Jasper LEMMON

                   Historical information included in notes.



Mendon Ward Descriptive
Mendon Ward consists of the Latter-day Saints residing in the little town of Mendon which is situated on the Oregon Short Line Railway, on the west side of Cache Valley in Cache County, Utah eight miles west of Logan (the county seat) six miles north of Wellsville, eleven miles south of Newton, twenty-three miles by nearest wagon road north-east of Brigham City and eighty-seven miles by rail north of Salt Lake City. The town is pleasantly situated in the midst of a rich agricultural and fruit growing district. All kinds of cereals and vegetables and fruits that can grow anywhere in Cache Valley, also do well here. The place is healthy through its pure atmosphere and good water; and the beauty of natural scenery add attractions that can scarcely be surpassed. Mendon is the first settlement reached in entering Cache Valley from the west by rail. The city lots and farms are watered from a number of mountain streams springing forth from the base of the mountains adjacent to the town. Some of the farming lands are also watered from the so called Gardners Springs situated about three miles south of the town, but most of the grain raised an Mendon is done by the process of dry farming. Nearly the entire population of the ward live on the town site, where there are three stores, a substantial rock meetinghouse, a large rock schoolhouse and many fine and comfortable private dwellings. Mendon is an incorporated city. Nearly all the inhabitants are Latter-day Saints and the Ward has a Relief Society, a Sunday school, a Y.M.M.I.A., a Y.L.M.I.A. and a Primary Association. The farms belonging to Mendon reach from the lower valley up the sloping side hills to the top of the ridge northwest and to the base of the higher mountains southwest.
History
In 1857, one year after the founding of Wellsville, Alexander Brice Hill and Robert Hill took up farms and located on the present site of Mendon. They built a small house near the place where the church granary now stands in the lower part of town, which house was occupied until the time of "The Move" in 1858. Alexander B. Hill had his wife along and she of course was the first woman settler at Mendon. When the place was resettled in 1859 (the year after the move) the house was still standing.
In the latter part of April and beginning of May 1859, the following brethren, most of them with families, arrived on the present site of Mendon and became bona fide settlers of the place; Roger Luckham and family (including Robert Sweeten, a step son). Charles Atkinson and wife, Alfred Atkinson and family, James G. Willie and family, Charles Shumway, Sr. and family, Andrew P. Shumway and wife, Alexander B. Hill and his sons (Alexander H. and James H.), Peter Larsen, Peter and Isaac Sorensen, John and Hyrum T. Richards (sons of John Richards) and perhaps a few others. Later in the season, in the fall and early winter, other settlers arrived, among whom were Andrew Anderson, John Richards and family (including his sons Joseph, Alexander and Daniel B.), Abraham Sorensen and wife, Nicolai Sorensen and his sons (Abraham, Jacob, Christian and Henry), William Findlay, Ralph Foster and a number of others with their families.
These first settlers of Mendon erected their primitive pioneer cabins in fort style, in order to protect themselves against Indians. John Richards, Jr. completed the first house in the fort. On the 10th of August 1859, Jesse W. Fox, Sr. surveyed the fort, assisted by Robert Sweeten and others. The fort consisted of one street running east and west, the houses fronting on both sides of the street. Corrals and stack yards were built in the rear of the houses, and gardens were made behind the corrals. After putting in their crops in the spring of the year, the first families who had settled Mendon moved to Wellsville because of Indian disturbances, the men, however returning to attend their crops; frequently they went to Wellsville to stop over night. After the Indian scare was over, most of the families moved back to Mendon in the fall of 1859. 
The first Presiding Elder at Mendon was Charles Shumway, Sr. one of the original Utah pioneers of 1847: he was appointed by Bishop Peter Maughan and acted with James G. Willie and Alexander B. Hill as counselors. This proved, however, a temporary appointment, as soon after the return of the families from Wellsville in the fall of 1859 Andrew P. Shumway was appointed to act as a regular Bishop of the new settlement; he was ordained December 19th, 1859, at a meeting held in the house of William Findlay attended by Orson Hyde and Ezra T. Benson. Bishop Shumway presided without counselors, until he was called on a mission to Europe early in 1869.
During the winter of 1859-1860, a log school and meetinghouse was built at Mendon, on the southeast corner of the present public square, twenty-four by eighteen feet. This served for public purposes until the east part of the present meetinghouse was built in 1866.
In 1860 a few more settlers arrived at Mendon, among whom were Amenzo W., Albert M. and George W. Baker who arrived in Mendon, April 18th, 1860. Improvements were made in the shape of building new houses, fencing and making water ditches. At a meeting held at Mendon December 3rd, 1860, Edward Wood was appointed local president of the Elders in the new settlement with Alfred J. Atkinson as clerk.
Early in 1861, a post office was established at Mendon with James G. Willie as postmaster. A few more settlers arrived at Mendon this year, among whom were Ole C. Sonne who arrived in April 1861.
Among the new settler who arrived at Mendon in 1862 was Henry Hughes who afterwards became the bishop of the place. This year two teams were sent to the Missouri River after the poor, Peter Larsen and Isaac Sorensen were the teamsters.
In 1863, when the authorities of the church called for teams and men to go to the Missouri River after the poor, Mendon responded by sending two teams with Ralph Forster and Jasper Lemmon as teamsters. Simon Baker, one of the first Mormons who entered the Cache Valley, died at Mendon, October 22nd, 1863.
In 1864 a town plat of nine, ten-acre blocks were surveyed at Mendon and the people began to move out upon their city lots. Additions to the town plat were subsequently made. Up to that time they had lived in the fort previously mentioned. Since 1864 there has been a gradual increase of population at Mendon. This year, also Mendon responded to the sending of a team and a teamster to the Missouri River after emigrants; the teamster this year was Joseph H. Richards.
The year 1865 witnessed further improvements in the growing settlement.
In 1866 the settlers of Mendon commenced to build a wall around their meeting house as a means of protection against the Indians; this wall was built of rock about six feet high and enclosed about one acre of ground. A bastion was built on the northeast and southwest corner of the wall. The danger from Indians not terminating as seriously as the settlers had expected, the people never moved into their fort. This year a new meetinghouse, a rock building forty-five by twenty-eight feet, was built at Mendon. At the time of its erection it was considered the finest meetinghouse in Cache County. This year the little settlement was plunged into sorrow owing to the fact that Mr. Thurstons three-year-old daughter was stolen by Indians, near Mendon, May 2nd, 1866. The little girl was never recovered. This year men and teams were again sent to the Missouri River after the poor. The teamsters were Charles Bird Jr., Jacob F. Sorensen and Joseph Hancock.
In 1867 the crops at Mendon were partly destroyed by grasshoppers.
In 1868 Mendon responded for the last time to the call for men and teams to be sent east to meet the incoming emigration. Men and teams were also employed in grading the Central Pacific Railroad bed. This years crops were all destroyed by the grasshoppers. A Relief Society was organized May 28th, 1868, with Mrs. Elizabeth A. Willie as president. This association has continued over since. Bishop Andrew P. Shumway and Charles Shumway, Jr. were called on missions to Europe in 1869 they were both set apart May 10th, 1869. Bishop Shumway returned August 16th, 1871 and Charles Shumway Jr. returned August 5th, 1870. Charles Bird and Charles Shumway, Sr. were set apart for mission to the United States, October 9th, 1869; Elder Bird returned in 1870 and Elder Shumway returned in 1870. After the departure of Bishop Shumway on his mission, Henry Hughes was called by Apostle Ezra T. Benson and Bishop Peter Maughan of Cache Valley to preside at Mendon. He entered upon the duties of that office at once, but was not ordained till a later day. In 1869 a co-operative store was commenced in Mendon; it was successful from the beginning.
The year 1870 witnessed many improvements and some increase in the population at Mendon. Under the date of December 5th, 1870, Bishop Henry Hughes wrote to the Desert News the following: Among the many interesting subjects inaugurated for the benefit of the people within the last few years none appears to serve, when carried out in the spirit as well as the letter so much to unite the saints as the system of co-operation. Mendon being desirous of not being behind her sister settlers in the great work introduced for the benefit of all Saints organized a store April 1st, 1869, with a board consisting of a president, three directors, treasurer and secretary, and an average capital of $900. We were advised by our late respected President Ezra T. Benson and also by Peter Maughan, to sell out at as low a percentage as a fair profit to the shareholders would admit of. We agreed to commence the institution by selling at twenty-percent advance of cost and freight, which continued for nine month, when we took stock and ascertained that we had cleared one hundred and forty-three percent, after deducting all expenses. We have turned our capital nine times, purchasing and paying for nearly $10,000 worth of goods. Finding it a paying business, we concluded to reduce our percentage to sixteen and two-thirds, and have continued at that ratio to the present with a constant increase of business, caused by the Saints from other settlements, visiting and trading with us. When our new store is built next spring, it is the intention to reduce the percentage to twelve and one-half on all staple goods. This fall we purchased and paid for a first class Threshing Machine, at a cost of nearly $900 cash, out of profits made and it is called the Mendon Co-operative Threshing Machine, enabling us to retain the toll grain amongst ourselves, that had previously been given to others, not particularly interested in our local prosperity as a settlement, and we intend to continue, and by the blessing of Israels God, never to rest in the good work commenced, until factory after factory be reared, strengthened and consolidated in the great co-operative work, begun here with a capital of $900. Small profits and quick returns is our trading motto and with the facilities within our reach of replenishing stock at the parent co-operative institution in Salt Lake City and at Ogden, results similar to our experience can be attained by any store in Utah. We have received excellent counsel and advice from Pres. Maughan and we have endeavored to practice upon them. (The Deseret News, Volume 19, Number 46, Page 540, Wed. Dec. 21, 1870.)
In 1871, a number of the brethren of Mendon worked on the railroad grade, which was being built from Ogden into Cache Valley.
In July, 1872 a very interesting two days meeting was held at Mendon, at which Bishop William B. Preston, William Hyde, Marriner W. Merrill, Lorenzo Hatch, William Maughan, Samuel Roskelley, William F. Littlewood, Henry Hughes and others gave excellent instructions of a practical nature to the settlers at Mendon. The brethren also visited the Ward Sunday school and expressed themselves well satisfied with the same. (Deseret News; 21:393)
In 1872, work was continued on the Utah Northern Railway and on Thursday, December 19th the cars on the Utah-Northern Railway ran into Mendon for the first time.
Under date of December 22nd, 1872, a correspondent to the Deseret News writes: Friday last was a gala day in Mendon. For some few days previously all was excitement expecting the next day we would be able to see the iron horse from our own door and on Thursday evening we were informed by Bishop Hughes that he had made arrangements so that all the children in Mendon would go out on the track and get on board the cars and accompany the engine on her first trip to Mendon with passengers. Next morning at ten oclock the children were taken to Three Mile Creek. They got on the cars all safe and started for Mendon and it was a sight that would have cheered the heart of anyone to look into the cars a few moments and see the happy faces and hear their odd remarks on locomotives, railroads, etc. We arrived all safe and gave three rousing cheers for John W. Young, president of the road, also for the workmen of the road; and last though not least, for Mr. Tolley, who is chief of construction, for whose kindness to the children and all on board the cars we return them our thanks. He is the right man in the right place and is energetic in furthering the interests of the Utah Northern Rail Road.
All the employees on the road were invited to dinner by the citizens of Mendon. A grand ball was given in the evening, which was well attended and all went merry, etc., till Chanticleer announced the near approach of day, when we dismissed after one of the most agreeable parties we ever had in Mendon.
On Sunday evening the new Co-operative store was dedicated by prayer by Bishop Henry Hughes. (Deseret News 21:730)
Bishop Henry Hughes who had acted as Bishop at Mendon since 1869 was regularly ordained to the office of a Bishop, October 7th, 1872 by President Brigham Young. He still acted without counselors until 1877.
Bishop Henry Hughes was set apart for a mission to Wales, October 8th, 1873, during his absence Ralph Foster took charge of the ward.
The year 1874 witnessed good progress, good crops were raised and good feelings prevailed.
A Young Mens Mutual Improvement Association was organized at Mendon December 30th, 1875, with John Donaldson as president. This association has had a continued existence ever since. (Deseret News 24:811)
In 1876, good crops were raised at Mendon. When the church authorities called for colonization missionaries that year to locate settlements of the Saints in Arizona, Joseph H. Richards, as the only man called from Mendon responded willingly to the call; he sold everything he owned in Mendon and settled on the Little Colorado River (St. Joseph) where he still resided in 1900.
At an important meeting held at Mendon June 6th, 1877, attended by the Cache Stake Presidency. Andrew Andersen and John Donaldson were ordained and set apart as counselors to Bishop Henry Hughes. On the same occasion William Willie was set apart to preside over the Elders Quorum of Mendon with John Hughes and Alexander Richards as his counselors.
A Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association was organized at Mendon October 25th, 1877 with Mrs. Larsine Richards as President. This association has done much good since that time.
Pioneer Day, July 24th, 1878, was fittingly celebrated at Mendon. At early dawn the firing of fourteen guns announced the beginning of festivities. An excellent vocal serenade by the choir to many homes in the city was next in order. At nine oclock the public were called together for a salute of eight guns. Elder Alfred Gardner writes: A procession was formed in the following order: 1st A covered wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen, representing the way the Pioneers crossed the plains, then wilderness and arriving in Salt Lake Valley; 2nd Mayor and members of the City Council; 3rd Twelve young men; 4th Twelve young ladies; 5th Fathers in Israel; 6th Mothers in Israel; 7th Choir; 8th Sunday school. We marched a short time on the public square then to the meetinghouse which was handsomely decorated for the purpose, a noticeable feature of the decorations was, two handsome pictures, of Utah as it was, representing a train of w