The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1905-10-26
FOR The LEHI BANNER.
"reminiscences of Early Settle
ment in Utah, Iron County
and Los Vegas.

present time ON early items of history
Of Utah, this history enhanced through
the kindness of Senator Clark in giving
his free trip to Southern California to
the pioneers Of the southern route and
the early settlement OF Los Vegas. iot
down the following items. and as have
not Il journal of the period write about
/ will not warrant that all of my dates
are correct, but what | mention is well
in my recollection;
The early years OF settlement in Utah
contained but few natural attractions,
and quite number of arrivals mere
passed through TO California then
booming ms a gold region. Quite
number soon became dissatisfied with
the land Of gold and were willing to
leave, but hardly willing TO return to
Utah at that time. President Young
and council decided to establish gath
ering point in Southern California, SO
the ranch Of San Barnadino was pur.
chased and small company OF saints,
chiefly from the Southern States, was
called, aud under the Presidency OF
Apostles, Lyman and Rich were sent to
make a settlement on the aforesaid
ranch, and hither those who went from
Utah would first go. Many who be-
. came dissatisfied at the gold fields
afterwards joined them.
As most of the southern route is
across deserts, at the April conference,
1855, a company of about thirty persons
was called TO 20 and establish fort at
the Los Vegas, a series of spriugs about
80 miles west OF the Muddy river and
across a bad desert. The fort was in
tended as place Of rest and refresh
ment after crossing the desert and also
TO teach the Indians To farm. ETC., the
Indians being then generally hostile.
Amongst the company recollect the
Beans OF Provo. to whom | traded an
OK, as they passed through Cedar City,
TO help out their team. The company
arrived in due course, the fort was
built, and crops planted.
Up TO that time no mineral had been
found in Utah, but not long after the
settlement Of Los Vegas galena ore was
found about 30 miles from the fort, and
in 1886 company was formed ia Salt
Lake City under tho Presidency OF
Nathaniel V. Jones, who had had
previous experience in reducing such
ores, TO work this mine. The ores
proved refractory and not reducable in
an air furnace, SO Bro. Jones returned
To Salt Lake CITY and had blowing
apparatus, to run 10y mule power, made
Mt the public works TO aid In the work.
The ores still proved refractory aud Bro
Jones could extract but a small part Of
the assay value OF the ore. But about
Z or s tons OF bullion was extracted,
which was hauled to Salt Lake City
A part was hauled 10y lreightor named
Tom Williams. | saw him aud one OF
his loads in Cedar City, and made him
II buckskin suit there, and lac paid mo
for 1t with store order on Salt Lake
City, 800 miles distant.
La the winter OF 1867 a mechnnics
Institute was organized in Cedar City.
Amongst other things we manufactured
a kind OF gas from pitch pine wool and
lighted up our rooms. And under the
leadership of Bro. Elijah Edwards n
small company was orgaLized who went
to the Los Vegas. mine and got some
ore aud also u sample of Bro. Jones
cinders The ore was pounded fine
and washed, aud furnace built at the
Iron Co. Blacksmith Shop chimney,
ami it was successfully reduced, obtain
ing near the assay value. We also
treated The sample OF cinder, obtaining
near the assay value. Think this must
have been the first mineral ore reduced
in Utah.
In the spring OF 1867 n company was
called, chiefly from Cedar City, to Ie-
infUrce the settlement and also to take
supplies TO the people there, was one
OF that company We fitted out and
took dour from Cedar City aud got
some beef cattle from the Missionary
Fort onthe Santa Clara. But when We
arrived at the 7th crossing of the Rio
Virgin river we met an express, who
told MS that on account Of the IHdian
troubles it Eas decided to abandon the
Mission and for us to send part OF our
eompuny aud cattle to assist the people
to move, and for the rest Of us to return,
also telling us Of the Indian troubles,
Ny cattle was appointed to go, aud my
self TO return
The Indian troubles had also reached
Us and one of our cows was driven of,
which three Of MS recovered, with an
arrow wound ON her | was one OF the
three.
1t was decided that we must immed-
ialely hitch mp aud travel on the back
track. The lndinns being around us
we travelled the rest OF the day and all