Ballenger's company located four miles southwest of Sunset Crossing, on the south side of the river, near the site of the present Winslow.
Genesis of St. Joseph
There was quick work in the way of settlement at Allen's Camp, where the first plowing was on March 25, 1876, by John Bushman and Nathan Cheney. Jacob Morris immediately commenced the construction of a house. Two days later an irrigation ditch was surveyed and on the following day John Bushman got out the first logs for a diversion dam. April 3, Bushman sowed the first wheat. A temporary structure was built for protection and for storage. May 26 the name of Allen City was given the settlement, in preference to a second suggestion, Ramah City. Early in August, 23 men, including Allen, started back to Utah, from which a few returned with their families.
On Allen's return southward with a number of families, the old Spanish Trail was used, in its eastern section, via the San Juan region, with some idea that it might be made the main thoroughfare, for thus would be obviated the ferrying of the Colorado River, either above or below the Canyon. But the way into Arizona through northwestern New Mexico was too long, and the experiment was not considered successful.
In the fall, the families moved into a stockade fort, planned to be 152 feet wide and 300 feet long. Only part of this was finished. Probably twenty or more houses were built within it.
[Illustration: CROSSING THE LITTLE COLORADO]
[Illustration: THE OLD FORT AT BRIGHAM CITY]
[Illustration: WOODRUFF DAM, AFTER ONE OF THE FREQUENT WASHOUTS]
[Illustration: THE FIRST PERMANENT DAM ON THE LITTLE COLORADO AT ST.
JOSEPH]
August 23, 1876, a postoffice was established, with John McLaws in charge. A weekly mail service operated between Santa Fe and Prescott.