History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

CHAPTER XIII.
SETTLEMENT AND OCCUPATION OF THE COUNTRY.
1847-1852.
Founding of Centreville—Bountiful—Ogden—Ltnne—Easton—Marriotsville—San
Pete—Provo—Indian War—Walled Cities—Evansville—Lehi—Battle
Creek—Pleasant Grove—American Fork
—Payson—Nephi—Manti—Chief Walker—Fillmore—Site Chosen
for the Capital—Tooele—Grantsville—Kaysville—Little Salt
Lake—Parowan—Cedar City—Paragoonah—Forts Walker and
Harmony—Box Elder Creek—Brigham City—Willard City—
San Bernardino in California.
In the autumn of 1847 one Thomas Grover arrived
with his family on the bank of a stream twelve miles
north of Salt Lake City, and now called Centreville
Creek. His intention was to pasture stock for the
winter; and for this purpose a spot was chosen where
the stream spreading over the surface forms plats of
meadow-land, the soil being a black, gravelly loam.
Here Grover, joined by others in the spring, resolved
to remain, though in the neighborhood were encamped
several bands of Indians, and this notwithstanding
that as yet there was no white settlement north of
Salt Lake City. Land was ploughed and sown in
wheat and vegetables, the crops being more promising
than those to the south. But in May of the following
year the settlers were startled, not by the warwhoop
of the Utahs, but by hordes of black monster
crickets, swarming down from the bench-lands, as at
Salt Lake City, and bringing destruction on field and
garden. They turned out to do battle with the foe;
ditches were dug around the grain-fields, and the
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