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Show When they were first married, Harley P. Randall and his wife, Amy Fernelius Randall, stayed at the ranch as chaperones. When the cheese factory and dairy closed down, the ranch was acquired by the Randall family and the Randall Brothers Land and Livestock Company was organized. This organization functioned until 1904 when the property was sold or returned to some of the former owners." MINING FLOURISHED ON DURST MOUNTAIN When low grade ore was discovered in Cottonwood Canyon, that area became a beehive of activities for a number of years. Four mines, Corbonit Hill, Bryan, Mining Claim, Carbonit Gem, and Pembroke and Morgan Chief, were located on the north slopes of Durst Mountain. There was much evidence that the area had been mined years before. A bunk house, large enough to accomodate 50 men, was built by Carbonit Gem. There was also a blacksmith shop and mail was delivered to the mining district twice a week by Frank Wardley, The Carbonit Hill was considered the most productive of the mines. Owned by Judge Tillman D. Johnson of Ogden and a Mr. Finlinson, it is claimed that this particular mine produced at least $300,000 worth of silver, lead and zinc. Other minerals were produced by Carbonit Hill and Carbonit Gem. Ore was transported by team and heavy wagon to the Peterson Railroad Station where it was shipped to smelters in Salt Lake County. Alonzo Van Patton owned and operated the Carbonit Gem mine. In about 1905 two sons were caught in a snow slide at the mine and lost their lives. Following this tragedy Mr. Van Patton closed his mine down, according to M. Russell Croft, whose father was also involved in mining in the Canyon. The Van Patton family lived in Ogden where a daughter taught school for the Ogden City School District. The mother's name was Mary. Family homes were at 222 25th Street and 2353 Monroe. Alonzo Van Patton died in Ogden on 30 March, 1934, at the age of 86. The mine was sold to S.D. Perry of Morgan, owner of a publishing company which also produced the local newspaper. By 1905 or 1906 most of the mines had closed down. There is still a little prospecting going on, but nobody seems to have 'struck it rich' so far. 18 |
