History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

MENDON AND SMITHFIELD. 597
land, 61 and in 1860 the site was surveyed, the citybeing
divided into four wards in 1861, and incorporated
five }'-ears later. About five miles to the west
of Wellsville the settlement of Mendon was commenced
in 1857, 62 the settlers removing to Wellsville
in the winter of 1858-59 for protection against Indians,
and returning the following year in greater number.
The first buildings were of logs, with roofs and
floors of mud, timber being scarce in that neighborhood.
63
In 1859 Seth and Robert Langton, Robert and
John Thornley, travelled northward from Salt Lake
City in search of an agricultural site. Arriving at
Summit creek, they settled within half a mile of
the present town of Smithfield, Cache county. In
November the settlement was organized as a ward,
with John G. Smith as bishop, and in March 1860 a
survey was begun. A few weeks later troubles arose
with the Indians, 64 compelling the settlers to build
and take refuge in a fort, in which they remained
until late in the following year. At the close of 1861
there were in operation a lumber-mill, a molassesmill,
and a tannery, 65 and the town had then been
laid out in its present form. Other settlements in
Cache county were Hyde Park, five miles north of
Logan, and now on the line of the Utah and northern
railroad, where, in 1860, sixteen families were
gathered; 63 Providence, two miles south of Logan,
61 The first house was built by W. B. Preston and John and Aaron Thatcher,
who have since been the prominent men in Cache Valley. Sloan's Utah Gazetteer,
1884, p. 332. Hezekiah, the father of the Thatchers, had made money at
the mines in California, and was then esteemed the richest man in Utah, next
to Brigham. In 1879 his son Moses was ordained an apostle.
62 The first settlers were Wm Gardener and Alex, and Robt Hill. Walter
Paul, in Utah Sketches, 41.
63 The first stone dwelling was begun in 1866 by Jos. Baker; others soon
followed. Id., 41-2.
64 Caused by their stealing a horse. In a fight which ensued, Ira Merrill
of Smithfield and an Indian chief were killed. Another of the settlers was
wounded.
65 In 1861 a lumber-mill was completed, -and in 1864 a grist-mill. Francis
Sharp, in Id., 117.
66 At this date they lived in a fort. The town site was laid out in 1864.
Robt Daines, in Id., 120.