By Jeralyn Smith 12th grade
Published in Heritage and Horizon in San Juan
Heritage Arts Festival writing contest 1975
Silas Smith was called by Brigham Young
To lead eighty families to San Juan.
They left new homes just barely built,
To cross desert, canyons, and sage.
The task was hard and troublesome,
To those who knew Cedar as home.
The wagons were fixed and sturdy made
to come to San Juan.
This unknown road was not a trail,
But to their home it could not fail.
Jens Nielson had courage to build a road
Where none but mountain sheep would go.
They caught the goal and used some blasts
To build a road where brave could pass.
The "Hole" was narrow rough and steep
But pioneers found land to keep.
It wasn't bush but barred and dry in San Juan
The families settled by and by.
No one complained, lost hope, or died.
The pioneers built many things:
A fort, a meeting house, a swing.
Again log cabins had been built
New blankets sewn made ready to quilt.
Their mission hard, was there to do
Befriend the Lamanites it's true.
They fed and huumored any Ute,
Although his manners weren't to suit.
Roving bands were hard to like
When they're fierce and come by night.
The natives soon found that
They could trust the Mormons in San Juan.
Milk cows and horses stolen were
So Haskell came to calm the stir.
He told them that they might die,
Some did and quilt their raids they'd try.
White criminals were also close
Which seemed to be a double dose.
But people lived amongst this fear in San Juan.
Small "cribs" were built to irrigate
With these, the folks could cultivate.
Joe Barton started running freight.
Platte Lyman, a store to accommodate.
But floods destroyed some parts of town.
While mail began some fears to drown.
Some families moved, but most stayed in San Juan.
As Fredric Jones built Monticello
Carlisle cowboys felt the blow.
They planned for bad but never would
Unnerve or kill this neighborhood.
Albert R. Lyman and his wife
Began Banding to start a new life.
But due to inspiration's help
They're safe in San Juan.
These pioneers showed lots of faith,
Determination, and a smiling face.
They conquered nature. Suffered through,
So we might live beneath the Blues.
Our Fathers had great courage, too.
They fought and died for us it's true.
They had "stick-to-it-ness"
Do you?
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