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Marysvale
(Piute County) is twenty-eight miles south of Richfield
on US-89. The community was originally settled in 1863,
later abandoned because of Indian troubles, and then resettled
again. There are several claims for the name source. (1)
It was named by a group of Catholic miners for the Virgin
Mary. (2) Parley P. Pratt named it Merryville when he
passed through in 1849 because of the beautiful surroundings.
The name was supposedly later changed to Marysvale. (3)
Brigham Young named the settlement for his wife Mary.
(4) The settlement was named Merry Valley or Merry Vale
when Brigham Young and his party camped there when they
were traveling through the area on visits to local settlements.
During their visit, they enjoyed an evening of relaxation
and stag dancing. Stag dancing was common during this
time because men were the predominate members of traveling
groups. The name Merry Vale was gradually changed to the
more euphonious Marysvale. (John
W. Van Cott)
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