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Directory of Ogden City and Weber County.
Spanish grant. The Goodyear claim covered a tract of land commencing at the north of Weber Canyon and following the base of the mountains north to the Hot Springs, thence west to the Salt Lake, thence south along the shore to the point opposite Weber Canyon, thence east to the beginning. For all this land, then uncultivated and barren but containing the germs of inexhaustible fertility, the sum of $3,000 was paid. This purchase, it must be borne in mind, was effected under the provisions of the treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo, not fully a year after the Mormon pioneers had first put their weary feet on the virgin soil of the shores of the American Dead Sea.
The first organization of Ogden City, whither settlers soon came flocking to found new homes, was of an ecclesiastical nature, (Jan. 1851) the branch now named Ogden being divided into two wards, Isaac Clark being appointed Bishop and Jas. G. Browning and James Brown Counselors of the first ward; Erastus Bingham, Sr., Bishop, and Charles Hubbard and Stephen Parry Counselors of the second ward.
This ecclesiastical arrangement was shortly after supplemented by an act of the Territorial Legislature (Feb. 6th, 1851,) incorporating Ogden City. The first municipal election was held on Oc. 23rd, 1852, resulting in the election of the following officers: Lorin Farr, Mayor; (a position held by that gentleman until 1879, with the exception of only three terms occupied by Lester J. Herrick Chas. R. Dana, Erastus Bingham, Francelle Durfee, and Jas. A. Browning, Aldermen; Levi Murdock, Samuel Stickney. John Shaw, B. W. Nolan, D. B. Dillie, Ithamer Sprague, Daniel Burch, Jonathan Browning, Jas. Lake, Jas. Brown, Joseph Grover, and F. Dempsey, Councilors.
The municipal organization aided these early settlers considerable in promoting individual good by uniting in