Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-22
Providence, Utah, Yesterday and Today

TN the carly spring of 1859 a few
counties settled on small creek
known as Spring Creek, situated on
the cast side OF Cache valley. just
south of Logan river. In November
of the Same year. Apostles Orson Hyde
Ezra L. Benson and Bishop Petvr
Maughan organized a ward containing
about 70 families ordained Robert r. .
Williams as bishop, and named the
place Providence.
AS many Indians were roaming about
the valley. and they did not appear
very friendly, it was thought best for
.he people TO gather together In n fort
for self-protectlon. On one occasion
small band of Indians camped near
by, and 1t was reported they had Il
white child In captivity About that
time company of soldiers arrived
from Salt Lake City. and word was
sent. asking the Indians to give up the
child Instead OF doing so, they moved
up into the canyon. thinking to escape
The soldiers went after them skIr-
mish occurred, and the Indians sur
rendered. Bear Hunter, the chief. was
taken prisoner, but soon released and
the soldiers returned TO Salt Lake CITY
with the white child. That occurrence
made the Indians more ugly than ever
They became so lnsolent the settlers
We're compelled to feed them all tho
time, which worked a great hardship
as the white people had been unable
to raise much food products the first
few years, having but q few acres OF
land under cultivation. So the peoplu
banded closer together than ever But
as new settlements were formed and
the valley began to f1ll up with white
inhabitants, town was surveyed. and
the people scattered to their various
city lots
For years the pioneers endured many
hardshps. living ever in dread of the
Indians, Then for several successive
years tho farmers witnessed the de-
struction of their crops from grass
hoppers. hndcriDg materially the rapid
Improvement OF the place. many of The
citiZens having to 20 elsewhere In order
to obtain sufficient means to sustain
their families from year to wear. or
until the grasshoppcrs ceased coming.
The people later went to consider
able expense to construct reservoirs to
retain the water from the spring flow
Ing from the base OF prominent blur
cast of the village. At present this
water. cool and pure. is plpcd In sew
eral directions to the inhabitants of the
town.
corporation. There are no saloons.
There is one of the finest schoolhouses
in the valley. with plenty of room for
all the children In the precinct. Tho
location Is favorable for fruit rnIslng.
1t Is especially favorable for straw
berries and raspberries. ready mar.
ket being found In Logan. On the foot
hills there are some apple and peach
orchards. and moro orchards are being
planted every year,
There arc two stores. both doing a
lourlshing business. Over 100 Provi-
dence men are employed ut the Logan
factory: many OF the girls ore working
In the knitting factories. and many
young mon are engaged in Garland and
Lewiston. In fact. Providence boasts
not an idlor in the village.
=, The dairy industry brings In several
thousand dollars each year, two wag-
onioads of milk and cream leaving
providence every morning of the year.
Good crops were raised the past season.
over yenr ago the stake presidency
organized new ward on the south
bank Of Logan river. taking in a por-