To Settle San Juan

By Afton Hurst Grover

In poetry let's go back through the pages of time to 1879,
When a struggling group of pioneers came to these untamed lands.
To San Juan County, Utah, where there was room to grow.
One-fourth of the "Four Corners",  Home of Paiute and Navajo.

As the call came from John Taylor, third President of the Church,
They knew it was important, they couldn't leave him in the lurch.
They loaded provisions on their wagons, traveled eastward with their kin.
Doing their part to settle the west, a task requiring stalwart men.

With courageous women by their side, braving the unknown place,
Where they met so many hardships but the journey they had to face.
They'd build new homes, till the soil and plant the seeds to grow,
'Be missionaries to the Indians; but their friendship first must show.

"God works in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform"
 He alone knows the time the place, the mountains, and the storm
They worked hard on the roads,

and trudged through desert sand
They were obedient to the call,

each effort building up a man.

Twenty-six men; two with wives
and kids started on the southern route
Over red-rock hills, sandy deserts,
water shortages-- burdens without doubt.
Except at the Colorado and Lee's Ferry
where the pioneers crossed first.
From there to Montezuma Creek,
the traveling became much worse.

They reached their destination, scouted the country far and wide
Built cabins for the families, and welcomed the birth of the first child.
They soon found the San Juan River
washed away all the dams they made.
The winds blew the whirling dust
 and in summer there was no shade.

They returned to Parowan and Cedar City
over the Spanish Trail
From Fort Montezuma north they trekked,
they knew they could not fail.
Some of the Scouts returned to families,
then loaded up wagons and supplies
Others thought the "mission" in the rough, wild land
held too much of a surprise.

April to September, five months to make the long 'round trip.
But in five more weeks, the Scouts were ready,
never letting their spirits slip.
To return by a direct and central route
they were ready with other believing men
Through a 'Hole-in-the-Rock a long steep craig, back to San Juan again.