Kindex

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SPRING OF 1870 THEY WENT AND GOT THEIR FAMILIES. WHEN TH5Y Fl- TURNED, DAVID HESS(J-4) WAS ACCOMPANIED BY GEORGE L. SMIT(H (A-1WHO HELPED HAUL THE FIRST LOAD OF TIMBER OUT OF THE CANYON.(H10)

GEORGE L. SMIT(H) AND DAVID HESS WERE IN JOINT-OWNERSHIP OF THE SAW MILL IN THE MAIN CANYON.(H10) HENRY A. LEWIS(E-15), JASON NICHOLAS BARKDULL (F-l3) AND DOW CHAFFIN (E-14) ALL RETURNED AT THIS TIME. THEY WERE ACCOMPANI(E)D BY NEPHI HAYES.

Image #1
A river in a field covered in snow

EZRA CLARK WAS IMPRESSED BY THE QUALITY AND ABUNDANCE OF GRASS AS WELL AS THE WATER SUPPLY AT THE CREEK ON THE OREGON TRAIL. THE NARROW CANYON VALLEY WITH CHOICE BENCH LAND ON EACH SIDE WAS TRAVERSED BY THREE STREAMS. THE NORTH ONE(PICTURE), NOW BIG CREEK, IS STILL THERE. THE ONE OVER BY THE SOUTH HILL AND THE ONE IN THE CENTER OF TOWN, WHICH RAN JUST NORTH OF F-2 ON DOWN TO THE RIVER, ARE NO LONGER THERE.

THEY EMPLOYED JOSEPH C. RICH OF PARIS ID TO SURVEY THE LAND. THEY LAID OUT A PUBLIC SQUARE AND SOME BUILDING LOTS IN TEN ACRE BLOCKS. THEY CHRISTENED THE SETTLEMENT-TO-BE 'TWIN CREEKS'.

WHEN THEY WENT TO THE CANYON AFTER BUILDING MATERIALS EZRA CLARK AND HIS SON JOSEPH WERE LOADED FIRST. THEY BROUGHT THEIR TEAMS BACK ON A TROT AND THREW THEIR LOGS OFF IN THE SHAPE OF A SQUARE SO AS TO BE THE FIRST ONES TO LAY A FOUNDATION. FIVE HOUSES WERE BUILT THAT SUMMER. DAVID HESS'S HOUSE WAS THE FIRST TO BE COMPLETED.

THE STEADY SUPPLY OF MOUNTAIN WATER FOR IRRIGATION, THE CANYON BREEZE WHICH ALLEVIATED SUMMER-KILLING FROSTS, THE LUSH MEADOWS