The Palmer House - Fayette (Day 8)

The Palmer House

September 9, 1884 - Levan to Little Salt Creek (nooned) and Fayette
Day 8 of 44 - (Week 2)
 Levan to Fayette = 26 Miles (Trip Total = 166 Miles)
Total Trip Average Miles Per Day = 20.8: Average Miles Per Day - Week 2 = 22.5

September 9-10, 1884

September 8-9, 1884

Note:

The purpose of this blog is to take us through territory we are aware of now with a late 1800's perspective.  It is the same route my great grandparents, Charles and Anna Anderson, followed in 1884 from Grantsville, Utah to St. Johns, Arizona. Although this journey is about them, I hope the readers won't mind when I insert my experience in finding out about their journey.  It is my desire that in doing this, the reader may also find clues to researching their own family history. 

Original Journal Entry

"It rained, and was very muddy.  we went to Little Salt Creek, filled our barrals - went out a

waze on the prairie made a dry camp - then went to Warm Creek (Fayette) 26 miles from Levan paid 40 cts a span for feed at the Palmer House.  We got to the Sevier River 5 miles north of Fayette. It was very cold the ground was white in the morning and snow on the mountains."  

Note: 40 cts a span was the most they paid for feed on the trip with the exception of Lee's ferry where it was $1.00 per span.  They had paid near Mona (30c) and  at Levan (35c).  I like to compare filling up the animals then with feed to filling up the car now with gas. Both were vital for the journey to continue.  

Final Journal Entry

"it rained and was very muddy, we went to Little Salt Creek, filled our barrels, made a dry camp for noon, then went to Warm Creek (Fayette).  Paid 40c per span - very cold and frosty.  Traveled 26 miles."

No big story today, but for me it was exciting to actually find Little Salt Creek and The Palmer House.  I didn't think I would find either when I began.

Little Salt Creek

Turn left near this house when you are going South
to go to Little Salt Creek

Road to Little Salt Creek up the canyon

Turn left (going south) at this sign to go up
Little Salt Creek

Little Salt Creek was a difficult place to locate.  It is six miles South of Levan. This is where they filled their barrels.  They made a "dry camp" which means they suffered for water and green feed.  But they had water in their barrels for drinking and cooking.  Judging by the miles they did not go up the canyon to the head of the creek, but filled their barrels near the road and made a "dry camp" nearby.

Watch for these signs on both sides of the road.
This is where the creek ran and was likely
close to the wagon trail (SP 22-23)

They probably stopped near here on the road
where the creek ran to fill their barrels rather
 than going up the canyon for water
(SP 22-23)

              

  From Little Salt Creek they traveled to Fayette, Utah

Fayette was named Warm Creek first

Fayette--See History of Fayette
The name was changed from Warm Creek
to Fayette, honoring the place where the
LDS Church was first organized.

Palmer House

The Palmer House (pg 2) was a large adobe house (at that time) at the north end of Fayette.  It was at this place the stagecoach and Pony Express stopped.  Additional information on the Palmer House can be found in this book by James Rodney Lundwall







Google maps show if you go to the designated spot of Little Salt Creek, it is 42.2 Miles from Levan to Fayette.  The Journal showed the distance to be 26 Miles. If you deduct the 17.0 Miles to and from Little Salt Creek on the map, the distance becomes 25.2 Miles.  This suggests they were able to fill their barrels near the trail and did not go to the spot designated on the map which would have been out of their way.  Taking into consideration rounding to the closest mile, their mileage for this day was very accurate.

The challenge of this part of the trail was to find Little Salt Creek and the Palmer House.  The edited (typed and available online) journal did not include the Palmer House, but the original journal (posted here) did.  It took time, but the effort was finally rewarded.  I apologize because I can't remember the names of those who assisted me in Fayette to find the Palmer House.  I even forgot to write down the name of the book that recorded the Palmers built this home.  I have to remind myself continually to always record my sources and remember (write down) the names of those who help along the way. I don't know how many times I've been guilty of this.   Now it's so easy just to take out your iPhone and  type what you want to remember.   Fortunately the family who assisted me, copied pictures from their book which are included below.  At least I have something to help prove this was the Palmer House.

List of Owners ("Palmer's built" - bottom)

Palmer House (3rd right) 

Today when we travel, "good" food is a major part of our trip.  We try to find good "nooning" and "camping" places close to eating establishments.  So far nothing has been said about buying food by the people on this journey.  Tomorrow (in their time) an actual food item will be purchased.  What do you think it will be?  Comment if you will.  Don't let the picture below mislead you.