circumstances. Building material of the kind that would meet specifications today was not, of course, available at that time. Consequently, the only thing that could be done was to make the best use of resources at hand. Native timber was available along the river and in canyons and on slopes of the nearby mountains. Judging from reports and observations, a greater number of homes were erected with mountain timber than those built with less desirable cottonwood and boxelder logs obtained with less expenditure of time and labor from timber along the river. Those among the Pioneers who possessed greater acrchitectural or building skill, ability rendered valuable service during the process of home construction. Many cabins standing today erected with patience and toil during that early time, display precision and skilled craftsmanship equal to that of our present day. Log cabins, adobe houses, and underground excavations commonly known as dugouts constituted the types of homes of our early Pioneers. Of these types it appears log cabins were more desirable for homes than either of the other two. Cabins built with mountain red and white pine are solid and in a good state of preservation after weathering the test of time for over a hundred years, while nothing remains of adobe houses at the end of that period to identify spots on which they stood. Early constructed cabins adhered closely to an established design which consisted of a large room with a door on one side opposite a large window and door on the other, and a large fireplace on one end. In the center near the fireplace, rough benches and a crudely constructed table around which the family gathered at mealtime, adorned the room. In the end opposite the fireplace a cover spread over native rye or wheat grass, carefully packed in a few foot space between the wall and a log or plank extending crosswise of the room, served as a bed in which the family rested at night. During warm nights of summer, little or no covers were needed, but when winter with howling snow blizzards and long, severe nights overtook them, an extra cover or so and a heavy length of log in the fireplace kept them warm. The above description of Pioneer homes in which hopes and aspirations of noble men and women through toil and sacrifice ascended to lofty heights, was inspired through close observation of old buildings still in existence, and an understanding of trials and adverse conditions that plagued a devoted, humble people in laboring for survival during trying day. Incidently, the type of cabin described above stands today on property belonging to this writer. However, too few of these cherished relics of by-gone days have been preserved, but those still in existence reflect the humble lives of a devoted people and mark the passing of one of the great epochs of time. (See Fig. 4-1) My father, William Wheeler Sr., purchased the building from John Taylor who, with his brother, William, were among the early settlers of Slaterville. The old cabin built by Mr. Taylor in 1856 with native red and white pine logs, stood on his farm in the south part of our settlement near Weber River, property presently owned by E. Arnold Slater. Only a few years elapsed after erecting the cabin until John and William left Slaterville to engage with others in colonizing Plain City. -50- John Slater's Cabin Cabin erected by William Wade, grandfather of Fred Allred's. First doved tailed cabin built. Once stood where Leonard Meyerhoffer homes stands. William Wheeler Sr. Cabin (Fig. 4-1) -51-