Judson Lyman Stoddard done This has been read 11 Judson L. Stoddard was a pioneer of the year 1848, arriving here in Brigham Young's company on Sept. 20, 1848. He was a typical sample of the sturdy men who helped build this common wealth by the efforts of brain and brow. His life was more than ordinarily active. He was born in the township of Upper Canada, April 13, 1823, being the son of Lyrnan Stoddard and Ruth Wright. when he was thirteen years old, he with his parents, joined the Church leaving their home together with the saints in Missouri. In Missouri they endured hardships and with the rest were compelled to leave their home and go to Nauvoo. From Nauvoo he was called to fill a mission in New York state, he labored with Elder John S. Gleason. In the fall of 1845 both elders returned home together. Later in the fall of 1845, Oct. 29, Judson met and married Rhoda Chase, the second daughter of Isaac and Phoebe Ogden Chase, In the spring of 1846 he with his wife left Nauvoo and started for Salt Lake Valley, spending the following winter in Winter quarters (now the town of Florence Neb. Missouri.) The next spring found them in Council Bluffs and in the spring of 1848 they started on their journey across the plains. They reached Salt Lake Valley in the following September. The first winter was spent in the Fort (now pioneer square) where all the Saints lived as one family. In the spring of 1849 the family moved out of the Fort and took up their own homes. Brother Stoddard going to what was known as North Canyon just north of Salt Lake City. Later they moved farther north to what is now Centerville, there being only about three families there at the time. Here he took a second wife, Sylvia, an older sister to Rhoda. At this time Judson L. Stoddard with A. O. Smoot and Porter Rockwell had charge of the mail service known then as the Pony Express. These three men brought the news of the arrival of Johnson's Army. When they arrived to tell the shocking news they found the people all in Cottonwood Canyon celebrating the 24 th of July. Judson Stoddart carried the news to Pres. Young before returning to his home. In later years Judson Stoddard and George. O. Chase ran a saw mill in Farmington Canyon. It operated successfully for several years sawing logs and lumber used in building many of the first homes in the surrounding section. Judson Stoddard initiated the first store in Farmington. It was located where the Davis County Court House now stands. He later passed the bar and had a successful law practice for many hears. Very early, perhaps 1860, Mr. Stoddard purchased the Ben Symon property in Weber Valley, which consisted of a spring and a large tract of land. He was a very progressive and well-to- do man. He brought large numbers of cattle and horses into the valley. At one time there was a settlement of ten or twelve families located on this property. The place was named in honor of Mr. Stodaard. Mr. Stodaard was the father of twenty children and was a faithful Latter-Day Saint. He spent his last years in him home in farmington in which he had recently moved. Judson. L. Stoddard saw the last of a long life of sincere service when he died in his Farmington home Jan. 9, 1870. by Mrs. Laura Eddington.