Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-02-16
EARLY DAYS OF OGDEN.
Historical "Reminiscences Gathered in the
junction City.

In the old Goodyear l'iNt WV ~ ~
log cabins at different points along ,ll
Weber, and on both sides OI the Osoeh
river. .
In the spring and summer o, io4y
most OF the early settlers on the Woe.
left for the gold mines OF Calll3ih'ai ~.
the settlement was strengthened uY
m,nv of tbc nl emigration OF tsl9
who located ON the Weber, ana during
the winter OF 1870 and 1850, new arrivals
we're of common occurrence. In MifcA
$50 the Saints were organized INTO q
/ branch of the Church, soon ulicf tnHt
"a city was surveyed and in January 1851
"a Stake OF Zion, consisting then OF Two
Bishops wards, was organized ny
President Brigham Young
The heavy rains iu toe spring OF 1850,
caused the Weber river to overflow iis
banks, and the Goodyear i9Tt ana
the surrounding farming lands were
submerged. upon which Captain Brown
concluded to vacate the old blodyc.r
stockado and locate on higher grounds
Consequently a site for q new tort was
selected about quarter Of mile south.
east OF the old iort on tract OF lana
which lies Immediately south oil what is
now 10th street OF Ogden city. and east
OF the Union Pacific Railway track.
According 10 the best recollection Of
the old residents, this fort which Is
| known In the history OF Ogden as
rown's Fori ncIuscd about ten acres
OF land. The log houses Of which the
fort consisted were built on the Tour
sides Of the square; but d was not en-
tircly enclosed there being quite % few
small and some large openings between
the houses. ln'o this fort and the So
called Farr fort situated on the north
side OF the Ogden river, nearly all the
people who had settled on the Weber
removed IN 1850 because OF Indian
troubles. but ia the spring and summer
OF 1851, most ui them moved out upon
their city lots an farms again, the
abodgincs having bccoms reCOneilcd !
to their white ncighbor. There IS no |
trace OF Browns iorl today the east /
log cabin which formed q part OF Do |
having been removed years ago. The |
site is included IN what Is nov known as /
the South Ogden survey anu forms a |
part OF one Of the numerous additions !
which during the recent boom were put |
on the market About half q dozen /
small modern houses stand upon the |
historic spot.
Farrs Fort. which nourshed az the |
same time as Browns fort, was built In |
the fall OF 1880. and contained quite a |
population during the winter Of 1880 ST.
Il stood on a level tract Of land ON the /
north side Of ogden river about three |
quarters OF a mile In an arr line north |
east OF the reform school, but opposite |
the river from 10. Il Is about a mile east |
Of main street or Washington avenue. |
The distance between Fairs fort aud |
Browns for, was about three miles, the |
former being situated IN a norlheasterly |
direction from the other or TO make u |
pluuer. when Farrs iort stood about |
one mile east OF what IS now the main /
thoroughlare Of Ogden Cily(Washingtun |
Ayenue.) Browns tort was nearly Three |
quarters OF mile west OF that street, !
Fairs Fort stood on the right bank or |
north side OF the Ogden river, and dis |
tant from Il about quarter OF mile,
while Browns Fort stood about f21 rods
east, or on the right bank Of the Weber
river, and ABOUT two miles above the
junction OF the two streams.
Blngh9m's Fort, which IN the minds OF
some people becomes confused with
Fairs Fort, was an after consideration. |
Il came into existence during or i'm.
mediately after the Walker war IN 1854,
AAA kAlAA NlAnAAl III 1851 NAA ANNNH ~ ]
stood about three miles north Oi the |
present center Of Ogden, or half a mile |
west OF the so-called "Fiye.points |
The ground upon which this was built |
was owned by Erastus Bingham, one Of |
the first Bishops OF Weber County,
hence the name BIngham's Fort Tue |
tort ground extended east and west 10 /
rods. north aud south Il was o. rods /.
vide. 4, was designed 10 buiid the /.
walls twelve feet high and six leet thick /.
az the bottom, but they were never com. F.
pleted. In the fall OF 1855, President I
Brigham Young, HeOer {. ktmblll and [
Other prominent leaders OF the Church I.
Who visited the place, Counseled tie /.
people TO break up aud move 10 Ogden I.
City, as the BITE Of BInghams fort was .
not considered a suitable place TO build /
a large city. The greater portion OF /
the people responded to the advice and /
settled mostly on what is known 10 the I
bench OF Ogden city or that portion /.
now embraced In tie fourth aud iith /.
Bishops wards. THIS move gave a fresh I
impetus to Ogden, which at that time |
was being surrounded by Spanish wall /.
similar TO the one builtlround salt Lake /
City IN 1854, There are no remnants /
LEFT OF either Fairs Fort Or Binghams I.
Fort. Both sites are today carefully
cultivated by the husband men. The
ground upon which FAIRS Fort stood Is
nov embraced In the Mound Fort Ward,
that Of Brigham's Fort IN the Lynne I.
Ward. ANDREW IENBJN.