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Show Although early investigations had been made relative to indi place might be on the Apache Indian Reservation, cations that the they had received assurances that such was not the casalthough might be no more than 3 or 4 miles from them. It developed later, however, that the settlement---perhaps a sort of ". n ln th e narrow s t· was really rlng- t own valley, as I remember it the Reservation on Indian lands; and Forest Dal was vacated in 187980. Wilford village, some distnce into the forest, was situated in Black miles 8 bove Heber. It was founded as "Adams Valley"- Canyon about perhaps so named for Jerome Jefferson Adams-- by taking Church cattle there from Pleasant Valley in 1882. With 13 resident families, it This organized into a Ward of the Little Colorado StakeAug. 25, 1883, withJoseph H. James Bishop and Andrew Locey Rogers and Charles Whiting At the same Conference, which was then bing held at his 6ounselors. "ltlilford, it was voted that the new \ard be given the name"VJilfordlf in honor of Wilford \'loodruff, whose perhaps prefera ble surname had al ready been appropriated hy·the small settlement on the Little Colorado about 25 miles above St. Joseph. June 1, 1886, the population was 110, with 15 families. The decline of Wilford seems to have been about the time of, or The a little after, the discontinuancof the Little Colorado Stake. last time I visited the site, only debris remained---the log houses was I remember the may have been taken down and removed elsewhere. were standing. houses the of all or when a portion place, however, like Ajalon, and Pleasant Valley, was for a time my child Wilford, home, during that time my parents were living Order---trying to perform their part of the it might be most needed. hood United in the Sunset labor whereever Ajalon It was in Chevelon Canyon about learned why it was given its name. never have I 15 miles west of Heber. the in canyon that gave the sun or the moon "Was there a bend or quirk in rising or setting? time of being a long the This place was never sizeable. appearance Heber H. Richards, John Leaving St. Joseph Oct. 30, 1882, Joseph travelled up not named, Ch:velon Cree Bushman, , and 2 others maae eXploratl0n about 50 miles' and from a temporary encampment A tank of water, which appeared possible of the country. found at the site of the to develop into a permanent supply, was The partybegan their return November. of present Heber, on the 5th journey to St. Joseph on the follov;ing day. surrounding Richards and Bushman accompanied perhaps in December, 1882, M. Tanner, and James E. Shel Henry by \AIm. c-: Allen, Joseph C. Hansen, the pool of water, discovered on the for ley went from St. Joseph to of a cabin; and dug a began the construction mer trip; and near it Later number of shallow wells according to one story, Lehi Heward, Early in the Spring of 1883, N. Scarlett moved and J. f:om St. James E. Shell.ey, Hans Nielson, Vl some did and bins farnu.ng. ca built a few Joseph to Heber, perhaps A,: • .L 1":1." .........>10' ......... i:..,- fen t"1.( w: , :: ... .,.",.,. ""} :";:1: . ; ..... .. 1.-. ..- |
