Historic and beautiful Spring City, Utah, was settled by early Mormon pioneers in 1852 after James Allred and his sons were sent from Manti to settle in Canal Creek. It is located in Central Utah, in the heart of Sanpete County, just five miles south of Mt. Pleasant (the geographic center of Utah). Nestled comfortably in the beautiful Sanpete Valley along the route of old Highway 89, Spring City looks out at the majestic Horseshoe Mountain and many other surrounding peaks. Originally known as the "Allred Settlement", "Little Copenhagen", and "Canal", the city agreed to be called Spring City in 1859 because it is famous for the fresh water spring in the middle of town which never runs dry. The entire town of Spring City is listed on the National Historic Register and was highlighted in Forbes.com's list of America's Prettiest Towns on 4/15/2010.
A Short History - by Kaye Watson.
At Brigham Young's suggestion, James Allred, an early LDS convert, joined his son, James T. S. Allred, an 1849 Manti settler, to explore Sanpete's mysteries. In March 1852, potential local settlement sites were considered. A spot was chosen where mountains supplied water and timber. Clay was found for adobe bricks, and oolite limestone rock deposits were available for foundations, larger homes and buildings. A few cabins were built and a 100-acre tract was divided into 5-acre blocks. Ninety blocks were fenced and 39 acres planted. Twelve Allred families wintered here with other family members joining them. First settlers were James and his wife, Eliza Marie and Ellen Aurelia; Andrew Jackson Allred (son of James); Charles Whitlock, a grandson of Andrew Whitlock and Mary Haskill); James F. Allred, a grandson; and two Indian children. These were later joined by Wiley Payne Allred, Rueben Warren Allred (the first LDS Bishop of Spring City), Andrew Whitlock, Eleazer King, the widow Parker and her son Frank, and Henry Oviatt. About this same time Hambleton's Camp (now Mount Pleasant) was settled. By July 1853, settlers and Native Americans were in conflict as part of the Walker War. A fort was created on Block 20 by dragging log cabins together on the current LDS Church block. Hambletonians scurried to the fort but all were forced to make a quick evacuation to Manti. A desperate request was made for reinforcements at the October 1853 LDS General Conference, with 297 Danish converts re-directed to Allred's Settlement. As conflicts continued, and because Native Americans outnumbered settlers, the settlers were forced back to the over-crowded Manti Fort where they stayed until the spring of 1854. They then proceeded seven miles north to Pine or Cottonwood Creek, which became Fort Ephraim, their resting place for six years. The resettlement of Canal, or the Allred Settlement, became possible in 1859. A town emerged by the 1860 census. Ruben W. Allred had a young Indian daughter, Rachel, who was rescued from slavery or death. Rachel, having been warned of an impending attack, became distraught. Not knowing how to react to the warning, she finally shared it with her new family members, who hurried to warn those working in the fields. The few Allreds were thus prepared for an attack and Rachel prevented a likely massacre. |