Mesa s Beginning The Jones (Lehi) Company
1875 In late 1876 Mormon Church officials asked Daniel Webster Jones to lead a colonizing party south into Mexico. Jones stated he did not want the responsibility because he was a man of quick decisions which could make people angry and create problems. He instead offered to go with a party as a guide. Although his original destination was Mexico, Jones was authorized to stop sooner if a more suitable site was found.
1877 On January 17th, 1877, The Jones Company formed at St. George, Utah to begin their journey south. Left: Isaac Turley was the wagon master for the Lehi Party s migration to the Mesa area. Middle: Daniel W. Jones led the Lehi Party that established the first settlement in the Mesa area. Right: Henry C. Roger of the Lehi Party helped select the site of the original Lehi settlement.
The Journey to Jonesville The company made the difficult trip through Santa Clara onto Stone s Ferry, the principal crossing between Utah and Arizona. It was a dangerous crossing and the company was charged $10 per wagon to cross. Once across the Colorado River the company traveled through Prescott making their way towards Phoenix. On March 6th, 1877 the 22 wagon train was bound for its final destination. Upon arrival at their new settlement, which today is the corner of Lehi Rd and Horne, Daniel Jones said: This land, is ours for the taking.
First Water The company wasted no time getting to work making a rough layout of the proposed Utah Ditch the night of their arrival. Henry Rogers was appointed to oversee the work on the canal and his brother, Ross, was directed to survey the waterway. Using just a straightedge and spirit level, Ross and Rogers determined the exact point to locate the canal head. The men labored long hours and they employed the local Native Americans to help complete the canal. In six weeks, water was flowing into the new ditch and over a few acres of corn and other garden cops.
Establishing the Community The patriarchs of the families within the Jones Company, looked over the land and it was decided a quarter section (160 acres) would be claimed by each man. Each quarter section would have one share in the canal, and all land would receive an equal amount of water. The custom among colonizing Mormons was to establish a town site where everyone lived. The settlement would be located at the intersection of the four quarter sections claimed by Daniel Jones, Philemon Merrill, Thomas Biggs and Henry Rogers.
Planning the Community The proposed site was to be built around a public square, with four side streets. Main Street, ran North and South and an intersecting street ran East and West. Eight large block of 10 acres were to be laid out with smaller streets behind used for hauling heavy material or farm products into town.
Jonesville Pioneers named the original camp-site Camp Utah. The new town site was known as Fort Utah or Utahville. In 1880, it became widely known as Jonesville, which is still the most common name associate with the early Lehi colony.
Trouble in the Settlement Before much of the land had been cultivated trouble came to the settlement. Many of the men disliked Daniel Jones friendship with the local Native Americans. When Jones invited Native Americans to build their homes at the fort, some of the people in Fort Utah staged a revolt. In August 1877 the families of Philemon Merrill, George Steele, Joseph McRae and Austin Williams left the company to settle on the San Pedro River. The Jones, Biggs, Brady and Turley families remained.
Growing a Community Zula Pomeroy Thomas Biggs Though there were troubles in the community, the town grew. In the spring of 1878 Thomas Biggs began building the town s first separate home. That same year a school established with Zula Pomeroy as the first teacher. In November 1880 the town site was surveyed by Henry Rogers who created a six-block plan for the town. A natural disaster stopped completion of this plan. On February 19th, 1891 the Salt River reached its highest point and three days later the river rose 3 more feet completely engulfing the low-lying areas of what is now Lehi. The flood put a stop to all other work as the badly damaged canals needed vast amounts of repairs.
Departure of Daniel Jones Daniel Jones s friendship with the Native Americans continued to cause problems at the town site. Other problems including Jones request to President Rutherford B. Hayes to give the Native Americans the entire land of the Salt River Valley only created more trouble at the site. Jones tried to establish harmony in the colony, but he finally decided it would be best if he left. He sold his land, gathered his possessions, and moved to the Tonto Rim country near Payson.
The Future of Jonesville On May 26th, 1884 the remaining group at Jonesville changed the settlement name and the name Lehi was formally adopted. A post office was set up there with James L. Patterson as postmaster. In 1970 First Post Office on Main Street. Lehi would become part of Mesa.
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