Peter Maughan ~ Index
Peter Maughan was one of the first settlers in Cache Valley. He was told to come from Tooele by President Brigham Young. No one colonized new land in those days without asking advice or receiving instruction from church authority.
Samuel Roskelley reported to Brigham Young that Cache Valley was not fit for human habitation because the climate was too severe. He said that it froze every month of the year. Eight to ten feet of snow fell in the winter months.
After the saints had grazed their flocks and herds in Cache Valley, it was decided that some settlements should be made. The saints in Tooele had been bothered with grasshoppers and Peter Maughan had his home and buildings burned down in that settlement. Therefore an exploring party made up of six men, and headed by Peter Maughan was instructed by Brigham Young to explore Cache Valley.
The men came in to Wellsville in July 1856 and they explored as far as Franklin. They reported to President Young that the land was good and the water was plentiful.
Brigham Young told the saints to settle the valley. In 1857 Peter Maughan and eight families settled in Wellsville, which was then called Maughans Fort.
Eight log cabins wee built facing each other. Mrs. (Mary Ann Weston) Maughan said that the snow covered the cabins over the first winter. Trenches were dug around the hay stacks to prevent the cattle from walking on the stacks, since the snow was packed in large mounds where the cattle had walked.
At about this time much land in Cache Valley was taken up by the Mormon Church. Later College Ward was given by the church to the maintenance of the Brigham Young College in Logan.
In 1858 all inhabitants of the valley were told to move south because Johnson’s Army was cooming. Peter Maughan and his family moved near "Miller’s Pond" between Spanish Fork. The saints covered the floors of their houses with straw before going away. They decided to fire their property if it became evident that Johnson’s Army was going to claim it.
In 1858 many of the saints returned to the valley. Peter Maughan and family as well as many others were told not to return until the next year because of Indian troubles.
In 1859 Brigham Young sent Peter Maughan back into Cache Valley. They traveled by way of Mendon because Sardine Canyon was filled with snow.
In 1859 hundreds of settlers came into Cache Valley. Very shortly six settlements were developing, one at each of the following places: Wellsville, Providence, Mendon, Logan, Smithfield and Richmond.
One party made up of David Reese, Mr. Dibble, Mr. Evans and others didn’t like Providence (Spring Creek) so they camped on the present Deseret Mill site in Logan. Thirty days later John Peawrite and others were set apart to head thirty families to come to Cache Valley.
Henry Ballard was in this company. These families came by the Logan sugar factory site, across the "Island" and to the present Woodruff school corner. Then they decided to move on to Smithfield. Peter Maughan followed on horseback to warn the saints against going to Smithfield. (Probably because of Indian troubles.) Some took Maughan’s advice; others went to Smithfield. Those who went to Smithfield returned in a short while to settle in Logan.
On November 13th, 1859 Orson Hyde, Ezra Benson and Lorenzo Snow came from Church headquarters to hold meetings in Cache Valley. They changed the name of Maughan’s Fort to Wellsville in honor of Danial H. Wells. William H. Maughan was set apart as the first bishop in Wellsville.
On November 14th, 1859 a meeting was held in Logan. Logan ward was organized with William B. Preston as the first bishop. Peter Maughan was made Stake President in Cache Valley. He was already a member of the legislature.
In March 1860 a canal was built between Logan and Hyde Park. It took four months to construct.
Brigham Young advised the people of Logan to build a fort. Stones were gathered to build a wall around the tabernacle grounds. A fort was not built there because Indian trouble subsided. Two rows of houses were built in fort-like fashion down Center Street. The ends were never closed in to make a real fort such as were built in Richmond and Mendon.
It was said at the time that Peter Maughan had such great influence with the Indians that a fort was not needed. Bear Hunter, an Indian Chief, was the most troublesome foe of the saints in Cache Valley. He and a number of followers camped in hay land claimed by the settlers.
Peter Maughan, Israel Clark and minute men told Bear Hunter to get off, if he didn’t want trouble. Bear Hunter and his followers moved, but he swore vengeance against Peter Maughan.
One day Bear Hunter, with his Indian cunning, crept through the willows for the purpose of killing Peter Maughan in his home. An unusual impulse (called divine inspiration by the early saints) prompted Maughan to reach for his rifle and to carry it to the window in order to check the mechanism. In the meantime, Bear Hunter quietly opened the door. He found himself looking into the dangerous end of Peter Maughan’s gun. The Indian was very surprised and he was convinced that the Great Spirit was against him.
It is said that Bear Hunter tried to take his own life, but that he was prevented by his braves.1
- An Interview with H.C. Maughan, son of Peter Maughan, 8 September 1938.