American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-01-14
(RecOllectiOns of VIM. MOrgan.)


The first settlers at Neeley were
Bishop Neeley, who died about three
years ago, and Alex. Sorenson, brother
OF j. j. Sorenson. They came in the
spring of 1881. Neeley's house was the
nrst one built, and Sorenson built it
for him. 1t was small log house and
stood in the rear of the present Nee
ley home. About two years ago 1t was
torn down and removed to a dry farm
where it is still doing service.
On November Is, 1881, arrived at
Neeley, and settled on the land where
have since lived. came from Lean
ington, Utah, where my father was
pioneer, and took the first water from
the Sewer river. With me came my
two brothers. Edward and James Nor
gan, Melvin Ross, Willard Moore, and
Homer Pease. My brothers tnd Ross
and Moore remained here about fifteen
years and then removed to Rudy. about
fifteen miles from Rigby. Homer Pease
ls now resident of Rockland valley.
hb hNhb iilbi OuI
1t showed about six inches. We met
aid talked II over, and decided TO build
dugouts, as lumber was not to be had
nearer than Malad, and with winter
provide shelter at once for ourselves
and stock. Our horses and cattle were
all poor. We used poles for ribs and
bullrushes to support the dirt cover
ing. We we're all poor and used to
hardships, and set about uncomplain-
ingly to make the best of the situation.
Everyone worked as hard as he could
and in a few weeks we had shelter
for all. recall that on December 26
Dan and Jim Ross. boys of Is or 16
years of age, walked from Neeley to
the White ranch, then called the mule
shoe ranch, without shoes, to gather
bullrushes. Hard as this may now
seem, the boys went uncomplainingly
to their work, as everybody had to
help. This incident shows something
OF the privations that the early settlers
had to endure. Homer Pease settled
on land now owned by Charles Stanger
and lived there for number of years.
He is now a respected farmer living
near Rockland and one of the best dry
farmers Of that locality.
Bishop Neeley seeded little patch
Of lucerne, and raised several acres
of wheat the first year. So far as !
know this was the first lucerne and
possibly the first wheat grown nearer
than Malad. After the wheat was
grown there was no way to thresh IT,
One day he asked me If knew how
to thresh grain with horses. told
him I did. and made arrangements to
do his threshing for him. put up an
upright pole with long sweep on top
of it. and tied six horses to the sweep
I then scattered wheat several inches
thick around the pole and drove tine
horses over 1t until the grain was all
shelled out. ! cleaned IL by throwing
it in the air and letting the wind blow
the chaff away. In this way I threshed
$50 bushels and received half OF II for
my pay This was the first threshing
done at Neeley, and probably the first
done nearer than Malad We had to 90
TO Malad to have the wheat grouGd and
for our supplies. II was our nearest
trading point In 1882 all there was at
Pocatello was a section house
G. W. Morgan was the first white
baby born OF Neeley The first deaths
were two sons of my brother Edward,
aged about and 12 years. Before they
were buried Edward Moore's boy died
A little sister Of the Morgan boys fol-
lowed few days later All died OF
diphtheria- Cofiins for them were made
OF lumber from an old boat, and from
wagon boxes. Melvin Ross and Homer
Pease made the cofhns. I dug the
graves. The Morgan boys were bur
led in one grave.
Sam Cotterell and wife. who lived
at the mouth Of Fall creek. on what is
now known xs the Cleveland ranch