A historic marker about Jean, Nevada located in Jean, Nevada.
Founded in 1904 as Goodsprings Junction, a station on the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad, Jean received its current name in 1905 when the post office was opened. It was named in honor of Jean Fayle, the wife of George Fayle who had built a mercantile business and had the post office in his store.
The town enjoyed some growth with the building of the Yellow Pine Mining Company Railroad from Goodsprings to connect with the railroad here in 1911. By the time the Yellow Pine railroad was torn up in 1930, Jean was a stop for travelers on Highway 91 (today’s I-15).
Peter A. “Pop” Simon created a new motel-store-gas station- casino complex here called Pop’s Oasis in 1947. It was a favorite stop for many and lasted until 1988. In 1987, the Gold Strike Hotel and Gambling Hall opened, and continues to serve the traveling public.
Born in Madison Co. Kentucky, Kit Carson came to Utah in 1832 while trapping for the Rocky Mt. Fur Co. The next few years he became famous as a mountain man, Indian fighter, guide and army officer.
Carson served army explorers as guide for several expeditions. In September 1843 Carson, Lt. John C. Fremont and three other men launched an Indian rubber boat (to the west of here) and carried out the first scientific exploration of the Great Salt Lake. Kit Carson carved a cross (still visible) in the rocks on the highest point on the island which the party named “Disappointment,” but now bears the name of Fremont Island.
In 1845, a Fremont party guided by Carson explored central Utah and Great Salt Lake. Their greatest feat was crossing the Great Salt Lake desert en route to California, the trail followed in 1846 by the Donner Party. Carson became an Indian Agent and Army Officer. He died at Fort Lyon, Colorado, May 23, 1868.
This historic marker is located in Ogden, Utah on the east side of Washington Blvd just south of 40th Street. (N 41.18991 W 111.97098)
Peter Skene Ogden – Mountain man and trapper, for when Ogden City, North Ogden, Ogden River, Ogden Valley and Mount Ogden were named. Mormon colonizer Brigham Young first proposed that Ogden City be named for Ogden in the year 1850.
Encounter at Mountain Green or Deserter Point
The only hostile encounter between American and British furtrappers — known to history as the encounter at Mountain Green or Deserter Point — occurred in this area between May 23 and 25, 1825. Peter Skene Ogden, one of the most capable and successful brigade leaders of the British Hudson’s Bay Company, camped here after completing an extra-ordinarily successful six day hunt in Ogden’s Hole, the mountain valley located approximately 8 miles north of this site. During that hunt Ofden’s brigade, consisting of 131 persons (including trappers’ squaws and half-breed children), 268 horses and 352 traps, took over 80 prime beaver per day. The brigade’s assignment to this area by Hudson’s Bay officials was part of a determined British policy to make the Oregon Territory unattractive to American trappers by removing all the beaver.
Camped within 100 years of Ogden’s camp was a rowdy bunch of American free trappers who resented the British trappers presence on so-called “American soil.” Under the vocal leadership of Johnson Gardner 25 Americans and 14 Deserters from Ogden’s brigade, all well armed, rode into Ogden’s camp, demanded the removal of the British from American territory, declared freedom and protection to Ogden’s brigade members who would like to join the Americans and offered $3.50 per pound for their pelts which happened to be 8 times the price paid by Hudson’s Bay Company. After two days of such attractive inducements Ogden lost 23 of his free trappers and on 700 pelts to the Americans. To avoid a more extended mutiny and a possible shoot-out with the Americans Ogden broke camp and returned north by the same route he had come. No Hudson’s Bay trapper ever penetrated south of this point.
The irony of this event and the conflicting territorial claims of the American and British trappers was that they were south of Jointly occupied Oregon Territory which lay north of the 42nd parallel. In 1825 all present at this site were trespassers on Mexican Territory which wouldn’t became American until the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848.
Stretching for 130 miles across Clark County, this historic horse trail became Nevada’s first route of commerce in 1829 when trade was initiated between Santa Fe and Los Angeles. The trail was later used by the wagons of the “49ers” and Mormon pioneers. Concrete posts marking the trail were erected in 1965.
Col. Philip St. George Cooke June 13, 1809 – March 20, 1895
Impartial friend, humanitarian, soldier, dedicated to the west unequivocally loyal to the Union, Col. Cooke commanded the Mormon Battalion on the greater part of its historic march which contributed to bringing Western America under the Stars & Stripes.
Cooke helped establish Camp Floyd in 1858 and was from August 1860 to July 1861 the commanding officer of the Military Department of Utah, earning the respect and gratitude of the Mormon people. When many persons defected to the south including Sec. of War John B. Floyd and General Albert Sidney Johnston, he changed the name of the post to Fort Crittenden February 6, 1861.
Cooke received orders via Pony Express in May 1861, to abandon the fort and return the remnants of Johnston’s Army to Fort Leavenworth. Assigned to the defense of the Nation’s Capitol, he was given the rank of Brigadier General.
This historic marker was placed by the Sons of Utah Pioneers (see their other markers here) in Fairfield, Utah.
Hastings Cutoff – James Mathers – Weber Canyon Devils Gate
James Mathers recorded on August 2nd, 1846:
*2nd. Went down and examined the pass and found it to be impracticable for waggons to go thro’ although a number of men were at work removing all rocks that were not immovable and digging down the hills to make a way over — an exhibition of most consumate folly.
Marker H JM UT 1 by the Utah Crossroads Chapter – OCTA
This is part of the series of California Trail markers I’ve been documenting on these pages:
Nebecker Grove, one of two interlaced groves along Peteetneet Creek was the location of the first pioneer camp at Peteetneet (Payson).
Named after Ammon Nebecker, Sr. whose home stood just outside the fort at its northwest corner, now 400 North and 400 West, Nebecker was one of the first trustees on the school board of Payson and had one of the first quadrant schools, built in 1863, named for him. It was called the Nebecker or Rock School.
This grove of century old trees, campsite of early Indians and site of early Payson celebrations was torn down to make way for the freeway in 1965.
The old Leamington Ward Chapel, now the Leamington Town Hall and Museum. The new Leamington Chapel is on this page.
There is a monument out in front of the building with the old bell and a couple of plaques, one with history and one with the names of the war veterans.
The history plaque says:
Leamington was first settled in 1871, the town was named by Frank Young, who immigrated from Leamington, England.
The Medallion was given to the town which came off a English Ship named Leamington.
On January 9, 1883 the Leamington L.D.S. Ward was organized with Lars Nielson as Bishop and Wm. H. Walker and Benedict P. Textorious as Counselors.
In 1886 a building was constructed by Nicholas Paul, it was used as school and church. Millard County furnished the bell which was put in the tower, it cracked the 3rd time it was rang.
On February 27, 1899 one & one fifth acres of ground was sold to Leamington Ward and the Relief Society for the sum of $30.00 by B.P. and Josephine Textorious.
In 1903 a church building began with bricks from the old smelter. The building was finished in 1910 and dedicated June 1911 by Francis M. Lyman.
The Bell then was placed in the tower of the new building and served the community each Sunday morning for many years.
In 1952 the Bell was taken down by the Leamington Boy Scout Troop No. 149. It was welded and repaired by Wm. Stanley Bradfield and reinstalled. It was in service for some time, when the church was remodeled in 1970 the bell was taken down and put into storage.
This plaque was donated and paid for by the Anderson Reunion Organization.
The monument originator and White Stone donated by Wm. Stanley Bradfield. A new chapel was built in 1986 at another location. The City of Leamington purchased this Historic Building ad Amusement Hall, with four acres of land and two shares of water.
This site is near where workers drove the last spike which completed the railroad between Salt Lake City, Utah, and Los Angeles, California. It was driven on January 30, 1905. This was the last “transcontinental” line to Southern California and one of the last lines built to the Pacific Coast. There was no formal celebration at the time of the last spike. The men on the spot gave some recognition to the event.
Las Vegas owes its existence to the railroad, then known as the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad, as the men in charge laid out the town and established a division point there, taking advantage of a good supply of water.
Located at N 35.82381 W 115.28747
Related Posts:
Nevada State Historic Markers
Another historic marker about the same thing located nearby, from what I can tell at the actual location is this one:
The Last Spike
Track crews constructing west from Salt Lake City met track crews constructing east from Los Angeles January 30, 1905.
