Nephi to Beaver, Utah

I’ve mentioned many of the towns along the trail that we’ve passed through, but they didn’t exist in 1849. Provo, Utah was the southern-most settlement along the trail at that time. Few of the springs or waterways had been named so Alonzo simply mentions that they camped near water, if they could find it.

He always mentioned how far they traveled each day so by tabulating those figures and learning where some other travelers stopped I was able to guess about where they stopped most nights.

We left Nephi at 11:00 a.m. on a cold day, and continued south along Hwy 28/Old Hwy 91 to Levan in the Juab Valley. Our two-lane road often parallels I-15 and we can see cars and trucks speeding by as we stop to photograph the scenes.

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I-15 from Old Hwy 91

Alonzo noted in his journal, "We lost about 100 head of oxen, this morning we found them 14 miles ahead. The Utah Indians were driving them back. The Indians encamped near us tonight. By accident a revolver supposed not to be loaded which one barrel was, went off and the ball just mist my breat. I was started very much. Yes scart some, but I am safe at present."

We followed Hwy 78 which crossed the Sevier River, between Mills and Scipio, a major stop for travelers to water their stock.

The Sevier River

In less than five minutes the river doubled back and there we saw a small herd of Black Angus cattle drinking in the river. The Pomeroy group was driving a large herd of cattle which always needed sources of water. This scene could have been right out of 1849.

Cattle drinking at the Sevier River

The trail led us through Fillmore, Utah’s first territorial capital. We spent an interesting hour at the Old Statehouse, a red sandstone building begun in 1852, and now a Museum. The statehouse was designed by Truman O. Angell who is also credited with the design of the Temple in Salt Lake City. The original capitol building was to have four wings connected by a Moorish dome. The money ran out after only one wing was completed.

The city and county were named for Millard Fillmore, President at the time; Fillmore became the capital city and Millard the county. In 1858 the capital was moved to Salt Lake City.

The Territorial Statehouse

Original Statehouse Plans

An interesting feature of the museum is a long hall with the walls filled top to bottom with old portraits of the original settlers.

Old Statehouse Photo Gallery

Two Portraits from the Statehouse Gallery

We returned to the “trail” which led through Cove Fort, built in 1867. It was not a military fort, but one constructed under the direction of Brigham Young for protection of the new settlement established there. The 100 square-foot fort is made of lava rock that workers hauled from west of the property. It is 18.5 feet tall, 4 feet thick at the footings, and 2.5 feet thick at the top.

West of Cove Fort

Cove Fort

Our last stop of the day was at Beaver, Utah where we found a comfortable motel. We had time before dark to take a short drive up the dramatic Beaver Canyon east of town. On our way back we witnessed a lovely sunset, a nice ending to an interesting day.

Sunset in Beaver Canyon