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Bricks, furs and pioneers shaped Wellsville and southern Cache Valley By
Kimberly Barraclough
Wellsville is the first settlement in Cache Valley. It is set deep in the mouth of Sardine Canyon, and people rush by on Highway 89/91 only to catch a small glimpse of the town. Surrounded by mountains, one may wonder what life was like here before the early settlers. According to the book Windows of Wellsville, by Wilma Hall and Ruth H. Maughn, "There are six generations that have their roots here." Let's take a look into the early beginnings of this settlement. History begins with the earliest Indians who lived in this region thousands of years ago. Mountain men entered two centuries ago from the northwest, northeast and south. Utah's streams were rich in beaver and nothing could compare with beaver fur. According to Windows, Cache Valley received its name from the fur trappers. It was necessary for trappers to "cache" their furs, which means to store the furs for long periods. "That's how Cache Valley received its name," Hall said. Wellsville was formerly known as "Maughn's Fort." This name goes back to Peter Maughn, who was called by Brigham Young to lead the pioneers into the valley. So on Sept. 15, 1856, "Maughn's Fort" was the first permanent settlement in Cache Valley. Coming into the valley in the fall, settlers moved quickly to make a homestead. Simple one- room log cabins, with dirt floors were built to protect them from the bitter cold. Cabins were arranged in fort style about ten feet apart. According to Windows, "Maughn's Fort" ended in November 1859, when Apostles Orson Hyde and E.T. Benson renamed the settlement "Wellsville." Settlers brought many talents and skills with them to help the city grow. Joe Miller made bricks. He organized a company to manufacture pressed brick in connection with his own brickyard. Miller gathered several samples of dirt and sent them to the Chishlom, Boyd & White Company of Chicago. According to the Chicago company, no finer brick was manufactured in the United States. The company was able to make about 20,000 to 50,00 bricks a day. The Logan Courthouse was built from these bricks. Wellsville's Founders' Day celebration originated on July 8, 1931. Mayor W.O. Christensen called a meeting for the purpose of designating a holiday for Wellsville city. This holiday would commerate the settlement of Cache Valley. Founders' day was to be held on Sept. 9 to honor the original pioneers who settled into the valley a monument was erected. Wellsville's Tabernacle stands majestically in the town square as a monument of the industry and integrity of her people. This is the last building erected by pioneers. For over 70 years the tabernacle was the primary site of Wellsville's spiritual gatherings. Wellsville's tabernacle commerates the rich legacy of the past, present and future.
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