Board of Soldier Settlement

The Utah State Soldier Settlement Board worked in cooperation with the United States in the reclamation of State and public lands to provide homes and employment for soldiers, sailors, marines and others who served with the armed forces of the United States. The benefits were also available for citizens of the United States but soldiers received priority. The Board held the power to work with other State agencies and the Federal government to drain, irrigate, fertilize and do what was necessary to provide suitable land. Throughout its existence, the Board collected information on various projects in the state and waited for the necessary legislation, which based on their records did not come.

W.R. Wallace, (Soldier Settlement Commissioner) Dr. E. G. Peterson(Utah Agricultural College), G. F. McGonagle (State Engineer) were the members of the Soldier Settlement Board.

The Soldier Settlement Board consisted of three members: the president of the State Agricultural College (now Utah State University), the State Engineer, and an appointee of the Governor who was designated as the "Soldier Settlement Commissioner." According to the Laws of Utah, the Commissioner held his office for five years, or until a successor was appointed and qualified. O. J. Grimes was nominated and appointed as the secretary in the first meeting. The secretary was paid a salary and was responsible for the typical office duties but was not a member of the Board. The members of the Board served without compensation but were reimbursed for expenses incurred through their work.

Although the act creating the Soldier Settlement Board was not repealed until 1929, and the five-year term of the Commissioner should have been up, the sparse records of the Board do not show a change in membership. The last record of the Board is from January 1921. Their activity, if any, after that date is unknown. It is possible that the Board aligned with the Western States Reclamation Association.