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Show Pg. 54 were compelled to make a move, and consequently ten teams, each having from one to two yokes of oxen, made an attempt to cross the mountains in search of flour. The teams were hitched to carts and followed Hardscrabble Canyon down to the Heber C. Kimball flour mills. They were obliged to cross over ten feet of snow, but obtained some flour and returned home much to the joy of the people. So this grist mill, the first to be built in Weber Valley, was greatly appreciated and proved a blessing to the people, as it gave them the opportunity of milling what little grain they raised and encouraged them to plant more grain. This mill was patronized by the people of Coalville and all this upper country. They would come and camp overnight. As many as thirty teams have been there at one time. The mill remained in operation until 1890, but some years before that time the manufacture of flour was discontinued. The old mill was torn down in 1913. Mr. Albert D. Dickson was appointed bishop of Richville Ward in July, 1877 and held the position for more than 37 years. Pg. 55 Amusements in Richville. Hunting and fishing were the main sports. Game was plentiful in these days. It was easy enough to get enough fish for breakfast before the sun was up; or to shoot enough chickens for dinner. There were also wild animals – bears, deer, mountain lions, lynx, bob-cats, etc. Dancing was the social amusement. They would begin to dance at sunset and continue until midnight, when supper would be served, and dancing continued until sunrise. Candles were used for light. The people were frightened of the first kerosene lamps. Checker playing was very popular in the wintertime. The Shoshone and Ute Indians made Richville their home during the summertime. In the year 1870 the taxes on 50 acres of land was $2.50. The first schoolhouse in Richville was erected by Billa Dickson in 1863. The first teachers boarded around at the different homes. The parents paid tuition for their children and furnished their textbooks. The first brick school house was erected by the people in 1872. The shingles for this building were hauled from the canyon on hand sleighs. The reason for this being that 4 feet of snow fell in the early fall and the people were unable to get into the canyon with bobsleighs. This school house furnished shelter for the school and church until 1913, when a modern building was erected. The first mowing machine was brought into the town in 1870, by Jonathan Hemmingway. Before this all the grain was cradled by hand. Thos. Rich bought the first threshing machine They called this “the Old Chaf Piler.” Later on other machines were brought in. One of these being a horse power machine purchased by Jos. L. Waldren, F. W. Clark, G. W. Waldron, Thos. Spackman and W. H. Rich, in 1897. The same company bought a self-feed, run by a tractor, in 1919. Mrs. Annie S. Dickson bought the first piano in Richville in 1896. Thos. Murphy was the first missionary. He left in 1875. In 1876 David Eaton, David Henderson and John Seamon went on missions. John Seamon presided over the first Sunday School. He was succeeded by Isaac Morris. Charly W. Taggart was first President of the Y. M. I. A. |