Pioneers at Willow Creek established farms in this area in 1874, a school and irrigation canal in 1879, and an early branch of the Latter-day Saints church in 1885. This portion of the East Willow Creek country became Shelton Ward on Aug. 14, 1892. It was named for John Shelton Howard, the first bishop. The pioneers worked untiringly to bring civilization to one of the old West's last frontiers.