Because the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was directly responsible for permanent settlement of European settlers in Cache Valley, it may not be a surprise to know that there were organized congregations very early in the valley.

On November 14th 1859 William B. Preston was called to be the first LDS bishop in Logan. He served until April 14th 1861 when growth in Logan demanded that the one ward be subdivided into four wards with bishops called for each: Benjamin Lewis (1st Ward), Henry Ballard (2nd Ward), John B. Thatcher (3rd Ward), and Thomas X. Smith (4th Ward). Each of these wards continue to be integral in the religious and cultural makeup of our city to this day.

Check out the following sources to learn more:

• Centennial, Logan First Ward, Logan Stake, April 14, 1861 - April 14, 1961. Logan, UT: 1961.
  
  
• Logan Logan First Ward: 150 Years [documentary]Logan, UT: 2011.
  
  
• Logan Religious History Collection, folders 1-4.
  
  
• Crookston, Douglas O. Henry Ballard : the story of a courageous pioneer, 1832-1908. [1994].
  
  
• Mauchley, Wilma. Logan 2nd Ward History. Logan, UT: [2004].
  
  
• MacFarlane, James L. History of Lucy Smith Cardon, Cache Valley's Aunt Lucy and Tommy Gordon, Bugler, Co. G, U.S. Infantry (Thomas B. Cardon), Civil War hero to business leader.2010].
  
  
• Morrell, Ada England.One hundred years of history of the LDS Logan Second Ward, 1861 to 1961. Pocatello, ID: Gateway Printers, [1961].
  

~ Jason, Special Collections Librarian