The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1906-09-22
Historical.

tion with the early days OF Alberta.
Historical.
IL was on September IA, 1886 that
Charles.Ora Card came from Logan,
Utah, U. S. A. to explore part Of Brit
ish Columbia and Alberta in search Of
locality In which to establish home
for himself and company Of his com.
patriots, .and his selection resulted in
the birth of Cardston. Nowhere else,
so he believed, could he find a more
inviting place than did he here in
Southern Alberta. He camped at the
mouth Of Lees Creek on October "a,
1886, in company with Bishop Isaac
Zondel and Elder James w. Hendricks.
The richness of the soil, the limitiess
area Of luxuriously grass-clad plains,
the reasonable accessibility to timber
and the copious streams OF water APP
pealed ITO his judgment, and here he
decided to cast his lot. This decision
reached, the party returned home to
prepare for their removal to the sell
ected land.
The reports they carried across the
international line were of the best.
Never in all their travels had the little
party seen balmier cline nor more
enticing spot than when they viewed
the region wherein Cardston now
stands. The hills were clad in emerald
green and in the evening as in the
morning the Titanic masses OF the
Rocky Mountain range lined against
the curtain OF the sky took on more
glorious tints than Natures painting
on shell. The grand Old Chief
Mountain whose summit has never
yet been reached by man lowered
above them as bulwark Of safety and
the lofty snow.clad peaks and serried
heights seemed grander to the pioneers
than an army with banners, while the
air was pregnant as with a benedic-
tion. The whole scene reminded them
Of their faroff home and they decided
that surely this was the promised land.
And so another party was formed
consisting of President Card, President
Thos f. Kicks Of Rexburg, Idaho,
Bishop Thomas X. Smith of Logan,
Utah, and Elder Niels MoDson of Hy-
rum, Utah, and on returning here they
selected the present site Of Cardston
for their settlement, President Card
choosing for his own use what is now
the north half Of the present town
site. The party at once busted them.
selves putting in gardens, and re-
manned on the ground till May 3rd,
when they went back to meet their
families, after having left l., S. Allen
and nephew, who had arrived two days
before, in charge.
Messrs. John A. Woolf, J. A, Ham.
mer, Bishop George l.. Farrell, Of
Smithteld, Utah, and f. r. Miles,
with their respective families, returned
with the pioneers, and the company
reached here on June 3, 1887. Two
weeks before, however, Johanus An
derson, Samuel Matkin, and Thomas
r. Leayitt and families had arrived
aud these with the later corners, how
ever, soon ploughed up the land and
put in crops.
President Card and party were met
at st. Mary's River, which was then
at swimming depth, by Sergeant
Brimner Of the Northwest Mounted
Police who kindly piloted them across,
Mr. Gard having two wagons, j. A.
Woolf also two, and the other three
families one each, making seven
wagons in all. The Sergeant was ex-
ceedingly obliging and told the party
that the boys up at the settlement
were just ripping up the ground for
more than mile. President and Mrs
Card and the other newcomers were
most cordially welcomed by the neigh
boring ranchers, especially Messrs.
Ash, Barker, Donovan, Mrs. Shaw,
Miss Shaw (now Mrs. Harper, Mr..
Derenze, Sergeant Cotter (who was
then a rancher), and Corporal Harper
who succeeded Sergeant Brlmner in
command OF the st. Mary's detach-
ment.
President Card arrived in CardstUn
on June 3 and on June 5th, Sunday, the
little company held a meeting 10 q