Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-02-17
THE HAMMOCK STAKE or ZION.


Counselor; Spencer Nhness Raymond,
Second Counselor.
M.nan Ward, the oldest "Aiormon"
pettlemout In the BannOck stake Of
Zion, conaists Of the Saints resulting on
the west end Of poole's Island, thus
named In honor OF John u. Poole, the
flint settler. II " also called Long L.
land. The ward extends east 10 tho
Labelle wari or TO tho township I'm,
between Ranges 20 md 10 casi. IL j.
nine miies long with an average width
Of three miles. The whole Island
which IL one Of the choicest SPOT In Tie
upper snnke River Valley, u about
twenty-five miles long and ranges
from one TO three miles IN width, the
west end being tho widest. II II sep.
arated from the maln land by the LAT.
get channel OF Snake River, ON the
north, and the so-called "Dry Bel"
on the south. This latter stream was
undoubtedly dry once, but IN now a
large river, with swift and dangerous
current, No that the only means OF
crossing Il IL by ferry most OF the time.
The Zig Buttcr Ferry IL tho means of
communication between Pooic'- Is
land aud the main land on the north.
Fine groves OF timber and numerous
clusters Of cottonwood trees hcautlfy
the island, which IL also noted for its
extensive meadows and very rich and
productive soil.
Only small portion Of the people
live on the tow bsite, tho Others rcsid-
Ing on their farms.
The M.nan townsits comprises 3.n
acres Of land and IN part u section ~
In township 8 north, range ~ east,
Boise MERRIAM. II IN II miles, ny wny
Of ferry, north of Eagle Rock and
about sixteen miles southwest OF Rex
burg. In n straight iinc Il Is only two
miles north Of Louisville. (5cc map
on Pnge l30l
About two miles east OF the Menan
townsitc stands n peculiar oblong hil
known ~ Cedar Buttcs, also called
Little Buttes 10 distinguish II from Tie
Big Buttse, or Cratefr, on the main
land. The Little Buttesv nave
height Of ai,ssit one hundred feet, and
Il about half mile long from north 10
south; It IL covered with small ccdars.
A deep depression Ia tho middle
gives II the appearance Of two buttes.
The ascent from the west II quito steep,
while tlie slope Is more gradual nom
the opposite slide.
Hisiowy. Tho beautiful and fertile
Island now known ~ poole'- Island
lay "for many ycars ~ II lost 10 tbs
busy world, except when visited by
some trnpper In search Of such wealth
rs he might occasionally fnd In beaver
and wild animals, Nv hich were found In
grcat numbers along the banks 0f the
Snake River, or perhaps some nor.
matte stock owner who Ind located
here for the convenience Of water and
pastures which nature seemed 10 lavish
In bcsiowing upon this lovely land. IL
lay her. NJ II hidden from the ouisidc
world by tho protecting hand u Provi.
dence for the fiturc home OF Latter.day
Saints, those OF God's children who may
choose 10 locate here and sanctify the
land by keeping the statutes and yudg'
mcnts ofthc Almighty, until February,
1870, when Elder John X. Poole being
attracted here by reports Of wild game
IN great abundance visited the Island,
after which he proceeded 10 Ogden,
Utah, wher, he resided, aud reported
what he had seen and knew Of the
country 10 Franklin ID. Richards, who
gave him letter Of Instruction, author
king him ~ induce settlers 10 come
here aud he was To preside over them,
Duriug thnt year lis7e) that part OF
the country was surveyed by tn,
government.
In, March. 1870, Joseph G. Fisher
moved his family To the island anu
located noar the "I.ittle Butics.v This
WINS the FIRST Latter-day saint family
on the Island. Prsvious ~ this n few
non. Mormon ttockmen had located
Temporary ranches there.
In April, 1879, John II. Poole again
visited tho island and vet teams IA
piowing ut n point northeast az the
''Little Buttes," which WINS the ilrsi
blowing ever done on tho island. In
letter which he, under date OF April
20, 1879, sent u Apostle Franklin
ID. Richards, he writes:
81 len Ogden April I. 1879. and mr..
rived In Biackfoot the same day. Amer
visiting my railroad camp !, together
with others, proceeded To the vicinity
ofthe forks Of Snake River aud thence
to the mouth Of the South Fork Can.
yon, where we encamped for the Sun.
day. ON Monday, April !, we procured
u boat and crossed the South Fork. ON
that and the following day, In com.
pany with Frederick Garner and
Others, l prospected the country he.
tween the two forks OF Snake River,
M far M We could within the limited
iimo we had nj our disposal aud the
means Of conveyance Ia our possession
for the boat with which We had 10 cross
the river was too small 10 take our nni.
mas over In the evening Of the sth
We re-crox,ed tho liver TO camp, and In
the evening Of the 9th We arrived ut tn,
"Llttle Buttes," or mounds, standing on
the south side OF the rivcr, directly
south Of and within three miles Of tn,
forks OF Snake River. on the 10Th, as.
sisted by Brother Garner and others, |
selected section Of land lying west ol
and adjacent 10 the bnttcs for town.
site. Afterwards we selected and To-
Gated lands for farms, all Of which
was done agroeably and 10 the
entire satisfaction OF all present Oui
little company consisted Of nflpen
souls, among whom were three broth,
ers by the name nf Wilson, OF West
Weber, Utah, Brother Fred. Carmel
ami brothers, James pincock, my son
and Others. We We're all pleased with
the appearance OF the country aud th,
iaciiities II presented for agricultural
Entuila, An well I'm Tor stock raising
The climate, also, seems more con
genial than was nj iirrt anticipated.
continued my lah0rs OF exploring
until the morning Of the lIth, whol
returned 10 my grading camp.
am Informed by Brother Heath
VINO IL living In Willow Creek, that d,
Aud Others raised corn ON that stream
last year, aud In fact they showed M
soms which was well matured. Their,