Grafton was one of several settlements along the Virgin River colonized in the late1850s under the direction of Brigham
Young for the purpose of growing cotton on a commercial scale. Its history is a testament to the perseverance and
industrious spirit of early settlers. In 1859, Nathan Tenney led five families, including the Barneys, Davies, McFates, Platts
and Shirts, from nearby Virgin to a site on the Virgin River one mile downstream of modern-day Grafton. Crops were
planted, irrigation ditches created; homes and a school were built. The small community grew slowly as more settlers
came from Salt Lake City to settle the land. By fall of 1861 some families moved a mile up stream to the site of present
day Grafton.

The Grafton school/church building was built in 1886 by the dedicated people in this small town to meet their need for a
school and church building and to use for social events.