The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-25
BY JOHN BURROWS.

The 9th of December, 1851, will al
ways be memorable day in the his
tory of Box Elder county. First, be-
cause it was the first Christmas day
that dawned on the first colony of set
tiers that came north of Salt Lake City
for the sole purpose Of locating at this
point, and, second, because of the for
bidding prospects that confronted that
hardy little band who had RESPONDED
to the call of their pioneer leader, Brig
ham Young, and started forth to build
for themselves new homes on the north
ern sagebrush plains.
There were about ten families in all.
The heads of these families were poor
but men OF Drawn and muscle, coupled
with energy and perseverance. That
little band of pioneers reached their
destination in October, and pitched
their tents on the banks of Box Elder
creek, on the north side of the present
site Of Brigham City. Harvey Pierce
and family, George r. Hanson and fam
ily William Davis and family, M. l..
Ensign and family and Simeon Garter
and family were among the first to
commence the erection Of houses, and
in doing so they arranged their build
ingS in such a position as to answer
the purpose OF q fort, in order to insure
safety and protection from Indians, of
whom there were several tribes of con-
siderable numbers and strength, such
as the Shoshones, Utes and Bannocks.
ali Of whom claimed those northern do
mains as their fishing and hunting
grounds, and, consequently, were an
tagonistic to the entertainments of the
newcomers.
The settlers had not raised any grain
or vegetables the first season. and the
late fall found them but scantily pro-
vided with food and clothing.
The winter set in early in November,
and both young and old commenced to
look forward to the coming of Christ
mas and the closing of the first year
in the fort" The opening of Decem-
Der was accompanied by fall of about
two feet of snow. while the streams and
rivers were frozen in their channels.
VISIT OF INDIANS.
One morning shortly afterwards the
jewellers in the fort were surprised to
see a large band of Indians approach
ing from the canyon to the east. There
was considerable excitement at first.
A few days previous to this a noun
Travelled overland to Salt Lake City on
his way to California. had come into
the settlement and made arrangements
% remain till the following spring My
ers had had much experience among
the Indians, and as soon as he learned
Of the approaching red men he at once
volunteered to so out to meet them.
Accordingly, several of the settlers,
headed by Al Myers, started out for
this purpose. It was soon learned that
the Indians were on a hunting trip.
AS soon as the settlers and Indians
met, the head chief ordered a halt, and
a large fire was built round which they
all gathered, and then a conversation
took place between Myers and the lead
ing chief, the latter demanding provis-
ions, which Myers and his friends
agreed to furnish, and at once dis
patched two men to the fort, who soon
returned with large quantity of flour.
bacon, etc. which so pleased the red
men that the chief called for the pipe
of peace" to be passed around which
was done. Then the Indians prepared
to depart. The big chief told Myers. as
they were leaving, that he had come to
the settlement with evil intentions, but