The Founding of Mendon ~ Index
May 2nd, 1859 Alexander Hill, Robert Hill, Roger Luckham, Robert Sweeten, Peter Sorensen, Isaac Sorensen, Peter Larsen, Alexander H. Hill and James H. Hill located here and became the first settlers of Mendon. Soon other families came, Charles Bird, Andrew P. Shumway, John Richards, Jasper Lemmon, Henry Hughes, Ralph Forster, Manning Rowe, Christen Jensen, James G. Willie and others.
In 1860 or 1861, settlers sufficient in number had arrived so that a ward of the church was organized as the Mendon Ward, with Andrew P. Shumway, bishop. He was a member of the Pioneer Company of 1847, led by President Brigham Young to Utah. From the organization of the ward until 1872, the bishop and his aids were in full control of secular as well as religious affairs of the people, directed building of roads to the canyons, fencing the fields, herding cattle, guarding against Indian depredations, constructing irrigation canals, etc. Diverting the streams west of town to irrigate town lots and farms was an easy matter requiring very little work. Putting in a dam on Gardner Creek about two miles south of town so as to irrigate about 250 acres of farm land was an expensive job considering the facilities they had for moving dirt to make the dam. It was all labor, and labor and time was the only source of wealth that the early settlers had access to for making a living. The stream mentioned above as Gardner Creek was so called owing to a family of that name residing there for a time in early days.
Bishop Shumway held his office from organization of the ward to 1869. During that time the people built a log meeting house west of where our new school house is now. It was used for school purposes, also for dancing parties and all other public assembly purposes. (The people) fenced a large tract of land with a pole fence for farm and hay land. Made roads into Three Mile and Willow Creek Canyons to get wood. Built a rock meeting house in 1866, a fine building at that time. Organized and started a Cooperative store in the spring of 1869. All were asked to become stockholders, shares were at $20.00 each. The store was a great benefit to the community, selling all kinds of goods and buying farm products, grain, butter and eggs. The store was operated until 1889. Those who managed it the last few years of its life were not able to compete with other business houses, so it was closed out.
Practically all residents of the town until about 1875, were members of the church, and all disputes were settled by the bishop’s court, consisting of the bishop and the teachers quorum, the latter a body of men, then about six or eight in number, selected by the bishop as considered to be men of integrity and experience. Their decisions were mostly accepted, though appeal to higher authority was open if desired. All cases were free of cost to plaintiff and defendant and trials were few. In one case of assault where plaintiff sustained bodily injury, the culprit was fined $75.00, which was paid to the injured man.
Fear of an Indian uprising induced the people in 1866 to start a fort, or rock wall, enclosing the meeting house about six by four rods (99 by 66 feet) in size. It was built to a height of about three and one-half or four feet. As the Indians did not go on the war path, the wall was not finished and the material was used for other purposes. The last of it was taken away the fall of 1885. Two or three soldiers deserted from Fort Douglas about 1865 and came to Mendon bringing cavalry horses and saddles. One of the deserters lived here a few years, hired out to the farmers. Two fine horses brought here by the deserters were sold to a farmer and used as a farm team for years.
In 1864, the people moved to town lots. Each lot ten by twenty rods (165 by 330 feet), at one and one-quarter acre each. A block was forty by forty rods (660 by 660 feet), eight lots in each block. Starting point of survey was south east corner of the public square. By 1865, the town was composed of about sixty families, represented by people from the eastern states, southern states, Canada, England, Scotland, Wales, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Until 1864, there were houses each side of street south of public square, quite close together, eighty rods east and west. Yards for cattle behind the dwellings, a small garden with some, though most had gardens in the field where they grew corn, potatoes, turnips melons, peas, etc. What is spoken of as The Fort
was not a fort at all, merely called that because the first houses were built close together prior to 1864.
Mendon sustained very little loss by Indian stealing. Baker brothers, Albert M. and Joseph Baker, in 1863 had several horses stolen from their corral one night. Albert M. Baker hearing something unusual went tp find what was wrong and was shot in the hand by an arrow. It was too dark to see and pursue the savages. They sold the horses to settlers in Box Elder County and the Bakers recovered them at little cost shortly after. Ole C. Sonne's team was stolen from his corral the fall of 1867 by Indians who sold them in Millville. Mr. Sonne got them again by paying what the other fellow had paid the Indians, who stole and sold them. In 1874, Indians shot and killed a cow belonging to John Bird. That was just malicious mischief. Fall of 1869, Bannock Indians stole six or seven horses from the field north of town, belonging to Robert Sweeten. One of them was a few years later recovered at Fort Hall Indian Reservation, Idaho. So far as I know above mentioned cases is all property loss by Indians sustained by the people of Mendon.
In 1868, a four year old girl, daughter of George Thurston (Rosie Thurston) who lived two and one-half miles south of Mendon and operated a grist mill, disappeared. While not actually known, it is generally believed that Indians stole the little girl. People of Mendon and Wellsville thoroughly searched the surrounding region as far as was thought the child could have gone from home. Friendly Indians were paid to join in the search, but no trace of her was found. Various tales and rumors of a white girl held captive by Indians have been told ten or twelve years after the little Thurston girl disappeared, but all remains without real proof. I believe Mrs. Thurston, the girl's mother, was a daughter of apostle Erastus Snow.
Events mentioned above include to my best knowledge and information some, of course not all, the principal happenings in Mendon and its people from 1859 to and including the year 1869, when Andrew P. Shumway was released as bishop of Mendon. He went to England on a mission in 1869 and was gone three years. Moved to Franklin, Idaho in 1874 where the balance of his life was spent.
Andrew P. Shumway was an able, energetic man. As citizen, friend and in all walks of life he was admired and respected by all who knew him. During his administration as bishop of the ward, a greater responsibility revolved on the authorities and people in general than has existed altogether in the seventy years since then. Bishop Shumway was the leader and took active part in all work, building roads, irrigation canals, fencing fields, guarding against Indian attacks, arranging for herding cattle and sheep. All this was under his jurisdiction and leadership, besides what may be called spiritual affairs, conducting meetings of all religious gatherings, etc. From the year 1866 to 1874, there were built about twenty-six rock houses in the town and by the year 1880, most of the people had built rock or frame houses and log houses and dirt roofs were a thing of the past.
Henry Hughes succeeded Andrew P.Shumway as bishop in 1869. He was born in Wales and came to Utah in the early 1850's. He was bishop of Mendon thirty-one years from 1869 to 1900. As affairs of the ward were when he was appointed to preside, the same conditions continued for many years without any noticeable change. About 1877, bishoprics consisting of a bishop and two counselors, replaced the teachers quorum as aids to the bishop in hearing cases and rendering decisions.
In 1872 Mendon was legally organized as a city with officers: Mayor, Councilmen, Justice and Marshal as at present exists. Church authorities were then relieved from civil affairs and the city officials handled all matters secular and criminal.
In 1872 the Utah Northern Railroad, a narrow-gauge reached Mendon from the north by way of the divide. The U.I.C. electric road now uses the road bed formerly used by the Utah Northern railroad from Mendon to Deweyville, which was abandoned in 1890 when the railroad was built through Bear River Canyon. In 1874, most of the ward members tried living the United Order. It however, was only an interchange of labor to do farm work, putting in crops, haying and grain harvesting. The people were divided into four districts with a foreman to direct the work of each company. A few tried to continue the work the winter of 1874-1875, working in Paradise canyon getting out lumber with a view to building a dairy in Mendon. They decided to discontinue operations and divided the lumber among the interested parties in the spring of 1875.
From the founding of the town until about 1884, the cows were all collected into a herd each morning and herded on the open range until evening. A herder was hired for one or two years only, in the beginning. Afterwards, herding was done by turns, usually a day's herding for each animal the owner had in the herd. Sheep were, and every family had a few sheep, cared for in like manner, but a herder was hired for the summer and paid a sum in money or farm products. Each sheep owner paid the herder in proportion to the number of sheep he owned. Counting all families, perhaps twenty to thirty sheep were owned per family. Most clothing was made from wool and woven on a hand loom. There were three persons who wove clothing, Emil Stumpf, Mrs. Mary Sonne, and Magnus Larsen. Such clothing was about all the people had until about 1872 when overalls appeared. A little clothing was made of flax in early days. It was strong but not very desirable to wear and handle.
Beginning in 1878, horses and cattle were greatly improved. Norman and Clydesdale stallions were brought from the eastern states. Durham and Devon bulls, which when crossed with the native animals, greatly improved the stock. First self binders bought and used here was in 1879; First harvesters 1928. Coal for fuel was not in general use until 1882. Some race horses were bred and trained here from 1880 to 1893, though the venture was very unprofitable for farmers as they were inferior for farm work. Tractors for farm work were first used about the year 1929, autos 1915. In a general way conditions changed very little in Mendon in the period from 1869 to 1900. People lived quietly and mostly in peace and harmony. A Presbyterian school was established here in 1884 and continued a number of years. Several Mormon children attended, a few joined their church.
Bishop Hughes was succeeded in 1900 by John H. Anderson, a merchant of Logan. He did not reside here, just came to preside in a church capacity. He started a store here, hiring a resident of Mendon to operate it. Telephone service was put in here in 1901. He (John Anderson) was bishop for three years only.
Morman D. Bird succeeded bishop Anderson in 1903. He held the office seventeen years. During that period, our present church building, in 1914, was built costing $22,000.00. The people installed a water system, controlled by the city, in 1912, costing about $10,000.00. Electricity was put in for use of the town by the Utah Power and Light Company in 1917. Practically all families, about one-hundred in number, have water and electricity in their homes, comparative few have telephones. By purchase of more water by the city in 1936, the system can supply double our present population with plenty of water if it is properly managed. Bishop Bird had the respect of the people of the ward, was impartial and fair with all and retired with the good will of all the people He was succeeded by Allen Willie, who served only six months; when he resigned, perhaps owing to the fact that he lived on his farm, a distance from the town, likely making it inconvenient to attend meetings.
John Gardner was the next bishop. He served three and one-half years. I believe moving to Ogden accounts for his short term of office. He was well liked as bishop and as a citizen. A good man. Henry C. Sorensen was installed bishop in 1924 and served for seventeen years. Very little, if any changes in church affairs or management was introduced during his tenure of office. He had the support of practically all members of the ward. So called temporal affairs were not so much under bishops' jurisdiction since about the year 1900. Prior to that time, tithing was paid in cattle, grain, vegetables, meat, etc. Beginning about 1900, the church had all tithing paid in cash. That simplified the work of the bishops, to get money and give receipts was less work than handling livestock and farm products. I believe it was during bishop Sorensen's tenure of office that changes were made to hold Sacrament meetings Sunday night instead of 2:00 p.m. and have musical programs and speakers from out-of-town, thinking that would entertain the young people better than the old style regular meetings. Formerly Sunday school was held at 10:00 a.m., Sacrament meeting at 2:00 p.m. and a general ward meeting in the evening. In both above mentioned meetings no program was outlined. The bishop called those he wished to have speak from the audience without having been given previous notice. Very likely program meetings are more interesting to the young, and perhaps to older people too, than to listen to local elders preach. Bishop Sorensen was called, as all former bishops were, to administer to the sick. Most Saints are anxious to have the elders administer to the sick, though they may ignore other church duties.
Education and Schools in Mendon
As soon as people in settling a Mormon town could build for themselves homes, their next move was to build a meeting house which was used for all public gatherings, schools of course included. The first such building in Mendon stood on the south east corner of the public square, just west of our present new schoolhouse. It was a log house about sixteen by fourteen feet, dirt roofed, one window and a door on south side, a large fire place on each end with a rock chimney on the outside of the logs. No stove then, in fact very few cook stoves were in town for several years after Mendon was settled. I think first years of school here were free, teachers receiving no pay. First teacher was Mrs. Dabell, the family moved away soon, as they were not here in 1863. If I am correctly informed, the next to teach was Amenzo W. Baker or Jasper Lemmon, not certain which one. However, Jasper Lemmon taught after Mr. Baker for a time. The three above mentioned were not very well educated but did the best they could and as they served without pay, they are entitled to great credit and we must bear in mind that books, slates and other equipment were not to be procured at that time. The seats were merely planks set on wooden legs with no backs. Proper school desks were first used here when the rock school house was finished about 1880.
Adam C. Smyth came here 1865 or 1866. He was the first teacher with any educational qualifications, was better educated than are many of our present day teachers. He was a Mormon convert from England. Later taught vocal music in Salt Lake City. Composed words and music for some of our Sunday school hymns. He taught school here quite a number of years and was a great help to the town educationally and as choir leader in meeting and Sunday school. Mr. Smyth passed his last years in Manti, Sanpete County.
John Donaldson taught school here several years from about the year 1867, at intervals, until 1880. Was not as well educated as Mr. Smyth, but was a very good instructor for a country school. Was an able, useful man in the community. Was mayor of the town one or two terms and was city recorder several terms. He moved to Snake River Valley, Idaho in 1883. He was the first bishop of the Teton ward and I believe taught school there a year or two. He lived to be over 80 years old.
Since 1880 so many persons have taught school here that I cannot recall names of all of them. Can name some: J.Z. Stewart, Daniel B. Richards, W.G. Reese; Mary E. Baker, A.G. White; H.G.Hughes, I.C. Thoreson, C.F. Olsen and a number of women teachers whose names I fail to recall. In 1899 a brick front of two rooms was added to the rock school house. In 1916 the schools of the county were consolidated and thenceforth were managed by a county board of trustees, dispensing with the local board of three trustees in each precinct of the county. In 1934, the school house on the south east corner of the square was erected, it likely will answer all school purposes necessary for Mendon for many years unless there is an increase in population. At present and for the past twenty years the town has had about one-hundred families.
Early Settlers of Mendon
Among the early settlers of Mendon were Charles Shumway and his son Andrew P. Shumway. They were members of the first pioneer company led by President Brigham Young, entering Salt Lake Valley, July 24th, 1847. Charles Shumway was captain of 10 in the company. He was elected a member of the first legislature held in Utah in 1850. His son, Andrew P. Shumway was Mendon's first bishop serving from the organization of the ward in 1860 until 1869.
Charles Bird, a veteran in the church from the days of Missouri and Illinois. He was one of a committee appointed by the church authorities to assist in removing the poor Saints from Far West, Missouri to Illinois in 1839. Many of the Mormons had been plundered by Missouri mobocrats, so that they were obliged to have aid to move away from their enemies.
Simon Baker and John Richards were also members of the church in Nauvoo and perhaps Kirtland, Ohio.
Andrew Bigler and William Longstroth who served as U.S. soldiers under Lot Smith in 1862 guarding the overland mail route in what is now Wyoming, from Indian attacks. Mr. Bigler also served as captain of a volunteer calvary company from Davis county to guard against Indians in Sanpete County, summer of 1866. On these trips each man furnished his own horse, saddle, arms and all supplies. In Sanpete the settlers furnished the soldier's food.
James G. Willie, captain of a hand-cart company across the plains in 1856. Winter set in when they were in the mountains of Wyoming and many of them died and were buried by the wayside.
James Jack, known as Captain Jack
, a Texas Ranger, fought to free Texas from Mexico, 1836 to 1840. A native of Scotland, went to Canada then to Texas. Came to Utah in early days, lived in Mendon ten years. Died here 1880 at age of 80. Buried here and I believe is the only one of the Texas Rangers buried in Utah. He had a Mexican rifle ball in one leg and suffered greatly from rheumatism the last few years of his life.
Livestock
Bishop Hughes brought Cotswold sheep about 1872 or 1873 to improve the native stock of sheep. Before that time breeding was done by letting sheep and nature attend to breeding.
To Andrew Bigler and Michael Murphy must be given credit for improving breeds of horses and cattle. Mr. Bigler brought a Norman stallion here in the fall of 1878. Bred to native mares, the largest weighing about 1100 pounds, the product were the best work animals we have yet had in Mendon.
Michael Murphy, Irish by birth, Catholic in religion, came here from Canada in 1878. Went back and brought a carload of horses, three stallions and three mares, spring of 1880. Breeds of the six were: One Clydesdale stallion, one Clydesdale mare. The other two stallions and two mares were of mixed breeds, Clydesdale predominating. Their progeny became noted in northern Utah and southern Idaho, were spoken of as the Murphy Breed of horses. About 1894, horses became so plentiful and prices so low, a good work horse could be bought for $20.00 to $50,00, that horse breeding was not kept up. Consequently the quality became inferior and has continued so to the present time. Mr. Murphy also started breeding Black Galloway cattle, several others here took over some of them for a number of years. They were nice hardy animals, excellent for beef, but for dairy purposes a failure.
Amusements, Dancing and Theatricals
Dancing and theatricals as amusements were in order from the beginning of the settlement, as soon as a public hall was built. Do not know what music was available first three or four years, here. Lars Larsen came here in the fall of 1862 and from then to 1877, when he moved to Idaho, was our principal musician, playing the violin. His musical talent occasioned him to be known as Fiddler Larsen,
and he was a genius as a country fiddler" put a certain melody into the playing so different from a mere noise that some call music. George Bird, Joseph Hancock and Isaac Sorensen also fiddled many years for our dances. For first ten years here, I believe music was free of cost to those who danced. At times in winter, dances were kept going nearly all night, a recess taken at midnight for refreshments and then dancing resumed until all were satisfied, or tired. From all accounts those parties were orderly, no drinking of liquor to excess or disturbance of any sort. When civilization overtook us more fully, drunkenness and rioting has frequently disturbed our parties in Mendon.
Theaters were by local talent, put over at an early day. What plays were put on I have not been able to ascertain from talk of the old timers. They must have made very enjoyable times for themselves, and nearly all the grown-ups took part, men and women, that is all who spoke English.
Scandinavians, of course were barred out. No need to refer to later times in a theatre way, so many are living who have taken part in acting and can explain things in that line better than I can.