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Before the arrival of the pioneers in Utah Valley, the area long a part of new Spain, had already been witness to much human activity as demonstrated by archeological evidence from old Spanish journals, the written and oral history from the fur trade, and the Native American tribes indigenous to the area.
Evidence suggests that Little Mountain, East of Payson was the sight of a Spanish smelter, which some believe was operated by an ancient Indian culture before it was taken over by the Spaniards. Some information taken from old journals state that huge fortunes were taken to Europe from that smelter.
Much of the lore of Spanish treasure tells of it having been looted from the native peoples, but it seems likely that much of that treasure was obtained by good old-fashioned labor or quite possibility slave labor.
Brigham Young tried to keep his people focused on an agrarian society, but after a few strikes here and there, mining districts began to form. The Payson mining district was organized in 1871 and is located about 60 miles south of Salt Lake City as the crow flies. The district is 12 miles square with the town of Payson being near its center. By September 1880, seventy mining locations were reported. None of the low-grade ore was shipped prior to 1880. Some lead, silver, and zinc ore was produced between 1910-1917, but the district has not been notably productive. In the Magazine, Salt Lake Mining and Review we read, "Up to the present time, the most profitable venture on Dry Mountain is the production of sand and gravel."
A few of the early prospectors were Harry Burgess, a local blacksmith; Jim Wilson who had several mines in this area; Eli Chase who found a good prospect up Payson Canyon, but not enough to make hin "rich." Benjamin Bullock was a founder and superintendent of the Syndicate mine on Dry Mountain. Vern and Lucian T. Farr each lost their right eye in an accident at the Syndicate mine. |
