Obed, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Obed, Arizona
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Obed, Arizona
Location in Arizona
Obed, Arizona
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Arizona |
| County | Navajo |
| Founded | 1876 |
| Abandoned | 1877 |
| Founded by | George Lake and Company |
| Elevation | 5,023 ft (1,531 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST (no DST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (MST) |
Obed, Arizona was once a small town in Navajo County, Arizona. It was located about three miles south of a place called Joseph City, Arizona. A group of people from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints started the town in 1876. Their leader was George Lake. Today, Obed is known as a ghost town because no one lives there anymore.
Life in Obed
When the settlers arrived, they built a strong fort. The fort was shaped like a square, about 12 rods (a unit of measurement) on each side. Its walls were ten feet high. To protect themselves, they added special towers called bastions at two corners. These towers and the walls had small openings called portholes. These were used for defense.
About 123 people lived in the settlement. This included a family with nine children. The settlers used wood from cottonwood trees to build things. By January 1877, they had a school. The next month, a special school for their church started. Phoebe McNeal was the teacher.
Why Obed Was Abandoned
The people of Obed faced many challenges. The area where they settled was not very healthy. Many people got sick with chills and fevers. Also, the location was chosen even though their church leaders advised against it.
Another big problem was with the dams they built. These dams were made of brush and logs. They kept washing away, making it hard to control the water. Because of all these difficulties, the settlers decided to leave. They abandoned Obed in March 1877, just a year after starting the town.
Other Early Settlements
Obed was one of four settlements along the Little Colorado River. The other three were Joseph City, Brigham City, and Sunset. Out of these four, only Joseph City is still a town today. The others, like Obed, became ghost towns.
