Weber Canyon Sheep History by BCE

Weber canyon sheep history

By Beatrice Cannon Evans

When Taylorsville, the home of the Bennions, became over grazed other places had to be provided.  Rush Valley to the west had been used largely at first.  But when Zina’s older brothers were still young boys they were sent into the lush Uintah mountains to the east to graze sheep in the higher altitudes in the summer.

They were on the upper Weber and probably on the Chalk Creek where the slightly lower altitude was good for the lambing season.

Their mother, Grandma Mary Turpin Bennion, always spoke of the placed just as “out east.”  Sadly, never in her life did she get to visit there.  In her late years, she could not risk the high altitude.

The boys told of bears coming into their camps in their absence, tossing things about and even licking out jars of molasses.

More hazardous than this were the winters spent on the western dessert with lighter snowfall and with almost constant winds that blew off the snow and made meager grazing still possible.  It is told that once when Zina’s half brother, Israel, was in charge of a herd of sheep out there he was caught in a blinding snowstorm away from his camp.  His only recourse was to snuggle down between the”woolies” for the night to keep from freezing to death.  Boys at that time early became men.

When our father, John M. Cannon first went into the sheep business with Zina’s Brothers he used as first payment the 1,000 dollars mother inherited from her father’s estate.  Regardless of what he added, he always referred to this venture as mother’s (Zina’s) property.  The Bennion Brothers involved were mother’s full brothers, Heber, Alfred, and Edwin – gay and charming “Uncle Teddy”.

What later became John M. Cannon’s ranch was earlier owned in spots by “homesteaders.” Where the “separating corral”(used for separating sheep) still stands, about two miles below the Larabee Bridge is homestead tract of land was once owned by a man named Mecham.  It was necessary to cross his property in driving sheep down the canyon.  At that time sheep and cattle were driven in herds along the public highways, there being no trucks or other mechanized vehicles to transport them as now.

 Mr. Mecham was very angry about the Bennion’s sheep crossing his property.  Uncle Alfred was chosen, partly because he was of such a mild and even-temper, to go and make peace. 

When he approached, the old man drew a gun on Uncle Alfred.  In self defense Alfred, who was a powerful man, wrenched the gun from the old man’s grasp, accidentally breaking his arm.

 Uncle Alfred at once notified the family, who lived down the canyon, of the accident so they could send help to the injured man.

Suit was brought against Uncle Alfred in Coalville, the county seat.  Frank Evans was at that time a young lawyer and County Attorney.  He later became known nationally as having planned and written what is commonly referred to as  “The Bible of the American Farm Corporative  Law.”

He and his lovely wife Priscilla were close friends of ours in their later years.  Frank Evans told me that John M. Cannon came to him at Colville to try to settle the suit.  Frank Evans claimed that this contact with John M. Cannon had influenced him throughout his life in his law practice.

He said John M. Cannon told him that this man, Alfred Bennion, was in no sense in a criminal.  He was no danger to society and there could be nothing gained by putting him behind bars.  The conclusion was that Uncle Alfred was given a fine which John M. Cannon paid.  Frank Evans believed he paid it out of his own pocket.  Mr. Evans said he wanted to write this story for me but died before he got around to doing it.

Early family ”camp outs” on the Weber.

Our family had had brief summer stays in the “old arm chair” now called “Mountair” and at Wasatch Resort at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon.  But the first camping on the Weber which I remember was on the lovely low land among the trees below where the Old Pioneer Saw Mill had stood below the mill pond.  Some of the boards marking the waters fall still remain though the spot immediately below differs due to the uncontrolled river having somewhat  changed its course.

Apostle John W. Taylor with some of his family were there; also president Frank Y. Taylor and Uncle Edwin Bennion and their families.  I think it was Milton who was our baby at the time.  I recall that the men of the party went horseback on a hunt in the high Uintahs..  I particularly recall that John W. Taylor had a fall and of hearing him say on his return that he had broken some ribs.  When asked what he would do about it he drolly-or dryly  said, “just eat plenty to keep the ribs in place.“  The party had returned with no trophies though wild mountain sheep were said two be plentiful up there at the time.

Uncle Teddy’s daughter, LaVon, and I got possession of President Frank Y. Taylor's son,

Lester’s overalls, put them on and had what we thought a gay time sliding down the steep, dusty hill side from the bench land above on our seats.  This was a daring thing to do as no girl wore pants at that time.  Women who rode astride wore long, full divided skirts.

Mother herself did not care for riding astride though as a girl she loved horseback riding with her gay, charming, older brother Teddy.  She had no time or strength for horseback riding during my memory, though she was very capable in harnessing and driving a carriage horse and did so a great deal.

I recall once father persuaded her near the end of a journey to the Weber to get on a saddle horse.  I can still picture her sitting on an astride saddle with one knee crooked around the saddle horn and only the opposite stirrup in use.  Her long, brown braid, usually worn around her head, worked loose and hung down her back.

When I was about 14 we camped one summer in a lovely flat spot between evergreen trees near the river west of the Mecham house and corrals.  Uncle George M. Cannon’s wife, Aunt Addie, was a great housekeeper and disliked camping, so her oldest daughter, Adele, who loved it took charge of the younger children and was invited by father to join us.  We had tents for sleeping and an old fashioned coal and wood range set out in the open for cooking.  I recall the picture of rain splattering on the hot stove top while mother was trying to bake bread.  We did not make quick trips to a store with an automobile as now, but depended on supplies for the Summer stay brought up with a team and wagon.

We had a lot of fun.  Adele was a great “socializer” and kept things lively with such things as “candy pulls” and father would round up horses from the sheep camps and we’d  enjoy rides together, principally up Red Creek, some times over to the “Blue Lakes”,  where water lilies grew on the Chalk Creek side.

Another summer we stayed at the Larabee house, since torn down, but it was where the headquarters of the Moench sheep company is now.  Again some of Uncle George M. Cannon’s family were with us, Adele being in charge.  Doubtless on these trips she acquired love for the ranch which influenced her in the purchase of it with her husband, David P. Howells, after they had made their fortunes in the moving picture film exporting business in Australia and in Europe; and they had returned at an opportune time for the purchase.

The first Cannon Weber Home:

The summer cabin built by John M. Cannon was on his Weber Cannon Ranch in 1914.  It was on the same site since occupied by the Lorin Mornch house.

John M. Cannon learned carpentering and house building as a young man before he studied law and he supervised and did actual work on the house.  Sixty foot timbers were cut from the south side of the cannon by local loggers.  The house was approximately 69 by 40 feet.  Itr had the first modern bath tub in the region.

The building was a family project.  John C. who was 16 years old, put in the plumbing.  Milton, 13 drove a team and hauled stone and sand.  Lenore, Bea and others shingled.  Mary had a hand in carpentering, etc.

John M Cannon died in June 1917, at less than 52 years old.  He was most hospitable and the house was filled with gay company.

 Doubtless on these trips she, Adelle, acquired a love for the ranch which influenced her in the purchase of it with her husband, David P. Howells after they had made their fortunes in the moving picture film exporting business in Australia and in Europe, and they had returned at an opportune time for the purchase.