Ballenger, in September, 1878, was renamed Brigham City, in honor of
President Brigham Young. Its people were found by Erastus Snow in
September, 1878, with a remarkable organization, operating in part under
the United Order system. There was a fort 200 feet square, with rocky
walls seven feet high. Inside were 36 dwelling houses, each 15x13 feet.
On the north side was the dining hall, 80x20 feet, with two rows of
tables, to seat more than 150 persons. Adjoining was a kitchen, 25x20
feet, with an annexed bakehouse. Twelve other dwelling houses were
mentioned, as well as a cellar and storehouse. Water was secured within
the enclosure from two good wells. South of the fort were corrals and
stockyards. The main industry was the farming of 274 acres, more than
one-half of it in wheat. A pottery was in charge of Brother Behrman,
reported to have been confident that he could surpass any of the
potteries in Utah for good ware. Milk was secured from 142 cows. One
family was assigned to the sawmill in the mountains. J. A. Woods taught
the first school. Jesse O. Ballenger, the first leader, was succeeded in
1878 by George Lake, who reported that, "while the people were living
together in the United Order they generally ate together at the same
table. The Saints, as a rule, were very earnest in their endeavors to
carry out the principles of the Order, but some became dissatisfied and
moved away." Discouragement became general, and in 1881 all were released
from the mission. The settlement practically was broken up, the people
scattering, though without dissension.
Some went to Forest Dale, and later to the Gila River, and some left
Arizona altogether. There was a surplus from the experiment of about
$8000, which went to the Church, after the people had drawn out their
original capital, each taking the same number of animals and the same
amount of property contributed originally. In 1882 only a couple of
families were left and an added surplus of $2200 was used by the Church
in settling the Gila country. In 1890 only the family of Sidney Wilson
remained on the old site of Brigham City. The Brigham City water-power
grist mill built in 1878, a present from the Church, was given to the
people of Woodruff, but was not used.
The abandonment of Brigham City should not be blamed to the weakness of a
communistic system. There had been frequent failures of crops and there
had come a determination to find a locality where nature would smile
more often upon the barley, so scouts were sent to the San Juan country
in Utah, the Salt River country and to the Gila. George Lake, Andrew
Anderson and George W. Skinner constituted the Gila party. Near
Smithville they bought land, a transaction elsewhere referred to.
Anderson and Skinner, in December, 1880, returned to Brigham City. At
that point a business meeting was called at once and the authorities of
the United Order approved the purchases made.
January 1, 1878, was announced a census of the settlement of the Little
Colorado country. Sunset had 136 inhabitants, Ballenger 277, Allen's Camp
76, Woodruff 50 and Moen Copie 25, a total of 564, with 115 families.