Fort Montezuma

Fort Montezuma. . The initial effort by Mormon pioneers to colonize the southeast corner of the Utah Territory began on the north bank of the San Juan River, 13.5 miles east of here. Responding to a call from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to participate in the San Juan Mission, an advance scouting party of twenty-seven men, two women and eight children, led by Silas S. Smith, left Parowan, Utah, on April 13, 1879. Traveling with twelve covered wagons, they forged a trail across Indian territory in northern Arizona. On June 30, 1879, after much difficulty, they reached the San Juan River, where they established Fort Montezuma., Upon their arrival, the scouting party found Peter Shirts living at the mouth of Montezuma Creek. Mr. Shirts said he was the first settler, having arrived during 1877. Shortly after the scouting party's arrival, Sarah Harriman used scraps of clothing to create a United States flag, which they hoisted on a pole just in time to celebrate the Fourth of July., The scouting party built a two-room fort to accommodate the James Davis and Henry Harriman families. On August 2, 1879, the small fort became the birthplace of Ethel Olive Davis, the first child born to the Mormon settlers in the San Juan area., Twenty-four of the scouts returned home to lead the main body of colonizers to the area, leaving the Davises with their five children, the Harrimans with their four children, and a man named Harvey Dunton. They would hold the fort until reinforcements and supplies could be sent. The following month, the settlers were terrorized by a large band of Ute Indians who were fleeing the scene of the Meeker Massacre in Colorado. Fortunately, the Indians decided to spare the Montezuma settlers., The winter was severe, and reinforcements and supplies were months overdue. By the end of January, the settlers were desperate for food. On February 28, 1880, George Hobbs arrived in Montezuma (after traversing the terribly rugged Hole-in-the-Rock route) with two mules loaded with flour., During the following two years, other families joined the settlers, increasing the population to at least ten families. Parthenia (Feenie) Hyde was the community's school teacher. The Montezuma Branch of the Church was presided over by Zechariah Bruin Decker Jr., followed by William Hyde, and finally Bishop John Allan., Each spring, the bloated river raised major havoc with improvements the settlers had made. The site was deemed unsuitable by Church leaders, and during December of 1883, all of the settlers at Montezuma were given an honorable release from their missions. However, they all volunteered to give Montezuma their best effort for one additional season., During June of 1884, massive flooding throughout the region destroyed their crops, most of their cabins, and all of their water wheels (their means of irrigation). The flooding altered the course of the San Juan River, and to this day, it flows where the fort once stood. In the summer of that year, all of the settlers abandoned Montezuma except Bishop Allan and his family, who stayed another year., The weathered grave markers of 2 1/2-year-old Lizzie Harriman (died 1881) and her 6 1/2-year-old brother, John Alma (died 1883), attest to the challenges and sacrifices made by the first pioneers on the San Juan frontier.