While Albert Richins was at Henefer part of April and May, the writer, Philip A. Paskett and William C. Bitteridge Sr. stayed on the claim or camped on them sometimes going to Canyon for house logs and poles. Two of our work horses had died leaving us with two. We felt rather discouraged, as we lost these two were left, they stayed off so we felt they were afoot. We hunted for them day after day, sometimes walking up the big mountains at the head of Red Butte and back in a day, about sixteen miles, testing our strength to the limit as we sometimes had nothing but a piece of bread to eat. We were camped near the creek where the Mecham farm is located now. We had lost our animals for about two weeks. When one morning Bro. Bitteridge looking more cheerful than usual said, “We are going to find our animals today, or hear of them.” The writer said, “I hope so.” We went up Red Butte Canyon, sat down on the cliffs of granite rock on the big mountain to rest and got back to camp extremely tired and hungry. The writer under these conditions felt rather skeptical, and when nearly back to camp said to Bro. Bitteridge, “What about finding our horses now? ”He said, “We'll find out yet.” When we got to camp it was just getting dark and when we arrived, a big man was leaning against the wagon awaiting our return. He said to us, “Well, I've found where your horses are. They are down at Terro Hicks and Sickels have them hauling ore with them and you can get them by paying $3.50.”The man referred to was Robert Orr from Tooele. We were very glad to hear the news so we finally got our animals.

During these difficulties we never forgot our prayers. We went to canyon and hauled out a set of house logs. As we were going up the big mountain stopping the team to rest one day, Bro. Bitteridge looking around at the grass remarked, “A man could easily mow this grass with a mowing machine if it wasn't for the brush that is scattered amongst it.” I mentioned this to show how the feed used to be on the hills, and in fact it was fine almost anywhere.

Even at this time we used to hold meetings in private homes, as there were a few houses on the West Creek which was five miles away, one house down at the forks of the creek belonging to Marshal Grover.

In the first part of April 1877, A. F. Richins and R. A. Jones threshed with flails the first wheat that was raised in Grouse Creek being raised on the West fork by Elisha Hubbard who had moved there with his family. It was about fifteen bushels of wheat and needed for seed. There were others settlers on the West Creek, namely Levi Beetol, Charles Brizzes, Charles Smith, father and two brothers, Alma Richardson, Isaac Kimball, and Ara Sabins. We found camped at the forks of the creek Valison Tanner, Richard E. Warburton, Ezra Rowberry and Wm. Gallaher from Tooele.Valison Tanner had charge of a cooperation herd of cattle from Tooele.

The following named came from Tooele, also, the latter part of March, 1877: Isaac Lee, his son, Joseph B. Lee, his son-in-law, Daniel McLaws, David H. Toyn, and Thomas Davis, arriving about the middle of April, located claims on the East Fork of Grouse Creek at the south of Red Butte canyon. After locating the claims, they returned home to Tooele except Joseph Lee, who was left in charge of the claims. They returned to Grouse Creek the next November arriving on the 15^th; David H. Toyn bringing his family with him.

On the morning of the 9^th of April 1878 Albert F. Richins went out to hunt for his work oxen, and found them about a quarter of a mile from his shanty. Both oxen were dead lying close together having been poisoned during the night with poison weeds. He had been working them with a yoke of oxen belonging to the writer, Philip Paskett. A. F. Richins used to hold the plow and the writer driving the two yoke of cattle.