Price River Valley – It’s Early Beginnings

This monument inscription is an expression of gratitude for the people and forces that shaped the Price River Valley from 1877 to 1885.

Historical events that brought changes and settlers:

1877, Caleb Rhoades (Rhodes) and Abraham Powell came into the valley to trap and homestead. In the winter of 1878 they returned to their homes in Salem, Utah Territory planning to lead their family members and friends into the valley.
January 21, 1879, Caleb Rhoades, Frederick E. & Charles W. Grames arrived. Other family members and settlers followed. 1880, Emery County formed with the Price River Valley in the northern section.

1881-1883, construction of the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad through the Price Valley, naming Price as a station.

1882, L.D.S. organization, with the leadership of Bishop George Frandsen, the townsite surveyed, the Price Water Company formed to bring water to the townsite and building of a log structure for church, school and civic use.

1885-1886 establishment of the government Fort Duchesne in the Uintah-Quary Indian Reservation and opening of Basin gilsonite asphaltum mines with Price as the freight station.

Known settlers that came between 1879 and 1885:

• Albert A. Angell Family
• Green W. & Amy Allred Family
• William Averett
• William H. & Mary J. Babcock Family
• Alfa Ballinger
• Arthur and Walt Barney
• Joseph & Dorothy Birch Family
• Sarah Blain
• Eugene E. & James Branch, Sr. Family
• Willim H. & Aliza Branch Family
• Hans Ulrich; Mary & Margaret Bryner Families
• Albert and Marie P. Bryner
• Ben Buchanan
• Thomas Caldwell
• Mr. Clifford
• Samuel & Sarah G. Cox Family
• Lyman Curtis
• William Davis
• George; Sarah & Mary Downard Families
• George W. & Amanda J. Eldridge Family;
• Charles H. & Keziah J. Empey
• Francis M. & Fanny Ewell Family
• George & Karen Frandsen, Sr. Family
• Joseph Gale
• A. Gallaway
• James D. Gay
• Albert J.;  Alfred & Charles Grames
• Charles W. & Marie L. Graves Family
• Frederick E. & Martha P. Grames Family
• Ephraim Green Family
• James D. Gordon
• Christian & Minnie Halverson
• Jense Jensen
• William J., Sally & Henrietta Hill Families
• Arthur W. & Margaret A. Horsley
• Ernest S. Horsley
• Frank B. Horsley
• Herman B. & Amanda Horsley
• Ralph Horsly
• Charles P. Johnson Family
• John Jones
• Jacob & Lenna Kofford
• John D. & Sarah Leigh
• Clarence Marsh
• Seren & Emily Olsen
• Erastus & Bertha Olsen Family
• Peter & Sally Ann Olson
• John H. & Pauline Pace Family
• Jense & Mary C. Petersen
• Abraham Powell
• John A., Sara Jane & Rosaltha A. Powell Families
• Robert A. & Rachel Powell Family
• Teancum, Annie M. & Sarah E. Pratt Families
• Caleb & Sudsie Rhoades
• Enoch Rhodes
• John J. Rhodes
• William Ried
• George & Caroline Robb
• Lew Shields
• Andrew J. Simmons
• Mathew & Lydia Simmons Family
• Levi Simmons
• Robert T. & Sarah Snyder Family
• Hyrum Strong
• Edward T. & Susan Stewart Family
• Heber J. Stowell
• Jefferson & Sarah Tidwell Family
• Dick Thomson
• James Vannatta Family
• William & Sarah A. Warren Family
• William A. Warren
• Charles Webb
• James N. & Hannah Whitmore
• David Sr. and David Jr. Williams
• Joseph Wright
• Thomas & Josephine Zundle
• Henry J. Mathis
• John M. & Emma M. Mathis
• Brigham O. & Barbara McIntire Family
• Erastus W. & Anna B. McIntire Family
• John & Alice McIntire
• Charles & John McKendrick
• Orlando & Lydia Mead Family
• Tony & Rose Montis Family
• William Morgan
• Eric & Sophia Nielson
• James Nixon
• William Noyes

This historic marker is (along with the “Carbon Tabernacle” marker on the other side of it) located in the plaza between the Coal Miners’ Memorial, the library, and the Prehistoric Museum at approximately 139 East Main Street in Price, Utah.