
to draw the plows, so that it was necessary to stop early
UTAH
to give the oxen feeding time for awhile before being
enclosed in the corral for the night. The men could C A L IFORNIA
plow about two acres a day.
NE W
On April the 26th, according ARIZONA
MEXICO
to William Woodward’s journal,
they began to plow.
The plows were crude
pieces of board with an iron
1849:

State of Deseret
point, or an old piece of iron
beaten into shape. Harrows 1850:

Utah Territory
were made in an “A” shape, 1861: After reduction of Utah to Nevada & Colorado


with a frame of poles. These 1862: After reduction of Utah to Nevada



poles had holes augured in 1865: After reduction of Utah to Idaho



them and sharpened wood- 1866: After reduction of Utah to Nevada


en pegs driven through the 1868: After reduction of Utah to Wyoming


holes. The pegs were made REDUCTION OF UTAH’S TERRITORY
IRON BL ADED PLOW

of the native hardwoods such Even though these reductions were made in Utah’s Terri-
tor y, no government sur vey of the division line between
Until a black smith be- as hawthorn or maple. To sow
Utah and Idaho had been made until 1872, Franklin was
came established in the the wheat a man would carry
considered a par t of the Utah Territor y. Map after M. R.
settlement, a plow like a sack of grain suspended over
Hunter, Utah, the Story of Her People p, 296.
this would have be en
his shoulder. He would scatter
s hip p e d in f r o m S al t  HOLD your mouse over an entry to show that
Lake City. the grain by the handful upon map. Try starting with the top entry and working
downwards.

the plowed and harrowed ground. His scattering would The first summer was one of exhaustive work and
be in a half circle motion. Then a drag, consisting of an tireless perseverance. The Franklin settlers were only
eight foot pole with brushy twigs and bushes attached, doing what their friends were doing in other parts of
pulled over the ground covered the grain.25 Cache Valley. Now they were part of Franklin Village,
It snowed on May the seventh and twelfth which part of Cache Valley, part of Utah Territory, and part of
slowed the work for a short time. The plowing and sow- the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They
ing went right ahead. Broken plow blades were mended weren’t worrying who had seen the land first, or who
and used again, for this first year’s crop meant much for had put his foot on Franklin soil first, or who had done
the settlers. On May the 26th some land south and west the washing first, or who had tasted the water first. All
of the fort was plowed and planted in grain, but was they knew was that Brigham Young had asked them to
killed out by the over abundance of sunflowers.26 come and settle on the Muddy River, and they came. The
The Deseret News seemed to be quite concerned area was new land, but so far as they were concerned
about the welfare of these people of the new settle- it was Utah Territory, and so Franklin, Utah it became.
ments in Cache Valley. The settlers sere busy worrying about life. They were
The late hostile demonstrations of the In- helping each other with living and with security. They
dians in the north has induced the people in were out fighting against nature and Indians. They knew
Cache to complete their military organizations it, and they also knew that they were the extremity of
so as to be ready in the event that a war cry northern Mormondom. They had a challenge and they
was raised by their savage neighbors; and from took it willingly.
the muster reports, those ready for war in
that county number one thousand men—about Brigham Young comes to visit
half of them horse men—who are ready at a President Brigham Young accompanied by
moment’s notice, to take the field against the a large group of his brethren, “in 30 carriages”,
enemy if an attack should be made or threat- began on Monday the 4th of June, 1860, his
ened by the aborigines in that region. That is first trip to visit the settlements of the Saints
right and as it should be, and no doubt has in Cache Valley.28
had a beneficial influence with the Indians, in President Young had seen the valley once before
disposing them to peace, which seemed to be when it was selected as a wintering ground for cattle.29
the universal desire of these wanderers at lat- He stopped at Wellsville on the 7th of June, at which
est dates.27 time he spoke to the Saints.

This is a splendid valley, and is better since concluded to settle here. I propose that
adapted to raising Saints than any other article he settles here, and that we make him your
30
that can be raised here . . . Bishop and presiding officer.
After a night’s rest at Wellsville, the breth- It is understood that Brother Peter Maughan
ren were up early, and by forcing their teams is Presiding Bishop for this valley, and Elder
along, they reached Franklin, a distance of 30 Ezra Taft Benson, one of the Twelve has been
miles. This is at present the frontier settlement appointed to be one of his counselors, and prob-
of the North, wrote the News correspondent, ably he will choose me for the other.
31
and as yet is but in the course of formation. If it meets your minds to have Brother Pres-
ton Thomas settle here, and you feel that you
Great rejoicing can hearken to his counsel, raise your right
Great rejoicing filled the temporary homes of the hands. (The vote was unanimous—reporter).
Saints, because of the visit of their Prophet and leader. Brother Preston Thomas will select his own
Brigham Young spoke to the assembled Saints on the counselors. I have no question
9th of June. but that there are excel-
I understand that no Bishop has yet been lent, good men here,
appointed for this place. I would like to learn and they will willing
the feelings of the brethren here, in regard to to hearken to his
this matter, and will be pleased to have you in- counsel.
form us. (Bishop Maughan moved that Brigham I pr op o s e t o
Young nominate the man to be Bishop, and they the brethren here,
would say amen. and wish them to
(This unanimously met the feelings of the take my counsel, to
brethren—reporter) The instructions to the build a good, strong
people of this settlement will be committed fort. If you have not
to paper, that they may be constantly before material for build-
BISHOP PRESTON THOMAS
them. I propose that Brother Preston Thomas ing a wall, you can
be ordained Bishop of this settlement. He is make a strong stockade by putting pickets into
residing in Lehi, but came with us intending the ground, which will answer a good purpose
to visit Bear Lake and Soda Springs, but has against Indian attacks. The stockade can be

easily repaired by replacing decayed pickets. up in our communities know better than to steal.
I wish you to build a stockade large enough They have been taught the principles of life and
for corralling your cattle outside the town. Let salvation; and the people from the Christian
your grain also be stacked away from your world have been taught better than to steal.
buildings, and so arranged that if one stack Do right, be just, love mercy, hearken to the
takes fire all of the stacks will not necessarily Spirit of that gospel that you have embraced,
be destroyed. keep the Spirit of the Lord with you, and you will
You are very much exposed here. The set- be very apt to be lead right and do right.
tlements in this valley are as it were, a shield We have come to see you; we will leave
to the other settlements. You must, therefore, our blessing with you, and will pray for you
prepare as speedily as possible to make your- constantly. I heard the prayer just now offered
selves secure. You have a beautiful location, in your behalf. It is the constant prayer of the
and plenty of excellent water. Saints that they may be preserved.
This valley is capable of sustaining a multi- Serve the Lord, and try not to find fault with
tude of people—it is the best valley we have. each other. Live so that you will not have any
faults to find with yourselves, and never mind
“Strive to stop the thieving” the faults of your brethren, for each person has
Strive to stop the thieving that is carried enough of his own to attend to.
on by some renegades who have been in this I bless you in the name of the Lord Jesus
valley, and do not in the least suffer stealing to Christ, Amen.32
be practiced in any of your settlements. There While in Franklin, Brigham Young changed the name
is, probably, not a man here but that if he saw of Muddy River. Owing to its nearness to Bear River, he
an Indian taking his horse, and had a loaded called it the Cub River.33 This name has remained with
rifle, would kill the Indian. That Indian has been it since then.
taught from his youth, to steal. His fathers be- The work of the community went forward. Thomas
fore him taught their children to steal—it is in Mendenhall, senior, was a traveling merchant for the
their blood, bone, and flesh. But there is not a village. He would take the produce of the people to Salt
white man or woman here but what has been Lake City and trade it for articles that the settlers wanted.
taught that it is wrong to steal, and I want an French Joe, a traveling store-keeper would come through
end put to stealing. The boys who are brought Franklin once in awhile and peddle his wares.

On June 24, 1860 the settlers began their work on With the coming of July came the “getting out” of
ditches which were to bring the water from the canyons logs for cabins and the fort. Roads had to be constructed
to their farm lands. These were not the first irrigation to the canyons and in the canyons for this purpose. Men
ditches in Idaho. Previous to this in 1855 the people of traveled in groups for protection.
the Salmon River Mission had constructed ditches. The A bowery was built in the fort area. It consisted of
Franklin settlers constructed one ditch from High Creek poles upright in the ground with an overhead framework
to the South Fields. One ditch from Ox-killer and South of lighter poles covered with brush and rushes. It was
Canyons was dug to the northeast of the South Fields. used for meetings, at which everyone was required to
This was called Sanderson’s Ditch or the Lower Ditch. bring their own stools and benches to sit on. Dances
Another ditch was dug from Spring Creek to the fort were held in it. Some dancing was held around the
area. Men owning land on the ditches were required campfires.
to work on them. With the end of July many of the cabins in the fort
were under construction. They all faced toward the
center of the fort, which was constructed in the shape
of a rectangle, ninety rods long by sixty rods wide. The
fort was supposedly constructed to be true with the
major directions of the compass, but was actually built a
degree or two off in the process construction. The men
that surveyed it used a carpenter’s square, the north star,
and a piece of measured rope.
Pioneers who went thru this first season
say that some of the men made as high as four
trips during the spring and summer of 1860 [to
Salt Lake City]. They walked every step of the
way there and back. On their return trip each
DIGGING THE ONEIDA IRRIGATION CANAL man carried a fifty pound sack or more of flour
The hor ses are dragging a wide metal scraper bucket on his back—this was necessary “to keep the
through the dirt. This photo was taken circa 1902—about wolf from the door.” Men and women would also
forty years after the settlers started digging the first ditch- walk to Salt Lake City to attend the spring and
es in the Franklin area.

H owe l l I. Smi t h
33 T.C . D. 38 L e o nar d ox
42 C . W. F Lynex, Sr.
32 E d K in g sf o rd
H . H a t ch m i s h 43 William
37 L . 1 W. R . C o orrison
te s Tr o op s o ul s e n c ke r, Sr. 4 44 John M
Unit e d St a 3 0 C . H. P a t h a n P a a n O r d e n Keel
her e H owe l l 3
6N 4 0 E ve r t V 45 Dabner
s t at ione d 29 W i l l i a m m F l u e t t de na ll, S r.
35 W i l l i a 39 Thomas
Men
46 John Fre
w
w h e n e ve r 7 A . M. N e
e l ey
w Mor r is on 5 2
r e 2 3 4 A n d r e 8 4 9 5 0 51 G o aslind
t h ey we ane Ne l s on 42 43 4 4 45
46 47 4 47 John
n . 2 6 J 3 8 3 9 4 0 4 1 rd Colter
i n t ow 3 6 37 48 Richa
7 2 8 2 9 3 0 3 1 32 3 3 3 4 35 liverson
26 2 49 James O
anderson
50 James S
n ey reese
31 J ohn D o 51 Peter P
ron
W. Croche
F r a n k l i n F o rt
o m a s 25 D unk l ey 52 George
Pr e s ton T h 28 J o s e p h
s te r 24 Wo o dwar d
W. L . We b S aw P i t 53 W i l l i a m
G e or ge Fo
s t e r 23
5 4 William
C o mi s h
J o h n B ow m
an
h a d w i c k 22 5 5 R o b e r t C ox ,
Ben C dgr e n
Mar y C ha d
wic k 21 St o c k 56 (?) L un
19 S ar ah s Olsen
a d w i c k 20 Mar s hall 57 C h a r l e
Joseph Ch hop 1 8 l Handy
M o r o ni B i s 70 58 S amue
r t c C ann
Alf r e d Ald
e r 17 Ro b e
5 9 T h oma s M
William Gr e gor y he eler
e ll 16 6 0 E lvir a W
She m P ur n 97 G ar ne r
St alke r 15 We ll 98 61 Stor e
A le xan de r 1 4
She m
k in s o n
Ro b e r t D o
wdl e P ur ne ll, C or r al 62 Sr. Par B. Nash
D ave y 1 3 b la c k s m i t h
Br ush eter Pool, I.
G e or ge A . 6 3 Mother & P
ke r 12 B owe r y G o o dlif f
Jame s Pac 6 4 Ar nold
N e l s o n 1 1 6 9
W. G. Lee
.N a s h 65 G e o r g e
. B
mar t 1 0 S c h o o l I B r o a db e nt
T h oma s S Hous e b lac k s mit h 66 Enoc h
Hobbs
wlan d 9 67 He nr y
Mar t ha H o s B all
G a r ner 8 i e T o w n” 6 8 T h oma
W i l l i a m “A d o b
we 7
T h oma s L o
Han s e n 6
A mele ous
B o t hw i c k 5 ie l Par r ot t
A le xan de r 85 N a t h a n s mit h
n B ig g s, e r g, b l a c k
J o hn L air d
4 Joh
C h a r l e s T hor nb e
 F o r m o r n
e n 8 4
Sr. W. C. Patt
s s e r v ey Jr. 3 T h omas Hull, 8 2 r m a ti o
J o s hua M e in fo
v e y S r . 2 95 t th e
J o s hua M e
s s e r abo u
s B a l l 1 75 74 73 72 71 o n of
T ho m a
81 80 79 78
77 76 ehead lo c a ti
86 illiam Whit om
berg th e w e fr
90 89 88 87 7 6 W ll
94 93 92 91 s
n k e n 9 6 83 8 3 C. R. Hobb 5 C h a rles Spong k li n
Allen R a rig h t nnett 7
th e F ra n
e 90 W. T. W 8 1 Thomas Be m a s Slater
94 Pete r L o w obert s 74 T h o
fo r t, p la c e
89 Owen R 80 Nephi P
acker
mes Cowa
n Jr.
e
yo ur m o u s
3 A le c L o we P e rk in s o rt h 7 3 Ja
9 8 8 Joseph h ra im Ellsw m pton
ll , Jr . 9 E p . H a e ll.
o v e r th e w
sH u 7 72 M rs
92 Thoma 8 7 M rs. Mayberr
y
I. H . V ail m C o rb ridge
ead 7 8 71 W il li a
91 W. H. H e Alder Settlers” illiam Pratt
eorgMormon

History
23 of Franklin,
• Franklin Fort Idaho • The Franklin Story, from 86 G“The 77 W
 Return to Previous View
FULL SCREEN 23
fall conferences [of the Church of Jesus Christ meat. They were extremely careful not to be discovered
34
of Latter-day Saints . by the Indians.
On Saturday, August 12, 1860, gold was discovered
Boiled wheat, milk and sego roots at Pierce, Idaho. This news spread rapidly, and though it
Often whole families lived on boiled wheat and milk did not effect the Franklin settlement too much at first,
and sego roots while waiting for the men and supplies. it did in a few years.
John Reed was traveling to Smithfield to get some sup- Salt Lake City was noticing the little northern group
plies, and was set upon and killed by Indians. He was of settlers at Franklin, and was watching the develop-
the first casualty by Indians. He was buried on the 24th ment of the area.
of July southwest of the settlement about half a mile. At Franklin the most northern settlement,
This was the beginning of the Franklin Cemetery. one of the streams on which the people were
Potatoes and turnips were planted in the middle depending for water to irrigate their fields failed
of July. At the beginning of August wheat was har- to that extent, some weeks since that, before
vested. a canal could be completed to bring water from
We had tramped out 48 bushels of wheat the main creek, which is said to be of sufficient
and on August 2 took it to Farmington and size to water a large tract of land, the growing
got it ground; brought it back and divided it wheat and other crops suffered materially; but
among the camp. We were a happy and united since the completion of the ditch, and the ap-
35
people. plication of a sufficiency of aqua to the parched
The canvas from the wagons was spread and fields, the grain had revived, and there was a
stretched out upon the dry ground. People trampled fair prospect of a good yield of wheat, although
on the bundles of wheat. The chaff was fanned away it will be late in ripening, and may possibly be
by hand, and the grains of wheat were then sacked. nipped a little by frost before it comes to ma-
Indian dogs were vicious and killed chickens and turity.36
sheep. The Indians would come in on Sundays, before August was spent in getting ready for the winter
meeting. On August 13th an Indian and his squaw came to come. Some of the people moved into their newly
into the settlement. Their dog had been killed acciden- constructed cabins, but the fort was not actually com-
tally, and they proceeded to break up the meeting. An pleted until 1863. The people in general were caring for
ox was given them in payment. Jim Bowington and their crops. They especially nurtured their wheat fields.
William Hull killed fifty dogs in one day by poisoned The grain was usually cut with a cradle. One man would

cut the grain and place it in a swath, while another fol- Putting on government shingles
lowed behind and raked it and bound it into sheaves. Only a few dugouts were built by the people, and
In the latter part of August a small grain separator was these were only temporary. Mainly cabins were built of
constructed. A horse placed on a treading machine pine logs, sometimes cottonwood logs were used. They
provided the turning power. The separator had a small were usually of a one room construction. Clay was used
head cylinder where the bundles were pushed in, and for chinks to fill up the cracks between the logs. The
the grain and chaff would fall below in a pile. At first roof was constructed of saplings placed close together,
fanners had to separate the chaff from the grain, but then covered with smaller twigs or rushes and in turn
later a straw carrier was added and this carried straw covered with straw or wild hay. About ten or twelve
away. Sometimes it took most of the winter to fan the inches of dirt was then placed on top. A board of about
grain from the chaff. Piles of wheat and chaff were ten inches was placed around the eves to hold the dirt
protected until crews
could work at them.
The season was very
dry. A little wild hay
was cut from the wild
hay fields and put up
in the fort area. The
produce raised was
very light. This made
it necessary to carry on
an extensive trade with
other communities.
CR ADLE SY THE LOG CABIN WITH A SOD ROOF

Displayed at the Franklin Relic Mercy Roselpha Kofoed and her family’s log cabin in Weston,
Hall Idaho, 1900. From Hometown Album
in place. Putting on a dirt roof was usually called “put-

ting on government shingles.”37 During the summer
the dirt roof would become a veritable flower garden,

usually of wild mustard plants. 38 Brigham Young told and carpets were woven and braided from rags. The
the settlers to build their homes close together in the “Mormon bedstead” consisted of two holes bored into
form of a fort for protection. Practically all of the first a wall of a home. Poles were placed in the holes. The
settlements in the valley did this until lots could be other end of the poles was supported by posts. Slats or
surveyed. An adobe yard was planned and started in pieces of wood and rawhide were the cross pieces. The
one corner of the fort area. As the town grew out of mattresses or ticks were made of canvas bags filled with
the fort, the adobe yard area retained the name of straw, hay, or cattails. When cattails would get ripe in
“Adobie Town.” the fall, the people could hang a sack at their side, and
collect the down from the head of the cattails. The head
Forts usually began with rows of cabins of the cattail would be placed in the mouth of the sack
Forts usually began with rows of cabins facing and firmly held. Then the stem would be pulled out leav-
each other with an adequate space between. Back of ing the broken downy head inside the sack. Mattresses
each row of houses was a roadway, beyond which was of cattails would become matted and lumpy in a short
garden space, hay stacking yards and sheds. while, and would be refilled nearly every year.
The cabins were furnished very plainly. An ado- A strong high pole fence was the outer protection
be fireplace was usually situated in one end of the and the stack yards and corrals were placed against it.
cabin. Split logs with pegs for legs made up stools When Indians threatened, minutemen or guard picket-
and benches. Window glass was expensive, so the men were stationed at each corner on ends of streets
windows were covered with heavy brown paper that just outside the fort. There was a public corral inside
had been oiled, or factory (cloth) was sometimes used. the fort and at night the cattle and horses were placed
The ground floors care covered with straw in the early in the one corral and guarded.
days of the settlement. Later on, floors were made of Vegetables were put away in pits and surrounded
rough hewn floor boards. The insides of the cabins with stray to keep the frost out. Cabbage was usually
were whitewashed with water-thinned white clay from made into sauerkraut. Beef was placed in a strong brine
Soda Springs. This process was repeated twice a year solution, and when completely saturated it was then
at fall and spring house cleaning time. Sometimes lime smoked and dried for winters use. When obtainable,
would be used instead of the white clay. There were no rabbits were raised. Some flax had been raised by Wil-
brushes with which to apply it, so pieces of wool were liam Hull, senior. It was made into thread and Mrs. Hull
used. This left the hands and arms in a sore condition made the thread into cloth. Candy was made from the
for weeks because of the exposure to the lime. Rugs skimmings of molasses. Haw candy was made from

haw berries that had been gathered and had the seeds was hauled fifty miles from the Bear Lake Mountains.
removed.39 A school house was necessary for the advancement
Brigham Young called Samuel Whitney to carry of a community which had now grown to about sixty
mail in and out of Cache Valley in 1860. Mr. Whitney families.
received his pay in flour, bacon and other produce from A pit saw had been constructed in the northeast
the Tithing Office in Logan, Utah. Whitney provided corner of the fort by Joshua Messervey.
himself with horse, saddle, and mail pouch. All the A pit saw . . . . was constructed by digging
mail, for the first year, was taken to Logan and picked a hole, or pit, in the ground deep enough for a
up at Logan. man to stand in. The logs, or timbers, that were
Even education wasn’t beyond the reach of the to be cut into lumber, were then rolled over
Franklin people. Hannah Comish, wife, of William Com- the pit, and with one man under the logs and
ish, opened her home as a another on top with a large saw with handles
school in the fall of 1860. on each end, the log was slowly ripped into
She had about twenty- lumber.40
one children under her Mr. Messervey manufactured furniture, wash-tubs,
direction for about three washboards, buckets, and barrels. The churns and buck-
months. The pioneers beets and other vessels were held together by bands made
lieved in education and from green birch twigs. It was necessary to keep the
without knowing it had wooden vessels damp or they would fall apart. Mr. Mar-
started the first school in tin Lundgren did cabinet work for people of the fort.
Idaho. Usually the Bishop
would choose the best Producing linsey cloth from wool
suited persons to be the Thus closed the first year that the pioneers had
HANNAH COMISH teachers. Next to the Bish- lived in their new home. With the coming of 1861 we
Idaho’s first school teach- op in influence in the com- find the Mormon Saints still at their tasks of taming
e r t aught c las s e s in he r
munities were the teach- the wilderness. The settlers had a few sheep. After the
home.
ers. shearing in the spring, the women would take the wool,
Late in the fall of 1860 Bishop Thomas had logs and wash it, and dry it. Groups of women would then
cut and hauled from Deep Creek Canyon for the pur- get together and pick it over. It was then taken and
pose of building a school house. Some of the lumber carded, first in the homes and later in mills. Martha Vail

and Mrs. Kingsford were two of the first to have looms.
Wool was spun on a wheel and made onto a spindle.
The wool yarn was then reeled on two large reels about
two yards around. It took forty threads to make one
knot, and ten knots to make one skein. It took fifteen
knots of yarn to make one yard of linsey cloth. Linsey
cloth was then used for skirts, shirts, waists, and other
clothing for the settlers. The men usually wore “jeans”.
Some had buckskin, which was alright until it got wet.
When the buckskin would get wet, it would stretch;
and then when it would dry out, it would shrink to a
smaller size than the original garment. When spinning
was done the yarn had to be washed and colored. Red
WOOL CARDS Wire teeth mounted on the colors came from soaking bran until it was sour. This
cards helped align the fibers for spinning.
was strained and mixed with madder root. Yarn was
placed in this mixture. After it had been taken out and
washed clean, the color was set with alum. Blue color
came from indigo mixed with a “liquid known princi-
pally by the women, ask them”41 The yellow color was
obtained by boiling the blossoms of rabbit brush or
yellow dock in water and then straining the mixture.
Green color was made by placing yarn in the liquid of
a combination of the yellow and the blue dye. Black
was obtained by boiling the bark of the alder tree. This
was set in the cloth by blue vitriol or copper. The cot-
ton yarn for the warp, which cost five dollars a pound,
also had to be colored.
Straw hats were braided for the men and the boys.
SPINNING WHEEL Owned by Thomas G. The women and the girls wore sun bonnets.
Lowe. Items from the Franklin Relic Hall

Some flax was grown, cured, and spun almost the Salt Lake City. Benches were split logs with the flat side
same as wool. From the flax came some rough linen used for the sitting part. These benches were made from
towels, and shirts. The women also made blankets. either maple or birch logs. Each Saturday the straw was
removed from the floor. The building was swept out
First school house completed with brooms made from sagebrush or flax tied onto a
Late in the spring of 1861 the school house was stick in bunches. After the sweeping was done clean
completed. It consisted of one large room with a large straw was placed over the bare earth. The Relief Society
fireplace in the east end. It had a sod roof. The door (women’s organization of the Mormon Church) teachers
was on the west end. There was one window on both did the cleaning of the school house each week. Friendly
the north and south sides. The window frames were competition was used to see which pair of teachers
hand-sawed and trimmed by the use of pocket knives. could make it look the best for the Sunday meetings.
Little eight by ten inch glass panes were brought from When the weather was bad and it rained, the children
were excused until the rain stopped, because the roof
wasn’t quite water proof. This building was used as the
school house, meeting house, and amusement hall. In
the early spring a steer fell into the community well. It
was quite some time until it could be removed. Men
took turns rubbing the animal until it could get back
its circulation.
Shoes were scarce and expensive. If a person were
fortunate enough to have a pair of shoes, he would
remove them at any time when it wasn’t necessary to
wear them in order to save them for special occasions.
Usually a person would take them off as he entered his
A MODEL OF IDAHO’S FIRST SCHOOLHOUSE home. The boys and girls would go without shoes much
From an accompanying plaque: “This is a model of the first of the time. Cloth was expensive. Factory sold for one
school house in the state of Idaho. The east half was built
dollar a yard. Calico sold for seventy-five cents a yard.
first, and later, an addition was added to the west end,
and the partition was taken out.” Rain coming through the
Blue denim sold for one dollar to one dollar and twenty-
sod roof would prompt the closing of classes. Displayed in five cents a yard. Indian head sheeting was one dollar a
the Franklin Relic Hall. yard. Thread was thirty-five cents a spool.

Soap was usually made at home by a leaching pro- Some materials could be purchased in Salt Lake City.
cess. The leach was a large square box which drained If the person had the necessary money for the articles, or
to a point at one end. At
this draining point was
an opening which could
be opened at the time of
draining. During the win-
ter months ashes from
the fireplace are placed
in the leach. In the spring,
water was poured slowly
through the ashes. As it
filtered it collected in
the bottom of the leach.
This was strong lye water. HOUSEHOLD
It was then mixed with ITEMS FROM
FR ANKLIN
beef tallow, hog fat or
Far Left:
other grease and cooked.
CANDLE MOLDS.
When it had been cooked Top: Old style
and had cooled it made a soft or liquid soap. Some of SQUARE NAILS.
it was usually molded and scented for the use of hand Left:
MOL ASSES
soap.
GUAGE. All
“Bitch lights” were used almost exclusively at first. items displayed
The settlers made their own wicks. These wicks were at the Franklin
placed in a little pan or dish of grease. When used they Relic Hall.
gave a feeble light. As candles could be made and used,
a potato with a hole cut in it on one side usually served
as a candle holder. Many of the people molded their
own candles when they could get the tallow.

if he could trade something for what he needed. Nails
were sixty cents a pound. An eight by ten inch window
glass was sixty cents.
Sugar was scarce. Molasses was the substitute. The
settlers each had a small cane patch. Juice was squeezed
from the cane to make the necessary molasses. Along
with the cultivated crops of grains, vegetables, rasp-
berries, currents, gooseberries were usually dried for
winter’s use. In the earlier years of the settlement molas-
ses was made from table beets and squash butter was
made from squash. Wild hops were used in making tea
and yeast. Women who made yeast would give starts
away to other women for flour, molasses, or sugar. Beef
would be cured for winter and hung from the rafters
THE FR ANKLIN POST OFFICE, 1914
of the homes. Also, squash would be cut into rings and Ellen Nash helps her sister, Laura Nash, the Franklin Post-
hung from the rafters.42 Saleratus was used instead master at the time. In 1874 the mail stage came to Franklin,
of soda in soda biscuits. It was gathered from the top connecting Salt Lake City to Helena, Montana. Some of the
of the ground in alkaline area. Salt was cleaned by early mail carriers were Thomas G. Lowe, William Woodward,
Edmund Buckley & Charles Fox & William Pierce.
dissolving water from Great Salt Lake in non-alkaline
water. This was strained, boiled down, and evaporated. turn sublet the carrying of the mail in and out of Cache
The salt residue would dry in large pieces. These pieces Valley to three settlers. Frank Gunnell of Wellsville con-
were ground up in a coffee grinder. Later on salt could tracted to take the mail from Wellsville to Brigham City.
be obtained from Willow Creek, Utah. W. H. Maughan, also from Wellsville, contracted to carry
Mr. Merrick and Mr. Duffin began a little store on the mail from Wellsville and all intermediate points to
the north side of the fort area. William Whitehead be- Logan. Mr. Peter Maughan of Logan contracted to carry
came the clergy. The supplies and stock were limited. mail from Franklin and all intermediate points to Logan.
These three men in turn hired other settlers to carry the
Delivering the mail mail for them. Peter Maughan hired Joe Maughan. Mr.
In 1861 Ben Holliday and Egan and Company re- Gunnell hired Dick Gunnell. Mr. W. H. Maughan hired
ceived a contract for carrying mail to Utah. They in Robert Baxter. Mr. Gunnell started from Wellsville Mon-

day morning and would make it to Brigham City and in dry weather, but in the winter weather would stretch
back by that evening. Mr. Baxter would leave Wellsville because of the moisture. When the once moistened
and travel through Hyrum, Millville, and Providence and leather could be dried out, it became brittle. 44
arrive at Logan by noon of the next day, Tuesday. Mr. There is only one reference to a change in the shape
Maughan would leave Logan at noon on Tuesday, and of the fort before the settlers began to build on their
travel through Hyde Park, Smithfield, and Richmond and surveyed land outside the fort.
arrive at Franklin that evening. He would remain over Our fort was remodeled in the shape of a
night, and return to Logan by Wednesday noon. Baxter “T”; some houses were built on the new survey,
would leave Logan at noon and make it to Wellsville but most lived in their old places.45
that evening. On Thursday morning Mr. Gunnell would
start out again. Two mail deliveries were possible in Building up the new home land
one week.43 The settlers were quite active in building up their
Men tarred and prepared their own leather for new home land. The hours of labor were long and some-
shoes. Each home was a shoe shop. The hairy side of the times tiresome, but they were a happy people. Gardens
leather was used either on the inside or the outside of were planted on the west side of the fort area. These gar-
the shoe according to the weather. Strings of hide laced dens were of great benefit to the settlers. They planted
the pieces together. Shoes made this way would last cabbage, potatoes, lettuce, onions, cucumbers, peas,
melons, corn, squash, and many other things. Good
crops were raised in 1861. The grain was not threshed
in the fall but placed in stacks. The fall was very wet and
the stacks of wheat became damp and musty. When
the grain was made into flour and bread, it had a musty
taste. The cellars of the settlers on the south side of
the fort were full of water. Even the houses were wet
nearly every day for a long time, due to the sub-surface
water.
Fall time is school time, and the school opened with
SHOES FOR A CHILD Mr. G. Alvin Davy as the teacher. There were about sev-
What looks at first glance like green trim is actually rows enty students who attended. Slate rock east of Franklin
of weathered nails. Displayed at the Franklin Relic Hall was made into writing slates and pencils for the students

There was just one reader for each class, and just one Verbal arithmetic was given in the same way. Tuition was
speller for use by all of the students in the school. The paid by the parents to the teacher. The tuition was any
students would take turns reading, by standing in rows kind of produce, cloth, meat, or molasses. The “Almanac”
in front of the teacher. During the spelling exercises the was used as a study book.
teacher would pronounce the word, and the students After most of the work of gardening had been done
would write the word on their slates. Each student for the summer and fall in the year of 1861, the men
would study the words from the writing on his slate. of the settlement again turned to the work of making
more permanent homes and better irrigation ditches.
HOMEMADE BENCH
In the early days of Franklin, They worked on the Thomas Ditch which was north and
settlers going to public gath- west of Cub River. It took a long time to get the water
erings such as school classes to run in the ditch because the land was so level. A hill
and church meetings brought
which they had to cut through also obstructed their
their own benches and stools
to sit on.
path for awhile. Later, this ditch became known as the
Lewiston Canal.
SCHOOL SL ATE
Pencil and slate made from
local slate stone. Bench and The Homestead Act opens opportunities
slate displayed at the Frank- The winter of 1861-1862 was a very wet and dismal
lin Relic Hall.
one for the people. With the coming of spring again, the
Franklinites were ready for another try at making their
area productive. The Homestead Act of 1862 enabled
men to obtain one hundred and sixty acres of land, if the
person wishing the land would live on it for five years
and make some improvements.46 This the Mormon set-
tlers did, for before this they had just been considered
as squatters.
The hay lands southwest of the town were known
as the new fields for they were just being developed.
Broom corn was now raised for the making of brooms
instead of using flax.

When women were incapacitated and not able to the class came to the front while they recited. Tuition
to work, either a friendly neighbor could help with this year, 1862, was on the basis of forty to fifty dollars
her friends work or be hired by the sick neighbor for per pupil. This, of course, could be paid in produce.
around one dollar a week. This was a standard wage This year one big-hearted lady of Franklin sent thirty-
for housework. four pounds of butter to Salt Lake City with Thomas
The first Sunday School of the Church of Jesus Christ Mendenhall to pay for one pound of tea, which was
of Latter-day Saints was held in the school house. Samu- an extreme luxury. When it arrived in Franklin, she ex-
el Huff was chosen and sustained as the Superintendent tended invitations to all of the older ladies of the town
with William Wright as an Assistant, William Whitehead to come to her home and enjoy the tea with her as long
as Secretary, and William Rogers and Samuel Handy, as it lasted.47
Senior, as teachers. Many of the older women did nursing and acted
William Woodward taught school this year. School as midwives. Some of these ladies were Mary B. Hull,
opened with prayer each day. The children that recited “Grandmother” Mayberry, “Grandmother” Gilbert, “Grand-
mother” Nelson, “Grandmother” Adamson, Deborah
Wright, and Elvira Wheeler.48 These women performed
a great service to the little community.
On the 8th of July 1862 the Congress of the United
States of America enacted the Poland Anti-Polygamy Law
which was signed by President Abraham Lincoln. This
law defined polygamy as bigamy and provided a fine
of five hundred dollars and imprisonment of five years
for violation. It was declared constitutional, but nothing
seemed to be done about the matter of polygamy until
later around the year of 1882.49
Southern Idaho was still a quiet place, for up to this
time nothing much had changed except the little that
had been done by the Franklin people. North of the
ENGLISH TEAPOT
Salmon River thousands of people began to pour into
This teapot was brought to Franklin by William Whitehead. the valleys and mountains, as gold was a great draw-
Displayed at the Franklin Relic Hall. ing card for all types of people. All this new northern

population needed supplies. Franklin became one of
the supply stations. Flour was sold for a good price.
Men bought clothing, guns, tools, and also traded vari-
ous articles.
The Indians became unbearable in their demands
upon the settlers. The settlers would give a portion of
their foodstuffs for the sustenance of the Indians. The
willingness to give probably made the Indians feel that
they could demand more and more each time. The
straining point had to come sometime. In the year of
1863 there were ninety cabins in the fort, while there
were ninety-six families living there. Lorenzo Hill Hatch
became Bishop.
OLD COOPER ATIVE MERCANTILE STORE
After the store closed it was used for a relic hall for many Franklin gets a flour mill
years. It is now owned by the Daughters of the Pioneers. James Haworth and John Goaslind built a flour mill.
They were helped by Lorenzo Hill Hatch and Alexander
Stalker, Senior. All of the machinery for grinding the
flour was made of wood, with the exception of the tur-
bine wheel which came from the East and the grinding
stone which was made of Utah granite. A ditch out of
Cub River was used as power to run the mill. Mr. James
Haworth was a miller by profession. The three other
men were just stock-holders. Mr. Haworth ground forty-
four pounds of flour, fourteen pounds of bran, and two
pounds of shorts from every bushel of wheat. The wheat
coming to the mill was sometimes worth five dollars
a bushel. Each man got the flour from his own wheat.
HOME OF JOHN AND ANN DONEY The flour was always put in two bushel sacks and tied
In 1864 the Doneys left the fort area of Franklin and built with buckskin strings. It is said that Mr. Haworth could
this home out of sandstone quarried east of town.

tell if the grinding was just right by the sound of the
machinery and the smell. Mr. David Jensen and Mr.
Folsom sometimes helped him when he was running
to a full capacity, night and day. Bitch lamps were used
for night lighting. Indians would come to the mill and
trade buckskins, elk hides, and buffalo robes for flour.
Sometimes there were as many as fourteen yoke of
oxen with wagons waiting to freight flour to Montana
and northern Idaho. Bagley and others from Bear Lake
region and would bring wheat to have ground. They SITE OF THE BEAR RIVER MASSACRE
would stay until the wheat was processed.50 Responding to complaints of hostilities by the local Sho-
This year, 1863, Samuel R. Parkinson and Thomas shone Indians, Colonel Patrick Edward Connor and his force
Smart built the first sawmill in the area, which also of 200 California Volunteers attacked a Shoshone winter
village twelve miles northwest of Franklin.
was the first in southeastern Idaho. Lumber from this
Connor and his men reached the encampment of 450
mill was used in building homes on the surveyed land people in the predawn darkness of January 29, 1863. After
around the fort. A joke was made about the mill which an initial frontal sortie on the camp failed, the soldiers re-
stated that Joshua Messervey and the men working in grouped and pressed the attack from two sides.
the saw pit could out-cut the new sawmill.51 After a couple of hours of fighting the Indians ran out
of ammunition. The soldiers pursued everyone they could
With the growth of the community it was necessary
find into the thick willows along the creek and shot them
to enlarge the log school house. A stage was built in with their revolvers. When the shooting was over as many
one end of it, besides enlarging it. This would be an as 350 men, women and children lay dead and dying in the
opportunity to develop the talents in the community. snow. The soldiers burned the Indian’s homes and carried
off 1000 bushels of wheat and flour and 175 horses.
For many years the incident at Bear River was portrayed
The Battle of Bear River as just another bat tle with the Indians in an expanding
In January the Indians became extreme in their de- Western America. It wasn’t until late in the 20th Century
mands. This led to the bloody battle of the Bear River. that the incident came to be recignized for what it was: a
Colonel Connor’s soldiers from Fort Douglas, Utah had massacre. On March 23, 2003, The Trust for Public Land and
The American West Heritage Center presented the 26-acre
to be called. site of the Bear River Massacre as a gift to the Shoshone
The one hundred forty-three of his com- tribe. The two groups had purchased the land privately and
mand and killed, wounded, or frozen were helped to plan a Shosone cultural and interpretive center.

brought back in wagons to Franklin. Many were The call to make this trip came quite frequently for
cared for in the settlers’ homes; others in the some to help the poorer Saints. Edward Kingsford and
Franklin schoolhouse, and when transportation John Doney donated their teams for two years to help
was secured, all of them were carried to Salt in this adventure.
Lake City. The sufferings of the men and of- National holidays were celebrated with as much
ficers were terrible; barely a man came out of vigor and fervor in the outlying settlements as in any
the fight without being permanently disabled. other place in the Union. A news report of July 8, 1863
Those who were not hit by bullets lost feet and has this to say about the Fourth of July:
arms by freezing.52 We submit for insertion in your columns a
condensed report of our proceedings on our na-
“Fetch the poor Saints” tion’s birthday. A detachment of infantry, com-
After the battle of Bear River was over the commanded by Captain James Packer announced the
munity settled down once again to its normal proce- break of day by the firing of musketry; when
dure. On April 7, 1863 five young men were called to the hoisting of our stars and stripes immediately
go to Omaha, Nebraska to help “fetch the poor Saints followed. At nine o’clock a.m. a procession was
to the valleys.” Oxen were loaned to them by friends. formed at the school house, under the direction
These five men furnished their own food. On the way of the Marshal of the day, William H. Head, and
to Omaha they would stop at various trading posts proceeded to the residence of Bishop L. H. Hatch
and leave a portion of their foodstuffs. This food was where the committee in waiting escorted him to
used on the way back from Omaha.53 Mr. William G. a place at the head of the procession. After hav-
Nelson writes: ing promenaded through town, the procession
In the spring of 1863 I was called by the was seated under a spacious bowery, suitably
Church to drive a team back to the Missis- prepared for the occasion, when the band struck
sippi River after emigration. In company with up the lively and familiar air, “The Star Spangled
three others I started from Franklin on April 14 Banner.” The remaining part of the forenoon
and went to Hyrum where we organized into a was devoted to speeches, songs, toasts, and
company, there being fifty teams with William so forth. The most prominent of our speakers
B. Preston, Thomas Ervin, and Alma Baker as was Bishop Hatch. When he got through speak-
54
Captains. ing, he was enthusiastically greeted with loud
and prolonged cheers. The after part of the day

was devoted to dancing, in which all seemed to were being mined. Some of these were yielding less and
participate with that mirth and hilarity usual less each day. By 1863 there were twenty-five thousand
on such occasions.55 people in Idaho. About five thousand were miners; the
This article was signed by John Laird, Alexander rest were there to do other kinds of work. Miners came
Bothwick, and Alexander Stalker who composed the mostly from California, but they were there from almost
Committee of Arrangements for the celebration. Most every state in the Union. The Civil War had been on since
of the celebrations of the early years followed the same 1861, but this did not stop the miners from coming. Also,
pattern. There was no real need for too much change, there were Englishmen, Germans, Frenchmen, Italians,
because the people liked this type of celebration, and Spaniards, Mexicans, and many Chinese.57 Franklin was
it satisfied their patriotic needs. one of the main points of entry and supply to the people
of northern Idaho.
Franklin expands out beyond the fort
All of the normal activities continued in the village. C A N A D A
William Woodward still continued to teach school for

the people. Little by little the people left the confines of MONTANA
the fort area. Some of the more adventuresome people
spread out into other little communities. Social inter-
EBIP5FSSJUPSZ
course between these small communities and Franklin O R E G O N
* ; <
was infrequent, at first, especially in the winter months.
Occasionally trips had to be made. There were no stage IDAHO
Oneida
coaches as yet and the people either rode horses, drove Count y WYOMING
wagons, or walked. Frank lin

Each year an account was made of the do-
nations given to the Indians and the poor. From N E VADA
UTAH COLOR ADO
the Franklin Ledger Book we take the following
amounts: thirty-four and one half bushels of IDAHO TERRITORY
wheat, one thousand pounds of hay, and forty- In 1864 the Idaho Territory encompassed the current states
seven bushels of potatoes.56 of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, including Franklin. Although
1863 was the high point of placer mining in Idaho. Franklin was thought to be in Utah Territory at the time, it
was in Oneida County, Territory of Idaho. Map after C. J.
By this time all of the large fields had opened up and
Brosnan, History of the State of Idaho, p. 94c.

The saga of the first church meetinghouse and school house. When the new meeting house was
In January of 1864 work began on a meeting house nearing completion the roof fell in, due to faulty archi-
for the Church. This building was to be forty feet wide tecture. The people were disheartened. It stood in that
and eighty feet long, and constructed of stone. The condition for nine years before it, was repaired and
Catholic Church had already built a church building completed. 59
in Idaho City in the year of 1863. The Protestants had Because most of the little communities that were
also built a church building in Idaho City. Actually the being established in southern Idaho were of Mormon
Mormon Church was behind in building their church extraction, this does not necessarily mean that other
building, but they had been busy building other things, people were not moving the communities. Oxford, which
so far as Idaho was concerned.58 The Franklin settlers had been established at the extreme end of Cache Valley
had built their school house which had served as a to the north, had a radical anti-Mormon paper called the
community center, recreational center, church house, Idaho-Enterprise. This newspaper caused much trouble
for the Saints in this region.60
Money, as always a problem with the settlers. No
one had any large amounts of it.
The circulating medium in Cache and Bear
Lake settlements was mostly by scrip. Cash
was so scarce that a substitute token made of
tin was used in lieu of money; in fact, it was
money, as it passed quite freely from hand to
hand without reference to the honesty or sol-
vency of the offerer. Of course, cash was given
a ten percent advantage over scrip. It remained
in use until 1899. 61
Very little banking was done. Money, if any was had,
was kept at home. In the spring of 1864 many of the
THE FIRST PERMANENT MORMON CHAPEL IN IDAHO settlers were living on their city lots. The lots had been
The church was constructed from local sandstone under the
surveyed so that there were eight lots to a city block of
direction of Bishop L. H. Hatch. After sitting empty with a
caved-in roof for nine years, the chapel was reconstructed
ten acres. Thus each lot was one and one-fourth acres
in 1874 and used for another nine years. in size. The streets were six rods wide.

Town site was city lots of one and one-
fourth acres each. They were drawn for. I drew
lot number four in block ten, just east of the
public square.62 (sic.)
These are the remarks of Joseph Younger Mayberry
on the drawing of city lots.
There seemed to be an article of Mormon
faith which demanded the planting of trees.
Gentile towns, for the first few years after their
founding, are usually marked by environments
of squalor and filth. The outskirts of the towns
are indicated by heaps of refuse, the impres-
sion that the town isn’t a town, but an abode
of campers. When the Mormons located they HOME OF DR. ALLEN CUTLER IN PRESTON, IDAHO, 1903
Dr. Cutler and his family stand among the cottonwood trees
planted trees, not solely, for beaut y and
that surround their home. In 1927 the home was sold and
shade, but also for windbreaks and future fuel turned into a mortuary.
use. Cottonwood a hardy, quick-growing tree,
seemed to be their favorite.63 men of this church, while were helping the poor
Saints to establish themselves in these valleys.
Brigham Young’s 1864 visit to Franklin In order to make plain to them at least one
Brigham Young, President of the Mormon Church, phase of this subject it will only be necessary to
made many visits to the outlying districts of the Church. give a brief account of President Young and his
He was very conscious of the necessity of the visits; party’s first visit to the Bear Lake country.
and even though he was getting older, made the trips On Monday morning, May 16, 1864, at 8:80
to keep the Church informed. He wanted to feel the o’clock, this little company drove out of Salt
pulse of the members. The following is an account of Lake City on its journey. It consisted of six light
one of Brigham Young’s trips. This version was written vehicles and a baggage wagon, occupied by
in 1907. the following persons: Brigham Young, Heber
The rising generation know but little of the C. Kimball, John Taylor, George Albert Smith,
hardships endured in early days by the leading Wilford Woodruff, Joseph Young, Jesse W. Fox,

Professor Thomas Ellerbeck, George D. Watt, nessed and hitched to single trees, and Presi-
reporter, and seven teamsters. They reached dent Young and others, who were too heavy
Franklin, Idaho on the afternoon of the third to help themselves, took hold of these single
day, and by that time had increased their num- trees with both hands and were helped up the
ber to one hundred and fifty-three men, eighty- mountain in this way.
six of whom were riding in vehicles, the balance Apostle Charles C. Rich and others, who
being picked men, mounted on good horses for had settled Bear Lake Valley the fall before,
assisting the company on the way. There were came to their assistance with all the teams that
no houses between Franklin and Paris, Idaho, could be mustered. Several yokes were hitched
consequently the program was to drive directly to Brother George Albert Smith’s wagon, and
to Paris in one day, if possible. he was hauled up the mountain, but before he
reached the summit his wagon was so badly
GET TING UP THE MOUNTAIN broken that he was compelled to abandon it.
The fourth morning they got an early start, Everybody had a good laugh over the incident,
and drove almost to Mink Creek without ac- being the second vehicle broken down under
cident. Here brother George Albert Smith’s his weight that day. With careful management
carriage broke down, but as good luck would under the supervision of President Young and
have it, the brethren from Cache Valley had Council, the brethren managed to get him onto
brought a light wagon along in case of such an the largest saddle horse that could be found.
emergency. The company were soon on the way The next morning at five o’clock they con-
again, as though nothing had happened. tinued their journey homeward. Brother Rich
They reached the foot of the big mountain had more than kept his promise. He furnished
which divides Cache Valley from Bear Lake two yoke of oxen for President Young’s carriage
Valley, and here is where the tug-of-war be- and four yoke for the baggage wagon, the latter
gan. The mountain was so steep that all the being solely occupied by Brother George Albert
men were compelled to walk except Apostle Smith who had a smile on his countenance that
Smith who was so heavy that it would have made all who beheld it feel good through and
been dangerous for him to undertake it, as he through. These were the only vehicles drawn
weighed not less than three hundred pounds. by ox teams. They followed the road through
The mounted men soon had extra horses har- the mud, while the lighter vehicles, drawn by

horses, hugged the side hills, which were so come and settle on your borders from Franklin,
steep that the brethren had to lash poles to Weber, and Box Elder, and other places.65
the carriage beds, and bear down on the upper
end of the poles to prevent the carriages from The Franklin survey of 1864
tipping over. This plan worked like a charm, This year, 1864, another ditch had to be dug from
and by nine o’clock the company had reached Cub River to Franklin. Jesse W. Fox surveyed the ditch
the summit of the mountain. Not withstanding in the canyon. J. M. Martineau surveyed it from the
it rained hard all that day, the party reached canyon to the town. As the water had been scarce the
Franklin about five o’clock that evening, and year before nearly all the men of Franklin turned out to
three days later they arrived home.64 work on the ditch. It was about four feet wide on the
Brigham Young spoke to the people of Bear Lake bottom and brought a great deal of water to town for
Valley when he visited them and told them some im- irrigation. With this added amount of water the crops
portant things which relate directly to Franklin. were good.66
The people here need a surveyor. We have Traders came to Franklin from the northern part of
young men who can learn in one week to survey the Territory and bought up produce, to the advantage
this valley sufficiently to be agreeable to all of both the traders and the settlers. Wheat was five
parties, and assure every purpose that can be dollars a bushel, flour was twelve dollars per hundred
desired. As to whether we are in Utah Territory pounds. Butter was fifty cents per pound. Eggs sold for
or Idaho Territory, I think we are now in Idaho. fifty cents per dozen. Cows sold for forty dollars.67 This
I have no doubt of it, and the greater part of added business made Franklin a growing place.
those who settle this valley will be in that ter- New Post Offices - The Postmaster General
ritory; the snow lies too low on the mountains has ordered the establishment of the following
here for Utah. . . About cattle, butchers who Post Offices in Cache County: Franklin, L. H.
want to get away from the law and the Church Hatch, postmaster . . . 68
and keep moving to outlying lands—butcher the As new people came into Franklin to settle, either
beeves on the range. I know what those people from the request of the Church officials or of their own
are here for, and their object has been to come accord, they were taken into the community. Some were
to this valley for an impure purpose. You will sent to a community because of their talents.
know it, and if they are not here yet, they will It was customary for people who came into
Franklin as settlers to be given an allotment of

Estimated location of
the original Franklin
fort
J. M. MARTINEAU’S 1864
SURVE Y FROM THE C AN-
YON TO FR ANKLIN
Since Franklin Township
was on the other side of
t he Cub R ive r, mo s t of
what Mar tineau sur veyed
wa s t h e t ow n s p e o p l e ’s
farmland.
The farmland was desig-

nated in three broad cate-
gories as Plow Land, Mead-
ow Land or Hay Land. The
location of the original fort
would have been northeast
of where Maple Creek joins
the Cub River.

FR ANKLIN TOWNSHIP
The town of Franklin is
situated in Sections 20
and 21, Township 16
South on Rage 40 East,
Boise Meridian.
L O C AT I O N o f b u s i -
n e s s e s t ab li s hm e nt s
and industries in the
early years of Franklin.
Numbers correspond to
the list on the following
page.
A numb e r o f FA MILY
BUSINESSES and busi-
ness that were impor-
tant to the family are
noted here.
 HOLD your mouse

cursor over each
highlighted square to
bring up a photo of
that building

hay or grain lands. When Isaac Nash, James 3. Relief Society Building (torn down), now in this
Hibden, George and Alfred Hansen, E. Nelson, location is a park and a new Relic Hall.
Peter Pool, Dickey Colter, William Handy, John 4. Old Tithing Office (torn down).
and Nephi Comish, William Rogers came to
5. City Hall and jail (in basement).
Franklin they were each given five acres in the
6. Opera House (torn down).
section now known as Whitney.69
7. Stone Meeting House (a well was on the north side),
Great strides, great expansion had taken place in
now a modern Latter-day Saint chapel and recre-
three and one half years since the founding of the
ational hall.
settlement, considering its location and its humble
beginning. The Indians still came for food and the ac- 8. Old Stone School House (torn down), Red brick School
count book for the year says that the settlers gave to House (four rooms), The School house has been
them twenty dollars worth of wheat, seven dollars and renovated as a gymnasium.
fifty cents worth of potatoes, fifty dollars worth of oat 9. Present Elementary School House, High school stu-
feed (during Indian trouble), and sixteen dollars worth dents go to Preston, Idaho.
of hay (during Indian trouble). This was expended by 10. Old Oneida Mercantile Union Butcher Shop, later
the settlers for keeping peace with the Indians.70 the Princess Theatre, now used as a garage and for
storage.
11. Berryman and Laverberg, two Jews, owned a mer-
cantile business. Merrick and Duffin owned this and
ran a store, then, the Oneida Mercantile Union, later
Elliot Butterworth Cooperative. Now a tavern.
12. I. B. Nash’s Blacksmith shop, now an ice cream and
Location of Business Establishments light lunch parlor.
and Industries of Franklin 13. Post Office here first, then Thomas Lowe, Elliot But-
terworth and J. A. Head opened a store. Later J. J.
1. Location of Old Franklin Fort.
Hill’s store, and above it was T. G. Lowe’s Dance hall.
2. Old Franklin Cooperative Mercantile Store - 1869, used (burned)
for awhile by citizens of Franklin as a Relic Hall, now
14. Location of the “One-eyed” Cooperative Store, now
used by the Daughters of the Pioneers.
Post Office. Lad been used also as a candy shop.

15. Enoch Broadbent Butcher Shop, then P.B. Dunkley’s 39. Thomas Mendenhall, 64. Arnold Goodliff
Grocery Store, now William Waddoups Grocery Sr. 65. George Lee
Store. 40. Evert Van Orden 66. Enoch Broadbent
16. Little shop, where the first picture shows were held, 41. W. R. Comish 67. Henry Hobbs
has been a series of little shops, now a garage. 42. C. W. Fox 68. Thomas Ball
17. Goldman’s and Bergman’s Saloon just after the rail 43. William Lynex Sr. 69. I. B. Nash, (blacksmith)
road came to Franklin. Thomas Smart and Compa-
44. John Morrison 70. Robert Gregory
ny’s Farmers Union, then part of the Oneida Mer-
45. Dabner Keel 71. William Corbridge
1. John Johnson 20. Joseph Chadwick 46. John Frew 72. Mrs. Hampton
2. Joshua Messervey Sr. 21. Mary Chadwick 47. John Goaslind 73. James Cowan Jr.
3. Joshua Messervey Jr. 22. Ben Chadwick 48. Richard Colter 74. Thomas Slater
4. John Laird 23. George Foster 49. James Oliverson 75. Charles Spongberg
5. Alexander Bothwick 24. W. L. Webster 50. James Sanderson 76. William Whitehead
6. Ameleous Hansen 25. Preston Thomas 51. Peter Preese 77. William Pratt
7. Thomas Lowe 26. Jane Nelson 52. George W. Crocheron 78. I. H. Vail
8. William Garner 27. A. M. Neeley 53. Wm. Woodward 79. Ephraim Ellsworth
9. Martha Howland 28. Joseph Dunkley 54. William Comish 80. Nephi Packer
10. Thomas Smart 29. William Howell 55. Robert Cox, 81. Thomas Bennett
11. W. G. Nelson 30. C. H. Poulsen 56. (?) Lundgren 82. John Biggs,
12. James Packer 31. John Doney 57. Charles Olsen W. C. Patten
13. George A. Davey 32. Edward Kingsford 58. Samuel Handy 83. C. R. Hobbs
14. Robert Dowdle 33. T. C. D. Howell 59. Thomas McCann 84. Charles Thornberg,
15. Alexander Stalker 34. Andrew Morrison 60. Elvira Wheeler (blacksmith)
16. Shem Purnell 35. William Fluett 61. Store 85. Nathaniel Parrott
17. Alfred Alder 36. Nathan Packer, Sr. 62. Sr. Parkinson 86. George Alder
18. Moroni Bishop 37. L. H. Hatch 63. Mother Pool, Peter 87. Mrs. Mayberry
19. Sarah Marshall 38. Leonard Smith Pool, and I. B. Nash 88. Joseph Perkins

89. Owen Roberts 95. Thomas Hull Sr. City: Deseret News Press, 1930), 446-447.
90. W. T. Wright 96. Allan Ranken 10. Andrew Jensen (ed.), Franklin Ward, Franklin Stake,
91. W. H. Head 97. Shem Purnell, p. 2 (typewritten)
92. Thomas Hull Jr. (black smith) 11. Defenbach, op. cit., pp. 150-154.
93. Alec Lowe 98. Wm. Garner
12. Bertha Woodward, Personal Notes on Franklin Settle-
94. Peter Lowe ment, ca. 1920—1949 (typewritten and handwrit-
ten)
Footnotes 13. Hovey, op. cit., p. 107.
1. John Henry Evans, One Hundred Years of Mormon- 14. Deseret News, April 14, 1860, p. 56.
ism (Salt Lake City: Deseret Sunday School Union, 15. Preston High School Seminary Students (compilers),
1909), p. 441. Mormon Trail Blazers, p. 7. (typewritten)
2. Preston Nibley, Brigham Young, the Man and His 16. S. P. Morgan (ed.), Official Program, Idaho Semi-Cen-
Works (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1937), tennial Celebration (Salt Lake City: Skelton Publish-
p. 96. ing Co., 1910), pp. 18-19.
3. Ibid., p. 97. 17. Robert Hull, Notes on the Life of William G. Hull and
4. Hunter, op. cit., pp. 97-98. Incidents in Franklin, p. 1. (typewritten)
5. Andrew Jensen, “Ogden’s Hole”. Improvement Era, 18. Jensen, op. cit., p. 3.
July, 1934, pp. 414-448. This is the only reference 19. Deseret News, June 15, 1939, p. 3.
made to this source. All other Andrew Jensen ref-
erences relate to his compilation of Franklin ward 20. Jensen, op. cit., p. 3.
records. 21. Morgan, op. cit., p. 21.
6. Hovey, op. cit., p. 8 22. Deseret News, April 18, 1860, p. 52.
7. Hovey, op. cit., pp. 10-13. 23. Marie Danielsen (compiler), “The History and De-
8. Beal, op. cit., p. 139. velopment of Southeastern Idaho”, The Trait Blazer
(Published by the Daughters of the Pioneers, 15 June
9. B. H. Roberts, A Comprehensive History of the Church 1930), p. 21.
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, IV (Salt Lake
24. Hovey, op. cit., p. 106.

25. Josephine Mayberry Brayley (ed.), Life Sketch of 42 . Hovey, op. cit. , pp. 131-132.
Joseph Younger Mayberry, p. 48. (typewritten) 43. Hovey, op. cit. , pp. 135-136.
26. Hull, op. cit., p. 3. 44. Braley, op. cit., pp. 56.
27. Deseret News, May 23, 1860, p. 92. 45. Lowe, op. cit., p. 5.
28. Nibley, op. cit., p. 356. 46. Beal, op. cit., p. 325.
29. lbid. p. 357. 47. Danielsen, op. cit., P. 39.
30. Ibid. p. 96. 48. Ibid., p. 37.
31. Ibid., p. 360. 49. Beal, op. cit., p. 301.
32 . Deseret News, August 1, 1860, p. 170. 50. Danielsen, op. cit., p. 32.
33. Deseret News, June 30, 1894, p. 49. 51. Morgan, op. cit., p. 28.
34. Danielsen, op. cit., p. 21. 52. Donaldson, op. cit. p. 308.
35. Serena Lowe (compiler), Biographies and Life 53. Hull, op. cit., p. 2.
Sketches of Franklin Pioneers, p. 32. (typewritten)
54. Jensen, op. cit., p. 4.
These biographies and life sketches have been col-
lected by the Ellen Wright Camp of the Daughters 55. Deseret News, July 28, 1863, p. 27.
of the Pioneers. Serena Lowe is Historian of the 56. Franklin Account Ledger, p. 195. (handwritten)
Camp. They have been collected over a period of
57. Defenbach, op. cit. , p. 195.
many years, and were taken from personal inter-
views or written material. 58. Ibid., p. 210.
36. Deseret News, August 15, 1860, p. 192. 59. Morgan, op. sit. , p. 28.
37. Morgan, op. cit., p. 23. 60. Beal, op. cit., p. 171.
38. Braley, op. cit., p. 51. 61. Ibid., pp. 35-39.
39. Danielsen, op. cit., pp. 29-30, 32, 37-33. 62. Braley, op. cit., p. 48.
40. Morgan, op. cit. p. 28. 63. Donaldson, op. cit.,
41. Hovey, op. cit., p. 131. 64. Solomon F. Kimball, “President Brigham Young’s First
Trip to Bear Lake Valley”, Improvement Era, 1907, pp.

296-303.
65. lbid., pp. 296-303.
66. Danielsen, op. cit. , p. 21.
67. Lowe, op. cit., p. 55.
68. Deseret News, June 15, 1864, p. 297.
69. Danielsen, op. cit., p. 58.
70. Franklin Account Ledger, 1864, p. 203. (handwrit-
ten)

¯ 1860 ¯
I sold my little property for an old wagon, a yoke of
cattle, some flour, a plow and some leather. I left Pay-
son in March with my family, and some twenty families,
ENTRIES some staid in Ogden, some in Logan. The rest of us
REFERRING came to Franklin, vis. TCD Howell and sons, TM Bennett,
D Keel, WH Head, W. Patten, J. Doney and myself with
TO
our families.
JOHN We obtained some land, plowed, and put in some

crop. Bro. John Doney and me generally worked to-
DONEY gether. When I came to Franklin I had two yoke of cattle

one cow and calf and some chickens. Provisions were
FROM T H E not very abundant, we were short of clothing and bed-
ding. I had a wife and two children.
JOUR NAL
OF H I S FR I EN D ¯ 1861 ¯
This year Bro. John Doney and me worked together
E DWA R D a great deal. Through the winter I worked a great deal
KINGSFORD on a water ditch.
Bro. Doney and me rented land from A. Stalker which
• we put into grain. Busy this season, I was never idle.
**** During harvest time, I had the privilege of going
IN the years to Salt Lake City with my wife and getting my Endow-
1860 T O 1864 ments. Bro. Doney and Jas. Perkins went along also with
their wives. I owned an old wagon. I borrowed a wheel
of Mark Nelson before I started but this gave out on the
way. I wove sticks in it and got to Willard. We traveled
nearly night and day, when near the Hot Springs my
wife was taken sick, she said she was struck with death.

History of Franklin, Idaho • Entries from the Journal of Edward Kingsford FULL SCREEN 50 
¯ 1862¯
We bathed her with Hot Spring water, and did what
we could for her.
We got our endowments next day. I was ordained The winter was wet – our houses were mostly cov-
an Elder in the Endowment house, my wife was sealed ered with willows, rushes, and dirt and they were not
to me. We traveled as rapidly as we could go back to waterproof. The sacks of grain were wet and people
Franklin as our grain was in the fields, in the shock. had musty grain and flour til harvest. I had bought an
When we arrived at Logan my wife said she had Indian pony and Bro. Doney had another, and we had
lived as long as she wanted to and requested me to a team between us of horses.
bury her as decently as I could, to have her washed with
soap and laid peacefully away. She died a week from
the day she made the request of me, October 26th. I had
¯ 1863¯
[Due to money earned by feeding and clothing
been to Logan grist mill and staid away one night, and
the army sent to subdue the Indians, Edward and John
when I returned she was making pancakes, she said she
rented 10 more acres of land together.]
could not make any more. Sisters Howell and Doney sat
up that night with her, she died next morning.
I could not go to the funeral, as I had to stay at ¯ 1864¯
This spring we moved onto our city lot. I lived near
home with the baby nine months old. No ceremony
was said at her funeral. I was lonesome and desolate Spring Creek and had John Doney as a near neighbor.
and filled with grief. [After a visit from Brigham Young, there was a good year
The next day I went and saw Sister Halgar Poulsen of crops]. [While in the fields a drunken Indian attacked
whose husband had died this year; she was left with Mary Ann Alder]. As soon as the Indian commence his
two children. I asked her to come and keep house for deviltry a man shot the Indian with a revolver. I had a
me and I would look after her things. Sister Poulsen pitchfork, Bro. Doney a rake and we tried to defend the
enquired of the neighbors about my character, and woman.
the next day I moved her things to my house and she The Latter-day Saints have been in the habit of send-
kept house for me. She had not been to my house but ing teams to the States to bring on the emigrants from
a few days before I asked sister Poulsen to be my wife. the Missouri River. I put one ox and Bro Doney another,
She said she would not be married before Christmas this we did for two years. Prosperous times – traders
to anybody. On Christmas Eve I asked her and she said from the north came to Franklin and bought up our pro-
“I guess so”. [The hard pioneer life made for marriages duce to our and their advantage. Wheat was $5 a bushel.
of necessity].

History of Franklin, Idaho • Entries from the Journal of Edward Kingsford FULL SCREEN 51 
Early History of Franklin County
Introduction
• Franklin •
i da ho Out of the early history of what is now known as
Franklin County, there has come to this generation and
the generations to follow, a heritage which can scarcely
From
be equaled in any other part of the country.
THE TR AIL BLAZER The subject of this sketch, as the title suggests, is
History of the Development to be a part history of Franklin County, that includes of
course, the beginnings and developments of the vari-
of Southeastern Idaho
ous communities. However, in order that the reader may
• more fully understand and appreciate what it is all about
P u bl i sh ed i n 1930 and the foundation thereof, it will not be amiss to give
here a brief sketch concerning the earliest history of the
b y Daugh t er s of t h e P ion eer s
territory that is now known as Cache Valley, and an ac-
R e v i sed a n d u p dat ed i n 1976 count of the Battle Creek Massacre, the results of which
b y N e w el l H a rt afforded the settlers much relief from Indian troubles
RMISSION and made it possible for home seekers to locate in the
more remote parts of this section of the country.
It is not very often that historians can get a definite
• account of the very earliest history of some particular re-
gions, however, we are quite sure that the historians are
right when they tell us that it was not until 1821 that the
solitudes of Cache Valley were broken by the coming of
the first white men. But long before this, the valley had
been a favorite hunting ground for the Indians, among
them were members of the Shoshone, Blackfoot and Ute
Indian tribes. The streams were the homes of all kinds of

History of Franklin, Idaho • “Franklin Idaho”, from The Trail Blazer FULL SCREEN 52 
valuable fur-bearing animals such as, the beaver, mink The stories of these good hunting grounds soon
and muskrat. The elk, deer, mountain sheep, bear, wolf, reached other trappers and Willow Valley became the
mountain lion, coyote and lynx roamed freely about in meeting place for those who trapped for furs. The name
the hills and mountains. The streams were well supplied “Cache Valley” of course came naturally, due to the habit
with a variety of fish. This place was first called “Willow of the trappers caching their furs here.
Valley” and it was to this rich hunting ground that, in James P. Beckwith, who came to this valley in 1825,
1824, the first white men came. These white men were later helped to explore and survey a prospective route
a company of trappers working, doubtlessly, for the for a transcontinental railroad.
Rocky Mountain Fur Company, which later proved to In 1860, Idaho was
be a powerful rival to the Hudson Bay Fur Company still a vast wilderness
in the Oregon country. According to the records of known only to the few
some historians, James (“Jim”) Bridger was the leader trappers, the hunter,
or captain of this early fur company. Kit Carson, the the prospector and the
famous frontiersman, and William F. Dranan were also Catholic missionar y.
members of the party. The extent of its wealth
Preston Saint Charles
Cokeville
and resources were
0 10 Miles 25 Miles 50 Miles
Whitney
Franklin 0 10 KM 25 KM 50 KM unthought of as sav-
Snowville
Garden City
Richmond age Indians and others
Blue Creek
Smithfield
Howell
Laketown Sage Kemmerer made their trails along
Logan
Providence Randolph the streams, across the
Paradise
Hyrum
plains and through the
Brigham City
Mantua Woodruff
mountain passes.
Willard
Just at this time,
Pleasant View
North Ogden JIM BECKWITH was one of the
Lakeside Marriott-Slaterville Evanston
Piedmontfew black mountain men.
that is early in the
Promontory Point Ogden Wahsatch
Roy
Clinton Sunset
South Ogden Altamont
spring of 1860, a small
Clearfield
Great Salt Lake
Kaysville
Layton Morgan
Henefer Emory band of pioneers and trail blazers wended their way into
CACHE VALLEY runs north Farmington and south from near the north-
West Bountiful Centerville Coalville
the Northern part of Cache Valley. They came because
east tip of The Great WoodsSaltCross Lake
Bountiful to just over the border in
Idaho.
Low
The valley is about 40
North Salt Lake
miles long by about 10 miles
of their having heard of the rich fertility of this soil and
Salt Lake City
Timpie
wide. MormonWest pioneers
Valley City colonized South Salt Lake
Cache Valley Oakley in a string thought it a good place to build homes. They selected
Murray Park City
of settlements running up the east side of the valley. a spot on the banks of the Cub River and began imme-

diately to build homes and plan for a permanent settle but it seemed to be a common occurrence for them to
ment. That was the beginning of the first permanent attack the emigrant trains and small parties separated
white settlement in Idaho, now known as Franklin. (A from the settlements.
more detailed history of these early settlers and their Soon after Christmas in 1862, David Savage and Wil-
affairs will be given in the history of Franklin.) liam Bevins with a small company of men came down
These early settlers did not fail to realize that they from Leesburg, a mining camp on the Salmon River, to
were located on the extreme outskirts of civilization get supplies and cattle. They lost their way in a blinding
and that the least awkward move they made would snow storm in the north end of Cache Valley and kept
mean starvation or annihilation by the hostile Indians on the west side of Bear River. When the storm cleared
that roamed at will over the South Eastern part of the off, they found themselves about west of Richmond,
territory. As we shall learn later, the Indians were not Utah. The party made a boat of some of the wagon
loathe to kill and destroy as they chose from time to boxes and attempted to cross the river. While the last
time. boat load was crossing the river, some of the Indians
Settlers continued to come to increase the size of who had been camping up on what is now known as
the settlement and build up fortifications against the Battle Creek, and had been following the party, came
prowling, hostile Indian marauders. upon the men rather suddenly and began shooting at
them. One man of the party was killed and several others
Increasing Indian Troubles wounded. Then too, the Indians proceeded to destroy
The Years of 1862 and 1863 found the Indians grow- the wagons and supplies, while they were doing this,
ing more and more troublesome to the people of the the men hid in the brush until the Indians were gone.
little settlement. They stole many horses even growing During the night they made their way to Richmond, six
so bold as to take them from the stables of the pioneers. miles south of Franklin and told their story. Mariner W.
They became very exacting of the people, demanding Merrill, the Bishop of that town, immediately sent Mr.
grain and other foods on their own terms. But believ- Bevins and his companions to Salt Lake City where the
ing In the opinion of their leader, President Brigham report of the actions of the Indians was given to the
Young, “that it was better to feed the Indians than to commandant at Fort Douglas. The news was sufficiently
fight them,” the pioneers freely gave to the Indians even important to arouse the officials to immediate action.
though the giving became burdensome. Some of the So Colonel P. Edward Connor with two hundred soldiers
grain was also given to the Indians. Not only did the from Fort Douglas was then sent into northern Cache
Indians do a great deal of begging in the settlement Valley to settle the Indian trouble.

William Hull’s account We had two of the three horses loaded, having put
Continuing on with a brief summary of some of three bushels on each horse (one and a half bushels
the Indian troubles and the Battle Creek Massacre, Wil- in each sack) when I looked up and saw the soldiers
liam Hull, now of Hooper, Utah relates the following approaching from the south. I said to the Indian boys
interesting incidents, the account of which seems to “Here comes the “Toquashos” (Indian name for soldiers)
be about the most accurate obtainable relative to the “maybe Indians will all be killed, maybe Touquashos
massacre and events. killed too,” Not waiting however, for the third horse to
“About five o’clock in the evening, January 1863, be loaded, they quickly jumped upon their horses and
three Indians, belonging to Chief Bear Hunter’s tribe, led the three horses away, disappearing towards the
who were camped on Bear River, came to my father’s north.”
home with three pack horses and an order from the Mr. Hull proceeds: “That night the soldiers (Colonel
Bishop for nine bushels of wheat. I was sent to the Connor and his men) camped outside the Fort.
granary to sack the wheat; the Indian boys went with The next morning about three o’clock the soldiers
me and helped. left for the Indian camp on Bear River. Jim Henry and I
followed the baggage wagon all the way to the scene
of the battle. We arrived there about nine o’clock, just
as the sun was throwing its faint rays upon cold, white
Mother Nature. The air was crisp and clear. The voice
could be heard plainly at a great distance.
As the soldiers came in sight of the Indians, on the
banks above the Bear River, Chief Bear Hunter swinging
his buffalo robe in the air came forward and shouted,
‘Come on you California , we’re ready for you!
This threat made the Colonel very angry and he
rushed his cavalry pell-mell down the hill and across the
river. The fight began at once. The Colonel discovered
his mistake when he saw many of his men killed by the
Indiana and ordered his Cavalry back.
SHOSHONE INDIAN CAMP, circa 1870. At one time the Sho-
shone tribe was a ver y large, extended group that lived The company was then divided and sent down upon
throughout much of California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, the Indians from two different directions; the soldiers on
Wyoming, and Idaho.

foot were ordered to cross the river when the Cavalry Bishop Thomas called William Head, (Captain of Militia)
were in position north and east of the Indians. William Nelson and William Hull to go to the scene of the
The Colonel commanded, “Kill everything-Nits make battle to ascertain If any of the Indians were still alive.
lice.” Mr. Hull describes it as follows: “We drove our sleigh
The fight began again In earnest. The soldiers used as far as the river and rode our horses through the river.
their bayonets; the Indians swung their tomahawks. The The first sight to greet us was an old Indian walking,
soldiers who crossed the river were forced to fight in slowly with arms folded, his head bowed in grief, la-
their wet clothes, many fell wounded, and were frozen menting the dead, he didn’t speak to us, and soon left,
to death.” going toward the north.
William Hull says, “The scene was terrible when
hand to hand fighting began. In the midst of the fight, “Never will I forget the scene”
we saw seven young bucks each take one of the soldiers’ Never will I forget the scene, dead bodies were
horses, (the soldiers having been killed by the first vol- everywhere. I counted eight deep In one place and in
ley) and gallop toward the northeast. several places they were three to five deep; all In all we
The fight lasted about two hours, it was found that counted nearly four hundred; two-thirds of this number
more wounded soldiers had been frozen to death, than being women and children.
had been killed in the fight. From our position by the We found two Indian women alive whose thighs had
baggage wagon, it appeared that the Indians had been been broken by the bullets. Two little boys and one little
entirely annihilated.
The soldiers returned to Franklin about seven
o’clock that evening. The people under the direction
of Bishop Thomas prepared places to make the soldiers
comfortable for the night. Straw was hauled to the
meeting house, beds were made and fires were built.
Some of the soldiers were given beds in the homes of
the people, in fact, a united effort was made to admin-
ister comfort to the weary, wounded, fighters.
The next morning, sleighs and teams were provided
AT THE POST OFFICE A mural of the attack at Bear River in-
to help take the dead and wounded soldiers back to stalled at the Preston, Idaho post office. To see an enlarged
Camp Douglas, Salt Lake City, Utah. At the same time, image of the mural, hold your mouse cursor HERE.

girl about three years of age were still living. The little this battle. These three mentioned above are the only
girl was badly wounded, having eight flesh wounds in ones that are living in this community who were over
her body. They were very willing to go with us. We took twenty years of age in 1863.
them on our horses to the sleigh, and made them as
comfortable as possible. Few Survivors Found
When we arrived in Franklin, Nathan Packer, with There is quite a discrepancy between the number
the help of others set the broken bones of the Indian of Indians killed as reported by Colonel Connor and the
women. The squaws were taken care of by the people; number of dead Indians actually counted by men who
soon afterwards they joined a tribe of Indians that came live today, but the difference may be accounted for when
to Franklin from Bear Lake. we consider the Colonel’s haste to get his men to shelter
The boys were given good homes, one of them In his report, Colonel Connor reports 221 dead Indians,
known as “Shem” was cared for in the home of William but, that the number was very much greater is certain.
Nelson over a period of two years after which he was The Colonel reported that one hundred and sixty squaws
taken into the Samuel R. Parkinson home. The wounded and children were taken captive, whereas, a number of
girl was nursed back to health by Mary Benson Hull, a living pioneers declare that the number of living souls
nurse. This Indian girl grew up as a member of the Hull who came through the bloody conflict was very small.
household and later when she became a young woman, The women fought as desperately as the men.
married a white man from Ogden and reared a family of Chief Sagwich was not killed on the day of the battle
boys and girls. She was dearly loved by a great number as Colonel, Connor reported but was shot many years
of people. Her girls are splendid housekeepers, clean, later near Brigham City, Utah. The son of Chief Sagwich
neat and thrifty. The youngest daughter is a graduate was in the battle and escaped in a most daring fashion.
nurse of the Dee Hospital located in Ogden, Utah; at the He ran toward the river during the engagement with
present time she has charge of a hospital in Nevada. several soldiers in hot pursuit. Upon reaching the bank
It is claimed that there were other survivors from he fell into the water as though dead, while the soldiers’
the battle, but these five were all who were brought to volley whistled harmlessly overhead. He floated under
Franklin by William Hull and his two companions. the ice and made for an air hole where he clung with his
A few years ago the above article was read to John head just out of the water far enough to allow him to
Corbridge of Preston, Mrs. William Nelson of Riverdale breathe freely. While in this position, the soldiers sighted
and Mrs. R. M. Hull of Whitney. Their testimony was him and fired upon him. He withdrew momentarily from
what the above article is true, from their knowledge of the opening, receiving only a wounded thumb. The sol-

diers returned to the battle field and the courageous Because of the irregularity of the boundary line and
young fellow swam to a bunch of willows where he the broken surface of the county, we cannot accurately
lay hidden, by the natural Hot Springs. This man was estimate the area in square miles; it is about twenty-
interviewed at his home in Washakie a few years ago five miles long and fifteen miles wide. It is interesting
by S. P. Morgan. He told Mr. Morgan that twenty-two to know that this northern part of Cache Valley—now
young bucks escaped in various ways from the vigilant Franklin County—was once a part of the territory cov-
Connor. He also stated that the Indians had planned ered by the famous “Lake Bonneville,” which at one
to raid the white settlements as soon as spring should time covered a large part of the present state of Utah.
open up. It seems that the lake was seeking an outlet to the sea
Bear Hunter, the leading chief and as villainous an and finally found it through what is now known as “Red
old fox as ever wore buckskin, was found dead by his Rock Pass” twenty-five miles north of Preston.
fire. Evidences pointed to the fact that he had been There is not an abundance of natural resources such
engaged in moulding bullets when death came. as lakes or mines. However, there are two rivers and
This massacre at Battle Creek was one of the ap- some smaller streams which supply water for irrigation
parent barbarisms which history has to record, show- and water power. Bear River the largest stream wends it’s
ing that there was much brutality and poor judgment way down through the “Narrows” and out through the
manifested on each side. However, the battle was a very County, passing through some of the towns. It is - sup-
important one to this state, as it marked the close of posed that this river was named by the return party of
the real Indian troubles of this section of the territory. the Lewis and Clark Expedition who, somewhere along
The Indians were taught a lesson that remained with the stream shot and killed a bear. The Cub River on the
them for many years and the pioneers were more free east is a tributary of the Bear River. Some of the other
to spread out and locate on new territory. streams are Mink Creek, Birch Creek, Deep Creek, Spring
Today Franklin County, once the scene of that Creek, Worm Creek, Station Creek and Battle Creek.
bloody Indian conflict, is a most thriving section of Franklin County includes the following towns or vil-
Idaho, located in the southeastern part of the state, lages and some smaller places: Preston, Franklin, Whit-
bordering the northern boundary line of Utah. ney, Dayton, Weston, Fairview, Treasureton, Mink Creek,
When the state was first segregated into counties, Clifton, Riverdale and Mapleton.
this section was a part of Oneida County. However, on
January 30, 1913, it was divided and this eastern section
,has since been known as Franklin County.

Franklin of Latter-day Saints, one of the policies of which was to
expand and settle new territory.
T
here always has to be a beginning for everything. Many of them had been advised by Brigham Young,
These beginnings are the items that make interest- their leader, to settle on the “Muddy” now Cub River,
ing history as we shall discover during the reading in the northeastern part of Cache Valley. This was then
of the following article which gives an account of the thought to be part of Utah. The first company came in
early history of Franklin, (the first permanent settle- the first part of April, they camped for a time in Camp
ment in Idaho). Cove and explored around to see where best to settle.
In fancy follow the trek of the “Trail Blazers” as they While there their numbers increased, as others came
worked, laughed, and fought and prayed through the to join them, on the 14th of April, they broke camp and
days of wresting a civilization from a trackless wilder- moved to the present site of Franklin, Idaho, which is
ness. located one mile north of the Utah-Idaho State line, on
the Yellowstone Highway.
Colonization The names of the heads of the first families who
In the early spring of 1860 five companies, from came to this section are: Alfred Alder, Geo. Alder, Enoch
Provo, Payson, Slaterville, Kayscreek and Bountiful, left Broadbent, Wm. Corbridge, Wm. Cornish, Wm. K. Comish,
Utah and came to Franklin in search of new homes. Most Richard Coulters, James Cowan, Sr., James Cowan, Jr., G.
of these people belonged to The Church of Jesus Christ W. Crocheron, Joseph Chadwick, Robert Dowdle, John
Doney, Wm. Fluitt, John Frew, Geo. Foster, Wm. Garner,
Samuel Handy, T. C. D. Howell, James Hutchins, Thomas
Hull, E. W. Hanson, James Harris. W. Harris, Leroy Holt,
W. H. Head, Edward Kingsford, Peter Lowe, James Loft-
house, Thomas McCann, Thomas Mendenhall, Sr., Joshua
Messervy, John Morrison, Andrew Morrison, James May,
Thomas Mayberry, Wm. G. Nelson, J. S. Nelson, James
Oliverson, Joseph Perkins, S. R. Parkinson, Shem Purnell,
FR ANKLIN HERITAGE L to R: John Doney emigrated from
Peter Preece, Peter J. Pool, James Packer, Sr., Wm. Patten,
England and settled in Franklin in the first group of settlers;
his daughter, Mary Jane, married Robert G. Lowe and raised John Reed, D. Reed, Thomas Smart, James Sanderson,
a family in Franklin; their daughter, Annie Laura, was born Thomas Slater, George Shields, John Smith, Alexander
in Franklin and raised her family in nearby Whitney. Stalker, Alma Taylor, E. C. Van Orden, Isaac N. Vail, Wm.

T. Wright, Wm. Woodward, Mr. Woodhead, Henry Wad- grouped together as a means of protection from the
man. Indians, as the camps had to be guarded constantly
Peter Maughan, the presiding Bishop of Cache Val- because of Indian hostilities.
ley, appointed Thomas Smart, S. R. Parkinson and James There was a meeting called April 19, 1860, for the
Sanderson to take charge of affairs in the colony while purpose of land allotment. (There was some discussion
in Cove, both temporal and spiritual. as whether unmarried men should be allowed to take
The Indians in the vicinity of Franklin at the time part in the drawing. The decision was in their favor as
of its settlement there were only three dissenting votes.) The numbers
were under Chief were cut, one for each ten acre lot, and placed in a hat.
Kittemere, who wel- Number one had his first choice of lots and so on. Wil-
comed the whites to liam Hull drew number one and Peter Lowe number
the land, water and two. These two were two of the unmarried young men.
timber. They were They chose their land close together, near the center of
great beggars and the plot.
became quite bur- On April 22nd, the homesteaders selected their ten
densome in their acre lots in the South Field.
demands for food. During the early spring, the public meetings were
It was the policy of held around the campfire; In the summer they built a
this people to feed bowery, then the meetings were held in it.
rather than to fight It snowed as late as the twelfth of May. However,
the Indians. by the first of June, the men had their land ready and
These pioneers CAMPFIRE COOKWARE planted to oats, barley and wheat. Later in the reason
we re ve r y l oy a l This cast iron cooking pot would they planted their gardens. The next labor was to get
to one another, a have been useful in cooking over water on the land. (This project is described under ir-
a c ampf ir e. Displaye d at the
peace-abiding and rigation.)
Franklin Relic Hall
industrious people. As soon as possible the men brought poles from
Their first homes were in wagon boxes placed on the the canyon to make corrals for their animals. The houses
ground while the running gears were used for hauling erected during that first summer were built with round
logs from the canyons. The cooking that first summer logs. The roof was made of dirt and there were no floors,
was done over the campfires. The wagon homes were other than “Mother Earth.” An adobe or rock fireplace

was in one end of the cabins. The logs were split with an became wet and it wasn’t threshed until March. Many
axe to make the doors and coverings for the windows. of the people had to eat musty bread until the next
During the winter time, they depended on the glow season.”
from the fireplace or tallow bitches for lights. In the spring of 1864, the pioneers moved onto their
The houses, or cabins as they were called, were city lots. Lots were surveyed off, one and one-fourth
built along the sides of a rectangle with the fronts all acres each, with eight lots on a block, having streets six
facing the inside. The corral, school house, and public rods wide. Each block contained ten acres.
well were inside the enclosure. This arrangement was Every man in the Fort had a cane lot East of town,
made in order to protect the colonists and their cattle on which he raised sugar cane. Thomas Lowe, Sr., had
from the Indians. The place was known as the “Fort.” a sorghum mill out on the river by James Howarth’s
The people began moving into their cabins in Au- farm.
gust 1860. The Fort was not completed until 1863. The Later broom corn was also grown east of town and
Fort wall was never completed. it was made into brooms.
Speaking of some of the things that the people did The hay lands which lay south and west of town, near
during the first year or so, Samuel Handy’s journal reads: the cemetery, were known as “New Fields.”
“We tramped out 48 bushels of wheat on August 2nd, Jessie W. Fox from Salt Lake City was called to sur-
William Woodward and James Sanders took it to Farm- vey the land known as “South Fields,” and each family
ington and got it ground into flour. It was then brought was given ten acres. This ten acres was all the land each
back to Franklin and divided among the people of the family was given the first year.
camps. We were a happy and united people.”
Another extract from Samuel Handy’s journal reads, The Minute Men of Little Mountain
“In 1861 we had gardens on the west side of the fort All of the older young men and young married men
which were a great benefit it to us, potatoes, cabbage, were responsible for the guarding of the settlers and
lettuce, onions, cucumbers, peas, melons, squash and their property. They were known as “Minute Men.” Each
other things were raised, which made our meals more man took his turn standing guard on Little Mountain,
agreeable. We raised good crops that year but did not west of Franklin, spoken of as Mt. Lookout.” It was his
thresh the grain in the fall of the year. The winter of responsibility to warn the settlers of the approach of
1861–62 was very wet; our cellars on the south string any hostile Indians. The watcher’s knapsack was never
of the fort were full of water and our houses were wet permitted to become empty and his gun was kept in
nearly every day for a long time. The grain in the stack perfect order to be used if necessary. These Minute Men

were called to Bear Lake a few times to stand guard The first summer that the settlers came to Franklin
at night when the people there had trouble with the was a very dry season so they started making ditches
Indians. in order to irrigate their land to enable them to raise
crops.
Wm. Nelson and James Packer surveyed the first
irrigation ditch built in Idaho. This first ditch brought
water from Spring Creek into the Fort. They next worked
a ditch from High Creek down to the South Field; an-
other ditch was made from Oxkiller and South Canyon.
This was northeast of the “South Field” and was called
the “Sanderson Ditch,” because James Sanderson was
the contractor. Still another ditch was made called the
LIT TLE MOUNTAIN, viewed from the northwest side of the “Upper Ditch,” which came from High Creek. All the
mountain in nearby Whitney. In 1871, the US Geological
Sur vey stopped to camp near the trees in the center of
people owning land under the ditch were required to
the photo. View from the hill of the Glen Tanner farm. work on it. This ditch was finished about the middle of
July, 1860.
Some of the men belonged to the Militia. They went The next ditch they started was called the “City
to Logan once each month and received their training Ditch.” It was started by G. L. Wright’s home. Since then
at the headquarters stationed on Logan Bench. it has been enlarged until it furnishes water for the City
The winter of 1873-74, before the railroad came of Franklin. Through the winter of 1861-62, they worked
in, was very cold, snow was on the ground six months. on a water ditch called the “Thomas Ditch.” it was on the
Nearly every one in the town was out of hay; oat straw north and west side of Cub River. They had a hard time
sold for five dollars a ton, wheat straw at one dollar a to get the water to go where they wanted it to because
load, and hay sold for one dollar per hundred pounds.” the ditch was so level and they had a hill to go through
In 1878 Franklin was organized into a city with the fol- just before they got the water out on the flat. Water
lowing officers: Mayor, Joshua Hawkes; Councilmen, was not in this ditch until about 1873. This afterwards
L. C. Meacham, Wm. Woodward, Wm. Whitehead and became the Lewiston Canal.
Robert Lowe; A. P. Shumway, Marshal and Thomas Dur- Plows and shovels were their only tools, therefore,
rant, Clerk. it meant rather slow progress. 1864, a water ditch was
surveyed from Cub River to Franklin. Water was very

scarce the year before. When this ditch was completed
it was about four feet wide on the bottom and brought
water to town, with the help of this water the next year
they had good crops.
There were no fences in South Fields nor any other
place for a number of years. This made it necessary to
herd the cattle and horses. Mr. White looked after the
cattle herd first R. M. Hull had the contract for the care
of the horses and hired Indian Jim to help. Extracts
from Wm. Nelson’s journal, say that he raised thirty-
three bushels of potatoes the first year the settlers
TICKET TO THE DEDICATION OF THE SALT L AKE TEMPLE
came to Franklin, (1860). That was all the potatoes that
The temple—one of the most remarkable construc tion
were raised that first year. A few onions were raised by projects in 19th Century America—was completed in 1893,
someone else. thirty-three years after the settlers came to Franklin. Ticket
Government surveyors came through Franklin in displayed at the Franklin Relic Hall
1873 and made the first survey of these lands. Wm. E.
Corbridge was one of the surveyors. ing the spring and summer of 1860. They walked every
step of the way there and back. On their return each
Trips to Salt Lake City man carried a fifty pound sack or more of flour on his
In most cases where families were called by the back—this was necessary “to keep the wolf from the
Church to settle new sections, other members of the door.” Men and women would also walk to Salt Lake
family were given employment on the Salt Lake Temple. City to attend the Spring and Fall Conferences.
With this money, those in the city would maintain the Often the whole family at home would have to live
others who were out trying to wrest a home and living for days and weeks on nothing but boiled wheat and
for the family from the wilderness. It was because of sego roots, while waiting for the men to return with
this condition that many of the pioneers of 1860 were supplies.
obliged to go to Salt Lake City for their food stuffs, a Wages during those early years were very low. Fre-
distance of 110 miles. quently girls went into the homes and did most of the
Pioneers who went through this first season say housework for less than a dollar a week. One girl worked
that some of the men made as high as four trips dur- fourteen weeks to pay for a linsey dress.

These sturdy pioneers believed in education. Even Whenever it rained the children were excused until the
before they could build a school house, Hannah Comish storm was over-the roof was not waterproof.
taught school in her home. When the school opened in the fall of 1861 G. Alvin
Her home was located on the east side of the Fort Davy was the teacher. He had about seventy (70) pupils
where she had about twenty children under her direc- in attendance, and some of their slates and pencils came
tion for three months. This was the first white school from the slate rock which was found on the mountains
taught in the State of Idaho. east of Franklin. In this first school there was just one
reader for each class and one speller in the school; the
The first school house Almanac was also used. The pupils would take turns
The Late in the fall of 1860, under the direction reading, as they stood in straight lines or rows before the
of Bishop Preston Thomas, logs were cut and hauled teacher. In spelling, the teacher would pronounce the
from Deep Creek Canyon, for the purpose of building a words, the children would write it on their slates, then
school house, by the late spring of 1861 the house was study the words. They were also given verbal arithmetic
completed. It was a large room, with a large fire place in the same manner.
in the east end. The fireplace was made of soft white
sandstone and was the only means of heat which was
provided for the building which had a dirt roof and
floor. The building faced the west with a door in the end,
and one window on each side, and a small window close
by the door. The door was made from logs, split with a
broad axe. The window and frames were made with a
hand saw and pocket knives. The little 8x10 inches of
glass were brought from Salt Lake City. The benches
were made of slabs, (flat side up) with legs of maple
and birch. This school house served as a school house,
meeting house and an amusement hall. Each Saturday
the straw was removed from tie floor, (straw was placed
on the floor as a protection from the cold, damp earth)
so that everything would be fresh and clean for Sunday.
SCHOOL SL ATE
Displayed at the Franklin Relic Hall

The National 5th Reader by P. and W. Series No. 6 The latest school, an eight-room structure, was built
was used in the Franklin school in 1878. The Appleton’s in 1916. At this time the district decided to centralize
Standard High Geography, Utah edition and published and have a large graded school. Cherryville and Nash-
by D. Appleton and Company in 1882 was also used ville schools were discontinued and the children from
later. that section were brought in horse-vans, (1917) to the
The tuition was paid to the teacher with any kind Central School at Franklin. Regular school auto-buses
of produce or cloth, molasses or meat. started in 1928 to convey the students to a high school
In 1863–64, William Woodward taught school for as well as the elementary school.
$40.00 a mouth, collecting his pay from each pupil. A community church school was taught by Charles
Thomas Smart, William Woodward and S. R. Parkinson England, now of Logan, Utah, with Miss Lucy Parkinson
were the school trustees in 1865. as assistant in 1887. In 1879 there were three schools in
Some of the other early school teachers were: Wil- Franklin, one in the school house, one in the vestry of
liam T. Wright, Henry Howell, William Howell, L. C. Me-
cham, (also Justice of the Peace,) William Davis, James
Hobbs, Robert Stalker, William Fancher (also hotel keep-
er), Miss Fancher and Joseph S. Geddes, (now Judge of
the Probate Court in Preston), L. A. Mecham, (City Judge
of Preston), George C. Parkinson and many others.
Stone schoolhouse completed in 1867

The log school house was enlarged and a stage put
in about 1863. The rock school house was started in
1865 and completed in 1867. It was a good sandstone
structure, twenty-five by forty feet with a good split
shingle roof and accommodated the town for a long
time as a school until a four-room brick structure took
its place in 1898. The lumber that was used in these ear-
lier buildings was hauled from Bear Lake with ox teams
over a round-about road some fifty miles in length.
FR ANKLIN’S FIRST TWINS, JOSEPH & HYRUM FREW

the L. D. S. Church and a Presbyterian school taught in Smithfield and killed this young man, an innocent trav-
William T. Wright’s home. eler who had just stopped along the highway, near the
Note: The Oneida Academy started in Franklin with creek which runs through Smithfield. He had stopped,
Mr. Cornwall as the teacher in 1888. in company with others, to repair a wagon reach, and
In 1880 the Presbyterians built a frame structure among whom was James Cowan, who received a seri-
north of Wm. Cottle’s. This was used for church and ous wound.
school purposes. The Reverend Calvin Parks of Logan Samuel Sanderson died three months later.
came at intervals to deliver the sermons. Later Reverend
Renshaw. Miss Hodge taught about three weeks, then Church Organizations
Miss Maggie Shirley, daughter of Reverend Parks taught Brigham Young and Company came to Franklin,
for awhile. Some of the teachers were Mr. Martin, Miss June 10, 1860, and appointed Preston Thomas as Bishop
Noble, Miss Simons, Mrs. Tillie Stalker, Miss Clark and of Franklin. He served until the spring of 1863, then
Miss Elliot. This school and church was discontinued Lorenzo H. Hatch was appointed to take his place with
about 1908. T. W. Wright as Clerk.
From 1875 to 1877, Thomas Lowe, Sr., who was Presi-
Early Marriages, Births and Deaths dent of the Teachers quorums served as acting Bishop
Among the first marriages were Mary Hull and Peter while L. H. Hatch was in Arizona.
Lowe, Jason Howell and Jane Thomas, Matliada Patton June 11, 1877, Lorenzo Lafayette Hatch was appoint-
and Joseph Nelson. They were all married by Bishop ed Bishop with Samuel R. Parkinson and Thomas Dur-
Preston Thomas. rant as counselors. They served the people faithfully
John Reed was the first boy born in Franklin, in thirty years and on July 7, 1907, Samuel C. Parkinson
June 1860. Thomas Slater, July 2nd, and the twins of was sustained as Bishop with Isaac H. Nash and Hyrum
John Frew, Joseph and Hyrum, the 10th of July. Ellen Hatch as counselors. Isaac Nash moved away and John
Wright was the first girl born, October 6th, 1860. These Lowe was appointed counselor. Hyrum Hatch died in
children were born in wagon boxes. the summer, and on December 1, 1912, Cecil Woodward
John Reed was the first man buried in Franklin, July was appointed counselor. Jane Woodward was the first
24th, 1860. His death was a most tragic one, to satisfy lady missionary from Franklin, Oneida Stake. She filled
Indian revenge. It seems that some white man had a mission in England in 1901.
killed or offended an Indian and in order to get revenge
a band of Indians dashed down from the hills east of

Relief Society Organization May 9, 1868, a special Relief Society meeting was
held. Eliza R. Snow from Salt Lake City gave a most
SERVICE
inspirational talk. She urged more sisters to learn to
We cannot all be heroes
braid and make their own hats. It was also suggested
And thrill a hemisphere
by Mrs. Snow that the settlers cultivate the mulberry
With some great, daring venture.
tree and start up a silk industry. Following her sug-
Some deed that mocks at fear;
gestion, hundreds of mulberry trees were planted. At
But we can fill a life time
a recent meeting In Preston, an authority on silk work
With kindly acts and true:
culture made the statement that if the women of the
There’s always noble service
community had continued to follow the advice of Eliza
For noble souls to do.–(C. A. Mason).
R. Snow, there would have been a thriving silk industry
The Franklin Female Relief Society was first orga- in Franklin County today.
nized April 22, 1868, with Sarah Bothwick as President; In 1868 they bought shares in the co-operative store
Ann Smart and Ortensia Stalker, Counselors; Martha D. in the name of the Relief Society; the sisters donated fifty
Howland, Secretary; Aides—Elvira Nash and Mary Head. cents each. In 1872 this Society belonged to Cache Stake.
A little later during this same year the Society was com- In June 1872 a fund called the Perpetual Emmigration
pletely organized after the pattern of the General Relief fund started. Some members of the bishopric usually
Society in Salt Lake City. Out of this humble beginning, attended the Relief Society meetings.
there has grown a membership in the county of over In 1874 July 17, Elizabeth Fox was appointed as Presi-
eleven hundred women. dent, with H. Fuller and Sylvia Hatch, counselors. They
Extracts taken from early Relief Society record donated means to help build the Logan Temple and
books, show: In 1868 they donated liberally for pay- paid for a stove, also a pump. Annie Hatch, Jane R. Biggs
ment for lime and also for material for quilts and for the and Susan Goaslind were aides with Hester Elvira Nash
seating of the vestry. July 16, they quilted five quilts. acting as secretary.
In their meetings they usually bore their testimonies, In 1875–6 donations were given freely to support
pieced and quilted quilts, knit socks and spun yarn. the poor and build the Relief Society meeting house.
Their donations consisted mostly of butter and In 1877 they started to save grain. This was the be-
eggs. On February 24, 1869, $78.00 was collected from ginning of a very important enterprise on the part of
selling quilts, socks, etc. This was used to buy a carpet these Relief Society women. The saving of the grain
for the vestry circle room. which gradually amounted to hundreds and thousands

of bushels made it possible for the women of this orga- Sunday School The first Sunday school was held
nization to help look after child and welfare work at all in the log school house about 1862 with Samuel Huff,
times and to render invaluable assistance to the nation Superintendent, William Wright, Assistant, William White-
during the World War. head, Secretary, William Rogers and Samuel Handy, Sr.,
Some of this grain was gleaned from the fields by teachers. I. B. Nash was the superintendent from 1865
our mothers and grandmothers and little did they real- to 1885.
ize the extent of the good that would be accomplished.
The interest alone coming into this county amounts to The Young Ladies’ Association Was first
over twelve hundred dollars each year making it pos- organized October 30, 1877, with Mary Ann Hawkes,
sible to provide medical aid for those who couldn’t President; Clara Hatch and Sarah Ann Smart, Counselors.
have it otherwise. Zina D. Young, from Salt Lake City was present.
The following is an account of a special jubilee On October 27, 1880 Lucy Doney was appointed
meeting. The program indicates that on March 17, 1892, president, with Ruth Hatch and Nellie Parkinson, Coun-
a Relief Society Jubilee was held. President Sophia selors.
Merrick Mecham presided. Prayer by Joshua Hawkes. The Primary Association Was organized in
Remarks by Bishop L. L. Hatch. Stake President Elizabeth 1878 with Elvira Nash, President. Later Alice Fordham
Fox gave a general report of the society. A poem was and Agnes Durrant served as Presidents.
read by I. B. Nash written for the occasion by Elvira Nash.
Talk by George C. Parkinson. Mary Hawkes made re- The Young Men’s M.I.A. The Young Men’s Mu-
marks. Recitations by Eliza D. Lowe and Mary A. Hensen. tual Improvement Association was organized in 1876
Remarks by William Webster, Hannah Jolly, Sarah Both- with Thomas Durrant, President, William Parkinson Coun-
wick and Andrew Shumway. Singing by Hannah Handy, selor and L. A. Mecham, Secretary. William Parkinson
age 70. Singing by James Hurd and Thomas Durrant. was the second president with Elliot Butterworth acting
Song by Smith Gumersoll and wife. Song by I. B. Nash, as counselor.
“The Kingdom of God or Nothing for Me.” Recitation
by James Hurd. Remarks by Polly Packer, Robert Lowe, Music
John Jolly and Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Hawkes. Dinner was The first to furnish music were Isaac Vail and Dabner Keel,
served to all present. Eleven speakers, four songs and who played the violins; Wm. Hill of Richmond played the
three recitations. accordion and John Corbridge did the calling.

The first Fife and Drum band was led by W. E. Cor- Corbridge, bass drum; George Wright, snare drum and
bridge and Thomas Johnson. Charles Peterson, bass horn.
John Albiston led the second Fife and Drum Band. Later another orchestra was lead by Dan Thomas
Some of the players were J. B. Scarborough, T. G. Lowe, who played the violin; Seth Thomas, violin; Tom Kel-
George Wright, Joseph Wright and Wm. E. Corbridge ley, cornet and G. L. Wright, violin. Another orchestra
The first orchestra we have any record of was made was composed of G. L. Wright, leader who played the
up of William Nelson, Wm. Davis and George Marshall violin; George Handy, cornet; Sam Handy, clarinet; S. B.
(concertina.) Wright slide trombone; H. B. Hawkes, piano and Abe
First Brass Band: Wm. Chatterton, cornet; James Whitehead, caller. This orchestra played together for
Handy, cornet; Edward Gamble, cornet; Wm. Edward eighteen years.
The Fife and Drum Band was composed of the fol-
lowing members. George T. Marshall, leader, Seth Thom-
as, Mr. T. C. D, Howell, Robert Gregory, George Wright
and James Handy.
Tom Kelley’s Brass Band was composed of the fol-
lowing: Tom Kelley, leader, Laud Wright, Joe Stalker,
Andrew Flack, H. B. Hawkes, W. L. Wickham, John Jolly,
James Handy, Will Lowe, Ivan Woodward, Fred Hawkes
and Theopholous Frances. Frances acted as leader after
Kelley’s retirement.
Some of the Choir Leaders were: John Frew, W. N.
Rogers, Wm. Whitehead, Isaac Nash (1861-1892) Edmund
Buckley (1892-1898) and James Hurd.
TOM KELLEY’S BR ASS BAND, circa 1895 Some of the early Music Teachers were: Edmund
At the time of this photo, Tom Kelly had retired, passing Buckley, violin; Ruth Hatch, organ; Ada Parkinson, organ
the band leadership to Theopholous Frances, second from and Mary Smith, organ.
the right on the front row.
 Identify the members of the band by HOLDING Industries

your mouse cursor over each person. The saw mill business of Idaho had its beginning
at Franklin in the year 1861 by Joshua Messervy in the

form of a pit saw, which was a sawmill constructed by Muddy River where most of the ties and timbers were
digging a hole, or pit in the ground deep enough for a cut for the railroad and bridges.
man to stand in. The logs or timbers that were to be cut JOHN BIGGS’ MILL About the year 1871
into lumber, were then rolled over the pit with one man Brigham Young bought the machinery in the East for
under the logs and another man on top, who used a a steam sawmill and had it shipped by boat up the
large saw with handles on each end. The log was slowly
ripped into lumber. Mr. Messervy manufactured the
furniture, wash-tubs, wash-boards, buckets and barrels
that were used in Franklin and surrounding settlements.
Martin Lundgren also did cabinet work.
In 1863 Samuel R. Parkinson and Thomas Smart
built a more modern mill near the brush on the river
bottom, west of the farm of the late S. C. Parkinson. It
was run by water power and was an up and down saw
which was run until 1867. Wheeler’s mill was built up
L ATH made in the Thomas Lowe Shingle and Lath Mill, lo-
cated east of Franklin. Displayed at the Franklin Relic Hall
Missouri river to Fort Benton, Montana. Flavious Green,

with two others, brought it overland to Franklin and
set it up in Maple Creek Canyon. Quite a large amount
of lumber was sawed at that time for various purposes.
In 1872 there was a boom on at Soda Springs; a large
hotel was built there as many invalids came to be cured
with the wonderful water; so the mill was moved to
Soda Springs. However, It was brought back and again
put up in Maple Creek canyon. John Biggs and Elijah
Steers ran it for years. This mill sawed three hundred
thousand feet of lumber for the big building of the Z.
C. M. I. in Salt Lake City, also for the Rolling Mills on the
STEAM ENGINE that powered a steam sawmill in the Maple
Union Pacific Railroad at Laramie, Wyoming, and a large
Creek Canyon south of Franklin. Displayed at the Franklin
Relic Hall

amount of lumber was sawed and shipped north and for quilts and carpets were woven from rags on hand
south on the railroad. looms.
In 1876, Thomas Durrant worked for them and Little does the woman of today, with all her silk
helped get out the ties for the railroad when it was lingerie and selected wardrobe realize that many of the
extended north. It was finally taken to the Franklin Ba- pioneers of the early Sixties, in Cache Valley, grew their
sin where it was run until about 1900. It is now located own flax and made their own garments.
there, standing as a relic of bygone days. Some, according to old timers, grew flax for linen.
SHINGLE MILL About 1870 Thomas Lowe, Sr.,
bought a shingle and lath mill for $1,000 and located it
two miles east of Franklin, below where the Woolen Mill
was afterwards located. It was run by water power. The
dirt roofs all over the valley were replaced by shingles
from this mill. In 1874 shingles cost $4.50 a thousand.
GIBSON MILL About this time Amos Hawkes
and others put in a water power saw mill at the inter-
section of Maple Creek which sawed a great deal of
lumber from Crooked canyon. It was afterwards known
as the “Gibson Mill.”
MONSON LUMBER MILL Monson Brothers HANDMADE CLOTH
brought a mill from Richmond and placed it down by Other examples of cloth made by Ann Doney that are dis-
the river and railroad bridge; but soon moved it to the played at the Franklin Relic Hall include a sample from the
lining of a coat; a sample of a quilted petticoat and a set
flat, south of the present depot west of the railroad. It
of four plaid swatches.
was operated there for a number of years.
Clothing The flax was cut with a scythe while it was in full bloom.
In the early days, clothing and blankets, stockings After being tied in bundles, it was submerged in water
and other domestics were made by the women in their for a period of three weeks or more. The flax was then
homes by using hand cards; rolls were made, then taken from the vats and beaten with flails until the
spun in a spinning wheel. Yarn was made and woven coarse fiber was separated from the fine. At this stage
into cloth on hand looms. Wool bats w ere also carded the fine fiber was spun into skeins and hanks on the old

time spinning wheel. To Thomas Hull and Peter Lowe, • Green was made by boiling the flower of the yel-
master weavers, from Scotland, who were engaged low dock, found in abundance nearby. Indigo blue was
in that business in the old country before coming to added to form the desired shade.
America, is accredited the honor of having built the These materials, after their being dyed, were woven
first loom in Franklin. To this loom came much of the into the desired patterns upon the loom of the village
finished product of the spinning wheel which was to weavers. The warp as well as the materials were made
be woven into yards of material. From this linen, many from the wool of the family flock.
choice towels were made, table cloths, the men’s best Pioneers say that these patterns made up very beau-
shirts as well as many other articles. Pioneers say that tifully into chic dresses with their various colors and
this material was of such good quality that water could plaids.
be carried in it without its leaking out. Martha Vail and Most of the photographs of the girls of those earlier
Mrs. Kingsford were very fine weavers, they each owned days (that is, after the time of extreme hardships) give
a loom and helped to supply the cloth and carpets for us the impression that they were well dressed and as
the public. proud and happy as any girl of our modern day. They
It might be interesting right here to give some of also braided and made their hats from the wheat or
the information which the earlier pioneers have given oat straw.
us concerning the malting of dresses and dying cloth The following copy of a little song, given at a pioneer
with dyes made from raw materials. party in Franklin a few years ago, gives us a very charm-
The wool was cut from the sheep’s back, spun into ing picture of a dear lady and how she dressed. (This
fine threads and these fine threads were made into probably refers to a time after the settlers had been in
skeins. After these skeins were thoroughly washed, the Franklin for a few years). The words were composed for
wool was dyed many beautiful colors. the occasion by Miss Maggie Hill, to the tune of “Ben
The following dye recipes were taken from a “grand- Bolt.” The words are as follows:
ma’s” scrap book: OH! DON’T YOU REMEMBER
• Blue dye was made from Indigo blue in the Oh! don’t you remember that queer little hat,
rough. That your grandma wore long, long ago?
• Red dye was made from madder (pioneers grew How it sat on the top of her dear little head
this in their gardens). Enough madder root and top to While the ringlets danced quaintly below,
give the desired shade was boiled. Her dress, full and ruffled, reached
clear to the floor,

And her shoes had such long pointed toes, this for three years and in 1881 the plant was sold to the
With an air of such modest repose. Franklin Co-operative Company. At that time S. R. Parkin-
son was President of the Co-operative Co., and Edmund
Oh! don’t you remember the way that she danced, Buckley was Superintendent of the new company. These
How her feathery step held such grace two made a trip to St. Louis to procure machinery for a
And when some bold youth whispered woolen mill. They purchased a duster, a picker and two
flattering words, spinning jacks.
How the blushes would creep o’er her face, The building which Edmund Buckley and company
And her little white hands in their had for a roll mill was made of logs. It was enlarged and
black silken mitts, the machinery was installed. In 1881 they began operat-
In her lap would be folded so tight. ing. They manufactured flannels, jean, linsey and wool
No wonder your grandpa fell madly in love, blankets, also yarns. They employed about fifty men and
When he saw such a feminine sight. women when the mill was operated at its full capacity.
In 1897, Mr. Buckley bought out the other partners and
Oh! don’t you remember the service she gave,
And the hardships she patiently bore,
That you and I in these valleys might dwell,
With a chance to advance evermore.
Now, alas, she is old and the hardships of youth
Have made her unsteady and frail,
Let us give to the future as nobly as she,
And God helping, we never will fail.
It seems that in every age when colonists begin to
establish themselves, there is always some one who
comes forth with some industry which especially meets
the needs of the people in one way or another. The
“North Star Woolen Mill” was a good illustration of this.
NORTH STAR WOOLEN MILL
Edmund Buckley came to Franklin in 1878 and with
Soap to wash the wool was made at the mill. If colors were
six others, formed a company and obtained a roll mill.
desired for the woolen goods they were dyed at the mill
Business was begun northeast of town. He conducted as well.

conducted the business successfully alone. About 1908, ashes. This was covered and kept dry until soap making
he sold it to his son John, who afterwards, moved to time in the spring. When the time came to make use of
Logan, Utah. this material, water was added and the mixture was al-
lowed to stand for a short time, after which the liquid
Soap Making was drained off. This strong ash water and fat made a
Lye in the Sixties at Franklin was a rare article, but most excellent soft soap.
soap was as necessary as lye was scarce, so a substitute
was found for it in the ash of the maple from Maple White-washing
Creek canyon. Soap was made from the burned maple The people did not have regular white-wash brushes
wood ashes and the ordinary fat from the hog or sheep. but used pieces of wool. This manner of white-wash-
The ashes were carefully kept in a dry leach. A leach was ing left the worker’s hands and arms in a bad condi-
made by digging the inside out of a large log; the log tion which lasted over several weeks. Clay was brought
was placed on four legs, the two front ones were shorter from Soda Springs and the salt came from Willow Creek,
than those in the rear. This was kept well under cover. Utah.
A layer of straw was first put into the leach, then the
The First Flour Mill
The first flour mill built in the state of Idaho was
begun in the year of 1863 at Franklin by James Howarth
and John Goaslind, who later were joined by L. H. Hatch
and Alexander Stalker, Sr.
All the machinery for grinding the flour was made
of wood, with the exception of the turbine wheel which
came from the east, and the grinding stone which was
Utah granite. A ditch cut from Cub river conveyed the
water which was used as power to run the mill. James
Howarth was the miller; the three other men were stock
holders. Mr. Howarth ground 44 pounds of flour, 14
pounds of bran and 2 pounds of shorts from every bush-
MILL STONE USED FOR GRINDING FLOUR
el of wheat. The wheat coming to the mill sometimes
Displayed in front of the Franklin Co-op Relic Hall was worth $5.00 per bushel. Each man got the flour

from his own wheat. The flour was always put into two running in November of the same year. The first story
bushel, seamless sacks. Mr. Howarth could instinctively of the building was made of cobble rocks taken from
tell by smell as well as by the sound of the machinery Rocky Bench. The rock in the main part of the build-
if the mill was grinding right. Mr. David Jensen and a ing came from the Little Mt. or Mt. Lookout. Mr. Hill
Mr. Toolson sometimes assisted Mr. Howarth when the and two sons Joseph and William from Smithfield and
mill was running full capacity. Indians came and traded John Nuffer from Preston were the masons. Mr. Joseph
buckskins, elk hides and buffalo robes for their flour. Chatterton did most all of the carpenter work ready
T. H. Howarth, as a boy, has seen around the mill for the machinery. Nearly all of the timber used in the
many times, as high as fourteen yoke of oxen hitched mill came from Gibson’s saw mill in Deep Canyon. Mr.
to four wagons; the wagons were being loaded with Barnes from Logan was the first miller and worked in
flour to be freighted to Montana. the mill until 1892.
Many people from Bear Lake Valley brought their Before these mills were established, the people had
wheat to the mill and would stay until the wheat was to go to High Creek and Muddy Mill for their flour.
ground into flour.
The mill was run successfully for eighteen years and Butter, Cheese and Condensed Milk Factory
then Goaslind (having died, the other three could not Until about 1898, the farmers’ good wives made
come to an agreement, so it was discontinued. their own butter and many of them made cheese. About
Mr. James Mack of Smithfield started the second that time the Oneida Mercantile Union organized the
mill in Franklin, March 1888, and had it completed and Union Creamery and built their plant a short distance
West of the present Oregon Short Line Station: William
Kirkup who had been with the O. M. Union for some
time as butcher and other positions was made manager
of the creamery. They operated this plant for a number
of years then sold it to the Utah Condensed Milk Com-
pany who continued to make butter and cheese at the
old location. Sometime later the Utah Condensed Milk
Company moved their buildings up to the site that later
was made into a condensed milk factory. During the year
of 1910, the “Booster Ticket” was elected with James J.
THE SEGO MILK CONDENSARY AND CHEESE FACTORY Robinson as chairman. Mr. Robinson, assisted by other

members of the city board launched a move to have a and all the machinery etc. was moved to Richmond,
condensed milk factory built at Franklin. At that time Utah.
Sol. Hendricks was president of the Utah Condensed William Woodward has the distinction of introducing
Milk Company. Mr. Hendricks gave the board to under Holstein cattle into the State of Idaho. Wm. B. Preston
stand that if they could get the people to support the of Logan sent to Holland for a carload of purebred Hol-
move by guaranteeing a certain number of cows, they stein cattle in 1888. Wm. Woodward had him send and
would build at this point. After a great deal of hard work, get two for him. J. J. Flack imported the first pure bred
Jerseys in 1889.
February 6, 1874 trains
of the Utah Northern Rail-
road started to operate be-
tween Logan and Ogden.
February 19, 1874, Mr.
Hatch appointed William
Woodward superinten-
dent to take charge of all
the work of getting out
ties and other material for
the railroad. From then un-
ENGINE TERMINAL CREW, THE UTAH & NORTHERN R AIL- til the latter part of April,
ROAD, circa 1883. The U. & N. operated a narrow guage
nearly all the men in town
train in Cache Valley and had engine terminals at Logan
and Battle Creek.
and vicinity were very
R AILROAD ITEMS
busy handling this work.
Above the railroad tie: a pair
this was done. In the fall and winter of that year, the May 1, 1874, the railroad
of oil cans. The pear-shaped
Utah Condensed Milk Factory plant was completed and plate resting against the tie cars were in sight of Frank-
began operations the following spring with about 25 is one of the first fish plates lin. May 4, 1874, Brigham
employees and about 15 milk wagons. Victor Johnson used on the Union Pacif ic Young, Erastus Snow of
railroad, 1874. To the right of
was manager until 1919. Ernest Johnson took Victor’s the Twelve and others left
the fish plate: A pair of rail-
place as manager. In 1922, the Franklin plant was closed road bridge spikes. Displayed
Logan to come to Franklin
in the Franklin Relic Hall on the first train, however,

their train got off the track and they were compelled worked for them. Kon Orum, a prize fighter, owned a
to return to Logan and the first train to really come to blacksmith shop just east of Kennedy’s warehouse.
Franklin was a freight train, which arrived the morning
of May 4th. As Franklin was the end of the line, it was Wagon road
necessary to build a wye for turning the engines. This The first permanent wagon road entered the South
wye and the freight station were down near where West corner of the Fort, crossed diagonally and passed
the Franklin County Beet dump now stands. After the out at the Northwest corner. From there the road went
line was completed to Franklin, all freight for Northern on down the hill by the old Broadbent home. It then
Idaho and Montana was freighted with teams from here. ran north and a little west across the Muddy River; from
Many large warehouses, dwelling houses and stores there it made a direct line to the point of Little Moun
were erected near the station. During the year 1890, tain.
the freight station was moved to its present site and
the narrow gauge was changed to the present standard. The Telegraph
(*Wm. Woodward’s Journal) In December 1868, The Deseret Telegraph line was
The first section men were: Elliot Butterworth, extended to Franklin. It was installed in the Southeast
George Wright, Alfred Hensen and Edward Clayton. corner of the Co-op and Alma Hobson was the first op-
The railroad was extended north about 1876. erator, L. E. Hatch was the operator in 1875 (he sent the
Some of the warehouses and stores near the station first complete message to the government, concerning
were: A bog red warehouse of Kennedy’s. the Custer Massacre which took place in Montana. A
• Freight Forwarding Company. rider brought the message from
• Kinney’s Hotel for board and room. Fort Hall to Franklin, as this tele-
• Wells Fargo and Company, Express—Tim Hender- graph instrument was the nearest
son was their agent. to that locality.) It was afterwards
• Uncle Jeffs’ grocery store and saloon. moved to the home of Bishop L. L.
• George. A. Lowe had a wagon and freighters sup- Hatch and Annie S. Hatch was the
ply house. William Woodward sold Shettler wagons for second operator. In 1900 it was T E L E G R A P H H A N D
them; also a wagon repairing and livery stable owned sold to the Western Telegraph S E T Wo r d s w e r e
by a Mr. Nelson of Logan. spelled out in Morse
Company.
Code clicks and sent
• The first black-smith shop was owned and op-
ove r w i r e s t o t h e
erated by Shem Purnell and Alfred Alder; Isaac Nash The Mail Service next station.

Samuel Howe had a contract from the government L. L. Hatch, Ezra Monson, Laura Nash, Vinnie Perkins and
to handle the mail for Cache Valley, It was brought Maggie Hill.
from Salt Lake and Ogden first, then when the railroad On May 22, 1874, the mail stage came to Franklin to
come to Corinne, it was carried from there by Leonard run between Franklin and Helena, Montana.
I. Smith. This was called the Pony Express and it was The mail was carried from Franklin to Bear Lake by
quite irregular at first. Isaac Duffin looked after the mail way of Cub River Canyon, in summer time where the
at his home. It was later brought to the Co-op store. carriers would stay all night and go on the next day.
Then Alexander Stalker was appointed postmaster by Some of the mail carriers were: Thomas G. Lowe, Wm.
the government. He had the post office in his store. Woodward, Edmund Buckley and Charles Fox and Wm.
Some later postmasters were: Thomas Durrant, James Pierce.
Oliverson, George and A. P. Fordham, J. B. Scarborough At one time Edmund Buckley and his uncle nearly
lost their lives by freezing as they were near Soda Springs
traveling to Bear Lake while carrying the mail.
Business
While the settlers were living in the fort, Thomas
Mendenhall Sr. was a traveling merchant. He would
take the settlers products to Salt Lake and trade them
for whatever they asked him to bring back.
French Joe was also a traveling store-keeper. After
the settlers moved out of the Fort in 1865, Merrick and
Duffin put up a store where Frank Olsen’s house is now
located. Wm. Whitehead was a clerk in this store.
The Franklin Co-operative Mercantile Institution
was organized in 1869 with the following officers: L. H.
THE FR ANKLIN POST OFFICE, 1914 Hatch, president; John Doney, Sr., vice president; Wm.
Ellen Nash helps her sister, Laura Nash, the Franklin Post- Woodward, William Tweede Wright and Charles Fox,
master at the time. In 1874 the mail stage came to Franklin,
directors. The business was carried on first in the vestry
connecting Salt Lake City to Helena, Montana. Some of the
early mail carriers were Thomas G. Lowe, William Wood- of the meeting house. Later it was moved to the rock
ward, Edmund Buckley & Charles Fox & William Pierce. building where the Relic Hall now is. S. R. Parkinson was

Goldman and Bergman, two Jews erected the build-
president for a short time and manager for a number ing where Cottle’s afterwards had a store, and operated
of years at one time. a wholesale liquor company. Where Robert Lowe’s fur-
In 1869, Alexander Stalker and Sons had a store in niture store stood, there was another wholesale liquor
the east room of the rock house, now owned by J. J. house.
Hill. Later Stalker built a store and saloon. Berryman and Laverberg started a mercantile busi-
Enoch Broadbent had the first meat market; it was ness in the Merrick store where Leonard Butterworth has
located where P. B. Dunkley had his business. his business. When the railroad extended on north, most
In 1870, Smart, Chadwick and Hull had a store which of these sold out and followed the railroad terminus.
the people called the One-Eyed Co-op, but after the About 1876, W. L. Webster operated a store in a little
Railroad came in the year 1874, a number of stores frame building north of the rock store first, and then
were built. This being the terminus of the railroad many in the rock building on the west side of town. Wm. L.
freighters going to the mines in Montana, received their Webster and Smith opened up a shoe repairing shop
supplies here. in the ‘60’s. Wm. L. Challis and P. Wm. Cottle each had
a shoe repair shop.
W. B. Parkinson, a doctor from Logan, opened up
the first drug store.
John Doney and Robert Lowe owned a store east of
Riter Bros. Drug store.
In 1874 Sill Worneth owned and operated a brewery
just under the hill by Websters. He also had his beer
shipped, bearing the trademark “Sill’s Beer.”
Samuel Swarner had a harness shop down by Web-
sters.
Smart and Company had a general merchandise
store on the east side of the street where the whole-
sale liquor company was. It was called the “Farmers’
Union.”
T
The 0. M. Union consolidated with Websters, Doney
After the store closed it was used for a relic hall for many
and Lowe, the Farmers’ Union and the Co-op and estab-
years. It is now owned by the Daughters of the Pioneers.

lished their place of business. The store was located 1896 until February 1921, when the Riter Bros. Drug Co.,
where Butterworth Co-op store is at present. discontinued their business in Franklin and moved to
Thomas Lowe, Elliot Butterworth and J, A. Head Richmond, Utah. In August, 1921, S. J. Handy opened up
opened up a store about 1889. J. J. Hill afterwards a business known as the “Handy Pharmacy.’ He sold this
bought this business. It was located under the T. G. business to his son S. R. Handy, in August, 1928.
Lowe dance hall. Some of the men who served as Justice of the Peace
On March 18, 1890, Riter Bros. Drug Co., and Web- and City Marshall in the early days were: Wm. T. Wright,
ster were succeeded by Riter Bros. Drug Co. This busi- L. C, Mecham, Thomas Durrant, James Oliverson, James
Howarth, W. L. Webster, Wm. Woodward, Clinton Me-
cham, Joseph Pear and Andrew Shumway.
Some of those who did early doctoring and nursing
were: Mary B. Hull, Elvira Wheeler, “Grandma” Gilbert,
Deborah Wright and “Grandma” Adamson.
Recreation
As we look back over the years and compare those
early forms of recreation with modern pleasures, it
would seem that their days would be rather dull, but
it was not so. Those early pioneers, to spite of their
hardships, had many jolly pastimes. Neighbors would
ROBERT G. LOWE’S FURNITURE STORE help one another spin their wool into yarn. On the day
Annie Laura Dunkley’s father, Rober t G. Lowe, began a appointed for the big event, many of the young women
long, successful business career in Franklin working in his could be seen making their way, with spinning wheels,
father-in-law’s store. From there he moved to the furniture
depar tment of the Oneida Mercantile Co-op and finally
to the home of the one inviting them. As soon as all the
opened his own store. women were assembled, there would be a race on to
see who could spin the most skeins of yarn—six skeins
ness was carried on under the management of Paul Van were considered a good day’s work. The hostess would
Orden until April 1894. Mr. Van Orden was succeeded by provide a good dinner.
J. A. Rostan. George Jordan was appointed as manager Dances were held in the Bowery during the first
in October 1895. S. J. Handy was manager from October, summer and fall. When it became too cold to dance in

the open, quilts and clothes were hung up at the open- Sometimes the refreshments at these dances would
ings in the partly finished school house. This building be service berries and later in the season “haw” candy
as has been stated before in this history, consisted of was served. This candy was made by mashing the ber-
one room with a dirt floor and a sod roof. Water was ries and removing the seeds. The pulp was then put in
sprinkled over the floor to pack the earth for dancing. the sun to dry, cut into small pieces and served by the
Many good and enjoyable evenings were spent in this girls who took turns serving at these parties.
house, both before and after it was finished. One of the amusements that stands out in the mem-
The tickets for the dance were paid in produce by ories of the early pioneers was the “Seventies” Parties.
the young men. They paid a squash, a peck of wheat, Each man was allowed to take two or three ladies with
some potatoes, meat or anything along that line which him to these parties. Tables were set and a regular meal
would amount to the value of twenty-five cents. If the served, which consisted of chickens cooked in various
young man was a little proud or shy, he would make ways, also vegetables along with the wonderfully decor
arrangements with Dabney Keele and Isaac Vail, the ated pies and cakes made by Margaret Dunkley.
two musicians, and John Corbridge the caller, to bring Oxkiller Canyon, southeast of Franklin provided an
his offering the next day. abundance of service berries. The girls of the community
As a general rule the boys and girls all danced in thought it one of their happy days to be allowed to ac-
their bare feet. Their feet were so calloused on the bot- company the young men up the canyon; while the men
tom, so the pioneers tell us, that they could slide on cut the wood the girls would gather berries. It is needless
rough pine floors without a sliver entering their flesh. to say that the girls had taken delicious lunches which
Bread, knitted lace, butter or meat was traded to they shared with the men. At the close of the day, the
the Indians in exchange for moccasins. Speaking of girls would ride or walk home with their best beaux.
shoes, one young lady had a pair of shoes which she One generous-hearted woman sent thirty-four
brought with her from Pennsylvania, but they were pounds of butter to Salt Lake City with Thomas Menden-
worn only on special occasions, such as when going to hall to pay for one pound of tea. When the tea arrived,
the canyons after service berries or to meetings. she invited all the old ladies in the Fort to come over
If any of the girls could get some moccasins from afternoons, and enjoy tea with her as long as it lasted.
the Indians, they thought that they were very well A man by the name of Jake Brom, introduced the
dressed along with their home-made linsey dresses game of card playing among the local boys. Whenever
which they wore to public gatherings. the girls caught the boys playing cards, they would
gather dead chickens or anything else they could find

to put out the fire. They would climb upon the roof of Mayberry was guard at the door (he was very tall with
the house, drop these things down the chimney into extra long legs) one of the young women dashed out
the fireplace and stop the game of cards. The boys between his legs in order that she might find out about
would race out to chase the girls which would break her husband, who had been captured by the Indians.
up the party. There were some dramatic organizations It was in this log school house that a special fast day
effected in the ‘60’s, with John Thompson and John service was held. The service was called as a means of
Frew as leaders. A new organization was formed in asking for Divine help to rid the community of grasshop-
1876 with Joshua Hawkes appointed as President and pers. The fast day services lasted for most of two days.
I. B. Nash, stage manager. For several years the grasshoppers had destroyed the
The old log school house and meeting house was crops until the people were fearful of starvation. The
the scene of many unusual incidents or experiences. It leading men of the Franklin area called a fast in which
was in that log structure that a group of girls met and the people did not eat nor drink for nearly two days;
decided what to do with an undesirable character who
had drifted into the Fort. It seems that he had insulted
several of the girls. They decided to run him out of town
and were successful in doing so by tying him to a post
and giving him a good strapping.
Then came the soldiers who took part in the Battle
Creek Massacre. The Franklin people, under the direc-
tion of Bishop Thomas, hauled loads of straw to the
school house. A big fire was made in the fireplace which
altogether made a warm welcome for the soldiers the
night they returned from battle.
In September 1864, when the trouble was had with
the drunken Indian, the entire community was ordered
to this meeting house. The women and children slept MORMON CRICKET
there that night (or as Mr. Corbridge says, “If there was Like the settlers in the early years of the Salt Lake Valley,
any sleeping done that night by anyone”) while the the pioneers in Franklin were plagued at times by swarms
of shield-backed katydids or Mormon crickets. An inch long
men stood guard outside. A rather amusing incident
and brown or black in color, Mormon crickets are still a seri-
occurred that night, too. During the night while Tom ous pest in the Great Plains of North America.

while they were The diphtheria plaque of 1879
in session the sec- It seems that the settlers tried in many ways and
ond day about 12 put up with many hardships but there was one tragic
o’clock, the house experience that seems outstanding: The diphtheria
became very dark; a plague. This plague lasted over a period of three years
boy came running in but seemed to reach the climax during the year of 1879
and said the grass- when as many as from one to five children died in some
hoppers were leaving. of the homes. The members of the community seemed
The people all rushed to be powerless to cope with this dreadful disease.
outside and the air Another sad affair among the many, was the tragic
seemed jammed with death of William Fluitt who was frozen to death while
grasshoppers, in fact traveling on foot from Oxford to Franklin. Apparently, he
they obstructed the SPINNING WHEEL had become exhausted while driving his herd of sheep
sun for a short time. The caption notes that this spin- over the cold, desolate, snow covered flat The sheep
The settlers, ver y ing wheel was owned by Thomas were rescued, but Mr. Fluitt’s body remained buried in
much humbled re- G. Lowe and was used for spin- the snow for four months before it was found.
ning flax. Displayed at the Co-
turned to the house op building of the Franklin Relic John Boyce and Rubin Bargee were feeding cattle
where they thanked Hall the winter of 1863 In Round Valley (now Oxford, Idaho).
their Maker for hear- It became necessary for them to go to Franklin for sup-
ing and granting their petitions. plies Owing to the long walk and cold weather, their
Some of the apparently humorous situations were bodies were found, frozen sitting upright by some rocks,
almost tragic. A pair of buckskin pants worn by James on the slope of little mountain near the ranch of Peter
Howarth afforded the people a great deal of amuse- G. Whitehead.
ment. When the pants were wet, they were just the right The Indians’ dogs frequently killed the settlers’
length but they shrunk as they dried and frequently sheep, chickens and young calves. This annoyance and
reached just to the knees. The pants were worn “every destruction reached a stage that was unbearable, so
day and Sunday too”—Mr. Howarth was very much three or four young men were called by those in charge
envied by the other men. to get rid of the dogs. The young men armed themselves
with guns and poisoned bait was fixed in the chicken
coops. Each time the Indians came to town the men

would get a few more dogs. It is not unlikely that the when the men arrived on the scene, the Indians were
men were careful about being caught—their lives would riding peacefully away. The pioneers enjoy telling us of
have been a forfeit if the Indians had ever guessed at this incident as a war won or prevented by “buttermilk”
what they were up to. in 1860.
While the Battle Creek massacre had but very little
The Buttermilk War effect on the northern part of the state, it was every-
It Is interesting to read between the lines of early thing to Southern Idaho, as it has been said, “It put the
history and feel the spirit of unity which existed among quietus,” on the Indians in this section of the state.
the people. If there was sickness in a home, many of Two more passes occurred with the Indians at Frank-
the neighbors unselfishly rendered every possible as- lin. The first of a revengeful, cowardly and treacherous
sistance. Every public enterprise was loyally supported nature happened the first day of May, 1863. While in
by the colonists. They fully realized that whole-hearted the canyon for firewood, about three miles northeast
cooperation and loyalty to one another was absolutely of town, near where the home of Wesley H. Gibson now
necessary, when a call was made by those in charge in stands, Andrew Morrison and William Howell were attack
the settlement, every man and boy would turn out; men ed by three buck Indians. Just about the time they were
would have to be detailed to stay at home to protect getting ready to leave with their loads an Indian came
the women and children from the Indians. At one time upon them and began to talk with them. After discover-
when a call was made to work on the irrigation ditches, ing that Morrison and Howell were unarmed the Indian
every man and boy who was large enough went to called to his comrades, who had remained behind on
work except William Garner, and a few boys who were the hill. At once they gave a murderous war hoop and
appointed to stay at home as guards. During the day came running down to the assistance of their comrade.
to the terror of all in the settlement, several Redskin Morrison, being able to speak the Indian language, tried
warriors, decorated in war paint and feathers came to to talk and reason with them. They said that white men
the settlement. Mr. Garner ordered the women to bring killed Indians at Battle Creek, and they were going to kill
all the buttermilk they had and some bread. He stood every white man they could. Morrison offered them the
at the entrance of the Fort and entertained the Indians horses if they would let them go unharmed, but it was
with buttermilk and bread until one of the boys could scalps the Indians wanted, rather than horses.
make the ride of about four miles on horse back and
notify the men, who were working on the ditch; the
kindness of the people seemed to satisfy the Indians;

Attacked at the Creek wound with cotton, leaving a cut of about three and
Howell wanted Morrison to run while there was but one-half inches, open. Morrison recovered however, and
one Indian near them, but he said: “No, I will not run lived for twenty-seven years, carrying the arrow head
from an Indian.” They invited the Indians to get on their to his grave with him.
loads and ride down to the town with them, which invi The Minute Men were called out and went after the
tation the Indians accepted. They had proceeded but Indians, but before they overtook them, they had joined
a few rods when Howell’s team got stuck in the creek a band of several hundred strong. The Minute Men fol-
crossing. While the two white men were working to get lowed them into Gentile Valley, some forty miles north
the stalled team liberated, the Indians caught them off of Franklin, but had to come back without either the
their guard and shot at them with arrows. Howell was horses or Indians.
missed and Morrison received an arrow just under the In the latter part of September, 1864, an event oc-
left collar bone. As he fell, he called to Howell to run curred that nearly cost the lives of the inhabitants of
as he was shot and there was no need of both being Franklin. About five hundred Indians that were on their
killed if he could get away. Morrison received another way to Bear Lake, after having a fight with a band of Indi-
arrow a few inches below the heart. He pulled both the ans on the Platte River, camped on Muddy River bottoms,
arrows out, but the spike came loose from the lower one north of Franklin. Some of the Indians procured liquor,
and remained in his body, lodged in one of the lower became drunken and rode their horses wildly up and
ribs of his spine. Howell made good his escape and down the town. One drunken Indian began breaking
being a very fast runner got out of reach of the arrows the windows in the home of George Alder, who with
before one of them took effect on him. He ran all the others had moved from the Fort by this time, north on
way to town and gave the alarm. A posse of men were Muddy river. When Mrs. Alder remonstrated with him
at once sent for Morrison’s body, but when they found and tried to drive him away, he picked up a large willow
him he was still alive. He was brought to Franklin and S. stake and began whipping her and tried to trample her
R. Parkinson was sent to Salt Lake City for medical aid, under his horse’s feet.
making the trip of one hundred and ten miles with a The screams of Mrs. Alder and the strange actions
span of mules and the front wheels of a wagon in forty- of the Indians attracted the attention of some men who
eight hours. When the doctor (Dr. Anderson) came, he were threshing at Samuel Handy’s place, a short distance
made an examination, but found that the arrow head from Alder’s. They ran to the rescue with their pitchforks.
was so close to the heart that he dare not take it out. Ben Chadwick, who was feeding the threshing machine
The doctor said Morrison could not live. He filled the when Mrs. Alder’s screams were heard, came running

up with a butcher knife in his hand, (he had been using “I disguised myself”
the knife to cut the bands that bound the sheaves of “My father and the other men urged me to leave im-
wheat). Ben gives his experience as follows: mediately. I rode Wm. Davis’ horse to the home of John
“I ran at the Indian with my butcher knife, my only Lard on High Creek. I disguised myself by shaving and
weapon, he struck my father down and continued to cutting my hair. (Previous to this time Ben had worn a
race after Mrs. Alder, striking her down and trying to long beard and hair to his shoulders). I also changed
trample her under his horse. As fast as the men came horses and came back to Franklin about 12 o’clock that
up, the Indian would knock the pitchforks out of their might with some of the Minute Men.”
hands with his long club. William Handy came running When Chadwick fired the pistol, the shot was heard
up with a pistol and all the men shouted, ‘Shoot! shoot! by Indians who witnessed the scene from a distance.
shoot him!’ Handy seemed to hesitate and I said, ‘Give They uttered their wild war cries, and pioneers tell of the
me the pistol! I can shoot! I took the pistol from his awful feeling that came over them at the sound of this
hand and shot. The Indian fell from his horse, wounded cry. The whole heavens seemed to echo the screeches
In the neck. of the maddened red men.
Just about a quarter of a mile east of where the
Indian was shot, another scene was enacted. Robert
Hull and Howard Hunt were on their way to the Indian
camp at 5 o’clock in the evening, to try to recover the
linsey skirt that had been stolen that morning from
Mary Whitehead, by two Indian women. Not knowing
what had happened, Mr. Hull and his companion were
watching Mr. Handy running with something in his arms.
They wondered why he was running. Suddenly Mr. Hull
felt someone grab him; in another moment he found
himself staring into the barrel of Chief Washakie’s pistol.
The Chief snapped off the trigger three times, but the
PITCHFORKS gun didn’t discharge. Then he pointed the pistol away
George Lee dug up the three-tined hay fork on his property from Mr. Hull and fired. This time the shot exploded. The
in Franklin. Indians who had immediately gathered and witnessed
the scene must have thought Mr. Hull a spirit, when the

Chief could not shoot him. Mr. Hull was unarmed, hav- Indians saw the glittering of hundreds of fire-arms in
ing left his pistol at home that noon. This was fortunate,the distance. The Minute Men were gathering and had
for the Chief would very likely have been killed, and been since 9 o’clock that night. They ceased to prod him
the people of Franklin would have been massacred as with the knives after this.
a result. About 11 o’clock that night, Bishop Maughan, Ezra
Benson, Bishop Hatch. A Neeley and Wm. Hull went
Like being surrounded by snakes down to the Indian camp and conferred with the Indians.
When Washakie grabbed Mr. Hull, Howard Hunt es- The Indians finally agreed to let Hull go if they would
caped and gave the alarm. Mr. Hull, after being dragged find the man who had shot the Indian.
to the Indians’ camp, was surrounded by young bucks They returned from the Indian camp about 1 o’clock
who danced about him. Squaws prodded him with that morning. After Mr. Hull had greeted his loved ones,
butcher knives. Chief Washakie would say: “White man he asked about Ben Chadwick. Upon finding that Chad-
killed Indian” and Hull would answer, “No!” They contin- wick was in town, Mr. Hull found him and warned him
ued to persecute him, the squaws joining in with their to leave, and said, “The Indians are determined to get
painful prodding. While Mr. Hull was surrounded by the you.”
dancing warriors and knife-armed squaws, he recalled “I do not believe my friends will give me up to them,”
a dream that he had had three nights before. This gave said Mr. Chadwick.
him courage to endure the torture inflicted upon him. Here are the words of Mr. Chadwick recalling this
He had dreamed that he was completely surrounded incident: “William Whitehead, my wife and sister came
by snakes that would dart at him from different parts and begged me to leave again, so I ran to the home of
of the circle. One big snake came up and struck at him the Wheeler’s where I had left my horse, then made my
with its fangs, three different times but didn’t touch way to Slaterville.”
him. None of the snakes bit him. He asked for Chief Next morning Apostle Ezra Benson and Bishop
Alma, (who could talk English). The Indian answered, Maughan called a meeting at 10 o’clock. The Indians,
“Chief Alma dead, (meaning drunk), on White Man’s including Chief Washakie and some of his braves were
fire water.” Several times during the night the Indians invited. They were given places at the front in the bow-
forced Mr. Hull to go closer to town and call for the ery where the meeting was held. While speaking to the
Bishop. He knew they wanted Bishop Thomas and he people, Bishop Maughan turned to Washakie and said,
could not make them understand that Bishop Thomas “What would you do if one of our men should go to
had moved away. It was a bright moonlight night. The

your camp and start whipping and killing one of your Alexander Bothwick. It came as a thunder bolt to the
women?” tiny colony and was the result of a pure accident: Eye
Washakie answered, “We kill him!” witnesses recall that one day preceding, May 17, a large
Bishop Maughan then said: “That is all we have company of eastern freighters, en route to Montana,
done.” Then he continued speaking to the people. “Talk through Cache Valley, camped for the night on the out-
about giving a man up that would save a woman’s life! skirts of Richmond, Utah, a short distance from Franklin,
If you want to give anyone up to the Indians, give the Idaho.
ones up that sold the liquor to them!” After the departure of the company, Mr. Eskelson, a
To make peace with the Indians, they were giv- farmer near whose place the travelers had camped, no-
en oxen, flour, cheese and other food by the people ticed that a large portion of his fence had been hauled
of Franklin. It seemed that some of the Indians of down, burned and otherwise destroyed. Fences at this
Washakie’s tribe still had revenge in their hearts, as early date were rare possessions, owing to the scarcity
the following incident will prove: of suitable fence material and it was a severe blow to
About two weeks after peace had been made with this pioneer. Enraged, he at once set out for Franklin to
them, Mr. and Mrs. Hull were visiting with one of their overtake the marauders and to exact justice at the hands
relatives who lived about two blocks from the Hull of Franklin authorities. After the necessary papers had
home. They were asked to stay over night. “I do not been made out the sheriff and his client hastened on
know why we accepted the invitation to stay all night,” to serve them. The captain of the company agreed to
says Mrs. Hull, “but it must have been the hand of Provi return after they had made camp for the night, but Mr.
dence that kept us from going home that night. The Eskelson insisted that the sheriff take the man at once.
next morning when we returned home, we found that This angered the teamsters, who evidently were already
the chinking had been removed from the wall and two fed up on anti-Mormon propaganda, and fearing what
shots had been fired where our heads would have lain. they called a “job on them” soon followed, rather look-
One bullet lodged in the stock of the gun that lay at ing and hoping for trouble.
the head of the bed.” The settlers, seeing them parading the streets heav-
ily armed, thought they had come to take them captive,
Accidental death of Alexander Bothwick so they, in turn, formed a posse in self protection. In
One of the outstanding incidents of the year 1866, these moments of excitement the pistol of Andrew Mor-
connected with the early settlement of Cache Valley rison accidentally discharged—how, even he is unable
and the pioneers of Franklin was the tragic death of to say—hitting and mortally wounding Bothwick. In the

midst of sorrowing, a grave in the Franklin cemetery a long distance, shaking his fist and was very angry
became Bothwick’s final resting place—a good man because he had lost two good scalps.
and neighbor. As the years rolled on the Indians were crowded
This, as a climax, brought the case to sudden ter- back and were known only as having been connected
mination and the freighters gladly paid their fine and with unpleasant memories.
continued their journey northward. The settlers continued to build up the community
Another Interesting Indian experience, but not a and expand into new territory, making possible the mod-
tragic one, might be given a title: ern comforts and possibilities which we have today.
In 1866 while John Corbridge and wife were on
their way to Richmond, Utah, an Indian hailed them Franklin incorporated in 1868
for a ride. They were rather slow answering his request Franklin was first incorporated as a city under the
but finally consented to let him ride As he jumped into laws of Utah Territory, February 19, 1868, and is de-
the wagon, the Indian immediately began to sharpen scribed in the act creating it as follows: “Commencing
his long hunting knife. It is easy to imagine how Mr. at a point eighty rods east from the northeast corner of
and Mrs. Corbridge felt, but they tried to appear very Lorenzo H. Hatch and Co.’s grist mill, thence west four
much unconcerned. Once when Mrs. Corbridge looked miles, thence south four and one-half miles, thence
cautiously around, she noticed that the Indian’s blan- east four miles, thence north four and one-half miles to
ket had caught in the wagon wheel and was gradually the place of beginning.” Franklin at that time covered
falling off. They had not gone very much farther until eighteen square miles or sections, or eleven thousand
she noticed that the blanket had fallen to the ground five hundred and twenty acres. The village boundaries
a few yards back. The Indian had been so busy sharp- today embrace about six hundred and fifty acres or a
ening the knife that he did not notice the falling of little more than one square mile.
the blanket. Mr. Corbridge drove on until the blanket The size of the town has not yet reached the expec-
was some distance behind; he then made signs to the tation of its founders. It has a population of about 1000,
Indian, which told them to wait for him while he went has two fine schools, some up-to-date business houses
back after his blanket. They waited until he was some and a number of very interesting old pioneer homes. A
distance behind them, then Mr. Corbridge whipped up small but active flour mill is also located there.
the oxen, making them run for the settlement. When Mr. Elliot Butterworth started a relic hall during the
the Indian saw them driving away, he ran after them year 1910. It contains some very interesting relics of

pioneer days, among them some miniature models of Idaho Day
the old fort and the railroad district. The outstanding yearly event in Franklin is the “Ida-
ho Day” celebration in June.
Lighting The first proclamation declaring June Fifteenth as
The the early days, the pioneers first depended “Idaho Day” in honor of the pioneers and the town of
on the fireplace for light; then the bitch lights and Franklin, was issued April 26, 1910, by Governor James
candles which served until about 1870. Kerosene oil H. Brady. June 14 and 15 of that same year the first
lamps were used in Franklin until 1905, when electric- “Idaho Day” celebration was held. Each year since that
ity was installed. first celebration and proclamation the Franklin people
have been genial hosts to thousands of people and will
Modes of travel continue to welcome them each succeeding year.
In 1860, the people had the ox team and covered
wagons, then followed horses and wagons, carts and HAIL TO THE BIRTHPLACE OF DEAR IDAHO
buggies. For many years any man was proud to have Dedicated to “The Daughters of the Pioneers”
a fine span of horses and a buggy to go driving with. (Composed by Z. Mae Nelson for Idaho Day,
April 1, 1912, Dr. States brought the first automobile. Mr. June 13, 1924)
G. L. Wright and S. J. Handy each had an automobile Come friends, and listen to the story
soon after. The fine Union Pacific bus came through Oft told by aged pioneers.
in 1929. How Idaho, our state of glory,
Was settled in by-gone years,
Miscellaneous By pioneers whose hearts were true
The telephone was installed in September, 1906; Who loved their God and Country too,
the city water system was also completed that year. Who came and found a home so blest
The Utah Packing company is now erecting a In the “Gem State” of the West.
canning factory on the old condenser site. The can- In Eighteen Sixty, in the springtime
ning company purchased this property at a cost of The first home-makers of the state
$125,000.00. Lived within the fort at Franklin
While they toiled from dawn ‘til late
To plow the soil and plant the grain
And bring the water to the pain

Kind Providence their labors blest THE TR A ILBL A ZER
In this garden of the West.
Commentary & Corrections
A log school house was soon erected Newell Hart, 1976
Which served as church and social hall
By willing hearts were plans perfected ■ Page 10: As of the 1860-63 era discussed here this
To train the children all. area was in Washington Territory; Idaho Territory was
To climb the rugged path of truth created on March 3, 1863.
Find knowledge in their tender youth
That they might future patriots be,
■ Page 11: The oft-quoted Savage-Bevins incident near
From ignorance be free. Richmond did not necessarily prompt Col. Connor to
send troops to Bear River. It did, however, give him
The Indians ever bolder grew added rationalization to attack and nearly annihilate
When winter came with ice and snow the Shoshones at their winter camp. Evidence indicates
Through green grain and cattle too he was planning the campaign prior to this incident.
They were still the white man’s foe: ■ Page 12: The drawing shows four mountain howitzers,
In Sixty Three-O, dreadful sight two on each side of the river. Accounts state that the
At Battle Creek-that awful fight two howitzers brought up from Camp Douglas were
Old Bear Hunter’s tribe was lost that day snow-bogged and never reached the battlefield.
Connor’s men the debt did pay.
Col. Connor sent a small detachment of foot soldiers,
“The Gem of the Mountains” now is sparkling with 15 baggage wagons, a week before the attack on
With countless towns and cities fair. January 29; they traveled by day. The main force, the
Her farms now help to feed the nation cavalry, waited until four days before the attack; they
Of wealth she has her share traveled by night and kept out of sight by day. Thus the
O, Let us ever revere Indians never knew of the full force of the invasion un-
The memory of our pioneers, til it was too late. Connor’s policy of methodical anni-
Who served the Lord with hearts sincere hilation of Indians, in this as in subsequent campaigns
And Smiled e’en through their tears. throughout the west, was severely criticized—though
praised in some quarters. One military historian stated

there was no “moral way” to justify his ruthlessness. (A ■ Page 49: The pioneer poem “Hail to the Birthplace
complete bibliography of this affair is under prepara- of Dear Idaho” by Z. Mae Nelson was at first sung to
tion and will be included in a future edition by the music, according to the 1924 DUP records.
Cache Valley Newsletter Publishing Co.)
■ Page 65: According to the memoirs of Josh Rallison
■ Page 14: Sagwitch was shot near Brigham but did not among those who organized the Whitney coopera-
die from the wound; he was saved by a friend, David tive were James Chadwick, J.A. Head, and Robert Hull.
Reese, and was nursed back to health. Rallison said it was called the Whitney Equitable Co-
operative Association and that he served as clerk; he
■ Page 34: The Utah and Northern railroad began its
also managed it for a short time.
northward push in 1878-79
The first known contract for sugar beet raising was
■ Page 35: Most accounts say the Deseret Telegraph line
drawn up in 1898 between Austin Hollingsworth
was extended to Franklin in 1869. The Custer battle
of Preston and the Ogden Sugar Co. Hollingsworth
was on June 25, 1876; the Franklin telegraph opera-
agreed to raise two acres at $3.00 per ton, deliver
tor is usually listed as Hezekiah or H.E. Hatch (rather
them to Ogden, and accept their decision on which
than L.E. Hatch).
beets could be rejected. Job Pingree signed for the
■ Page 36: The Samuel Rose Parkinson diary states that company.
he began running a store in Franklin in 1861. Parkinson
■ Page 67: Dennis Winn is listed as John Winn’s father;
family histories say that when the Church suggested
they were brothers.
it be made into a cooperative (1869) he readily con-
sented. In 1872 the stockholders put him in as super- ■ Page 69: Additional Information on Irrigation
intendent of the store.
In or about 1927 Serge C. Ballif wrote a brief history of
■ Pages 40-45: Most of the intense White-Indian con- the Cub River and Worm Creek Canal Co. The following
frontations occurred after January 29, 1863. The chiefs has been excerpted from Ballif’s work-which he took
couldn’t control their younger bucks many of whom directly from the minute books. First recorded action
after the slaughter on the river, “wanted to kill any in the minute books was the filing on the water April
whites they could find.” 11, 1880. First intention: to build a ditch 10 feet m the
bottom. Articles of Incorporation were filed in the
■ Page 47: Elliot Butterworth’s memoirs indicate that
Territory of Idaho, county of Oneida, by 36 members-
he started the Relic Hall in 1918.

May 5, 1880. Names listed in the Articles were: Nahum
Porter, F.L. Wilcox, William H. Head, David Jensen, W.C.
Garrison, I.A. Canfield, and J.J. West.
At first they set up strict rules. No man could be ad-

mitted as a member of the company that had entered
land any way except by the homestead and peremp-
tory right. No man was allowed to sell his capital stock
in the company to anyone that was objected to as a
member. Many were unable to get stock in the com-
pany until contracts were let for the enlargement of
the ditch in 1884.
The original 10 foot ditch seemed too large an un-

dertaking and it was reduced to six. Solid rock was a
problem for which blasting was the only solution.
In 1883 they voted to make the ditch 10 feet wide

in the bottom; all contract work was to be done by
May 10, 1884. New stockholders gained membership
at this time. Contracts were let to stockholders and
outsiders as well. The work was divided into team
work and pick and shovel work. A contract was com-
prised of 50 feet. Each man who took a contract was
compelled to take as much pick and shovel work as
he did team work. One man found it advantageous
to use one horse and a slip scraper on his pick and
shovel contract. He was made to discontinue using
the horse and informed it was a pick and shovel job.
The pay was either in cash or irrigation stock.

Franklin Female Relief Society was first orga-
nized April 22, 1868. Meeting opened with prayer
by Bishop L. H. Hatch. The following named sisters were
Organization presented for acceptance as officers in the Franklin Ward
& and unanimously sustained: President, Sarah Borthwick;

directors, Elvira Nash, Ortencia Stalker, Ann Smart and
Minutes Mary Head; secretary, Martha D. Case Hickman; treasurer,
Catherine Mendenhall. Bp. L. H. Hatch reminded the sisters
of
he had planted mulberry trees according to instructions,
to feed the worms to make silk that it may be possible to
THE
manufacture articles we wear and adopt our own fashions.
F R A N K L I N WA R D The sisters had a great work to do, they were capable of get-
RELIEF SOCIETY ting at things that men could not. Prayer by Alex Stalker.
As found in original records
•
C omp r i si ng t h e y e a r s
When the Female Relief Society met. Hymn sung “Hail
1868 A N D 1869
to The Brightness.” Prayer by S. Parkinson. The sec. read
an address by Pres. Young. The bishop said he wished
the sisters to perform their duties in this Society without
fear. Said it was a society organized by Joseph Smith, the
Prophet. Said the sisters held the Priesthood in connection
with their husbands. There were many light duties they
could perform instead of the brethren while they were
engaged in more arduous tasks such as laboring in the
fields, etc. He is much pleased with the donations, sisters all
willing to pay for the pump, some objected paying for the
telegraph instrument. Remarked that when the sisters fully

History of Franklin, Idaho • Minutes of the Franklin Ward Relief Society, 1868 & 1869 FULL SCREEN 93 
understand the importance of the telegraph they would The names of the teachers on the several blocks, also
cheerfully respond to every call concerning it. Remarked the sisters which are appointed to superintend the clean-
there were some sisters knew their duties and cheer- ing of the schoolhouses:
fully performed them, while others did not realize their Isaac Nash - 1st block - Mary A. Hull
duties. He does not want the sisters to wear themselves Robert Dowdle - 2nd " - Sister Kingsford
out, but to do the best they can in every good work. He Thomas Low - 3rd " - Eliza Low
said everyone did not come in the Church for the love of John Doney - 4th " - Mary Vail
the Lord, but other motives actuated them. He read over George Lee - 5th " - Louisa Purnell
the names of the subscribers for the pump, he was much
Charles Fox - 6th " - Elizabeth Fox
pleased with the pump. Invited the sisters to see it. Par-
James Packer - 7th " - Mary Head
ticularly requested the sisters to attend all the meetings.
Samuel Parkinson - 8th " - Arabella Parkinson
He says business before pleasure. He said we were none
Thomas Mendenhall 9th " - Catherine Chadwick
of us very good, wished us to feel so, but try and improve.
John Frew - 10th " - Sister Comish
Bro. Smart made a few remarks, said we should be very
careful about the remarks we made about each other, etc. Nephi Comish - 11th " - Elizabeth Ellsworth
The bishop asked the sisters to speak. Sister Smart said Andy Morrison - 12th " - Sarah Borthwick
she knew this to be the work of the Lord, wished to do David Jenson - 13th " - Sister Londengreen
all the good she could, etc. Pres. Borthwick said she knew Samuel Huff - 14th " - Mary A. Huff
this was the work of the Lord, that she would do the best
she could in her office. She showed a block of patchwork Names of donators for the pump:
she had done, requested the sisters to fetch one each and Harriet Kingsford - 2¼ lb. butter Sarah Mayberry - 1 lb. butter
they would then sew them together and make a good Anna Doney - 1 " " Mary Collins - 1 " "
warm quilt for the poor. She spoke concerning the clean- Elizabeth Comish - ½ " " Hannah Handy - 2¾" "
ing of the schoolhouse. Said if it met the bishop’s mind Rebecca Rumsey - 2 " " Margaret Bennett - 1 " "
she thought it would be a good thing for the sisters on Sarah Woodward - 1 " " Sister Adamson - 1 " "
the several blocks as it came in turn for the teachers to
Sarah Poole - 1¼ " " Anna Olsen - 1 " "
administer the Sacrament, to see to the cleaning of the
Sarah Chadwick - 1½ " " Mary Whitehead - 1 " "
schoolhouse, which fully met the bishop’s approbation.
Ester Dowdle - 1 " " Sophia Merrick - 1 " "
Adjourned until the 19th of May.
Ellen Corbridge - 1 " " Jane Clayton - 1 " "

Hannah Corbridge - 1 lb. butter Catherine Mendenhall - 1 lb. bt with putting a quilt together with linsey (coarse linen and
Jane Hull - 1 " " Anna Londengreen - 1 " " wool fabric) which had been donated. The bishop blest the
Mary Head - 2 " " Mary A. Handy - 1 " " donations received, blest the subscribers, also encourages
Ann Smart - 2 " " Mary Chadwick - ½ " " the sisters to go ahead.
Louisa Mendenhall - 1 " " Louisa Mayberry - 2 " " In original records names were given, but the following
Betsy Low - ½ " " Charlotta Mayberry - 1 " " lists number of donators and variety of articles donated:
For the nails 65 sisters donated eggs and butter and 1 sister
Selina Gregory - 1 " " Elizabeth Ellsworth - 1 " "
donated a pair of men’s sox; for the calico (cotton cloth)
quilt 25 sisters donated eggs and butter, 9 sisters donated
Names of donators for the telegraph instrument:
yarn and 1 sister donated a pair of knitting needles.
Ann Smart - 1½ lb. butter
Sarah Borthwick - 1 lb. butter
Catherine Mendenhall - 1 dzn. eggs
June 4, 1868
Arabella Parkinson - 1½ lb. butter The Society met at 3 o’clock. Sewed wagon covers, quilt
Sarah Morrison - 2 dzn. eggs pieces, and knit stockings until the bishop, Bro. Stalker and
Jane Clayton - 1 dzn. eggs several of the teachers (brethren) came. The meeting was
Ellen Clayton - 1 lb. butter opened by prayer by Sister Smart. The sect. read the min-
utes of the two preceding meetings which were accepted.
Benia Spumberg - 1 lb. butter
The bishop made a few remarks. He wishes the sisters to
May 19, 1868 attend the fast meeting. Said he was well pleased with
the spirit of the Society. Said there were a few brethren
he Female Relief Society met at schoolhouse at one
T engaged on the meeting house. Hoped the sisters would
o’clock. Prayer Sis. Handy. Report of the butter and eggs sustain their husbands in their duties, for an encouraging
was read by Bishop Hatch after which the bishop spoke word done so much good. Said the sisters should uphold
for sometime. He spoke of Brother Mendenhall taking the brethren in every good work. Didn’t care how much
the butter and eggs to the city to pay for the nails for influence a wife has over her husband in a good cause, she
the meeting house. It was moved and seconded that a should be blest for it. There were some of the brethren go-
subscription be taken for the boys that cross the plains. ing on the railroad, there were many duties sisters would
A number of the teachers (brethren) were present at said have to perform in their absence. Wished the sisters would
meeting. The members of the Society busied themselves take hold and do the best they could for the upbuilding of

their own families and Kingdom of God. Wishes the sisters
to attend to prayers in their homes in the absence of their
July 2, 1868
husbands. Bless the brethren and sisters. Bro. Stalker then Society met. Opened with singing and prayer by Sis.
made a few remarks. Said the bishop had the sisters in a Handy. The preceding minutes and list of donations and
capacity where he could talk to them. Wishes his family to such were read by the sect. Then the sisters busied them
attend to prayers in his absence. He said we all had a great selves in sewing on quilts, carding wool bats for wadding
warfare before us for we had no good thing, but we had to the quilts and knitting sox and edging. Bro. Stalker and
strive for to obtain it. Said that when the brethren had the Jenson came in and had a very pleasant time chatting
good feeling of their wives they could do so much better, with us. Closed with prayer by Sister Huff. Adjourned till
as an encouraging word done so much good, the contrary July 16th.
so much hurt. Said he felt a good spirit here, hoped we List of donations for lime and getting material for
would go ahead and prosper. We had his good feelings. quilts: The Society furnished 16 lbs. of butter for the men
The sisters that were appointed to support the cleaning that brought the lime for the vestry, and for quilts yarn,
of the schoolhouse were also appointed to act as teachers butter and wool were donated.
in collecting contributions. Prayer Pres. Borthwick.
June 18, 1868 July 16, 1868

The Society met at 8 o’clock. Prayer by the president.
Alex Stalker read a copy of the First Organization Sec. read the copy of The Organization of The Female Re-
of The Female Relief Society, organized by the Prophet lief Society. Sisters busied themselves quilting, the presi-
Jos. Smith in the Lodge Room, March 1842, in the city of dents giving talks. Sist. Smart took the floor, expressed her
Nauvoo. It was moved and seconded that we organize thankfulness for donations given in cheerfulness. Said we
according to instructions received from Prest. Maughan should not have malice towards each other, said if she had
of Logan. Bp. L.H. Hatch and Alex Stalker then proceeded any towards anyone she would make it right before night.
to set apart the following sisters: Sarah Borthwick, presi- Remarked that we should be industrious and economical
dent; Ann Smart, first counselor; Ortencia Stalker, second and teach our children to be so also. Said we should not
counselor; Elvira Nash and Mary Head to act as aids. oppose any principle taught in the Church, polygamy
in particular as that was a great principle. She had two
daughters in it and was willing her other should go in it
likewise, etc. The sect., being unwell all day, fainted, was

administered to by Sisters Borthwick, Smart, Stalker and She wishes to get some means in shape to handle for the
Huff. There has been five quilts quilted today. Adjourned relief of the poor of whatever nature, but now especially
until the 30th of July. for sickness. Remarked a case of sickness a few days ago
and nothing comfortable, etc. Sister Smart said she was at
July 30, 1868 Logan last week, saw Sis. Maughan, said they were going
to raffle theirs. Said Sister Maughan preferred evening to
The Society met at two o’clock. Opened by prayer give us some instructions. Favored by Sister Merrick and
by Sister Corbridge. Sisters busied themselves binding seconded by Sister Borthwick that we raffle the quilts. Sister
and piecing quilts until the bishop and Bro. Stalker came. Smart proposed the bishop and Br. Stalker be present at
The bishop asked the sisters what they wished to do with the raffling. The bishop left their blessing with us. Benedic-
their quilts. Said whatever the majority said was law. Some tion by Sister Frew.
proposed selling them to help about the meeting house.
But he said he did not wish to take their labors for that
purpose as there was abundance of means in the hands of
the brethren, but if they felt disposed to make a carpet for The Society met at 2 o’clock. Opened by prayer by
the vestry he would gladly accept it. Said whatever they Sister Huff. Sisters busied themselves sewing carpet rags.
saw fit to do with their quilts would suit him. He thought Sister Eliza Low in made a few very appropriate remarks.
if they could sell some of them and thus augment the Said she knew this to be the work of the Lord, always felt
funds of the Society so to have money to buy necessar- well in bearing her testimony, etc. Sister Elizabeth Packer
ies for the poor, it would be a good thing as it was warm she always responded to every call. Said she wishes to at-
weather and the poor did not need the quilts at present. tend all the meetings, but through the press of business
Br. Stalker said he thought the sisters had done well, very she could not always come. Remarked that the bishop
well indeed. Fully agreed with the bishop’s remarks. He said at the third or fourth meeting that the sisters then
thought it a good thing to sell or raffle the quilts and if present would attend as a general thing. Wishes to do
they decided to raffle it would be perfectly right. Said the all the good she could, etc. Sister Mary A. Morrison said
sisters should talk the matter over and agree what to do. she wishes to do the best she could. She did not want to
Said he was much pleased with the spirit of the Society, hold back on account of her youth. Exhorted her youthful
blest us. The presidency made a few remarks. Said she sisters to practice speaking in public, etc. Sister Corbridge
was not particular what was done with the quilts, what- said she felt well desirous to do all the good in her power.
ever the majority concluded to do with them suited her. Said we should sustain our sisters in office, pray for and

uphold them. Said this work was organized in the days The sec. bore her testimony to the truth of this work. Said
of Joseph that we should learn everything that was good we are living in a great day, an age of the world. Exhorted
and useful. Said we should try and get things in shape the sisters to live so that we could feel to administer to the
so as to get some medicines for the poor in case they be sick for the brethren might not always be present. There
needed now, etc. Sister Alice Pratt of Oxford remarked were many duties dissolving upon the sisters, more so
that she wants to talk a little. Said she felt well. Would be now and would continue to increase than ever before. She
glad when they had a Society organized at their place. was glad this Society was organized, that we should throw
Hoped we would be blest, etc. Sister Smart said she felt away all bashfulness and fear and nobly do our various
like talking a little to express her gratitude for the great duties even as the brethren did theirs. Then we should do
blessings of having her friends around her. Said she had all we could to comfort the poor and sick, leave our own
been very much blest since she was engaged in this work, work, come to meeting, pray for the blessings of the Lord
especially since this Society was organized, and since her to rest on all our efforts. She also told her experience of
husband had been absent she had been particularly blest, the day. Said there were a few sisters met at Sister Head’s,
etc. The president said she would like to see more present, that she was taken very sick with one of her bad spells and
but was thankful to those that were present. Said that requested the sisters to administer to her, but they declined
we had thought of raffling, but had been informed that through bashfulness. She continued to get worse, finally
there had instructions been given by Eliza Snow against told the sisters she could not live long in that situation.
raffling and if that was so we would not raffle, but would Requested them to administer again (sisters Molen, Mer-
do the best we could for the good of the Society, etc. Sister rick and Read) which they did, she was healed immediately.
Parkinson made a few very appropriate remarks. Said she Said she had after been healed under the administration
wished to do all the good she could, etc. Benediction by of the sisters. Requested the sisters to pray for and up-
Charlotte Parkinson until 27th. hold her so that she might be enabled to perform her
various duties, especially as the teacher of the school for
she could do much more good when the sisters upheld
her to their children. Prayed for the spirit of God upon us
The Society met at 2 o’clock. Opened by prayer by too. The foregoing minutes were taken by Sister Molen
Sister Eliza Low. Sisters busied themselves piecing quilts, of Hyde Park, she being here on a visit, the sect. took the
knitting, sewing carpet rags. Privilege been given to speak. remainder. Sister Head said she wished to do all the good
Sister Kingsford that she felt glad to be a member of the she could, that we should pray for each other especially
Society, felt it would be a great blessing to the poor, etc. for those in office, that we all know this to be the work of

the Lord and should act accordingly, etc. Sister Molen said
she was glad to meet with us in this place, that she felt a
good spirit here, that we should uphold and sustain all Doubled yarn. Sister Stalker presided. On the 18th a
the sisters in office for they needed it, that she had a little few sisters met at Sister Smart’s and quilted one quilt which
experience in office, felt her weakness. Said we should be was donated to a Mary Poole.
careful not to speak evil of each other especially those in The presidents and sec. were absent during these
office. Said we should visit the sisters in sickness, that a meetings. The meetings were discontinued until the 27th
kind word done so much good. She knew that by experi- of February.
ence for she was a sickly woman herself. Prays the Lord
to bless and prosper all our efforts in this Society, left her ·1869 ·
blessing with us. Sister Corbridge said the counsel of the
sisters was good, hoped we would all profit by it. She felt
well in donating. She would try to do all the good she
February 27, 1869
could, would visit the poor and sick and comfort them The Society assembled at the vestry. The bishop, Br.
all she could. Sister Mendenhall remarked she felt to do Stalker and several of the teachers were present. The sec.
all the good she could, etc. Sister Merrick gave a few very being sick, there were no minutes kept of meetings.
appropriate remarks. The presidency gave us some very There were 4 quilts sold for 10 dollars apiece, two quilts
good instructions. Benediction by Sister Susan Gosland. for 9 dollars apiece, one linsey quilt for 18 dollars, 15 in
money the remainder in calico which was used for Sister
Poole’s quilt, 3 pairs of sox sold for 3 dollars. Total amount
78 dollars which was sent to Salt Lake City by Br. Stalker to
The Society met at 10 o’clock. Quilted one quilt. purchase a carpet for the vestry.
March 11, 1869

The Society met at two o’clock. Bound quilt, sewed The Society assembled at the vestry. Opened by sing-
carpet rags, knitted sox. Benediction by Sister Londen- ing. Prayer by Sister L. Mayberry. Braided mats for the vestry.
green. The bishop and Br. Jenson came. The bishop said he was
very much pleased with what the sisters had done, felt
thankful for their help. Said we should be blest for all the
good we done or would do. Told us to speak and act freely.

Said we should pray for and uphold the officers and not
have a spirit of jealousy among us. Wishes us to pray for
March 27, 1869
him. Said the sisters had great faith, etc. Said we should try The society assembled at the vestry. Opened by sing-
to use a good influence over our husbands and help him, ing. Prayer Sister Ellen Corbridge. Mary Mayberry being
etc. Said we should attend our meetings punctually and invited to speak. Saw the Prophet Joseph. Said this society
try to influence all our sisters to come for great blessings, was organized before this world was created, said it was
awaited us if we faithful. Spoke of the organization of the especially for the benefit of the poor to build schoolhouses
Kingdom of God. Said some come into the Church half and educate poor children, etc. said Joseph. Great bless-
hearted, others with all their hearts. Saw when there was ings would follow those that were faithful in this Society.
a dance. It was generally attended, should like to see as Prays for the blessings of God to rest upon us. Sister Laird
much interest in these meetings. Yet, he did not wish to of Richmond said she was glad to meet with the Society of
find fault with us, but the Lord was not well pleased when this place. Felt a good spirit here. She wished to do all the
we cared more for dancing than we did for our meetings. good she could, etc. Blest us. Sister Green said she would
He felt very thankful for what the sisters had done to say whatever the Lord gave her. Said the Lord was well
help complete the vestry. Said he had paid a great deal pleased with us, the angels were around us, etc. Blest us.
out, had done it cheerfully. Blest us, said he would find a The president, she was thankful for what the sisters had
place for us to meet. Br. Jenson said he well remembered done. Felt happy when she and the teachers went around
when this Society was organized by Joseph Smith, the to be received cheerfully whether they could donate or
Prophet. Said the blessings of the Lord would attend our not. Requested the sisters to attend their meetings punc-
efforts. Said we were greatly blest and would be more so tually, did not like to have a black mark put against them,
hereafter. Said when the brethren assembled in this room but the bishop required it. Blest us. Benediction by Sister
we would be remembered. Said everything we undertook Sylvia Hatch.
we should accomplish. Said we should uphold and sus-
tain the bishop, that we could be a great help to him, etc.
Spoke of the organization of the Kingdom of God. Sister
April 8, 1869
The Society assembled at the vestry. Pieced quilts. The
Handy was administered to. Benediction by Jane Clayton. sec. being sick no minutes were taken.
Adjourned until 27th of March.

April 22, 1869 Emily Stalker
Ellen Stalker
- "
- "
Hannah Olsen - "
Mary Ann Hull - "
The Society assembled at Br. Stalker’s. Quilted one Elizabeth Packer - " Mary Whitehead - "
quilt. The sec. being sick no minutes were taken.
Margaret Taylor - " Selina Gregory - "
May 6, 1869 Mary Ann Hobbs - "

Margaret Smart - "
Margaret Dunkley - "
Louisa Mendenhall - "
The Society assembled at the schoolhouse. Opened Eliza Low - " Christina Stones - "
by Prayer by Sister Ortencia Stalker. Made carpet for the Elizabeth Comish - 50 cts. Hannah Londengreen 50 cts.
vestry and knit stockings. Mary Head - " Elizabeth Laidon - "
In the year 1869 the sisters were counseled to put Harriet Kingsford - " Sylvia Hatch - "
money into the Cooperative Store in the name of the Re- Ann Doney - " Catherine Hatch - "
lief Society. All the sisters responded cheerfully donating Ester Dowdle - " Alice Hatch - "
50¢ each, the following is a list of those sisters:
Jane Hull - " Louisa Purnell - "
Sarah Borthwick - 50 cts. Jane Frew - 50 cts.
Margaret Whitehead - " Arabella Parkinson - "
Ann Smart - " Elizabeth Fox - "
Martha Vail - " Mariah Parkinson - "
Ortencia Stalker - " Hannah Corbridge - "
Ellen Corbridge - " Charlotta Parkinson - "
Martha D. Hickman - " Hannah Holhem - "
Susan Gosland - "
Catherine Mendenhall - " Elgin Clayton - "
Mary Ann Morrison - " Elvira Nash - "
Hannah Handy - " Martha Nash - "
Eliza Hull - " Ellen Priest - "
Margaret Bennett - " Martha Biggs - "
Elizabeth Ellsworth - " Lucy Bennett - "
Sarah Ann Mayberry - " Jane Nelson - "
Mary Mayberry - " Mary A. Huff - "
Mary Collins - " Elizabeth Kirkham - "
Charlotta Mayberry - " Jane Hobbs - "
Louisa Mayberry - " Mariah Wright - "
Amanda Stalker - " Serena Jensen - "

Franklin as settlers to be given an allotment of hay or
grain lands. When Isaac Nash, James Hebdron, George
and Alfred Hensen, E. Nelson, Peter Pool, Dickey Colter,
William Handy, John and Nephi Cornish and William
• Whitney • Rogers came to Franklin they were each given five acres
in the section now known as Whitney.
i da ho This was really the beginning of Land ownership in
this section of the country.
From
At that time the Indians were very troublesome, so
THE TR AIL BLAZER much so that the men were advised to work in groups
History of the Development and never without their firearms.
of Southeastern Idaho It must have been an interesting sight in the late
summer to see a large group going with their wagons
• and oxen, scythe and home made rakes to harvest this
P u bl i sh ed i n 1930 precious hay.
b y Daugh t er s of t h e P ion eer s Those who really wanted to keep their hay lands
had to build homes in order to protect their holdings
R e v i sed a n d u p dat ed i n 1976 because of an influx of cattle and sheep. In the spring
b y N e w el l H a rt of 1869, Ephriam Ellsworth and William Handy each built
a cabin on their claims. (One of Mr. Handy’s daughters
• still lives on the old homestead.) That same summer,
James Chadwick and R. M. Hull formed a partnership and
bought out some of the above named hay land claims
and built them each a home. The next year William
Head built a log cabin for his wife Sarah E. The Franklin
J
ust midway between Franklin and Preston on the County Sugar Company is built on part of this claim. In
Yellowstone Park Highway is the town of Whitney, 1876, this land claim of 160 acres was sold for a big grey
which has a population of about three hundred and riding horse and a little money.
fifty. This town like many others had a very humble Thomas Bennett and his son William each built them-
beginning. It was customary for people who came to selves a log house in 1870. Others, including the Joseph

History of Whitney, Idaho • “Whitney, Idaho”, from The Trail Blazer FULL SCREEN 104 
and George Foster Families, followed until there was over her head and caused the animals to race away in
quite a little colony of settlers. a wild stampede.
From the time the railroad came through 1878 until Some so-called white men were more trouble than
the place was given the name of Whitney, It was known either the Indians or wild cattle.
as “Hulls’ Crossing.” A number of men, headed by a notorious outlaw
Some of these early settlers used their rights as first leader, Bob Tarter would help themselves to the set-
locators and claimed a share in the Worm and Spring tlers’ horses and cattle, drive them to Corinne, Utah and
Creeks. From these streams, they brought early spring from that point ship them East and West. Occasionally
water to irrigate their lands. the band of thieves would drive cattle up into Montana,
A ditch company was organized in 1881, the mem- where they sold them for a good price.
bers of which worked together to bring water from The outlaws not only took the cattle, but they were
the Cub River. This company joined in with Harrison so bold as to kill the animals in the vicinity and take the
Thomas. beef to the homes of the owners and offer it for sale.
The settlers were quite sure, or at least suspected
Half-wild Texan cattle who the marauder’s were but were afraid to say or do
This early pioneer group had many difficulties anything about it because members of the robber band
which were most trying. On account of the roads be- would not hesitate to kill anyone who interfered with
ing impossible to travel most of the year, the men folks them.
would ride horse back to Franklin for their meetings. George Sharp tells us that his brother Orson was one
The women and children would remain at home and of the men sent up here by the United States officers
keep the range cattle back from their growing crop. It from Salt Lake City to run down the cattle thieves. How-
was almost Impossible to fence against the half-wild ever he was killed by a member of the gang as he trav-
Texan cattle that freely roamed over this country. Many eled with them along the Portnuef River. It seems that he
interesting stories are told concerning encounters with got in with the band somehow and had planned to get
these cattle and their enormously long horns. At one some evidence against them, but they got him first; his
time a pioneer woman went in search of her own cattle body was never found. Hen Holt was also treated in the
and while searching for them, a herd of these cattle same manner. He was buried in the vicinity of Preston.
completely surrounded her and were making ready When the railroad was later built and passed through
to charge just as she threw her full gathered apron up Whitney, the people were very much annoyed by tramps

and hoboes of all kinds, as many as fifty would pass willows and sacks were used as beaters. Sometimes a fire
thru in one day. would get a start of them and many of the willow fences
were destroyed as well as the summer hay crop.
Thirty Chinese tramps come to visit Alfalfa was not cultivated during those first few
Probably one of the most exciting experiences was years; the settlers depended on the native grasses as
with a band of thirty Chinese tramps that came up the food for the animals until after 1880.
track near Hull’s. There were just Ann Hull, her friend If you were looking down from Rattle Snake Point,
and some children at home when the Chinamen were could you, dear reader, in your imagination picture one
seen. These children hastened to lock all doors as a tem- little patch of about ten acres of green grain, growing
porary protection at least. The cellar door however, was inside of a frame of sage brush and dry native grasses,
not locked; the Chinese just walked into the cellar and if you could, you would have seen the only green patch
helped themselves to the milk, cream and eggs, they which had been planted by R. M. Hull. This lonely grain
also killed some chickens after which they proceeded patch was growing on present farm of Roy Tanners,
to make a bonfire in the yard and prepare their midday during the summer of 1873. This place of 160 acres
meal. In the meantime, while the Chinamen were busy was bought in 1872 from Martin Higley for a span of
on the south side of the house, Ann put her brother out mules.
through the North window and sent him post haste to There was an abundance of butter and cheese pro-
get help from the neighbors. duced, the butter brought an average of fifteen cents
It was not long before Ephraim Ellsworth, a neigh- per pound during the year and eggs brought about ten
bor, appeared with a black whip, as soon as the China- cents a dozen in exchange for merchandise.
men saw him; they began to shout, “Me go! Me go!” Occasionally a merchant could be induced to pay
The tramps were mostly unemployed men who were a little money in exchange for produce to buy postage
seeking work. stamps with.
The trains were a determinant as well as a help to During the summer time, the people had to take
the community. Frequently, grass fires were caused care of their produce the best that they could because
through ignition from sparks, which poured from the the store refused to take it. Soap was made from the
chimneys of those old-style locomotives. The women surplus butter.
and children would watch the fields along the train When the roads were too bad for horse or wagon
route and put out the fires as soon as they were started, travel, the people would often walk to Franklin and carry
whenever it was possible. They fought the fires with huge buckets of butter in exchange for store goods.

However, at other times when they could ride, the ever clean even the large veins in the leaves and cook them.
present knitting needles clicked merrily together as The children were so hungry for something green or
if they were trying to keep time with the turning and fruity, that they would chew what was left of the leaf and
squeaking of the wagon wheels. It was impossible to spit out the pulp when all of the juice was extracted.
buy hose ready made at that time so we can readily Later corn and melons were successfully grown in
see why the women had to keep the knitting needles the gardens below the Thomas ditches.
so busily clicking. The settlers were tried almost beyond endurance
Much sugar cane was grown and molasses by the with cattle thieves, droughts and grasshoppers, but the
hundreds of gallons was made by Samuel Clark and most of them proved to be men and women of great
others. strength and endurance so much so that they stayed
Foods: The people had plenty of cattle, pigs and with their land possessions. However, they were just
chickens to furnish their meats; their problem was what human enough to welcome every little ray of sunshine,
to do for fruits and vegetables. which came in the form of a diversion or amusement
of any kind.
Serviceberries, gooseberries and currants A ray of sunshine, which they appreciated very much,
Each fall, some of the men would go to other towns came once in a great while, when the Mormon missionar-
to get some dried fruit and molasses. Serviceberries ies would hold meetings in the homes of the people.
were gathered and dried or boiled and stored away At one time there was one man brave enough to
in five-gallon jars without sugar but sweetened with bring a lantern slide into the community. The lantern-
a little molasses. Wild gooseberries and currants were slide was shown in the log house of Wm. Bennett and
cared for in a similar manner. Fortunate indeed was the the entire community was present. Each one gladly paid
family that had a good supply of this fruit to give the his ten cents, the price of admission.
variety necessary for the winter diet. Native currants When the people were baptized into the “United
were sometimes obtained in Franklin but these were Order” in 1878, there was a great celebration and feast-
a real luxury. ing. Many came to be baptized in the pool, which had
It was possible in the spring of the year to get rhu- been formed by building a dam across Spring Creek the
barb at some of the homes in Franklin. One pioneer night before the baptismal ceremonies.
woman tells us that she has many times walked from A beef was killed for the occasion and many were
Whitney to Franklin and back to get some of the trea- put early to greet the authorities that came from Franklin
sured rhubarb. It was such a treat that the mother would to take part on this wonderful occasion. Many people

came from great distances among them David Jensen Chadwick; Dialogue, R. M. Hull Jr., Albert Chadwick and
who was one of the acting officials during the baptis- Serge Bensoll; Song, Joseph Beckstead; Recitation, Jen-
mal ceremonies. nie Weaver; Speech (five minutes), R. M. Hull, Sr.; Mouth
Special programs and all day celebrations were Organ Music, Riley Clark and Joe Beckstead; Reading.
some of the other diversions. This generation seems to Catherine Winwarn; Song, Bishop Chadwick and G. T.
be such a busy, restless group that we are wondering Benson; Recitation, Serge Benson; Song. Fred Rallison;
what would happen if a group of modern people were Speech (5 minutes) James Hebdon; Dialogue, Sarah and
expected to sit still and listen to a program as length- Kittie Dunkley; Song, Lizzie Beckstead.
ily as the one following which consists of forty-three
(43) numbers presented at a Fourth of July program Eight dozen eggs donated
in 1889. Eight dozen were donated, eggs selling at thirteen
Orator of the Day, George T. Benson, Sr.; Chap- cents a dozen were donated by the people to pay for
lain, Bishop James Chadwick, Sr.; Singing, Choir; Prayer, the prizes offered to the children who took part in the
Chaplain; Singing, Choir; Address of Welcome, Alvin sports. Three dollars worth of scrip was also donated:
Hull and Pearl Weaver; Speech (5 minutes) Wesley this scrip served as an exchange for “store goods.”
Beckstead; Song, Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Weaver; Reading, The title of the first play produced in the “School
J. Rallison; Recitation, Eva Holden; Speech (5 minutes) House.” was “He was Never Known to Smile.” Fred Olsen
Herbert Rallison; Accordion Music, Amasa Beckstead; and Elise Benson took the leading ‘parts.
Song, Presidency of Primary Organization; Negro Story, Other amusements and forms of recreation were
E. R. Lawrence; German Song, Mr. and Mrs. Eulgster; similar to those described in a part of the history of
Dialogue, Amy, Elise, Mary and Lela; Recitation, Sarah Franklin.
Lawrence; Song, Nephi McLeary; Recitation, Rudolph The first Primary was organized May 8, 1885 with
Dursteller; Speech (10 minutes), Louise Benson; Song, Sarah T. Clayton appointed to act as president, Elizabeth
Mr. and Mrs. John Holden; Speech, Grandpa Ashton; Eardly and Annie Hull as Counselors. Sunday School was
Recitation, Hattie Greaves; Song, Sunday School; Song, organized July 8, 1888 with Joseph S. Sharp as superin-
Abbie Lundegren; Speech, A. H. Head; Song, Joseph tendent and Joshua Rallison Secretary.
S. Wright; Story, Joseph Dunkley Sr.; Stump Speech, The Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association
Andrew Beckstead; Recitation, Frank T. Benson; Song, was organized in 1888. Herbert Rallison as president,
Samuel Clark; Speech, William Handy; ‘Step Dance, Elton Gaston Brawley and Jasper Head as counselors, and
Beckstead; Reading, George Foster; Recitation, Arthur Arthur Chadwick as secretary.

The Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association Missionaries
was organized February 17, 1889. Mary A. Weaver was Joseph S. Wright and Andrew Beckstead were the
appointed to act as president with the two counselors, first male missionaries sent out from Whitney; they both
Hannah P. Head and Gretta Hull. Elise Benson and Amy served as missionaries in Europe.
Chadwick were secretary and treasurer. At this time this The first lady missionaries were: Martha H. Dunkley
district belonged to the Preston ward. and Florence Benson. James Chadwick was the first
Just before the L.D.S. ward organization was ef- public officer.
fected, some of the leading men of the community met
at the home of J.A. Head, finally Mr. Head offered the Schools
name of Whitney which was accepted in honor of Orson The people built a district schoolhouse in 1884. It
F. Whitney, now an Apostle in the L. D. S. church. is the north part of the present home of F. W. Rallison.
The organization of the Whitney ward effected Annie Hull was the first teacher in this school. She held
June 9, 1889, with James Chadwick as Bishop. George a first grade certificate and was paid just fifteen dol-
T. Benson first Counselor, Joseph S. Wright second lars ($15.00) a month. The county officials at Malad had
counselor and Herbert Rallison as Clerk. charge of the school and paid Miss Hull’s salary.
Florence Holland, a Logan girl, recently from Eng-
Births And Marriages land, taught the girls domestic arts along with all the
Among the first births in this districts were: Drusilla, other subjects.
daughter of William and Ester Booth Bell, born No- Other teachers were: Annie Hopkins, who married
vember 7, 1873; Charles Bell Jr., born September 1874; Henry Lamoreaux; Mary Flack, another teacher, taught
Pleasant Williams Bell born December 1875; Sadie Ells- for $35.00 per month and quit because the school board
worth born January 13, 1976, daughter of Ephraim and would not pay her forty dollars ($40.00) a month. Geo.
Elizabeth Ellsworth. E. Crockett also taught in 1889-90.
The first births after the ward was organized were
Lester Dunkley and Ruby Chadwick. Highway
Charles Morris Bell and Jane Panton were the The first stagecoach road or highway ran almost in
first people married; they were married December 11, a direct line from the point of “Little Mountain” to the
1873. present site of the Franklin County Sugar Factory. It
Rudolph Dursteller and Maria Bauman were the crossed the Worm Creek at the present south crossing,
first ones married after the ward was organized. then passed on up over the old “Oregon Montana Trail”

which is now marked by the railroad. When people because of so many bad, outstanding debts. Different
began to build their fences, that placed the road east parties owned it until finally it was burned down.
and it crossed Spring Creek near L. H. Ballif’s store. In the northeast corner of this store was a flourishing
shoe mending department supervised by Nephi McLeary.
Railroad Mr. McLeary mended shoes six days of the week then
One of the outstanding events in the history was lead the choir on Sunday. A blacksmith shop was owned
the building of a narrow gauge railroad. In the fall of and operated by Joseph Simons it was located near the
1877 the road was completed as far as Spring Creek, Pea Vinery.
coming, by the way of Franklin. By January 1878, the During the years of 1888-89 J. W. Windward sold all
Spring and Worm Creek bridges were completed. Early kinds of farming implements for the George A. Lowe
in the spring the road was built on over the flat, now Company.
Preston. The first postmaster was Albert Chadwick with his
In 1876 a railroad grade was built on the east side sister Amy who acted as assistant. Sometime later the
of Whitney. It ran north from Buttermilk Curve (Now post office was taken care of in the Equitable Coop
Nashville) as far as the Bear River Narrows. Engineers Store.
found it to be too expensive to build through that way Joseph Simons hauled the first load of rock for the
so made a new route, which is followed by the present construction of the rock-meeting house in 1891.
railroad system. Whitney has some very productive farming land,
While the railroad was under construction, Jay most of which is used for sugar beets. The Franklin
Gould, the great financier and Mr. Huntington visited County Sugar Factory, which takes care of the beets, is
this locality, they were seen picking up loose spikes located here.
and bolts along the track, early in the morning. When In comparison to the present methods of handling
asked about it, Jay Gould said, “That is the way we have sugar beets, it might be interesting to relate the way in
laid our foundation of great enterprise.” which the first beets that were grown in Franklin County
were handled. They were planted in the spring of 1899;
Business the tool for thinning was an iron from an old wagon box,
The first, business establishment was the Equitable bent and sharpened. They were gone over four different
Co-op in 1887, located near the present site of the Pea times before they were thinned satisfactorily.
Vinery. The Co-op was built and owned by a group
of men who finally had to sell it at a great sacrifice

History of Whitney, Idaho • “Whitney, Idaho”, from The Trail Blazer FULL SCREEN 1
Cultivation was with a hand pushed cultivator, and The people here get behind public enterprises,
the topping was done with a butcher knife. A shovel knowing that cooperation is necessary for the devel-
or hand plow was used for digging them. opment of community welfare.
The first crop was loaded on a flat car, which held The true spirit of the people in Whitney is possibly
fifteen tons; the grower and agent estimated the best expressed in the following little refrain:
weight. They were shipped to Weber County, Utah, to “The more we get together, together, together,
the Amalgamated Sugar Co. and the price paid was The more we get together the happier we will be.
$4.25 per ton. The first car shipped out was grown by For your friends are my friends
John A. Dunkley. And my friends are your friends
A Pea Vinery was built here in 1926. the more we get together the happier we’ll be.
This community has a very fine modern school
building and gymnasium, which were erected in
1924.
As transportation, the people of the town are served
by the bus lines and Oregon Short Line Railroad.
Generally speaking, the great aim of the parents in
this community has always been to give their children
the best educational opportunities available. Out of
this ward have come many leaders, doctors, lawyers,
churchmen and statesmen who have made renowned
successes in their chosen fields of activities.
Russell Maughan, the “Dawn to Dusk” flyer received
his agricultural training in this little town of Whitney.
Much of its well-known musical talent had its foun-
dation in the early ward choir, which won first place
in a choir contest, including all of Cache Valley. Elsie
B. Alder was the choir leader and she was assisted by
around twenty other talented singers. Riley Clark was
assistant chorister and John A. Dunkley was president
of the choir.

History of Whitney, Idaho • “Whitney, Idaho”, from The Trail Blazer FULL SCREEN 1
Sego lily
Standing about eight inches tall, the sego lily is a small wildflower
ranging from the dry open grasslands to the sagebrush hillsides
of the west. In California it is called the Mariposa Lily. The sego
lily has three tulip-like petals that range in color from white to
pink. The sego blooms from late spring to early summer.
The walnut-sized bulb of the sego lily is edible, having a some-
what sweet taste. Sego bulbs are eaten by rodents and bears.
Native American peoples held the sego lily as sacred and gath-
ered the bulbs then ground them into meal which they baked
into a bread. Mormon
pioneers depended on
the bulbs of sego lilies
for food during the first
few uncertain harvests
in the Salt Lake Valley.
Based on a poll taken
amoung the school chil-
dren of Utah the sego
lily was chosen as the
state flower in 1911.

History of Whitney, Idaho • Sego Lily FULL SCREEN 111 
Making butter
Butter starts with cream. Fresh milk is poured

into pans and put aside to cool for several hours.
A layer of thick, yellow cream is skimmed off the
top of the milk and stored in a container.
When enough cream is collected to make butter
the butter churn can be prepped with hot water.
Pouring hot water into the butter churn causes
the wood fibers of the churn to swell, insuring
that the churn is watertight. To cool the churn
down the hot water is replaced with cold water
and then emptied out.
The cream is poured into the churn until it is about
half full, the dasher placed down inside, the lid
slid over the dasher and pressed tightly into the
top of the churn. The dasher is a long wooden rod
with a flat piece of wood attached to the end.
The dasher is worked up and down through the
cream until it separates into buttermilk and a mass
of white butterfat. The buttermilk is poured off.
Water is poured in and the dasher moved around
to wash out any traces of buttermilk.
The butter is scooped out with a wooden ladle
and placed in a bowl or wooden butter mold.
To insure that the butter won’t spoil, the butter BUTTER MAKING TOOLS
is pressed against the sides to squeeze out any Top left: A butter churn. Butter churns are still used throughout
the Third World. Pioneers would make butter by placing cream
last traces of buttermilk. Salt is worked into the
in a container attached to the bouncing of the wagon. Top right,
butter along with any coloring such as beet juice
a butter ladle. Churn and ladle displayed at the Franklin Relic
as desired. Hall. Bottom right: Wooden butter molds.

History of Whitney, Idaho • Making Butter FULL SCREEN 112 
Telegraph service comes to Franklin��
later moved to the home of L.L. Hatch. It was

from there that the biggest news story of the
era was flashed across the country. “George
Armstrong Custer, on June 25, 1876 attacked
the Sioux Indians on the Little Big Horn. Custer
and his 261 men were destroyed.
The task fell to Mr. Hatch, because the
telegraph lines connecting Montana with the
east-west continental lines failed. Dispatchers
carrying details of the battle were rushed by
stage coach to Eagle Rock (Idaho Falls), then
to Ross’s Fork (Pocatello) and then by rider to
Franklin.
The Deseret Telegraph was sold to the West-
ern Telegraph Company in 1900.”
SHORT CAPTION: “Samuel Morse’s first
telegraph was patented in 1840. It produced
V-shaped marks on paper.
LONG CAPTION: “In December 1868, the Deseret Tele- Later Morse developed a telegraph like the
graph etended its lines to Franklin. It was installed in the one shown, with a sounder to click out coded
Southeast corner of the Co-op building. [shown above] messages.” • From a display about Franklin
The first operator was Alma Hobson. The telegraph was history in the old city hall building.

History of Whitney, Idaho • Telegraph Service In Franklin F UView
 Return to Previous LL SCREEN 113 
0 500 miles
0 500 kilometers
N
WYOMING WISCONSIN
IDAHO Martin’s
Cove SOUTH M I N N E S OTA
Rocky Independence D A K OTA
Ridge Rock
The
Chimney IOWA
Needles NEBRASKA
Great South Devil’s Rock Winter
Pass Gate Confluence Quarters Mount Iowa
Salt Point Pisgah Garden City
Fort
Lake Fort
Laramie Grove
Bridger
Valley
Platte Nauvoo
Emigration River Council
Canyon Bluffs
Fort Locust Sugar
Kearny Creek Creek ILLINOIS
Camp
U TA H
18 4 6 18 6 9
KANSAS
MISSOURI
COLORADO
 MOUSEOVER the named places along the trail for more information
F rom
A R I Z 1846
ONA to 1869, as many as 70,000 mem- to Oregon
O K L A and
H O M California.
A
NEW MEXICO
bers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
TEXAS Instead of blazing new trails
ARKAN through
SAS the wil-
day Saints walked across the plains, through the derness, the Mormons followed the same trails
rivers and over the mountains between Nauvoo, used by Americans who went before them on
Illinois and Salt Lake City, Utah in search of re- military and economic trips.
ligious freedom. While this vast stream of Mor- A number of historians have noted how unlike
mon families sought to escape the persecution other western pioneers the Mormons were. For
of American society, the Mormons were part of instance, most Mormon pioneers came as families.
a larger American movement west that included Unlike other groups of Americans heading west
hundreds of thousands of Americans westering the Mormons crossed the country (Continued)

History of Whitney, Idaho • The Mormon Trail FULL SCREEN 114 
without the help of professional guides. In the missionaries and “go-backs” or Mormons who
process of relying on maps, reports and guide- decided to return—traveling east.
books, the Mormons became experts themselves Unlike many American pioneers of the 1800’s
and put that expertise to use over the twenty- who came from hardy frontier stock, large num-
two years the Mormon Trail was in use. bers of Mormon pioneers were poor city dwellers
Unlike other trails west, the Mormon Trail was from Europe without any practical experience
a two-way stream of travelers. Along with the living in and traveling through the wilderness.
experienced men who were assigned to go back As expansion continued west the Pony Express,
east on a regular basis to guide new groups of transcontinental telegraph line and the Union
emigrants west, there was a steady stream of Pacific Railroad often followed the Mormon Trail.
The Mormons not only watched these new enter-
prises emerge but often helped build them.
During the Mormon exodus railroads graually
extended farther and farther west. In 1856 the
poor emigrants from Europe were able to ride the
trains to Iowa City, Iowa where they were outfit-
ted with handarts for the trek west. By 1867 a
group of 500 emigrants rode the trains to North
Platte, Nebaska where they continued west in
wagons. Finally, when the Union Pacific Railroad
reached Utah in 1869, the days of walking to
Utah came to an end.
A memorial created by Annie Laura Dunkley’s

maternal grandfather, John Doney, and his
friend, William Whitehead. This is reminiscent
of the messages left on buffalo skulls during
the crossing. See the message HERE

History of Whitney, Idaho • The Mormon Trail FULL SCREEN 115 
Gooseberries
A hardy fruit bearing bush native to the Northern Hemisphere that is

related to the currant. Goosebery flowers are greenish to greenish-pink;
gooseberry fruit are oval shaped and may be white, yellow, green or red.
Gooseberries are somewhat tart and are eaten raw, made into jellies,
pies and preserves.

History of Whitney, Idaho • Gooseberries FULL SCREEN 116 

Franklin, Idaho - An Interactive History

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Franklin, Idaho - An Interactive History

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Franklin & whitney Idaho

Founded in 1860, Franklin is Idaho’s oldest continu- Quick Connection

idaho same year, a group of settlers is sent to colo-

1857 Difficulties with the local Shoshone Indians

1930 Headed by Mary B. Lowe, the Franklin County

∙ The Franklin Story ∙ At different times they met Charles Beau-

• opinion to the effect that Cache Valley was a more de-

Paradise such as emigration and statehood. Cache Valley was

with a frame of poles. These 1862: After reduction of Utah to Nevada

poles had holes augured in 1865: After reduction of Utah to Idaho

IRON BL ADED PLOW

CR ADLE SY THE LOG CABIN WITH A SOD ROOF

in place. Putting on a dirt roof was usually called “put-

William Woodward still continued to teach school for

wagons, or walked. Frank lin

The farmland was desig-

 HOLD your mouse

38. Braley, op. cit., p. 51. 61. Ibid., pp. 35-39.

40. Morgan, op. cit. p. 28. 63. Donaldson, op. cit.,

JOHN We obtained some land, plowed, and put in some

DONEY gether. When I came to Franklin I had two yoke of cattle

Stone schoolhouse completed in 1867

 Identify the members of the band by HOLDING Industries

Missouri river to Fort Benton, Montana. Flavious Green,

At first they set up strict rules. No man could be ad-

The original 10 foot ditch seemed too large an un-

In 1883 they voted to make the ditch 10 feet wide

& and unanimously sus­tained: President, Sarah Borthwick;

June 18, 1868 July 16, 1868

March 11, 1869

May 6, 1869 Mary Ann Hobbs - "

Butter starts with cream. Fresh milk is poured

later moved to the home of L.L. Hatch. It was

A memorial created by Annie Laura Dunkley’s

A hardy fruit bearing bush native to the Northern Hemisphere that is

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& and unanimously sustained: President, Sarah Borthwick;