--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Freund, Charles J. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 16 number: 3 published: 1913-01 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Freund, Charles J., "The Jewish Farm Colony at Clarion II," *Improvement Era* 16, no. 3 (January 1913): 248–254.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1603unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1603unse start_page: 248 end_page: 254 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1913-01) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1603unse publication_year: 1913 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1913, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Jewish Farm Colony at Clarion II The Jewish Farm Colony at Clarion, Utah BY RABBI CHARLES J. FREUND, TEMPLE b'nAI ISRAEL, SALT LAKE CITY II. In the American Jewish Year Book, for 1912-13, published by the Jewish Publication Society of America, occurs the following paragraph of interest to the people of Utah and vicinity "An experiment is being made in Sanpete county, on the Sevier river,Utah, by the Jewish Agricultural and Colonial Association, an organization of Jewish immigrants, largely residents of Philadelphia. The association purchased, in 1911, about six thousand acres of plateau land directly from the State of Utah. Under the leadership of Benjamin Brown and Joseph Miller, the latter a graduate of the National Farm School, fifteen pioneers took possession of this land, and during the fall and winter of 1911 broke up and planted fifteen hundred acres in wheat, oats and alfalfa. The plan calls for the settlement of one hundred and fifty families. The entire tract is to be cultivated on a co-operative basis, until the settlement is completed, when it will be, parceled off into forty acres for each family. It is intended to bring over the first group of thirty families after the harvesting of the first crop." The colony at Clarion is yet in the experimental stage. It has weathered the first year with a degree of encouraging success. Obstacles have been met and, due to indomitable perseverance, have been overcome. It is not to be presumed that you can lift a : THE JEWISH FARM COLONY AT CLARION, UTAH. 249 vast body of city dwellers and, under the magic hand of farm school and agricultural college graduates, convert them into trained farmers. Perseverance, coupled with physical endurance, and also the will to conquer mother earth to the service of man, can accomplish wonders. And this is witnessed by the colony at Clarion. On Sept. 11, 1911, twelve young men, led by Mr. Benjamin Brown, a graduate of the Pennsylvania Agricultural college, and Mr. Joseph Miller, a graduate of the National Farm school at Doylestown, Pa., arrived at Gunnison, Utah, and made their way thence in a southerly and westerly direction to a point about ten miles distant. Here they established their temporary camp, preparatory to settling on the land which had been purchased from the State of Utah. Members of the Jewish faith, all but one of their number born in foreign lands, aliens so-called, their first act was to plant an American flag in the soil, a mark of devotion and allegiance to the country of their adoption. The twelve men were the advance guard of the Jewish Agricultural and Colonial association, whose members live mainly in New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. The land on which they settled was bought from the State of Utah under favorable terms. The idea of paternalism is foreign to the minds of those who sponsor the experiment. Though but moderately situated, these men ask favors and charity at the hand of no man. For they are self-respecting members of society. On the success of the Utah colony depends the promotion of other schemes to induce others to take up farming in the West. Among the sponsors of the Utah colony, the National Farm school at Dolyestown, Pa., is to be mentioned. The graduates of to instruct the that institution are among the leaders of the colony, members of the latest methods to get from the soil the most for Dr. energy expended. The National Farm school, organized by existence for Joseph Krauskopf, of Philadelphia, has been in nearly fifteen years agricultural "The National Farm school aims especially to afford enter state agricultraining to young men who are not prepared to tural colleges.Its course of study is outlined for young men of common school education. The institution is supported by private sub- appropriations scriptions from all parts of the country and by annual 250 IMPROVEMENT ERA from the state of Pennsylvania and from the Federation of Jewish Charities, of Philadelphia, and other cities. It is national and non- sectarian. Its course covers a period of four years; tuition, board, lodging, and clothing are free. Some of the graduates have made reputations for themselves as experts in various branches of agriculture, as instructors in agricultural colleges, and as managers of plantations in the South and of fruit farms in the West, and recently as leaders of the Clarion Colony, in Utah." Beginning on Sept. 11, 1911, those twelve men set to work to reclaim the soil. Almost incredible is the story of their achievement. Previously they had been mechanics, sweat-shop workers, peddlers of produce. Now they were their own masters, parts of that vast army who are doing the great reclamation work of this BENJ. BROWN AT WORK great western country. They were not afraid to work, and to use the rather romantic expression of their zealous leader, Benjamin Brown, who cannot be sufficiently praised for his work, though his modesty forbids his accepting such praise, "they worked twentyfive hours a day." It was a novel experience for those dwellers of the city who found joy in their work, despite the hardships which they bore uncomplainingly. By the time early spring had arrived, these pioneers with others of their number who had arrived on "the land," had prepared fifteen hundred acres which were ready for seeding to wheat, oats and alfalfa. While the hours of daylight were utilized for the outdoor work, the night time was de- — THE JEWISH FARM COLONY AT CLARION, UTAH. 251 voted to theoretical study under the guidance of their trained leaders. The rigors of the winter were borne without complaint, and the advent of spring was welcomed by these men who jubilated in the thought that they were their own masters. For the purpose of this narrative, it may be permitted to recount a personal experience: on June 9, 1912, in company with our wide-awake and energetic governor, William Spry, and Mr. George T. Odell, I made a visit to the Colony. Arriving at the place where the camp had been established, we were greeted by the twenty-seven men, twelve women and thirty children. Aside from the "Welcome" sign which met our eyes, we were most forcefully struck by the sight of the flag of our country, planted in the ground, and which is also the flag of these erstwhile aliens. We mingle for a time among the people. A woman, the mother of a boy of twelve and a girl of six, approaches the Governor. Perhaps you imagine that she is going to ask for some favor. In this — you are mistaken. She asks, it is almost too good to believe it to be true, — for a school for her children. And we are shown the place already selected for a school house. Mary Antin, in her now famed book, The Promised Land, — the composition of one who had been an immigrant from the same country, Russia, from which many of these colonists come, tells of HARVEST CELEBRATION, GOV. SPRY SPEAKING : 252 IMPROVEMENT ERA her first day in America. The thirst for knowledge is unquenchable. She says "Education was free. That subject my father had written about repeatedly, as comprising his chief hope for us children, the essence of American opportunity, the treasure that no thief could touch, not even misfortune or poverty. It was the one thing he could promise us when he sent for us; surer, safer than bread or shelter. On our second day, I was thrilled with the realization of what this freedom of education meant. A little girl from across the alley came and offered to conduct us to the school. My father was out, but we five between us had a few words of English by this time. Weknew the word school. We understood. This child, who had never seen us till yesterday, who could not pronounce our names, who was not much better dressed than we, was able to offer us the freedom of the schools of Boston. No application made, no questions asked, no examinations, ruling exclusions; no machinations, no fees. The doors stood open for every one of us. The smallest child could show the way." A THRESHING OUTFIT It is not to be wondered that with a thirst for knowledge such as was displayed by that Jewish mother, that the Russian Jew in time makes a good citizen. And as we look about us we see the waving fields of green and notice the pride of the colonists in the result of their work. August 18, 1912, is a gala day at Clarion. The first annual harvest day celebration is being held. From all parts of the neighboring country people come to take part in the celebration. They rejoice with the pioneers that they are about to enjoy the results of a hard year's work. The outcome, due to certain local causes that were beyond their control, did not reach their fullest THE JEWISH FARM COLONY AT CLARION, UTAH. 253 expectations ; but they do not despair, for they feel that they are congenially located. Their neighbors have on various occasions come to their assistance when needed. The celebration is a deserved tribute to undaunted zeal. Over one thousand people celebrate on this eventful day. It is the day of triumph for the Clarion Colony. The celebration over, the colonists return to their work, feeling assured that success is theirs. What they need now to assure that success is the helping hand and sympathetic co-operation, for the other factors, zeal, work and energy they themselves are ready to supply. SALT LAKE CITY. UTAH LADY MISSIONARIES IN WESTERN STATES MISSION Taken at Denver, Oct. 29, 1912. Back row: Mary L. Edwards, Idaho Falls; Maud Kirkham, Lehi; I et.na Zundel, West Portage; Mary Ella Condie, Springville. Second row: Mrs. George B. Taylor, Manti; Sarah M. Hansen, Richfield; Jane Hamilton, Murray; Frances Bird, Springville; Mabel Smith, Preston, Idaho; Phoebe J. Thomas, Pleasant View, Idaho; bottom, Mary E. Idaho Falls; Dagmar Mollerup, Salt Lake; Mrs. John L. Her- Thomas, Pearl Christensen, rick, Cora Hansen, Rexburg; Josephine Herrick, Richfield, Utah. —