From Subsistence to Golden Age: Cache Valley Agriculture, 1859-1900 BY LEONARD J. ARRINGTON AND LINDA WILCOX
EARLY YEARS OF CACHE V A L L E Y SETTLEMENT were a Struggle to survive. A particular farmer in Lewiston harvested a meager four bushels of wheat to the acre his first year, insufficient to feed his family. H e spent the winter cutting lumber in the heavy snow in Richmond C a n y o n to earn supplies to provide for his family. T h e following years were not much better; he grew six bushels of wheat to the acre a n d his rye crop failed. In desperation he begged wealthy m e n in R i c h m o n d to buy his property. T h e y refused, explaining that the homestead was worthless. H e thought seriously of committing suicide. As he knelt to beg God to care for his family when he was gone, he felt a change of heart. Asking God to forgive his cowardice, he sensed hope and promise in the future. H e was impressed to trade a neighbor thirty bushels of rye for the same amount of wheat. Sowing the wheat on the rye stubble, then harrowing it into the soU, he reaped thirty bushels of wheat to an acre. His fortunes had changed. T h e sandy sod transformed miraculously into a XHE
Dr. Arrington, Lemuel Redd Professor of Western History Emeritus, Brigham Young University, is a member of the Board of State History. Ms. Wilcox is administrative assistant to Salt Lake County Commissioner Mike Stewart. This paper was prepared under a grant from the Ronald V. Jensen Historical Farm, Utah State University, Logan. The authors are particularly grateful to Jeff Simmonds and Ann Buttars of Special Collections, USU Library, and to Heidi Swinton, Salt Lake City historical consultant.
