Introduction
I
.n the history of the State of Utah, Juab County has often been seen as a rather quiet rural area, yet it also has exerted an enormous influence and had a great impact on much of the development of Utah. The county, in north-central Utah, includes the major northsouth route through the state, present-day Interstate 15 and its earlier forerunners. Its land area, encompassing some 3,392 square miles, includes fertile valleys, lakes and streams, mineral-bearing mountains and the majestic Mount Nebo, and vast desert stretches that long have tested the survival skills of all peoples who have traveled in them. Juab, recognized as a Ute Indian word meaning a flat or level plain, witnessed all of the major forces evident in the general history of Utah—prehistoric peoples and Native Americans; Spanish exploration; trappers, traders, and adventurous travelers; M o r m o n settlers; railroad builders; gold and silver miners; ranchers and farmers; community builders; military interests; recreational activities; business and industrial development; and technological advancements. Juab County, as does each of Utah's other twenty-eight counties,
