WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Shunesburg, Utah
(aka Shonesburg)
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LOCATION
Shunesburg is situated on the current boundary of Zion National Park,
on the south (or southeast) fork of the Virgin River (Rio Virgin)
at the mouth of Parunumeap Canyon in Washington County, Utah.
37.16666 North Latitude, 112.95 West Longitude
37.15812 North Latitude, 112.97766 West Longitude
37.15806 North Latitude, 112.97694 West Longitude
37° 9' 29" North Latitude, 112° 58' 37" West Longitude
Elevation: 3,979 feet (1,121 meters)
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HISTORY
In the fall of 1861, Brigham Young called a group of people
to leave Sanpete County and go to settle in southern Utah.
This group consisted of Oliver DeMille, George Petty, Hyrum Stevens,
Alma Millett, Hardin Whitlock, Charles Clapper, and their wives and children.
Oliver DeMille purchased some land along a small creek
from an old Paiute Indian chief named Shunes (or Shones).
A town site was laid out and a settlement commenced
which the people called Shunesburg or Shonesburg and sometimes Shuensburg or Shirensburg.
In the following year (1862), this little group of pioneers was joined
by Alma Millett, Artemus Millett Jr., Samuel Gifford, and Amos H. Stevens.
And then in 1863 another group came, including
Artemus Millett Sr., Walter Stringham, James Thaxton, John J. Allred, Hyrum Stevens,
Barney Stevens, Elisha Stevens, Ezra and Franklin Stevens with their mother,
and Elisha Everett. Later, Mrs. Mary Parker and her sons (Samuel and William), other Parkers,
John Alma Beal, Joseph Millett Sr. (son of Artemus Millett Sr.), Walter Renner,
Walter Winsor, George Potter, Eliza Potter, Guard Potter, and mother and sisters Sarah and Weltha,
Joseph Scott, and others joined them.
The population grew to 45 by 1864.
The pioneers built dams and tried to tame the unpredictable Virgin River.
They dug an irrigation ditch and cleared the fertile land.
They planted orchards, vineyards, corn, cane, cotton, and other crops,
but it was 1865 before they finally had a good harvest.
This little band of people lived in peace and prosperity,
laboring together as one family until the Indian troubles of 1866.
Then frequent raids by Navajo and Paiute Indians make it unsafe
for this handful of people to remain in this isolated and secluded place.
In the spring of 1866, the settlers from Shunesburg, Springdale, and Grafton
moved to Rockville for mutual protection.
They left their crops to mature behind them.
But after all the families were safely settled in Rockville,
the men would go in groups to their farms with whatever firearms they could muster up
to protect themselves if attacked by the Indians.
Fortunately, they were unmolested in their secluded nooks, while all around them,
raids and murders were frequently reported.
By 1868, the Indian troubles had pretty much subsided
and some of the original settlers returned to Shunesburg.
The community prospered and the population peaked at 82 in 1880.
Shunesburg was always closely tied to Rockville.
Until about 1865, the people of Shunesburg had no ward of their own
and would travel the six miles to Rockville for religious services.
Then Oliver DeMille was called as the Presiding Elder in Shunesburg
and John J. Allred was made superintendent of the Sunday Schools.
This ecclesiastical organization lasted for about three decades.
Over the years as the flooding of the river washed away farmland,
the Shunesburg settlers moved on, mostly to Rockville.
Shunesburg was gradually abandoned.
By 1897, there were no longer enough children to hold a school.
By the year 1900, only Oliver DeMille was left and even he moved to Rockville in 1902.
A 1904 report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
showed 35 acres of land under irrigation in Shunesburg.
Today, only the DeMille rock house, a cemetery, and some rock ruins remain.
The little land that the river left intact is now private farmland without public access.
It currently supports a commercial apple orchard.
Jim Trees, who recently passed away,
used to let the descendents of those buried in the cemetery
visit the graves each Memorial Day weekend.
For the current situation, contact Lori who is manager of The Springdale Fruit Company
at (435)772-3822.
HISTORICAL SITES
PEOPLE
TBD
PHOTOS
WCHS-00443 DeMille rock house in Shunesburg
WCHS-00445 Karen Platt and the DeMille rock house |
WCHS-00446 DeMille rock house |
Other WCHS photos:
WCHS-00444 Photo of the DeMille rock house at Shunesburg
WCHS-00447 Photo of the end of the DeMille rock house at Shunesburg
WCHS-00448 Photo of the exterior of the DeMille rock house at Shunesburg
WCHS-00449 Photo of the exterior of the DeMille rock house at Shunesburg
WCHS-00450 Photo of the exterior of the DeMille rock house at Shunesburg
WCHS-00451 Photo of the exterior of the DeMille rock house at Shunesburg
WCHS-00452 Photo of the exterior of the DeMille rock house at Shunesburg
WCHS-00453 Photo of the roof and chimney of the DeMille rock house at Shunesburg
WCHS-00454 Photo of a fireplace and interior of the DeMille rock house at Shunesburg
WCHS-00455 Photo of a fireplace and interior of the DeMille rock house at Shunesburg
WCHS-00456 Photo of the interior of the DeMille rock house at Shunesburg
WCHS-00457 Photo of the interior of the DeMille rock house at Shunesburg
WCHS-00458 Photo of the interior of the DeMille rock house at Shunesburg
WCHS-00459 Photo of the interior of the DeMille rock house at Shunesburg
WCHS-00460 Photo of the threshold of the DeMille rock house in Shunesburg
WCHS-00461 Photo of ruins of the DeMille rock house in Shunesburg
WCHS-00462 Photo of ruins of the DeMille rock house in Shunesburg
WCHS-00463 Photo of rock ruins in Shunesburg
WCHS-00464 Photo of rock ruins in Shunesburg
WCHS-00465 Photo of rock ruins in Shunesburg
WCHS-00466 Photo of rock ruins in Shunesburg
WCHS-00467 Photo of the remains of a rock wall in Shunesburg
WCHS-00468 Photo of a rock wall in the Shunesburg area
WCHS-00469 Photo of a stream in the Shunesburg area
Other photos on the web:
Photo of the family of the Oliver DeMille stone house with tin lined corn crib in the foreground
Photo of the family of Oliver DeMille Sr. and his second wife Fidelia Winget in Shonesburg
Photo of the Oliver DeMille Family in Shonesburg
REFERENCES
Church History Library, Salt Lake City, Journal History of the Church: Index
Shunesburg (also Shonesburg)
1862: Sept 11, page 1
1864: May 8, page 2
July 23, page 1
November 6, page 4
1865: April 20, page 2
May 7, pages 2, 4
October 22, page 4
November 5, page 2
1866: March 15, page 5
May 26, page 1
June 1, page 2
October 5, page 3
December 31, page 1
1868: March 16, page 3
August 17, page 2
October 31, page 3
1870: April 5, page 2
September 10, page 3
December 31, page 2
Shune’s Creek
1862: September 25, page 3
Shonesburg
1872: June 9, page 4
1873: December 1, page 2
A History of Washington County From Isolation to Destination
Second Edition, 2007
Book by Douglas D. Alder and Karl F. Brooks
Pages 32-33, 75-76, 418
A brief history of Shunesburg by ???
OnlineUtah.com history of Shunesburg
Washington County Chapter, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers,
"Under Dixie Sun"
1950 with 1978 Supplement
Page 125-126.