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Show PERMANENT MORMON OOLONIZATION By no means did the Mormon Church leaders abandon their purpose colonizing the Little Colorado Valley because the Haight party immediate This large valley was on their of 1873 had not succeeded. frontier to the southward; and if occupied by enemies of the Mormons might prove a real "stumbling blocku in their planned expansion in that direction; and the Santa Fe Trail, furnished a direct access to Under instructions from it over much better roadway than from Utah. the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, James S. Brom, mentioned above, set out from salt Lake City October 30, 1875, not only for missionary work among the Indians, but also for the purpose of making further explorations of the Little Colorado Valley apparently with the intention of immediate settle= mente (See Mormon lissionary Work Among the Indians). Brown returned to Salt Lake c:ity January 14, 1876, reporting a fine open country, sufficient water, grass abundant, good farming land, and an inex haustible supply of good timber avai.Lahl e of , So prompt was matter, that we might assume that anticipated; and preparations well under action in the this favorable report About January 16, 1876, about 200 men- way when Brown returned. most of them young and perhaps unmarried, were called to ke their homes in the Little Colorado Valley. They were to set out on their journey immediately, if possible. At a meeting held at Salt Lake 29th the colonists were given instructions, and organ-' was City January companies of about 50 men each. George Lake was and appointed Captain over those recruited from Cache, Box Elder, men the over Lot smith (of Johnston's Army fame) Wer Counties; the Counties of DaviS, Morgan, Summit, Wasatchthe northern from Wards of that City part of Salt 'Lake County, and from ecclesiastical William C. Allen was appointed Captain numbered 12 and higher; ofthe remaining Wards of Salt Lake City, the southern part of Jesse 0 Ballinger was to Salt Lake COunty, and from Utah County. Counties. (There is evidence captain emigrants from Sanpete and Juab that Lot Smith was also to be in general charge). ized into four departure Wa$gdetbyEmemSs of the companies who were were able to arrange their affairs ready; and others followed as they There seems to have been practically no effort to so they could leave. in companies as they were organized---a travelli ng assemble the emigrants of members from all of them; and of urse company might be composed not have been aYe= 'individual members travelling together way or may set out for Arizona. Despite this, acquainted with each other when the.y Immediate groups thus thrown to in some of the non-Mormon companies gether, such as was eXperienced With the the over Oregon Trail earlier. of egrants travelling their common purpose and common it seems that there is little or no recqrd of trouble in the Latter-day Saints, 'Church membership furnished sufficient cohesion. F G. Nielson in his manu;cript recos Lake City,' proceeded :--- "History of the Little Colorado Mission Those Ii ving at or near Salt "Feb. 3,1876. left Salt Lake City and north thereof who had arrived, called "roadThese emigrants could hardly be southward". or |
