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Show NPS Form 10-900-a MlcrosoftWord 2.0 Format OMS No. 10024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section No. 8 Page 8 Grafton Historic District, Rockville, Washington County, UT Old Grafton The families of Nathan C. Tenney, Benjamin Platt, Don Carlos Shirts, William R. Davies, Hyrum Barney and James McFate were listed at the beginning of the 1860 Virgin City Census although they lived at Grafton? They chose a site on the south side of the "Rio Virgen" approximately six miles upstream of Virgin City.s They promptly began building a dam, laying out a system of ditches, and clearing the land with the intention of growing cotton. 9 In March, 1860 Grafton was organized as Precinct no. 8 of Washington County, and the following appointments were made: James McFate as justice of the peace, Darius Shirts as constable, Benjamin Platt as pound keeper, and Nathan Tenney as road supervisor. 1O The weather cooperated with the pioneers in 1860, and the crops were a success. That summer 105 acres had been planted, including twenty-five of wheat, ten of cotton, ten of sugar cane, and twenty-five of corn. 11 It was clear, however, that crops alone would not sustain the settlers, and by 1861 the farmers had added cattle ranching to their operations. This industry would become increasingly important for their survival, as farming was difficult and unpredictable. The winter of 1860-1 was harsh, and floods in January destroyed the dam and carried much of the settlers' work down the river. After more flooding during the following fall it became clear that this location was not habitable. A new town site was chosen one mile up the river, and preparations were made to establish the new community (see 1861 Grafton Survey Maps). A meeting was held on December 13th, 1861, and Chandler Holbrook was named surveyor with John Nebeker and William Branch assigned to assist him; Chapman Duncan was appointed as foreman of the new water ditch; Nathan Tenney became the chief herdsman; and Franklin W. Young was elected as both the first bishop of the newly organized Grafton Ward 12 and the first post master for a new mail route between Grafton and Cedar City. Another town named Grafton already existed in northern Utah, so this settlement was officially called Wheeler for a time. 13 The residents also petitioned and received from the Territorial Legislature $1,500 to build a wagon road from Grafton to St. George and improve and extend the road from Harmony to Toquerville. 14 The road to St. George was an extension of South Street which followed the Virgin River to the west. Traces of this abandoned road can be seen in the National Park Service aerial photograph of Grafton. The road from Harmony to Toquerville was most likely the present-day State Route 17. In May 1861, Church President Brigham Young and several other presiding elders visited Dixie to assess the progress of the Cotton Mission. They were surprised to find the population very small, in spite of Young's past efforts to settle the region. Upon their return to Salt Lake City they asked for volunteers to move south. After just one man offered to go of his own free will, President Young drew up a list of missionaries. John Harvey Ballard and Alonzo Haventon Russell were among the elders "called" or assigned to Grafton at this time, and their families would subsequently be among the longest-standing residents of the town. _x_see continuation sheet census. 7The first U.S. Census taken at Grafton was in 1870. Families settled there in 1860 were listed at the beginning of the Virgin City 8 Andrew Jenson. Encyclopedic History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, pp. 293-4. 9 Oeseret News, May 23, 1860, p. 93. 10 Andrew Jenson. History of the Grafton Ward, 1860. Church Historian's Office. Journal History of the Church, July 22, 1860, p. 2. . 12 A Ward is a local congregation of the Mormon Church. Il This town was called both Grafton and Wheeler by its residents, but eventually after the other "Grafton" was abandoned this settlement was solely referred to as Grafton. 14 Andrew Jenson. History of the Grafton Ward, 1861. II |
