Cedar Point – Basalt

In 1879 the U.&N. Railroad Co. named their water stop, Basalt. Henry R. Whitmill settled in Cedar Point in 1884. Andrew O. Inglestrom filed on land, 1885. Others followed, built canal, homes, L.D.S. church house, cheese factory, two stores, saloon, blacksmith shop, log schoolhouse, L.M. Caps, teacher, postoffice, Marion Kerr, post mistress. Willian Dye dug first well. Cedar Point name changed to Basalt, 1888. Due to railroad improvements, the town was moved east in 1903.

The above text is from Daughters of Utah Pioneers marker #373 erected in 1970 at 824 North 675 East in Bingham, Idaho.

• D.U.P. Historic Markers

These photos provided by Marshall Hurst:

Taylor Settlement

Six men came to this area from Hooper, Utah, to homestead in the early spring of 1885: John, Edward and William Priest, Smith Johnson, and Edwin and Abiah Wadsworth Jr. They each built a log house on their claim before returning to Utah for their families. Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), headquartered in Salt Lake, were informed of this small settlement. In 1886 Apostle John W. Taylor of the LDS Church was sent to organize the group into a branch, a part of the Bannock Stake with headquarters in Rexburg, Idaho. The decision was made to name the ward in honor of Apostle Taylor. William Priest became the first bishop. The first church meetings were held in Abiah Wadsworth Jr.’s home.

By 1886 a log structure was erected for public use on land donated by John Priest. The first teacher was John Henry Evans, the church recorder. A second multi-purpose structured, a two-room, 39 by 60 foot white frame building was built in the mid 1890s. This building burned during the winter of 1904, taking with it all church and school records. In 1905 a two-room brick building was completed. Church, school, and dances were held in the building until a church was constructed in 1915.

To water this arid, sagebrush-covered land, the pioneers had to dig a 10-mile-long irrigation canal from Eagle Rock, located to the north. Hay and grain, their first crops, were grown in 1890.

The beautiful Taylor Cemetery was established in April 1887 when Abiah Wadsworth Jr. and Willian Arave purchased 5 acres of land for $65 to bury Ellen, the infant daughter of Sarah and Abiah Wadsworth, Jr.

The above text is from Daughters of Utah Pioneers marker #527 erected in 2000 at 127 S 1st Street in Taylorville, Idaho.

• D.U.P. Historic Markers

These photos provided by Marshall Hurst:

Salmon River Mission

On April 7, 1855, at the conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Pres. Brigham Young called 27 elders to found a mission among the Indians of the Salmon River Country, Oregon Territory, with Thomas S. Smith in charge. Traveling 380 miles in 22 days, they arrived June 15th. Making friends with the Indians the missionaries taught them the message of the gospel. In 1857, Pres. Brigham Young visited the colony after which more missionaries and families were sent to strengthen the settlement. On February 25, 1858, the Lemhi Fort was attacked by Indians and its abandonment took place in March 1858.

Daughters of Utah Pioneers historic marker #284, erected in 1963 and located on Lemhi Road north of Lemhi, Idaho.

• D.U.P. Historic Markers
• DUP Marker #285 is also located here.
• UPTLA Marker 116 is nearby.

These photos provided by Marshall Hurst:

First Irrigation Project

Arriving at the headwaters of Lemhi River, a company of Latter-Day Saint men who had been called to establish a mission among the Indians proceeded approximately 30 miles downstream, selected a site for a fort and a tract of farming land, On June 18, 1855, they dug a ditch, turned the water over the land, and after ploughing about 8 acres, planted corn, turnips, peas, beams and potatoes. This was the first irrigation project in the Great Northwest.

Daughters of Utah Pioneers historic marker #285, erected in 1963 and located on Lemhi Road north of Lemhi, Idaho. Marker #284 is also located here.

• D.U.P. Historic Markers

These photos provided by Marshall Hurst and Jean Bradley:

Pioneer Meeting House

The first house of worship erected in the Upper Snake River Valley, was located approximately five and three-fourths miles west, and one and three-fourths miles south of this marker. It was completed by members of the Egin Branch of the Cache Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, December 6, 1882, and destroyed by fire in February, 1886.

Also honoring the pioneers who came into this valley between 1879-1890.

This monument, formerly two blocks south, was moved here when the Tabernacle, built in 1916 by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was razed.

Daughters of Utah Pioneers historic marker #70, erected May 23, 1941 and located at 220 South Bridge Street in St Anthony, Idaho.

• D.U.P. Historic Markers

These photos provided by Marshall Hurst: