Montpelier History
Information comes from Treasured Tidbits of Time Volume I by Jens Patrick Wilde
Like most western towns, the name has been changed numerous times. At first it was known as Clover Creek by Oregon Trail travelers after the name given to the stream that flowed from the nearby canyon. As early as 1842 Montpelier Creek was called Tullick Creek by some and Clover Creek by some mapmakers.
Later it became Belmont and finally was given the name Montpelier by Brigham Young, after a town in his birth state of Vermont. The established history of Montpelier had its beginning in the early spring months of 1864 when sixteen original families came from the west side of the valley to settle.
Among those first families were the men or the families of Clark Ames, Charles Atkinson, John and Ann Bunney, John and Martha Cozzens, Dr. John Ellis, Gideon Harmison, Christian and Karen Hogensen, Ebenezer Landers, Thomas Mantle, John Maughn, Hezekiah Moore, William Severn, William Teeples, Isaac Thorn, John Turner and William Vaughn.
John Cozzens was selected the first community leader and was later established as the presiding elder. It was Cozzens who greatly assisted in the development of the community by constructing a much needed ferry over Bear River. At that time much of the land between Montpelier and Paris was marshy, water covered areas and extremely difficult for man or beast to cross, let alone wagons and possessions. Cozzens is also credited with the construction of the first cabin.
By mid-summer 35 families had reached the infant settlement and Joseph C Rich had been sent to survey the original town site. Within the year businesses had begun along 4th street as it was a choice location because of the Oregon Trail travel that was quite heavy. Among the earliest businesses was E L Burgoyne & Sons.
Its first city hall was a single room 20X30 log cabin located on the northwest corner of the LDS Tabernacle grounds. Adjacent was a shed which housed the first fire department and another that served as the local jail. The first fire fighting apparatus was a two wheel cart with a reel of hose and a hand pump.
Mail deliveries were first dropped off at the home of James and Harriet Holmes and for several years people came to them to send and receive their mail. In 1873 an official post office was established with Francis M Crawford as the first postmaster.
The first blacksmith shop was owned and operated by William Teeples who claimed to have shod as many as 12 teams in a day. As many as 43 wagons left Montpelier in a single day heading for Star Valley.
Dairies written by Oregon Trail travelers indicate that as early as 1866 open air school was being conducted on the banks of the creek during the summer months. In 1867 a one room school was constructed of logs and two of the first teachers were Sarah Laker and Sister Robinson.
It was William Budge, the Bear Lake Stake President, who first negotiated for the Oregon Short Line railroad to go through the valley. His plan was to have it enter the valley through Laketown Canyon and then travel along the west side communities and thence northward to Soda Springs. In his later years Budge said that one of his biggest disappointments in his life was when Edward Burgoyne and other Montpelier businessmen succeeded in getting the officials to change their plans and take the route through Montpelier.
During the years from 1875-1891 the town was run by county commissioners. Some businesses maintained a store in each of the two areas of town. Gradually however, the lower section of town grew the fastest because of its proximity to the railroad. On July 13, 1891, the commissioners united the community under one village board. Serving on that board was James Holmes-Chairman, Dr. C A Hoover, John F O'Connor, J H Kinnersley and F A Miles.
In 1892 that group filed a petition with the State of Idaho to become a second class city. In March 1893 the city was incorporated and on April 11, the following officers were elected to the first City Council; Edward Burgoyne-Mayor; Charles H Toomer-City Clerk; John A Kelley-Police Judge; Edward C Rich-City Engineer; Joseph C Rich, George Hillier, Charles Hager, George Robertson, Charles H Hammond and Peter Mayer as the councilmen.
In 1892 the railroad was extended to Montpelier, with a terminal being located here until 1972. The railroad brought a population that made Montpelier the county's "Gentile Town" as opposed to nearby Mormon-run Paris that was the county seat. Both cities would have tabernacles built in their city limits.
The 1900 census showed that Montpelier was the largest city in Bear lake with a total of 1400 people. U.S. Routes 89 and 30 intersect in Montpelier.
Montpelier had the first bank in southeastern Idaho. G C Gray established the Bank of Montpelier in 1891 and it was chartered No 1 of all Idaho banks. In 1896 Montpelier was the site of a bank heist by Butch Cassidy, members of Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch Elzy Lay and Bob Meeks who were supposedly trying to get enough money to bail out fellow gang member Matt Warner. This historical footnote has become a significant component of the town's identity and is commemorated by a plaque on Washington Street (Highway 89).
By 1902 the electric power plant was developed and a new hydro-electric plant was installed. A high school was first started in 1907 and F W Willis was the first superintendent. Four years later the first two students graduated. Montpelier High School was built in 1937. In 1967 Montpelier High School and Fielding High School were combined to create Bear Lake High School with the first graduating class in 1968.
The Montpelier LDS Stake was created Dec 23,
1917 and the tabernacle was completer Sep 14, 1919. City Hall was
completed in 1917.
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Information comes from the 1899
Illustrated History of Idaho, page 672
Montpelier is a city of sixteen hundred inhabitants, situated in Bear Lake valley, on the Oregon Short Line Railroad, ninety-nine miles east of Pocatello, and is nearly six thousand feet about sea level. It was first settled in April 1864 by fifteen men and their families, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, who in answer to the call of the church volunteered to go out and settle the valley.
Of those first fifteen brave and faithful pioneers the following are still living in the town, honored for what they have done; John Bunney, Christian Hoganson, William Severn; (here the record stops)