..

TO THREE MILE CREEK WITH LOVE
      Stories of Early Perry, Utah

Back to Main Page      

  SEASONS ALONG THE OLD ROAD    THREE MILE CREEK & EARLY SETTLERS  

  CONTENTS    PHOTOS

Chapter Two

SEASONS ALONG THE OLD ROAD

In the wintertime there is little activity along "The Old Road."
    However, beginning in February, weather permitting, the pruning season begins. With pruning shears held in gloved hands, the farmers climb tall ladders placed beside the trees. With sharp blades of the tool, they begin to shape each tree. Cutting dead useless limbs, snipping here and there, not too much, not too little, the tops of the trees are cut to a certain length according to the judgment of the pruner. The farmers know this process will result in bigger and better fruit.
    Throughout the years, they have become experts at their trade. By the time they finish pruning, the tops of the trees will look as if they were measured by a giant ruler, and each tree will be perfectly level with the other, causing a look of unity of the orchard, reflecting the skill of the pruner.
        Of all the seasons of the year, springtime is the most beautiful along "The Old Road." Driving north from Willard to Brigham City, Utah, you will find beauty indescribable. Toward the east, you will observe the mountains in their various shapes. To the west is scenic Willard Bay.
    Alongside the road are the neat, well cared for fruit orchards. The orchards are covered with hordes of blossoms bursting forth, showing off their unique presentation of loveliness. This display is held once a year, every spring.
    The blue of the sky, above one’s head, adds to the scene of ethereal beauty. A spiritual feeling touches your inner self suggesting that you may be a small figure in a giant painting, drawn by a great artist.
    And the picture of springtime along "The Old Road" will be engraved in your heart forever.
    With the beginning of summer, fruit stands spring to life, enticing those who travel along the road with displays of fresh home-grown produce. Anticipating the pleasure of eating juicy black cherries, golden apricots, or a tantalizing peach, causes a kind of reaction affecting the brain of drivers, who for some unknown reason, forget all the rules of the road. With no sign of warning to other motorists, a foot hits the brakes, stopping the car abruptly. The driver is completely unaware of any drivers following behind, who now are using every skill possible attempting to avoid a rear-end collision.
    Tourists stretch their necks, and strain their eyes for signs of the best prices. They drive from fruit stand to fruit stand, searching for the better deals, only to return to the first stand they stopped at, in the first place. Cars, with Idaho license plates bring housewives who smell, squeeze, and sample peaches as they judge the size and color. They carefully inspect each bushel, visualizing ahead as to the number of bottles of fruit they need to can to last the winter. They continue the tradition of their Mormon grandmothers warning them to can and store food for any disaster.
    As the buying and selling process continues throughout the summer so does the sound of squealing brakes, the loud honking of horns, the glares passing from driver to driver, and the use of finger signals (one finger used more than the others.)
    Other than these minor distractions, traveling along "The Old Road" in summertime will be a pleasant experience. Good luck!!

In northern Utah, along "The Old Road" between Brigham City and Willard, lies a small town. A town once known as "Three Mile Creek"–its name was given to it by the early settlers who chose this part of the country to homestead the land, and establish their roots in a place like no other.
    With the Wasatch Range looming towards the east, and the view of Willard Bay to the west, the town could easily be described as picturesque. Typical of this area, most of the people own farms. Many own fruit orchards and there are several fruit stands selling the produce grown in this fertile soil.

Top

Chapter Three

THREE MILE CREEK AND EARLY SETTLERS

A part of my past is visible along "The Old Road." An obscure building stands on the west side of the highway, alone and abandoned. It is a dingy run-down grocery store built in the Depression in the 1930’s. It has outlived not only it’s owners, but it’s customers as well.
    The architecture is typical of the Depression Era: plain, and simple, with two windows placed on each side of the front door, and an overhang extending over the entrance. The sign above spells out– LARSON GROCERY
    Whoever made that sign printed an O instead of an E, but no one ever got around to changing it; it remained Larson (with an O Grocery throughout the years.
    The building stands there, holding memories of every one of it’s customers. Men, women, and children opened the front door of that country store. Sitting on the ice cream freezer, the Coca Cola cooler, or an empty milk box, they talked, laughed, cried, and shared their lives throughout the years. They gave of themselves to one another, and in return, received hope, encouragement, and love.
    There are rooms built in back of the store that served as a home to the family who lived there: a father, a mother, three sisters, and their little brother.
    As the adjoining door between the living quarters and the place of business was always kept open, those who frequented the store became more like family as the years went by. Strong relationships were formed. Respect and affection grew between the owners and those who traded at the little country store.

Typical of small Mormon towns where almost everyone is related, it was no different with those who lived here. With pride in their heritage, they traced their roots back to the early Mormon pioneers who settled here. Homesteading the land alongside a creek, working hard, building homes for their families, living their religion, were those first few families who were responsible for a large number of descendants.
    Perhaps the nearby creek had an influence on it’s name, or possibly because it was located exactly three miles south of the center of Box Elder, later called Brigham City, the settlement became known as "Three Mile Creek."
    Most of the early settlers were faithful members of the Mormon Church. Having joined the Church at the time it was first organized many of them had witnessed the persecution for their beliefs, being driven from their homes in Illinois and Missouri.
    When Joseph Smith was killed, they followed Brigham Young to make their home in the west. In 1851, Brigham Young sent members of the Church to northern Utah to find land suitable for farming, for the many pioneers coming to Utah.
    Among these pioneers was a man named Gustavus Adolphus Perry. Born in 1797, in Wilton, Hillsboro, Mass., he and his family joined the Mormon Church in 1832. Coming to Utah in 1853, the family then journeyed to "Three Mile Creek" to join his son, Lorenzo Perry, and Gustavus’ cousin, William Plumber Tippetts. The Tippetts family had the honor of being the first family to arrive in "Three Mile Creek."
    Gustavus and his wife, Eunice Wing, were parents of three sons and four daughters. Their third son, Henry Elisha Perry, married Elizabeth Zabriskie in Platt County, Missouri, traveling west with the John Hindly Company, and arriving in Utah on September 3, 1855. Elizabeth recorded in her biography how she and her five-year-old daughter, Susan, walked most of the way across the plains, driving the milk cows, and carrying baby Eunice. Henry and Elizabeth settled in "Three Mile Creek," living beside his father and brothers.
    Henry had other interests besides farming. It is said he built a lean-to on their cabin and set up a small mercantile business. He is also recognized as having grown the first yellow peach in "Three Mile Creek."

In 1867, a young man from Indiana came to "Three Mile Creek." His name was Francis Marion Crawford. Francis was on his way to California with the idea of finding gold. Something happened to change his plans.
    Francis became quite ill and could not complete his journey. He began to work for Gustavus Perry. After it became known that he was a very educated man, he was hired to teach school. Francis became a respected teacher and some said he was far ahead of his time in presenting subject material. It was a common practice that unruly students were being disciplined by the birch rod. Mr. Crawford refused to use that kind of punishment in his school, making him very popular with his students.
    Francis later became a member of the Mormon Church, and married Susan Perry, a daughter of Henry Elisha and Elizabeth Zabriskie Perry. Susan and Francis became parents of a baby boy, named Alphonzo Crawford. Sadly, Francis Crawford died, leaving Susan with the small child to raise.
    During this time in early church history, polygamy was being practiced by worthy men of the Mormon Church.
    Many widowed women were left alone with families and no visible means of support. There were no paying jobs for women thus resulting in the women’s full dependence on their husband to earn the living. It was left up to the man to provide shelter and food, taking full responsibility in the care of their wives and children. There was no doubt, the wife left widowed, needed to be helped.
    Grateful to have the security of a breadwinner, and a roof over their heads, marriage in polygamy became in most cases a necessity for these women unable to provide themselves with the basics of living.
    Possibly this was the case of Susan, a young widow with a small child. Through relatives living at Rockland, Idaho she was introduced to a man named Joseph Allen and consented to be come his second wife. After the marriage, Joseph shared his time with his first family in Rockland, and with his second family in "Three Mile Creek" where Susan lived. Joseph and Susan became parents of a son, Isaac, and a daughter, Inez, who was born October 20, 1882.
    In 1890, an act causing great trials and hardship befell those who had entered into polygamy. The Manifesto was signed. It forbid the practice of plural marriage.
    The wives were deeply concerned by this new law, as by now they had given birth to children, established homes, and possibly had some sense of security in their choice of entering into plural marriage. Susan, like these other Mormon women, were highly respected, kind, hard-working faithful members of the Church who were known to reach out to those in need, helping in times of sickness, and comforting those who mourned.
    Suddenly, their peaceful lives were turned into upheaval, as Federal Marshals were ordered to arrest any polygamist found. This caused some men to go into hiding. Those who were found were arrested and sentenced to a term, usually six months, in the Utah Penitentiary in Salt Lake City. Putting their trust in the Lord for His help in caring for their families, these women went on with their lives doing the best they could. This is an attribute of all pioneer women known in history as strong, courageous women who learned to be survivors at a time of great physical hardships.
    Susan was fortunate to have a small home with a few acres of ground. Joseph Allen returned to live permanently with his first family in Idaho, leaving Susan to support her family by herself.
    Although she had two children by Joseph Allen, Susan always used the name Susan Crawford. To the children of Isaac and Inez, she was always referred to as "Grandma Crawford." On Susan’s gravestone in Brigham City, the name Allen is omitted. She is identified as Susan Perry Crawford, leading one to wonder if she regretted this plural marriage. The possibility arises there could have been some resentment in the fact she had full responsibility of her children. There is also the possibility that because of her love for her first husband, Francis Crawford, she chose to be known as Susan Crawford, signifying her devotion to him.
    However, it is interesting to note that Joseph Allen’s name was rarely mentioned, if ever, amongst family members. A photograph of him has never been seen. There are no memories of him, fond or otherwise, shared by the children of Isaac or Inez. No remembrances of happy times of a loving grandfather have ever been recorded by those who inherited his genes. There were no words expressing love or admiration for this man. A man, who is known only as a printed name on a Family History Sheet, listed as the father of two children, married to a unique woman.
       There was no doubt, according to her posterity, Susan Crawford was a very special lady, respected by the community of "Three Mile Creek." She spent her time nursing the sick, helping those in time of need, and sharing with those less fortunate than herself.
    One day a stranger appeared at Susan’s door, asking for food because he was hungry. Although she had very little to provide she went to her "almost empty" flour bin and proceeded to make biscuits for the man. She made a meal, using what little food she had available, insisting the stranger would not leave her house hungry. After he had eaten, the visitor promised Susan her flour bin would always be filled and she would be taken care of.
    According to her daughter, Inez, his prophecy was fulfilled as there was always flour in the bin. And though times were difficult, their needs were always met.
    To those who are familiar with Mormon history, the mention of The Three Nephites are quite common in recollections of the early pioneers. And so it was assumed the stranger who appeared at Susan’s door that day was one of The Three Nephites, a belief shared by those who can testify to faith-promoting incidents throughout Church History.

Top

CONTENTS

PREFACE
THE "OLD" ROAD AND THE FRUIT FARMER
SEASONS ALONG THE OLD ROAD
THREE MILE CREEK AND EARLY SETTLERS
INEZ ALLEN
A BOY AND HIS GRANDMA
INEZ AND GEORGE DICKS
LISLE LARSEN: FROM BOY TO MAN
MARY GOBLE PAY AND RICHARD PAY OF MARTIN HANDCART COMPANY
JESSE PAY: STALWART MAN
LETTIE  SIDWELL: DEVOTED COMPANION
VERA ELIZA PAY: TEACHER, WIFE, AND MOTHER
EXODUS FROM NEPHI AND ON TO PERRY
1929–BEGINNINGS OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION
SHE LIVED ONLY A DAY
FUN TIMES
THE CHURCH HELPS OUT
CALIFORNIA, HERE WE COME
THE ENEMA LADY AND THE WITCH
LAND OF OUR OWN
RADIO, COMEDIANS, AND LAUGHTER
MY DAD’S TOKEN OF LOVE
A BEAUTIFUL GIRL
MISS REEDER FIRST GRADE IN PERRY, UTAH
MISS SPERRY: FIRST GRADE IN NEPHI, UTAH
LETTERS FROM DADDY
BANK CLOSINGS AND EARTHQUAKE
NEW BEGINNINGS
DADDY’S DREAMS COME TRUE
LARSON’S GROCERY
GRANDPA’S POLITICAL VIEWS
DADDY IN THE NEWS
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS
SCHOOL DAYS
ZELMA, ALLAN, AND DONNIE
AN UNFORGETTABLE VISITOR
COD LIVER OIL
OLD PAL
A NEW EXPANSION
SISTER NUMBER THREE
GYPSIES
SHEEP ON THE HIGHWAY
THE BASEBALL GAME: WILLARD VS. PERRY
A DARING RESCUE
UNCONTROLLABLE CIRCUMSTANCES
CUSTOMERS ARE LIKE FAMILY
STIRRINGS OF THE HEART
THE WOES OF LOVE
A TRAGIC LOVE STORY
TWO LITTLE BOYS KILLED
NICKNAMES
BETTY WHALEY: A SPECIAL KIND OF FRIEND
CLARK GABLE AND WALLACE BEERY
WORLD WAR II STUNS THE NATION
GRANDPA PAY REMEMBERED
SHARING OUR BATH TUB WITH FRIENDS
BUSHNELL GENERAL HOSPITAL
VICTIMS OF WAR
MOTHER’S JAPANESE AMERICAN FRIEND
NOT ONLY A COUSIN BUT MY FRIEND
BISHOP TIMBIMBOO
FUR COATS FROM CANADA
MY DEFENSE EFFORT WORKING IN THE PERRY CANNERY
MY BROTHER: GARY LISLE LARSEN
A MURDER
REMEMBERING MOMENTS IN TIME
PEOPLE FROM PERRY WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE
THE END OF AN ERA
EPILOGUE

Top