Nortonville, Utah, a stop spot for Brigham Young

Nortonville was and partly remains a township four miles north of Nephi, Utah. It was first settled by three Norton brothers, thus the name. At the time, the entire area was green with subterranean water just below the surface so it was a very fertile and rich soil to do dry farming. Farming has always been hard work and the Norton brothers soon split, selling most of the valley to the Tolley and Jones family. One of the first homes was built by Wm. and Lizzie Tolley Jones. It had two bedrooms; living room and a kitchen. The Outhouse was outside until the land was sold to Bish Belliston who had a fancy dancy "Privy" inside. It the photo from left to right is Elmer Tolley, Suzie Downs, Alma Jones, Bert Jones(on the horse), Jack Downs, Rodger Downs, Liz Jones, Wm. Jones and Elma Bryan. Wm. Jones donated part of his ground so a church/school could be built, and he was the Branch President. One of the teachers was Bessie Jones, who was the mother of Ron, Harold, and Nadine Jones Blackett. Brigham Young stopped by there on his way to St. George and signed various documents. Although all church records should have been turned over to the LDS church, they weren't, but kept in the family until five years ago, when they were recovered from the place I had hid them fifty years ago. They were all turned over to the LDS church, and needless to say, it took a Nephi double step to explain why I had the various signatures, papers and manuscripts that belonged to Brother Brigham. Another photo is the missionary picture of Will Jones, who was called to preach with no money, and after losing two young sons and leaving his wife pregnant. Brigham Young told him to seek out his relatives in England and he did so and we showed a page from his journal. The Tolley family took care of the farm while Will was in the land where his father came to Nephi in 1852. Another photo is of the nine kids brought up in that two bedroom cabin home, and the boys were glad to see summer come as they were able to sleep in the grainery, which still stands. As more people moved in, farmers began to dig deep wells, which explains why the North Pasture Lane is no longer the good farming area as it once was. Blame it on Growth and Greed.