Ogden in Weber County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Farr's Fort
⎯⎯⎯
The Mills
⎯⎯⎯
Lorin Farr

Farr's Fort marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, June 21, 2025

1. Farr's Fort marker

Inscription.
Farr's Fort
Near the mouth of Ogden Canyon, just north of the Ogden River (in this place) is where Farr's Fort previously stood. The fort was erected in 1850 by Lorin Farr, Ezra Chase, Ambrose & John Shaw, Charles Hubbard, and others. The 5-acre fort was enclosed on the east, west, and south sides by inward-facing houses, set close together, and the spaces between picketed with 12-foot high stockade poles.

At one time, nearly all the pioneer settlers in the area gathered at Farr's Fort, concerned for their safety after a fellow settler shot and killed the Shoshone Chief Terikee. Eventually, there proved to be no need for such defenses. As the settlers moved into more permanent homes in the surrounding area the fort was abandoned by 1853.

In addition to Farr's Fort, Lorin Farr's pioneering contributions include constructing the first sawmill, gristmill, and woolen mill in Ogden. Other notable projects accomplished under his direction were the first road through Ogden Canyon, a significant land survey of Weber County, and the construction of various highways, byways, and irrigation canals.

The Mills
In 1850,

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just to the east of Farr's Fort, a sawmill was built and powered by water diverted from the Ogden River. Settlers cut trees from Ogden Canyon and floated them downriver to the mill, turning them into lumber to develop the Ogden valley. That same year a gristmill was also built on the site. Having a gristmill in Ogden saved farmers from having to transport grain to Salt Lake City to make flour. The gristmill moved to another location in 1867, and in 1868 Lorin Farr and other business associates imported 60,000 dollars worth of machinery that weighed 55,000 pounds from Kansas to build a woolen mill. The factory employed 150 people who spun and dyed wool, cotton, silk, and flax and made clothing and blankets. Some of the millstones, a water wheel, and remnants of the gears are still on display at the site.

Lorin Farr
Lorin Farr was born July 27, 1820, in Waterford, Vermont. The Farr family joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Charleston, Vermont, in 1832 after hearing the teaching of church missionaries Orson Pratt and Lyman Johnston. The Farrs left Charleston in 1837 to be with the main body of the church

The Mills marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, June 21, 2025

2. The Mills marker

in Kirtland, Ohio. From Kirtland, the Farrs experienced all the joys, blessings, and sorrows accompanying the early Saints in their journey westward.

In May of 1838, Lorin (age 17) and his older brother Aaron Farr followed the Prophet Joseph Smith to Far West, Missouri. They lived with and became well acquainted with Joseph and Emma Smith. Lorin served as a teacher for the Smith family children. He was a bodyguard, scribe, and good friend to the Prophet. Emma and Joseph referred to Lorin as their boy, and Lorin said of Joseph, "I know him to have been a great, good, and true man, and one who never betrayed his trust." Lorin was with Joseph at the time of the Haun's Mill Massacre and assisted at Adam-ondi-Ahman.

In 1840 the Farr family moved to Nauvoo and helped with the construction of the Temple. Lorin followed the Prophet Brigham Young from Nauvoo to the Salt Lake Valley, arriving in 1847. In 1850 President Young called Lorin to settle Ogden, Weber County, Utah. In 1851, President Young extended a call to Lorin to serve as President of the newly formed Weber Stake. Lorin also served as the first mayor of Ogden City (for 20

Lorin Farr marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, June 21, 2025

3. Lorin Farr marker

years), a member of the Utah Territorial Legislature (for 30 years), and a member of the convention that framed the constitution of the State of Utah.

Image Courtesy: Special Collections Department, Stewart Library, Weber State University

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.

Location. 41° 14.47′ N, 111° 57.107′ W. Marker is in Ogden, Utah, in Weber County. It is on Creekside Drive, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1032 Creekside Drive, Ogden UT 84404, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Wasatch Front

and in Greater Salt Lake.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and on the 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 2 miles of this marker, measured

Farr's Fort / The Mills / Lorin Farr Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, June 21, 2025

4. Farr's Fort / The Mills / Lorin Farr Marker

as the crow flies: The Old Mill (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Grist Mill in Weber County (approx. 0.2 miles away); WWII Place of Remembrance (approx. ¾ mile away); WWI Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); Ogden Canyon Toll Gate (approx. 1.2 miles away); Madison Elementary School (approx. 1.4 miles away); Pierre-Jean De Smet (approx. 1½ miles away); Madison Lodge (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ogden.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 18, 2025, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. This page has been viewed 186 times since then and 89 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 19, 2025, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.

Farr's Fort⎯⎯⎯The Mills⎯⎯⎯Lorin Farr

Farr's Fort
⎯⎯⎯
The Mills
⎯⎯⎯
Lorin Farr