O.S.L. Depot. My father happened along and I asked him about how much it would cost me to buy the tract to build on. This property and about three acres across Clark St. to the north had belonged to my father a long time, but in the bust of '20-'21 he had lost all he had and had deeded his lands to the bank (Davis County Bank.) 

The next Monday morning Grant Clark the banker came over where I was working and wanted to sell me the ground. I guess father prompted him. I declined and said I didn't want it. Dick Knowlton overheard the conversation and came to me and asked what I'd take for my option to buy it. I told him I didn't have an option, but he persuaded me to buy it, also the 150 ft. of the piece across the street north, and we would go 50-50 on both. Accordingly, at noon I went in the bank and made a deal to buy both pieces for $500.00 each, about $50.00 down and $50.00 per year. Grant drew up contracts accordingly. Then in a few days I went in the bank and arranged to buy the remainder of the north piece for $650.00 with some shares of water. This was a real choice little piece of land. Our old barn and silo were on it above the creek. 

Several months after buying this ground, the State Highway Department started surveying for a new highway to bypass some of the towns, and the proposed route hugged the east side of the railroad and crossed over our properties. It was evident that if the highway was built there it would leave us two valuable corners, but the engineers surveyed just to the dry hill property then stopped. The right-of-way was purchased that far and the new road roughed in. It just sat there a year and no one seemed to know what the future of the road would be. Just stop there or follow the present road to the east of our ground and go straight north, or continue next to the railroad on a north northwesterly direction. 

During this time (our building of the bank and court house was finished) Dick Knowlton became angry with me and insisted we break up our partnership on the land. I accordingly agreed to meet him at the site at five o'clock next evening. Next day my wife and I went to Farmington and spent a few hours measuring and estimating what would be left to each corner should the highway go through. And I determined the south corner would be worth about $1000 more than the north one. Dick had given me the impression that he would take either. He came at five o'clock and proposed that we flip a coin to see which of us had first choice. This really upset me and I felt sure I would lose the flip. I should have proposed that we set a price on each, but it seemed fair to flip a coin even with my fear of losing, so I agreed and of course I lost. He chose the south piece of course and I felt lost, but I asked how much he would take to trade. He said it would be too much because he wanted the south one. 

I said, "How much?"

He said, "No."

I repeated, "How much?" 

He said, "Quite a lot." 

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