3 and weeds. Coyotes, wolves and bears were plentiful. They used to kill stock and chase the stock right to the door. They became such a nuisance that the settlers used poison to kill them. In doing so, they disposed of a great many. In the years 1854 and 1855, John Marriott came and settled in the western part of Marriott, for whom the settlement was named. He dug the first irrigation ditch from Ogden River to Marriott by hand and unassisted. Later, the water was filled on in the State Engineer's Office and is now known as Marriott Irrigation Company. The first organization year of the ward is not known. The ward was known as a Branch before a Ward. A man by the name of Edward Hubbard was a presiding teacher for a short time. John Marriott was presiding Elder over the branch until October, 1863. Then Simion Halverson, with Thomas Joyce, and William Gill as counselors. In 1868 and 1869, the first school house was built on the corner where LaValle Butt now lives. It was also used for church and recreation. Our fast meetings then were held on Thursday, and Thomas Joyce always led the singing. In 1870, Caleb Parry, Sr. was first Elder called on a mission. He and William Butler both died of Smallpox while on missions to England. In the fall of 1853, orders were received from Brigham Young to build a fort for the protection of the women and children while the men were out to work in order to protect them from the Indians who were becoming very hostile. It was called Binghams Fort. In this fort they formed a branch with Erastus Bingham as President. They had a school house which also was used for meetings. Some lived there for 4 or 5 years. At that time, the fort contained 755 inhabitants. On December 3, 1354, President Wilford Woodruff visited the fort and preached a sermon. In 1856, President Brigham Young visited the fort 373