Bob Grant
Member
Site: Kiz, Utah.
Location: Carbon County, Utah
Years of Occupation: 1890's thru 1940.
Status of the site: Open
Classification: Class 1
Type: Agriculture
Remains: Town Cemetery and some foundations.
GPS Coordinates: 39°36'17?N 110°33'18?W
Date visited 9/19/2014
Kiz is a ghost town located in arid Clark Valley, in the sparsely populated eastern part of Carbon County, Utah, United States. This agricultural settlement existed approximately 1906–1940. The nearest inhabited town is East Carbon.
History
The area was first settled in the 1890s by two successive ranchers—the first, by the name of Clark, giving his name to the valley. Each of them in turn soon abandoned his ranch, most likely due to drought conditions. In 1906 the first of the more permanent settlers arrived, Orson Dimick and John Higginson, later to be joined by Nephi Perkins and Dimick's parents, Ephraim and Kiziah. Most of the homesteaders came in the period 1910–1916, including a successful Basque sheepherder named Gratien Etchebarne who filed the first legal claim to the land in 1916. By then there were some two dozen families living in what became Kiz.
The settlers were aware of the valley's forbidding desert climate. They set about the difficult task of dry farming. Trying to save all the available water, residents dug numerous wells, and although there was no stream nearby, they built a large reservoir for irrigation.
In 1921 the American Legion promoted Clark Valley as a home for World War I veterans to establish themselves, making claims of available irrigation water that never actually arrived. It is not known how many people this advertisement brought, but by 1924 there were enough children to establish a school, in a building provided by Etchebarne. The population reached its peak in 1925, and a post office was established in 1926 in George Mead's general store. He suggested the name Kiz in honor of the first woman settler in the valley, his sister Kiziah "Aunt Kiz" Dimick.
Kiz did experience successful harvests some years, but water was always in short supply. In 1930 there was another severe drought, and most of the residents moved away. The school burned down in 1932, and the students started attending school in Sunnyside. By 1940 Kiz was a ghost town. The town's cemetery and a few empty foundations are still visible.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiz,_Utah
Kiz
Clark's Valley (Kiz) is a broad fertile valley extending from Sunnyside on the East to the borders of Soldier Canyon on the West. It slopes southward six miles to the highway, forming one of the largest level tracts of land in Carbon County, and it is here that the farming and ranching community of Kiz is located.
The soil is deep and fertile, having been washed from the mountains by flood which have spread out over the valley floor. It varies in depth from two to fifteen feet.
Just who the first settlers were, no one seems to know. It appears that a man named Clark, owned a ranch here, which was well stocked with cattle and horses. There were houses, stables, granaries, and blacksmith shop on the place, and it said that the ranch was sold at one time for $75,000.00. This was before the year 1898. In 1898 a man by the name of Fausett owned the ranch and had it stocked with a large number of horses. A few years later it appears there was a drought and the ranch was abandoned. The houses and buildings fell into decay and brush again grew up in the cultivated fields.
In June, 1906, Orson Dimick and John Higginson came into the valley and settled on the abandoned ranch. They were later joined by Nephi O. Perkins and Ephraim Dimick, Orson's father, his wife, Kiziah and others. As the country was not yet surveyed they had only squatters' rights to the land. Gratien Etchebarne came to the valley in 1910. He owned a large herd of sheep and wanted a ranch for this headquarters. He was the first man in the valley to file on his claim, in 1916. He was very enthusiastic about the future of the valley and spent more money for development purposes than any other person.
A little work was done on the present reservoir in 1910, but work did not begin in earnest until George Mead came in July, 1914. In 1916, Francis Dimick came to the valley to homestead, and several years later Lafe M. Norton and his family came to make their home. The Workman, Babcock, and Asay families also moved to Kiz.
Through the efforts of Mr. Norton and Mr. Etchebarne school was established in the fall of 1924. The first school house was an old log granary with a dirt roof and the owner was Mr. Etchebarne. Mrs. Mary Tidwell, of Wellington, was employed as the first teacher at a salary of $40.00 per month in cash and board and room for her and her husband. The school district paid $25.00 of this salary, and the remainder was paid by Mr. Norton and Mr. Etchebarne. As the roof of the granary leaked, the school was moved to Mr. Dimick's granary. When the teacher became discouraged and resigned, Vivian Norton - an eighth grade student - was permitted to finish teaching for the school term. School was next held in a log house owned by Lew Workman. By Spring there were 17 children enrolled. The teacher was paid by the transportation allowance for each child.
By the time schools started again, Mr. Etchebarne had completed the building where school is now held and an experienced teacher, Mrs. Elsie Huntsman was employed. A short time later, Mrs. Huntsman met a tragic death by drowning when the car in which she was riding enroute to Price, overturned in the bottom of the wash.
The people had many thrilling experiences during these times. Once a drunken Mexican held the whole Norton family prisoners at the point of a gun for several hours until Mrs. Norton persuaded him to go home for his supper. When he left they sent for help. Jake and Lew Workman came to relieve Mr. Norton in the watch for the Mexican. While Mr. Norton warmed himself in the house Jake sighted the Mexican creeping stealthily upon the tent from behind, with a loaded revolver in his hand. He fired and shattered the Mexican's arm, the bullet penetrated his side. He was taken to Price for treatment and later ordered out of the county by the sheriff.
Until 1926 the people had to go to Price or Wellington for their mail. At this time there were quite a number of people residing in Kiz and they were granted a request for a post office. In selecting a suitable name Mr. Mead proposed the name of Kiz, in honor of Kiziah Dimick, the pioneer woman of Clark's Valley, who was always know as "Aunt Kiz". The name was submitted and accepted. The first mail left the Kiz post office November 2, with George Mead as postmaster. And thus the community of Kiz came into being.
http://www.carbon-utgenweb.com/1930a.html#kiz
Drive approximate 5 miles east of Wellington, Utah on US 6, turn north on a dirt road, drive for 5 miles and the Cemetery is next the road.
Location: Carbon County, Utah
Years of Occupation: 1890's thru 1940.
Status of the site: Open
Classification: Class 1
Type: Agriculture
Remains: Town Cemetery and some foundations.
GPS Coordinates: 39°36'17?N 110°33'18?W
Date visited 9/19/2014
Kiz is a ghost town located in arid Clark Valley, in the sparsely populated eastern part of Carbon County, Utah, United States. This agricultural settlement existed approximately 1906–1940. The nearest inhabited town is East Carbon.
History
The area was first settled in the 1890s by two successive ranchers—the first, by the name of Clark, giving his name to the valley. Each of them in turn soon abandoned his ranch, most likely due to drought conditions. In 1906 the first of the more permanent settlers arrived, Orson Dimick and John Higginson, later to be joined by Nephi Perkins and Dimick's parents, Ephraim and Kiziah. Most of the homesteaders came in the period 1910–1916, including a successful Basque sheepherder named Gratien Etchebarne who filed the first legal claim to the land in 1916. By then there were some two dozen families living in what became Kiz.
The settlers were aware of the valley's forbidding desert climate. They set about the difficult task of dry farming. Trying to save all the available water, residents dug numerous wells, and although there was no stream nearby, they built a large reservoir for irrigation.
In 1921 the American Legion promoted Clark Valley as a home for World War I veterans to establish themselves, making claims of available irrigation water that never actually arrived. It is not known how many people this advertisement brought, but by 1924 there were enough children to establish a school, in a building provided by Etchebarne. The population reached its peak in 1925, and a post office was established in 1926 in George Mead's general store. He suggested the name Kiz in honor of the first woman settler in the valley, his sister Kiziah "Aunt Kiz" Dimick.
Kiz did experience successful harvests some years, but water was always in short supply. In 1930 there was another severe drought, and most of the residents moved away. The school burned down in 1932, and the students started attending school in Sunnyside. By 1940 Kiz was a ghost town. The town's cemetery and a few empty foundations are still visible.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiz,_Utah
Kiz
Clark's Valley (Kiz) is a broad fertile valley extending from Sunnyside on the East to the borders of Soldier Canyon on the West. It slopes southward six miles to the highway, forming one of the largest level tracts of land in Carbon County, and it is here that the farming and ranching community of Kiz is located.
The soil is deep and fertile, having been washed from the mountains by flood which have spread out over the valley floor. It varies in depth from two to fifteen feet.
Just who the first settlers were, no one seems to know. It appears that a man named Clark, owned a ranch here, which was well stocked with cattle and horses. There were houses, stables, granaries, and blacksmith shop on the place, and it said that the ranch was sold at one time for $75,000.00. This was before the year 1898. In 1898 a man by the name of Fausett owned the ranch and had it stocked with a large number of horses. A few years later it appears there was a drought and the ranch was abandoned. The houses and buildings fell into decay and brush again grew up in the cultivated fields.
In June, 1906, Orson Dimick and John Higginson came into the valley and settled on the abandoned ranch. They were later joined by Nephi O. Perkins and Ephraim Dimick, Orson's father, his wife, Kiziah and others. As the country was not yet surveyed they had only squatters' rights to the land. Gratien Etchebarne came to the valley in 1910. He owned a large herd of sheep and wanted a ranch for this headquarters. He was the first man in the valley to file on his claim, in 1916. He was very enthusiastic about the future of the valley and spent more money for development purposes than any other person.
A little work was done on the present reservoir in 1910, but work did not begin in earnest until George Mead came in July, 1914. In 1916, Francis Dimick came to the valley to homestead, and several years later Lafe M. Norton and his family came to make their home. The Workman, Babcock, and Asay families also moved to Kiz.
Through the efforts of Mr. Norton and Mr. Etchebarne school was established in the fall of 1924. The first school house was an old log granary with a dirt roof and the owner was Mr. Etchebarne. Mrs. Mary Tidwell, of Wellington, was employed as the first teacher at a salary of $40.00 per month in cash and board and room for her and her husband. The school district paid $25.00 of this salary, and the remainder was paid by Mr. Norton and Mr. Etchebarne. As the roof of the granary leaked, the school was moved to Mr. Dimick's granary. When the teacher became discouraged and resigned, Vivian Norton - an eighth grade student - was permitted to finish teaching for the school term. School was next held in a log house owned by Lew Workman. By Spring there were 17 children enrolled. The teacher was paid by the transportation allowance for each child.
By the time schools started again, Mr. Etchebarne had completed the building where school is now held and an experienced teacher, Mrs. Elsie Huntsman was employed. A short time later, Mrs. Huntsman met a tragic death by drowning when the car in which she was riding enroute to Price, overturned in the bottom of the wash.
The people had many thrilling experiences during these times. Once a drunken Mexican held the whole Norton family prisoners at the point of a gun for several hours until Mrs. Norton persuaded him to go home for his supper. When he left they sent for help. Jake and Lew Workman came to relieve Mr. Norton in the watch for the Mexican. While Mr. Norton warmed himself in the house Jake sighted the Mexican creeping stealthily upon the tent from behind, with a loaded revolver in his hand. He fired and shattered the Mexican's arm, the bullet penetrated his side. He was taken to Price for treatment and later ordered out of the county by the sheriff.
Until 1926 the people had to go to Price or Wellington for their mail. At this time there were quite a number of people residing in Kiz and they were granted a request for a post office. In selecting a suitable name Mr. Mead proposed the name of Kiz, in honor of Kiziah Dimick, the pioneer woman of Clark's Valley, who was always know as "Aunt Kiz". The name was submitted and accepted. The first mail left the Kiz post office November 2, with George Mead as postmaster. And thus the community of Kiz came into being.
http://www.carbon-utgenweb.com/1930a.html#kiz
Drive approximate 5 miles east of Wellington, Utah on US 6, turn north on a dirt road, drive for 5 miles and the Cemetery is next the road.
Attachments
Last edited by a moderator:
