Hyrum City

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gyram is.situated in the south of Cache Valley,, on a series of
hills.;. ' It is beautiful for situation, having a full vie?/ of
the surrounding country.  The .climate is- healthy, ana here con be raised,
everything that can be produced in Salt Lake valley—the tender vine,
the peach, .sorghumand sugar beet can be successfully grown here, the
canyon winds keeping the frosts from this section fully one month later
than any other part of 'the valley.
Hyrum was first settled in the month of April, 1$60.  The first
location was made at a point about a mile north of the present towntite.
The first persons who settled this place were Alva Benson, Ira Allen,
i      David Osborn, Andrew A. Allen, Moroni Benson, Hans E. Nielsen, Niels B.
Nielsen, Andrew B. Nielsen, Hans V;onsen, Jens Monsen, Noah Brimhall,
Adam Smith, James Benson, Hugh Parkes, David Parkes, Calvin Bingham,
Alonzo Bingham, David Osborn, Jun., William Williams, Thomas Williams,
John M. Hanson, Christopher 01 sen, Andrew Anderson, Jonas Halvorsen and'
Soren Nielsen; in all about twenty families.  The first organization was
in May of the same year, by .Apostle E. T. Benson and Bishop Peter Maughan.
Calvin Bingham was appointed Bishop, and Ira. Allen, Ward Clerk.  The name
of the town was suggested by David Osborn, from the following circumstance.
In those early days it was intended to build the- City of Joseph on what
is now known as the- College Far;n, on a line due north of Hyrum, and Mr.
Osborn thought that the.name of Hyrum would be very appropriate for the
adjoining city. ln  the spring of that year, ground was lowed and crops
put in.  Then came the grave question of water.  Ira Allen had previously
looked out a route for a canal, end by the aid of a, spirit level had made
a rough survey for a canal.  Jesse W. Fox was afterwards engaged to survey
the canal, but his stakes were so far apart that they could not bring
the water any distance.  In Mr. Allen's words, "they were the sickest men
you ever saw."  Their croos were in and growing finely, and now the water
was a failure.  Mr. Allen told his dispirited companions that he had leveled
the country and felt satisfied they would succeed.  They then went to
work in earnest, and with the aid of the spirit level, brought the waters
of Little Be ,x  River from Old Paradise, a distance of nine, miles, in
twenty-one working days.  The canal was five feet wide at the bottom and
eight feet at the top.  While these hardy men were doing this work, many
of them lived only upon bread and water.  The only tools in their possession were eight shovels, a few old spades, half worn, and a few old home
made plows.  Under these trying circumstances they succeeded in bringing
the water to their camp and fields, and now, after twenty-one years this
same canal furnishes wa.ter to the City and farms of Byrum, and saw mills
and other machinery are now propelled by its waters.
The first log cabin was built by Alva Benson.  Many dug holes or
cellars in the ground and lived in them for the first few years.  Phenette,
the wife of Albert J. Allen and daughter of William and Margaret Williams,
was the first child born in Hyrum.  The first marriage was between Moroni
Benson and Martha Phillips,  The first death was the wife of Jens. P
Jenson.
The town was built in a fort for protection .against the Indians,
until the present city was laid out.
In the year 1&&$  Bishop Calvin Bingham was called to Bear Lake,
and 0. N. Lilienquist was apoointed Bishop.  The first public structure
was the meeting house, a substantial rock building, 60x30.  It was finished
in the year 1^69, at a cost of about 06000.
Hyrum was incorporated ?eb. 10th., 18"70. 0..  u. Liljenquist was
elected Mayor.