Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-09-12
PIONEER MACHINIsTs.
james ~. Martincau Falls Ina Line With
Communication from Mexico.


Editor Deserot News noticed in tho
News Of August 49, q communication
bv W. j. silver in which it is stated
cut nails were made uy rather Sabn
early in h. SOS. ] will state that Fran
els T. whitney. OF faruwau. made I
nail-cutting machine Boo 1854 and made
cut nails. OF which the writer bOugH.
many paying for S or lO-penny size. one
cent each AS he could obtain only
old or secondhand iron. he had ru
hammer 10 into proper width and thick.
ness TO make nails of proper size.
/ viii also add some other items cop
led from my journal which may be af
some historical interest and worthy
OF note:
May n. 1851 President Brigham
Young Heber G.. Kimball and several of
the twelve. Gen. ID. n. Wells, Presiding
Bishop T.. Hunter and many others
visited ParoWun for the first time The
settlement al ms time was called
Louisa. so named by Elder Geo. a.
honor OF Louisa Beeman, the first Voc
man On the Church who embraced the
law Of marriage as revealed by Joseph
the Seer
AT public meeting the same evening
the name was changed by Priest Brig
ham Young 10 Parowan. the indian
name of the location. President Young
said this would become the richest part
The first territorial election was held
Sent is. 1851. an which the writer iu
Iron county. was clerk of election.
Nov. IT,. 1851. First city election OF
Parowan. The county was also orr
gani2ed. with Chapman Duncan, county
Judge. and James II Martiueau. county
clerk who was also the first city re-
corder Of Parowan.
Sept. 10 and IL. 1853. The first stake
conference held In southern Utah, was
held in Parowan, and In Cedar City on
the next day. Elder John c. /. Smith
being president Of the stake.
March ]. 1858 Mutual Improvement
association organized in Parowau by ].
Il Martineau and nine other young
men.
Dec. C. 1858. First city election held
Ia Cedar City. Isaac G.. Haight was
july "a. 1854. First strlnged instru-
ment, bass viol. was completed by
Barnabas Carter for J. II. Martineau.
1t was a good instrument, all home
made except the strings and was used
IN the ward choir for years
May "A. 1855. The people Of Parowsn
began this day to make conservation
deeds Of all their property. ]. n. Mar
tineau acted as clerk, blank deeds hav-
ing been sent 20 him from Salt lake
CITY. All or nearly an the people of
Parowan willingly thus decided their
property.
June 81. 1855. A small party from
Parowan discovered Fish Lake. one II
the sources Of Sewer river, obtained
permission OF the Indians 20 fish cut
down a large pine and made a canoe In
which we navigated the lake probably
| the first white men 10 d. so. We
named our craft THE White Canoe"
The lake apparently Is OF great depth.
| In crossing the mountain range we
| found strawberries in bloom and IN
great abundance. In one place was a
| iuxuriant growth Of iris. or feu de lis
covering about fve acres, all In full
| bloom.
Aug. 20. 1855. Salt discovered I'm the
Little Salt Lake. where the water
had receded through irrigation, leaving
| bare all the north end Of the lake. At
some distance from the north end a
wagon had. years before the settlement
| Of Utah. crossed where the lake was
narrow. the tracks leading towards a
narrow pass I'm the mountains. The
| tracks OF the wagon or wagons were
plain as II lately made, but from the
| date Of first settlement Jan. -, 1851, no
| one had ever attempted TO ford the
| lake. either on horseback or by wagon
| When and by whom that crossing was
/ made Is a mystery
oct. o. 1855, Thomas Davenport
burned his first kiln Of pottery ware
/ The ware was good but not white. as
proper glazing material could not De
| obtained az that time in Utah.
JAMES H. MART1NEAU.
| Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico.