Hide Article Text (OCR)
Aim OF CHILECopy From Grantsville Observer* Five years after the Pioneers came to Utah Jedcdfoh M, Grant was sent out with a party to explore the cou* ntry West of Salt take City* When they came to the vicinity of where Grantsville is now located they decided to follow the creek that is now known as South Willow Creek to its source* They decided thut there was sufficent water to care for a settlement* There is now some of the best farms In the country watered from that creek and no better Boil is found in the State and no better climate anywhere in this mountain region, which goes to prove the w^dcm of the early planers In establishing tho settle ment of Grantsville,Tho first buildings were all built of logs with floors of mother earth* The first summer tho people erected a \ bowery whero they held their meet- ' ings* There were no trees _whero tho town is now situated* Aaron Scevn James McDrJde, and John W, Clark L planted the first trees in the settlement. S!In 1SG1 William G. Young w*b sent ^ by President Young to preside over the people* He was the first Bishop and his word was Jaw. He ordered di tho cattle drives and took- tho lead in Li anything that he thought was for* tho best good of the settlers.Nearly nil of the furniture was ® homemade anti the teaming was most- w ly done with oxen. Before stores wero established tho settlers would load up j( a load of wood and take It to Salt Take City and trade it for groceries ^ and other necessary articles. This would take them about four to five days to make the*trJp. There grain ^ was cut with cradles raked and bound Ti by hand end a man would cut about th two acres a day.In tho early seUiement tho children ^ did not wear shoes or stockings and it was Btrictly in fashion to walk to ^ meeting* Tho late Thomas Willionu told the writer that tho first year ho was in Grantsville he spaded up an el aero of ground for James McBride. th There were but few plows in tho com* da munity. Tho grass was so good that fat beef was gotten off the range in early Spring. At the general drives they would havo roping contests and JJ other feats of horsemanship*Tho first real house was built by Tlt; John Clark and was constructed of adobles and It la still standing on aQ Clark St, Tho adoblea were mado down on,what is now called Cooley nt Avenue, John TY* Cooley was one of tho progressiva farmers and stockmen for many years' and during tho early days of tho settlement ha presided th oyer the branch for a abort time. To SI William C, Rydalch belongs tho credit bj of doing more to improve the breds ph of hones and cattle than any other man in tho country* IIo Imported from Canada one ofthe finest brood El mmW nndyCurham bulls that was in Bi the county then, and for many ycara H after* James Wrathall who I think *«•' came to Grants villa tho aahiu year h: that Mr* Rydalch did was tho most nr successful wool grower In the county 0 and he, like Mr* Rydalch, through ch their keen business tact and strict J0 economy amassed what was then con* ttf side red a fortune which was before tho days of Billbnares. They both Je came Into this valley pooe men. Ur, Ai WrathaH told the writer that he land- A\ ed in Grantsville with only one .steer, but ho soon managed to get a few 2G head of sheep and from that Email beginning he became the wealthiest man In tho county* Mr, Rydalch turned his attention more to the rnls* ing of cattle but was also n successful farmer* Both men were natives of England and were chums in their boy* jn hood days* and this oame friendship remained throughout their lives.Ther^ were other successful business vi men who will be i mentioned later.The first brick house was built by Li Bishop Edward Hunter it Is now ccc* an upied by Mrs. Harriet Rowbtrry and is situated on topper Main St.For many yeara the matt wag car-rled on horseback* The late Aaron Sceva told the writer that when ho first came to Grantsville that he paid (ft as high as 25c for postage for a letter, Hi The mall carrier would make a trip to Tooek ono day returning the next* ' That was Jn the days when the mail was carried by stage from Missouri river to California, and the stage route was through Tooele.All the affairs of the settlement w were executed under the supervision * of the Bishop and his pounrillors to °n whom all the difficulties of the Bet* 1 tiers were referred to for adjudication inj Emery Barrua was the first mayor we of Grantsville, Mr
Newspaper Details
Tooele Transcript and Bulletin
Tooele, Utah, US
Fri, Feb 16, 1923
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Familysearch
Utah, USA 12 Dec 2024
Other Publications Near Tooele, Utah
The Tooele Bulletin
Tooele County Chronicle
Tooele Times
Tooele Transcript Bulletin
Tooele Transcript and Bulletin
