Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-15
SANPETE COUNTY.

~
Population. 1000 ,...."r''..'.,ll 2.'
Assessed valuation, 1000 ".,.S5s'O'''
Gunnlson. Dec. ll.-somo two years
only had elapsed attic, the arrival Of
the hardy Pioneers into the Valley Of
the Great Salt Lake, 'ere their foot
;,-lnts could De traced trekk.ng SOUTH
Nard into Wat Is now known as son-
pete county It's early settlers were
men and women Injured 10 the hard
ships Of colonization who shared The
ylcIssIules o., hunger poverty and
prlyatiou during those troublesome
times when the savage Indians made
almost Mighty raids upon their homes
as well as upon the little substance
which they then possessed.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
During the month OF November 1919,
a small colony Of about fifty families,
headed by Isaac Morley Seth TAFT
Chag shumway and others pitched
camp In what is now called Nanu City
the county seat Of sanpete county.
That winter was probably the most
severe of any from that time TO the
present day. The snow fell TO such a
depth. and the weather was so exc
tremely cold that they almost despair
ed Of ever living 70 see another
spring Many Of the cattle possessed
by the settlers, persisted from cold and
starvation, and were eagerly devoured
by the half.famlshed Indians, whose
stood In close proximity 10
the camping place Of the suffering col
ony. notwithstanding the great Sc
verify OF the winter and the scarcity
Of food the people enjoyed good
health, and when spring came, they
for the planting Of crops. Ths
primitive dugout, wagon box, and rude
hut, constituted the abodes Of these
people. and were not abandoned until !
better homes could be erected
.lers began TO plow. the emaciated ami |
mails were inadequate 10 the task. |
Much difficulty was experienced IN the |
planting Of crops, such as we're needed |
~ the people for the sustenance OF |
ife.
TROUBLESOME INDIANS
old Chief Walker, head Of the San
)itch Indians, was a most turbulent /
md troublesome factor In those early |
lays and while protesting friendship |
o the people, was In reality the real in |
tigator OF much Of the warfare and |
,loodshed OF those early days. During |
he early settlement OF the county.
hese pioneers had to endure much
rouble from the savage red men; and
Turing the year 1883. few settlers
Who had located at Mt. Pleasant and
iprlng City, had 10 leave their homes.
nd again seek shelter and safety at
ianti, where better facilities for pro.
eotion were offered TO the women and
hlldren.
II seems almost increduous TO the
resent day generation that our faith
rs and mothers had TO grind their
our and corn meal IA large coffee
iills or between two stones used for
hat purpose.
GROWTH AND RESOURCES.
II Is not our purpose 10 80 into de-
III and parratc more OF the early his
Try Of the county, but TO note few
lcts concerning It's growth. resources
nd development.
Turning from the picture OF fifty
bars ago, from the log hut, the dug
At, the sage brush waste. the coffee
III, the fierce fights with the Indians,
e now look out upon picture OF
sautiful farms, made rich BY the tell
I'd hardships OF these heroic pioneers;
Q gaze upon elegant homes, upon
agninoent school buildings, churches
I'd public places OF amusement.
we behold the telegraph. carrying its
essages upon the wings OF the wind.
e telephone as It conveys the sound
the human voice from city to city;
% iron horse, as he plows his way
rough the land, laden with the prod
is OF nature, once unknown 10 the
Irdens Of the sage brush desert. /
GRANARY OF UTAH.
ssnpete county may well be termed
e "Granary OF UTAH along with her
ster county Cache in the north.
er products IN the cereal crop Is seo-
ID 10 none IN the State. producing ,
heat, oats, barley potatoes and fruit
abundance. Thousands Of bushels I
grain Is exported annually, and the ,
'ur produced by the Touring mills
IDS a ready market, not only al home {
It In places remote from the State.
BIG SHEEP CENTER. {
Probably no other county in the state /
q SO many sheep owned by IFS oltl- r
ne as has Sanpete county. 1t Is es- I
mated that not less than half a mill
On is owned by residents Of the coun- ?
producing about three million Z
unds OF wool annually. !
Stock raising has always been one NJ :
e leading Industries OF the county :
d today this section Is noted for ifs
gh grade imported sheep as we'll as ,
oooed cattle Leading citizens I'm {
airy every town may be found who I
now devoting all their energies 10 I
raising OF only the finest and best (
ades OF sheep and cattle Particular
IL thls the case In Mt Pleasant where Z
ne OF the finest sheep and cattle J
me country are now being intro !
ced and raised, Thoroughbred cat !
are now 10 be found on many OF the q
'gest farms OF the county. The rais- 7
or sugar beets IN the county Is re- r
wing considerable attention. and re- q
at tests show that the soil IS pro- y
euve OF raising beets. which run !
n In sacchyrine matter. Blshop g. r.
Madsen, OF 0unnison, has for years 4
Vocated the raising OF beets. and Il