"Had it not been for the perpetual Indian troubles in Sonora it seems probable that this state, rather than Chihuahua, would have been the seat of the first Mormon settlements. It will be remembered that very early in the period of Mormon exploration in Mexico several expeditions were sent into the state to locate suitable lands for settlement, but in each case, untoward circumstances arose that influenced the general authorities of the Church to pass unfavorably upon the proposal to establish colonies in that region for the time being.

The purchase of about 200 square miles of territory along the banks of the Bavispe River by George C. Williams and John C. Naegle in 1892, marked the serious beginning of colonization in Sonora. Resulting from this purchase, was the establishment thereon of a colony named in honor of President Porfirio Diaz's natal state, "Oaxaca". At the time of the purchase, this locality was known as "Los Horcones" (the forks) so called because of there being in the vicinity a certain large mesquite tree with unusual forks. Following the purchase the new town site was called "Fenochio" to honor General Juan Fenochio, a party to the sale, but this name persisted only for a few months when it was displaced by the designation of "Oaxaca".

Patrick Calhoun Haynie recorded in his journal the names of those on the purchasing committee of Oaxaca as: President Anthony W. Ivins, Helaman Pratt, Orson Pratt Brown, Patrict Calhoun Haynie, Samuel Lewis, Calvin Anderson, Fred ? , Austin Wilson, Antoine Ivins, Joseph C. Bentley, Norman Brimhall, C.J. Jones, L.J. Jones and Bishop Ballard.

The founders of Oaxaca may be said to be a company recruited from several of the Chihuahua colonies, notably from the mountain districts. Leader of the group was "Parson Williams", chief purchaser of the land and accompaning him were Peter Dillman, Robert E. Vance, W. B.Millet, Martin Mortenson, Sixtus E. Johnson, Oscar Gruell, William B. Maxwell, James H. Carlton, John McNeil, Alvin D. Nelson, Harlem Johnson, John Nichols, James H.

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Martineau and his daughter Anna Martineau and sons Moroni, and Theodore, John Bloomfield and two sons, David Johnson and a son and a daughter, D. Biglow and Mrs. J. M. Nelson and J. W. Ray. Fourteen of the number had their families, the whole company numbering 100 souls. The first part of the group left William's Ranch on February 20, 1892, and at intervals along the way their numbers were augmented until, by the time they had reached the Beresford ranch beyond the Janos River, the company was complete. There were fourteen wagons in all and twenty-two men and boys to do the work. The distance to be traveled to reach their destination was in the neighborhood of one hundred and fifty miles from the point of beginning. With a good road this distance could have soon been covered, but the journey proved to be a tedious one, since a big part of the way was through a mountainous country never before traversed by lumber wagons or vehicles of any sort. Dugways must be built and rocks and brush had to be cleared away before the caravan could proceed. In some instances the wagons were prevented from overturning only by having men, heave on ropes that had been fastened to the upper side of the wagon boxes. At other times trees were fastened to the backs of the wagons to ease them down the steep declivities where brakes were entirely inadequate. Finally the herculean task was completed. On the 14th of March 1892 the vanguard of the expedition, consisting of two wagons driven by William B. Maxwell and Robert E. Vance, emerged from the winding canyon of the foothills into the picturesque valley of the Bavispe and the journey was practically at an end. The day following the balance of the party likewise emerged and that night around the camp fire they planned for the future. The valley into which these pioneers had come had for centuries been the scene of thriving native villages. There was Baserac with its 2,000 souls not more than 50 miles away and twelve miles nearer was Bavispe, only one half as large, and still closer was San Miguel with its 500 inhabitants. These

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people through their officials extended the hand of fellowship to this band of weary pilgrims. The Presidente and other leading officials of Bavispe came out to meet them and with expressions of good will presented them with three beeves as tangible evidence of their sincerity. Colonel Emilio Kosterlitzky, who later visited their camp, complimented the colonists by remarking that the 3,800 men in the Bavispe district would have failed to accomplish as much in three months as this handful of men had done in a few weeks.

A most difficult problem confronting the band of home seekers was the question of a suitable spot on which to build their city. The area purchased consisted largely of grazing land, and the little land suitable for cultivation (approximately 1800 acres) was cut into 13 fragments by the winding course of the Bavispe. Its tortuous route can, in a measure, be realized by the reader when informed that the waters of the Bavispe travel the distance of 400 miles from Oaxaca to reach the Yaqui river while the direct distance is not more than 80 miles. Not only did the small parcels of suitable land make the choice a difficult one, but members of the group were not immune to selfishness and it, in a measure, influenced them in their judgment.

The result was that two or three temporary camps were pitched before the final selection was made. It was not until December 25, 1893, that the choice was made and on the following day the survey was begun by John Rencher. The blocks as surveyed contained five acres cut into four lots each, while the streets were also laid out on a broad scale, being five rods wide throughout.

The Oaxaca ward was organized March 11, 1894, two years following the coming of the first pioneers. The organization was effected under the direction of the members of the Council of the Twelve, Brigham Young, Jr., John Henry Smith and George Teasdale, the President of the Mission. Franklin Scott was selected to be bishop with George C. Williams and James H. Langford as his coun-

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sellors. Peter Dillman was chosen to be the clerk of the ward. In addition to this responsibility he was given the direction of the Sunday School. The Relief Society was organized with Pauline Naegle as its President. James W. Ray was asked to head the Young Men's organization and to Lily Langford was committed the responsibility of directing the Young Women's Association, while to Sarah Naegle, came the honor of presiding over the Primary organization.

The material interests of the people must not be neglected. The land was therefore classified according to quality and location into three classes and a fixed price set on each. The first class farming land was to be sold for $16.00 per acre, the second class for $15.00, and the third class for $5.00 per acre. These prices were to be paid in Mexican currency, whose purchasing value at that time was about one-half that of the American money. Range land was quoted at 12% 2 cents per acre.

Liberal concessions were made the colonists by the government in the matter of taxes, duties and military services. Furniture, food and other commodities were to be admitted free of duty for a period of ten years, in harmony with the provisions of the colonization law of the time. Exemption from taxation and from military duty for an equal number of years was another concession granted. To enjoy these exemptions it was obligatory that 25 men sign a contract to become permanent members of the proposed colony. In due time there were 64 who signed the contract.

I have, in a previous chapter, pointed out that the Oaxaca tract cost the purchasers $35,000 which was to be paid in three equal installments. Due to money stringency, Williams and Naegle could not meet the terms of the contract and it seemed probable that the deal must fall through, in which event the colonists would lose their all. At this juncture President Anthony W. Ivins representing the Mexican Colonization and Agricultural Company, came to their rescue. Williams and Naegle had paid approximately

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one-half of the $35,000 leaving a balance due of $17,933. The new contract called for $10,000 to be paid at once and the balance to be paid in three installments; $2,000 the first year; $2,000 the second year and the remainder, $3,933 at the end of the third year. The company hoped to get its compensation from the sale of the lands.

In January, 1897, President Ivins made a trip to Colonia Oaxaca to make arrangement for the sale of property. He placed on sale 40 lots on the townsite at $25.00 per lot and a number of others, somewhat inferior, at $15.00 each. He also listed for sale 500 acres of first class farming land at $10.00 per acre and 700 acres of second class at $3.00. In addition, he offered 98,000 acres of range land at 25 cents per acre. One fourth of the purchase price was to be paid down and the balance in one, two and three years with interest at the rate being paid by the company for its loan from the Church. A committee, consisting of F. D. Haymore, John Rencher and J. C. Naegle were to look after the details relative to the land sales. Parties having no land of their own were asked to pay pasturage at the rate of 50 cents per animal for the year.

A fair measure of prosperity attended the efforts of the colony for a number of years. What land could be cultivated was extremely fertile, producing abundantly such crops as peanuts, sweet potatoes, melons, corn and grapes for which there was usually a splendid market at the mines. Thousands of cattle belonging to the colonists fed on a thousand hills the year round, supplying their owners with their milk and butter and meat and a nice sum of money at least once a year, from the sale of steers that usually were disposed of to buyers from the United States. Splendid brick homes were built and other comforts were increasing rapidly to reward an honest, frugal and industrious people when without warning a terrific flood, caused by the heavy summer rains in the mountains above, rushed savagely down the Bavispe, overflowed its banks and swept the houses, barns and crops of the thrifty

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colony into the onrushing stream, madly pushing on to join the waters of the Pacific. Almost nothing was left. The beautiful village which a few hours before had been alive with the music of little children and the mirthful laughter of youth and maid was no more. Much of the very soil itself -an accumulation of the ages- was carried away. Little was left but the gravel and stones to bear silent witness to the fury of the merciless storm. And where were the people? Clinging to the hill sides or wandering about in search of a kindly spot where they could be safe from the ravages of the flood. As the somber shades of the night fell over the scene the afrighted villagers gathered in groups about the crackling fires of mesquite, unable to shut out the roar of the waters below. Like Tyre of old, Oaxaca was bare as a rock. From the chaotic waste never again would the voices of little children be heard or the smoke from the hearth fire be seen.

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COLONIA OAXACA (OAJACA)

  (Seventh Colony)

Date First Settled: 1892 February 5 (March 15)  Townsite finally selected just above Pulpit Wash	By Whom: George Calvin "Parson" Williams and John Conrad Naegle  Date: 1893 December 25	Notes: settlers were recruited from Colonia Pacheco and Chihuahua. Fourteen wagons and approx. 100 people
Land Purchased From: Colonel Emilio Kosterlitzky and General Juan Fenochio	By Williams and Naegle and five other Mormons with a contract for $35,000. per yr for three years beginning January 1, 1893.  Nearly defaulted on contract. Land saved on May 11, 1896 by Ivins, on behalf of the Church sponsored Mexican Colonization and Agricultural Company	200 square miles, stretched for 20 miles along the Bavispe River, Sonora. . The Mexican government had given these men the land as compensation for their services in the Sonoran Rurales, part of the Mexican army.
Located: along  20 miles of the banks of Bavispe River in northeast Sonora. 150 miles from Cave Valley		This area was known as "Los Horcones" (the forks). Early settlers called it "Fenochio" in honor of previous owner, General Fenochio.
Name sake: in honor of President Díaz's natal state		First six months known as "Haymore Flat" Changed to  Oaxaca in August 1892.
First Bishopric: Franklin Scott 1st coun. George C. Williams 2nd coun. James H. Langford Pres. YMMIA. James Ray	Date: 1894 March 11 to 1901 when killed by lightening	Set apart by Brigham Young, Jr., John Henry Smith, and George Teasdale.     moved to Morelos after the flood of 1905 carried away his farmland
Bishopric: George Conrad Naegle 1st  Coun. 2nd Coun	Date: c. 1900 to 1905	moved to Colonia Dublán until the Exodus.
Bishopric: Bishop Franklin D. Haymore	Date: 1906 December 16
Firsts: John Rencher began to survey the site into five acre parcels cut into four lots each.		brick homes, stores, church and schoolhouse were built
Population:  650	Date: 1905	typhoid, malaria, diptheria
Economy: peanuts, sweet potatoes, melons, corn, grapes, cattle dairy products, steers		Soil was extremely fertile
Events: President Anthony Ivins called Orson P. Brown and said, "Orson, I would like you to go over to Colonial Oaxaca and untangle this difficulty with the embargo on the land by Williams and Kosterlitzky."	Date: c. 1892
Events: Orson P. Brown accompanies church leaders to Colonia Oaxaca to try to settle the contentiousness in the community. Apostle J.W. Taylor prophesizes that if people do not repent and seek peaceful solution the town would be laid to waste.	Date: 1894	Mattie tells us "Orson and two partners opened a gold and silver mine near Oaxaca. A great flood came rumbling down the mountain washing the mine away and the town of Colonia Oaxaca was completely washed away."
Events: Great Flood due to convergence of  the rivers with the  Rio Bavispe and snowfall melted by abundant rains. 80% of residents abandon the colony	Date: 1905 November	Town is wiped out except for church and schoolhouse. More than 80% of population abandoned the colony and returned to the U.S. or started over again in the new Colonia Morelos. This colony was never rebuilt

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