The Malad Valley is geographically located in a unique position in the Pacific Northwest. The Bear River and its main affluent, the Malad River, are the only rivers in the Pacific Northwest that drain into the Great Basin, whereas the other streams and rivers of the states of Washington, Idaho, and Oregon empty eventually into the Pacific Ocean. It is also characterized for being the northern end of prehistoric Lake Bonneville, and eventually it was through this valley that an outlet opened to drain the lake. The soil deposits from this lake left a fertile valley, capable of producing most crops found in this region.Circumstantial evidence gives indication of many mountain men trapping and exploring in this valley. One account credits Donald McKenzie with naming the Malad River in this valley in 1819 because the flesh of its beaver, when eaten, induced illness in the party. This account, the author found, did not pertain to the Malad River, tributary of the Bear River, but to the other Malad River which is a tributary of the Snake River, over 200 miles distant. Other evidence promotes the idea that the river was named Malade because French trappers became ill from drinking the water. The two Malad Rivers were named for the same reason. Evidence supports the idea that there were two rivers which caused the same ailment when the beaver flesh was consumed. The tributary of the Snake was named by McKenzie and the fur trappers merely referred to another Sick River (Malade), the tributary of the Bear River.

While a number of short articles and histories of Silver Reef have been written, they tend either to be anecdotal in character or to emphasize the merely sensational aspects of the mining camp. These writings have failed to investigate some of the most basic sources of information concerning this highly interesting mining epic in Southern Utah. Therefore, there remains a real need for a thoroughly researched and documented history of silver Reef - a need that this thesis tries to meet.

Patrick Edward Connor was a military officer who was given the duty of guarding the overland mail route in the West during the civil war. In addition to this he was to watch the Mormons in Utah and determine their loyalty to the government of the United States. He was the commander of the Military District of Utah and he established his headquarters at Camp Douglas which was near Salt Lake City, Utah.While stationed in Utah, Connor saw action against hostile Indians on the Bear River in Idaho and other places; had some problems with the Mormons; and became interested in the mining possibilities of the Utah territory.