Veterans of War Before 1959. (not including the Black Hawk War)

Tina Morrison Class at "West Ward" School ~ approximately 1883

Kent and Lou Seely Celebrate 66 Years

New Second Ward Bishopric April 1962

“THE CREEPER”

Eleanor Peterson Madsen

First Place Essay

Saga of the Sanpitch 1974

Too-oot! Too-oot! Too-oo-oot! The clear, low whistle of the Sanpete Valley Train echoed
cheerfully from the walls of the high mountains on either side of the silver track as the train made its way slowly, chug, chug, chugging up Salt Creek Canyon into Sanpete Valley. The small train followed along the banks of the clear stream through tall, green grass in the spring of the year or meandered through glistening, snow-covered hills in winter.

The little train had its beginning when the valley was still new and young. As early as 1875, wise
leaders saw a need for a train in Sanpete to haul the ―burning rock to other areas. When Tabiona, an Indian chief, first discovered the coal in 1854, and showed it to Brigham Young, the first coal mine in Utah was developed and this early train played an important part in the distribution of the coal.
The road to the mine was surveyed and partly graded in the 1870‘s by residents of Salt Lake City. Later, Simon Bamberger, Governor of Utah, made a trip to England and interested a wealthy English Syndicate in the coal mine and the prospect of a railway to carry the valuable product to other parts of the world.

This new company extended a branch line from Nephi, where it joined the Oregon Short Line Railroad, past Fountain Green and over to Wales, with a spur going directly up Pete‘s Canyon to the mine where the coal was loaded on the coal cars. The coal had previously been hauled out by wagon team.
Wales thus became the terminal and all the mail from Sanpete and Sevier counties was distributed from there. A post office was built, also a store and a boarding house. The coal venture lasted only a few years, however, as the ―Central Pacific Coal and Coke Company that sponsored the building of the Sanpete Valley railway were insufficient to warrant continued operation of the mine. Consequently, the working plant and coke ovens were abandoned and the narrow gauge railway was taken up and re-located south of the vicinity of Fountain Green to Chester.

A celebration with brass bands, dancing and public meetings welcomed the train to Chester. It wasn‘t
long until another extension of the track was made to Ephraim and then to Manti, the train being greeted with happy celebrations. At a later date the track was extended to the Morrison Mine, east of Sterling, for hauling of coal. Small parts of the narrow gauge track that led to this mine can still be seen across the meadows and salt flats.

In addition to the freight cars, baggage compartments, smoker and coal-fired engine, the train boasted a
passenger car with twenty four plush seats that welcomed interested travelers for a day‘s round trip ride from Manti to Nephi. The train schedule said, ―leaving Manti at 7:45 a.m.  It returned to the point of departure about 3:30 p.m.

The ―Round house at Manti was a terminal for the train. Here repairs were made, engines oiled and
greased under the direction of Tom Chapman and Mr. Wood. Here the train turned around for another run. H.S. Kerr was Superintendent and had his office at the Manti depot. An early day train crew were William Watson, engineer; Sam Parry, fireman; George Bradley, conductor; Ray Stringham and John Kennyberg, brakemen. J.H. Hornung was agent in Manti.

The train had a number of nicknames, one was the ―Polygamist Central.  It received this name because it was believed that the trainmen signaled the polygamists if Federal Officials were aboard.
Another name was ―The Creeper  because of the slow pace which the train traveled. There were a
number of reasons for the slow motion in addition to the train not being geared for high speeds. Leaving Manti the train had to cross the swampy meadows to the west of Manti and Ephraim and due to the boggy nature of the ground, if a faster speed were maintained, the cars had a tendency to rock on the unsteady track. There were also stray cattle feeding along the tracks and many time the Engineer had to pull the train to a sudden halt and get out to shoo a cow or a wayward calf off the track when it failed to pay attention to the loud, insistent tooting of the whistle. Sometimes the train would stop and allow the passengers or the crew to hunt a few jack rabbits on the way. Some years the grasshoppers would be so thick in the fields along the track, that they were a menace to safe, fast travel.  Going down Salt Creek Canyon couldn‘t be a speedway either as passengers often wanted to stop and gather the long-stemmed, tasty, green water cress that grew along the pleasant stream in the spring of the year.

In the fall, the Conductor of the train always obliged the sun-bonneted, overalled travelers by stopping at  Vicker‘s Ranch half way down the canyon to pick some of the abundant hops from the vines that grew high along the fence. The hops were used for make malt beer.

Two young boys, ages twelve and fourteen thought the ―Creeper was well named. One morning they
hitched their buckskin mare to the family milk cart for the daily trip to the farm west of Manti. As they neared the corner south of where the pea factory was later built, the train was just steaming up ready to leave the station. With a chug, chug and a whistle, away it sailed down the track. The younger boy hit the horse with his strap while the older one hung on tightly to the reins, driving as hard as he could. It was a race all the way to the cross road with the boys passing the vantage point and still strapping the horse down the lane and all the way to the farm before finally coming to a halt as the train was fast disappearing across the meadow route, the conductor waving his hat in farewell to the pleased boys.
Sometimes it was fortunate for the passengers that the train was slow moving. It happened once that the
baggage care came uncoupled from the engine and the travelers were left sitting awhile as the engine continued on its merry way oblivious to what had happened to its load.

The baggage car that carried the mail was an important part of the early train. Many people enjoyed the
walk to the depot to see their letters safely on their way.

In the earliest days when coal was shipped from Wales, kerosene, sugar, salt, molasses, and dry goods
were brought back to the Sanpete communities. Later, freight cars carried livestock, wool, and grain from the valley and brought other needed merchandise, thus greatly improving the economy of Sanpete County.

The Denver and Rio Grande railway purchased the Sanpete Valley line in the early 1900‘s and shortly
after that discontinued the road from the Morrison mine and from Manti to Ephraim. At a still later date, they discontinued that portion of the Sanpete Valley branch extending from just north of Moroni to Nephi. The only part of the Sanpete Valley line now in operation is that from Ephraim to Moroni.
There are still those who remember and have nostalgic memories of the Sanpete Valley railway
whenever a long, low, clear whistle is heard across the west meadows.

References:
―History of Sanpete and Emery Counties.‖
―These Our Fathers.‖
―Song of a Century.‖
―Inventory of County Archives.‖
―Sanpete County Fair Book 1970-1973.‖
Leslie L. Madsen and L.M. Kjar


August 21, 1883
"Accident on the Sanpete Valley R. R." "An accident on the Sanpete Valley railroad occurred on Friday, fortunately not doing any fatal harm. The mixed train was coming north, and at the summit between Fountain Green and Nephi, the conductor had orders to leave freight cars. The cars were switched off as per orders, and a man instructed to drop one at a point a short distance below the summit. The man got on the car and started down grade, but discovering that the brake was faulty and that he could not manage the car, he jumped off and let the car go. The mixed train had gone on at a lively rate with the passenger car in the rear. The conductor had noticed the car and feared it might get away from the man, but was forced to let it go. However, he kept a close watch. At the mouth of Salt Creek canyon, the runaway car overtook the passenger, just as it was rounding a curve, and crashed into it. The passenger coach was broken and several cars were damaged. There were four passengers in the coach, one a lady, and all were somewhat bruised, the lady being injured most, but not seriously. Had it not been for the apprehension and care of the conductor in sending his train forward at a lively rate, thus materially weakening the force of the concussion, the whole train would have been wrecked and the passengers and crew probably killed." (Salt Lake Daily Herald, August 21, 1883)

Jubilee Days Beauties At the Swimming Pool ~ July 1950

Peter Peterson, Fairview's Oldest Man in 1969

BELL, BOOK AND CANDLE ~ A 1958 Stage Comedy

Working for Peter Y. Jensen in Cedar Creek Canyon Making Shingles

~~~~taken from "Highlights in the Life of James Monsen~~~


James Monsen

With the advent of each year, responsibilities followed.  Aside from assisting father on the farm, other things required around the home, no opportunity was overlooked to earn something on the side.

At the age of 14 in the fall of the year, after our farm work was done, the first time from home, I hired out to Peter Y. Jensen, who at that time was opening a shingle mill in Cedar Creek Canyon.  My job was to catch the shingles as they come from the cutter and lay aside to the buncher, also firing  the steam boiler, for which I was to have seventy-five cents a day, the amount the boy preceding me was paid; but, to my surprise, in the settlement pete allowed me a dollar a day, and the entire amount was forty dollars.

I had my choice to take shingles or tore pay in Soren Nielsen's store, which was then carried on in the house were Roy Christensen now lives. fourth south and first west.  (Grant Brotherson recently bought the place). The store pay was preferable, so I supplied myself with necessary wearing apparel.

The circumstances surrounding the conditions which I was thus engaged is worthy of mention, andif I were a writer, a picture could be portrayed that would be thrilling.

In summertime, or while the ground was bare, a sufficient amount of logs was placed on the mill yard to last into winter, and as long as there were logs in the yard, the desire was to make more shingles; but the operation was not without difficulties.  The logs became frozen through and through, making them difficult to handle.  The water supply was rather limited, and in extreme cold weather, such as we have occasionally, a small culvert through which it flowed, froze  tight, but with an effort it was opened.  Pete was quite easily discouraged.  When the water ceased to flow, or the boiler injector failed to function, invariably he would slam down his shingle block and say, "It's no use, we better shut down and go home."  Without exception, while Pete was in the cabin advising with his good wife, I had the water flowing and the injector taking in water.  Well the fact was, a continuation of cutting shingles.  Mode of procedure was as follows:  We arose at six in the morning.  The first thing to do was light a fire in the boiler.  When sufficient steam was on, it was turned into the steam box, where the shingle block was ricked for steaming.  All blocks must be thoroughly steamed before they can be cut into shingles.   Since the logs were frozen through, much more extra steaming was required.  Thus the steam went into the box until 8 o'clock when Pete came out.  The program was then changed to the sawing of the blocks.  A log was placed in a bracket and sawed into blocks about a foot in length.  As each block was sawed, with a hand lever the log was driven in position for the next block, and so on until the log was cut into blocks.  Three logs was the usual amount cut for a day's work.

Nine-thirty or ten o'clock we had breakfast. After that, we made shingles until three, then dinner.  After dinner, the blocks sawed from the logs were split into such sizes as most convenient for the cutting of shingles, but mainly into four blocks.  Five to six thousand shingles was our day's work.  While Pete was splitting the blocks, it was my job to place them in the steam box.  This did not finish the day's work.  From then until nine at night, I fired the boiler and steamed blocks.  At eight we ate supper. 

Aside from cooking and caring for two babies, namely, Emma and Bell, Sena, Pete's good wife, bunched all the shingles.

While we were there, the snow became so deep that we could no longer be reached by team.  Peter's oldest son did come twice on a horse before Thanksgiving. We had been there about thirty days.

The day before Thanksgiving, Mart Brotherson came to the forks of the canyon with a team and bob sleighs.  From there he rode a horse to the mill.  We were glad to go home. Mart took the babies  on the horse.  Sena, Pete and I walked behind through snow waist deep in places.  Not a murmur from Sena, and to add to the would-be pleasure, it snowed the entire day.  While at home a few days, the weather cleared nicely.

There still being logs on the mill yard, it was decided that we go back to make more shingles.  Sena being more determined than Pete.  As for me, I wanted to earn more store pay.  Mart Brotherson took us in a bob sleigh, leading a jinnie  behind, to the place where he was when we came home.  A saddle was placed on the mule, and Sena with Emma in her arms  and Bell on the jackass.  We were still about three miles from camp.  The snow was so deep that of necessity, I walked and broke the trail all the way to the mill. Pete following behind, prodding the mule and smoking a pipe.  At dusk we arrived at camp.  Before we could enter the cabin, a lot of snow  shoveling was required.   The mule was unpacked, given a swift kick, and told to get for home.  Well, in ten days' time we finished the logs and went home in about the same manner as at Thanksgiving time.

Peter Y. Jensen and wife, Jensine

Pickle Season ~ from Alice Peel Hafen's Cookbook

Letter Received by C. N. Lund from President Woodrow Wilson ~ A popular-viewed post

Erecting Homes ~ Andrew Madsen's Journal ~ also the settling of Spring City, Moroni, Wales and Fountain Green

Andrew Madsen Sr.

The latter part of August, (1859), Bishop Seely sent a letter to President Brigham Young at Salt Lake City, Utah, asking him if there would be any objections to erecting homes outside the Fort, it having been rumored and stated by Jehu Cox that this was the case.  The Bishop also asked permission for some of the Brethren to start a new colony on the stream six miles north.

Under the date of September 10th, 1859, Bishop W.S. Seely received a letter from President Brigham Young of which the following is in substance.

"Answering your inquiry to build outside the Fort, I will say that it would be very unwise to do so and as to starting a new colony north of your settlement, I will say that I can see no real objection to Jehu Cox making the settlement on the stream six miles north as proposed, provided he moves no women or children there until Forts are built".

Soon after receiving this reply Jehu Cox, James H. Jones, Henry W. Sanderson, Lindsay A. Brady, Isaac Y. Vance and others left their families in the Fort at Mt. Pleasant, moved to the new quarters and erected homes which were surrounded by a small Fort.  The colony was named North Bend and later it was Incorporated into a city under the name of   Fairview.

Settling of Spring City

The year of 1859 was favorable for locating new colonies because of peace having been concluded with the Indians.

A second attempt was now made to resettle Spring City which the pioneers were forced to abandon in 1853, and remove their colony to Manti.  The Indians made their work of devastation complete; on January 6th, 1854, by burning the Fort which they had left and dwellings erected by the settlers.  The leaders of the second Colony were Bishop C.G. Larsen, George Blain, R.N. Allred and others.  They erected homes and commenced to farm under many difficulties.

Settling of  Moroni

At about the same time of the settling of Spring City, a party of pioneers from Nephi came up and selected a site for the location of a Colony.  This party was composed of G.W. Bradley, J. Woolf, Isaac Morley, H. Gustin, G.H. Bradley, Neils Cummings, and N.L. Christensen.  After settling upon the hills in the center of the valley, the Colonists named their Colony Moroni.

Settling of Wales

The same year (1859)  about fifteen Welsh Families under the leadership of John E. Rees settled on the present beautiful spot and christened the Colony, Wales, in honor of their native country.  They set to work at once to operate the coal fields uncovered there.  The coal was hauled to Salt Lake City and elsewhere for market.  This was the first coal mine discovered in Utah.

Settling of  Fountain Green

George W. Johnson, having obtained permission from Brigham Young to locate a Colony and get settlers, immediately after July 4th, secured the services of Albert Petty, then the County surveyor of Sanpete County and proceeded to survey a site consisting of five blocks.

August the first, George W. Johnson, his wife and three sons, Amos, Horace and Oliver, reached the place designated.  They were joined by J.B. Holman and family.  John Green, Sam Allen, Christian Otteson and family, Jacob Miller, W. Gibson, Rees Llewelyn and  Abey L. Sherman.  They located on a small stream which they named Uinta Creek and the Colony was named Uinta, but later incorporated into a city and named Fountain Green.

Official Program ~ North Sanpete Vs. Wasatch Academy ~ Friday, January 13, 8 p.m. ~ Armory Building