Utah Centennial County History Series - Morgan County 1999

Settlers first selected a town site near East Canyon Creek, but according to folklore were advised by Brigham Young to locate on higher lands near the foothills. Following Young's advice, they settled at the mouth of Taggart Hollow (660 West 1550 South), building about half a dozen log houses there in 1861. Some of the early settlers in Richville came from Centerville, Davis County. Others came from Canada, England, Denmark, Sweden and the New England states.

A ditch tapping water from East Canyon Creek was constructed in 1861 and extended in 1862. Settlers used a single hand plow and ox team plus a pick and shovel to dig this first irrigation ditch. To make sure the ditch was level, they used a two-by-four and a saucer of water. Water from the ditch was utilized for irrigation, livestock and domestic use. Furthermore, Richville became the home of the first gristmill in Morgan County, located on the ditch at approximately 1425 South Morgan Valley Drive. As a result, the ditch became known as the Mill Race but was later incorporated as the West Richville Irrigation and Canal Company. George Washington Taggart of Salt Lake City and Morgan and Henry Hinman (brothers) from Farmington, Davis County, commenced building the gristmill in 1863; however, owing to the difficulties of obtaining necessary materials, the mill was not completed until 1866. Thomas Grover indicated that Brigham Young came to the valley before the mill was in operation and after viewing it said, "Brother Taggart, it won't run.

The draft is in dead water.'' This proved to be true, and the wheel had to be enlarged and sunk deeper before it would operate.

Taggart Hollow leads into the western hills and mountains. One of the hills is called Fan Died Ridge, or the ridge where Fan died. As the story goes, one of the Richville residents had ridden his horse, Fan, out on the Richville Range. He tied his horse to a post while he walked around the area on foot. Several hours later he absentmindedly walked home to Richville without his horse. Many days after, he began wondering what had happened to his horse. He walked out on the range and found his horse dead, still tied to the post where he had left her. Thus, the hill was named Fan Died Ridge.

Bear Hollow, Pole Hollow, Stone Quarry Ridge, Rocky, Left Hand