Wellsville in Cache County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Mountain Man

The first Explorers of Cache Valley

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, June 22, 2025

1. Mountain Man Marker

Inscription. This Mountain Man carving from a ponderosa pine tree planted in a yard possibly more than a hundred years ago represents one of the first explorers to tame the West in search of rivers to trap for furs.

The Mountain Mans exploration of this valley was recorded in 1826 mapping and naming the rivers of the valley in search of trapping, meanwhile opening the way for the pioneers to settle in what the Native American tribes "Shesheni and Utes called "Willow Valley." The Mountain Man named it "Cache Valley" because they "cached" or stored all their pelts in dugouts, later returning fer the sale at the rendezvous. Each pelt sold for approximately $6 per pound, averaging 2 lbs per pelt.

Some of the mere well known mountain men were Bridger, Beckwith, Johnson, and Harris. They paved the way for settlement of the valley.

Maughan's Fort was founded in 1856. LDS President Brigham Young sent Peter Maughan with several other families to establish Cache Valleys first settlement, which later was named Wellsville in 1859.

Sculpted/Carved. 2014 By; Sean Quentin Maughan Cudney

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Exploration. A significant historical year for this entry is 1826.

Location. 41° 38.315′ N, 111° 55.913′ W. Marker is in Wellsville, Utah, in Cache

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County. It is at the intersection of East Main Street and S 100 E, on the right when traveling east on East Main Street. Marker is on the base of the statue in City Square Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Wellsville UT 84339, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Utah’s Cache Valley.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in Colorado Plateau.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Wellsville Tabernacle (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Wellsville Pioneers (about 600 feet away); Wellsville Schools (approx. 0.2 miles away); Soren Hansen Castle (approx. 3.7 miles away); Elite Hall (approx. 3.8 miles away); Hyrum Smith (approx. 3.9 miles away); The Great Fur Cache (approx. 3.9 miles away); Old Hyrum First Ward Meetinghouse (approx. 4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wellsville.

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, June 22, 2025

2. Mountain Man Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 1, 2025, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. This page has been viewed 78 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 1, 2025, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.