Archives West Finding Aid

The John Alexander Bevan essay is titled, "Early History of Tooele" (1924), which is a typescript history of this Utah city from 1849. In the history, Bevan discusses the origin of the city's name, describes the first settlement in 1849, and lists the names of the early pioneers. He describes platting the town, farming and irrigation techniques, building homes and public buildings, and the incorporation of Tooele in 1863. He describes the settlers' social life and celebrations, their foods and crops, the animals found in the area, the flora and fauna, and the Indians. He notes historical events such as the winter encampment of United States troops under General Steptoe in 1854, and the community's move to Lehi during the Utah War in 1858. As a young pioneer himself, Bevan's story is full of his own experiences and reminiscences. He notes the beginnings of the smelting industry in Tooele, the establishment of the International Smelting and Refining Company in 1909, and the building of the Tooele Valley Railway. He concludes the narrative in 1924 with a description of Tooele and the changes that had taken place over the years. John Alexander Bevan's father was James Bevan and his mother was the daughter of John Shields and Primrose Cunningham. The Shields family emigrated from Scotland in 1852. John Alexander was ten years old when his family settled in Tooele.