By Garnette N. Coe
On January 16, 1877, a company of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) left St. George, Utah, being called by President Brigham Young, to travel south and establish a settlement. An explorer and returned-missionary to the Southwest and Mexico, Daniel Webster Jones, was chosen to lead this party of Saints. While in the office of President Young, and in the company with Brother Jones, Henry C. Rogers had a vision of the place they were to go. He described a place with a high bank, lined with cottonwood trees growing in a row, a flat-roof adobe house and a man riding a horse, then dismounting and gazing at them.
Brother Isaac Tinley was elected wagon master for the journey. Leaving Utah, passing through Nevada, the wagon train entered Arizona at Stone's Ferry, where they crossed the Colorado River. Climbing out of Detrital Valley, they passed through Chloride City, a mining town. Chloride is one of the few mining cities that remains today in Mohave County. At that time, it consisted of several hundred people living in tents and shanties. They passed through present day Kingman, and the wagon train continued on the Hardy Toll Road. This toll road was operated by Capt. William. Harrison Hardy, and ran from Hardyville (present day Bullhead City) to the Territorial Capital of Arizona at Prescott. The charge for the wagon train of twenty-two wagons, and stock, numbering approximately sixty horses and mules, was estimated to have been about twenty dollars, paid by Joseph McRea
They followed the toll road from Mineral City and continued through the Hualapai Valley, past Fort Rock, where they camped. Here they experienced stormy weather and snow, and, this being a Sunday, they rested for the day. It was here that they checked supplies, and the record shows that they had 6,300 pounds of flour, 740 pounds of dried fruit, and a little over 1,000 pounds of meat. The meat probably was bacon and other seasoned pork. Dan Jones recorded that the men attempted to hunt for fresh meat, but they "were poor shooters". Isaac Turley was the only one to kill a deer, although many were seen.
By February 13th, they had reached the Oaks and the Willows. Many times, having little water, they rested at night in a dry camp. When they reached the Willows, the animals sensed water and were as eager as these pioneers to reach this water stop. Jones and Turley decided to stop and rest both the travel-weary stock as well as the people. On Wednesday the 14th, they enjoyed a full day of rest, the first taken other than the stops on the Sabbaths.
Thursday the 15th, they traveled 12 miles to Walnut Creek. Crossing Chino Valley and Williamson Valley, they passed north of Prescott, the territorial capitol of Arizona. It was rumored that Jones passed north of Prescott by five miles, not wishing to take his people into town. He did not wish to expose the women and children to the wickedness of the miners, cowboys and women-of-the-night in this town that had a street called "Whiskey Row."
Moving southwest, the route took them over the Iron Springs freight route, (Iron Springs Road) into Skull Valley. From Skull Valley, they journeyed on to camp at Kirkland Creek. This area was described as grassy and peaceful. The company camped for nearly a week in Peoples Valley, resting, washing, and repairing wagons and allowing the animals a chance to regain their strength.
In the autobiography of Dan P. Jones, he explained that the men were able increase their finances by digging a ditch for a farmer in the area, and that, "some of the men laughed at my way of shoveling". However, Jones later learned how to shovel before he finished digging the Utah Canal, an irrigation ditch in Lehi (Mesa). Peeples Valley provided a respite before descending and crossing the desert to the south. Joseph McRae, in letters back to Utah, told of the beauty of this country and the plentiful grass. He reported the abundance of deer and wild turkey in the area and told of a discovery of two prehistoric ruins, with their walls partially standing.
On February 27th, the band of pioneers began their descent into the desert below present day Yarnell, beginning with the downward trek over Antelope Valley Hill. Jones referred to this as the worst part of the entire trip. He also mentioned that thousands of dollars worth of gold had been found on the top of this hill. However, our pioneers were not lucky enough to find any. This peak was also known as "Rich Hill," because of the number of nuggets gathered in a mere three months in 1863. This point lies just northeast of the town of Congress.
The party traveled twenty-nine miles further and camped on Hassayampa Creek. During the day they passed through the "Spanish Town" of Wickenburg. This was the largest town they had seen on their journey. In the nearby hills was Vulture Mine, which was in its glory at this time. They stopped at Agua Fria Wells, about twenty miles northwest of Phoenix. There, they bought water at twelve cents per head for their animals.
It took four days to cross the desert from Wickenburg to Phoenix, arriving in the hamlet of Phoenix on March 3rd. The townspeople turned out to watch these twenty-two wagons, with loads of children peeking out of the wagons, go on to what is now Scottsdale. They camped on the Salt River at Mc Dowell Crossing. This was the place described in Brother Rogers' vision. It was a place with a high bank, lined with Cottonwood trees growing in a row. There was a flat-roof adobe house and a man riding a horse. The man dismounted his horse and looked at them. This was exactly what he had seen in his vision. This was journey's end.
They established a settlement first called Utahville, then Jonesville, and finally Lehi. Lehi grew to become part of the modern city of Mesa. Many of the descendents of this party of pioneers still call Mesa their home. Some of the descendents of this party also still reside in Yavapai County and Prescott.
On Saturday, July 29, 2006, the Kirkland Branch of the Latter Day Saints and the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, will dedicate the Yavapai-Lehi Mormon Trail Marker at 4:30 p.m. at the Kirkland L.D.S. Church. Enjoy a potluck dinner and country-western entertainment at the pioneer celebration to follow the dedication.
Note: For additional related information, see Days Past articles for October 24, 2000, December 30, 2001 and February 9, 2003.
Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number:(Jones/LDS) Reuse only by permission.
Daniel Webster Jones led the Lehi wagon train from Utah to Mesa, AZ, to establish a Latter Day Saint settlement in 1877.
Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number:(Map provided by AZ Land Dept., AZ State Parks, 2004) Reuse only by permission.
Historic Trails of Arizona' map showing the location of the HardyvilleRoad (Hardy Toll Road), a portion of the route taken by the Yavapai-Lehi pioneer wagon train in 1877, traveling from St. George, Utah, to Lehi (Mesa), AZ. The route out of Prescott, through present day Yarnell, Wickenburg and Phoenix to McDowell Crossing is also shown on this map.