History of Stephen Markham in connection with the settlement of Palmyra and Spanish Fork, Utah

Page 1

. : a. L. Markham, grandson. 440 N. 5th w. Provo. El gin Oliphant, Provo . March 27, 1941. The following is a copy of the "History of the Life of Stephen .roa~.tt:~~-n~....,_. lVf:rs. Julina Markham Crow. Pal The river and canyon derived its name from t he fact that the old Spe..nish trail between California and Santa Fe passed through the canyon. In t he old times traders and mountaineers traveled through t his country with pack animals to car­ry on commerce between t he Spanish settlements of lil'ew Mexico and California. Santa Fe is an old inland Mexican City famous for its fur trade. As early e.,s the fifteenth century, its merchants dealt with the Indians in furs and from this fur trade originated the names of ID2_.ani h Fork River and Spani?Jl.. Fork C_an-yon. The City was named after the name of the river and the name of the Canyon. Enoch Reese, one of t he earliest Utah Merchants, was the first man who took up land on the S anish Fork Bottoms. He t ook up 400 a cres in the fall of 1850 and on this claim was the first land broken in t he spring of 1851 by Charles Fer gu­son and George Sevey, who had wintered there with about 200 head of Reese ' s cat­tle . The first settlement of Spanish Fork was made Nov . 5.1851 , by J . W. Berry, A. K. ~hur -er;- and J . W. Thomas . Soon thereafter came Stephen r!Iarldlam, Morgan Hughes and a number of others. Sunda.Y Movember 23, 18_51 · George A.. ~aj.:~h writes whil~ visiting_ so~th~rn Utah. 0A fine settlement is formed on the Spanish _Fork i n Ut ah County called :Palmra. " Sunday 21 of December, 1851, t he Saints who had settled on the Spanish Fork River, in Utah County were organized into a branch of the Church. Following are the minutes. of the meeting in which the organization was affected. &lnday Morning Dec . 21 , in the year of our Lord 1851. "V e the settlers of §panish Fork. and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints., met according to previous appointment . Our meeting was opened by singing and prayer was offered up by Brother Stephen Markham. Then followed a very interesting discourse from Br o. Marldlam who admonished t he Brethern and Sisters to continue faithful and try to live the lives of Saints and discharge their several duties , he also made many interesting remarks upon the pri nciples and doctrine . Vie t hen proceeded t o organize a branch of the Church as follows , ' vis , J ohn H. Redd was f irst appointed as clerk of the branch and Stephen ];'f.arkham :President. Brother Markham chose for his two counc ilors, John Holt and John H. Redd . William Pace was chosen llishop and he in turn made choice of John :Berry and Lauren Roundy for his counselors . Our meeting was dis­missed by Brother 'Jillia.m Pace . All t he Erethern and Sisters present seemed to cherish good feelings . This is a short statement of our proceedings in' organ­izing the Spanish Fork :Branch and this , :Brother Young we present to you. with your approbation. Ve will patiently wai t for your decision. Our beauti ful place is fast fi lling up, and I think it will soon become quite popular. Dear Bret.nern, your answer to this will be gladly received and we truly hope you will gi ve us a call whenever you pass .