Payson First 100 Years--Part 4--John Thomas Hardy--Second Mayor

PART 4–John Thomas Hardy–Second Mayor
Payson Historical Society


Nail Factory Started — Water Masters Appointed

    “In 1859 John Thomas Hardy was elected Mayor and he held this position until 1862. In 1859 David Sabin, William A. Beebe, Ben.j.amin F. and Andrew J. Stewart, and others, started a nail factory. Thk was the first nail factory in the Territory. Their "fixed capital" came from a thousand wagons with four chains and ox yokes for each wagon which tike Stewarts had bought from Camp Floyd. The factony was started to use up the iron. In the course of time this factory was abandoned as they could not compete in price with the eastern factories.
    A carding and spinning factory was also in operation at this time, but finally had to go out of business for the same reason.
    On September 19, 1859, VVranklin Wheeler Young was sent by President Brigham Young to preside over Payson as Bishop thus releasing Bishop Hancock. The first thing the new bishop did was to put a fence through the tithing yard to protect the hay.
    Under his leadership many trades or enterprises were stimulated. The choir was re-organized and D. B. Lamoreaux was chosen as leader. During the winter of 1859-60 there were three schools taught, under the tutorship of W. G. McMullin, H. G. Boyle and James A. Wright.
    A company consisting of Wm. C. McClellan, George Curtis, John F. Bellows, Orrawell Simons and George W. Hancock was organized to build a theare and dance hall. It was called the "Union Hall" and was used for all kinds of public amusements and recreation. This was the first public house of any size built here. A dramatic association was organized with W. C. McClellan, R. E. Collett, J. D. L. Pearce, Charles Brewerton, Lucretia J. Wightman, and Mary Jane Pace as leaders. Other members were Thomas E. Daniels, Mosiah Hancock, Mrs. Pearce, Mrs. Winslow and Mrs. Rawson.
    Arrangements were made the spring of 1860 to fence in the hay and farming lands. For the first time in the history of the place, the city council appointed water masters over all the ditches. A reading club was organized Dec. 10, 1860, with the following officers elected: John B. Fairbanks, president, B. F. Stewart and W. G. McMullin as councelors, John R. Young, secretary and J. H. Moore, treasurer.
    In 1861, the people with teams, plows, spades, shovels, wagon , etc., journeyed to the mouth of Peteetneet Canyon and dug a waste water c :ch west to a natural reservoir. This ditch prevented the high waters in the sprin from doing damage to the town and to hold the water for later use. This brougl t under cultivation land known as the "Poor Man's Field. Another story was built on the tithing house.
    On Oct. 18, 1861 Bishop Franklin W. Young was called to settle in the "Cotton Country" so his brother, Joseph W. Young was appointed bishop. Joseph was a very able leader. Public meetings of all kinds received a fresh impetus, the tithing house was finished, reading club re-organized, schools encouraged. He was only here a short time, being called Feb. 1862 to take charge of the emigratior business. John B. Fairbanks was then sustained as bishop with Orrawell Simon and Benjamin F. Stewart as counselors.
    There being prospects for Indian troubles, a military school was organized and taught by General W. B. Pace of Provo.”*

*Quoted from “The Payson Story” page 5, published by the Payson Centennial Committee, October 1950