Sunday, 26 January 2025 by Sagacity

John Reese’s 9th Grade Class

Back (l-r): Cleone Carver, Vera Wayment, Margaret Freestone, Emza Musgrave, Jean Etherington, LauRene Thompson. Third: June Wayment, Miriam Weatherston, Ellis Lund, Ray Charlton, Ivan Hodson, Warren Williams, Ruth Wade, Tamara East, John Reese. Second: Lyle Thompson, Milo Ross, Eugene Maw, Earl Hipwell, Bill Hill, Keith Hodson. Front: Ted Christensen, Wayne Rose, Howard Hunt, Orlo Maw, Owen Wayment, Ellis Stewart, Delmar White.

This my Grandpa Milo Ross’ 9th Grade class. I believe this was at Weber High School, but I cannot confirm what grade year switched between Plain City School and Weber High School in Ogden. Several of these boys died in World War II.

Mr. John Major Reese (1896-1976), teacher.

Cleone Carver (1921-1994)

Ray S Charlton (1920-1991)

Edwin “Ted” Daniel Christensen (1921-2005)

Talma Bernice East (1921-2006)

Vesey Jean Etherington (1921-2000)

Margaret Freestone (1921-2017)

John Earl Hipwell (1921-2000)

William Stanley Hill (1919-1945)

Benjamin Keith Hodson (1920-1970)

Ivan Alma Hodson (1919-1982)

Howard Hunt (1921-1944)

Ellis Marion Lund (1921-1984)

Orlo Steadwell Maw (1921-2004)

Wilmer Eugene Maw (1920-2009)

Emza Ameriam Musgrave (1922-2007)

Wayne East Rose (1921-2017)

Milo James Ross (1921-2014)

Ellis Wayment Stewart (1921-1940)

James Lyle Thompson (1921-1999)

LauRene Thompson (1921-2010)

Ruth Wade (1921-2012)

June Ellen Wayment (1920-2012)

Owen Urry Wayment (1921-2008)

Vera Mary Wayment (1921-1989)

Miriam Weatherston (1921-2001)

William Warren Williams (1921-1988)

Heber Delmar White (1921-2008)

Sunday, 13 October 2024 by Sagacity

History of Plain City Pt 11

I have two copies of the History of Plain City, Utah. The front indicates it is from March 17th 1859 to present. As far as I can tell, the book was written in 1977. At least that is the latest date I can find in the book.

One copy belonged to my Grandparents Milo and Gladys Ross. My Grandpa has written various notes inside the history which I intend to include in parenthesis whenever they appear. They add to the history and come from his own experience and hearing.

I will only do a number of pages at a time. I will also try to include scanned copies of the photos in the books. These are just scanned copies of these books, I have not tried to seek out originals or better copies.

History of Plain City March 17th 1859 to present, pages 166 through 184. That is the end of the Plain City History!

Can you Remember or Did you know?

By Lyman N Cook

The following articles are a collection of stories and events that have been a part of Plain City. These are in no way a complete list of the stories that could be told. We have older people who can remember the colorful events and stories, the eras of history, and they should be told and recorded. I hope these people will do so while they are here to tell them. I have touched upon a few. Whether the stories are good or bad, it has been my purpose or intent to have all the questions and answers, but merely to help your mind reflect upon the beautiful memories of Plain City.

Please, as readers, do not take any personal offense or injury to any of the stories. They were not written with any unkindness in mind, but hopefully you will enjoy them.

The stories are, in reality, a tribute and a compliment to the early settlers of Plain City. I cannot comprehend the magnitude of courage and strength, and the hardships those early pioneer men and women endured. How unselfishly they worked and planned for the betterment of Plain City to make it a better place for you and I to live today.

I have a deep personal feeling that we owe them everything.

The most interest and pleasure that the book has brought to me has been the fact that I have had an opportunity to visit in the homes of so many wonderful and interesting people. Compiling, reading, and writing the history has so fascinated and compelled me that I have stayed up all night, only to find in the morning that I am just as refreshed as if I had slept all night.

The following people have been so kind and helpful to me in writing the stories. They have told me stories, and refreshed my memory. I feel a deep appreciation for them, and I feel that they should be recognized. They are: Mrs. Lavina Thomas (on tape), Lyle Thomas, Byron Carver, Lee Carver, Laura Musgrave, George Knight, Clyde Hadley, Amy Robson, Harvey and Jennie Cook, Dick and Luella Skeen, Bill and Nonie Freestone, Irene Skeen, Ivy Skeen Marsden, and many others: Kris Ewert, for her printing. A special thanks to all. And also Ina Poulsen.

“TRUE STORIES AND COLORFUL EVENTS OF PLAIN CITY “

SLEIGH BELLS

One of the pleasant memories of a cold, crisp, clear pioneer winter night, was the jingling of sleigh bells as families made their way to church or to visit with friends or neighbors. The rich sound of their ringing through the hollow night air could be heard all over town. First starting out faintly and then increasing in volume as they approached their destination. It would seem that the still, peaceful night was just made for the ringing of the sleigh bells.

Almost all the families had a string of sleigh bells that were a prized possession, and a family treasure. Some of the larger strands would go across the back of the horses and around underneath the stomach, also a strand would fit on the hames. The quality of the workmanship that produced the full, rich tones will continue to enrich our memories of the past. Maybe if we lost our minds be calm and drift back through the years, we can still hear the tinkling of the sleigh bells.

PIONEER HOMES, WASH DAYS, FEATHER TICKS, COLD BEDROOMS, OLD COAL, OR WOOD STOVES

The pioneer home was usually built with two rooms, and as the family income and new family members came along, they would add an addition of bedrooms, and a dining room, parlor, or living room. There was usually a large cook stove for the parlor and dining room. The kitchen was the center of activity in the home, and only on special occasions, or when company came, would they build a fire in the other rooms. They would usually bank the stoves with wood or coal to last as long as possible. But by morning, the fire was always out. They would have two or three coal buckets, and a kindling box, and some member of the family had the chore to see what they were always full. It took a strong constitution to roll out of bed on a cold winter morning and make the fire, and wait for it to get warm.

Monday morning in the home was washday. It would start very early and last all day. They would heat the water in a copper-bottom boiler and would usually boil the clothes to help get them clean. They used a homemade lye soap. The women scrubbed the clothes on a scrub board usually placed in a metal washtub, and after scrubbing, would rinse the clothes two and three times. They would then be hung on the clothesline to dry. There was a special pride taken in the wash and to tell a woman that she hung out a pretty wash was to pay her a special tribute.

The pioneer families would usually wait until cold weather to kill meat. They would cure it, salt brine it, or dry it. For fresh meat, they would put it in a flour sack and hang it high on the north side of the house. When they wanted fresh meat they would go outside, climb the ladder, or use a pulley to bring the flour sack in. They would cut off what meat they wanted and return the flour sack out on the north side. It was not uncommon to see flour sacks hanging from the north side of most homes.

The bedrooms were usually located on the north side on the north side of the house, and were the furtherest from the stoves. It was like going into another world, or the north pole to go to bed. If you slept with a brother or sister, you would try to get them to go to bed first so they could warm the bed. The frost and ice crystals would collect on the window glass usually forming in the fall and never leaving until spring. It would usually be about a half-inch thick on the glass. The frost crystals would form in beautiful designs and patterns on the windows.

The straw tick or mattress was made with a cover and filled with straw. Each year they would empty the straw, wash the cover, and refill it with new straw when they thrashed in the fall. They would place a feather tick on top of the straw tick, and it was filled with feathers from geese and ducks. It was really warm and soft. The sheets, blankets, and quilts were piled on the bed until they were so heavy that it was hard to turn over. It was especially nice when the dog would sleep on your side of the bed, as he made an excellent footwarmer. What a breed of people to survive the cold, hard time of pioneer life.

INDIANS

There seems to be no evidence of any Indian violence or hostilities in Plain City. However, they would visit the homes of the early settlers and ask for food. As a sign of friendship to the Indians, they would always give them food. It was a very frightening experience for the pioneer women to have the Indians call when the men were in the field working and they were home alone. The children were especially scared, and were taught to be very careful when they were around.

There were people alive today in Plain City that can remember when Indians would come into town and camp. Some favorite campgrounds were across from Paul Costley’s garage, and across the street north of George Cook’s home. The white kids always played close to home when Indians were in town, and they never went anywhere at night.

The Indians squaws would go to every home and ask or beg for food. The homes that were generous would be visited several times. The Indians would stay for several days, and they would then load their treasures and leave and go north. The Indians must have liked the people of Plain City because they returned each year for many, many years.

PERRY BOAT

The ferry boat and landing was located near where the river bridge crosses the Weber River on the Plain City, West Weber road on 4700 West. It provided a river crossing for people, cattle, sheep, horses, and wagons. The ferry was made of logs tied together, and a large molasses boiler and pole was used to push the ferry across the river.

In the spring when the flood waters covered all of the low lands, the ferry would run from the hill on the north side near the Warren canal to the hill on the south as you enter West Weber. When the water receeded, the ferry returned to the channel. It has been said that in the spring the Indians would come to the hill and if the ferry was on the West Weber side, they would call across the river until the ferry came to get them. Sarah Richardson Hodson could imitate the Indian’s call for the ferry. She seemed to know more abut the ferry than anyone we knew of.

It might be important to include information about the times before all of the times before all of the reservoirs were built to hold back and store the early run-off water. Almost every spring the river would leave its channel and flood the low lands of Slaterville, Plain City, West Weber, Warren and West Warren. During some years the water would be so deep the road was closed. As a boy I can remember traveling 4700 West when the water would be up to the running boards of the Model A. The last year of excessive water was in 1952.

Not too much is known about the ferry, but it lends itself to another colorful era of interesting Plain City history.

POST OFFICE

The Plain City Post Office was located where Neta Charlton’s home is located, or one block North of the school on the northeast corner. It was run by Charlie Neal and his wife, Pussy Neal. He ran the Post office for 25 years from 1877 or 1878 until 1902 or 1903 when the government closed the Post Office, and the mail was brought into Plain city by Fred Kenley and delivered by horse and buggy.

Merl England has in his possession a letter that was postmarked Plain City, Utah, August 8, 1891.

Pussy Neal had, and kept a start of live yeast and would sell it to the women of the town to use in mixing bread. Annie Skelton would send her daughter, Nonie Skeen Freestone, down to the Neal’s for yeast. It didn’t take many trips before Nonie developed a real taste for live yeast. She would buy a three-pound lard bucket full, but by the time she walked five blocks home, she would have half of the bucket drank. She claims that it was quiet a tasty drink.

EARLY BAPTISMS

A very important date in the lives of young eight-year-old people was their baptism. Nowadays this ordinance is performed in a stake center with a very beautiful font. Before this time, this ordinance was performed in canals, rivers, lakes, and ponds. One of the most popular places to be baptized was the First Rock Crossing, or seck, as it was called. This was located on Center Street next to George West’s home, long before the canal was cemented. There was a row of poplar trees along the street, and the children would dress behind the trees. Some people would take their children up the street in the buggy and dress them, and then return for the baptism.

There were usually just two baptisms a year, one in the late spring and the other in the early fall. As a result, there were usually several children to be baptized at a time. The children would sit on a log and wait for their turn.

Some of the young people went down to the river and were baptized. The location on the river was near where the present bridge is located. They used willow trees to dress behind. Laura Musgrave and Royal Carver were tow that were baptized in the river.

George knight told me that he was baptized in the Warren Canal about where the present pump is located. This was a colorful era of the past and should help to rekindle some pleasant memories for those who participated.

THE PRIVY, CRANNY, ROOSEVELT, OR ALIAS, THE ONE-HOLER, OR THE TWO-HOLER

There was a great deal of social status involved and a real pride taken in building, caring for, and beautifying the outdoor privy. Some of the seats were made of select lumber and sanded and smoothed to the point where they were quite comfortable. And on the other extreme, some seats were rough and slivery. Some families were careful to make the privy weather proof, while others you could look out the cracks in every direction.

You could usually tell the size of the family in the house, whether it be large or small, by the size of the property. Is it a one or a two holer?

Some of the families, to prove to the world that their cranny was something special, and a respected place, would cut beautiful designs in the top of the door. I never quite figured out whether the hole in the door was for ventilation, or simply to study the wonders of the sky at night. Some of the designs were a half moon shape, a diamond shape, star, or just a round circle.

The Skeen girls, Ivy Skeen Marsden, Lenora Skeen Freestone, and Jennie Skeen Cook, still maintain to this day that their little brother, Dick Skeen, learned to throw the baseball so very well by practice throwing at the privy. He would wait until the girls would get inside and lock the door, then he would open up the rocks, clods, green pears, or anything to keep them pinned down. Dick’s favorite was the dirt clod. He would aim for the hole in the door and throw the clod through. The clod would hit the wall, break up and shower the girls with dust and dirt. He would then really laugh when the girls would cry, scream, and holler for their mother to come and rescue them from their brother.

Halloween was a risky time for outdoor privies. One of the favorite Halloween pranks for the kids was to spend the night tipping over crannies. The only thing that I would like to say on the subject now is that I am ashamed and sorry, and I must report that I am one of the parents who feel like the kids of today are going to the dogs.

During the depression and late thirties, and prior to World War II, the government had a P.W.A. and W. P. A. program. Workmen would come to your home and build outside crannies. They had a cement floor and a lid on the seat. They were weatherproof, and most people who owned one felt like that was the next best thing to running water. They were called “Roosevelts.”

Usually an old Sears catalog would act as a years supply of toilet tissue.

Some of the more discreet families would keep a pot, or thunderjug in the house for emergencies during the cold stormy winter nights. This fact was considered the family’s dark, deep secret, and was usually emptied before dawn.

With the exception of two years in the Navy, I used the outdoor privy for 26 years, and first four years after I was married. We sometimes hear it would be nice to go back to the good old days, but certainly not to the days of the outdoor privy.

SCHOOLS

The first school was in George Musgrave’s dugout. He later held school in a one-room adobe.
The first public school was built on the south of the square. It was built out of adobe. It was one room.
There was a school located on the northeast corner of the square. The town and ward used this building for some social functions. It was built of adobe in 1873 or 1874.
The North school was located where Walter Christensen now lives.
The South school is still standing and was remodeled by Harvey Cook into a home. It is located where Gordon Sorensen now lives, and across from Eldon Weston’s home. This home was built of brick.
The Poplar School was located across from Augusta Nash’s home.

I have been led to believe that there was school classes being held in all these four schools at the same time. This world be shortly before and after 1900.

EARLY STORIES

There have been at least ten stores and meat markets in Plain City up the present time. Some of the stores have stayed in the same place, but have had several different owners. I’ll just mention where the old stores were located. There were two Coy Stores. They were owned by Sarah Coy and Eliza Coy. One was across the street about where Mildred Sparks now lives. This is about 2200 North and 4650 West. The old ZCMI store was where B & C foods is now located. Garner’s store was where the pool hall is now. England’s store was where Merlin England’s now lives. McElroy’s store was where Jack’s Garage is now located. Stoker’s was located one block behind the school where Gordon McFarland lives. Maw’s was located just west of the bowery.

John Vause built and operated a meat market just north of Adela Carver’s home. Some of Steve Knight’s family operated a meat market about where White’s Café is today. Peter M. Folkman had a meat market across from the school on the east side.

Most of these early stores would trade merchandize for eggs and butter. This was especially nice for the kids of the town because they could take one egg or more and trade for candy. There wasn’t hen’s nest that was safe in Plain City. Laura Musgrave tells of how she would get Nonie Freestone and they would raid Nonie’s father’s chicken coop for eggs to go to the store for candy. There was real safety for Laura, as she always has been real sharp in having Nonie in her own father’s coop with her.

BLACKSMITH SHOPS

Christopher Folkman was the first one in Plain City. He learned his trade in Denmark. It was located near Leslie Maw’s home and Elmer Carver’s home.
Janus Lund’s Blacksmith shop was located near Dennis Lund’s home. He died in 1908.
Rall J. Taylor started his shop in 1908 and the building still stands just north of Kirt Knight’s garage.
Lew Ericson’s shop was located on the property of Neta Charlton.
George Davis’ shop was near Phil Alsup’s old home and across the street from Thomas.
Lee Gould’s shop was located near where Florence and Carl Hodson now live.
Farley’s shop was located near where Sterling Thompson now lives.
Lyman Skeen’s shop was located just south of his old home. The property is now owned by George Skeen Cook.

THE EARLY DENTIST

Lyman Skeen acted as the early dentist, and his only speciality was pulling teeth. He had a special pair of forceps which are still in the possession of the family.

People came from all of Plain City to have their teeth pulled. In those days they didn’t have any dental check-ups, or fill any decayed teeth. If a person got a cavity, they endured it until the tooth would ache and then Lyman Skeen would pull the tooth.

He was a large man and once he hooked onto the tooth, he had very little trouble getting it out.

Some of his children report that when anyone came to have their teeth pulled, they would run into the house and hide under the bed and hold their ears so they couldn’t hear the person holler or scream.

Lee Carver tells the story about as a boy going down to Lyman Skeen’s and having a tooth pulled. He was told if he would sit still and not holler to scream, and act like a man, that Lyman would pay him .25 cents. It certainly must be one of the rare cases of a dentist paying his patient.

George Knight told me he made a trip to Lyman Skeen’s home to have his tooth pulled. He was told that if he would take it like a man and not holler or yell, that he could drive the mules and wagons. After the tooth was out they went out and harnessed the mules and hooked them to the wagon and George drove the mules to his home. George said that there was nothing that Lyman could have done to make him feel more important and give him a bigger thrill than to sit on the seat with Lyman and drive those large mules home. He was so excited that he forgot what he had gone down there for.

Ina Poulsen tells the story of her toothache when she was a girl. It was a large double tooth, and it had ached for days. She finally decided that having it pulled couldn’t hurt any more than the ache, so she went to see Lyman Skeen. She walked down to his place in the evening and they were eating supper. She said he got right up from the table and didn’t even finish his meal to pull her tooth. Annie got the forceps and sat her in his large grandfather chair. Again, the Skeen kids scattered and hid from the noise. Ina did mention that she did holler and scream, but it was all over in a minute. She said he was really good at pulling teeth. It also gives some insight into the quality, character, and gentleness of Lyman Skeen.

ICE HOUSE

An Interesting part of the history of Plain City was the old ice house. It was located across from the school on the property where Clara Folkman now lives and sat behind the old home. In the winter when the Four Mile reservoir, river and other water would freeze hard enough, they would cut it with ice saws. They would then haul it by team and bobsleigh to the ice house for storage.

Peter M. Folkman owned and operated the ice house, and in the winter he would have as many as twenty men working for him. They would work through the winter and would fill a rather large building with ice. They would cover it with wild hay and sawdust so it wouldn’t melt so fast in the heat and it would last all summer.

They would sell it to the people of Plain City for their use in the old wooden ice chest, for making ice cream, mainly for parties, and for whatever else their need was.

MARTIN SMITH AND THE MEAT WAGON

One of the colorful characters that would come into Plain City was Martin Smith. He owned a team of skinny horses and a closed-in meat wagon, and peddled fresh meat from door to door. He would come into town two or three times a week. He always carried a green willow switch, and would open the meat box, and use the switch to chase the flies out.

The lady of the house would come out to the wagon and look over the variety of cuts, or I would imagine he would cut whatever they wanted. A favorite pass time of the kids of the days was to try and sneak weeneys when he was busy with their mother. He was a sharp enough businessman that he made sure he always got enough money to pay for the weiners.

It sounds rather primitive in todays worlds, but it filled a need and is another colorful chapter out of the past.

GEORGE MOYES AND HIS MILK TRUCK

George Moyes had the first milk truck in Plain City. He delivered the milk to some of the homes in Plain City. It was George that was coming home from the dairy and discovered the fire in the dummy had started and burned Charlie Taylor’s barn. He used his load of milk to help put out the fire. I don’t know of anyone today who wouldn’t like to own that little truck.

THE EARLY THRASHERS

A colorful time on the farm was thrashing time. The first machines were horse powered, and were a great improvement over the hand method. These colorful pictures are some of the early steam-powered thrashers. There were men who owned their own machines and would do custom work for their neighbors. When the thrashers would move onto a farm, it would usually take several days to complete the farmer’s field.

While the thrashers were at the farm, it was the responsibility if the farmer to feed the men three meals a day. This consisted of many of the neighbors who helped each other. They worked hard and they required large meals. The women worked all day long to prepare the meals. The phrase, “I have cooked enough food for the thrashers,” was probably coined during this era. The farmer had to take care of the horses also.

The men usually carried their own bedrolls and slept on the new fresh straw.

Arthur Skeen and Frances Thomas owned and operated thrashing machines that I remember.

THE GYPSY HORSE TRADERS

The horse trader would come into Plain City once or twice a year. They would arrive in large white-top wagons leading a large number of horses. Some of the camping areas where they would stay were; out by the beet dump, by the water tower, on the square, and in the lot across from the Lyman Skeen home where George Cook now lives. They would stay about a week and would camp or live in their wagons.

The kids were frightened at the sight of the traders and the week they were in town they placed close to home and never ventured far from home at night. The traders were famous for taking things that didn’t belong to them.

As a boy I can remember the trader camps and walking through them with my father. Because of the shady characters and the stories I had been told, I can remember of never letting go of my father’s hand. To see the people involved and the many horses there were, made a lasting impression upon my young mind.

If any of the townspeople needed a horse or team, or wanted to sell any horses, they would bring their horses, or come to the traders camp. They would barter, trade, or sell. In order to make a sharp deal they would dicker all day. There were many stories told of how sharp a deal they made or how badly they got stung by the horse traders.

LYMAN DUMP

There were two beet dumps in Plain City. One was located across from the water tower, the other was the Lyman Dump located one-half mile west of the canning factory where the railroad tracks crossed 5100 West. It was named after Lyman Skeen because of his work on the railroad to that plant, and on into Warren. John Vause was the weigh master and was more or less in charge of the dump. They would haul the beets with teams and wagons to the dump, where they would be loaded on to the rail cars and taken to Wilson Lane for processing. At times the cars were not available ad they would pile the beets by hand. The pile had to be six feet high and stacked just right. When cars were available, the factory would pay the farmers thirty cents a ton to load the beets by hand and then into the cars.

A story is told of a certain farmer that would bring beets to the dump. The drivers were supposed to stay on the wagon to weigh their beets over with the wagons loaded, and then back their wagons across empty. This farmer would get off the empty wagon, stay on the scales, but would reach up and take hold of a board on the scale house, and pull most of his weigh off the scales. John Vause used to say, “ Look at that fat old ____. He thinks he is fooling me, but I always take 200 pounds off whether he is on the scale or not,”

Mervin Thompson was there ad tells a story about Lyman Skeen hauling a large beet rack full of beets to the dump with a four-horse hitch. The lead team was fine large horses and the back team was large mules. The dump was elevated with a steep incline up to a platform where the wagon would stop and be unloaded. It was high enough to clear a rail car and the beets ran down into the car. The decline from the platform was steep. He made his approach with the team struggling to pull the heavy wagon up the incline. As the teams lunged forward down over the decline. Lyman sprang to his feet and held the mules back so the wagon rode up against the rumps of the mules, and he moved the lead horses out fast enough to keep out of the way. He never lost a sugar beet. It was truly a great display of fine horsemanship. It was truly his ability with the horses that saved him and his team from death or injury.

He calmly made a circle around to the approach incline and took the teams up the incline. This time he was ready for them and the mules and horses stopped where they were supposed to. As the teams came down off the decline, they knew they had been taught a valuable lesson by a skillful master.

THE SWIMMING HOLES

If anything in this world can turn a man into a boy again, it is the pleasant memories of the old swimming hole. The warm summer days with friends and the happy, carefree times are the most memorable in a life time. There seems to be a special magnetic force that pulls and draws boys to water. It is especially difficult to try and explain to parents that special force, and why it was so necessary to go swimming so much. We lived in the water and the longest part of the day was the one hour we had to wait for our dinner to digest before we could go in swimming again.

Every irrigation canal, pond, river, or creek had their favorite swimming hole. The favorite holes in Plain City were not by the First and Second Rock Crossing, the canal, but Four Mile, Draney headgates, and the Anderson hole in the river. The Anderson hole was located just below the Warren pump by the bend in the river and northeast of the bridges. One could tell by the number of ponies, wagons, and buggies, that there was always a large crowd, and from the laughter and the noise, you could tell they were having a great time. The Anderson hole was secluded enough, and no girls around. For the men and boys it was pure skinny dipping. If any boy had shown up with a swimming suit in those days, they would have laughed him out of town.

The Anderson hole was the place all of the men and boys took their Saturday night bath. George Knight tells the story that he counted 65 men and boys swimming at one time in the river. Sant Madsen was the oldest at 65, and there was a young boy of about 6 years of age.

Wilford, or “Wiff” Skeen was considered the most gifted and powerful swimmers around this country. During World War I he swam on a Navy swim team. Gordon Thompson and George Knight said that Wiff was the most beautiful swimmer they had ever seen. Fred Kenley, I think, was I the Navy and traveled throughout the world. He said in all his travels that Wiff was the best Swimmer he had ever seen. He would put his little brother, Dick Skeen, on his back and swim out into the middle of the river. Dick must have been real little then, but he would dump him off and make him swim to shore while he carefully watched. Someone lost a shovel in Anderson hole and Wiff dove down to the bottom and brought it up, supposedly the only man to ever touch bottom.

Ogden City, Swifts, and the By-Products, began to dump raw sewage into the river and ruined probably the greatest memory maker in all of Plain City. It just seems so strange that man has a habit of always destroying his own best things in life.

DRIVING THE COWS TO THE PASTURE

The people who milked cows for their own use or who later on milked cows to sell the milk to the creamery, would usually drive their own cows to pasture during the summer months. The pasture was located one, two, or three miles from home. It would require taking the cows out in the morning and returning them in the evening. This responsibility usually fell to the younger members of the family and required a cow pony. In those days everyone’s home, yard, and farm area were fenced so the cows traveling to and from the pastures did not create a problem. During the hot, dry summer weather, the roads and trails of the cows were very dusty. It was very difficult to follow the cows very closely as the dust was so heavy.

One of these pastures was called the West Pasture. It was located north and west from Ivan Moyes’ home. This pasture was owned by several different people. The number of cattle they would put in the pasture was based on the amount of the pasture that they owned. In the evening the first person to the gate would open it and let the cows out. The cows, from force of habit, would follow the same trail to the town park where they would feed. It was not uncommon to see twenty-five or thirty milk cows feeding on the square in the early evening. The farmers would go to the square, collect their cows, and take them home.

For those who played baseball, football, or just played on the square, there were some real hazards involved after the cows had been there.

Modern feeding and milking techniques have eliminated the need for the daily move to the pasture and also the need for the fenced-in yards.

CANNING FACTORIES

Another very important industry in Plain City was the growing and canning of tomatoes. The first factory built in Plain city was across the street from Loyd Olsen’s at 1900 North 4700 West. Laura Grieves Musgrave tells of working in this factory filling the cans with tomatoes. She was just a girl at the time, and expressed how happy she was to be able to earn money in those days. At that time there was no child labor laws.

Part of this factory was later moved near the square and used by the maw family for their store and other buildings.

The second canning factory still stands at 1975 North 4650 West, and was used for many years. The sandy loam soil of Plain City seemed to be ideal for the tomatoes to grow and helped to give them the flavor, quality, and yield that rarely can be equaled. Times were very tough to earn money in those days, and many men and women would work at the factory in the fall of the year to help supplement their income. This factory was built in 1925.

The empty cans would be shipped in by railroad and the processed tomatoes would be shipped out to the railroad.

The events that impressed my memories most about the factory, were the lines of loaded wagons and trucks waiting to be unloaded. While the farmers waited for boxes, or to be unloaded, or for their tomatoes to be graded, they would visit by the hour. The stories and the tall tales that would be told during that time will long be remembered. It used to fascinate me to watch the women peel the tomatoes. The full pans would be scalded and go around on a belt. The women would take a full pan, core and peel the tomatoes, and when the pan was full, they would put their number in the pan and return it to the belt. They were paid by the pan, and it amounted to five cents to ten cents a pan. In later years it raised from eight cents to ten cents a pan. The fastest peelers could peel about 60 pans a day.

Some of the fastest peelers were Dorothy Christensen, Thelma Hodson Wayment, Doris Hodson Chugg, and Ruth Arave Taylor, deceased. Whether peeling tomatoes, cutting potatoes, thinning beets, wall papering, or whatever, Ruth Taylor, as I remember her, had to be the hardest working woman I ever know. I always marveled at her ability.

Can your minds eye visualize the smoke coming from the tall stack, and the pleasant tomato odor that drifted along the air currents through the town of Plain City.

PEA VINERS – PEA WAGONS

One of the early industries, or cash crops of Plain City was from the raising of peas. It t must be remembered that in the very early times, the settlers were only interested and concerned about food to keep them through the winter. As they worked and improved their homes, the roads, and the irrigation system, their ability to products more and vary their crops increased. It was then that they branched out into the pea industry.

The main pea viner was located on 2200 north, about a half mile west of 4650 West, on the north side of the street. It provided work for some of the men of the community, to stack the pea vines. In the winter the farmers fed the vines to their cattle.

The farmers would plant the peas in the early spring, and the harvest would begin about the 4^th of July. The pea vines would be out with a horse-drawn mower. They would pitch them on a wagon and haul them to the vines by a team of horses.

As young boys we would look forward to the horse-drawn pea wagons on their way to the viner. We would run out into the street and catch the wagon, pull off a big armful of peas, carry them into the shade, and eat peas all day long. I don’t believe that peas gave you as severe a belly ache as green apples, but it ran a close second. More important, we were ready to go after the first wagon the next day. As a young man, I pitched the peas on the wagon in the fields, and off at the viner.

Later, another viner was built out east. It was located about one-half mile east of the water tower.

In 1949, I was building my house and my friend and neighbor, Louis R. Jenkins, would come frequently and visit. He said, “You have a nice location, but when the wind is right you may be able to smell the pea viner, but you know, that’s a good smell.” I never forgot his statement though the pea industry lasted only a very few years after that date. But, who could ever forget the potent odor that came after the vines and the juices fermented. No wonder the people who hauled pea vines had very little, if any, sinus problems.

Epilogue: Included should be the smell and the people who would haul the feed fresh beet pulp.

TRAPPERS

The Plain City area is situated where there was many creeks, drains, sloughs, ponds, and water areas for the muskrats to live. It seemed to me at one time to another, about every young man was involved in trapping. This could have been an inborn spirit in each young boy to be a trapper or a mountain man. The season would usually start in the fall until the water froze, and then again in the spring when the ice left. It came at a time when jobs were hard to find for young men and provided spending money for them. Trapping provided a good source of money for me when I was going to high school. The hide buyers would usually pay from thirty-five cents to a dollar and a quarter, depending on the size of the hide.

A good trapper could usually catch around 100 rats a day. I know one trapper that brought and paid for a new car during one trapping season. Some of the better trappers in Plain City that I can remember were, Elwin Taylor, Everett Taylor, Lyman Thomas, and Joe Wheeler.

NICK NAMES

Practically no one grew up in Plain City without having a nick name tacked on to him or her, because of something they did, said, or the way they acted, or some mannerism. It was not all uncommon for a group of Plain City boys, just to impress a girl friend, to talk and call the individual by their nick name, and the girls never knew who they were talking about. On the other hand, someone may come into the town and ask for Don Singleton, Darrell Christensen, Boyce England, Elwin Taylor, Horace Knight, LaGrand Hadley, George Cook, Clair Folkman, Lynn Folkman, Eldon Weston, or Jay Freestone, only to be told that they didn’t know anyone living here by that name. But had they asked for “Seebo, ““Breezy,” “Buzz,” “Bunny,” “Skinner,” “Gandy Goose or Pety Hadley,” “Joe,” “Ober,” “Homer,” or “Grass,” the townspeople could tell them right away where they lived.

Some of these people whose names will be mentioned have passed away, and it is my purpose to pay tribute, and add to their good names, rather than take anything away from them. Some have also moved away, but they got their name in Plain City.

There are so many names that I simply can’t remember them all, but here are a few: “Buss” Lyman Skeen, “Rip” Ronald Skeen, “Geg” Garry Skeen, “Brig” Orson Knight, “Snide” Elmer Carver, “Suitcase” Blair Simpson, “Huss” Harold Hadley, “Tubby” Frank Hadley, “Duke” “ Frog” Kenneth Christensen, “Fooz” Grant Lund, “Hazel” Kenneth Lund, “Bud” Richard Dallinga, “Cirk” Keith Lund, “Sodie” Elmer Hipwell, “Diff” Jack Etherington, “Tiff” Clyde Skeen, “Taa” Jack Freestone, “Sunny” Lyman Freestone, “Bub” Howard Freestone, “Cork” Carl Hodson, “Tumbleweed” Don Van Sickle, “Red” Lyman Cook, “Chic” Dee Cook, “Heater” Bert Cook, “Beef” Wheat Taylor, “Big Chub” Charles Fulmer, “Little Chub” Robert Fulmer, “Buddles” Rulon Jenkins, “Curley” Quenten Jenkins, “Bun” Ray Hadley, “Weiny” Dwaine Hadley, “Mustard” Bill Hadley, “Napkin” Dennis Hadley.

“Punken” Elmer Ericson, “Eif” Kent Jenkins, “Perk” Ray Coy, “Bear” Ronald Hogge, “Stinne” Wayne Skeen, “Hinke” Verl Rawson, “Toad” Loyd Knight, “Tarzan” Thayne Knight, “Dob” Blaine Knight, “Ikee” Ivan Hodson, “Grit” Dean Moyes, “Bud” Knight, “Lym” Skeen, “Beaver” Gordon Hadley, “Trapper” Durland Hadley, “Deddy” Darrell Thompson, “Pubby” Vernal Moyes, “Sam” Lyle Thomas, “Gonnie” Kenneth Woods, “Jim” Theron Rhead, “Mag” Noel England, “Jim” Elwin Skeen, ‘Bones” Bob Folkman, “Swede” Brent Taylor, “Curly” Davis, “Mayor” Dean Baker. “Wimpy” Loren Facer, “Tooley” Louis Poulsen, “Dick” Elwood Skeen, “Mud” Claude Rhead, “Weeser” Gene Lund, “Fiddler” Elmo Rhead, “Hook” Harold Hobson, “Roan” Harold Ross, “Mike” Milo Ross, “Wheeler” Keith Blanch, “Luke” John Nash, “Tom” Vandel Maw, “Joe” John Maw, “Judge” Thayne Robson, “Bushy” Wayne Cottle, “Pickus” Paul Coy, “George” Cliff Folkman, “Willie” Warren Williams, “Wally” Wallace Knight, “Cruzz” Kent Robson, “Evert” Bill England, “Tom” Merrill Jenkins, “Aus” Bob Wade, “Cougar” Norman Carver, “English” Wayne Carver.

Something more interesting than the names is how each one got their nickname. You should ask some of them sometimes. We should announce from Plain city to the world that we have had for the last 55 years, the original ”Jaws” Paul Knight. It is very distressing and disturbing to read where some outsider has taken the name “Jaws” and capitalized on it, made a film, and grossed more than 25 million dollars, when the original “Jaws” had been in Plain City all along.

When we analize the personality, the good times, and especially the stories, I doubt that anyone in Plain City would take 25 million from our original “Jaws.”

THE PEST HOUSE OR PRIMITIVE HOSPITAL

The constant underlying fears that pioneers and early settlers lived with daily was the threat of disease, illness, or sickness. There just weren’t any doctors or medicine available, and if anyone got sick, they either got well on their own, or they didn’t make it.

If a dreaded disease, or plague, as it was called struck the early settlers, many of them felt like it was God’s way of punishing them for things they had done or for the things they had not done. There were so many mysteries and superstitions concerning that, that people acted and responded in what now might be considered strange ways. The people felt the best thing to do was to isolate the sick people, and as a result of this type of thinking, the pioneers built the Pest House. To make sure it was really isolated, the people went about a mile west of town on the bank of First Creek and built Pest house. The Pest House was located on the bank of the creek. There were some tall poplar trees surrounding the building, but have since been removed. Clyde tells me that information was handed down and told to him about the spot where the Pest House was located. Years ago there was some evidence of a building there.

When a person got sick, they would take him to the Pest house to get better. They were usually left alone to care for themselves. Someone from the town would take food and water, and provide some care, but for the most part, it was just a kill or cure method. In most cases the patients, if they died, expired from exposure or lack of care rather than from the disease because the building was poorly constructed.

During the Smallpox epidemic of 1871, or about then, there weren’t any public meetings held in Plain City from September until the next March. The people lived in total fear of the disease.

The William Skeen family was hit very hard with Smallpox and they lost four children. It has been told that while his family was very sick, he called for the church and they were fearful, they refused to go help. His friends also turned away. This good man was left to bury his four children all alone, and some of them at night. He was so disappointed in the Elders of the church and his friends, that he left the church and he named one of his sons that was born later “Frenz Denial.”

IMPORTANT FACTS

Ivan Skeen Marsden and Lona Ipson Watson were the first lady missionaries to leave from Plain City in 1914. They served in the Eastern States Mission.
The first car reported to be in Plain City was Dr. Rich, who drove out to treat a patient.
It mentions that Richie owned the first car. Some of the other early car owners were Tom England, John Maw, Lyman Skeen, and others. Later, Lyman Skeen owned an eight-passenger Chandler.
Sammy Sampson was one of the early barbers.
There are seven children of original settlers living today in1977 that we know about. There may be others. Four of them live in Plain City. They are:

Ada Skeen William Allred

Victoria Sharp Hunt

Mary Sharp Richardson

Ivy Skeen Marsden

Lenora Skeen Freestone

Jennie Skeen Cook

Elwood “Dick” Skeen

It is remarkable when you think after 118 years that there are still children of the first settlers still living.

Richard Lund was the early fiddle player in the town.

LYMAN SKEEN, OWNER OF GREAT HORSES

Lyman Skeen owned and loved great horses. He had two large barns full of fine Stallions, besides many work teams that he used in his construction business. He worked in Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho, on construction building canals, road beds, and whatever. He knew horses flesh and people would bring their horses from all over the country to have him doctor their horses.

Lyman made three trips to Europe to buy horses. On one occasion, he bought six head of Shire horses in England and brought them by ship to the United States, and by rail to Ogden. He also brought a little Englishman named Tommy ____ to take care of the horses and train them.

When they arrived in Ogden Lyman took Blaine Skeen, Elmer Skeen, Orson Knight, and others to help bring the horses home. Orson Knight tells before they brought them to Plain City, they paraded them down Washington Boulevard. He mentioned that no boy could have been prouder to lead those large horses down Washington. He said the little Englishman walked beside the horses with a whip, and he would crack the whip and the horses would rare up and prance and put on quite a display for the large horses.

Sline was probably the greatest Shire horse to ever come into the State of Utah, or the West. The little Englishman is holding Sline in the picture.

The Skeen kids can remember frequently someone yelling “Sline’s out.” and he would always prance up through the lot. Lyman would send his boys out to catch Sline, but they never could catch him. Lyman would sit back and watch his proud horse run and exercise, and when Lyman felt like he had enough, he would walk out and up to Sline and lead him to the barn. Whenever Sline had been he left hoof prints about a foot square through the garden.

“SLINE” – Importe I Three-year-old Shire Colt

L. SKEEN

One of these big Shire horses died at the age of three days. It was raised on a bottle by Annie Skeen, wife of Lyman Skeen.

SAMMY SAMPSON THE BARBER

Sammy Sampson barbered in his home which was located across the street from Dell Sharp’s home. He was one of the early barbers. Byron Carver tells of getting his hair cut there when he was a boy. He said, “You could ask for any type of a cut you wanted, but you only got one cut, mostly bad,” I can see Byron chuckle ass a twinkle from the past came into his eyes. “Oh it was bad,” he said, “and as long as you had any hair left, Sammy would keep cutting.”

On one occasion he went to get his hair cut when it was hot and Sammy was cooking something that didn’t smell too good. Some of the men who had gathered were smoking El-rope-o cigars, and Byron was getting light headed as he sat in the chair. As Sammy worked him over he became more ill. Sammy soaped his neck and shaved it with a large thick, straight razor, that scraped more than it cut. Sammy kept a pan of hot water on the stove with a wash cloth on it that he used to wash the soap off. As he laid that hot cloth on Byron’s neck, Byron rolled off the chair and fainted dead away. When he came to, big Lafe Skeen was holding him on his lap. That was one hair cut Byron will always remember, and as long as he is alive the memory of Sammy Sampson the barber will live on.

Sammy charged 5 to 10 cents a haircut in those days, and trim and shave on the older men was 15 cents.

THE RACE TRACK, PLAIN CITY’S FIRST

William Skeen owned some very fine racehorses and he built a racetrack to train his horses. The neighbors would meet on occasion and race their horses to test the speed against their neighbors horses. Stories have been told that there were some very exciting races held at the track. It was located near four mile reservoir.

They tell the story of a man from Ogden, who was quite a footracer and he was supposed to have challenged and bragged that he could beat a horse in a certain distance. It was well talked up and word spread around, and the race was held. There was a little money that changed hands quite a crowd. But you know, no one can remember who won the race. It was another colorful time in early Plain City.

THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT SHOW

Growing up as a kid during the late twenties, thirties and into the early forties here in Plain City was quite an eventful time. It seemed that the world moved at a slower more relaxed pace and there was time to enjoy visiting and to crate your own entertainment and fun. Depression times were very hard for most families, with very little one and barely the necessities of life. There was very little money available for entertainment and if you had any entertainment, you created your own. They were carefree happy times. As a kid you were lucky if you got into Ogden once a month or even once during the summer. By comparison with today, all the entertainment seems to be provided for the young people and all they have to do is show up with money and everything is provided for them.

In the summer kids games and ball games were a very big thing and something was going on every day and night. Hide and seek, run sheepy run, kick the can, and whatever else anyone could think up were always popular. Skating and sleigh riding were the fall and winter games. You would skate all day and build fires at night so you could skate even longer.

Sometimes in the thirties the movies began to be very popular. Someone from Ogden would bring a movie out to Plain City every Wednesday night. It was held in the upstairs of the old church house and there would be two to three hundred people or more watching the show. The admission was ten cents and hardly anyone ever missed the Wednesday night movie. There was usually a serial episode before the regular movie and it would last for about weeks. It would lead you up to an exciting climax and then announce, “To be continued next week.” I can remember they would be the longest weeks ever, waiting to get back to the show to see what happened. Tail Spit Tommy always a big feature with the serials.

There were some very spooky shows and I can recall small kids screaming and crying, and they would have to leave the show. The shows were scary, but the spooky part was walking home at night after the show. You were always extra light on your feet, and with any strange sound out of the blackness of the night, you would be at a full gallop and double your stride. Ah, but they were good times.

The automobile and the war, and the latest movie hits in Ogden all led to the down fall of the Wednesday night show in Plain City. It was a colorful era in Plain City and one that everyone seemed to enjoy.

A TRIBUTE TO BETTY

Somehow the roads of Plain City look and seem a little different now days without the familiar figure of Betty. Her shopping bag in hand, her figure that time and age had bent a little, and limp that the years had brought on, headed up the road to Ogden. Time had also slowed her steps, but not her to walk to town.

Probably Betty was born fifty years too late to fit in well with a changing society. He life was the simple life, and her wants and needs were few. She was very string willed, proud, and stubborn in some regards. She was very determined not to be pressured into joining the modern world.

Some people say she was eccentric, old, strange, but she was a rugged individualist who refused to conform to anyones standards but her own. As a result of her ways the young people would sometimes tease and torment Betty. But in her own way she ignored them and went her way. Is it not strange that we from our own little worlds are so willing to unfairly judge other people by out own knowledge and standards. Especially if their standards and personality traits do not measure up or lower down to our own.

I wouldn’t begin to know how many thousands of times Betty walked to Ogden, and back with groceries, even after she was around seventy five years of age. I suppose before we could fairly evaluate Betty we should ask the women of Plain City how many times they have walked to Ogden, and back home. Their were many people who were good to Betty and wanted to help her, but she seemed determined and happy to do things her own way.

Betty was a hard worker and she worked for many people in Plain City. Later she worked in Ogden doing housework. I carried mail in Ogden for thirty years and would see Betty working at some of the finest homes in Ogden. Her family paid me a tribute when they asked me to speak at her funeral.

Betty will be remembered as one of Plain City’s remarkable characters. If we let our memories wander a little, and though our minds eye we might still catch a glimpse of a shadow of Betty walking to town.

Sunday, 25 August 2024 by Sagacity

History of Plain City Pt 10

History of Plain City March 17th 1859 to present, pages 150 through 165.

SITE FOR NEW TOWN PARK

SUBMITTED BY FLORENE PARKE

In December, 1975, Mayor Lee Olsen and the Plain City Town Council consisting of William VanHoulten, Wayne Cottle, Darwin Taylor and David Thomas, passed a resolution to purchase 20 acres of land. This land was to be used as a recreational complex and also house the town hall and other municipal buildings.

On December 30, 1975, the City of Plain City purchased 20 acres of land from Bernard and Nora Poulsen. The land is located at the north-west corner of the intersection of 2200 North and 4100 West Streets.

The long-term plans for the park included three regulation ball diamonds, (two softball diamonds, and a little league ball diamond); an equestrian arena and open space exercise area to be used for football and other activities requiring large open spaces. A site identified for future development of municipal structures may include a swimming pool, restrooms and parking areas.

Purchasing and developing the land is an expensive process. It is the intention of the City Council to program the work in six one-year phases. Development of the equestrian arena was part of the first year’s phase.

The area housed an arena known as Paul Knight’s Arena. It has been used in the past for several Junior Possee competitions, calf roping meets, and various horses related events. The arena needed fencing and landfill and water installations.

In December, 1976, the Plain City Lions Club, in cooperation with the parents of Junior Possee members, had the area surveyed and hauled 103 loads of sand necessary for a proper working arena. Approximately 30 volunteers donated their time and equipment for two days to complete this part of the work.

Heavy gauge chain-link fencing has been purchased with money from the town and from money raised by Junior Possee members through various fund raising projects. The fence will be installed as soon as the weather conditions permit.

Plain City’s Junior Possees, Four-H groups, and the many other residents interested in equestrian sports will have a safe place for their activities, and the town will have an arena to be proud of.

Paul’s Arena as it is known today, which will be rebuilt into the Town’s new Park. Used for many years for horse and Jr. Posse events.

*A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS IN UTAH

BY WAYNE CARVER (SON OF ELMER AND JANE CARVER)

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH

CARLETON COLLEGE

It isn’t that way now. The quiet fields are broken into building lots and the farmers build jet engines in the city and garden with a tractor after work. The old canal is lined with concrete and in the center of the town the Saturday and sun-drenched baseball diamond has shrunk to softball under lights, and the county has built a tennis court just off third bade for a game the kids are beginning to learn to play in white shoes.

The frame store with the pot-bellied stove smelling of sizzled tobacco spit and with the mash sacks and rummy dive in back is a supermarket now where wives in stretch-pants by barefoot and frozen chopped broccoli by the ton and aerosol bombs that go “SwwOOOOOOsh” and keep off the bugs or put on your pie a water glob of something threatening to be white and that keeps your arteries open.

It isn’t the way it used to be in that un-fluent time of plowing, planting, watering, hoeing, furrowing, harvesting, and throwing the harvest in the river to be pickled in the Great Salt Lake. It is the affluent society now, of missile sites and loan companies, and the ice cream comes come frozen in glazed wrapping and taste like the strips of brown paper we used to put our upper lip to stop the nosebleed. And I have not been back for Christmas for many and many a year – to the long everyday stocking with a fifty cent piece squashing the toe, the large orange pressing the half dollar down – a thick, loose-skinned orange that peeled clean and dry – to the heaped snow that fell on every Christmas eve – I have not been back, and it isn’t that way now – and all I can do is gather a crystal or two from a vein of quartz- or is it foolsgold? – in Time.

****

In the bed-covering warmth of the high ceiling room in the weather-bent old house between the mountains and the salt lake, nothing was alive at first except the dry flopping of the harness straps against the horse’s matted cost and the cold jangle of the chains against the horse’s matted coat and the cold jungle of the chains against the single-tree of the go-devil that Dad used to clear the paths between the house and the barn, the barn and the chicken coop, the chicken coop and the house, and to gouge a trial down the drifted lane to the country road where the snowplows from the shops in Ogden would come later in the day. Lying in the dark that is beginning to be thin out like spilled ink, we hear coming through the window the flopping and the jangling and the sliding rumble of the triangular runners as they push aside rocks and twigs and skid down the sides of irrigation ditches, and the tongue clicking and “steady, boy, steady,” of Dad as he talks to the horse. Hearing this, and seeing from under the door the orange line of kitchen light and, without listening for it, hearing the first snapping of the kindling in the range and smelling, without sniffing for it, the sulphurousness of coal smoke, we know- all three of us – that we have been trickled ourselves and somehow, we can’t say how, had fallen asleep – sometime, somewhere, – back in that black night and that Christmas had come again and caught us sleeping.

Then the tinny, descending jingle of loose bedsprings, the cold shock beneath the warm flannel pajamas legs, the cold fluttering linoleum slap against the feet; and the orange line beneath the door flashes upward and out: We are across the kitchen, through the heavy coal smoke to where the living room door id barred, sealed against us, as mother, at the side door, calls outside, and Dad comes in.

Daylight comes with the smell of oranges, pine, needles, pine needles, and chocolate, and coal smoke from the heater, and the brittle crack of hazel nuts and the tearing raveling crunch of peanut shells, the shimmering glissando of tissue paper crushing, the sweet sticky slurp of cherry chocolates, and the crack and shatter of peanut brittle. Amidst the smell, above the sounds, comes the “oh, just what I wanted,” of Mother and the “Very nice, very fine,” of Dad and the “One -two-three-four! I got four presents that’s simply more than anybody,” of Mary and the “This Wheel’s just fine cause it’s got a burr on the axle, not a cotter key,” of Nephi, and the “Billy’s got this book, he’ll not swap. I’ll swap with Rex,” of another.

By mid-morning the board valley glisten under the cold sun, and you have gone alone through the fields I the over-the-boots snow and along the row of willows besides the canal and watched the muskrats swimming in the alley of dark water between the frozen banks, have seen the runic tracing of the quail and pheasant trails and shaken the loose snow away from your collar that a magpie knocked down on you as you passed beneath the cottonwood trees to Rex’s place where you ate rock candy, swapped the extra Bomba you had read for the Army Boys in France that you had not. By noon you have been to Bill’s through the glare of the sun and snow and shown him your hi-tops with the long grey woolen socks ad the fold-over edge of red at the top and eaten peanut brittle, been to Grant’s and seen the new skates, shown-off the cream and green cover of your Plunk and Luck and eaten candy, been along the roads, the ditches, the trails until the snow packed into ice inside your boots has sent you home to dry and then, drying, behind the big heater in the living room to sail on the stack of books to all the great green world that never was and will last, therefore, forever.

The crunch and ravel and shimmering tinkle is gone from the room now. The quiet is there like a field rippled with snow until the others return from their rounds, and in from the kitchen come only the first rasps ad scrapes and clicks and hacks of dinner’s getting underway. There is pine tree and warmth and the smell of chocolate syrup. Behind the stove Bomba the Jungle Boy crouches in the grass besides the trail as the enemy patrol with poisoned darts in their quivers and blow guns in their hand file slowly by the disappear into the tangled heat of the jungle. In the gassy, coal smelling clearing Bomba is wiping into glittering brightness the still smouldering and dripping blade when, bursting through the streaming wall of branches and vines, comes Aunt Em’s bellow of tribal greeting, followed by a safari of cousins and a diminutive uncle, each one bearing weapons and supplies clutched in their careful and love-filled hands.

“Good Lord, Louisa, there you are just as I figgered, sweating out in the kitchen while everybody else has a fine faretheewell. We’re late but I been after Ephriam since daybreak to get them cows milked so’s we could get on our way. By Judas Priest, you would thought the man had never milked a cow before. Biggest kid in house for Christmas. I get more work out of the cat than I do him. Lordy! You ought to see that house. You can’t see out the windows for trash, and I’m so flustered I think I sliced an egg on the jello and a banana on the hot potato salad. I’m afraid to look, I tell you. And Moroni? – he was out chasing the girls until je ought to have been home milking, too; and, Lord, Sara and nell, you’d of thought they never been given anything before. And all the time, Eph draggin’ along, them cows moanin’ out in the barn, their bags so full they’d like t’have died, nothing to eat – it’s a good thing for that, I suppose. Why, he didn’t get out of the house until ten O’clock, the milk man had come and gone by two hours and all the time me trying’ to bake a cake in a crooked oven with the coal Wilbur man sold us at a special and, Louisa, I’m tellin ’you it ain’t coal at all. It’s just dirt. It’s better dirt than half that hard scrabble your man’s farming down there in Salt Creek, and if Wilbur can sell that sandy loam he sold me for coal, I’s say Josiah’s got a fortune in fuel under that field of onions he tries to grow ever summer. Glow! I’s by there t’other day lookin’ for the horses before the shruf stray-penned “ em and I say to Eph, “Josiah’s got a nice five acres of picklin’ onions out a that salt flat he’s tryin’ to farm. Ought to get a special price, seein’s how they pickled all summer. Grow! I’s by ther t’other day lookin’ for the horses before the shurf stray -penned “em and I say to Eph, “ Josiah’s got a nice five acres of picklin’ onions out a that salt flat he’s tryin’ to bake this cake, and roast a shoulder of pork and fix the salad and I’m up to my chin in candy and nuts and wrappin’ paper until I finally just booted everybody out the back door and said, “Lordy, go over t’the neighbors and dirty up some fresh territory while I get something done.” So they did. Except Eph. He’s still settin’ there in his new robe and slippers, dozin’ mind you, his head bobbin’ back and forth like a derrick fork. And them poor cows hollerin’ to be milked, and finally I told him, “Lord almighty man, go out there and take out enough milk to relieve their pain anyways, even if you don’t care about no milk check next week.’ So he did. Well, here we are. Where d’you want me to put the roast to keep it warm, Here! Give me that knife, I’ll peel the taters. Don’t you get no help? Where’re your kids? You get started on the rolls, woman. This house is goin’ to be crawlin’ with starving prople before we get turned around and us without a thing to put in their mouths.I thought I told you Big J flour’s better’n this other stuff. Lord! I don’t know what’s goin’ to happen to us. Ten o’clock milkin’; I tell you, I thought I’d never live to the day.”

And then the green jungle explodes into white brightness and come alive with cousins and uncles and aunts as the tribal dance around the tree begins and the hecatombs are offered to the angry powers of hunger and love: roast chicken, roast turkey, hams, and pork shoulders, brown gravies, chicken gravies, sage and giblet stuffing, candied yams and sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, creamed corn, wax beans, lima beans, and string beans, carrots – tossed salads, potato salads, gelatin salads, cream pies, fruit pies, mince pies, pumpkin pies, chocolate cake, and white cakes, jello ad whipped crème and sliced bananas, candy in dishes and boxes, apples, oranges, and bananas – and one cup of coffee brewed just for Uncle Heber, the free-thinker of the tribe who risked the taboo, and for him, too, the cracked saucer for the ashes of his cigar.

And above the crack of celery, the clack of china, the clink oof silverware, the chattering drone and occasional giggle or scream, and through the acrid halo of smoke around Uncle Heber’s head comes Aunt Em’s piercing voice: “It’s a foul habit and an abomination in the sight of God, Heber, and I’d rather see my brother take to drink than terbakker the way you do. And coffee defiles the temple of the spirit in a worse way, and Louisa’s curtain’ll smell of Christmas and sin until the Fourth of July because of you.”

And though the drone and chatter, Uncle Heber’s: Sis, you finish your meal in your way; I’ll finish mine in mine. The Prophet used to smoke, so did Brother Brigham – and chew. They chewed and spit like any man. I sin in good company. Fact, is sis, if the truth was known, smokin’ and good coffee got to be a sin because Joseph had an allergy to caffeine and nicotine. Used to break out in hive after every cup of joe and every satisfying drag, so he made both a sin. Say, get me a stove match will you, sis, while yer up – in the kitchen there. See? A good cigar goes out if it ain’t appreciated.”

And then through the long dying of the day, the world beyond the oppressive clearing behind the stove goes on. Bomba frees the friendly white girl, eats a tapir, while through the nebulous jungle wall from far beyond come the shouts and squeals of cousins and brother and sister play, the falsetto chirping of Aunt talk, and the grumbling bass of Uncle talk. And as the Army boys march aboard the transport in New York to go to France with “Lafayette, we are here,” on their lips, there hovers in the air of the stifling, coal-gas smelling hold of the transport:

“Franklin D. Roosevelt was sent by God to lead his children out of bondage.”

“I like that man’s smile. Then he sticks them cig-roots in his mouth and I tell you I jist don’t know!”

“We should have won that game on the Fourth; Freddie just got a leetle tired. . . .”

“Walkin’ on to my farm and tellin’ me what I can grow and what I can’r. I sicked the dog on that little pipsqueak. . . .”

“Doak, that big elephant, fannin’ twice with men on. . . . Never could hit a round-house out.”

“. . . on relief until his first paycheck . . . blew it all one weekend at Elko. . . “

“Next time Brig Roberts umpire, I say protest the game. . . “ “Two of them Clinton players smoke. I seen ‘em. . . “

“Good for them . . . “

“Heber!”

“Paid in paper script. . . not worth the paper it’s . . . “

“. . . kept track the last three games . . . fanned four times with one on . . . “

“Farmers the last one to get anything from a government . . . “

“We got 3.2 beer what we have to risk damnation to drink. But the price of tater’s about the same as when Hoover. . . “

“ Eat the taters then the shut up. “ S bettern defilin’ Em! We’d live forever, that a-way – the two of us.”

“Ha!”

“Only hit all year as I remember rolled down the gopher hole back of first base in West Warren for a ground rule double. . . some clean up hitter be is. . . “

“don’t care how the man smokes. I’d vote for FDR for God tomorrow if I had the chance..”

“But President Hoover says. . . “

“To Hell with President Hoover!”

“Heber! Heber! Heber!”

And now Bart, the oldest, most handsome, most dependable of all the Army Boys in France, escaped from the hospital in the rear, slogs through the nuts, shells, and package wrapping of rural France, wet, cold, delirious, dropping into shell holes as the rat-a-tat-tat of a match-shooting gun rattles out of the living room from behind the sofa. In the lull that follows, as the darkness comes on, a command rips across the subdue murmur of No-Man’s Land: Ephriam! It’s milkin’ time. Lord! Let’s go on home and see how many cow’s got mastitis from this mornin’. Judas Priest! One thing for sure. Never milk a cow, never have to. They’ll have their bags caked-up like a lick of salt. Come on, Eph!.

And Uncle Heber, rising from the waves of cigar smoke, “Emmie sit down. For the Lord of all the Lamanites. I only see you about once a year, it seems like.”

She, settling back into the sofa, “That’s for sure.” There is a long quiet. Then, “But Heber, when’re you going to come to your senses and make your peace with me and the Church.”

I’m ready, Emmie, always have been. For you or the Church. But I figger the Church’ll be a dang sight easier to settle up with that you.”

From inside the pill-box in the living room comes another burst of fire, and Bart, with his dependent buddies, crawls along a little stream in the gassy gloom of twilight, trying to get a bearing on the mortar that is lobbing rounds into the Company. And Bart whispers, “I’m going over there to see what it looks like, anyways.”

“No, no, bart,” from his friends. But he, “Remember the Luistania.” Ashamed, they say no more. “It may not be what I’m after but just beyond that hill is where I need a pig for winter dressing up, and if Parley P. Brown – Goodie-Two-Shoes Brown, we called him in school – has got what I want –“

‘Heber! That’s talk I won’t hear. He’s a God-fearing man and –“

“And a man practically lacking in the power of speech, Em, that’s what he is. Why, Em whenever I think you’re right, that I’m a sinner temporarily damned to a lower degree of glory, I remember the day I went over there to buy that pig. We’re out in the pen, see – a sloppy pen if you ever saw one – and all these weaner pigs are grunting around in there. I’ve got this gunny sack and a three foot piece of two-by-four, but Parl Brown don’t so things that way. No Sir! ‘You stay here, ‘ he says and he crawls in that stuff. I’ll return presently with a shoat.” Return! Presently! Shoat! The man can’t talk. Well – anyhow – he slops into the pen. He corners one of the wet-snouted little balderdroppers, lunges at it and, by Christmas, kisses by half a foot – skids into the plank wall. Judas Priest, I though he’d killed himself. Picks himself up. Scrapes himself off. Looks over at me. You could hardly see his face. ‘Little rascals,’ he says, and grins; he corners another. Dives again, skids, misses, splatters, hits, stands up,wipes, away at himself a bit. Elusive little tykes,’ he says, turns, gets ready to do it again. I’ve had enough. ‘Parl!’ I beller at him. He looks around. I crawls over the fence. By jaspers, I’m near tears, ‘Parl, for Juniper’s sweet loving sake, man, don’t talk to pigs like that. Now you go on, get out of here!’ He goes, me pushin him. Then I turns to the litter and look them square in the eye. They’re all backed into one side and a corner, still and quiet. They’d sense the change right off. Then I hold my two- by out in front where they can see it. I drops my sack open, the mouth of it facing them. I drops on my haunches and teeters a bit. Then I says, real tight and lowlike: ‘Now – you little thin-snouted, bleary-eyed runty-backed, spiral-trailed sons of this litter, one of you hop into this sack.’ Why, almost immediately, you might say, the one nearest the sack trots over, sniffs a hit, squeals a little, and walks in the sack and curls up. I snap the sack to with a piece of binder twine, hoists it over my shoulder, climbs ion the pick-up and brings it along home. Paid Parl a day later by check. Well, Emmie, you see the point? Sin has its place. A man like Parley P. Brown might not defile the curtains in the parlor, might make it all the way to the Celestial degree of glory, but he’s not worth a good God- damn in a pig pen.”

Then the war draws to its close in the snow of winter and the troops march home from No-Man’s Land, over there, over there – across the rubbles of papers and candy and peanuts and broken toys and needles from the trees, and , suddenly, the lights all over the world come on to Mother’s: You’ll ruin your eyes, son, reading in the dark behind that heater.”

And only the others are there now – the other two and Dad and Mother – and we eat a sandwich of cold chicken and have some milk out of the big pan in the pantry and we have family prayer around a chair in the kitchen. Kneeling there, the linoleum burning its cold into our knees, everything is love and one and whole. The day is blest, and all the days to come.

In the bedroom we shiver against the cold sheets and giggle and fight for warmth against each other.

In enveloping blackness we hear the squeak of the snow under Dad’s boots as he walks for the check-up to the barn and hear the sounds of cleaning up from the kitchen.

Overhead the attic creaks as the old house sways a little in the winter chill that comes down on a black wind from the black mountains to the east an moves through the valley and across the salt lake and into all the years to come – but that cannot touch the bed-covering warmth of a Christmas that is past.

*Reprinted by permission of ‘The Carleton Miscellany”

Northfield, Minnesota 55057

FIRST PLAIN CITY CANNING FACTORY

This was the first canning factory in Plain City. It was located across the street from Loyd Olsen’s home at about 1900 North 4700 West. The factory was built around or before 1900. The picture was taken in 1906 or 1907. The factory was torn down in 1916 or 1917 and part of it was moved to become part of the john Maw store. Laura Musgrave remembers working there as a girl.

We do not have the names of those in the picture, but were told that the older man on far right is Abraham Maw who run the factory. He is the father of Henry T. Maw and grandfather of Abraham Maw.

PICTURE TAKEN ABOUT 1900

Front row left to right:

Trina Folkman, Wilford Danvers, Lonna Richardson Miller, Thomas Jenkins.

Second row left to right:

Elea England Watson, Dave Geddes, Luci Rawson, Sophie England, Jed Skeen, Melissa Carver.

Third row left to right:

Rose Stoker, Cerilla Richardson, Lorenzo Lund, Sussen Geddes, John Moyes, Riley Skeen, Lyman Skeen, Emily White, Richard Lund.

Peter Green was on the original photo with only part of him showing. You could see his hat and right arm and leg.

EARLY ORCHESTRA

The man with the cap is Robert Hunt. He is Clara Hunt Singleton’s brother. Clara was the mother of Florence Singleton Simpson.

OLD PHOTOS

Above two: Plain City’s 110 year Anniversary.

Picture taken in front of the old dance hall. In 1959 on the Sunday nearest the 17^th of March no cars were allowed at the church, just teams and horses and buggies. The people came to church in pioneer dress as a climax to a weeks long celebration.

Above: Rear view of the old Church house. The upstairs was a recreation hall with a stage.

PLAIN CITY CANNING COMPANY

The Plain City Canning Company was built in 1925. They operated the factory for over 30 years. During World War II they used prisoner’s of war for laborers during the canning season. It is owned by George Cook.

EVERETT’S PLUMBING

This building was built by Everett Taylor for his plumbing business.

BUSINESSES OF TODAY

BUILDERS BARGAIN CENTER

Builders Bargain Center, formerly England’s Builders. This business was started and run by Chester England for many years.

The Confectionery, but known to everyone in City has the Pool Hall, or the Grog Hall.

BUSINESSES OF TODAY

BARNES FURNITURE CO.

Barnes Furniture Co. was started by Hebert and Elida Barnes in the winter of 1948-1949. Elida had acquired upholstery skills through Utah State Extension Services with offices in Odgen. Herbert learned wood work, restyling and remodeling from Utah Defense Depot. An elderly German refinishing craftsman taught Hebert the refinishing craft. Later on both had upholstery training through Weber College.

The first shop was one-half of a small railroad box car situated east and south of the present shop at 1600 N. 4700 W.

This makeshift shop was soon out grown. The present shop erected in 1953.

FIRST SHOP

Now owned by George Cook and used as a bath house.

PRESENT SHOP OF BARNES FURNITURE

BUSINESSES OF TODAY

PAUL COSTLEY GARAGE

This garage opened in the fall of 1947, and is located north of the city of Plain City.

C. & B. REPAIR SHOP

The C. & B. Auto Repair Shop owned by Curt Knight and Bruce Hall. The old building at the left is Rall Taylor’s old blacksmith shop.

BUSINESSES OF TODAY

CLIFF FOLKMAN SERVICES

Cliff Folkman operated a gas station in this location for over 30 years. He moved into the new building in the fall of 1964, located in the center of town, on the east side of the Square.

WHITIE’S CAFE AND ICE CREAM PARLOR

Dennis White opened his cafe in the summer of 1976. It is located on the east side of the Square.

BUSINESSES OF TODAY

UTAH TRANSIT AUTHORITY BY RUTH FOWERS

On Tuesday, July 6, 1976, the Utah Transit Authority started regular bus transportation services to Plain City area. The bus arrived in Plain city at 6:55 A.M. and returned to Ogden through Slaterville by way of Pioneer Road. The schedule continued every 40 minutes, the late bus leaving Plain city at 6:55 P.M., Monday through Saturday, with o service Sunday or holidays. It is called Route #20 Plain City.

This service had been in the planning for some three years prior. The U.T.A. is supported by quarter of a cent sales tax. The fare being 15 cents for adults and 10 cents for children and senior citizens, with senior citizens allowed the courtesy ot ride free between the hours of 10 – 3 and after 6 P.M.

Many citizens are enjoying this method of transportation to and from Ogden, some extend its service to Salt Lake City and return.

BANK OF UTAH

Nov. 27, 1972, marked the grand opening date for the Plain City Branch of the Bank of Utah.

The bank has had a steady increase in its patronage since the beginning. Services are available to all the citizens in the surrounding towns. Some clientele come from as far as south Brigham City.

The bank started with three employees and now as four.

Sunday, 23 June 2024 by Sagacity

History of Plain City Pt 8

History of Plain City March 17th 1859 to present, pages 123 through 140.

SPORTS IN PLAIN CITY

By Lyman H. Cook

Plain City’s most prominent claim to fame has been through the sports program and the great players and teams that the town has produced. I know of no other town to community in this state, to possibly out of state, that can equal the accomplishments in the total sports program as the town of Plain City. I don’t know how many hundred championships or trophies this town has won in baseball, basketball, softball, volleyball, and Jr. Posses, over the last 75 years or more. We include the young teams and people in the town, and also the girls. These trophies and championships came from local, county, multi-county, state, stake division, region, multi-region, and All Church basketball, softball, and volleyball, which is the largest leagues in the world.

On February 14, 1977, at 3:30 PM, there were 226 trophies in the trophy cases at the Plain City Church. I couldn’t begin to estimate the number of trophies in the homes here in Plain City. Can you comprehend the number of teams involved and especially the number of people involved on the teams in accomplishing this great record.

There seems to be a special spirit, or force, ambition, or drive, that compels players to excel and teams to win. The will to win in Plain City is the strongest I have ever known. We have been accused of playing dirty, or being poor sports, but in answer to these charges, I would submit the phrase: We just play hard, and the spirit of competition just brings out the best in us. In Plain City you don’t hope you can win, you are expected to win. Some communities dislike us for our sports program because it is so strong, and in reality, they judge their success of their season by the fact of whether they can beat Plain City or not. I realize these are rather potent and strong statements, but never the less, they are all true.

We dedicate this section of sports to all the people who have ever played on a team in Plain City. We realize that some names will be missed and it is not our intent to forget anyone, but we can’t remember all, and this is all of the sports material that has been turned in for the history. If your name is left off, write it in, and if you were star of the team, write that in also.

We have asked for and received personal write-ups on a few people who have signed professional contracts or have distinguished themselves in certain sports. We recognize them for their talents in that they in turn have brought special recognition to Plain City. I am sure these talented athletes would be the first to recognize their fellow members, for they realize that no one man is bigger or better than the whole team, and in this light, we recognize the teams they played on.

From 1944 until the present, there were three basketball teams that went to All Church and won two second places. Commencing in 1951 through 1954, we played in four fast-pitch All Church Tournaments. We won a second-place finish and eight-place finish.

In 1953, we played on a volleyball team that went to the All Church Tournament and won the Sportsmanship Trophy, which was a great honor. The team that played were: Dee Cook, Lyman Cook, Wayne Cottle, Wayne Skeen, Blair Simpson, Kenneth Lund, Harold Hadley, and others we couldn’t remember.

There were teams that went to the All Church Slow Pitch Tournaments from Pain City for three years. They won two All Church Championships, and a third-place finish. There have been some excellent younger teams in baseball, basketball, and softball, and a Junior team last year (1976) won a second-place in a

The All Church program.

This was one of the early teams of Plain City, and this picture was taken around 1910. They played together for many years, and they won several championships.

Top Row: L to R: Joe Hunt, Tooley Louis Poulsen, Preston Thomas, Parley Taylor, Jack Hodson.

Middle Row: L to R: Mr. Anderson, Coach, Jim Thomas, Melvin Draney

Bottom row: L to R: Oscar Richardson, Joe Singleton

Tooley Poulsen played on many championship teams, and played several positions, mainly second base and catcher.

This was one of the first Mutual basketball teams in Plain City. They played their games in the upstairs of the old hall. Lyle Thomas reports that you didn’t have to be polished to play on this team, just big and rough, for there was very little whistle blowing in those days. This picture was taken in about 1925, and they won several championships.

Back Row: L to R: Rulon Jenkins, Lyle Palmer, Marion Sneed, Milton Garner

Front Row L to R: Theo Thompson, Ralph Robson, Coach Ellis Giles

This was the 1930 Plain City Baseball team. They played for State Champion ship.

Top Row: L to R: Horace Knight, Albert Sharp, Walter Christensen

Middle Row: L to R: Floyd Palmer, Angus Richardson, Arnold Taylor, Walter Moyes, Abram Maw, William Freestone

Bottom Row: L to R: Clair Folkman, Gilbert Taylor, Dick Skeen, Fred Singleton, Frank Skeen, Elmer Carver

BASEBALL AND EARLY SPORTS

By Elwood (Dick) Skeen

Baseball was Plain City’s most favorite sport. Baseball in Plain City in the early 1920’s and 1930’s was composed of the Plain City Bull Dogs with the following players taking part:

Louis Poulsen

Joe Singleton

Walter Draney

Elmo Rhead

Parley Taylor

Joe Hunt

Elvin Maw

Oscar Richardson

John Hodson

They represented Plain City in the Weber County Farm Bureau League, composed of North Ogden, Hooper, Roy, and Clinton. There were many good ball players in those days that played on the teams. The town park at that time was covered with salt grass. There were no base lines, no pitcher mounds. But, on a Saturday afternoon the park was filled with people that came from all over the county to watch the games. Horses and wagons lined the park.

Foot racing was also a great sport at that time, and Plain City had one of the best in Walter Draney, who was not only fast, but also a great athlete.

As time passed and the older players began to drop out, the chance came for us younger players to take over. In 1925 I caught my first Farm Bureau game at Liberty with Ezra Taylor doing the pitching. Then, the other players that made up our team for the next few years started to play. We had our share of victories. In fact, we had more than our share of wins.

Finances at that time were hard to come by. We did what we could to raise money to continue supporting the team. In 1928, the ball team put on the first Black and White Day with Mervin Thompson and Joseph Skeen showing their cattle. An old-time refreshment stand, soda water, ice cream, candy bars, and popcorn, which sold for 5¢. Also, some drinks that were not sold at the stand.

Our uniforms were furnished by Plain City individuals and business firms from Ogden. Suits would have the name of the giver on the back. Decoration day and the Fourth of July were our most celebrated days with all kinds of sports for those who wished to perform. A baseball game and a dance in the evening would top the day.

We would get the best team from Ogden to play on these days so that we could show what was leading up to the best team we had. In 1930, we won the Weber County Farm Bureau League, and the town bought us new uniforms to go to Lagoon to play Sandy, Utah, for thy State Championship. We lost by a close score. Our players were:

Gilbert Taylor

Walter Moyes

Arnold Taylor

Frank Skeen

Horace Knight

Albert Sharp

Fred Singleton

Abram Maw

Walter Christensen

Clair Folkman

Dick Skeen

Bill Freestone was the manager. Angus Richardson was the coach. Elmer Carver took care of finances, and Floyd Palmer and Byron Carver were scorekeepers. We played in tournaments at Brigham City and Ogden, and some out-of-state games were played.

We continued playing, but soon the gang started drifting different ways and our days were coming to an end. The league started to dwindle and later, folded up with the workload increase. Baseball was soon lost to the towns in Weber County.

Left to Right: Nalon Taylor, Bert Cook, Howard Gibson, Bud Dallinga, Wayne Cottle, Thayne Robson, Bill Stokes, Rulon Jenkins, Coach

The Desert News Sport Best Two MIA Teams

Page 10 – Salt Lake City, Utah-Saturday, March 11, 1944

Bottom Row: L to R: Carl Taylor, Carl Hodson, Fred Singleton, Coach, Blair Simpson, Glen Charlton

Top Row: L to R: Frank Hadley, John Nash, Lyman Cook, Ray Cottle

Ray Cottle, Center: First Team All Church

Frank Hadley, Forward: Second Team All Church

Lyman Cook, Guard: Second Team All Church

Blair Simpson, Guard: Honorable Mention

This team played for All Church Championship in 19441. They played Grantsville, Utah, and lost to them for the title. The games were played in the old Desert Gym, by the Hotel Utah. The teams stayed four nights in the Hotel Utah. They ate, slept, and played basketball.

Top Row L to R:

Alf Charlton, Athletic Director

Lyman Cook, Ronald Skeen, Kenneth Lund, Grant

Lund, Wayne Skeen, Clair Folkman, Coach

Bottom Row L to R:

Harold Hadley, Elmer Hipwell, Bill Stokes, Dee

Cook, Blair Simpson

This was the Plain City M-Men Team that played after World War II, in 1946, for several years and won several state championships and played in the division tournaments.

______________________________________________________________________________

SUNDAY MORNING, AUGUST 19, 1951

District Three Winners

Winner of the district three double elimination softball tournament of the L.D.S. church was this fast moving team from Plain City in the Farr West Stake. In the lineup (front row) F. Hadley, 2b; Cook 3b; B. Simpson, 5b; D. Christensen, rf; T. Musgrave. Of; L. Cook, lf; coach; G. Charlton, of; W. Cottle. 1b; R. Cottle, p, and K. Jenkins, c.

Plain City Romps To 12-4 Win

Over Centerville for L. D. S.

District Three Softball Title

PLAIN CITY SOFTBALL TEAM OF 1951

By Lyman Cook

Plain City has always been a very strong baseball town, and the feeling was that softball was a game for girls, or you played softball at family reunions. In 1951 the Farr West Stake started a softball program and wanted teams to participate. I was Ward Athletic Director at that time and asked these players to play. This was the first softball team organized in Plain City. We won the Stake and District III. We then went on to the All Church Tournament in Salt Lake City. We won some and lost some, not too eventful. I coached the team the first year we played. This was a fast-pitch team.

L. D. S. Division III Champs

Repeating their last year’s victory in the L.D.S. division III softball tournament, the Plain City team came through again last night at Ogden softball park to beat Hoytsville 9 to 6. Front row Left to right: M. Heslop, E. Hadley, C. Taylor, D. Cook, A. Maw and G. Charlton: back row, lerft to right: R. Cottle, W. Skeen, W. Cottle, L. Cook, B. Simpson, and D. Skeen, coach. Absent from photo: Jenkins, V. Stokes and R. Skeen.

PLAIN CITY WARD SOFTBALL TEAM OF 1952

By Lyman Cook

In 1952 we repeated as stake champions and also won the Division III Championship again. We went to the All Church Tournament again and played very well. We played for the All Church Championship, but lost to Pocatello 10^th Ward in a good game. Blair Simpson was voted Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Wayne Cottle made the All Church Team. There may be others. This was also a fast-pitch team. Dick Skeen was the coach.

This team played Farm Bureau Baseball and won the

Championship around 1950:

Top Row: L to R:

Junior Taylor, Wayne Skeen, Don Singleton, Bert Cook,

Glen Charlton, Kent Jenkins, Clair Folkman, Coach

Bottom Row: L to R:

“Buss” Lyman Skeen, Frank Hadley, Wayne Cottle, Ray

Charlton, John Maw, Dee Cook

This team played Pleasant Grove for All Church Champion-

Ship in 1956. They took second place.

Bottom Row: L to R:

Quinten Jenkins, Archie Skeen, LaGrand Hadley, Brent

Taylor, Ronald Sharp

Back Row: L to R:

Dee Cook, Manager, Darrell Christensen, Robert Folkman,

Bert Cook, Kenneth Lund, Wayne Cottle, Kent Jenkins, Coach

Many county and Northern Utah Championships were obtained by this team that was sponsored by the Town Board in the late 1950’s to middle 1960’s.

COACHES: Clair Folkman – Blair Simpson

TEAM MEMBERS: POSITIONS:

Blair Simpson P- IF

Wayne Cottle IF

Cy Freston IF

LaGrand Hadley OF – P

Archie Skeen C

Gaylen Hansen C – P – IF

Bobby Taylor P – OF

George Cook IF

Reid Nielson IF P

Ted Favero IF –

Dennis Anderson P

Garry Skeen OF

Lynn Folkman OF

Bud Parker IF – OP

Tom Seager OF

Harold Hadley IF

Harold Marriott IF

******

PLAIN CITY WARD FASTPITCH TEAM

1960, 1961, 1962

This team won the Stake, Region, and Division Championships, and represented the ward in All-Church competition with a successful number of victories.

COACH: Elmer Carver

TEAM MEMBERS:

Tom Seager, P Blair Simpson, SS

Gaylen Hansen, C LaGrand Hadley, LF

Wayne Cottle, 1^st Robert Folkman, CF

George Cook, 2^nd Dee Cook, RF

Cy Freston, 3^rd Don Singleton, IF

Blaine Eckman, QF Gar Hunter, 1^st – OF

THE PLAIN CITY BULLDOGS

This is one of the very first Weber County Recreation Teams in Plain City. Many of these players went on playing baseball for many years.

Front Row: L to R:

Dick Skeen, Coach, Fred Palmer, Darrel Thompson, Kenneth Hogge, George Cook, Ronald Sharp.

Back Row: L to R:

Archie Skeen, Brent Taylor, Wayne Poulson, Jay Freestone, Robert Folkman, LaGrand Hadley

PLAIN CITY SECOND WARD

ALL – CHURCH CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM

1963 – 1^ST Place

1964 – 1^st Place

1965 – 3^rd Place

This team represented the Plain City 2^nd Ward and Plain City Town by winning 64 and losing only two games over a three-year span. Many players received All – Church recognition. In the championship game the first year the team hit 11 home runs and pulled off a triple play for the victory.

Back Row: L to R: Not in Photo

Garry Skeen Archie Skeen

Gaylen Hansen Ken Searcy

George Cook Jay Freestone

Gar Hunter Val Taylor

Jerry Bradford Mel Cottle

Lynn Folkman Gordon Singleton

Bishop Rulon Chugg Jim Beasley

Don Singleton

Front Row: L to R: Gary Hill

Bishop Orlo Maw

Jerry Moyes

Doug Palmer

Dale Searcy

Blair Simpson

LaGrand Hadley

All – Church Honors:

Gar Hunter

Jerry Bradford

Ken Searcy

Gaylen Hansen

Archie Skeen

Blair Simpson, Most Valuable Player

BLAIR SIMPSON

and

ELMER SINGLETON

of the

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

1948

“Two cousins met”

ELMER SINGLETON

Elmer Singleton started pitching for the Farm Bureau League in Plain City. He pitched for several championship teams. He signed a professional contract with Cincinnati, and played at Wenatchee, Washington in 1939, his first year. He played for Idaho Falls, Portland, and Oklahoma City. He moved on up to the big league and played with the following teams:

Cincinnati

Yankees

Chicago

Kansas City

Boston

Pittsburgh

Washington in 1950

Toronto

San Francisco

Seattle

He was in professional baseball for 27 or 28 years, the last eight years as a player coach.

He pitch two no hitters, one at San Francisco, and the other at Seattle. Elmer won the Player of the Year Award at Seattle in 1956. There is a baseball card with Elmer’s picture on it with the Chicago Cubs. It reads:

“This will be Elmer’s 17^th year in professional baseball.

He started back in 1940 and after 11 uneventful seasons,

got red hot to become one of the top hurlers on the

Pacific Coast. In 1952 at San Francisco, he won 17, followed

with 15 triumphs in 1953 and moved to Seattle in 1956.

He had the best Pacific Coast Earned Run Average.”

Elmer told us that before he left to play professional baseball, the people of Plain City honored him at a banquet. They gave him a ball glove, and he still has it. He is listed in the Sports Record along with his accomplishments. Elmer was a great baseball pitcher. The only picture we have of Elmer is with Blair Simpson. Elmer and Blair are cousins,

BLAIR SIMPSON

BY Blair Simpson

I attended school at Plain City before going to Weber High School. At Weber High School I participated on the track team, played some basketball and pitched for the Weber High baseball team.

After graduating from Weber High School in 1944, I was drafted into the army for two years.

In 1948, I signed a professional baseball contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. While playing with the Pirates, I played with the following cities:

Santa Rosa, California

Pittsburg, California

Modesto, California

Hutchinson, Kansas

Waco, Texas

Charleston, South Carolina

I was a pitcher and had to quit because of an injury to my knee.

After retiring from professional baseball, I played a considerable amount of baseball with Plain City and other teams in the Ogden area, such as:

Ogden Ford Sales

Heitz Heating

Wasatch Time

I was selected on the All Star Baseball Team composed of 16 players from the State of Utah.

I also played on many softball teams in the Ogden area such as Fisher Hess, Utah General Depot, Fred M. Nyes, Savon, and others.

In 1952, I was named the Most Outstanding Player in the “All Church Fastpitch Softball Tournament” in Salt Lake City and was also named to the All Church All Star Team in 1953.

In 1963, o received the Most Outstanding Player Award in the All Church Softball Slow Pitch Tournament. In 1964, I again received the most Outstanding Player Award in the slow pitch division of the All Church Tournament held in Salt Lake City. The year 1964 was one of my most memorable occasions in All Church Softball as I hit four consecutive home runs in one game.

I would like to give a lot of credit to whatever successes I have enjoyed in athletics to the talented town of Plain City.

WAYNE COTTLE

By Wayne Cottle

I was born November 30, 1928, in Ogden, Utah. I lived in Plain City all my life. I attended Plain City Elementary and Junior High. I played basketball in the 9^th and in the 10^th grades for Plain City. L. Rulon Jenkins was our coach and our principal. We played against Hooper, North Ogden, Huntsville, and Weber High School.

In the Fall of 1945, I started Weber High School, playing football, basketball, baseball, and track for both years. In 1947, I played to a tie for the Region I Championship with Box Elder. We played off the tie breaker at Ogden High School, beating Box Elder for the first Region I Championship for many years. I won the Region I scoring title. We entered the State Tournament in Salt Lake City and we lost to Granite, who became the State Championships, in the semi-finals. I was the recipient of the Standard Examiner KLO Watch Award for being the outstanding athlete of the year.

I entered Weber Junior College in the Fall of 1947. After about a month of practice I became one of the starting forwards. We played in several tournaments winning 3^rd place in the Compton California Invitational. We played an independent schedule that year. In 1948-49 Weber became a member of the ICAC Conference. We won the conference and played Snow Junior College Tournament. We won the game and I was voted the tournament’s Outstanding Player Ward. We went to the national finals in Hutchinson, Kansas. We won our first game, then we met two defeats.

In the Fall of 1949, I entered Brigham Young University. I was on the team that won the Skyline Conference Championship for the first in many years. We went to the NCAA at Kansas City, Missouri. We lost to Baylor University, then beat UCLA for 3^rd place. The next year we accepted a bid to enter the National Invitational Championship and two of our players were voted All American.

I graduated from BYU in 1951, came back to Plain City and started to play basketball with the Ward team. From the 1951- 1952 season until the creation of the Plain City 2^nd Ward in 1960, we never lost a league game in the Farr West Stake. The year of the creation of the Plain City 2^nd Ward, they beat us once and we beat them once. We played off the Stake Championship at Wahlquist Jr. High, and we won the team and the championship. After that season, the Church specified an age limit and I was area championships and went to the All Church several times.

WAYNE COTTLE

Brigham Young University

BERT COOK

He attended Plain City School where he was active in athletics. He graduated and attended Weber High School in 1947 and 1948., where he participated in football, basketball, baseball, and track. In 1948, he was selected on the Class A State All Star Team, in which Weber High School won the championship. He also won the All American in boys Award in baseball at John Affleck Park in 1948. From this he won a trip to Chicago.

He played for the Plain City baseball team for the Farm Bureau and Ogden City League.

From 1948 until 1952 he attended Utah State university at Logan, Utah, where he started on the first five as a freshman, and later in the year played in the AAU Tournament and was selected on the All Tournament Team.

In 1951 – 1952, he lead the conference in scoring and was voted All Conference both years. In 1952 he was voted All American in basketball where his Number 6 jersey was retired at Utah State University being the first one in the history of the school. That same year he was selected on the All Conference Team, and traveled with the Harlem Globe Trotters and the College All Star for several games. Later that year, he signed a contract with the New York Knickerbockers and was drafted into the service where he played for Fort Lee, Virginia Military team in which he lead the scoring and was later voted to the Second Army All Star Team.

He served his country in the Far East Command in 1954, being released in 1955, when he rejoined the Knicks until 1956. After a serious knee injury he returned to Plain City and played for the Plain City Ward and the Ogden City League.

He played on the 1956 team that won second place and he made First Team All Church.

At Weber High School I participated in basketball, baseball, and football and was productive and beneficial. After graduation in 1954, I attended Utah State University for two years on a football scholarship. Next, I received a University of Utah Scholarship in baseball. That year 1958, was a successful year with a batting of .350. The next year was even more eventful. My batting average jumped to .490. The .490 batting average was good enough to lead the Skyline Conference, plus I was fortunate to lead the NCAA in homeruns and RBI’s. These statistics and the efforts of the University of Utah Sports Publicity Department lead to my selection as the “First Team Catcher on the College All -American baseball Team”. As a result of this honor, I was selected the “Most Valuable Player in NCAA, District 7.” The year was 1959.

Opportunities were available to sign a professional baseball contract with the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, and the Phillies. In 1959 I signed a bonus contract with the Boston Red Sox.

During the next three years I played in the following leagues: Sophomore League in Alpine, Texas: North Carolina League in Raleigh, North Carolina; Midwest League in Waterloo, Iowa; and the Eastern League in Johnstown, Pa. Winter ball was played in Bradenton, Florida.

In 1962, spring training was held in Deland, Florida. Because of a successful spring training I was invited to join the Triple A League in Seattle, Washington, “The Seattle Rainiers.” All Star Catcher honors were received in 1960, 1961, and 1962. In 1963 I was invited to spring training with the parent ball club, The Boston Red Sox. At the completion of spring training I was again assigned to the Seattle Rainiers.

Some of the great stars helping the young players were: Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr, Rudy York, Johnny Pesky, and Mel Parnell. As of this year, 1977, the only teammate of mine still with the Boston Red Sox is Carl Yastrzemski.

Bert Cook

New York Knickerbockers

Archie Skeen

Sunday, 17 March 2024 by Sagacity

History of Plain City Pt 6

History of Plain City March 17th 1859 to present, pages 76 through 106.

HISTORY OF THE OLSEN GROCERY STORE

Two of the earliest merchants in Plain City were A. M. Schoemaker and William Van Dyke. Mr. Shoemaker had a little store just east of the old adobe meeting house. Van Dyke’s store was just across the street from the southwest corner of the public square on the sight of the John Maw store where the Plain City bowery now stands.

The Cooperative Mercantile Institution was organized in 1869 with John Spiers as President, J. P. Green, C .O. Folkman, George Folkman and Andrew Ipson as directors, and George H. Carver and J. S. Carver as the managers.

In the early days of Utah, the L .D. S. Church organized cooperative stores in different places called “Zions Cooperative Mercantile Institutions.” One of these was organized in Plain City in Jens Peter Folkman’s home at 2480 N. 4350 W. in March of 1869. He was appointed manager by the directors.

The capitol stock was $500.00. Mr. Folkman continued as manager for several years. At a reorganization some time later, John Spiers was retained as president and John Carver was elected vice president of the board of directors, which was composed of Jeppe G. Folkman, William Sharp and Alexander Marian Shoemaker, with George Bramwell as secretary and William G. McGuire as secretary-treasurer.

Finally a corner was bought by the company from Mr. Hansen in 1889, where Carl Olsen’s store is now situated. (1959) A frame building was erected and here Jens Peter Folkman continued as manger until the store was closed by Z.C.M.I. on account of bankruptcy cause through too many bad debts.

It was reopened by the parent store in Ogden and was managed by George and James Carver but was closed again for the same reason as before.

George W. Bramwell and his brother, Henry, bought the stock of goods and ran the store as a private business. Z.C.M.I. took over once more and hired George W. Bramwell to run it as a branch of their store.

It was next sold to Henry J. Garner and Robert W. Maw. They sold it to Thomas England. Thomas England sold his store to Peter J. and Evelyn Christensen, who rented it out for a time, then later sold it to Carl Olsen in 1925.

In the early days of the Olsen stores Parvin Produce Company of Ogden established the business of shipping potatoes from Plain City. They were located at the Olsen store and when they discontinued business, Carl Olsen and Wilmer J. Maw started shipping potatoes. Mr. Olsen loaded his cars at the end of the railroad spur in front of Roll’s Garage, now Jack Etherington’s Garage at 2415 N. 4425 W. and Mr. Maw loaded his cars by the “John Maw & Sons” store where they bowery now stands.

The above was taken from a Historical Study of Plain City, Weber County, Utah, by Fern Olsen Taylor. A thesis was submitted for her Master of Science Degree in 1959.

The Utah Oregon Lumber Company business was purchased by Carl Olsen from Wilmer L. Maw, and at this time Annie Knight Geddes came to work for Mr. Olsen. Coal was also sold. Many loads of potatoes, coal, etc., were weighed on the scales located just south of the store.

Oscar Richardson worked with Carl in the produce shipping and George Elvie Weatherston worked with him in the store for a short time.

Carl opened the store with the help of his family, Lucille, Lee, Fern, Don, and Loyd.

A beautiful ice cream fountain was purchased and installed in the northwest part of the store. There were marble counter tops, malt machines, syrup dispensers and necessary equipment to make malts, splits, sundaes and many, many hand-dipped ice cream cones. A half dozen stools lined the counter. The choice of flavors then were chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry. A popular item was the candy punch-board that was a temptation some had a hard time resisting.

In 1939 Carl remodeled the back of the store. The partition at the east end and the swinging doors were moved, making room for a meat counter and meat cooler. More shelves and more groceries were added. Heat was provided by a coal heaterola. A shed was built by the store about 1889 and was used until 1949 for various purposes, a lumber storage shop, a barber shop and also later for a meat market. It faced the road and was located just south of the store.

In March, 1941, cold storage lockers were installed. The store was enlarged and a full-time butcher, Ralph Vause, came to work to serve the locker patrons. Many deer at hunting time were cleaned and dressed, filling the meat coolers to overflowing.

Carl Olsen sold his store to two of his sons, Lee and Don in April 1947. The store became “I.G.A.” and then later “A.G.“ Lee and Don enlarged the store, adding the brick building extending the south wall to the confectionery. The frame shed was moved to the back of the store and connected to a metal storage shed connecting the back of the store.

On July 9, 1949, the grand opening was held. Children came to the store from near and far to buy penny candy, a special treat.

Mr. Carl Olsen passed away February 25, 1955.

The Olsen family owned and operated the store for half a century and enjoyed a wonderful association with Plain City and the neighboring communities.

On April 18, 1973, Don and marge Olsen, and Lee and Clara Olsen sold the store to Perry and Sonia Merrill of Pleasant View. They Operated the store for three years and sold it to Elliot and Gayle Casperson. It is now the “B and C Market.” May 24, 1976.

COPY OF DOCUMENT PLACED AT THE BASE OF MONUMENT HONORING SERVICEMEN

August 26, 1944

To whom so ever of the dim and distant future, may come in possession of these documents, let it be known that:

We, the people of Plain City, Utah through our Committee for the men in Service with the aid of the people in the community do erect and dedicated this memorial, of everlasting granite, to honor the memory of those who, from our community, were enlisted and served in the Armed Forces of these United States of America and fought for its principles of Freedom, Justice and Democracy in the Second Great World War, which we have faith will culminate as all our country’s war have, in victory.

Today, August 26, 1944, when hostilities have been raging for 32 months, as we solemnly and proudly honor all Servicemen and Women, especially those who left from our community, and whose names are cut and will be cut in this monument, this war, cruel and savage beyond description is being waged across the seas, gravely threatening to destroy our freedom.

May God and justice destroy the forces and the barbarious leaders of those aggressor nations before they make it necessary for this nation of ours to again, by force of its arms, defend itself and the principles on which it was founded.

We, as a people are deeply grateful for the services and sacrifices made, not only the men who served in the war, but all those who fought and for those who died to defend this great nation since the first clash of arms in the battles of Lexington and Concord, we honor and revere the memory of them all. So in the erection of an everlasting memorial those, who left this country beginning 32 months ago to serve in the Armed Forces of these United States, to keep alive the flame of liberty and pass on to our posterity the stories of their brave and noble deeds, even beyond the time that this granite shall have crumbles to dust obliterating the names carved here on.

May we never again be called to erect other similar memorials because our country was again at war.

But rather, would we as a people whole heartedly join together to sponsor a shaft to commemorate the beginning of an era of eternal lasting peace without the horrors of war.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF PLAIN CITY

A group of men from Lehi came in the fall of 1858 and looked over the town, they also made a preliminary survey for a canal site, using a sixteen foot two by four grooved out and set on a three-legged tripod, with water in the groove to act as a level. This preliminary survey was made to the big levee that fall of 1858, some work was done on the big levee that fall, until it was necessary for the men to return to their homes in Lehi.

On March 17, 1859, a company of about 100 people arrived in Plain City about 5 o’clock in the afternoon. They camped in a hollow in the south part which later became Samuel Draney’s lots. The wagons were lined up east and west for protection against the north winds. Although snow was deep, they soon dug a big hole and built a fire making it as comfortable as possible.

One of the first things to do after arrivals was to survey the townsite and assign lots to the settlers, so they could get some kind of shelter for their families. Joseph Grue states that John Spiers and others who surveyed Plain City had in mind their home, the city of Nauvoo, and followed the pattern as nearly as possible. They surveyed the town at night using the north star and three tall poles just below it, as a working guide. The measuring chain was a piece of rope which they dragged along over the deep snow through which they waded. The original plat was six blocks long and three blocks wide, running north and south. Each block contained five acres and is divided into four lots. Each settler was allowed some choice in the selection of his lot, and each shelter was allowed twenty acres of farm land on the out shirts.

The Plain City canal was commenced in May of 1859 shortly after part of the crops were planted and completed to four mile creel that first year and later to Mill Creek and then to Ogden River, which relieved the situation somewhat during seasons when water was plentiful, but was of little benefit in dry seasons, the Plain City irrigation company under the supervision from the beginning.

Mr. Rollett, a Frenchman, introduced the culture of asparagus to Plain City, the seed came from France in 1859. This became one of the leading industries of Plain City, as the soil and climate are especially adapted to its culture. Plain City asparagus had become known far and near, and at the present time the asparagus in handled by the Plain City Asparagus. They ship asparagus to all parts of the United States.

Early homes were dugouts, then log cabins and later adobe. The first stone house was built by William Skeen in 1862 or 1863, by hauling rock from Hot Springs, northeast of Plain City.

The first school and meeting house was built in 1859. It was of log and adobe and was located on the south side of the public square. This adobe building was used as a meeting house, school house, amusement and dance hall for a number of years.

George Musgrave was the first Plain City school teacher. His first school was held in his dugout on his lot.

The First Relief Society was organized January 3, 1868, with Almira Raymond President. The first Primary was organized in 1881 with Susannah Robinson President. The first Mutual Improvement Association was organized in 1876 with William England as President.

An Episcopalian Church was built in 1877, and was used as a school and church. At that time, it had about 75 members. The building is still standing and still in use (Lions Club House).

Evelyn Sharp was the first white baby girl to be born in Plain City, and Thomas Singleton was the first white boy. They were born in 1859.

People of Plain City have always fostered amusement and entertainment of various kinds. In the early days they always had a brass band, a choir, dramatic association, and a baseball team. Regardless of all the hardships endured by the early settlers, recreation was always enjoyed. Dances were held in the old adobe school house on the south side of the square in winter and in the bowery near it in summer. They danced on the hard dirt floor at first, many of them in their bare feet. Most of the dances were square dances, at various times music was furnished by comb bands.

The first real meeting house that was built expressly for ward purposes is the present brick structure commenced in 1884 and finished in 1889.

The following men have been Bishops of Plain City Ward since it was first organized in the order listed: W. W. Raymond, L. W. Shurtliff, George W. Bramwell, Henry J. Garner, Henry T. Maw, Gilbert Thatcher, Wilmer J. Maw, George A. Palmer, Charles Heslop and the present Bishop Elvin H. Maw.

Plain City is principally a farming and dairy community, with sugar beets, onion, tomatoes, potatoes, peas, grain, alfalfa and asparagus being grown as the principal crops.

A branch of the North Ogden Canning Factory is located in Plain City and tomatoes are grown and processed each year. The canning factory was completed in 1925.

Many of the men of the community have profitable dairy herds, and each year a “Dairy Day” is held on the town square, prize stock being shown. Stock is shown from all parts of the state.

A Junior High School is located in the center of town, where approximately 225 children attend. L. Rulon Jenkins is now the principal of the school.

At the present time, Plain City has a population of approximately 800 inhabitants.

Each year on March 17 a “homecoming” celebration is held to commemorate the settling of the town.

Plain City was incorporated this year of 1944 with the town board as follows: Dean Baker, Chairman, W. Albert Sharp, Fred L. Singleton, Floyd A. Palmer, L. Rulon Jenkins and Don E. Carver as Secretary.

**************

The committee for the servicemen was selected about one year ago, and appointed by the Ward Bishopric, for the purpose of paying tribute and honor to the fellows and girls who enter the service.

The first funds were collected through a scrap iron drive, which was initiated by Dean Baker. The support of all the people of Plain City was gained by soliciting, and many tons of irons was donated by members of the town.

The task of securing the names to be placed on the monument and helping to plan its erection was done by the Committee for the Men and Women in the Service with William Freestone as Chairman, Elbert J. Moyes, Elmer P. Carver, John A. Hodson, Dean Baker, Mrs. Frank V. Skeen, Mrs. W. Albert Sharp, and Mrs. Vern L. Palmer.

As the original plans for the erection of his memorial called for only those who had been honored at Plain City, we deeply regret that names of some of the fellows who are in the Service, who have been residents at some time previous to their entering the service, will not appear on this monument.

We, the Committee for Servicemen, representing the people of Plain City extend our thanks and heartfelt appreciation to all individuals whose combined efforts have made the erection of this monument possible. The primary objective of this committee is to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and be to service to the community, state and nation and to transmit to our posterity the principles of justice, freedom, and democracy.

This everlasting and beautiful monument is sturdy and tough and is truly symbolic of the sterling qualities and character of the men whose names it will bear until it shall have been worn away to dust by the elements of time and returned to mother nature from when it came.

As duly requested, this document was written and prepared by Mrs. Frank V. Skeen, Mrs. W. Albert Sharp, and Mrs. Vern L. Palmer, together with the aid of the other members of the committee, and whose sincerest hope and aim was that the full honor and credit due, is bestowed on the citizens of Plain City who form a part of the great until by which this nation was founded and is governed. May the heritage of these rights of quality and self government never be taken away from those to whom it rightfully belongs – the people.

Mothers or Fathers and Wives of Service Men whose names appear on the Monument. Picture taken August 26, 1944, at the dedication of the monument. [Gladys Donaldson Ross on the back row, fifth from the left.]

BEET GROWING IN PLAIN CITY

SUBMITTED BY RUTH K. FOWERS

The sugar beet industry was one of the early farming activities in Plain City.

The ground was prepared late in the fall and early spring for planting the seed much the same as it is today except horse drawn machinery was used instead of tractor operated ones.

After the seed sprouted and the young plants grew a few inches in height, the rows were cultivated, and a thinning of the plants was required since the seeds were drilled close together. Segregated seeds had not been developed at that time. This thinning process was that of spacing the beet plants several inches apart to allow the young plant to grow. This was usually done with a short handled hoe and hand labor. A good beet thinner might be able to cover an acre a day.

The best crop required another hoeing or two and cultivating to eliminate the weed growth. Regular irrigation was necessary to give moisture to the growing plants.

In October the beets were matured and ready for harvesting. Again this process required much manual labor and the use of horse powered machinery.

The beets were dug using a beet digger. The beet leaf was cut from the beet itself by hand using a long beet knife. Then the beets were thrown into rows or piles to be gathered up with a large beet fork to be placed on a specially built box on which they could be hauled to the beet dump.

Sometimes young members of the family, who were too young to lift the beet fork full of beets, could assist with the beet loading by grasping the tail of the beet and giving it just enough of a throw to allow to them to load in the beet box.

With a team and wagon they were then transported to the beet dump and emptied into either a railroad beet car or placed in the beet pile.

Double hitch teams and wagons load of beets ready to leave the field.

Unloading the wagon by means of a hand turned pulley which lifts one side of the wagon and dumps them into the hopper.

From the hopper the beets are elevated to be dropped into the railroad cars.

When the beets were brought in faster than the railroad cars could be loaded they were piled for later loading.

The beets were transported to the Amalgamated Sugar Factory where another process was utilized to manufacture refined sugar to be used in homes, industries, eating establishments or wherever possible.

In 1958, in Weber County, the average yield was 16.3 tons per acre. According to an article which appeared in the Ogden Standard Examiner on October 19, 1959, Mike Pannanzio averaged 28.8 tons per acre on a 13-acre piece. On a four acre piece, the yield was better than 30 tons per acre. This farm situated near the site of the Plain City beet dump which was located just north of 4100 West 1975 North.

The beet dump has since been removed and a modern housing development now occupied the site.

RALL TAYLOR’S OLD BLACKSMITH SHOP

He started his business in 1908, ad was still in business in the Forties. We understand this building was a part of the first canning factory in Plain City, and was moved to this location.

DAIRY DAYS

BY WILLIAM FREESTONE

The first Dairy Days held in Plain City was in May of 1926. The purpose was to finance the Plain City baseball team.

William Freestone was the manager for the team with Elmer Carver, finance, Angus Richardson was coach, Floyd Palmer and Byron Carver were score keepers, and Rufus Maw, umpire.

The general committee consisted of William Freestone, Chairman for the day, with Elmer Carver, Floyd Palmer, Merwin Thompson, Angus Richardson, Byron Carver, and Rufus Maw assisting. The entire team also worked hard to make a successful day.

The day was well organized. There was a big exhibit of cattle from all around the area, especially the Holstein Breeders Association. The local dairy men have full support to the day.

The afternoon programs consisted of a game between Plain City and Clinton. Horse racing and horse pulling contest were also on the program. The successful day ended in the evening with a big dance held in the town hall.

Dairy Days have continued to this day under various managements.

This information was obtained from William Freestone, Elwood Skeen, and Walter Christensen.

This picture is the baseball team that the first Dairy Days was organized to sponsor and finance.

Top Row L to R: Angus Richardson, Coach; Bill Freestone, Manager; Alf Charlton, Transportation; Horace Knight, Dick Skeen, Walt Moyes, Abe Maw, Tooley Poulsen, Clark Taylor

Bottom Row L to R: Rufus Maw, Umpire; Fred Singleton, Louie Giles, Clair Folkman, Frankie Skeen, Arnold Taylor, Wally Knight, bat boy

DAIRY DAYS

BY HAROLD THOMPSON

Merwin Thompson came to Plain City in 1907. He had lived briefly in Ogden during which time he worked on a big cattle and sheep outfit in Eden, Utah. Before that, he lived in Scipio, Millard County.

He ran the farm which was later owned by himself and his brother, Gordon. This farm was not very level when he and his brothers took it over, and they levelled it with horses and fresno Scrapers. They then established a fine irrigation system.

During the 1920’s Merwin acquire four fine registered Holstein heifers from Joseph Skeen of Warren. From his beginning, he developed a high producing registered milking herd.

In the late 1920’s he helped organized the Plain City Black and White Days and served for over forty years as a director of that exhibition. In the beginning, the show was for Holsteins-Friesias Cattle only. Later, it was expanded to include all dairy cattle.

At the time of his death, his dairy farm, dairy buildings and dairy was one of the best farms in Weber County.

The Ralph Robson family have participated in Dairy Days for many years. Shown are two animals they have shown.

DAIRY DAYS

BY FLOYD PALMER

This was first known as Plain City Black and White Days. It was sponsored by the Plain City Farm Bureau, as a fund-raising project for the baseball team. Later, it was sponsored by Holstein Breeders and the Plain City Farm Bureau. The financial help came from local people and business firms in the area.

Members of the Ogden Chamber of Commerce, along with the “Ogden Livestock Show” committee and the Weber County Commissioners, all became interested in lending their support tot eh growing need for an expanded show. These people were influential in getting the three-county shows (Jersey Show, Coliseum-Guernsey Show, Huntsville-Holstein Show, lain City) to combine their shows, and this is how it became known as the “Plain City Dairy Day.”

This move with the support of local people reaching out for help, was the means of getting the Weber County Commissioners and the State Legislature to give financial help for the show. It is also supported by many individuals and firms in a financial way. The officers now consist of the following:

MANAGEMENT

Orlo S. Maw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Manager

J. W. Hatch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Secretary

Floyd A. Palmer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Treasurer

Harold Thompson, Tharold Quale, Fay Boyer . Invitation

Lee Olsen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Financial Chairman

Directors

Byron Thompson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Holstein Department

Ronald R. Smout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Guernsey Department

Verl Poll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jersey Department

Burns Wangsgard . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . Junior Department

L-R: Lee Olsen, Floyd Palmer, Clair Folkman

Plain City has become the home of one of the largest Dairy Shows in the State of Utah. It is held annually around the middle of May and is open to all breeds of dairy cattle. The opening day is devoted to the Junior divisions. This is limited to bonafide 4-H Club members and F. F A. Future Farmers Only. The second day is designated for the Open division. It is also held under strict rules, such as, Registration Certificates, State Health Standards are required, including Health Certificates and blood tests.

The management is well planned and organized. It consists of General Management, Directors, Clerks, and special committees, Finance, Premiums and Entries, Junior Department, Junior Judging Classes, Publicity, Cattle Supervisor, Grounds and Dinner, Special Awards Committee, and Tractor Driving Contest.

Many of the very finest dairy herds in the United State of Utah are on exhibition here.

The judging is by top quality judges, usually out of state judges are used foe the open division. The junior department is also very selective to get the best judges possible. Rules adopted by the Purebred Cattle Association of Utah are strictly enforced for the Open Division. The Junior Division is placed according to the Danish System of judging.

The Junior Division exhibits 150 to 175 animals. The open Division exhibits 250 to 200 animals. The breeds are mostly Holstein, Jersey, Guernsey, and Brown Swiss. Cash rewards run from $1600 to $2000. Ribbons are also awarded in both Open and Junior Divisions. Special awards are given to the juniors in Fitting and Showmanship, Outstanding Exhibitor, Best Club Group of Animals, (five animals owned by at least three exhibitors.)

One of the outstanding special awards is the Frank M. Browning Memorial Award. A Swiss Cow Bell is given to the outstanding 4-H exhibitor. Other

Other special awards are: Lynn Richardson Award to the outstanding F.F.A Exhibitor; Smoot Dairy Award which is a special prize to the 2^nd and 3^rd place 4-H boy in fitting and showmanship; Five Points Drug Company which is a special prize to the 2^nd and 3^rd place F.F.A member in fitting the showmanship; Utah Holstein-Friesian Association Award, which is a trophy for the three best females bred and owned by exhibitor: Weber Chapter F.F.A. which is a belt to the F.F.A. exhibitor taking best care of his exhibits: Read Bros. Halter to the 4-H member under 13 years of age placing highest in fitting and showmanship: John Chugg Halter to the 4-H member placing highest in showmanship only: C. W. Cross Gift Certificate to the F.F.A. boy placing highest in fitting and showmanship: Curtis Breeding Service Halter to the 4-H club member over 13 years of age placing highest in fitting and showmanship: Federal Land bank Award to Grand Champion Cow: Commercial Security Bank: Production Class, 14 cash awards and ribbons.

Mr. Robert P. Stewart, Principal of the Plain City Elementary School takes very active part in the success of Dairy Days. For several years Mr. Stewart has organized a dairy class at the school. Paul Knight has furnished the facilities. The calves have been furnished by Paul Knight and Archie Hunt. The school instructors have been Ray Hull and Steven Gertsch. Both boys and girls have entered the Dairy Class activity. In addition to oral instructions, they feed, groom, care and prepare the calves to be shown in the ring to be judge. As many ass 25 very enthusiastic youth have taken part. The award money has been divided among the participants.

The Plain City School, under the direction of Principal Stewart, has served an annual Dairy Day Dinner. This has been an outstanding attraction to many state and local officials, business, and dairy people. The food is always delicious, and the service is excellent. French-grown Plain City asparagus is always included in the meal.

The faculty and P.T.A. operate the concession stand on the park for the two-day dairy show. This serves a worthwhile purpose for the school and those attending the day’s events. The school children have been good to help clean the grounds after.

Since this Dairy Days started, small dairy herds have almost become extinct. They have been forced to grow larger and develop better grades of producing animals. We now have dairy herds entering this show from Utah dairy farms that are recognized as top dairy herds of the nation. They also exhibit their cattle at national shows.

This Plain City Town Board takes an active part in helping to promote the success of Dairy Days. The last few years they have provided help to put up the tie racks, take them down, and clean up the grounds.

Over the years, the Dairy Days Committees have replaced the old pole fences with a new set of painted tie racks that can be moved after the show is over. They also have a moveable loading chute for the cattle.

The 1977 Plain City Dairy Days will be listed on the program as the Forty-Eight Annual Show. This takes it back to 1929 for the beginning of Plain City Black and White Days. It would seem appropriate to list and give credit to some of the management people that have served fifteen years or more. They include:

Ralph Robson Merwin Thompson

Clair Folkman Floyd A. Palmer

Lee Olsen John Chugg

J . W. Hatch Fay Boyer

Robert (Bob) Penman Edgar Smoot

Verl Poll Clifford Smout

Mary Papageorge Kogianes Burns Wangsgard

Lynn Richardson Byron Thompson

A L Christensen

Plain City has the largest all-breed dairy show in the State of Utah.

Plain City School Students take great pride in learning how to train and groom their loaned animals for the Dairy Days Show. For them it means a full day away from the books while they get the real learning of being part of a real livestock show.

PLAIN CITY CEMETERY

SUBMITTED BY Floyd Palmer

The old of the Plain City Cemetery grounds came about only once a year. This was when the tulips came into blossom for about two weeks. After this it was solid mass of tea vines and weeds.

A newspaper article that appeared in the Ogden standard Examiner in the spring of 1938 was submitted by Roxy Heslop.

Bloom Wave Will Appear No More

Spring of 1938 Roxey Heslop

BLANKET OF FLOWERS…. The field of varicolored tulips being admired by 14-year-old Idona Maw of Plain City will be dug up and replaced with grass and shrubbery as a part of the improvement program underway at the Plain City Cemetery. The tulips will be taken out as soon as they cease blooming, Wilmer J. maw announced. An elaborate sprinkling system fed by a 700-foot artesian well will be laid throughout the cemetery. The well recently completed, flows 40 gallons per minute. The blanket of blooms will be removed because of the short of tulip lives. Bulbs will be given free to persons interested in obtaining them for replanting. (Standard-Examiner photo)

The new beautification program started in the year 1937. It came about through Floyd A. Palmer and his affection for his mother, Emma Jane Carver Palmer, who had suffered a long illness. She had said to him many times that she hoped someone would keep the weeds and tea vines from growing on her grave in the Plain City Cemetery.

Following her death on May 26, 1937, Floyd went to Bishop Charles L. Heslop and asked of something could be done to improve the Cemetery grounds. Bishop Heslop was quick to say, “…yes, and I would like to make you the Chairman of a committee to start the project.” Following their conversation Walter J. Moyes and Art M. Simpson was called in by the Bishop to assist on the committee. The preliminary took several months of work and study to formulate a workable plan for the project.

It was decided to drive a flowing well for the water. Raising the necessary money was the next step. Local lot owners were contacted and letters were sent to those living in and out of the state. We asked for $5.00 per lot and stated we would drive a well large enough to handle all that participated. The response was good and very few questioned the feasibility of the project. A 2 ½ pipe was washed 730 feet deep for the well. It required continuous drilling and was necessary to haul water in to drill with. Wesley and Virgil Stoddard from West Point did the drilling. The well was flowing a beautiful stream of water in May, 1938. The people were happy to have water available for flowers on Memorial Day.

Pipe lines were laid to service each lot from stand pipes with a hose connection. Our Cemetery Sexton, Walter J. Moyes, agreed to care for the lots for $6.00 a season. The owners were to help prepare the lots for seeding. Much credit is due to Walter for the first lawn planted and their care. Some lots were seeded in the Fall, of 1938. Others, in the spring of 1939. As each lot was improved, it made a new appearance.

L-R: Floyd A. Palmer, Art M. Simpson, and Walter J. Moyes

This caretaker system continued to grow each year through 1934. Then the flow of water became inadequate to serve all desiring lawns. This, along with public interest, led to developing a way to extend caretaker service to all lots. Through the counsel and help of many interested town residents, it was decided that the best method would be to levied to finance the project on a sound basis. Rulon Jenkins gave much help and assistance to get things started for the Town Incorporation. It was necessary to raise money to finance the preliminary work of surveying, engineering fees, Attorney fees, etc. Our first annual Potato Day Celebration, July 4, 1943, was a financial success. Dean Baker was the Chairman of this and many others worked hard on the committee. The profit was used toward the Incorporation of the town.

Petitions were circulated through the town of Plain City and were presented to the Board of County Commissioners of Weber County on November 27, 1943, certified as follow:

“That they have read the said petition, including the names of signors thereof, and what they are acquainted with each of the signors whose names appear as following: L. Rulon Jenkins certifies to names appearing opposites the number 1 to 50, inc.; Dean Baker certifies to names appearing opposite the numbers 101 to 150, inc,; W.A. Sharp certifies to names opposites numbers 201 to 253, inc,; and they believe each of said respective signatures to be true and genuine.”

The board of Weber County Commissioner approved a RESOLUTION to take effect and be in force from and after 5 O’Clock P.M. on the 13^th day of January, A. D 1944, creating the TOWN OF PLAIN CITY.

A Board consisting of a President and four Trustee was appointed by the County Commissioners. The following named persons were appointed, to-wit: Dean Baker, President, L. Rulon Jenkins, Fred L. Singleton, Albert Sharp, and Floyd A. Palmer Trustee, to hold office until the next municipal election. Bond was fixed at $500.00 each.

The Board then moved ahead with plans to complete the Cemetery improvement. Potato Day, July 4^th, again brought some revenue and a one mill levy on property tax in November, 1944, was enough to purchase pipe and get it installed with mostly donated labor, in Fall, 1944. In the spring of 1945, the caretaker building was relocated on the west side of the cemetery for a pump house. A new pressure pump was purchased and placed in the building with a connection to the irrigation ditch. This furnished plenty of water to sprinkle the entire cemetery.

Walter Johnson was Sexton at this time and was employed on a full time scale. There was a big job to be done preparing the lots to be seeded. Many concrete coping, large trees, obnoxious weeds, fences, and undesirable shrubs had to be removed. After this, it was necessary to haul in some top soil, spade and level the lots to prepare them for seeding to grass. This took several months and required a lot of donated labor. Mr. Johnson is deserving of much of the credit for his extra efforts and hard work.

The next change came about through the action of our State Legislature. The 1945 Session made it possible to organized Cemetery Maintenance Districts throughout the State. A one mill Property tax levy can be levied. After a thorough investigation and holding public meetings, the Town Board and public favored creating a Cemetery District.

In pursuance to Chapter 17, Session Laws of Utah, 1945, property owners of Plain City, Utah, filed a petition with the Board of County Commissioners for organization of a Cemetery Maintenance District. The Board set Monday, June 11, 1945, at 11 O’Clock A.M. in the session room for the purpose of hearing objections of any taxpayer within the proposed District boundaries. No objections were recorded.

An election was held in Plain City, Tuesday, July 17, 1945, for the organization of the Plain City Cemetery District. There were 407 legal registered voters, less non-property owners, leaving a total of 310 legal registered voting taxpayers. The official canvas of votes cast were as follows:

Total Vores Cast 233

Yes 222

No 10

Spoiled 1

The Board if County Commissioners of Weber County, State of Utah, met pursuant to Chapter 17, Session Laws of Utah, 1945 at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, July 19, 1945, in the session room and organized the Plain City Cemetery District, and that the following be recommended to the Governor of the State of the Utah, as the first Commissioners of said subdistricts:

Albert Sharp, District Number One

Floyd A. Palmer, District Number Two

Charles Helsop, District number Three

There being no further business the meeting adjourned.

(Signed) L . M. Hess, Chairman

At the next election LeRoy Folkman replaced Charles Heslop as a Commissioner. They are as follows:

Floyd A. Palmer, Chairman

Albert Sharp

LeRoy Folkman, Secretary

During 1952, a new brick building was constructed for the pump house and caretaker. A 60’ Flag Pole was installed. Memorial Day Services were held at the Cemetery on May 30^th.

In the spring of 1953, Charles Telford was employed as a full time Sexton and Caretaker. Mr. Johnson had requested to be released because of health. Mr. Telford had great pride in his work and did an excellent job as caretaker. He always went the extra mile to help keep the grounds in beautiful shape. New chain link fencing and gates were installed at different times around the boundaries of the Cemetery.

It has been necessary to open new lots on the north side of the Cemetery. These have been seeded and made a part of the new area. There had been good planning for future growth when this extra land was purchased.

Charles Telford was stricken with a stroke while he was working at the Cemetery on June 9, 1963. He was found by a neighbor living by the Cemetery, after Lulu, had phoned her to tell Charles his dinner was ready. Mr. Telford never recovered from this. After going to the hospital he was taken to the Roy hospital where he passed away on September 25, 1967. The town of Plain City is very grateful to Charles and Lavina Telford for their faithful work.

The Sexton and Caretaker job was then taken over by Jerry Bradford and LeRoy Folkman. They have continued with very fine devoted service to the town.

In 1967, Floyd A. Palmer moved to Ogden and when the election came that fall, Abraham Maw was voted in to take his place on the Board. By then, Floyd had been helping with the Cemetery growth and improvement for 30 years. He is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this excellent town and Church programs that has gone on. Also to work with so many fine people who will continue their service and may this responsibility be passed on to those who will have a desire to continue.

SERVICEMEN’S MONUMENT

This monument was built to honor the Servicemen who serve in World War II. Photo shows it as it stands today in front of the Town Bowery and Church parking lot.

THE FOLLOWING WAS TAKEN FROM DEEDS IN POSSESSION OF MRS. GEORGE WEATHERSTON:

The townsite of Plain City was established. An act of Congress April 24, 1820, entitled, “An Act Making Further Provision For The Sale Of The Public Lands, Etc.”

Six hundred forty acres of land were provided for people of this townsite.

“Now know ye that the United States of America, by these present, do give and grant unto the said Franklin D. Richards, Judge of Weber County, in trust as aforesaid, and this successor in said trust above described, the tract as described.”

Signed: Ulysses S. Grant, USA

Utah became a territory in 1872.

INCORPORATION AND GOVERNMENT OF PLAIN CITY

In Utah the community affairs were first conducted by the President Elder, and later by the Bishopric of the L.D.S. Ward.

As all community members wanted a voice in the governing of the town, it became necessary to formulate a system whereby elections could be held and others could be voted into office.

A group public-interested men spent many hours promoting the incorporation of Plain City. Petitions had to be formulated and circulated to gain interest and cooperation of the townspeople.

A Committee had been chosen to help beautify the Plain City Cemetery. They found that the only way service could be maintained was to incorporate and thereby secure money through a tax levy.

On January 13, 1944, the Articles of Incorporation for the town of Plain City were filed in the Weber County Clerk’s office in Ogden, Utah.

Adoption of a resolution designating Plain City as an incorporated town was made and action was taken by Weber County Commissioners, George F. Simmons, Lyman M. Hess and Joseph Peterson. Appointment of a “President of the Town Board” and four “Trustees” was made to serve as a governing body until the next municipal election two years later.

A nomination was made by L. Rulon Jenkins that Dean Baker serve as President. The following were appointed to serve:

President of the Town Board . . . Dean Baker

Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .L. Rulon Jenkins

Floyd A. Palmer

Albert Sharp

Fred L. Singleton

The cemetery district was officially created on July 19, 1945.

Town board meeting were held in the Plain City School.

Formerly, the county had jurisdiction over road improvement. Now, the town board had to assume the responsibility or road upkeep and new construction. The state tax funds, based on the population of the town, could now be secured for improvement of roads and culverts. Later, it would be used law enforcement, public works, recreation, etc.

In November, 1945, the first municipal election was held in the plain City. In 1946, the following elected men took office:

President of the Town Board . . . Elmer Carver

Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Floyd A. Palmer

Albert Sharp

Elwood “Dick” Skeen

Fred L. Singleton, Town Clerk

In November, 1948, the following elected men took office:

President of the Town Board . . . Elmer Carver

Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Floyd A. Palmer

Lawrence W. Jenkins

Clair Folkman

Lewis Vincenti

In 1948, the town board directed a beautification project on the Town Square. The five-acre park was leveled and sodded in the spring of 1949. Dairy Days had to be held on the school grounds and on neighboring property.

A granite monument was erected on the Church ground honoring those who had served in World War II.

In November, 1948, President Elmer Carver was elected to the position of Weber County Commissioner. On April 12, 1949, the duties of President of the Town Board were taken over by Floyd A. Palmer, who was appointed to succeed Mr. Carver to the post. Meetings were held with three Trustees until a fourth could be appointed. They met in the home of President Palmer.

On January 1, 1950, the following men took the oath of office:

President of the Town Board . . . . . . . . Clair M. Folkman

Trustees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lewis Vincenti (4-year term)

Lee Olsen (2-year term)

Elvin H. Maw (2-year term)

Dean Baker (2-year term)

Elvin H. Maw was appointed Town Clerk. Meetings were held at Clair Folkman’s home.

Plain City’s assessed valuation for 1950 was $390,220.00

An annual celebration was held each year on July 4^th. It was called “Potato Day.” A queen and her attendants were chosen to reign over the day. The affair was sponsored by the Town Board and the Cemetery Committee to raise funds for the upkeep of the cemetery and other purposes.

Walter Johnson was employed as caretaker of the cemetery.

On October 2, 1950, Frank Anderson became the Town Marshall. He served until August of 1951.

In 1951, Plain city joined the Municipal League. It was made up of cities and towns in the State of Utah. Years later, the name was changed to “Utah League of Cities and Towns.”

The population of Plain “City in 1951 was 829. The elected men of Plain City would now hold office four years instead of two years.

In January, 1952, the Trustees elected to the Board were:

Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lee Olsen

Earl Hadley

Holdover Trustees. . . . . .Elvin H. Maw, Town Clerk

Lewis Vincenti

On April 7, 1952, Frank Hadley was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Earl Hadley, who passed away April 4, 1952.

On April 6, 1953, Rulon Chugg was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Lewis Vincenti, who passed away December 1, 1952.

In May 1953, a flagpole was installed at the Plain City Cemetery.

The Town Board discussed the possibility of bringing the following elected officers:

President of the Town Board . . . . . . . . Lee Olsen

Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Merrill Jenkins

Blair Simpson

Frank Hadley

Elvin H. Maw, Town Clerk

Town Board meetings were now held at President Lee Olsen’s home and at the L.D.S Church.

Gordon Thompson was serving on the Mosquito Abatement District.

Plain City voted to have supervised control of the town dump. Victor Lund, Ezra Richardson, Elwin Taylor, Verl Stokes, and later Carston Illum have been employed as supervisors.

Plain City signed an application for culinary water.

Lights were installed on the town square for night games and recreation. A dedication ceremony was held and President Lee Olsen threw the switch for the first time on July 2, 1954.

On November 7, 1954, the new L.D.S Church was dedicated.

In 1955, public restroom were constructed on the north side of the recreation hall.

On October 25, 1955, the new addition to the Plain City School was dedicated.

A motion was made that the Town Board assist the Lion’s Club in building a water tower.

On January 2, 1956, Elvin H. Maw, Town Clerk, administered the Oath of Office to the following-elected trustees:

Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . Floyd A. Palmer

Elvin Maw

Holdover Trustees. . . . Merrill Jenkins

Blair Simpson

The Town Board sponsors and assists the Plain City “Dairy Days” show each year.

Floyd A. Palmer was assigned to serve on the Board of Trustee in the Bona Vista Water District. Theron Palmer was Superintendent of Bona Vista.

The Town Board assisted the Lions Club and the Plain City Ward in building a bowery and fireplace south of the Town Square in 1957. This was completed in 1958.

Property was purchased from Llewellyn Hipwell, located west if the Lions Clubhouse for the purpose of building a Town Hall.

In January, 1958, Town Clerk, Elvin H. Maw, administrated the Oath of Office to the following elected officials:

President of the Town Board . . . . . . . . . Kent Jenkins

Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . Glen Charlton

Holdover Trustees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Floyd A. Palmer

Elvin H. Maw, Town Clerk

The Board signed an ordinance with Bona Vista Water District and construction of a culinary water system was begun. Surface wells and pitcher pumps would soon be a memory. The above information was taken from:

A book “ A Historical Study of Plain City “ by Fern Olsen Taylor.
Ogden Standard Examiner news clipping
Research by Clara Olsen

In 1958, Lee Carver contracted the building of the 20’ x 44’ Town Hall. In May, the new municipal building was completed to serve the Town of Plain City, under the direction of President Lee Olsen, Trustees: Floyd A. Palmer, Glen Charlton, Kent Jenkins, Elvin H. Maw, Town Clerk.

Zoning ordinances were passed.

Work on the Willard Bay was underway.

On March 17, 1959, Plain City celebrated its Centennial year. It was observed with a week of outstanding events. We wore pioneer clothing, walked to church and enjoyed many programs as we honored pioneer ancestors. One special feature was the presentation of a pageant written by a Plain City native, Mrs. Gwendolyn Jenkins Griffin, called “Sand In The Shoes.” A large cast of characters, choir, and band members participated. Wheatly and Fen Taylor were program chairmen.

A large water tower storage tank is now an important new part of the scenery in the Plain City area.

In May, 1959, letters were sent to all residents of Plain City, informing them that they were required to obtained building permits. Walter Moyes was assigned to be the building inspector.

On January 2, 1959, Theron Palmer reported that the water was turned into Plain City water lines.

In 1960, two newly-elected Trustee took Office:

Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keith Blanch

Dee Cook

Holdover Trustees . . . . .Kent Jenkins

Glen Charlton, Town Clerk

The Plain City Ward was divided June 12.

The Plain City Town Board is now working with Mountain Fuel Supply Company to have natural gas piped into the town. The project is to be completed in 1961.

Plain City board members are organized a “Zoning Board.”

Plain City Improvement Council for community development was organized with executive committee members as follow:

Mayor, Lee Olsen Merrill Jenkins

Rulon Chugg Carl Taylor

Lyman Cook Clair Folkman

Mrs. Rosella Maw

In 1961, it was decided that the 40-year-old Recreation Hall would be renovated. Many hours were spent by dedicated men and women on this project.

The Plain City Town Board considered purchasing property from Bernard Poulsen for a park. It was voted down.

The population of Plain City now is near 1,5000. (Standard Examiner)

The 1962 elected officials for this term were:

President of the Town Board . . . . . . . Kent Jenkins

Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glen Charlton

Holdover Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keith Blanch

Dee Cook

The Town Board approved an ordinance governing subdivisions. The board is stressing enforcement of building permits.

In January 1964, Trustees were elected to the Board:

Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keith Blanch

Dee Cook

Holdover Trustees . . . . . . Kent Jenkins

Glen Charlton

Cherrill Knight became the City Recorder.

In 1965, George Fisher was hired as the Plain City Chief of Police, Later, Howard Zeigler was hired as a deputy.

In 1966, the following men were elected and took office in January:

President of the Town Board . . . . . . . Keith Blanch

Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kent Jenkins

Vernal Moyes

Holdover Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dee Cook

Rulon Chugg was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Keith Blanch.

The Town Board is supporting the Summer Recreation Program, and junior Posse activities.

George Weatherston was the first Justice of the Peace in Plain City. He resigned in 1966, and Keith Daley was appointed to that office.

On June 3, 1967, Plain City received a proclamation signed by Governor Rampton:

“Where Govern Rampton did declare Plain City a City of the Third Class.”

The former title of “President of the Town Board” will now be changed to “Mayor”. Keith Blanch was the first to be officially called “Mayor of Plain City.”

The title of “Trustees” will be changed to “Councilmen”. There will now be five councilmen instead of four.

In April 1967, the recently renovated recreation hall was destroyed by fire.

In 1968, three new councilmen were elected and installed. The Oath of Office was administered by Keith Daley:

Councilmen . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rulon Chugg

James E. Brown

Lynn P. Folkman

Holdover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kent Jenkins

Vernal Moyes

In November, 1968, Plain City approved the “Sewer Bond Issue” by a 228 to 69 vote. Plans for the project are underway with work to be completed in 1969.

Mayor Keith Blanch became the manager of the Plain City-Farr West Sewer System.

“Mans First Trip To The Moon” – July, 1969.

In January, 1970, the following officials took the Oath of Office:

Mayor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keith Blanch

Councilmen . . . . . . . . . .Kent Jenkins

Melvin Cottle

Vernal Moyes

Holdover Councilmen. . Lynn Folkman

Rulon Chugg

Cherrill Knight resigned her position as City Recorder and Lucille White took her place.

Plain City annexed 57 acres of land bordering on the South of the town to become “Pioneer Village.”

A Railroad line was constructed along the north side of Plain City extending to little Mountain where the Great Salt Lake Minerals and Chemical Corporation is located.

On November 27, 1971, the new Bank of Utah was dedicated in Plain City.

Two newcomers and one incumbent won elections in 1972. Keith Daley administered the Oath of Office to :

Councilmen . . . . . . . . . . . . .Darwin Taylor

Wayne Cottle

Lynn Folkman

Holdover Councilmen. . . . . .Vernal Moyes

Kent Jenkins

On October 23, 1973, the council asked for bids and plans for new restrooms to be constructed west of the concession stand on the Town Square. They accepted the bid of Verl Rawson for $5,000.00

In January 1974, Keith Daley, justice of the Peace, administered the Oath of Office to the following who were elected in November, 1973:

Mayor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lee Olsen

Councilmen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Thomas

William VanHulten

Holdover Councilmen. . . . . . . . Wayne Cottle

Darwin Taylor

Lynn P. Folkman

In 1974 Kelly Hipwell was hired as full-time “Public Works Director” for Plain City. Walter Johnson and Elbert Moyes have served as Public Works’ employees. Carson Illum is presently “Plain City Public Works” employee.

Lucille White resigned and Diane Taylor became the City Recorder.

Plain City endorsed the Mass Transit Proposition.

The new Weber High School was dedicated March 28, 1974, in Pleasant View. Plain City students attend Weber High School and Wahlquist junior High School.

England Builder’s Lumber Company was heavily damaged by fire on April 6, 1975.

The Lions building was restored by the Plain City Lion’s Club. The building was formerly the Episcopal Church built in 1877.

Residents of Plain City were asked to post “House Numbers”.

Ground breaking was held for the new “Pioneer Park” racetrack in the northeast part of Plain City, in 1975.

“The Bicentennial Year” – 1976 – three new councilmen were elected:

Councilmen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ralph A. Taylor

Delmar L. Tanner

Holdover Councilmen . . . . . . . . . . . . .David Thomas

William VanHulten

In July, 1976, the assessed valuation of Plain City was $2,862.521.000.

New subdivision ordinances have been formed.

The property of Bernard Poulsen was purchased for a park. The 20 acres will be developed for posse drills and future recreation.

The Utah Transit Bus Service was initiated in Plain City in 1977.

The population in March of 1976, was approximately 2,300.

Those now serving on the Plain City Planning Commission are:

Boyd Parke, Chairman

Frank Hadley

Paul Knight

Darwin Taylor

Farrell Bingham

Those now serving on the Plain City Board of Adjustments:

Orlo Maw, Chairman Lee Painter

Garry Skeen Farrell Bingham

Archie Hunt

The above information beginning in 1959, was taken from the Ogden Standard Examiner newspaper articles and the Plain City Council minutes.

Clara Olsen

Mayors

Ball Park with Concession Stand built by the Town in the background

Bowery built by the Town and the Lions Club [Milo James Ross finished off cement on Bowery]

Dean A. Baker

Submitted By Beverly B. Eddy

The town of Plain City was incorporated, approved and effective January 13, 1944. Dean A. Baker worked many long hours helping to organize the Town Board when Plain City was incorporated and served as Plain City’s first mayor, January 13, 1944.

During World War II (with the help of scouts) Dean gathered scrap iron from all over the surrounding area, hauled it to Plain City and piled it in the town square, to help in the was effort. According to a letter he has from the Governor of Utah, Plain City collected more iron than any other community in the state of Utah. When the iron was sold, the money was used to help finance the incorporation of the town and to build a monument (located in the center of town) honoring all the Plain City men and women who served in the armed services.

Dean Baker helped organized the first Plain City cemetery District in the State of Utah, July 19, 1945.

The Plain City Lion’s Club was chartered May 11, 1948 with 65 charter members. Dean Baker was chosen for their charter president. The history of the Plain City Lion’s Club is an inspiring one of unselfish service to the community.

Some years ago, Dean was asked (in an interview concerning the Lion’s International) how he felt about his Lion’s Club activities? His answer was “I’ve enjoyed everything I have ever done in the Lion’s Club and was always well paid in the satisfaction that comes from doing something for others. But the Lion’s have done more for me that I ever did for them. When I was seriously ill and recovering at home after some major surgery, the Plain City Lion’s came down to my place and harvested over 20 acres of corn for me. They showed up here with over 20 trucks, tractors and corn Choppers, harvested my crop, hauled it to the pits and put it away. Then they all went home and harvested their own crops. But nine was the first crop harvested. You ask me what I think of the Lion’s Club? Mister, I love ‘em.” –and great big tears rolled unashamedly—the guy really meant it. The Lion’s Club has done this for many other people. The Lion’s Club is the largest service club in the world.

Some years ago Dean Baker acquired the old Episcopalian Church building (built in 1878) in Plain City. He offered this building to the Lion’s Club for a club house. In order for the club to finance the purchase (which would return only his investment in the property) he deeded the property to the club and allowed them to sell two-thirds of it. This raised part of the funds and the club put on queen contest and other promotions to raise the balance. Dean organized and helped with these promotions until the money was raised.

The Lion’s have completely remodeled the building several times. They now have a beautiful clubhouse, which they have turned over to the Town Board for use as a Civic Center available to all.

Dean Baker was an Air Raid Warden in Plain City and went to meetings every week. Just about the whole time of the war. Meetings were held at the City and County building in Ogden.

Dean was chairman of the first Potato Day Queen Contest Celebration, which was held for many years thereafter. At this celebration there were well over one hundred horses. They held horse shows, children’s races and parades. The celebration committee gave away horses and saddles and other prizes and still made $1,000 or more for the town. This was one of the biggest events of the year and everyone participated. There were wrestling matches. Flag raising ceremonies to start the day off. Later in the day, Dean held a Rodeo in his pasture just west of the town square by his barn. Many of the young boys and girls riding calves. Horse races were also held. Everyone had a great day.

The old Singleton Home, and is presently owned by a daughter, Art and Florence Singleton Simpson

Picture of Merlin England Milk Truck in front of the Cream O’ Weber Diary located between 25th and 26th Street on Ogden Avenue. He hauled milk for many, many years. Many people would ride into town and home with Merl England in those days.

It was nearly one hundred years ago that a small band of families broke away from the Mormon Church in Plain City, Utah, to once again embrace the Episcopal faith. That summer of 1876, representatives of these 13 families met with the Rev. James Gillogly to ask his help in forming a new congregation.

Rev. Gillogly encouraged the brethren by traveling to Plain City from Ogden, where the tiny congregation would hold church services in the public school house. The ten mile trip was made regularly, regardless of weather conditions.

Finally, an appeal was made through the “Spirit of Missions” asking church members in the east for money to build a church. A corner lot of one acre was purchased for $150, and another $100 was all it took for the people of Plain City to build their long-awaited church.

The resulting dusty red, adobe brick building is a monument to the perseverance of those early settlers. Erected in 1877, the building still stands today—and is in better shape than ever because of the recent Bicentennial efforts of the Plain City Lions Club. [Built by William Sharp]

The Lions actually took an active interest in the old church on 1952. Members needed a place to meet, but with no other space available, decided that the church was the most likely spot.

They intended to buy the building, but were hampered by the lack of funds in the club’s coffers. Turning down the offer of a loan from two businessmen in town, the club raised their funds through a Memorial Day celebration and the sale of two lots from the church’s one acre of ground.

The building was finally theirs. Members fixed it up, and even added a modern new kitchen, restrooms and a furnace room. By 1974, however, the old structure had nearly succumbed to weather, time and vandalism.

The Bicentennial restoration of the original church was voted to be a most appropriate way to celebrate America’s heritage. A new roof was put on. Double doors decorated the front entrance. Aluminum windows and screens were attached to keep the harsh weather out. Cement windows sills were built to replace the rotting wood. Inside, a new hardwood floor and draperies finished the church’s now-modern décor.

Wheatley Taylor, club president, took a personal interest in the church’s “memorial bell,” carted to the little western town in 1878 to sit atop the building’s belfry. “We believe it is the first church bell to ring in Plain City,” he said, adding, “When we took the bell down, the wood just came apart in our hands.”

Taylor scoured the state in search of a craftsman who could repair the cracks in the metal bell. While cleaning the bell, he found an inscription which explains the bell’s name. Engraved on the huge 500 pound bell is the inscription, “in Memorial Rev. James Lee Gillogly Obit XIV Feb. MDCCCLXXXI.”

The bell now sits atop the church, nestled in a new belfry.

Once again, the Lions Club coffers were exhausted. The club made application to the Bicentennial Committee for funds and also asked that the building be named a historical site. Cooperation was received on both counts, Lions report.

The building has turned into a true civic center for the 2,000 residents of Plain City. The Lions Club entertains townspeople by scheduling special programs in the completely-renovated building.

Other civic groups also use the center for their special purpose. When town meetings draw an overflow crowd, they are naturally moved next door to the larger quarters of the Lions Civic Center.

Clean, light and airy, with sparkling new metal chairs, the interior belies the building’s historic façade.

Although most of the work was done recently as part of the club’s Bicentennial efforts, members’ original restoration work back in the 1950’s has not been forgotten. In 1962, the Plain City Lions Club was presented with the state’s D. A . Skeen Award, in honor of the past International President who spent his childhood years in Plain City.

Through much hard work and effort by the Lions, not only is the building now restored, but so are the integrity and strength that forged it in the beginning a hundred years ago.

DAVID ALFRED SKEEN

Submitted by Roxy Heslop

David Alfred Skeen was the sponsor of the Plain City Lions Club. He was born 13 May 1885 in Plain City, the son of Lyman Stoddard Skeen and Electra Phelomila Dixon Skeen. His father came to Plain City with the first group that arrived 17 March 1959.

The family seemed to be very interested in education when few people thought of attending college. D. A. Skeen was an attorney in Salt Lake. His brothers, Jedidiah D. and W. Riley were also attorneys. His oldest brother Lyman, 14 years older, was a medical doctor who was very brilliant but passed away at the age of 35.

There were eleven children born in Plain City and were very progressive people. At thew death of their mother, their father married Annie Skelton and they had eight children all born in Plain City. Ivy Marsden, Leona Freestone, Jennie Cook and Elwood Skeen are living (1977) and are happy to claim Plain City is a choice place.

D. A. Skeen, founder of Lionism in Utah, charter member and first president in 1921 of the Salt Lake City Lion’s Club is a native Utah son. He was born at Plain City. Lion D. A. Skeen served as District Governor of District 28 in 1922. At that time District 28 included all of Utah and part of Idaho. He continued to be very active in Lionism and was elevated to the position of International President in 1944.

During the United Nations Conference held in San Francisco in 1945 he served with Melvin Jones, founder of Lionism, as a Consultant and Special Delegation. He was a Consultant and Special Delegate to the Paris Peace Conference in 1946. He was an ardent supporter if the United Nations and was a member of the Board of Directors of the American Association for the United Nations.

Past President Skeen has served with distinction and has witnessed the growth and development of Lionism throughout the World.

Sunday, 14 January 2024 by Sagacity

History of Plain City Pt 4

History of Plain City March 17th 1859 to present, pages 44 through 57.

THE LIFE STORY OF MARY ANN CARVER GEDDES

SUBMITTED BY HER GRANDDAUGHTER

SELMA GEDDES SUMMERS

“SAND IN HER SHOES”

This is a task I have always wanted to do yet now I sit down to write the facts of my Grandmother’s life, I feel quite inadequate to do justice to her story.

There are some things about her life that even she has forgotten. There are other things I am sure she would ask me not to write just now. There are many things that should be written but that are difficult to put into this account. I will do then the best I can from my memory of her stories and from accounts written by others who have seen fit to write of her life.

“It’s a good world, but it takes a lot of grit to get along in it. Sometimes you just have to put a little sand in your shoes.”

Have you ever had Aunt Min tell you this? Then you are one of the lucky ones, for that means you are one of the lucky ones whose paths has crossed the path of a woman whose influenced must have made you a little better.

Perhaps you were fortunate enough to spend some time in her friendly old kitchen. Were you tired when you came, or blue, or a little discouraged? Even the sight of the old adobe house with its trim neat lawns and bright flowers must have mad you feel a little better and when her white head appeared (it’s been white so long) and both hands were stretched out to greet you, whatever burden you were bearing must have felt a little lighter. And while you were rested or unburdened yourself, Aunt Min bustled about and soon you found yourself sitting at a table loaded down with large pink slices of the most delicious ham you ever tested, tiny new potatoes cooked in milk with sprinkles of parsley and crusty slices of bread fresh from the oven and juicy thick wedges of black currant pie. One’s troubles are never as bad when the stomach is full she often said. And then she listened if you wanted to talk or she told you of experiences that were similar to yours that would help solve your own problems, then she told you of God and you left with a loaf of warm bread under the other, knowing that truly you been helped by a good woman.

And when you had gone, more than likely, she out her old blue sun bonnet on her white head, tied a bucket round her waist and went out into the hot sun to pick more currants and strawberries or apples, so that the next time you came she would be ready for you.

This remarkable woman was born on October 2, 1857, in Kaysville, Davis County, a daughter of John and Mary Ann Eames Carver. Her parents were deeply religious who left England and came to America because of love of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Her only recollection of her Kaysville home was her nightly prayer when she asked God to bless “the Weavers, the Carvers, and stubby legged Jones.”

When she was two years old, the family moved to Plain City. Here they lived in a dirt cellar furnished with furniture made by the father’s own hands—table, beds and even a little chair for little Minnie. The cupboards were a ledge dug in the dirt wall. At the side of a four-poster bed made of posts set upright and rawhide strips crosswise to support the tick was Minnies bed. Two poles placed horizontally one end resting on edge of Mother’s bed, one end driven in the dirt wall and rawhide strips on which the straw tick was placed. The blue and white calico valance was quite stylish as it hung in folds from the high posts and hid the boys’ trundle bed which was pulled out at night and hidden in the daytime.

She loves to tell the stories of her childhood, especially those she remembers of a beloved mother who passed away far too young. She tells of how her mother reared in England by parents who were considered in those days to be financially fairly well off, had the grit and determination to make a good life for her husband and children out in the wilderness. She likes to tell how her mother sold her beautiful dresses that she had brought from England to obtain food for her children and how her mother crawled to the cabin door to milk a cow to obtain milk for her children when she had a new baby, when the father had been delayed. Yet one of the strongest recollections in her life was the suffering of her mother during frequent child birth and it was one of the things which influenced her entire life.

Her early girlhood was spent much as all pioneer children. She helped make soap, starch, candles, she learned to spin cord and knit besides there was milking, churning, sewing, shoe making and cooking to be done. Most of the water was carried from the spring below the hill, but sometimes she would carry water from the well driven by Thomas Singleton because it made better tea than the spring water.

With the other children she helped gather greasewood for soap because ashes from this bush had more lye content that sagebrush.

From Aunt Rachel, her father’s second wife, she learned much of knitting and crocheting. Years later her children and many of her grandchildren’s clothes were made prettier and fancier by her spinner – it was always lumpy, but she knit her own stockings when she was ten years old. Her first crochet hook was made from the hard inner core of sagebrush, scraped with a piece of glass. Lucky too are her children and grandchildren who own one of the beautiful hand made quilts she has made.

Along with the other children she went to school under Mr. McQuire and took turns with what few books and smooth boards to write on that were available. In the winter there were shoes to wear made from leather from hides her father took to worn, but in the summer she and her brothers ad sisters went barefoot to save the shoes.

Her first pair of button shoes were purchased at a store owned by Jappa Folkman. It was in an adobe house that has since been destroyed. It was there too she tasted her first piece of peppermint candy which Mr. Folkman broke up and passed around for all to taste.

Some of her earliest recollections are of the days when the railroad first came in 1869. The school children saw the smoke rising from the engine stationed at the Utah Hot Springs. They mad one bound out of school, ran across to the Hansen’s and stood upon a shed to get a better view. On the way back, Mr. McQuire waited at the door and as the children filed past each received a crack on the hand. Next day, however, school was dismissed so that all could go to the Springs and see this new wonder.

Another exciting event was the day the smoke could be seen at Promontory where the railroads met and the golden spike driven.

She also likes to tell how the grasshoppers came and she says, “sharpened their teeth on the fence at night to be ready in the morning”. The grasshoppers plague lasted for about seven years. She says, “We drove grasshoppers when they were little, we drove them when they were big—from morning until evening with the exception of a few hours during the middle of the day at which time hoppers would rise, circle about in the air with a humming sound much like the noise of the airplanes you now hear overhead. They were in such numbers they shadowed the sun making a shady spot on the ground below. At night the group would light on fences covering boards until it looked black with their bodies. The settlers tried to plant fruit trees and bushes, currants, gooseberries and such to replace the natural shade the hoppers destroyed but it seemed almost a losing battle. She remembers covering a lone strawberry plant almost ready to bear in the morning the grasshoppers had crawled under the pan and eaten the entire plant. Broken-hearted she went to her mother who told her not to worry, God would take care of things and sure enough He did, she says.

When she was 12 years of age her mother died, leaving John, George, Minnie, Willard, Joseph, Parley and Nancy. Nancy passed away when she was 11 years old with inflammation of the bowels or appendicitis. Although Aunt Rachel was very good to the children it seemed that her brothers turned more and more to sister Minnie and continued to do so all the days of her life and she has lived to see them all pass to their reward.

At 15 years of age, she began her public career as a teacher in the Sunday School. John Spires was the First Superintendent, Mr. Boothe Assistant. The Bible, Testament, 1st and 2^nd Reader were the text books used. She remembers her Father going to Salt Lake to buy books. He took with him a big barrel of molasses, corn and wheat which had been donated by townspeople to be exchanged for books. She taught Sunday School from 1872 until 1879, teach Book of Mormon and Arithmetic.

In 1875 the M.I.A. was organized in Plain City and she was among its first members. By this time she was a lovely young lady of 18 years and she had a great dramatic talent. The best entertainment of the day was the dramas enacted by the young people and in these she always had a leading part. Her eyes still sparkle when she gives small excerpts from these old plays. Another popular form of entertainment was the band concerts and the young neighbor of the Carvers, William Geddes took a leading part in these, William was a steady quiet boy who paid court to her in great seriousness. But there were other young men who took sought her hand and it wasn’t until she was almost 20 years old she decided that William was the man to whom she wanted to entrust her life. She married him in August of 1877 and went to live in Salt Lake where her husband was working as a stone cutter on the L.D.S. temple. This was a special mission and the men who received their call from President Brigham Young were required to stay there and only return home on special occasions. Her husband became an expert stone cutter. It was particular work done with a chopping knife and dust blown away until the desired shape was obtained. Some of the balls on the outside of the temple were made by William Geddes.

It was in Salt Lake that her first baby Elizabeth was born and in a few short months died. This too was another experience that was to have a direct influence on the activities of her entire life. Because of her mother’s difficulties in child bearing and her own difficult time at Elizabeth’s birth, she was always and forever trying to find ways and means of helping at the time of birth. It became a common thing in Plain City to “run for Aunt Min when a new baby was coming to town.” How many times she helped at the coming of a new life would be impossible to estimate. It has been said that she helped at the birth of children in practically every family in Plain City.

She was familiar to all the early doctors of Ogden and they came to rely on her to such an extent that many times before a doctor would make the long trip to Plain City from Ogden with horse and buggy, they would instruct patients to have Aunt Min come and see if the services of a doctor was necessary and then if she said it was essential, the doctor came.

After a short time in Salt Lake, she returned to Plain City to the two room adobe house her husband had built for her and here she has spent nearly three quarters of a century. Her home was built on the spot which had once been the camping ground of an Indian tribe, but the Indians gave them very little trouble now.

In 1879 she became Secretary of the Y.L.M.I.A. She was editor of the paper known as the “Enterprise” which was read at Conjoint meetings. After this position she became First Counselor in the same organization. In 1906 she became Superintendent of the Religion Class for one year and then became President of the Plain City Relief Society from September 5, 1907 until December 2, 1911.

At this time the Relief Society was an organization which was primarily interested in taking care of the sick and those unable to do for themselves. Aunt Min was one of the first women to see in this organization an opportunity for women to, as she said “improve their minds and further their education that they could become better wives and mothers”, and she was one of those who were instrumental in planning and beginning classwork in Relief Society.

In 1911, she was released from the Presidency of the Relief Society that she might spend more time with her ailing father.

In February 1912, she became an aid in the Stake Board of the North Weber Stake which position she held for 12 years.

In 1882 her husband was called to fulfill a mission for the church in Scotland. She was happy that he had this opportunity to serve the church and she took care of their home and little family while he was gone in cheerfulness and love. He returned in 1884.

If there were hardship in her married life or moments of discouragement, never have you heard her speak of them. Nothing but words of deep devotion, love and respect for every member of the entire family have ever passed her lips.

Fiercely loyal she has been to every one who bears the Geddes name, yet her own family would be the first to tell you that if they needed correction or chastisement they need look no further than home to receive it, for she has been one to council and advice, instruct and scold if need be, every member of her family even down to the third generation. Wise has been her council and direction. Never has she discussed the problems or imperfections of any member of her family with any other member.

She has had an almost Christ-life virtue of seeing some good in the worst of us. Intensely religious herself, she was always tolerant when she sought to understand the other fellows point of view.

After the death of her husband in 1891 leaving her five children and another little soul on the way, her need for the grit and determination she was born with was greater than ever, for it was not easy for a woman to make a living for a family in those early days.

She did much hard work and early trained her children that it was by the sweat of the brow that there was bread to be eaten. More and more she turned to the kind of work for which she was a natural and it became a common sight on the dusty roads of Plain City to see Aunt Min—in summer a blue sun bonnet on her head, in winter a knitted shawl around her shoulders—tramping from one end of town to the other, tending the sick, the dying, and the new born. Usually under one arm was a loaf of fresh bread, in her hand a pot of warm gruel, in her apron —– from a hot water bottle to a bottle of Castro Oil. Down the middle of the dusty road she trotted to bring comfort and aid to those who needed her. Morning, noon, or the dead of night, cold or heat, snow or rain made no difference to her and Aunt min became and “Angel of Mercy” to a whole community.

She labored long and hard to get the money necessary for her children’s living yet money for moneys’ sake has never meant a thing to her. She was as proud of the home her husband built her as had it been Buckingham Palace. The new things her children brought her in her later life meant more to her for the thoughtfulness in their hearts than the convenience it meant to her. She gave of her means as freely as she gave of her times and talents.

She has always been an admirer of others life herself who could take adversity and make of it a triumph, and she has always had an open heart and in any moral or spiritual sickness as well as physical illness.

Her natural sunny disposition has been lightened by a ready wit and a quick tongue. As a girl she was vivacious and her quick wit is best described by a story she tells of a conversation between she and her husband. He once said to her, “Minnie—You’ll have to admit I’ve been a good husband to you, I’ve never said a cross word to you in my entire life”. And then she answered, “Well, I’ve been a better wife than you have a husband then, for I’ve had to say lots of cross words to you”.

Nearly a century of living has dimmed her eyes and slowed her feet, but for you who would still find the time from the hectic living of this day and age to sit at her feet for but a few moments, you would find that you came away from her more akin with the Lamb for didn’t He say Himself, “Even as ye have done it unto the least of Mine, Ye have done it unto Me.”

So pause for a moment and lend an ear for there is much you can learn from she who has lived with—

Sand in her shoes,

Healing in her hands,

Wisdom in her head and

The love of God in her heart.

Second log cabin built in Plain City. Built by John Carver Sr. Restored [have to search for Carver Cabin in 1997 history] by Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Plain City Camp.

EARLY SETTLERS

SUBMITTED BY NORA POULSEN

Andrew Peter Poulsen one of the early settlers of Plain City, Utah was born June 12, 1842 at Ronne, Bornholm, Denmark. In his late twenties, he was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and with his brother Hans left their beautiful land of Denmark and came to Utah in 1869.

They worked on the railroad from the mouth of Weber Canyon to Ogden and then on west of Hot Springs and north to Promontory Point.

Late in the fall of 1869, Andrew married Sena Henson and their first home was a sod hut at the northwest part of Plain City. They lived there until they bought land east of the center of town and built an adobe house. This was a project that relatives and friends helped with as all the adobe bricks were made by hand.

This house still stands today having been remodeled and extra rooms built after World War I by his son Hans Peter Poulsen. Today a grandson Bernard H. Poulsen lives in the home.

Andrew Peter Poulsen loved horses and took great pride in keeping them well groomed. He had two fine teams of horses, one a white team and the other one a dark pair. For years, he was active in church and community work and used his “long back” surrey and fine white team of horses to carry the deceased to the church and cemetery. He gave freely of his time and money for the building up of the church and the community. He died September 20, 1922 at his home of stomach cancer.

Andrew’s parents, Pedra Poulsen and his wife Karen Kirstine Rettrup also came to Utah from their native Denmark and settled in Plain City in the late fall of 1869. They brought their daughter Andrea Marie Poulsen with them. She later married Christine Olsen in 1872.

Andrew Peter Poulsen’s team of white horses pulling the “long-back” surrey.

Hans Peter Poulsen was born April 19, 1875, in Plain City, Utah a son of Andrew Peter Poulsen and Sena Benson. He was the second oldest and only son in a family of four children, three of whom lived to adulthood. He was educated in the Weber County schools and also attended Brigham Young Academy where he was on the first football team at that school. He fulfilled an L.D.S. mission to Denmark from June 26, 1901 to October 3, 1903. He left his wife and young son at home with her mother in Ogden, Utah.

Hans Peter or H. Poulsen, as he went by to distinguish himself from his Uncle Hans was a farmer and dairyman. He was one of the charter members and a director of the Weber Central Dairy Association. For years, he was a director in the Farm Bureau Association. Most of is life he was active in church and community work. He was a loving and devoted father and husband. For over 50 years, he was married to Ellen K. Maw and they were the parents of seven children.

Hans Peter Poulsen was the first constable of Plain City, from 1916 to 1920, and was also a Deputy Sheriff of Weber County. While he was constable one of his first jobs was to round up several young men for stealing cattle from the towns people and selling them to the slaughter house in West Ogden.

Traveling in those days by horse and buggy was much slower than the fast cars of today but within a short time, the young men were taken into custody and placed in the Weber County Jail which was located in Ogden between Washington Blvd. and Adams Avenue on 24^th Street.

White team of horses owned by Hans’ father, Andrew Peters Poulsen

HISTORY OF THE DUMMY

Submitted by Ivy Skeen Carver

Between 1897 and 1910 one could buy a round-trip ticket from Ogden to hot Springs for 30 cents on a train called “The Dummy”. It left Washington Blvd. and 19^th Street to Hot Springs via North Ogden.

This “Dummy” train line was extended to Plain City via Harrisville, in 1909. There was quite a celebration; Royal Carver remembered his uncle, Jim Carver, standing on the platform around the engine, pulling the whistle and ringing the bell. One of the engineers was William Clark, the conductor was “Moonie” Holmes, and other engineers were Charles Tracy of William Lane, Charles Lunt and others.

The “Dummy” would start grass fires along the line, with its twice a day trips. One fire was started in the grass on Charles Taylor’s home on the 4^th of July, 1915, which burned his barn sheds, pig-pens the old sow and her brood. This disrupted the celebration in Plain City center as the ball team and other men went to Poplar Lane to fight the fire and save the house. The railroad was held negligent and they paid Charles Taylor $1500. After the fire in 1915, and before 1918, they electrified the “dummy” as a precaution to prevent other fires. One amusing tale of the Taylor fire was the Milkman, George Moyes, coming from the dairy with some of his cans full of sour milk and his using this milk along with water from the slough to pour on the fire.

Along the Railroad line from Harrisville to Plain City there were several wooden platforms for loading and unloading freight. There were two newspapers, Morning and Evening, which the “dummy” brought out to be delivered by boys on horses such as Royal Craver, Vern Palmer, Edward Kerr and Charles (Chuck) Skeen and others. The train was so slow that kids would out-run the train on their farm horses and even on foot, running until they gave out.

The “Dummy” worked as a freight engine. The road-bed was laid and rails set by residents along the line. They were paid by Script, which was good for a ride on the train.

More History of the “Dummy”

Submitted by Irene Skeen

In 1909 John Maw, Lyman Skeen and Mr. Skeen and Mr. Eccles, then head of Utah-Idaho Railroad company, negotiated for a railroad to Plain City. On Nov. 15, 1909, the first railroad was built into Plain City.

A big celebration was held in the adobe school, on the north east corner of the town square.

The tracks came along the side of the road through Harrisville and down Plain City to the cemetery, then north to the square. This railroad was used for produced, beet-hauling, lumber, coal and transportation. It was known as the “Dummy” by everybody in Plain City. It was one car pulled with the engine. The inside had a coal stove and kerosene lamps. The car was divided by a partition; one end for the men and the other for ladies. However, it was not restricted as such.

A foggy morning, in 1915, as they were on their way to Ogden and traveling on the old Harrisville road, the “Dummy” ran head-on into an engine pulling railroad cars full of coal. Naturally, everyone was thrown from their seats and some were injured, however, not seriously.

There were two houses nearly where the people went to keep warm. The ladies at the homes bandaged the cuts, where needed, and the people were returned to their homes on bob-sleighs.

Most of the passengers were students going to Weber Academy or to Ogden high School. The “Dummy” stopped at the depot located about one-half block west of the Post Office on 24^th Street and the passengers walked to their destination or to Washington Blvd and caught a city street-car.

***

ENGLAND STORE

Merlin England’s grandfather, his mothers father, had a store in Logan. Mrs. Ellen England persuaded her husband to go into the business in Plain City. The store was located west of the England home. Mr. England left for L.D.S. Mission early in 1896, and left the store, coal-yard and farm for Mrs. England to supervise. Merlin England was 3 months at that time.

AGENDA OF THE 50^TH CELEBRATION OF THE SETTLEMENT OF PLAIN CITY

MARCH 17, 1909

The citizens of Plain City met in the L.D.S. Church on March 17, 1909, at 10:00 am to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the settlement of Plain City.

Masters of ceremony: Bishop Henry J. Garner, Josiah B. Carver, James L. Robson

Singing by Choir: “Let the Mountains Shout for Joy”

Fred Kenley directing, Bertha Robson organist.

Prayer: Alonzo Knight

Ladies Quartet: Ruby Ipson, Pearl Taylor, Jessie Kenley, Sylvia Richardson

Speech of Welcome: Bishop Henry J. Garner

Speech: Pioneer, John Carver

Song: Evelyn Harding Christensen

Recitation: Martha Hansen

Speech: Lewis W. Shurtliff, First Bishop of Plain City

Song: Willard Lund

Reading of Poem: Peter M. Folkman, composed by David Booth

Speech: George W. Bramwell, Past Bishop

Josiah B. Carver announced that today work was begun on the railroad for Plain City.

Humor Speech: Charles H. Greenwell of Ogden

Singing by Choir:

Prayer: Charles Weatherston

All of the people went it the Adobe Hall to the banquet, the first day for the old people, and the second day for the children. About 1000 people were fed.

The following is a list of living pioneers:

John Carver * George H. Carver
Christopher O. Folkman * Minnie Carver Geddes
Jens P Folkman * Victoria Musgrave
Charles Neal * Alonzo Knight
Lyman Skeen * Catherine Knight
Caroline Skeen * William Knight
Susanna Booth * Isabell Draney Bramwell
George P. Folkman * John K. Spiers
Jeppa Folkman * Edwin Dix
John Davis * Winfield Spiers
Robert L. Davis * William L. Stewart
Robert Maw * Mrs. Thomas Singleton
Joseph S. Geddes * William Sharp
Aggie Peterson * Emma (Singleton) Richardson
John Carver Jr * William Van Dyke
Milo R. Sharp
Present at this celebration.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE THAT APPEARED IN THE OGDEN STANDARD EXAMINER IN 1930 ENTITLED:

“HOMECOMING OF PLAIN CITY IS WELL ATTENDED”

ONLY SURVIVORS OF ORIGINAL SETTLERS IS GUEST OF HONOR

Twelve annual homecoming of Plain City, celebrating the seventy- first anniversary of the settlement of the town held Tuesday, proved to be a very enjoyable affair and was attended by a large gathering of residents and former residents from other Utah towns and Idaho and Oregon.

Lyman Skeen, 79, only survivor of the original settlers, was guest of honor and gave a brief talk. Mr. Skeen is a son of Joseph Skeen who built the first log cabin in Plain city. Other early residents of Plain City, now residents of Smithfield, who attended the celebration, were Mrs. Tillie Collette Merrill, 81, and her sister, Mrs. Julia Collette Cantrell, 79.

Plain City was founded on March 17, 1859, by a group of people from Lehi. A history of the founding of the town and many interesting incidents connected therewith were given by P.M Folkman.

A tribute to the pioneers of the town and to the pioneers of Utah was given by Miss May Taylor. A talk on community loyalty was given by Lawrence Jenkins. Wilmer Maw presided at the morning session. Invocation was given by Gilbert Thatcher.

March 17, the date on which Plain City was founded, was also the date on which the Relief Society of the L.D.S Church was organized in Nauvoo by the Prophet Joseph Smith and this subject was discussed by Mrs. Sarah Larkin of the North Weber Stake Relief Society Presidency.

Mayor Ora Bundy, City Commissioners Fred E. Williams and W. J. Rackham, and County Commissioners F. W. Stratford, Harvey P. Randell and I. A. Norris were among the distinguished guests.

Luncheon was served at noon. Dancing was enjoyed at night. Music and readings and other features were on the program which continued throughout the day.

Lyman Skeen came to Plain City with his father Joseph Skeen with the original settlers on March 17, 1959 at the age of nine on his pony. He was the last living original pioneer of Plain City. He died in 1933.

ANNE CATHERINE HEDEVIG RASMUSSEN HANSEN

SUBMITTED BY HER GRANDDAUGHTER

LAVINA TELFORD THOMPSON

Anne Catherine Hedevig Rasmussen Hansen was the first wife of Hans Christian Hansen and was born October 1, 1823, in Millinge, Cavanninge, Svendborg, Denmark.

On October 7, 1849, she married Hans Christian Hansen in the Parrish of Horne.

Hedevig and her husband were among the first people in their community, Helsinger, to give willing ears to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They were baptized October 25, 1851. She supported her husband in preparation for leaving their homeland and families and their immigration to America. They left Demark, December 20, 1852, and sailed for Utah on January 16, 1853 on the “Forest Monarch”.

Pioneering in Utah was not easy, particularly to one who has experienced the upper middle class level of circumstances since her marriage. After living a pioneer life in Utah for a little over a year, Hedevig was thrilled with the birth of her child and first daughter, Josephine.

During the next three years, they moved several times, first in Ogden, then to Bingham’s Fort and finally to Harrisville. It was there that her third son, Nephi, was born.

August 28, 1857 became a special day in their lives. They were sealed together in the Endowment House. The first born in the covenant and her second daughter, Anne Margarethe, arrived April 6, 1859, in Harrisville.

Early in 1869, a great challenge came into the home, when Hedevig’s husband was called to fill a mission in his native Denmark. Hedevig made a shirt for her husband from material of one of her petticoats. She dyed it in juice from bark and roots, and Hans wore it as he left for his mission.

The following was taken from Josephine’s writing:

It was known that mother could wait upon women in confinement cases. It was a natural gift with her. They came for her to go to Plain City to care for a lady there. This was four miles away. She did her work so well that the woman paid her $2.00 in silver. Her career was established and they kept coming for her to go around nursing. Two bushel of wheat was the price usually charged. Then the Bishop came to our place from Plain City and wanted mother to move down there so she would be nearer to wait on women in their confinement cases. They tore our log house down, moved it to Plain City, and put it up again. They also built us a dugout, and now we lived in a settlement and could go to school. Two or more children blessed Hedevig’s home in Plain City. Hans Christian was born August 14, 1863, and Chauney Ephrian was born May 8, 1866.

Hedevig lived a full life and was taken in death March 31, 1899, being buried in Plain City.

HISTORY OF PLAIN CITY FROM THE LIFE OF

CHARLES NEAL

I, Charles Neal, son of Job Neal and Harriet Smith Neal, was born September 7, 1834, in Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, England. I was baptized August 10, 1849, at Stratford-on-Avon by George Smith, and confirmed by Elder John Freeman. About 1853, I was ordained a Teacher by Elder Weeks.

I, with other immigrants left England on the 22^nd day of March 1857 on the ship George Washington with Captain Cummings in command. We arrived in Boston about April 12, then proceeded on our journey to Iowa City, which was the Western terminus of the railroad. There we had to wait about three weeks for the handcarts to be finished before we could start our journey across the plains. There were about 125 handcarts and 275 men, women, and children in the company. Israel Evans was Captain, and Benjamin Ashley, Assistant Captain. I was teamster most of the way. After a long and tedious journey on the plains, our food supply became exhausted so that we had to live four days on buffalo meat without salt. We arrived in Salt Lake City on September 11, 1857, from which I further continued my journey to Lehi.

On the 24^th of September I returned to Salt Lake City and found Miss Annie England who came across the sea and plains with me. We were married the same day by Elder Israel Evans., Captain of our company and then returned to Lehi and went to work for him.

On March 10, 1859, a small company left Lehi in search of a new home. We were in that company which settled in the place now known as Plain City.

Upon arriving on March 17, we took up the arduous labors of fencing in the Big Field and making Plain City Irrigation Canal, besides fencing in our own lots and planting them. Being of an ambitious character, I carried stakes from the Weber River and fenced in the first lot.

The first year we lost our crop. I then went in search of work and got a job from President Brigham Young on the wall around the Eagle Gate in Salt Lake City. Two weeks later, my wife, Annie England Neal, followed me on foot to Salt Lake, and learning I was working for President Young, she obtained work in the Lion House in Brigham Young’s family where she remained for eighteen months.

When we were about to return to Plain City, Sister Eliza R. Snow, recommended that we have our endowments. Accordingly, before leaving, we were endowed and sealed by President Brigham Young on October 24, 1860. On the same day I was ordained an Elder by Elders J. V. Long and George D. Watt.

We then returned to Plain City where I was appointed with a company of three to oversee the water ditches, in which capacity I served about three years. I was then appointed watermaster in Plain City. I served one year with credit and satisfaction.

I was one of the first appointed Sunday School teachers in Plain City, and at the Sunday School Jubilee held in Salt Lake City in 1899, I received my badge for having been a Sunday School worker for thirty-five years.

From 1864 to 1899, I served as organist in the Sunday School and Ward.

In 1860, I helped to build the first school house, which was adobe. I also helped to build the second school house which was fifty by twenty-five feet. I was Chairman of the committee to construct the present meeting house. I was one of the school trustees for eight years and road supervisor for about nine years.

In 1866, I was called to go to the Missouri River with four yolk of oxen to bring some immigrants, which made my third trip across the plains. While at the Missouri River I met the two orphan children of my sister, Ellen Eggerson, who died and was buried at sea on July 4. Her infant baby died on the 21^st of July in Nebraska and was buried there. I returned and brought with me my sister’s little son, two and one-half year old. When about four days out from the Missouri River, I was taken very sick and was not expected to live; in fact Captain Harden was about to leave me there with provisions that should I recover, I would be brought in on the stage. But I begged the Captain to bring me along with them, telling him if he would, I should recover. So they brought me along and after traveling for about three hundred miles, with good care, I was able to drive my own team and get back all right.

When home again, I assisted in starting the first martial and brass band in Plain City. We purchased a second-hand set of brass band instruments from the old Camp Floyd Band in Salt Lake.

I was Postmaster in Plain City for many years. The following was published by the President of Ogden in 1903.

“Charles Neal, the retiring Postmaster of Plain City, has a most enviable record of service. The post office at Plain City was discontinued today and that town will be furnished with rural delivery. Charles Neal, who has been Postmaster in Plain City for the past twenty-five years, retires from service with an enviable record. He has served continuously under five Presidential administrations and that is sufficient evidence of his ability. He has a record in the Government of which he may feel proud”

My first wife, Annie England Neal, died November 5, 1900. She was a faithful and devoted wife, and endured many hardships and privations in our pioneer days in this, our mountain home. She was a true and faithful Latter Day Saint. Having no children of her own, she raised my sister’s child, Emily Neal Eggerson, from two and a half years old until about nineteen. We raised my brother, Willard, from eight years old until he married at the age of twenty, and Sophia England, her niece, from three months old to about fifteen years old; also Ella Jerimah Neal, my niece, from nine until she was about nineteen. We also raised William Neal, my nephew, from two and a half years to about twelve when he went away with his sister, Ella, who married Thomas H. Cottle.

In 1901, I married Miss Myra Swingwood. About 1907, my wife’s sister, Annie Swingwood Brown, died, leaving two children-a boy and an infant baby girl. We adopted Myra, the baby girl, who is now six years old.

At present, I am the oldest handcart pioneer in Weber County.

(Dictated shortly before his death)

Thomas Singleton’s home now owned by Elmer Singleton

Sunday, 10 September 2023 by Sagacity

History of Plain City Pt 1

History of Plain City March 17th 1859 to present, pages 1 through 32.

Preface

This history was compiled and printed for the purpose of supplying some facts, stories, and histories of the town of Plain City. That you as an individual may take a little more pride and stand a little taller in the support you give our town. It is a tribute to the men and women who had the foresight, vision, courage, and strength to endure the hardship that were necessary to make Plain City a nice place to live.

They were a choice breed of people selected to perform great and noble deeds. Their character was unselfish and pure. Their word was their bond. Their ambition unmatched, and their courage unequaled. Their convictions were true and they were a happy people.

We encourage you to read the entire book for we think you will find it enlightening and interesting. We know that this is not a complete history of Plain City, but we used most of all of the material that was turned in. We realize that there are duplications, grammatical errors, dates that conflict, and others, but please don’t pick away at the format so much that you miss the important message. If any are dissatisfied, we issued a simple challenge; collect and write your own history.

It is not the intent of any of the articles to show malice or unkindness to anyone. But, rather we encourage any and all to look upon it as a tribute to an already good name.

We should extend a special thanks to the Plain City Community School, and especially to Robert P. Stewart, Principal. Bob thinks and acts like a native of Plain City, and his helpful knowledge in putting the book together is appreciated. His help and cooperation in getting the book to press were invaluable.

Ruth Powers, whose ideas and work have helped to make the book all possible. Her concern for the total book, and her work in collecting materials is most appreciated.

Clara Olsen and Roxey Heslop have collected and written articles and helped to put the book together. Their work is appreciated.

My good wife Dorothy, whose background and training in editing has been most helpful. For the ever long hours we have worked together has been enjoyable. As we go to press, the hours worked seem short, the rewards great, and the satisfaction elevating to say the least. The most rewarding experience have been with the people who welcomed us into their homes and supplied us with pictures and materials. We are most appreciative.

And, to any others who have helped in any way with the book, we appreciate them.

Lyman Cook

Dorothy Cook

Editors

TABLE OF CONTENTS

History from the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Plain City Camp . . 1

Latter Day Saints Church History of Plain City . . . . . … . . . . . . . . 33

Mary Ann Carver Geddes . . . . . . . . …. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 44

Early Settlers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

History of the “Dummy” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Agenda of the First 17^th of March Celebration, Fifty years in P.C. 53

12^th Annual Homecoming Article . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Collection of Histories, stories, etc. of early Plain City from many sources 55

Documents of Servicemen’s Monument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Beet Growing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Dairy Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. .. . . . 86

Cemetery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Plain City Town Incorporation, Town Boards, and Mayors . . . . . . . . . 95

Lions Civic Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

Bona Vista Water, Plain City Irrigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 141

Town Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

Story “A Child’s Christmas In Utah” By Wayne Carver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

Pictures of Early Plain City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156

Business of Today . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161

Can You Remember or Did You Know, by Lyman H. Cook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166

PLAIN CITY HISTORY WRITTEN BY AND IN POSSESSION OF DAUGHTERS OF UTAH PIONEERS, PLAIN CITY CAMP

Plain City is located about 10 miles northwest of Ogden, Utah.

In the fall of 1858, a small group of Lehi men went north into Ogden and vicinity for the purpose of locating a site for the founding of a new settlement. Conditions in Lehi at this time were not very encouraging for the late comers. The water had already been appropriated by the early settlers. There was no range for the cattle, not much good farmland left, and other adverse conditions which made it necessary for the late comers to seek homes elsewhere.

During the general exodus south in 1858, many Lehi men contacted farmers from Weber County who told them of the rich lands lying to the west and north of Ogden. They decided to go there and locate farms, if the conditions were favorable.

One of their camping places was on Kay’s creek (now Kaysville), near the farms of John Carver, John Hodson, and Chris Weaver. As conditions here in Kay’s Ward, respecting the priority of water rights were similar to those in Lehi, John Carver decided to join them in their expedition north. John Hodson went to Plain City later. This was in October of 1858.

Their next camping place was at the intersection of Twelfth Street and Washington Boulevard in Ogden. There they met Lorin Farr, who had just returned from the rich plains northwest of Ogden, where he pastured his cattle. He told them he thought it would be an ideal site for a settlement, as water was not far away and the soil was very rich and deep. They decided to look over the country with Lorin Farr acting as guide. Among those in the company were Daniel Collett, Joseph Skeen, and his son William, Thomas Fryer, W. W. Raymond, John Spiers, Joseph Robinson, John Folker. Joseph Folkman, Jeppe Folkman and Thomas Ashton.

(Statements of Lyman Skeen, Thomas Fryer, and Willard C. Carver, Deweyville, Utah April 22, 1919. Copy of Thomas Fryer’s statement obtained by Robert Davis.)

I was one of the party that came up to where Plain City now stands in the fall of 1858. We camped where the big levee was made, a party consisting of Joseph Skeen, Collet Hopkins, David Francis, Thomas Frayer, Robert Maw, and others with Mr. Garner who lived on Mill Creek near where the Slaterville Creamery now stands (1919).

With Mr. Garner as guide we followed up Mill Creek to where Mill Creek crosses Twelfth Street. From there with a level made out of sixteen-foot two-by-tour, grooved out by this same Mr. Garner, and set on a three-legged tripod, with water in the groove to act as a level, from this joint as described on Twelfth Street, the Plain City Canal from this joint to “Big Levee” was made.

The preliminary survey was made by Mr. Garner. The tripod was carried by William Skeen and myself. The water to fill the level when it was rested was carried in a canteen by Joseph Skeen. This preliminary survey was made to the Big Levee that fall of 1858. We worked on the Big Levee that fall till we went back home to Lehi. In March, 1859, we moved to where Plain City is now established.

In the Spring of 1858, Joseph Skeen brought Jesse Fox to Plain City after the first settlers came to Plain City and he re-surveyed the canal over. The preliminary survey was made by Mr. Garner and after that we went back and made a survey from Mill Creek to Ogden River. I came to Plain City with John Draney, Sam Parke, and the Garners; two or three days after the first arrivals.

When we came there was little or no snow on the ground. Two or three days after a snowstorm came. The ground was covered with high bunch grass and sage brush.”

Besides making this preliminary survey of the canal, the little group of men selected their farms and lots with the understanding that their choice met with the approval of the colonists who were planning to come later, cleaned out some of the springs to the west, rode over the pastures land around Little Mountain, and undoubtedly gave some attention to the planning of the location of the village.

Then they returned to their homes to wait until the next spring before moving to the place they and to his home for their future homes. John Carver walked to his home on Kay’s Creek; most of the way through deep sand.

On March 10, 1859, quite a large body of colonists left Lehi to come North and located upon the site chosen in Weber County, the fall before. They were seven days on the trip making seven camps as follows:

On the Jordon River this side of the point of the mountain.

Where Murray is now situated.

Upon the site where Centerville is now located.

Kay’s Creek, now Kaysville.

A dry camp north of the sand ridge.

On the Weber River northwest of the sugar factory.

Plain city on March 17, 1859.

Part of the company stayed in camp near the present site of the Amalgamated Sugar Factory, but the Vanguards pushed on ahead, arriving about 5:00 pm, March 17, 1859. According to Lyman Skeen’s statement, only about 12 or 14 actually came with the first company.

Upon arrival March 17, 1859, the snow lay deep upon the ground, and the cattle belonging to the company were driven to Little Mountain for feed with Alfred Folker, and Mile Nolan in charge. (By Lyman Skeen)

According to Willard C. Carver all who came in the first group, consisting mostly of those who had teams, made camps on the west side of Plain City, near the spring and started to till the soil. They arrived on the 17^th of March, 1859. Then another group came in a little later and camped on the Sam Draney’s lot because it was dry and sandy and there wasn’t room near the other camp as the land was being cultivated

Copy of Robert Maw’s statement dated April 16, 1916 at Ogden, Utah.

I Robert Maw, say that I was on of the first pioneers who came to Plain City on March 17, 1859. We left Lehi on the 10^th of March, and was 7 days on the road. Crossing the mud flats at Bountiful, we had to hire extra teams to pull us through. We got to Plain City about 5 o’clock in the afternoon and we camped on Samuel Draney’s lots in a little hollow in the south part of what was afterwards Plain City Plat. The sage brush was very high there. We piled up sage brush behind the wagons which we had lined up east and west and that protected us from the north wind. We dug a big hold in the ground and built a big campfire on the south side of the wagons, and made a very comfortable camp.

In crossing “Four Mile Creek” we had to double teams because the frost was nearly all out. We had 6 to 8 oxen on the wagon. I drove one wagon and in our wagon was Thomas and Mary Davis, Deseret Davis Masterson, Mary Davis Skeen, and my wife, Ann Davis, to whom I was married in Lehi before we came to Plain City. After we left Four Mile Creek we found patches of snow here and there and the ground was very muddy, no roads. On the night of the 19^th, it snowed about 10 inches.

List of Plain City Pioneers of 1859, as given by Robert L. Davis and revised later by Peter M. Folkman, Josiah B. Carver, and others.

George Musgrave and wife, Victoria Dix

Charles Neal and Wife, Annie England

Jens Peter Folkman and wife, Matilda Funk and son, George P. Folkman

Robert Maw and wife, Ann Davis

Jeppe G. Folkman and wife, Annie

Thomas Davis and wife, Mary, and the following children:

Mary Davis

John Davis

Robert Davis

Deseret Davis

Joseph Robinson and wife, Alice Booth

Susannah Beddig came 23 of July, 1859

Seth Beddis

William Sharp and wife, Mary Ann and the following Children:

Milo Sharp

Elizabeth Sharp

Evelyn Sharp (born in Plain City in 1859)

Lorenze Padley and an adopted son or stepson

William VanDyke and wife, Charlotte and son William.

David Francis

Daniel James and wife and the following Children:

Charlotte Ann

Elizabeth Ann

They stayed only a short time and went to North Ogden.

Came in the fall of 1859

Alonzo Knight and wives, Catherine McGuire and Martha Sanders

William Knight

Charlotte Knight

Amanda Knight

Henry Newman and wife and the following children:

Henry Newman Jr.

Deseret Newman Jr.

William Skeen and wife, Caroline and son William Jr.

John Folker and wife, Alice and son Alfred, who rode horse back with Lyman Skeen and daughter Anni Folker.

Joseph Skeen and wife and following children:

Joseph Skeen

Lyman Skeen

William Skeen

Jane Skeen

Moroni Skeen

Thomas Singleton and wife, Christine Woodcock and the following children:

Elizabeth Singleton

Emma Singleton

Sarah Singleton

Thomas Jr. The first born in Plain City that year.

John Draney and wife and the following children:

Samuel Draney

Isabel Draney

Jonathan Moyes and wife, Dinah Abbott

James Rowe

William Geddes and wives, Elizabeth and Martha

Agnes Geddes

William Geddes

Joseph Geddes

Hugh Geddes (born in Plain City in the fall of 1859)

William L. Stewart

Abraham Brown and wife and the following children:

Jeanette Brown

Byron Brown

Newell Brown

Oscar Brown

Leveridge or Leavitt Brown

Clinton Brown

Christopher Folkman and wife, Elea and son George D.

Daniel Collet and wife, and the following children:

Ruben Collet

Charles Collet

Matilda Collet

Julia Collet

Samuel Cousins, mother, sister

Ezekiel Hopkins

Daniel Hopkins

John Spiers and wife, Mary Ann Winfield

Martha Spiers

Alberta Spiers

Winfield Spiers

John Spiers (Came a little later with Martin Garner and wife and children

Tene Garner

Hannah Garner

John Garner and wife and son and daughter

Jonathan Partridge

John Carver and wife, Mary and the following children:

Mary Ann Carver

George H. Carver

James S. Carver

Thomas Ashton

John Draney Jr.

Thomas Brown and wife

Clint Brown

Hans Petersen and wife and son August

John Beck

Clint Brown

Hans Petersen and wife and son August

John Beck

Leavett Brown

Came in 1860:

Alonzo Raymond and wife and children

Lori Raymond

Mary Raymond

Ida Raymond

Susannah Raymond

William Wallace Raymond and wife, Almira

Spencer Raymond

William Raymond

Mina Raymond

Seretha Raymond

One of the first things they did after arrival was the survey the townsite and assign the lots to the settlers so they could get some kind of shelter for their families.

Joseph Grew states that John Spiers and others who surveyed Plain City had in mind the old home, the city of Nauvoo, and followed the pattern as nearly as they could.

They surveyed the town at night using the north star, and three tall trees just below it as which they waded.

The original plat was six blocks long and three blocks wide running north and south. Each block contains 5 acres and is divided into four lots. Each settle was allowed some choice in the selection of his lot.

The Central St. Was from Alonzo Knight’s corner running north to Robert Maw’s old adobe house. There was one street each side of this running north and south. The “Bug field” or farming land one mile square lay to the east of the town site extending from the cemetery corner and north to the old north school house.

The old Joshua Messervy place was on the east line. There were three main gates; one by George Palmero, and one by the old north school house. Each settler was allotted twenty acres of farmland. As soon as the crops were gathered in the fall, the community was notified, usually from the pulpit on Sunday afternoon, that the stock would be turned into the “Bug Field” upon a certain date and everyone who owned land turned his stock in to the field on the day. One long willow fence enclosed the whole field. The willows used in the construction of all willow fences in Plain City were brought from the Weber River, south of the settlement. The outside of all or nearly all the lots ion Plain City at this time were thus fenced.

There were no partition fences then. Chickens and hogs roamed at will within the fenced blocks. In fencing, a trench was dug having all the dirt piled along one side, into this bank sharp stakes were driven and the green willows woven in and out through them to make a fence.

The following from Lyman’s Skeen’s notes. “There was no feed except such as the stock could gather, and as rapidly as possible small areas were grubbed, plowed, and planted. When a part of the crops were planted John Skeen went to Salt Lake and secured the services of Jessie M Fox, the pioneer surveyer who laid out Salt Lake City, to run the irrigation ditch line to “Four Mile Creek.” It is worthy to note here that while Mr. Fox also ran the lines for the town, he did not change the original lines that were made by the North Star and the rope by the pioneers upon their arrival. Work was commenced upon the irrigation ditch. In the meantime, those men who had not moved their families from Lehi returned to get them. The harvest of 1859 was light, it being possible together but very little, such as corn, squash, and some potatoes, and very little, wheat, which was threshed by flail or sticks. The lack of teams, implements, etc. , limited the acreage planted, and due to the lateness of the season when the irrigation ditch as far as Four Mile Creek was completed, the crops did not mature properly. Because of lack of water, no hay was harvested in 1859. The stock was driven to Little Mountain in the late fall to winter. In the spring of 1860. it was necessary to hold back farm work until the stock could gain strength on the spring feed.”

“Becoming discouraged by the experiences of 1859, some of the settlers went to Cache Valley. Among them being Ruben and David Collett, Samuel Cuspins, Ezekiel Hopkins’ mother and sister, and Mr. Lilly. John Falker and Alfred Falker moved to Ogden. Others came from Lehi to temporarily fill the ranks, some of whom later moved to Cache Valley. .” Willard Carver’s statement. “John Carver dug down into the ground he selected with a piece of sage brush. Joseph Robinson, Thomas Singleton, Charles Neal, George Musgrave, Clint Brown, Jeppe Folkman, and Peter Bech camped by Carver’s on Kay’s Creek. They drove on to the sand hills in Wilson Lane on the 16^th of march, 1859. John Carver accompanied them as far as Slaterville. He stopped here to get shelter for his wife and children before going on.

Joseph Skeen and two or three others cleaned out the springs below where the Skeens located, while the Singletons, Charles Neal, and Mr. Beck cleaned out those near the spot where Jens Christensen afterward lived.

By the time the second company came, the first company had cleared some land. William Skeen rode a horse sown to Lehi and led another group to the new settlement; his wife Caroline being one of them.

There was deep mud before the heavy snowstorm came. They were almost snowed under. Some started to excavate for their houses the day after their arrival, but didn’t finish them right away, on account of the storms. They got their willows for the roofs from the Weber River about two miles away. My mother, Mary Ann Carver, with her children stayed in a dugout in Slaterville while her husband, John Carver, was building a house and working on his land. He walked back and forth between Slaterville and Plain City. The reason the Carvers and others left Kay’s Creek was because the early settlers of Kay’s Creek would not share the water with them. “ End of Willard Carver’s Statement.

At the time of the settlement of Plain City there were no villages to the east; only the homestead of the Lakes, Taylors, Shurtliffs, Dixons and others. Also, the “Prairie House” or herd house where men stayed who were looking after the “dry herd.” There was another herd house on Little Mountain built before the pioneers came to Plain City. Captain Hoofer’s herd house was the only house between the Weber River and Kaysville at that time. About due east of Plain City where Higley lives now, was located a boarding house to accommodate the stage drivers, emigrants, etc., traveling between California, Montana, and the east. When the woman who ran the place out a stick with a white cloth tied on the end of it, it meant pie or some other treat.

The distance from the corner of the square in Plain City to Wright’s corner in Ogden, was measured by revolutions of a wagon wheel and found to be ten miles.

THE PLAIN CITY CANAL

This is a nine-mile canal connecting the irrigation ditches of Plain City with Ogden River. It was commenced in May of 1859, shortly after part of the crops were planted, and completed to Four Mile Creek that first year, but not in time to save the crops.

In 1860 some water was carried to the thirsty ground and some crops matured, but Plain City, due to its position at the end of the Ogden River system, has suffered extremely through lack of water in dry seasons, although having some of the oldest rights on the Ogden River.

In the construction of this canal the cooperation and persevering spirit of the Plain City people was shown, although their implements were crude, yet they went ahead with determination until they finally got the life-giving water to their fertile soil.

“They used a V-shaped scraper made out of split logs and weighted down with men. Five or six yoke of oxen were used to pull the scraper and horse teams were used on the plows, to break the ground for the ditch work. The dirt was dug out with spades and shovels. The dirt was hauled in wheel barrows from the high place to build up the low places. When they built the big levee, the dirt was hauled to the levee in wagons and wheelbarrows. Large chunks of sod were dug out with shovels and hauled in wheelbarrows. The construction of the big levee was one of their hardest problems.

“When the big levee broke it caused a lot of excitement and men were kept there night and day to watch it. While working on the canal many men only had a piece of black bread or a cold boiled potatoe for his lunch.” (Statement of William F. Knight and Lyman Skeen.)

By 1860, the canal was finished to Mill Creek, by 1861, to Broom’s Creek, and by 1862, to the Ogden River.

Joseph Skeen was appointed watermaster with Ezekeil Hopkins and Jeppe Folkman assistance in May, 1859.

The upkeep of the Plain City canal has been quite high due to the fact that there have been so many washouts on the big levee, and so many law suits with the neighboring villages over water rights.

The Plain City Irrigation Company was first organized according to law on August 18,1874, although it had controlled the canal since it was commenced in 1859.

The completion of the Echo Dam in 1932 has relieved the water situation considerably and a plentiful supply of water is assured for Plain City unless something unforeseen occurs.

On July 16, 1924, the stockholders of Plain City Irrigation Company subscribed for 2500 acre feet in the Echo Dam which was increased to 4,000 acre feet on May 7, 1925.

CULINARY WATER

The first culinary water used in Plain City came from the springs on the west side of the settlement and was carried by the pioneers to their homes in buckets. Thus we find that the oldest houses in Plain city are located along the western edge of the town. It was not long, however, in fact during the first year of settlement, before people began digging open wells which was not a difficult thing to do because there was a plentiful supply of underground water in that locality. Fish were put in the wells to eat the insects.

The next type of well was the square boarded kind with a covered top and a bucket to draw the water in.

Then came the hand pumps, several of which are still in use in the village today. Pipes were driven deeply into the ground and a pump attached which forced the water to the surface. They were placed outside at first, usually near the kitchen door. Then they were placed inside the kitchen with a sink attached. Of late years, several homes have installed electric power pumps which make it possible to have hot and cold running water.

After irrigation commenced in Plain City, a variety of different crops began to be raised. The soil was very productive, so we find the pioneers engaging very extensively in raising vegetables and fruits of various kinds. Some of the crops grown were corn, squash, potatoes wheat, sugar cane, small fruits and later apples, pears, apricots, plums, grapes, melons, and tomatoes.

About 1861, Edwin Dix, a convert from London, England brought the first strawberry plant into Plain City from Salt Lake City. He worked for Mr. Ellabeck, a gardener, in Salt Lake and took part of his wages in strawberry plants which he distributed among his friends in Weber County. The parent stock of these plants was grown in California and brought to Utah by pony express. From this small beginning the culture of the strawberry became one of the leading industries of Plain City. Hundreds of cases were sent out every season to different parts of the country and people even came from Salt Lake to get some of Plain City’s delicious Strawberries.

Mr. Rollett, a Freshman, introduced the culture of asparagus into Plain city. The seed came from France in 1859. This, too, became one of the leading industries of Plain City, as the soil and climate were especially adapted to its culture. Several had small patches at first and carried it into Ogden to the grocers, and dealers also peddled it from house to house in Ogden. It was also sold to Chinese Market gardeners who came out from the city in search of asparagus and rhubarb to augment their own products which they sold from house to house.

Plain City asparagus, like Plain city strawberries, has become known far and near. At the present time there are several large patches in the community which furnish employment to many people during the season. Most of the product is handled at present through the Asparagus Growers Association.

Corn and grass were used for stock feed before the introduction of alfalfa which was brought to Utah and California by the early settlers and has been of great benefit in building up another thriving industry of Plain City dairying and stock raising.

The sickle, scythe, and the cradle were some of the early implements used in the harvesting of grain. Women usually gleaned in the fields after the reapers.

Plain City at one time was called the “garden spot of Utah” because of its wonderful vegetable gardens and fruit orchards.

At one time, there were many cottonwood trees in Plain City, but the trees were cut down as the cotton fell upon the ripening strawberries and rendered them unfit for the market.

Nearly all the early residents of Plain City raised enough gardens stuff to supply their own tables. Some, as has been previously stated, made a business of gardening and marketing their produce in Corrine, Ogden, and Salt Lake and other nearby cities. Many of them sold their produce to L. B. Adams, who was one of the pioneer shippers of Ogden and vicinity. Prominent among these early market gardeners were Abraham Maw and wife Eliza.

John Spiers and Edwin Dix were other early market gardeners. They brought a few roots of asparagus from the “states.” others engaged in this business were John Moyes, Mrs. Virgo and Mrs. Coy who peddled vegetables in Ogden and could knit a pair of stocking during the trip.

William Geddes is credited with bringing the first grape vines to Plain City from Salt Lake.

Jonathan Moyes, his son John, Alonzo Knight, Thomas Musgrave, George Musgrave, Jens Peter Folkman, Charles Neal, Thomas Singleton were also engaged in market gardening in the early days of Plain city. Other crops grown were wheat, oats, alfalfa, potatoes and later tomatoes and sugar beets.

Joseph Robinson was one of the first to raise alfalfa in Plain City.

The sugar beet industry is one of the leading industries of Plain City. Prior to the coming of the railroad into Plain city in 1909, the beets were hauled to the Hot Springs and sent by the rail to the Amalgamated Sugar Company plant at Wilson Lane, or hauled direct to the factory. After the advent of the railroad there were beet dumps placed at convenient points along the line for the accommodation of the growers in unloading their beets. The beets were then reloaded upon cars and sent to the factory to be manufactured into sugar.

Before the enlarging of the factory at Wilson, during the month of October, it was necessary to pile the beets by the dump until winter, when they were loaded upon cars and sent to the factory as needed.

Sugar cane was grown quite extensively in Plain City at one time and molasses made from it. There were several molasses mills at one time. One was located where Del Sharp’s barn is now. Petersons had one of the first on his lot where Hans Poulsen now lives. There was also one further south.

In the manufacturing of sugar cane into molasses the stocks were fed into an iron grinding machine which extracted the juice. This juice was then placed in large sheet iron vats holding two or three hundreds of gallons each and boiled down to the consistency of a thick syrup or molasses. Sagebrush fires supplied the heat. The skimmings went to the children to be used in molasses candy. Alonzo Knight had a mill west of William Hodson’s house. John Draney had one on his lot, also one on the lot where George Palmer’s home is. There was also a mill in north Ogden where several of the growers took their cane to be manufactured into molasses.

FOOD OF THE PIONEERS

Several of the wild herbs were used quite extensively for food before the cultivated vegetables came into general use; and it is well to note here that modern science is finding that these same wild herbs contain properties of great medical value. Some of these early wild foods were the sego lily root, nettles, pig weeds, red roots, dandelions, sour dock, etc. Also, wild spinach was boiled and used for greens. Melon and beet juices were boiled down to a thick syrup to be used as a sweetener in connection with molasses. Peeled melon rinds were preserved and considered a great delicacy. Fruits and vegetables of various kinds were sun-dried upon the tops of sheds and stored away in flour sacks for future use; apples, plums, prunes, peaches, apricots, pears, sarvisberries, and wild currants were among the fruits commonly dried. The vegetables were corn, squash, beans, peas, tomatoes, etc. Tomatoes first had the pulp removed and were cut in rings and dried the same as the other vegetables.

Whenever a pioneer woman got ready to dry her fruits or vegetables, she would invite a group of women and girls to an apple or peach cutting, or corn drying, or some other kind of “bee” and they would all have a good sociable time together while working. Afterwards, a little party would be held and refreshments served, usually molasses candy and dried apple pie. The apples were cut into four sections and cooked with the core in.

(M.A. Geddes)

STOCK RAISING

Many of the early settlers of Plain City went with the intention of engaging in the cattle business. It was favorably located for this as the pastures were not too far away, and there was a good summer range available in the mountains to the east and northeast. They brought some stock with them from Lehi. Jens Peter Folkman, John Falker, Mike Nolan were the drivers. The snow was so deep they could hardly get through, as there was no grass available. The cattle had to eat bark from cedar trees for food. This was an ideal place to raise cattle because the range land lay west and east of Plain City. The west range toward the lake could be used in the fall after the mountain range on the east was closed due to snowfall. Some of these early stockmen were Gus Petersen, who raised cattle, sheep, and horses. William Skeen, Joseph Skeen, and his son Lyman raised cattle and horses. Alonzo Knight, his son William, Claybourne, Thomas, James Madison Thomas, all pastured their cattle and horses out at Promotory. William Wallace Raymond had his pasture out west toward the lake. Milo Sharp, the Geddes family, Thomas England, James England, ran their herd out by the “Hot Springs.” They were there in 1869 when the railroad went through.

As there was no feed in Plain City for the cattle, they were driven out to “Little Mountain” on the west to pasture. Each winter the milk cows were dried up and sent out with the beef cattle to pasture. As soon as sufficient water was brought to the settlement to mature the crops so that stock feed could be raised, the milk cows were kept home and milked in the winter.

“I remember one time when the Mormon Batallion was having a party in Plain City. I had to drive my mother to Farr West to get some butter, as there was none to be had in Plain City Prairie Houses.”

These were houses located at different places on the range where the herders stayed during the summer to look after the “dry herd.” One was located on the highway between Ogden and Brigham about due east of Plain City. One was “Little Mountain” which was there before Plain City was settled. Then there was Captain Hoofer’s “herd house” which was the only herd house between the Weber River and Kay’s Creek. This house was 20 by 16 feet. It had a roof of Willows, canes, and dirt, and a large fireplace in one end. There was also another “herd house” located about where Dell Brown now lives in Farr West. Abraham Maw’s was the house farthest north in Plain City. Dave Kay, Lori Farr, and other cattlemen of Ogden at one time pastured their cattle where Plain City is now located. North Ogden also used Plain City as a range.

Most of Plain City herd ground is to the west and north of the town. It was allotted to the settlers at any early date.

Every fall a “roundup” was held and each one went and claimed his own stock which had previously been branded in the spring before being sent to the summer range. The fields to the east were pastured as soon as the crops were removed in the fall. The announcement was made from the pulpit at the Sunday meeting that the cattle would be turned into the fields at a certain date and those laggards who didn’t have their crops out made frantic efforts to harvest them before that date. Where the town of Warren now stands was once pasture land. Alonzo Knight located his wife Martha and family there to look after the herd. She milked cows, churned butter and walked to Plain City to the store with her butter and eggs.

The community herd was taken care of by a herder hired by the owners of the cattle. His duty was to drive the cows to the pasture from the public square and bring them back at night. Mr. McBride was one of the early town herds, although the town herds are a thing of the past.

The “tithing” herd was not taken care of locally, but was sent to Ogden and put in with the general herd there. What few sheep there were in Plain City were herded on the square in summer and fed at home in the winter.

MERCHANTS

Two or three of the earliest merchants in Plain City were A. M. Shoemaker and William VanDyke. The former had a little store just east of where the meeting house now stands. William VanDyke’s store was as just across from the southwest corner of the square. Also, one of the first was Jens Peter Folkman. He had a store where he lived and also a meat shop.

ADOBE MAKING

Joseph Skeen Sr. is credited with having made the first adobes in Utah. He learned the process in California while with the Mormon Batallion and introduced it first into Salt Lake and then in Plain City in 1859.

The adobe yard was west of Plain City just below the hill west of Lyman Skeen’s present home.

The mud was mixed with the feet in pits until it was the consistency of paste or mortor. It was placed by spades into wooden molds holding either two, four, or six adobe. These molds were 4x4x12 inches. They were let dry for awhile and then tipped out a hard dry surface to harden in the sun. In order to loosen the adobes easily these molds were first dipped in cold water and the bottom sanded. The adobes were set together in a building with mortor the same way bricks are. Among those who were engaged in adobe making were Joseph Skeen Jr., John Spiers, William Sharp, Thomas Singleton, Joseph Robinson, Jeppe G. Folkman, William England.

Besides the one adobe yard west of Lyman Skeen’s home, there was one just below Coy’s Hill, one below George Moyes. A community one was out north below Abraham Maw’s near the Hot Springs.

EARLY HOMES IN PLAIN CITY

The first homes were “dugouts” as there were the quickest and easiest made in that timberless and rockless section. These “dugouts” had dirt floors and roofs, a fireplace in one end, and a door and a window on the other. There was no glass at first. Sagebrush was used for fuel, also for light. They were usually about 10 ½ feet by 15 feet. It was necessary to get down steps to get into them. Some were made of sod and dirt, others were made of dirt and boards. The sod was used in the construction of the walls. The dirt floors got so hard in the summer that they could be wiped with a wet cloth. There were cupboards built in the side of the walls. By digging into the earth, steps were made level. This was where they put their dishes. A bake oven hung in the fireplace. The roofs were made by first covering them with cottonwood timbers and willows from the Weber River, then a layer of rushes and a thick layer of dirt.

Charles Neal is credited with the first “dugout” in Plain city, located where Alfred Charlton’s home now is. After the road to North Ogden Canyon was opened up, logs and crude lumber became available for the construction of log houses.

Joseph Skeen built the first log house in the fall of 1859. William W. Raymond moved one from Slaterville to Plain City in the same year. John Carver’s log house was built in the fall of 1860. Thew log came from North Ogden Canyon. This log house has been moved on to the grounds behind the LDS Chapel and is being taken care of by the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers of Plain City.

The logs in both the Skeen and Carver homes came from the North Canyon after a road there had been partially constructed by Plain City men. This road was finished in1860 and became a toll road.

The preparing of logs for building was a tedious process. They were hand sawed in pits dug for his purpose and were trimmed with axes. The first shingles were hand made. Saw, chisels, and hammers were used in their construction.

William Skeen’s log house was one of the early log homes of Plain City. It’s still standing on the lot one block west of the school house. A little later William Skeen added an adobe section to this house. In1862 or 1863, he built a stone house of rock hauled from the hot springs northeast of Plain City. William Sharp, an early Plain City brick mason, laid the stones and assisted Thomas Singleton, and early carpenter. Gunder Anderson built the first adobe house in Plain City two blocks north and one block east from the northeast corner of public square.

Statement of Lorenzo Lund: “I stood on this street one 17^th of March (the one running north and south on the west side of the public square.) and heard Lyman Skeen and Gus Petersen talking about the old adobe house on the Berry lot. Mr. Peterson said that he assisted his father in the construction of that house when he was nine years old.” David Booth lived in this house and was a manufacturer of hats. He made these hats from rabbit skins.

The first nails used in Plain City were in the adobe house of Gunder Anderson and made by Christopher O. Folkman. He hammered them out in his blacksmith shop. They were square nails.

“Alonzo Knight moved his log house in union on little cottonwood southeast of Salt Lake in the fall of 1859, after his crops were in. It consisted of two log rooms with a court between, roofed over, and an adobe wall at the back, the front of the court being open. An adobe fireplace in the center, while a large oak swill barrel stood on the side opposite to the granary which was stored in separate compartments in the granary. The fireplace in the center was used for baking in the summer. On the west side of the house was a milk cellar which was connected with the west room by a door. Our bread, mostly corn, was baked in a bake kettle in the fireplace. Cornmeal was also used in making mush. The husking of the corn took place in the winter. Each log room had two windows; one in the front and one in the back. An 8×10 inch glass was used. The beds were home made. My father had the first big orchard in Plain City. He had apples, peaches, green gages, sand cherries and squash. The boys came and from all over Plain City for William to roast squash in the big bake oven for them. An Indian, Captain Jack, wanted my mother to give me to him because I had red hair.” Amanda Knight Richardson.

Interior of Christine Swensen Miller’s dugout home as described by her sister Josephine Ipson Rawson.

“This home stood on the lot that Milo Sharp afterward bought. There was a door in the east end with a small window by the side of it. It was very dark in there when the door was shut. Just inside the door to one side was the flour barrel. The bed was in the northwest corner. It was homemade and consisted of four posts held together with boards fastened to the ends and sides. There were knobs fastened to the side and end boards for holding the ropes that were stretched across to form a sort of mesh rope springs. The ticks were filled with oat straw or corn husks which had been torn into fine strips with forks. The homemade furniture was made from very light white wood.

The food was mostly potatoes fried in an open skillet over the fireplace. Sometimes a wild sage leaf would get into them nearly ruin them. Sacks were stuffed in the chimney when there was no fire to keep out the cold. Sometimes the fire was lighted before the sacks were taken out and nearly set the house on fire.”

Among those who built adobe houses were John England, Gunder Anderson, George Musgrave, William Raymond, Hans C. Hanson, Peter C. Green, Charles Neal. (Incidentally, Mr. Neal and his wife Annie England Neal dragged willows from the Weber River, 2 ½ miles away, in order to build a fence around their lot.)

Callie Stoker’s house is the oldest occupied house in Plain City today.

George Musgrave’s first one-room adobe house replaced his “dugout” on his first lot two blocks north from the square. He next moved one block east. Here, he erected a two or three-room house, containing one large room on the west where he conducted his school and dancing parties.

Mrs. Mary Ann Winfield Spiers held her girls school of sewing. She also held classes in reading, writing, arithmetic, spelling, and fancy work. She made the first crochet hook out of the heart of sage brush. She wittled it down and then smoothed it with a piece of broken glass. This is what she taught the girls to crochet with. The next was a crochet hook made out of a broken knitting needle. She taught in a log room on their lot located one block south of the public square.

Interior of William England’s “dugout” about 1862, described by himself.

“Our dugout” was located just west of where William Hunt’s home now stands. The inside was adobe lined, and adobe fireplace stood on one side with its pile of sagebrush nearby. The soil then in Plain City was quite dry so that it was very comfortable inside. The floor was of hard-packed dirt. Hard enough to scrub. It had a dirt roof – a door in one gable end and a window in the other end.

Our furniture was all homemade, of slabs and willows. There was a cupboard built in one side for our dishes, which were brought from England. Large willows were used in the construction of the bedstead which was lashed with bed-cord. Our ticks were filled with dry grass and rushed from the nearby slough. Annie was born here. Our provisions for the first year consisted, (in the main) of 5 gallons of molasses, 5 bushels of potatoes, 5 bushels of wheat, and other miscellaneous food items which we obtained by labor and purchased. We lived here for two years, them later, we bought out a Scandinavian by the name of Larson and built a one-room adobe 12×14 with a dirt roof and dirt floor, with one window and a door made of rough lumber. We lived here eight or ten years, then moved out east on our farm,” William England.

The frame work of the chairs was usually made of cottonwood or willows with rawhide or cane seats.

In the house where Josephine Davis Ipsen was born, her mother, Anna Beckstrom Davis, slept on the wheat in the wheat bin and here is where Josephine was born.

Lumber and glass began to be used in the construction of homes in Plain City in the early sixties. Some furniture was made of dry good boxes. Tree stumps were sometimes used for chairs. The first dishes were carved from wood. Some crockery was obtained from Brown’s Crockery Factory at Brigham City.

Cottonwood and willows from Weber River were used quite extensively in the construction of the early homes. Later lumber was obtained from Wilson’s saw mill in Ogden Canyon. This was hauled down by ox teams. Three or four days were required to make the trip.

Household furnishing of John Moyes’ home as given by his daughter Sarah Moyes Gale.

“The benches, tables, and cupboards were all homemade. There were no nails to fasten the boards together so wooden pegs were used. About 1967, we got some store furniture, a lounge and a bed which was used as a pattern for other furniture. Slabs and rough boards were used in making our homemade furniture. We usually whitewashed our adobe with whitewash which we made from the clay at “Cold Springs.”

Our first broom were made from sagebrush, rabbit brush, then later, from broom corn.

We painted pictures with paint from colored cloth soaked in water.

Our first stove was a little “step stove brought across the plains.” It cost $100. Father bought a sewing machine at the same time.

There were no screens for doors or windows. We made fly catchers of straw tied together with string and made in a rosette. Curtains for our dry-goods boxes furniture were made of calico obtained from Salt Lake City. Our tubs, spoons, bowls, etc., were of wood. Also, our churn and spinning wheel (except the head and spindle.)

Our fuel was mostly sagebrush, willow etc. I remember when Christopher O. Folkman brought a piece of coal to school to show the children.

Our first lights “bitch lights” were made of trips of cloth twisted together and set in a dish of grease. Then came tallow candles made in a wooden mold. Our mold went all over the town. Everyone took tallow candles to the meeting house for a party or dance. Sarah Gale and Lyman Skeen.

EARLY TREES

John Hodson planted many tees both shade and fruit trees around his home. He also planted the large tree that grows by Elmo Read’s place. Joseph Skeen planted many trees also. Those who planted fruit trees earliest in Plain City were: John Spiers, Alonzo Knight, William England, Charles Weatherston, Hans Lund, Peter C. Green, Otto Swenson, Abraham Maw, James Rowe, John Carver, William Geddes, Edwin Dix, Jonathan Moyes, Fred Rolf. John Carver planted two rows of cottonwood trees by his place. The favorite fruit trees were: apple, peach, cherry, pear, plum. The favorite shade trees were: poplar, cottonwood, boxelder, locust, mulberry, catalpha, basewood, black walnut. The mulberry trees were a reminder of the attempt to establish a silk factory in Plain City.

SMALLPOX

Meetings were discontinued in Plain City from September 30, 1870, to March 5, 1871 on account of a smallpox epidemic which was raging in the community. On the 1^st of November, 1870, a meeting was held relative to preparing a place near Salt Creek for the smallpox patients. (Ward minutes.) This place was built, but found to be small, so on the 2^nd or 3^rd of November it was enlarged. It was not a success, however, as the facilities for caring for the patients were poor and meager. The house was cold and drafty, which caused the death of many who would have survived with better care.

Some families suffered a severe loss, among these were William Skeen, Alonza Knight, William Gampton, and many others; nearly every family suffered some loss.

WEAVERS

The first weavers were Mary and Trina Hanson. John England wove cloth, his father being a weaver in England and perfected the first, if not the very first power loom used in this country.

Mary Katherine Shurtliff operated a little store in connection with her weaving. Anna Beckstrom Christensen could shear a sheep, spin the wool, and weave it into cloth. Catherine Folkman and Susannah Richardson also wove carpets.

SILK INDUSTRY

Erastus Snow in early days advised the pioneers to plant mulberry trees and raised silk worms. Several trees were planted (many of which are still standing today) and the worms obtained, but the industry was soon abandoned as it was not profitable. Those who planted trees were: the Geddes family, Jeppe G. Folkman, Bertha Lund, Anna Christensen, Mr. and Mrs. Lindilof, Elizabeth Moyes. Elizabeth Moyes was engaged in the manufacturing of the silk.

SHOE MAKERS

Thomas Wilds and Millie Himston’s grandfather.

CARPENTERS

Hans Petersen, who built his own adobe house, Thomas Singleton and his brother Charles. William Sharp was also a plaster, stone mason and adobe maker.

Joshua Messurvy, who superintended the building of the meeting house benches, built the pulpit in the meeting house. A beautiful work of art, being all inlaid work, made from wood of different kinds of trees was done by William Miller.

MIDWIVES

Annie Katherine Hedwig Rasmussen Hansen, wife of Hans Christian Hansen, was the first midwife in Plain City. She came here between 1860 and 1862, while her husband was on a mission to Denmark. She was born in Forborg, Denmark, October3, 1823. She was baptized January, 1852, came to Salt Lake City October 1, 1853, moved to Ogden, later settling first at Bingham Fort, then in Harrisville. She was asked by the bishop of Plain City to come down and practice her profession. Her log house at Harrisville was torn down by the men the bishop sent, carried to Plain City, and re-erected on a 2 ½ piece of ground, which the ward gave her. Sister Hansen was among those called to take a course in nursing and obstetrics, under the direction of Eliza R. Snow. She practiced in Plain City for many years. She died March 31, 1899.

Jane Pavard England, wife of John England, was another early midwife, coming in 1862. She was set apart for this work on the ship while coming over and promised that she would be very successful. This promise was literally fulfilled. She was born August 2, 1815, near Yeoble Somerset, England. She died in Plain City on November 20, 1882.

Another midwife was Elizabeth Murray Moyes, daughter of John Murray and Sarah Bates, and wife of John Moyes. She was born December 24, 1840, at Elizabeth-town, Michigan. She came to Sugarhouse Ward in Salt Lake in the early ‘50’s. She and her husband moved to Plain City in October, 1865. She learned obstetrics from Dr. Shipp in Salt Lake City. She practiced in Harrisville, Warren, Farr West, Plain City for twenty years. She died on January 4, 1905, in Plain City of pneumonia.

Martha Stewart Geddes was another midwife. She was born May 10, 1838, in Scotland and died August 11, 1900 at Plain City.

IMMIGRATION FUND

A company was organized at the October conference of 1849, for the purpose of facilitating the gathering of the Saints of Zion. It was incorporated and a committee appointed to gather funds to be used in assisting the saints of foreign countries to emigrate to Zion. It continued until 1887, when it was discontinued through the passage of the Edmund Tucker Act. Its funds were confiscated by the U. S. Government and distributed among the schools. It was a perpetual self-sustaining fund because those who received aid were supposed to return to the fund the amount they had received, as soon as they were able. The sum of the original cost contributions was $5,000. There was $2,000 in gold raised by the British Saints.

The pioneers were called upon donations of the time, oxen, wagons, and money. As many as 500 wagons were furnished some seasons. Plain City assisted in this as they have always done in every worthy cause. On May 25, 1873, donations for the immigration funds was received from those faithful pioneers of Plain City.

On May 22, 1874, a meeting for the considering of the Organization of the United Order was held. Committee members were: L.W. Shurtliff, President, John Carver, assistant, John Spiers, Secretary, George W. Bramwell, Assistant Secretary, Jens Peter Folkman, Alonzo Knight, Peter C. Green, managers. On August 15, 1875 the rules of the order were read. (From Ward records.)

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY

Plain City Branch was organized in May, 1859, by President Lorin Farr and Bishop Chauncy W. West. William Wallace Raymond was appointed president president of the branch with Danial Collett and Jeppe G. Folkman, counselors, and John Spiers as clerk.

Danial Collett moved to Cache Valley that same year, so John Carver was called to fill the vacancy.

At this meeting the settlement received its name of “Plain City,” Someone had suggested City of the Plains, “but this was rejected as being too long, so the name of Plain City was chosen. This little settlement was a town on the plains away from any one town. It was a city of the plains.

REMINISCENCES OF MARY ANN CARVER GEDDES

“I remember a meeting held in the adobe meeting house. Eliza R. Snow and Jane R. Richards were in attendance. We knelt on the dirt floor. Sister Snow said we little girls would live to see the day when time would be “hurried.” Our light came from fine pieces of sagebrush piled on the hearth. We had one corner where we kept the big pieces for heat and another where we kept the small pieces for light. In 1861, a country precinct was organized at Plain City with Abraham Brown, Justice of the Peace, and William Geddes as constable. A post office was established in 1864, with William W. McGuire as the first postmaster. He brought the mail in his high silk hat to church and distributed it among the congregation. At this time it required 2 ½ days by ox team and 2 days with horses to go to Salt Lake City and back.”

Joseph Skeen was appointed water master with Ezekial Hopkins and Jeppe G. Folkman, assistants. Mr. Folkman remained in his position until May 2, 1872.

On May 22, 1870, President Raymond resigned his position as President of the Plain City Branch.

On August 21, 1870, Lewis W. Shurtliff was appointed President, with John Carver as 1^st Counselor, and Jeppe G. Folkman and 2^nd Counselor. William W. McGuire was presiding teacher.

At the Weber Stake Conference, held on May 27, 1877, Lewis W. Shurtliff was appointed Bishop of the Plain City Ward. He was sustained by the people next day, May 28, with John Spiers as 1^st Counselor, and Peter C. Green as 2^nd Counselor. Franklin D. Richards, John Taylor, Erastus Snow, and D. H. Perry, officiating.

On December 15, 1878, a cemetary committee was appointed. It consisted of: Charles Neal, Charles Weatherstone, William Geddes, Jens Peter Folkman. On January 22, 1883, George W. Bramwell was appointed bishop.

On May 3,1883, some means were collected to build a poor house.

REMINISCENCES OF WILLIAM ENGLAND

“The settlement became prosperous and it wasn’t long before Plain City became known far and near for its delicious fruits and vegetables.

Fifty-nine years of my life have been spent here. When I settled in Plain City in 1862, there were a few one-room adobe houses and one or two log houses. The main part of the town was laid out. The north lane and the Poplar district was added later. Charles Weatherstone’s was the farthest street south. Higbe lived on the Weber River and ran a ferry boat. The first ferry boat was molasses boiler. This was then the main road to Salt Lake. I never met any hostile Indians on the “plains.” I want to relate an incident, a man carried away a relic from an Indian burial ground. The captain of the company made him go back and return it. He was gone nearly all night.

My first job in Salt Lake was stripping sugar cane for john Young. I received one gallon of molasses for her days wage, two quarters of which I ate for super and the rest in the morning. I never had any extreme hardship. Our parties lasted nearly all night. We danced by the light of tallow candles and sagebrush fire. A lunch was served at midnight.”

Lyman said that when his father, Joseph Skeen, first came to Plain City, he brought a tent with him and that is where some of the first meetings were held.

SCHOOL HOUSE AND MEETING HOUSES

The first school and meeting house was built in 1859. It was of adobe 18 x 24 feet and was located of the south side of the public square, just opposite and a little northeast of the present meeting house.

It faced the east. It had a dirt floor and roof. There was a door in the east end, a fireplace in the west and two windows in each side. Men were called to make adobes for a meeting house, school house, and amusement hall for a number of years. The furniture hung on the two sides to be used as desks, one for the boys and one for the girls. These were dropped down while a dance was in progress. We had no textbooks. In McGuire’s school we had square pieces of boards with the letters of the alphabet burned in them, which we were supposed to memorized.

Oral spelling was the rule. George Musgrave was the first school teacher. His first school was held in his “dugout.” Mary Ann Geddes

George Musgrave was also a musician and gave private lessons. He also was the first choir leader. In 1863, a split log addition to the meeting was built on the east end. It was 12x 18 feet. At this time, the whole building was shingled from shingled brought from Salt Lake City. A bowery of willows was constructed near the meeting house to be used in the summer time.

In 1863, when the addition was built, the meeting house was plastered for the first time. A rough table was placed in the west end to be used as a pulpit. Sagebrush for the meeting house was hauled from the north range and Little Mountain.

On April 16, 1871, a vote was taken in Sunday meeting concerning the building of a new meeting house. A committee was appointed on June 25, 1871, to oversee the building of the new meeting house. President L.W. Shurtliff, John Spiers and N.P Lindilof were appointed. They decided to build it to adobe. On July 9, $15.00 was collected to begin building on July 8, 1879, W.W McGuire Secretary, and Charles Neal, Treasurer were added to the committee. On September 18, 1870, W. W. Raymond, William Geddes, and William VanDyke were appointed to act as school trustees. This new meeting and school house was completed in 1873 or 1874. It was in use as an amusement hall as late as 1907. It had a small stage in the north end and a small entrance room on the south.

On May 5, 1874, the ward minutes state that the first meeting was held in the new meeting house. The organ is mentioned for the first time.

William McGuire was the second school teacher. The first one to teach in the little adobe school house on the south side of the square, as I can remember. Mary Ann Geddes.

William Geddes carried part of the bible to school to learn to read from it. We also read from the church publications, Harpers Weekly, The Contributor, Women’s Exponent, etc. the first reader I remember were Wilson’s, Bancrofts, Meguffeys. We studied grammar from Pineo’s’ Primary Grammar. Arithmetic from Rays Arithmetic. In McGuire’s school we also had a blackboard with the letters of the alphabet on it. Some of the literature we read was, Ogden junction, Millennial Star, Journal of Discourses, bible, Doctrine and Covenants, Book of Mormon. I attended school in 1873 at George Musgrave’s home. Mary Geddes.

There were no school bells in those days. The master, Mr. McGuire, called the school together by going to the door and shouting, “Books, books,” at the top of his voice. The pupils ran as fast as they could for woe be to the laggards. If a child misbehaved and was not caught, the whole school was “thrashed” in order to punish the guilty one.

He bible was the principle textbook used. Those who could afford slates had them. The first slate I ever had was a piece given to me by Seretta Raymond. It had broken off from her slate. She gave me a little piece to use as a pencil. In order to keep Jack Spiers put of mischief, Mr. McGuire tied him to the table leg. George Spiers said, “Minnie Carver would be the best girl in school if the rest didn’t spoil her.” M. A. Geddes

All these first schools were tuition schools. A tuition of $3.00 per quarter was paid to the teacher by the parents who were also required to furnish all necessary supplies to their children.

EARLY AMUSEMENTS

The people have always fostered amusements and entertainment of various kinds. The various show companies who have staged plays there have referred to it frequently as a “good show town.” This is probably due to the fact that several among the early pioneers were gifted with dramatic ability and fostered and encouraged the art in the little new community.

Plain City, like all Mormon settlements has also encouraged dancing as a form of recreation. The very first year of settlement, before they had time even to construct a suitable place, they held a dance. It was on the 24^th of July, 1859. The place was the “Barrens” down west of the settlement. The music was furnished by a “comb band” and many of the dancers were barefoot. Everyone had a good time regardless of the conditions under which they were dancing.

“Numerous parties were held at the private homes. They danced outside on the dooryard which was hard as rock.” Susannah Robinson Beddes

“Once when Thomas Carliss came from Kay’s Ward to visit the Eames’, The Wadman’s, and Carver’s, he brought his fiddle along and we put on a dance.

The young folks danced frequently on the public square. Mrs. John Spiers wore the first party dress I ever saw.

On of the ways of entertaining ourselves was to gather around some neighbors hearth and sing songs. We liked to meet Hansen’s because they were all such good singers. David Booth and his brother, Henry, sang “Larboard Watch” very beautifully together. Abraham Maw and his wife, Eliza, sang duets. We usually dropped in at some neighbors to spend the evening. After the molasses milks were built, we young people had frequent “candy pulls.” They gave us the “skimming” to make molasses candy.

We also had “cutting and fruit drying,” corn husking, wool picking, rag, hay picking, and quilting bees. After the work was cleared away, we would sit in a circle and play games such as pass the button. Our refreshments were usually molasses cake, dried apple pie. The apple were cut in 4 pieces and laid upon a roof to dry.

We had frequent picnic parties. At our dances in George Musgrave’s school house, John Moyes often played his accordion. We liked to play “Run Sheep Run” and “Hide and Seek” down in the west end of town. Charles Singleton and Eliza Ann Turner Singleton, his wife, enjoyed this sport with the rest of us “kids.”

There were bonfires at the end of each goal. George Draney was the fastest runner in Plain City. (Mary A. Geddes)

In the winter there were bob sleigh riding parties. The horses had sleigh bells on their harnesses which jingled as they ran.

Our dances in the winter time commenced in the afternoon and lasted well into the evening. Dances were held in the old adobe school house on the south side of the square in the winter and in the bowery which was nearby in the summertime.

We danced on the hard dirt floor at first, many in their barefeet. Some had fancy boots on. My brother, Mathias Lund, had purchased a pair to wear at a dance in the old bowery and being a “fussy” man, had gotten them plenty snug. When he tried to get them on he couldn’t, so he removed his socks, greased his feet, and they slipped on without any effort. He went to the dance and danced the finger polka and the mazurka with the best of them. (Willard Lund)

During the holidays, parties were held at Charles Neal’s, Folkman’s, Spiers’, Shoemaker’s, Gaddes, Eames’, Carver’s and other homes in Plain City.

The choir usually gave concerts during the holidays. On Christmas eve, they usually serenaded the town and the band serenaded on Christmas morning.

I remember once when mother was baking custard pies for a party in the big bake oven. Some of it got tipped over and was discarded as not fit for “company.”

So, we children had our fill of custard pies for once. (M. A. Geddes)

Church fairs were held in the school house. Booths of various kinds were arranged around the room, also “fun houses”, auctions, etc. The band was always in attendance. Much of the money for the financing of the church building was obtained through theses church fairs. Once, Becky Hiatt, Rill and Zell Smith wished to attend the fair at Plain City, so Becky and Rill made three dresses in one day. Then Becky fried the chicken for lunch and Zell made the cake and they came to the fair and danced. (Rebecca Hiatt Weatherstone)

In the fall of 1868, Mrs. Musgrave’s daughter, Louisa, rode horseback from Plain City to Ogden to take charge of the fancy work booth at the fair. The first amusement hall erected in Plain City was a frame building that stood one block south, from the southeast corner of the public square. It was erected in 1890 at a cost of $2,500. This amusement hall served the people for about 13 years when it was accidentally burned. Besides this hall there was the Berryessa hall located one block south corner of the square. After the destruction of the ward amusement hall in 1930, the people once more used the old adobe house on the northeast corner of the public square as a recreation center. In 1913-1914, a brick amusement hall was erected south of and adjoining the meeting house. It had classrooms below. It had hardwood floors, a stage, and equipment. On the committee was Lynn Skeen, John Maw, and Stephen Knight.

On Christmas, we usually had a program in the morning and a childrens dance in the afternoon. The Sunday School always had a Christmas tree with presents on it for the children. Everyone brought candles to the dance for light, until coal oil lamps began to be used. Our first coal oil lamp was one that fastened on the walls with tin reflectors at the back. Then came fancy chandeliers that were fastened to the ceiling, also various kinds of table lamps. Then the gas mantle lamps and finally electricity came.

We told them the time of day by means of a contrivance that followed the shadow of the sun around. Consequently, we couldn’t tell the time on a cloudy day.

MUSIC AND DRAMA

Plain city in early days always had a brass band, a choir, a dramatic association and a baseball team. The first band was organized in 1864 or 1865 with Thomas Singleton as leader.

A man by the name of George Parkman came up from Salt Lake City to organize the band and give lessons to the players.

The first instrument were purchased from Fort Douglas band. The money being raised by donations of cash and molasses.

Will Geddes gave the first $5 and others soon followed his lead. The organization took place in front of the old Singleton home.

Some of the members are recalled by Mr. Singleton as: Charles Neal, William Stewart, Charles Singleton, William Sharp, Abraham Maw, Edward Goddard, Lorenzo Thomas Musgrave, and William Geddes.

The second band was the Heath band. The instruments for this band were obtained in the east. The money was raised by the Dramatic Company of Plain City.

Charles Heath was the leader of this band. He did all the early painting in Plain City. He painted the scenery for the dramatic association and was president of the association for some time. Some of the members of his band were Alfred Bramwell, John Bramwell, Frank Bramwell, Abraham Maw, William Geddes, William Stewart, Haskell Shurtliff, Richard Lund, James Lund, Henry Eames, Robert Eames, Joseph Geddes, Samual Draney, and Thomas Cottle.

The first dramatic association consisted of Louisa Hopkins Moyes, Edwin Dix, Charles Heath, O. J. Swensen, David Booth, Victorine Musgrave, Mary Ann Sharp, Elizabeth Sharp. Some of the plays were: “Ten Knight in a Bar Room,” “Emmeraldo or Justice of Takon.” “Charcoal Burner,” and many other good plays. The traveled around to the different towns.

The second dramatic association consisted of:

Joseph Geddes, Joseph Skeen, Henry Eames, Mary Ann Carver Geddes, Elizabeth Eames, Lillie Stoker Sharp, Annie Hansen, Samual Draney, Josephine Ipson Rawson, Charles Heath, As leader, Archabold Geddes, Alfred Bramwell, Frank Bramwell. They presented the following plays: “Mistletoe Bough,” “Mickle Earl” or “Maniac Lover,” “Fruits of the Wine Cup,” “Streets of New York,” “The Two Galley Slaves,”: The Rough Diamond,” “ Earnest mall Travers,” “ Ten Knights in a Bar Room.”

Sara Singleton was the little girl who sang the song “Father, O Father, Come Home To Me Now.” This company played in Willard, Harrisville, and other surrounding towns. They raised $400 to buy band instruments for the Charles Heath Band.

SPORTS

Plain City always prided itself upon having a good ball team. At one time their baseball team conquered all teams they played except Salt Lake. During this period their greatest rival was the Willard Team, which possessed a curve pitcher. This was something new in baseball at the time. Earnest Bramwell of Plain City learned from Mr. Wells how to throw a curve ball and became the second curve pitcher in Utah. Members of the baseball team included: Catcher, Willard Neal, Catcher, Hans P. Petersen, Catcher, Levi Richardson, Pitcher, Joseph Geddes, First base, Milo Sharp, Second base, Cornelius Richardson, Third base, Willard Neal, Right field, Madison Thomas, Center Field, Fred Wheeler, Left field, and William L. Stewart as short stop.

INDUSTRIES

Every pioneer family had its lye barrel for extracting lye from wood ashes.

Around perforated of wood was fitted inside the barrel near the bottom, upon which greasewood ashes were placed. Water was poured over these ashes and it settled in the bottom of the barrel carrying the lye from the ashes in the solution. This was combined with grease and boiled down to soap. When it was “done” it was poured into a tub to cool and harden. Then it was cut into squares and placed upon a board or table outside to dry.

Salt was extracted from the water of the Great Salt Lake. Soda was made from Alkali.

Fine Starch was made from potatoes grated fine and the juice pressed out and placed in the sun to dry.

Flour starch was used to starch common things.

Wool was spun into thread and then woven into cloth. The wool which was gathered from the fences and bushes was washed, carded, and made into bats for quilts.

Some nails and bullets were made in the home. Also, rag carpets and rugs were home manufactured.

Candle dipping, spinning, weaving, hand sewing, knitting, crocheting, tatting, were done at home. When a pioneer lady wanted a piece of lace or embroidery for herself for a petticoat or a dress, she made it herself or engaged her neighbor to make it for her.

Then there were the quilting of quilts and petticoats, hat making, broom making, etc. In fact, most of the articles in daily use in the home were made by some member of the family.

STRAWHATS

Straws were split, soaked, braided either in three or four, five or seven-strands lengths, sewed together along the edges to make the hat. This was then rolled, blocked, and pressed. Minnie Hansen Lund taught hat making in Plain City. Josephine Ipson was one of her pupils.

Susannah Robinson learned the art of making straw hats from Annie Dye, wife of Joseph A. Taylor.

David Booth made beaver hats from rabbit fur.

FOOD

Sweetening was made form the juice of sugar cane and watermelons. The juice was pressed out and boiled down to a syrup. Fruits and vegetables were dried. Everyone made their own butter and cheese and raised their own vegetables and fruits.

Vinegar was made by getting the vinegar plant, called the “Mother” pouring water over it and adding sugar or some sweetening and letting it stands in a warm place until the proper state of acidity was reached. Some vinegar was made from apple juice.

Shortbread was eaten at first. Then with the introduction of white flour came “salt rising bread,” also “sour dough bread.” Corn bread was used a great deal also.

After the yeast germ was introduced, people began using more bread leavened with yeast. They would save a little start of this yeast from one mixing of bread to the next and add potatoes, water, and sugar.

In every community, there were women who specialized in making yeast, which they exchanged with their neighbors for flour. Annie Neal did this.

Meats were pickled in brine or dry salted for summer use. It was also smoked in the cold winter and kept frozen. Relief Society as told by Mary Ann Carver Geddes.

A Relief Society was organized in Plain City on January 3, 1868, with Almira Raymond as President, Margaret Shoemaker as First Counselor, Mary Ann Carver as Second Counselor, Victorine Musgrave as Secretary, Succeeded by Mary Ann Spiers and Annie Folkman as Treasurer. Mrs. Alice Robinson and her partner Anna Eames walked to Warren, a distance of four miles through deep sand to visit the families who lived down there and give them aid if needed.

Most of the donations in those days were in produce.

Many of the meetings were devoted entirely to work and business. The sisters brought their spinning wheels and spun yarn for the society. Even the children helped.

One of the duties of the relief society teachers was to gather up donations of soap, clothing, or anything the people could give, which was distributed among those in need. They also sat up nights with the sick, gave them food, clothing, or whatever was needed.

THE WHEAT PROJECT

Eliza R. Snow came to Plain City to start the storing of wheat. Those who didn’t raise wheat of their own went into the fields to glean. The work was all done by hand. The wheat was cut with a cradle, raked with wooden rakes, and piled in small piles.

SALT

The salt industry at one time was quite a thriving industry and employed many people. It helped very materially in the financing of the ward.

The salt pits were located northwest of the town on the edge of the Salt Lake. At one time, there were as many as twenty camps with 100 people on the payroll. Many girls and women from the surrounding settlement helped gather the salt and also cooked for the men employees. The coarse or unrefined salt was obtained by digging pits, filling them full of salt water in the pits. The crude salt was hauled by teams to the Hot Springs and shipped to the mining towns of Montana to be used in the smelters and also on the cattle ranches. It was also hauled to Cache Valley and traded for grain. Some finer grains of salt were refined by boiling the salt water in woodlined vats called salt boilers and over sagebrush fires.

Those engaged in the salt business were Clayborne Thomas, Jens Peter Folkman, Charles Neal, William Geddes, Joseph Geddes, Christen Olsen, And William Steward. They contracted to deliver salt to the smelting companies of Montana and worked up a lively trade.

Some of those who worked at the “salt works” were Caroline Palmer, Ellen Peterson, Frances Carver, Martina Peterson, Matilda Folkman, Sarah Moyes, Nephi Hansen, and Jens Peter Folkman and a salt mill at the latter’s home where the salt was ground and sacked ready for the market. Matilda Folkman, Sarah Moyes, Cordelia Moyes Carver, sewed the sacks.

BRICK YARDS

A suitable clay was found on the banks of the Weber River for the making of brick.

Joseph Geddes clay was found on the banks of the Weber River for the making of bricks.

BUTCHERS

The early pioneers raised their own meats. They raised and slaughtered their own beef and hogs and sold the meat to the people from their “meat wagons” which made regular runs through the town. They also made stops in the nearby towns. John England owned the first slaughter house. It was located 1 ½ miles northeast from the public square of the Hot Springs road. Jens Peter Folkman and John Vause had the first butcher shop.

Gus Peterson had a “slaughter house” and a “meat wagon.” He ran his business on a sort of co-operative plan. People put in their beef and pork and drew the value out in fresh meats as they wanted it.

Jens Peter Folkman ran a “co-op” butcher shop. Also, Peter M., his son, had a butcher shop.

Maroni Skeen and Fred Rolph did the killing for a large firm of butchers.

FRENCH RETRENCHMENT SOCIETY

Organized by Eliza R. Snow on November 16, 1875. Emily Wainwright Shurtliff was appointed President, with Mary Raymond a First Counselor, Bertha Lund as Second Counselor, and Jane Stewart as Third Counselor. Margery Elizabeth Crawford was Secretary, Marjorie Shoemaker as Assistant, ad American Stephens as Secretary-Treasurer.

CHAPTER MEMBER:

Jane Alice Turner, Sarah E. Singleton, Rachel Frances Carver Sophia Singleton, Mary Geddes, Isabel Eames, Almeda Raymond, Mary Peterson, Sarah Moyes, Laura M. Graham, Hannah M. Christensen, Annie Josephine Davis, Matilda Folkman, Charlotte Lindelof, Helen Graham, Minnie Carver, Julia Knight, Mary Maw, Emily Neal, Eliza Folkman, Elizabeth Folkman, Elizabeth Geddes, Elsie Marie Green, Julia Cottle, Georgina Rolfe, Eliza Rawson, Hannah Eliza Graham, Mrs. Laura Richardson, Matilda Lindelof, Lucy Knight, Matilda Weatherstone, Martha Knight, Emma Richardson, Annie Geddes, Isabel Draney, Catharine Maw, Annie England, Dinah Maw, Polley Goddard, Mrs. Christine Lund, Mrs. Elizabeth Miller, Emma Stewart, Agnes Geddes, Louisa Gampton, Elizabeth Eames, Millie Richardson, Eliza Turner, Mrs. Rose England, Josephine Folkman, Hilda Christensen, Annie Green, Hannah Maria Rawson.

The procedure of the 13^th Ward of Salt Lake City was taken as an example to follow in inducing attendance at sacrament meeting and the curtailment of extravagance in dress; also the promoting of faith among the members.

In February 1876, the YMMIA was organized with William England President. The Primary Association was organized in 1881 with Susannah Robinson as President. The first Sunday School books were bought with molasses donated by the people.

TRANSPORTATION

The early settlers traveled over the old Plain City to Ogden road in order to market their produce in the “Junction City.” A lot of early commercial intercourse was carried on with Salt Lake City as well.

In order to reach Salt Lake City, it was necessary to cross the Weber River over Higbee’s Ferry which was located south of the town.

The first means of transportation were ox teams and horses or mules. Many people rode horseback to Ogden when they went on business or for a small amount of supplies. After the lumber wagons, came the white top buggies and surreys. Then the bicycle and automobile.

It wasn’t until 1909 that Plain City had Communication with Ogden by means of railroad.

On October 15, and 16, of the year, the citizens of Harrisville and Farr West and many from Ogden joined with the residents of Plain City in a great celebration in honor of the completion of the U.I.C. branch line to Plain City. Six carloads of enthusiastic came over the new line. Many of them were former residents of Plain City. They joined the local citizens in a fiesta of signing, talking, dancing, and feasting. Lyman Skeen and John Max were instrumental in bringing this much-needed means of transportation to the community.

A small steam engine hauled passengers and express to Five Points. Later to Harrisville where passengers and freight were transferred to the Cache Valley electric train. Then later, the road to Plain City was finally electrified, but owing to the keen competition of the automobile passengers, service was discontinued a few years later. However, freight and sugar beets were still being hauled over the line.

William England was hired by the Kimball-Lawrence Company Merchant Freighters to drive a freight wagon across the plains. He was from April 9, 1862, to September 15, 1862, making the trip to Salt Lake City. He also drove wagons from Salt Lake to California for a large company.

AMANDA RICHARDSON’S STATEMENT

“The Indians tanned the calf and sheep hides for the settlers. They used to come and dry themselves before our fireplace and change their babies. They lined their babies’ baskets with rabbit skins in order to protect them from the cold. We stacked our sagebrush with the butts out, tops to the center in a round pile.”

SOME EARLY SCHOOL TEACHER

George Musgrave and wife Victoria, William McGuire, George W. Bramwell, George Carver, Mina Raymond, Joel Shoemaker.

ROADS

The roads were kept up by a toll-tax levied on each family. There was a toll gate at the entrance to the road thru Ogden Canyon. The pioneers built their own roads by donations of work and money. John P. Draney and William Geddes were the first two men to blast rock in Ogden Canyon.

WILLIAM SHARP

William Sharp was the first stone mason in Plain City, born in Misson, Notts, England December 10, 1828; died in Plain City, Utah December 21, 1901. He built the Episcopal Church (school house) in 1877. He also built the old Singleton home, Robert Maw’s adobe house. He was a musician and played the cornet in Plain city’s first band. He worked with Thomas Singleton, a carpenter, in constructing many of Plain City’s early houses.

THOMAS SINGLETON

He was the first band leader in Plain City. He was an early carpenter of Plain City, also laid adobes. He was a musician. The first band in Plain City was organized at his home. He was born in Mason, England, January 7,1823; died January 1,1895 in Plain City. He was good singer. His brother, Charles, was also a musician, being both a singer and an instrumentalist.

Charles Musgrave and his brothers Thomas and George were also musicians. They were good singers and entertained frequently at parties. Other singers were Edwin Dix, William Sharp, William Stewart, Robert Maw, Victorine Musgrave, Tom Singleton, Victorine Sharp, Milo Sharp, and wife, Lily, who was also a poet.

DOCTORS

Henry W. Wadman was the earliest known doctor in Plain City. John Danvers treated people for various ailments. Lyman Skeen extracted teeth.

MIDWIVES

Annie Katherine Hedwig Rasmussen-Hansen, wife of Hans Christian Hansen, was the first midwife in Plain City. She was born October 3, 1823, in Forborg, Denmark She was baptized in January 1852, came to Salt Lake October 1, 1853, then later to Ogden. She settled first in Bingham’s Fort, then moved to Harrisville. She was asked by the Bishop of Plain City to come down there to practice midwifery. She came between 1860 and 1862 while her husband was a mission to Denmark. Some of the Plain City men went to Harrisville, took down her log house, moved it to Plain City, and re-erected it on a 2 ½ acre tract of land given to her by the people in Plain City. This work was accomplished in one day. She practiced her profession in Plain City for many years. She was one of those called to take the course in midwifery and nursing at Salt Lake City under the direction of Eliza R. Snow. She died at Plain City March 31, 1899.

Jane Pavard England, wife of John England, was Plains City’s second midwife. She was born near Yeoble, Somerset, England, August 2, 1815. She married when seventeen years of age. Her husband was in the printing and publishing business for eight years in London. She buried nine children in Bridport, England. She and her husband came to Plain City in 1862, where she practiced until her death on November 20, 1882. She never lost a case. She and her husband were weavers in the same cloth factory in England. He died at Plain City.

Martha Stewart Geddes, wife of William Geddes, was another early midwife of Plain City. She was born May 10, 1838, in Scotland. She practiced until the time of her death August 11, 1900, at Plain City.

Mrs. Elizabeth Murray, wife of John Moyes, was sent by the Bishop of Plain City to Salt Lake to learn obstetrics. She practiced for many years in Plain City. She was born in Michigan, December 24, 1840, died in Plain City January 4, 1904, or 1905. Her early life was spent in Murray, Utah, which was named after her father, John Murray, who was an early patriarch of that locality. From Murray, the family moved first to North Salt Lake and the to Kay’s Creek (Kaysville) where she met and married John Moyes on March 4, 1858. Shortly after, their marriage they moved to Spanish Fork, then down to the Muddy and back to Spanish Fork again, and finally to Plain City in October, 1865.

Elizabeth Moyes had a beautiful singing voice and often sang at dances accompanying herself on the harp. She had dark brown ringlets which hung to her waist. She could card, spin, knit and sew. She learned obstetrics from Dr. Schipp in Salt Lake City, and after obtaining her certificate, she practiced in Warren, Farr West, Harrisville and Plain City for over twenty years. She would go to homes where there were small children and work one half a day besides waiting on the mother for $3.00 per day.

Mary Ann Carver Geddes, wife of William Stewart Geddes, a practical nurse in Plain City for many years, came to Plain City with her parents John Carver and Mary Ann Eames Carver in 1859 when two years of age.

John Spiers was an early Justice of the Peace in Plain City. He was born February 19, 1822, at Worcester, England, died in Plain City November 12, 1895. He was one of the original company of pioneers who arrived in Plain City on March17, 1859.

He took an active part in the religious and civic life of the town. He was the first president of the old Z.C.M.I. of Plain City organized in March, 1869. He was an early gardener of Plain City and had the largest garden. (1871) He was appointed Secretary of the United Order Committee on May 23, 1874. He was Meeting House Com. Clerk of Branch in 1859; was the First Counselor to L. W. Shurtliff when he became Plain City’s first Bishop May 27, 1877. William VanDyke also.

William Thomas Stoker was a harness maker of Plain City. He was born June 4, 1850, in England died on October 21, 1908 in Plain City. He was one of Plain City’s early merchants.

Edward Goddard, was one of the prominent men of Plain City in early days. He was not a pioneer of 1859. He was born in England in 1842, died at Plain City on June 28, 1905. He married Phoebe Sarah Speakman in England. She was born September 25, 1830, in England, died in Plain City in 1917. Edward Goddard took an active part in developing the fine arts in Plain City. He wrote plays and painted scenery. He was a stepdancer, also, a school teacher.

Louisa Hopkins was the daughter of Captain Hopkins of the British Army and his wife, Louisa. She was educated in London and Paris. Upon her Father’s death she and her Mother joined the Church and came to Plain City in 1859, or early sixties. Her mother married the 2^nd Thomas Musgrave.

Louisa Hopkins was a very talented and refined young woman, very dainty and beautiful. She was referred to by her friends as “beautiful little doll.” She took part in many plays and entertainments. She became telegraph operator at Ogden where she worked for some time. She married Clint Brown in 1861 first. Second, she married Bishop Chauncy West in 1868, and after his death, she married Alfred Moyes, son of Jonathan Moyes, in 1871. She buried five children in Plain City, one by Brown, one by West, three by Moyes. After her marriage to Mr. Moyes, she and her husband moved to Idaho, where she died a few years later having lived to a ripe old age. Louisa Hopkins was born October 22, 1847, in London England. She studied elocution and voice in London and Paris. She had a beautiful voice. She took an active part in the theatrical voice. She had dark hair which she wore in ringlets and a beautiful, pearly skin. She taught school in Plain City.

ALONZO KNIGHT

Alonzo Knight was born October 14, 1830, in Pennsylvania, and died at Harrisville September 22, 1921. He migrated from Union southeast of Salt Lake City to Plain City in the fall of 1859, after the crops were harvested. He turned them into the tithing office at Union and drew out from the tithing office in Plain City. He first married Catherine Mequire, daughter of William W. Mequire and Charlotte Ash. Second, he married Martha Sanders and Amanda Fausett. He and Jeppe Folkman plowed the first furrow for the immigrants to follow Henry Maw’s to Geddes’ corner south, and then still farther south to Weatherston’s. He was prominent in church work, having lived at Nauvoo during the Prophet’s life time before coming to Utah. He took an active part in the early life of the community of Plain City. He was one of the first to engage in the bee business. He was also a farmer, gardner, stock raiser, fruit raiser.

WILLIAM GEDDES

Another prominent man in Plain City and an early pioneer, was William Geddes, born in Billston, Scotland on December 8, 1832. He died in Plain City August 24, 1899. Father Hugh Geddes’ mother was Agnes Graham. He was a very good musician. He also was a member of Charles Heath’s and other bands in Plain City. He played in the first band organized in Plain City in 1865, with Thomas Singleton the leader. He also was a member of Charles Heath’s and other bands in Plain City. He brought (sic) the first organ to Plain City in the early seventies. He served as constable when Plain City was organized into a county precinct in 1861. He was appointed a member of the Cemetery Committee in 1878. He became a school trustee September 18, 1870. He contributed the first $5.00 to the first band instruments purchased for the first Plain City band. He brought the first grapevine to Plain City. He was one of the men called to assist in the stonework of the Salt Lake Temple. He and John P. Draney were the first two men to blast rock in Ogden Canyon.

WILLIAM STEWART GEDDES

William Stewart Geddes was the son of William Geddes and Elizabeth Geddes Stewart. He was born April 5, 1856, in Salt Lake City. He died August 23, 1891, in Oregon. When a young man, he was called, along with Luman Shurtliff and Ben Bingham, to work on the Salt Lake Temple. Their wages were paid by the towns of Plain City, Slaterville and Marriott. He helped carve many of the stones in the Temple. They were hauled from Little Cottonwood Canyon in what is now Granite Stake by ox team, before the completion of the railroad, one stone being fastened to the running gears of the wagon with chains. They sharpened their tools at the church blacksmith shop. They made their own charcoal to feed the flames in the blacksmith shop in pits on the Temple Grounds. Logs were piled up, set afire, then covered with dirt. William S. Geddes filled a mission to Scotland (in pencil has been written to read “Scotland from Plain City to Southern States one year, transferred to European Mission for one year. (sic) He married Mary Ann Carver first at the Endowment House on October 20, 1877 and Margaret Cullen second, December, 1884.

JOSEPH SKEEN

He was born August 10, 1816, at Sadsbury Township, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. He died at Plain City on the 25^th of December, 1882. He was married to Amanda Maria Dobby. He was a member of the Mormon Batallion, coming to Salt Lake City from California, he learned how to make sun-dried bricks from clay (called adobes) and is credited with being the first man to make them in Utah. He was one of the company of men who explored the site where Plain City is located, in the fall of 1858, and was among those who settled there on March 17, 1859. He, in connection with his sons, Lyman and William, went into the cattle and horse-breeding business in Plain City. He purchased fine stallions and thus improve the quality of the stock in Plain City and vicinity. His wife, Amanda Maria Dobby Skeen, died in Lehi November 11, 1855.

LYMAN STODDARD SKEEN

Lyman Stoddard Skeen was the son of Joseph and Amanda Maria Dobby Skeen, and was born December 18, 1850, at Keg Creek, Missouri. He came to Plain City on March 17, 1859, with his parents. He was a contractor and builder. He built part of the Narrow Gauge Railroad on the Utah Northern in 1870- 1872. He brought over 600 head of horses for the government at one time. He first harvested his grain with a sickle, then a scythe, and a cradle. The grain was ground in a coffee mill at first. He was a breeder of horses and cattle. He was successful in handling rough laborers during his railroad contracting work. There was less profanity in his camp than in any other of the camps. He never swore or used tobacco. He assisted in every public enterprise In Plain City. He helped in the construction of many railroads. He bought the cemetery fence himself. He first married Electa P. Dixon, who died April 28, 1891, then he married Annie Skelton. He was of Scotch, Yankee and Dutch descent. His grandfather settled in western Missouri. Had they crossed the river, they would have been in Mexican Territory. He was instrumental in getting the railroad into Plain City in 1908 and 1909. He died at Plain City April 4, 1933. His wife, Annie Skelton, died at Plain City January 13, 1933.

JOSEPH ROBINSON

Joseph Robinson was one of the pioneers of March 17, 1859. He came with the company who looked over the site in the fall of 1858. He was one of the original Plain City Pioneers. He was the son of James and Mary Robinson and was born at Stockport, England, December 14, 1814. He was one of the first to grow alfalfa in Plain City. He married Alice Booth first, a sister of David Booth on January 1, 1843. Second, he married Susannah Baddis. He was a farmer and a gardner. His oxen often got so tired they would lie down in a row. He was one of the men sent to meet Johnston’s Army. He died at Plain City August 27, 1901 or 1891. (Ward records) He joined the church in 1848. One of the first growers of lucerne seed in Plain City was Joseph Robinson. He also raised cattle.

ALICE BOOTH ROBINSON

She was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, December 29, 1819. The family later moved to England where she married Joseph Robinson at Stockport, January 1, 1843. She joined the Church on November 13, 1847. They emigrant to Salt Lake City September 22, 1854. They moved to Lehi, then to Plain City on March 17, 1859. She was the first white woman to set foot on Plain City soil. She was a firm Latter-day Saint. Her life was full of noble deeds. She died at Plain City January 11, 1906. She was a weaver in a cotton mill in the north of England. She was a choir singer. When she came to Plain City, the men had already commenced to dig the canal. She came to Utah in Job Smith’s Company with their own outfit, two yoke of oxen, a camping kit and a new wagon.

WILLIAM SKEEN

Son of Joseph Skeen and Amanda Dobby Skeen, was born January 8, 1839, at Sadsbury Township, Penn. He married first Caroline Smith, daughter of Joseph J. Smith and Mary A. Smart, (Joseph J. Smith, the inventor) and second he married Mary Davis, daughter of Thomas and Mary Davis. William Skeen was one of the original Plain City pioneers who arrived on March 17, 1859. He had previously came with the party that arrived in the fall of 1858 and chose the site for the settlement. He specialized in cattle and horse. He died at Plain City February 13, 1903. His families suffered severe loses during the smallpox epidemic of 1870 and 1871. Caroline Smith Skeen was born December 24, 1840, in England, and died in Plain City December 1, 1925. Mary Davis Skeen was born April 22, 1848 in Wales, and died in Plain City November 30, 1908.

CHARLES NEAL

Charles Neal, son of Job Neal and Harriot Smith, was born at Stratford, Warwick, England, September 7, 1834, and died at Plain City October 29, 1914. He and his first wife, Annie Jane England Neal, came with the first company of pioneers to Plain City on March 17, 1859. He was a farmer and a gardener. He is credited with panting the first apple seeds in Plain City. They came from apples grown in Brigham Young’s orchard. He had the first “dugout” home in Plain City and built the first willow fence, he and his wife dragging the willows from the Weber River two miles away. They made 200 trips in all. He was a carpenter by trade and assisted in the erection of many homes in the community. He was a good musician, played in the band, sang in the choir, was organist and later became choir leader.

GEORGE MUSGRAVE

He was the first choir leader and school teacher in Plain City. He was one of the pioneers of March 17, 1859. He was born October 22, 1833, in London, England, and died November 12, 1903 at Plain City. He married Victorine Jane Dix, the adopted daughter of William Dix and Myra Goodman. He was a musician both vocal and instrumental. He and his wife sang frequently at entertainments. He lived first where Peter Poulsen now lives, in a “dugout” and then a one-room adobe house. Afterwards, he brought a two-room adobe house of Gundero Anderson (Alminda’s Grandfather) which he later enlarged by the construction of a large school room on the west side which was often used for parties of various kinds. (Lawrence Palmer owns the lot now. William Sharp put in the foundation of this room, Charles and Thomas Singleton laid the adobes and did the carpenter work, being assisted by John Moyes who paid tuition for his children’s schooling in this way. He and his brother, Charles, were composed of songs.

DAVID BOOTH

He was an early pioneer. He was born November 26, 1826, at Hooley Hill, Lancashire, England and died on September 2, 1909 in Plain City. His first wife was Sarah H. Booth, and his second wife was Mrs. Susannah Beddis Robinson. He is accredited with being the second choir leader in Plain City. He was a very good bass singer and conducted a singing school in Plain City. He and his brother, Henry, often sang duets at parties. He was an early hatter of the town. He made beaver hats of rabbit fur. His parents were William Booth and Mary Ann Jackson. He lived in the little adobe house that stands partly demolished on the Berry Lot.

DINAH ABBETT

She was the wife of Jonathan Moyes, born in England in 1818. She was left an orphan at an early age. She was sent to work in a lace factory in Wallinworth, Suffolk, England. She wound bobbins. Her stepmother was cruel to her, giving her bran to eat. When she was older, she learned to make pillow lace. Also, she did fancy ironing in order to save money to come to America. She lived neighbors to Musgrave in London prior to coming to America. She was a very good cook. She could get a good meal with very little. She had three sons, Alfred, Lemon, and John. Lemon was drowned in a pool when a small child. She died in Plain City October 27, 1871 when 53 years old.

ANNIE ENGLAND NEAL

She was the daughter of John England and Jane Pavard. She was born July 1, 1837 at Bradfoole Bridport, Dorsetshire, England. She died November 5, 1900 at Plain City. She joined the church in 1837 when Wilford Woodruff organized the first conference at Bristol, England. She was the first of the family to come to Utah, five years ahead of the rest of the family. She came in Evans Handcart Company in 1857 when she was 18 years of age. She met Charles Neal while crossing the plains and after reaching Salt Lake City, they both worked for Brigham Young and were married by him in their bare feet.

They settled in Lehi in 1858, then came to Plain city with the first company of Pioneers on March 17, 1859, making the journey in William Skeen’s wagon. A blinding snowstorm came up shortly after their arrival. They lived where Alf Charlton now lives, in the first dugout finished in Plain City, then they built a one-room adobe house with a dirt floor and a dirt and willow roof. The lot was fenced with willows dragged from the river over two miles to the south.

She had no children of her own, so she mothered Emma Neal, her husband’s niece, and also, his younger brother William Neal. Her own niece, Sophia England, also became a member of their household. She was post-mistress in Plain City for over 25 years. She lost some of her brothers in England who refused to take consecrated oil during a cholorea epidemic. She was a teacher in the Plain City Relief Society, liberal in her donations, and especially good to the poor.

SUSANNAH BEDDIS ROBINSON BOOTH ENGLAND

She was the daughter of Thomas Paul Beddis and Ann Cole. She was born July 12, 1847, in Wigan, England, and died December 30, 1920, at Plain City. She came to America in 1054. Her parents died after leaving New Orleans and she and her brother became orphans. Susannah, now seven years old, came across the plains practically alone, arriving in Salt Lake City September 30, 1854, where she was met by Joseph Robinson and his wife Alice, who took her home with them. She carried her little reticule containing her knitting across the Plains. They sang around the campfires at night. She went to Lehi in 1855, and to Plain City on July 23, 1859. She helped Alice Robinson gather willows from the river and rocks from the springs to be used in the construction of their house. They also assisted Brother Robinson in the clearing of sagebrush from his land preparatory to the breaking it up for cropping. She was married to Joseph Robinson first, and upon his death, to David Booth, then to William England after his wife’s death.

JOHN ENGLAND, SR.

He was a weaver of cloth. He was the husband of Jane Pavard England, Plain City’s second midwife. He was born March 20, 1815, at Stofords Parish near Yeoble, Somerset, England, and died in Plain City April 7, 1894. He joined the Church in 1837, shortly after the opening of the Bristol Branch. His father, James England, first used and perfected the power loom in England. John learned the art of weaving in his father’s factory; so when he came to Plain City he engaged in the same business. Prior to coming to Utah, he also worked for a London Printing Company for eight years.

He migrated to Utah in 1862, in James Brown’s company. His son, John Jr., had come in 1861, being one of the contractors on the government telegraph line from the Missouri River to Salt Lake City, the Pioneer telegraph line in the United States. John England, Sr., engaged in farming and the cattle business as well as his cloth-weaving business.

JOHN CARVER

He was a pioneer on March 17, 1859. He was born August 6, 1822, at Clifford Parish, Herefordshire, England. He died January 11, 1912, at Plain City. He was one of the party that came in the fall of 1858 to locate the sire for a settlement. He walked back to Kay’s Creek, wading through the deep sand most of the way. Most of the others went to Ogden and staid (sic) for a few days before going home. The water conditions at Kay’s Creek were the same as at Lehi, the first settlers had appropriated most of the water so that there was none left for those coming later. Consequently, John Carver joined the settlers from Lehi and proceeded on to Plain City with them, leaving his wife, Mary Ann, and family in Slaterville for a few weeks as she was about to give birth to another child. He walked back and forth between Slaterville and Plain City while constructing his home and working his land. He moved his family to Plain city in the fall of 1859. He became a farmer and stockman in Plain City and Ogden valley. He also raised fruit and garden stuff in Plain City. He held many positions of trust in the community. He acted as First Counselor to President Raymond when David Collett moved to Cache Valley in 1859. He was also called to act as First Counselor to President Shurtliff on August 31, 1870. He was appointed assistant to L. W. Shurtliff on the United Order Committee on May 22, 1875.

He built a sod fence around his lot in the early days. He is reported to have built the second log house in Plain City. William W. Raymond moved a log house from Slaterville to Plain City before Carver’s was built, but it was not erected in Plain City. He was married to Mary Ann Eames, daughter of Samuel Eames and Nancy Caster. She was born on August 8, 1828, in Orcorp Parish, Herefordshire, England, and died in Plain City June 18, 1870. She was a Relief Society worker in Plain City. She was appointed Second Counselor to Almina Raymond, President of the first Relief Society organized in Plain City, January 3, 1868. Other wives of John Carver were Rochel Tellephson Carver, daughter of Peter Tellephson (or sen) and Rachel Lordahl, born June 26, 1839, in Christiansand, Norway; died in Plain City October 4, 1903. Sarah Ann Eames Carver

EDWIN DIX

He was born February 14, 1838, in Herefords, England, and moved to London from which place he emigrated to Utah in 1859. He crossed the “Plains” from Iowa by ox team. He moved from Salt Lake City to Plain City in 1859. The canal was being dug from Mill Creek to the Ogden River when he arrived. He went back to Salt Lake and worked as a stone-cutter on the Salt Lake Temple for 18 months. He then returned to the Plain City and engaged in market gardening which he had learned from a Mr. Ellerbeck, a gardener of Salt Lake City for whom he had worked.

He introduced strawberry culture into Plain City and Weber County, having brought the first plants with him when he returned from Salt Lake to Plain City. He walked the distance. He brought a lot and built a dugout where Fent McFarland now lives. Prior to this he and his wife and daughter Evelyn, and also George Musgrave and wife, had lived with Charles Neal in his dugout which was the first one built in Plain City. His wife’s name was Hannah Bootie, a beautiful woman. Edwin Dix was assessor of Weber County for over twelve years. He was a good leader in the irrigation projects of Plain City and vicinity. He had a good education and was instrumental in fostering the drama in Plain City. He was a Shakespearean scholar and frequently gave readings from his favorite author. He brought some land of W. W. Raymond and began raising fruits and vegetables for the market, shipping to mining towns in Montana, and also to Park City. He organized the “Thespians,” a dramatic position as a sponsor of dramatic Arts and Music in pioneer times. He died in Ogden May 12, 1929. He belonged to the Militia, organized to protect the settlers from the Indians. Abraham Maw was his partner in the gardening business. Edwin Dix gave many of his friends a start of strawberry plants.

HANNAH BOOTIE DIX

She was the wife of Edwin Dix. She was born in Essex, June 29, 1834. She was a beautiful woman. She became the mother of eight children. She was a very good housekeeper, and an excellent cook. She became skilled as a seamstress and a knitter. Her first sewing machine was an old Singer, bought in the early seventies. She once traded one of her lovely silk dresses for a cow with which to begin a dairy herd. During the grasshopper invasion, they ate the green paint from her baby’s crib. She assisted her husband in his market gardening business.

DAUGHTERS OF THE UTAH PIONEERS

Plain City Camp, with members of the Carver Plain City Camp, with members of the Carver family and other pioneers.

This is the John Carver log cabin. This was the second log cabin built in Plain city and has been preserved by the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.

The cabin, which contains many pioneer artifacts, is on the west side of the L.D.S. Chapel.

Sunday, 26 September 2021 by Sagacity

Come Comming

I received a copy of this poem by Lillie M. Sharp. The reference to March 17th in the poem is the annual Plain City Founders Day Celebration.

My Grandpa, Milo James Ross, wrote in the top right corner of this piece of paper, “June 10, 1979 Milo James Ross My Grandmother” I linked the previous history written of Milo and Lillie Sharp. Much of that post was from Grandpa’s recorded memories.

Come Comming – By Lillie M. Sharp

I’m feeling quite elated

with the prospect in view;

For a real good time for everyone,

That will come and join our crew.

There’ll be lots of nice singing

And recitation with a vim.

It will be a joyfull day,

For those that will join in.

There’s always plenty cooked

For the crowd that always comes

and every one enjoys it,

From Grandma to the sons.

There you meet old friends

That you haven’t seen for years;

There’ll be joy and laughter,

Mingled with your tears.

How we enjoy old comrads,

Coming many miles to see;

Their chums they loved in childhood

That means all you and me.

We know not how long

the privelege we will have;

To meet our dear old playmates;

Or shake hands with dear old Dad.

But we must make the best of it

And try to do whats right;

Have a smile for everyone

Try and make their troubles light.

This big time I’ve been speaking of

I’d like you all to know;

Is on the 17th of March

And I hope that you’ll all go.

Now you all must know

Thats its taken lots of work;

To get this big time up

And there has been no shirk.

I think the least that we can do

Is to give to all three cheers;

That has helped to make it a success

For so many many years.

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