April Utah Trip

While on our monthly business trip to Utah, we always try to see or try something new.

This trip we took a drive to the other side of Utah Lake.

Never before had we enjoyed this other view of the mountains we love so much.

We took a little walk down to the marsh at Saratoga Springs, a beautiful little planned development which gave me pause as to which side of the lake I should be living on.

It was so peaceful and we loved listening to the water birds calling.

We also drove to Cedar Fort. The valley that holds Eagle Mountain was pretty impressive. If the economy improves, it will be quite the community.

Glen had several appointments in the Murray, Holliday, and Fort Union areas of Salt Lake. As I drove around with him, I wondered where the mill that my ancestor Warren Foote built might have been located. Glen said, "I know where an old mill is," and took me to see this one.

It was very impressive and located where Wasatch Boulevard turns into Cottonwood Canyon Road. I couldn't help wondering if part of it could have been Warren's mill built in the mid 1850's.

In researching Warren's journal since being home I now know the following:

After arriving in the Salt Lake Valley in 1850, Warren Foote first worked in the mill of Robert Gardner, father of Archibald (who eventually built the mill now part of Gardner Village and namesake of the restaurant, Archibald's). Robert had heard that Warren was a miller who had run a mill in Iowa across the Missouri River from Winter Quarters. Warren had earned the means to come west by milling for the saints as well as those bound for California during the gold rush.

Warren did build his own mill in the area (lived in and then near the fort called Fort Union which area is now covered by a shopping development) but it was not too successful due to famine and lack of things to mill in summer and a frozen millrace in winter. He eventually sold the mill to Archibald Gardner for materials to build a new and bigger mill and went to work for Archibald in the new mill.

His nephew, Darius Clement, worked with his uncle sometimes in the mill and often on their farm which abutted Nathan Tanner's. Darius and his sister lived with Warren and Artemisia Foote after coming across the plains with George Albert Smith who had married their older sister, Nancy. Nancy as well as their mother Betsy Foote Clement had died at Winter Quarters. Betsy was Warren's older sister, and you, my children, are related directly to both. Darius is Glen's great, great grandfather and Warren is my great, great grandfather.

Neither Warren or Darius remained in the Salt Lake Valley. They were both part of the Mormon settling of the west. Darius helped settle Fairview, Sanpete County, Utah. Warren was part of the failed Muddy Mission and eventually helped settle Glendale, Kane County, Utah. Warren and Darius continued their close relationship and worked together via letters to collect names and do the temple work for their ancestors, Warren in the St. George Temple and Darius in the Manti Temple.

Upon reading the journal again, it was easy for me to picture "between the Cottonwoods" (Big and Little Cottonwood Creeks) and the area in which Warren had first settled. The mill in the picture was built to provide paper for the Deseret News. Read more about it here.

I had hoped for more "spring" in Utah. Here is a picture of the trees in front of the townhouse. Usually at BYU graduation time they are in full bloom. They had yet to pop by the time we left the day before graduation.

We also ventured out to Thanksgiving Point for the Tulip Festival on the 15th.

There were lots of daffodils and not so many tulips.

There were some red tulips out.

They were found on the hill where there was much sunlight.

We did love all the trees that were in bloom.

There was "popcorn popping" on many trees, just not the ones in front of the townhouse.

Most lovely was this row of trees which line Seven Peaks Boulevard.

They especially beautiful in the late afternoon sunlight.

We took a different route home this time. It was National Parks Week and all entrance fees were waived, so we traveled from the Interstate 15 to Highway 89 via Zions Park instead of the 20.

It was a beautiful drive with the new green on the trees. The Virgin River was roaring with water and several hikers had just been rescued in The Narrows the day before.

I love this park and have ever since my first visit with my family back in the 60's on our way to Idaho.

The clouds were racing.

They were so beautiful against a darker blue sky.

We also pulled into Clear Creek Ranch to explore a bit and reminisce about the long weekend that was July 4th in 2003.

The ponds were full and the streams flowing. Now that we were at a higher elevation, the trees were still without leaves. There is a new swimming platform with a slide in the pond. There is also a great big new deck coming off the barn loft and other new improvements. It made us want to have another family reunion.

I tried to get "artsy" with my camera.

These blooms were on located on the side of the lodge.

Glen was very busy with clients this trip. I was very busy working on these babies. You can see a picture of the completed "critters" on my last post.