Early History of the Settlement of Lewiston

After Richmond was settled in 1859, Franklin in 1860, and Clarkston in 1864, “All the most desirable locations on the streams in Richmond and in the other settlements of the Valley, had been taken. Naturally (the new settlers) were forced to take lands in the center of the Valley and get their irrigation water wherever they could. This was difficult to do.”
In July 1870, a scouting party went out to locate some new lands for settlers. They searched the north end of Cache Valley from Oxford to Mink Creek. (When) “the scouting party returned (it was) decided that the “Flat” where Lewiston is located, was the best place to locate..”
Used by early Richmond settlers as a herding ground, “It was covered with buffalo and bluegrass. It had also been used in the past by the Indians as a place for their pow-wows, where they had horse races and other games. As there were no trees or vegetation the sand drifted considerably.”
Houses were built of logs and lumber. Some made dugouts.The community grew. Among the first group of settlers were the families of P. N. Van Orden, Sr., Everett Van Orden, Robert Wall and John M. Berrhisel, Jr.” (When) “the townsite was staked out, it was decided to (make the blocks) a mile square. At first the settlement was called Cub Hill.”
In 1872, William H. Lewis was sustained as the (LDS Branch’s) presiding elder and later, the bishop. The settlement was named “Lewiston” after Bishop William H. Lewis.
Bio of William H. Lewis
William H. Lewis married Martha Petty in November of 1856. In 1858 his wagons left Fort Harrison, Utah, to settle in Cache Valley. The Lewises arrived in Richmond October 31, 1859, building a small cabin in an area known as “Poverty Flats.” In 1873 Brother Lewis was called as Presiding Elder of the fledgling Lewiston Branch at Poverty Flat. “After serving for a year, Lewis approached the Richmond Bishop, M.W. Merrill, asking to be released from the calling. He stated ‘he would not trade his small farm in Richmond for the whole of Lewiston.’
“Bishop Merrill informed him that it was the Lord that had called him to that position and he would not be a partner in releasing him. The bishop advised William to go back to Lewiston and the Lord would bless him on this land that looked so barren. He also told Brother Lewis that Brigham Young had said that Lewiston would be the granary of the valley and that the potential possibilities of that wasteland were many and great.” Staying in Lewiston, Lewis eventually became one of the wealthiest farmers in the area.
After serving as Presiding Elder over the branch for five years, Lewis was named the Lewiston Ward’s first bishop. After serving for seven years, he was named Stake President of Benson Stake. The town was eventually named ‘Lewiston,’ after William H. Lewis.
“In the beginning the little settlement had some serious handicaps. They had no irrigation water, no trees and very little vegetation. The sand drifted badly in places. The winters were severe and bad frosts were common. The drought brought many crickets, grasshoppers and other pests.The winter of 1871-1872 was very cold and severe. In November 1871, two feet of snow fell and it did not leave until April of the next year. At certain times during the winters the fences were covered with snow and the settlers traveled over the tops of the fences with their sleighs. During the summer time there were hot, dry winds, and killing frosts. For three successive years the grain was frozen in July. The settlement was referred to as “Poverty Flat,” “Starvation Corner” and “The Last Chance.”
When Church President Brigham Young visited Richmond, “the discouraged settlers reported these unfavorable conditions… the settlers (were advised) to return to their homes promising them that Lewiston should yet become one of the garden spots of Cache Valley & the Territory.”
If the settlers were to remain they had to have irrigation water. “(Since) Bear River to the west was too low to take out a canal and bring it upon the flat…In 1873 a small irrigation ditch northeast of Lewiston was built from Worm Creek…In 1874 a site for a canal was located on Cub River in the Cub River Basin.” Though a tremendous undertaking… it saved the settlement. For drinking water, wells were used.” In later years, “a large irrigation company was formed and a pumping plant and its diversions was established on the Bear River.”
Lewiston has continued to grow and is considered one of the best farming communities in the state. The promise made years ago by President Brigham Young, ‘that someday Lewiston would become one of the garden spots of the Valley and the Territory, has verily been fulfilled. In 1904, the town was incorporated by Brigham Pond, Lewiston’s first mayor.
Compiled by M. R. Hovey, Secretary, Logan Chamber of Commerce. January 1, 1923 to January 1, 1925. Also as printed in the Logan Journal, beginning August 4, 1923.