COLONIZING ALONG THE ESCALANTE AND PARIA RIVERS
145
The double log cabin built by Ebenezer Bryce in Old Clifton. The cabin has been moved to Tropic. (Utah State Historical Society) should have been called "Gunshot," because it was too small for a cannon. In addition to the Littlefield, Bliss, and Bryce families, other early arrivals included former M o r m o n Battalion m e m b e r James L. T h o m p s o n and his sons John Orson, James Brigham, William Samuel, and Joseph; Jonathan Packer and his son Nephi; additional members of the Littlefield family (Waldo and his sons Dave, Edward, and Sam); Joseph Spencer; William J. Henderson, Sr.; George and John Ingram; John H. Dickson; Ed Clayton; Morrison Mecham; and Lacey Laramie, as well as wives and other family members of many of the above.18 Although the new townsite proved more promising than the first site, the pioneers faced obstacles over and above those normally associated with establishing settlements in virgin territory. After the drought conditions they had previously known, the water they were able to bring from the Paria River was plentiful, but soil in the upper
