In 1876, four companies were called to go to Northeastern Arizona to settle. Before leaving for their lifelong mission call, forty couples were married. These companies were led by Lot Smith, Jesse O. Ballinger, George Lake (brother of Lydia Ann Lake), and William C. Allen. Smith's camp on the Little Colorado was called Sunset, Ballinger's was called Ballinger's Camp, Lake's camp was called Obed, and Allen's camp was called Allen City (Allen's Camp). Later in 1878 the Little Colorado Stake was organized. Lot Smith was called as Stake President and George Lake was called as a bishop.
Quoting from Regional Studies in Latter-Day Saint Church History:
"The leading teams reached Sunset Crossing on the Little Colorado 23 March 1876; others followed during the weeks to come. They all traveled east the following day to a point about three miles east of present-day Joseph City, where a general council was held. They explored the area and selected town sites. It was decided that William C. Allen should go down the river to a location about one mile east of present-day Joseph City. George Lake would go across the river approximately four miles south of the Allen settlement. Lot Smith moved his group back to Sunset Crossing and selected a spot a little below that crossing. When Jesse O. Ballinger arrived, he selected a locale across the river from Lot Smith's site. The only other occupants of the area were Hopi and Navajo Indians, who were friendly and did not seem to be alarmed at the arrival of their new neighbors. Joseph City was founded officially on 24 March 1876. Because the settlers needed to provide food for themselves from the soil, John Bushman, one of Joseph City's original colonists, plowed ground the day after their arrival. He reported that the land looked salty. Time was precious, and the settlers hastily made preparations for crops. An irrigation ditch was surveyed and a diversion dam established so that wheat could be sowed on April 3, just ten days after their arrival. The colonies received names as follows: George Lake's camp was named Obed; Lot Smith's, Sunset; Jesse O. Ballinger's, Ballinger's Camp. William C. Allen' s camp also took on the leader's name being, called "Allen City." Interestingly, the last name was chosen by a three-year old boy, Frank Cluff, who drew it from a hat instead of the alternate choice, Ramah City. "
My parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben F. Martin, purchased the "Mosaic Rock Picture Studio", from then Owner, in mid 1930's (who's name I can't recall. I have my earliest memories living in that site, located one mile West of Joseph City, directly adjacent to Highway 66...with memories of Gypsies Camping, Navajo Indian Babe and Johnny Nicholas living in the Hogan that my father had build to accommodate their living on our premises. As I recall there was a Mrs Spears who was the wife of a 'open range cattle rancher"; Mr Spears being stuck by lightening out on the Navajo Indian Reservation, near his horse...Only sketchy information seems available for those years. Later my Grandfather and Grandmother W. S. Martin, and their daughter Virginia, lived in our Mosaic Rock Picture Studio for several years. Only Water Well on the premises was unfit to drink, and my Dad had to haul fresh drinking water from an Artesian Well, West of the site, but adjacent to Highway 66...Wonderful Memories...John W. Martin, I believe I was six years old then...
ReplyDeleteJoseph City was my very first memory at about age 5 year old, when my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben F. Martin, purchased the "Mosaic Rock Picture Studio", located adjacent to Highway 66, one mile West of Joseph City. We had a Navajo Indian family, Johnny Nicholas, that lived in the Hogan, that my Dad had constructed, and his wife Babe wove Navajo rugs, the husband, Johnny Nicholas, made silver jewelry, and their daughter, my age Rosy, just posed for the tourists...I started my first grade in elementary school, in Joseph City, at age 6 years old. Many, many memories in that location, which didn't have any electricity, water, or sewage in those years. The only well that my Father put down brought up water that couldn't be used to drink, and used only for irrigation purposes. Living right next to Highway 66 in those years we saw so many sights of people from the Dust Bowl, attempting to head West to California, and renew their lives, we had Southern Pacific Railway Hoboes' stopping by to ask my Mother for food and water, we had Gypsies camping on our property, I witnessed my first live sheep being slaughtered by our Navajo Indian Family at their Hogan, for a family festive occasion...with no sounds from that sheep when it was killed... So many memories, and no room here to write it all down... John W. Martin, now age 84, living in Mililani, on Oahu, here in Hawaii
ReplyDeleteWhat is the purpose of the huge smoke stacks and factory looking building?
ReplyDeleteThat is a major power plant that was built about twenty years ago.
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