Dr. John Parsons Cabin Complex

Brown’s Park, situated in the western foothills of the Uintah Mountains, has been of historic importance since its first use by Indians and trappers as a winter retreat. In later years Brown’s Park became famous as a hideout for cattle rustlers and outlaws.

Dr. John D. Parsons was a pioneer in the truest sense. Born in Quincy, Illinois, on February 26, 1818, he came west in 1858. It was John Parsons who built the Dr. Parson’s Cabin in Brown’s Park sometime between 1874 and 1876. Before his arrival in Brown’s Park, Parsons owned a valuable ranch in what is now the central part of Denver. A man of progressive views Parsons lost a large fortune in an attempted construction of a huge irrigation project. About 1862 he settled on a ranch on the Green River below Green River City, Wyoming. Here he became a successful cattleman. He also established and operated a ferry across the river which was used by many travelers on the Oregon Trail. Sometime in 1865 or 1866 Parsons returned to Denver. In 1866 he aided in the organization of the Colorado Stock Growers Association and helped to compile the bylaws of that organization. In 1863 he served as president of the association. John Parsons was also a miner and smelter by profession. He brought dies to Denver which established the Denver Mint and aided in the minting of $2.50 and $5.00 gold coins. He also had a dairy farm in the vicinity of the present Denver Stock yards. In the 1872 directory of Denver, Dr. John D. Parsons is listed as a practicing physician at the Springbank House.

Sometime between 1874 and 1876, John Parsons moved from Denver to Brown’s Park and built what has become known as the Dr. Parson’s Cabin. Written accounts establish the fact that the cabin had been built before the fall of 1876. The maps of the A. D. Perron survey of August 15, 1878 show the location of the “Dr. Parsons” cabin in Section 36 Township 2 North, Range 24 East, Salt Lake Meridian. Dr. Parsons lived at the cabin until his death in 1881. He is buried approximately a quarter mile north of the cabin. The Parson’s family left Brown’s Park in 1884.

The cabin is significant for several reasons. It served as the home for Dr. John D. Parsons from the mid 1870’s until his death. John Parsons is representative of the “jack-of-all-trades” who, because of their many and diversified skills and talents, were of great importance in the development of the West. John Parsons was a cattle rancher, President of the Colorado Stock Growers Association, dairy farmer, irrigation promoter, ferry operator, smelter, and practicing physician.

Until the cabin was abandoned in 1884, it served as a popular stopping place for travelers on the Fort Bridger–Green River City–Rock Springs Road to Vernal, via Brown’s Park.

Following its abandonment the cabin was used from time to time as a temporary residence for outlaws who inhabited the area. The most famous of these outlaws who used the cabin were Butch Cassidy and Matt Warner. It was in the nearby spring house where according to local accounts Matt Warner’s wife broke her leg, eventually resulting in an amputation and later, her death.

Recognized locally as an important historic site, the Daggett County Historical Society has been active in restoring the old structure.

The text on this page is from the nomination form from when this site was added to the National Historic Register (#76001812) on November 21, 1976.

Coordinates: N 40.86449 W 109.14625

The Dr. Parson’s Cabin Complex is located in the Brown’s Park area in the extreme northeastern corner of the state near the Utah-Colorado border. The site is near the mouth of Sears Creek as it flows into the Green River from the south. The complex consists of the following structures:

The original two room Dr. Parson’s Cabin constructed between 1874 and 1876. The cabin measures approximately 15 feet by 33 feet. The walls are constructed of logs to the square while the gable is of frame construction and covered with sawed boards. A wooden floor has been installed since the original construction. The roof has been covered with wooden shingles.

Forty-five feet east of the cabin is the springhouse. Constructed over a natural spring, the 7 foot by 10 foot building has been reconstructed within the last several years. The building was built of logs with a dirt roof.

Approximately 65 yards west of the Dr. Parson’s cabin is a 15 foot by 18 foot log structure which served as a blacksmith shop. The logs are joined with saddle notching while the roof consists of cedar and cottonwood poles covered with dirt.

A third cabin is separated by the Dr. Parson’s Cabin and blacksmith shop by a small grove of fruit trees surrounded by a fence. It lies approximately eighty-five yards south/southwest of the Dr. Parson’s cabin. The cabin is 15 by 18 feet with a 4% foot front porch on the east end. This cabin was constructed c. 1920 by subsequent owners of the property. It apparently served as a bunkhouse or guest house. It is chinked with cement and gravel. The cabin lies at the base of a hill which forms the back of a protective cove in which the complex is located.

Approximately 15 yards east of this cabin is a rock faced dugout which was used for storage. The entire complex is located on a site of approximately 2.5 acres.

During the last few years, two houses constructed on the site in c. 1930 were torn down as was a wind mill used to generate power for the ranch.