Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-05-07

bens, or "a families, and Grouse creek.
with lbs souls, or q members. The
whole stake has total membership Of
1902 900 families OF whom one
Apostle (Iorcnzp snow), two pairi-
archs ID. NJ. I3urlanks aud Samuel
smith,, iss Seventies, 100 High
Phcais. 1853 Elicn, 70 Prlesis,
"a Teachers, "a Dcacons, PAS lay
members aud 1850 children under
eight years Of agr. The presidency Of
the Stake consists Of Rudgar Clawson,
President. Adolph Madscn, Flint, and
Charles keelcy, Second Counselor.
President Clawson Il the firstman who
was imprisoned la the Utah Peniten-
tiary under the prosecutions under the
fdmunds law, and spent the time
from November g. 1854, TO- Dec. -,
1851, In dnrance vile. His wife, Lydia
Spencer Clawson, was the fint woman
imprisoned for alleged contempt OF
court, In refusing 10 testify against her
husband. She only spent one day In
prison, however, while some OF her
sisters, who followed her example,
were incArceratcd for weeks together.
In connection with this Il may be said
that Brigham city has supplied more
under the effects of the Edmunds law
than any other town OF is slze la
Utah.
All the settlements Of the Saints In
the Box Elder Stake OF Zion, except
ing three, arc easily reached, m they
.fs laa.N..A la. - a lIas
foot OF the Wasatch Mountains, COM
mencing with Willard City on tho
south, aud terminating with Beaver
Dams, n branch Of the Honeyville
Ward, on tho north. The three
exceptions are Snowville, dis.
tant from Brigham City about Is
miles, Pa.k Valley, distant about 100
miles, aud Grouse Greek, near the
Nevada line, about lbs miles west OF
brigham City. Nor eau these settle.
ments be reached 10y rail-, M they arc
situated near the base OF different
ranges 81 mountains far 10 the north Of
the Central Pacific. a few years ago
Box Elder Stake included all the
wards lying In the Nlalad Valley aud
the tas-ia country, but as these dis
tnnt settlements which compose the
Malnd and Cassla Stakes Of Zion, grew
In size and number they were given
separate stake organizations Of their
own, aud now the Box Elder Stake,
Instead Of extending Into the neigh.
boring territory on the north, has even
given up Portage, Washable aud
Plymouth within the borders OF Box
Elder County 10 make up the south
end Of the AIalad Stake.
Box Elder county l. one Of the larg.
Get Of the northern counties Of Utah,
and IA divided into II voting precincts
and % school districts. A large dis
trlct In the southwestern portion OF the
county l. rendered blank by the great
American desert. Tho portion Of the
county which has tho bulk OF the pop
ulaiion, and which IA being fully dc.
velopcd In its agricultural features, IL
the region basing the Wasatch noun.
talns. Experience hns proven the soil
In this part Of the county 10 lie suitable
for every variety of small grain and
fruit Of all kinds, aud the peach In par.
tlcular Il raised In great abundance.
II Il said that brigham City alone TX.
ports annually $50, 900 worth Of peaches,
and that the garden fruits OF different
kinds raised lin that burg alone are
worth sl25, 900 annually.
BOX Elder county was first settled
In the spring Of 1851 by VIM. Davis and
Others who located nj n point about one
mile northwest OF where the county
courthouse now stands, In what IL now
block 90, Plat &c" Of the Brigham
City survey. In 1853, when the
Indian war broke out, u fort known as
tho Box Elder fort was built about
half way between the first location and
the court house. In what Ia now Block
II of plat &C" Of Brigham City survey.
In 1855, whom Apostle Lorenzo snow
came up,a town plat was surveyed aud
q city, namei brigham City, founded,
which has grown steadily from that
time until the present, and has n
history different u any other modern
city on the American continent. 1t
must bc remembered that II was here
the United Order, under the able man.
agement Of Apostle Snow and other
faithful men, iiourlshod for yenrs, and
when the people gained an experience
that undoubtedly will he Of great value
when Zion shall be redeemed mud the
temple and city In the centre stake Of
Zion will be built.
a Stake OF Zion was organized here
M early as 1855, with Apostle Lorenzo
| Snow as president, and Jonathan &,
Wright and Samuel Smith ~ his coun.
sellers; there was also High Council.
In 1877 thorough reorganization
Of the Stake took place, since
which nny-lhrce quarterly con-
ferences have been held here, and an
organization pertaining 10 well or.
ganiuod Stake OF Zion been kept In
good running order. The Stake Taber.
nacle, occupying n beautiful site on one
of tho most elevated spots In Brigham
City, Is one Of the finest Stake houses
| OF It's size In Utah. II Is built OF lime.
stone, sandstone and brick, Is 0s feet
long by 5s feet In width exclusive OF
the vestry, has cost approximately
100000, and was dedicated By Presi.
dent Wilford Woodruff In October,
1890.
! am here 10 write up the history OF
the Box Elder Stake Of Zion, having
previously gathered material for the
histories Of the Salt Lake, Sanpete.
Emery, Bannock, Oneida and Cassia
Stakes; aud thus | expect TO continue
until have gathered sufficient his.
torical information 10 make a full and
complete history Of all the Stakes Of
Zion, including all the wards compos.
Ing the same. This labor ! am doing
undor the direction Of the Church lila.
tOrinn, and ns ! shall have 10 visit
every Stake, ward aud branch OF the
Church In the different parts OF this
great western country where the
Saints dwell, viii take me some time
/ TO get through, ANDuINy JrNqtsy
BRIGHAM Cry, May 9rl, 1891.