In July 1850, a party sent by Brigham Young to explore the north end of Utah County, including Canute Peterson, David Savage, Charles Hopkins, Henry Royle, William S. Empey, William Wadsworth, and Surveyor Lemmon, traveled into Utah Valley. After a dispute in the American Fork area over land and water rights, they moved on, stopped at a stream they named Dry Creek, and explored the surrounding country as far south as Utah Lake and as far west as the Jordan River. They discovered a spring about three-fourths of a mile north of the lake and one mile east of the river and named it Sulphur Spring for the taste of its water. Impressed by the land, they surveyed an extensive tract and decided to return and settle there. On September 5th, 1850, David Savage directed immigrant families from Captain Aaron Johnson's company to make their home at Sulphur Springs, and more settlers followed in September and November until the first colony was complete. The settlers hurried to build winter shelter, using wagon boxes until cabins could be finished, and established fifteen cabins around the spring, though their full fort plan was never completed. During the first winter, stock ran at large until spring, regular religious services were held under David Savage and Charles Hopkins, and John Griggs White died in February and was buried north of the Dry Creek area, beginning the Pioneer cemetery above State Street. Most settlers endured the winter in patched clothing and without shoes but remained in good health. In 1851, after the Sulphur Springs settlers joined other nearby groups, the first ward in the area was created, with David Evans as bishop and David Savage and Charles Hopkins as counselors. The area later became known as Snow Springs after William Snow took possession of the land in 1853.