History of Utah, Part 37

Author: Whitney, Orson Ferguson
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Salt Lake City, Cannon
Number of Pages: 1026

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Those aided by this fund were expected to reimburse it,-paying back into its treasury, as soon as they were able, the amounts expended in their behalf; to be used for the benefit of other poor

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emigrants. Thus was the fund made "perpetual." Many promises to pay failed to materialize, some from sheer poverty, and others from indifference and neglect. But the vast majority of those who were aided duly discharged their obligations. Five thousand dollars were subscribed to the Fund at its inception in October, 1849, and Bishop Edward Hunter was forthwith sent to the frontier to put in operation its provisions, and superintend the next season's emigration.

The same fall many Mormon Elders were sent to various parts of the world,-mostly to Europe. As these were the first missionaries to go from the Rocky Mountains, the names of all became more or less historic. Among them were John Taylor, Curtis E. Bolton and John Pack, who went to France; Erastus Snow and P. O. Hansen to Denmark, John E. Forsgren to Sweden, Lorenzo Snow and Joseph Toronto to Italy, Franklin D. Richards, Joseph W. Johnson, Joseph W. Young, Job Smith, Haden W. Church, George B. Wallace and John S. Higbee to Great Britain, Charles C. Rich and Francis M. Pomeroy to Lower California, and Addison Pratt and James Brown to the Society Islands. Addison Pratt had but recently returned from a five years' mission to those islands, where twelve hundred souls had been baptized. Accompanying Apostle Rich, a party of Elders went to the California gold mines.

It may here be noted that during the prevalence of the "gold fever" it required the exercise of all the influence that the Mormon leaders could command to prevent a rush of many of their people to the gold-diggings. Brigham Young feared that if the Church became generally infected with this spirit, it would materially retard if not put an end to the colonization of the Great Basin, as well as corrupt the morals of the community. He pleaded with his people accordingly, and prevailed. Some of them went to California, never to return, but the vast majority "listened to counsel" and remained in the Rocky Mountains. These were the men and women who made Utah. The others helped to build up California. It must not be inferred, however, that the Elders who went with Apostle Rich to

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the mines did so contrary to the President's advice. Their mining was for the benefit of the Church. Some of them were soon called to leave their gold-digging and go upon a mission to the Sandwich Islands.

Brigham Young, in spite of all that has been said upon the subject, never opposed mining for its own sake, but because he fore- saw the demoralizing effect that a general thirst for gold would have upon the Mormon community. This was not only the case in 1849, but in later years. It constituted the main reason for his attitude against what he deemed the premature opening of the Utah mines .*

Among those who accompanied General Rich to California were James Flake, who was captain of the company, George Q. Cannon, Henry E. Gibson, Joseph Cain, Thomas Whittle, Henry E. Phelps, Joseph H. Rollins, Peter Fife, Peter Hoagland, William Farrer, John Dixon, Edgar Gibson, George Bankhead and William Lay. This was the first party to go to California by the southern route. They had a severe experience, but finally crossed the Sierras in safety. Major Jefferson Hunt, of the Mormon Battalion, also went west by this route about the same time, but acted as guide to a company of emigrants. The Elders called to the Sandwich Islands were Hiram Clark, George Q. Cannon, Henry W. Bigler, Hiram Blackwell, Thomas Whittle, Thomas Morris, John Dixon, James Hawkins, William Farrer and James Keeler. Some of these had preceded the Rich company to California.

A Carrying Company, to freight goods from the Missouri River and convey passengers to the gold regions, was organized at Salt Lake City toward the close of 1849. The projectors and proprietors of this enterprise were Shadrach Roundy, Jedediah M. Grant, John S. Fullmer, George D. Grant and Russell Homer. The through rate for

* The General Epistle of the First Presidency and Apostles in the fall of 1849 contained this : "The true use of gold is for paving streets, covering houses, and making culinary dishes, and when the Saints shall have preached the gospel, raised grain and built up cities enough, the Lord will open the way for a supply of gold to the perfect satisfaction of His people. Until then, let them not be over-anxious, for the treasures of the earth are in the Lord's storehouse, and He will open the doors thereof when and where He pleases."

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passengers to Sutter's Fort was $300; while goods were carried at the rate of $250 per ton. In either case two-thirds of the money was payable in advance, and the remainder on reaching Salt Lake City.

In November of this year Sanpete Valley was settled by a com- pany from Salt Lake City, led by Isaac Morley, Charles Shumway and Seth Taft. Phinehas Richards was also one of the company. They formed a settlement near the present site of Manti, the location of which town was selected some time later. Manti is a name taken from the Book of Mormon. Sanpete is a variation of Sanpitch, a noted Indian chief of the Utah nation.

The first steps toward the settling of Tooele Valley were taken about the same time, though not, as in the case of Sanpete, by an organized company. John Rowberry is popularly regarded as the pioneer of Tooele County, and his name will always be the most prominent one in the early history of that locality. He went there from Salt Lake Valley in December, 1849, his object being the same as that which had taken Captain Sessions and others into Davis County two years before, namely : to find grazing lands for stock. Mr. Rowberry had charge of a herd belonging to Ezra T. Benson. Several weeks before him, however, a party of men, also in the employ of Apostle Benson, arrived on Settlement Creek, a little south of where Tooele City now stands. One of these men was Phinehas R. Wright, a mill-wright. Their purpose was to build a mill near the mouth of Settlement Creek Canyon." It was there that John Rowberry joined them. Tooele Valley was named after the Tule, a variety of bulrush abounding in that locality. Mis-spelled Tooele by Thomas Bullock, the pioneer clerk, in a public document of that period, the orthography has since remained unchanged. Tule is a word from the Mexican.

* Francis H. Lougy, of Tooele, who was but a little boy when he went there in 1849 with his step-father Phinehas R. Wright, states that five families went together immediately on the adjournment of the October Conference. The names of the heads of these families he gives as follows: Phinehas R. Wright, Cyrus Call, Cyrus Tolman, Sam Mecham, Orson Brafett and the mother of Eli B. Kelsey. Mrs. Kelsey had no family with her at the time.

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CHAPTER XXII.

1849-1851.

SALT LAKE, WEBER, UTAH, SANPETE, JUAB AND TOOELE COUNTIES CREATED-PARLEY P. PRATT EXPLORES SOUTHERN UTAH-THE FIRST INDIAN WAR-A SKIRMISH AT BATTLE CREEK- THE TWO DAYS' FIGHT AT PROVO-TABLE MOUNTAIN - A TREATY OF PEACE-THE PIONEER NEWSPAPER OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS-DEATH OFPRESIDING BISHOP WHITNEY-THE FIRST P. E. FUND IMMIGRATION-GEORGE A. SMITH PIONEERS IRON COUNTY-EDUCATIONAL BEGINNINGS-THE UNIVERSITY OF DESERET-THE CITIES OF SALT LAKE, OGDEN, PROVO, MANTI AND PAROWAN RECEIVE THEIR CHARTERS-THE FIRST MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IN THE GREAT BASIN.

HE General Assembly of Deseret convened again in December, 1849, and held brief sessions at intervals through the winter. It created the counties of Salt Lake, Weber, Utah, Sanpete, Juab and Tooele. Juab County at that time was unsettled. The Assembly appointed a Supreme Court to hold annual sessions at Salt Lake City, chartered the University of Deseret, and enacted other laws to which reference will be made later. It also commissioned Parley P. Pratt to raise a company of fifty men, with the necessary teams and equipment, and explore southern Utah .*

The personnel of this expedition was as follows:

FIRST TEN.

Isaac C. Haight, Captain,

Chauncey West,

Parley P. Pratt,

William Wadsworth,

Dan. Jones, Hial K. Gay,

George B. Mabson, Samuel Gould, Wm. P. Vance.

Rufus Allen,

* Parley had previously explored the canyon now called by his name; also Parley's Park, to which it leads. It was due to his personal exertions that Parley's Canyon was opened as a route for emigration soon after his return from the south. It was then called the "Golden Pass."

HISTORY OF UTAH.

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SECOND TEN.

Joseph Matthews, Captain, Jolın Brown, Nathan Tanner,

Homer Duncan,

John H. Bankhead,

Wm. Matthews,

John D. Holiday,

Schuyler Jennings,

Robert M. Smith.

Starling G. Driggs,

THIRD TEN.

Joseph Horne, Captain,

Alexander Wright,

Seth B. Tanner,

Wmn. Brown,

James Farrer,

Alexander Leinon,

George Nebeker,

Henry Heath,

David Fullmer.

Benjamin F. Stewart,

FOURTH TEN.

Ephraim Green, Captain,

Andrew Blodgett,

Thomas Ricks,

Wm. W. Phelps,

Wm. Henry,

Robert Campbell,

Charles Hopkins,

Peter Dustin,

Isaac H. Brown.

Sidney Willis,

FIFTH TEN.

Joseph Arnold, Captain,

Stephen Taylor,

Jonathan Packer,

Isaac B. Hatch,

John C. Armstrong, Dimick B. Huntington.

Christopher Williams,

Parley P. Pratt was president of the company and William W. Phelps and David Fullmer were his counselors. John Brown was captain of the fifty, W. W. Phelps, topographical engineer, and Ephraim Green, chief gunner. Besides small arms, one brass field piece went with the expedition, which was equipped with twelve wagons, one carriage, twenty-four yoke of oxen and thirty-eight horses and mules. A few beeves, with flour, meal, bread and crackers supplied the commissariat. The company was organized at Captain Brown's residence on Cottonwood, about the only house then intervening between Salt Lake City and the Provo settlement.

Pratt's expedition penetrated as far south as the confluence of the Santa Clara River and the Rio Virgen, the latter a tributary of the Colorado. Among other places explored was the valley now known as Mountain Meadows, the scene of the horrible tragedy of several years later. They also indicated a place for a settlement in Little Salt Lake Valley, nearly three hundred miles south of Salt

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Lake City. There, on a stream called Centre Creek, afterwards sprang up the town of Parowan, the first settlement of Iron County.

Returning northward in January, 1850, half the party, under David Fullmer, went into winter quarters on Chalk Creek, near the present site of Fillmore, in Millard County; while Parley P. Pratt, with the remainder, pushed on toward Provo-Fort Utah-over a hundred miles distant. Parley's record of January 26th relates the following incident: "In the morning we found ourselves so com- pletely buried in snow that no one could distinguish the place where we lay. Some one rising, began shoveling the others out. This being found too tedious a business, I raised my voice like a trumpet, and commanded them to arise; when all at once there was a shaking among the snow piles, the graves were opened, and all came forth. We called this Resurrection Camp."

Aptly named, poetic Parley ! ' Sixty miles farther, through frost and snow, brought them to the Provo settlement, and the beginning of January found President Pratt at home in Salt Lake City. The rear portion of his party returned in March.

Meantime had broken out those Indian troubles which afflicted at intervals for several years the outlying settlements of Utah, particularly those south of Salt Lake Valley. Utah County was the original seat of war, and it was there that some of the hardest fights between the settlers and the savages occurred.

It will be remembered with what reluctance the Timpanogas Indians who met the Higbee colony in March, 1849, permitted the first white settlement on Provo River, and that, too, in spite of the invi- tation previously extended to the colonists by the chiefs, Sowiette and Walker, to settle among their tribes and teach them how to become civilized. It has also been stated that soon after Fort Utah was founded, Walker, according to Colonel Bridger and Mr. Vasquez, began stirring up the Indians against the Mormon settlers. In this movement Walker was aided by another chief named Elk,-variously styled Big Elk, Old Elk, etc.,-like himself a hater of the whites, and apparently quite as fond of fighting. It was with Big Elk and his

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band that the Provo settlers, in their first regular battle with the savages, had immediately to deal.

It was believed by Governor Young that Colonel Bridger and other mountaineers were at the bottom of much of the ill-feeling manifested by the red men, and that they were incited to attack the Mormon settlements. The Governor, however, seemed to have confidence in Mr. Vasquez, who had opened a small store in Salt Lake City, and whose interests to that extent were identified with those of the settlers.

The Indians, at first so friendly with the Utah Valley colonists, began their depredations in that vicinity in the summer or fall of 1849. Grain was stolen from the fields, cattle and horses from the herds, and now and then an arrow from an Indian bow would fall uncomfortably near some settler as he was out gathering fuel in the river bottoms.

The first fight with the Indians took place on Battle Creek, near the site of Pleasant Grove, It occurred in the autumn. There, Colonel John Scott, with thirty or forty men, after a sharp skirmish defeated the savages under Chief Kone -- also called Roman Nose- and drove them up Battle Creek Canyon. Five Indians were killed, but none of Colonel Scott's men were hurt. He had been sent south to recover some stolen horses taken from Orr's herd in Utah Valley, and several cattle stolen from Ezra T. Benson's herd in Tooele. Battle Creek derived its name from this initial encounter between the Indians and the Deseret militia.

For some reason the authorities at Salt Lake City did not altogether approve of the conduct of this campaign. No doubt they regretted the necessity for a military expedition against the savages, and deplored the fatalities attending it, not only from humanitarian considerations, but fearing probably that it would precipitate a general war, and unify all the savage bands of the vicinity against the handful of settlers at Fort Utah. "Shed no blood" was a standing general order to the Mormon militia in those days, and the troops were expected to adhere to it wherever possible.

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Yet blood had now been shed, and the Indians were doubtless exasperated. This may or may not have been the reason that Colonel Scott was found fault with. That would materially depend upon the nature of the orders he had received from his superiors, and his ability under subsequent circumstances to carry out those orders. It is a fact, however, that the Colonel fell under some censure at the time, and because of it declined to take part in succeeding Indian campaigns.

It is said that the Utah Indians never sought revenge for any of their number killed while stealing or making an attack.# But the Battle Creek skirmish, which was not strictly an affair of that kind, could not but have the effect of straining the relations between the settlers and their savage neighbors, and extinguishing in the hearts of the latter what sparks of friendship yet remained. They continued their petty depredations, and became bolder and more insolent daily. The settlers at Fort Utah would occasionally fire their cannon to warn the redskins that they were not unmindful of their misdeeds, and were prepared to maintain their rights. But the Indians were not to be awed by sound and smoke. Their nefarious practices went on. They were evidently provoking a conflict. Stock continued to be taken from the herds, and all efforts to recover stolen property were stoutly resisted. Finally the Indians began firing on the settlers as they issued from their fort, and at last the stockade was virtually in a state of siege.

No longer was it arrows alone that fell around them. Bullets whizzed past their ears. The Indians were now well supplied with fire-arms and ammunition, obtained in exchange for horses, mostly from California emigrants who had passed through the country.

Captain Stansbury's party, during the fall, had been surveying around Utah Lake, where they also were much annoyed by the savages. As winter came on, they suspended their labors and returned to Salt Lake City, feeling satisfied that in the existing state

* Colonel George A. Smith is authority for this statement.

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of affairs in Utah Valley, it would be both difficult and dangerous for them to continue operations in the spring, exposed as they would be to attacks from the savages, either in open field or deadly ambush. The subsequent sad fate of Lieutenant Gunnison and his party on the Sevier showed that these apprehensions were well grounded.

As for the inhabitants of Fort Utah, they patiently bore their annoyances and losses until nearly spring, when affairs became so serious that they felt compelled to appeal for aid to Governor Young and the Legislature, still in session at Salt Lake City. Captain Peter W. Conover, in charge of military affairs at the fort, and Miles Weaver carried the message of their anxious fellow settlers to head-quarters.

Governor Young, on receiving the message, found himself in a somewhat peculiar position. That the beleaguered settlers must be relieved, and at once, was evident; not only for their own sakes, but for that of other settlements already forming or in prospect in the south. But how best to relieve them was the question. The thought of more fighting and bloodshed was most repugnant to him. Not for worlds would the Mormon leader have the sons of Laman think that he and his people came among them for that purpose. "Feed them and not fight them," was his life-long motto and policy toward the red men. Besides, how would the authorities at Wash- ington, by whom the petition of Deseret for statehood was then being considered, regard the opening of a warfare by the Mor- mons upon these dusky "wards of the Government?" Deem not this a trifling consideration, reader. A people like the Mormons, whose every act, owing to the prejudice existing against them, was liable to be misinterpreted, had to be cautious and circumspect in their public acts and policies, where other communities, whose loyalty and good intents were unquestioned, might have risked all with impunity.

Fortunately there was a government officer on the ground, a brave and honorable man,-Captain Howard Stansbury. It being evident-all conciliatory efforts having failed-that force must be

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employed to put an end to the aggressions of the savages, the Captain was asked by Governor Young and other officials for an expression of opinion as to what view the Government would probably take of it. "I did not hesitate to say to them," says Stansbury, "that in my judgment the contemplated expedition against these savage marauders, was a measure not only of good policy, but one of absolute necessity and self-preservation."

He therefore warmly approved it, and not only that, but at Governor Young's request permitted Lieutenant Howland to accompany the expedition as its adjutant, and contributed arms, ammunition, tents and camp equipage for the soldiers. Dr. Blake, of the Stansbury party, acted as surgeon for the expedition.

A company of fifty minute men under Captain George D. Grant started first, and were followed by fifty others, commanded by Major Andrew Lytle. Colonel Scott had been ordered to go, but declined, for which he was afterwards court-martialed. Major Lytle went in his stead.

The expedition set out early in February, 1850. The weather was extremely cold, and the snow, frozen and hard-crusted, was over a foot deep in the valleys. Progress was therefore rendered very difficult. Captain Grant's cavalry, after marching all night, on the morning of the 8th arrived at Provo River. Such a march was deemed necessary in order to take the Indians unaware and secure an advantageous position. The militia found the settlers in their fort on the south side of the stream, and the Indians strongly entrenched in the willows and timber of the river-bottom, a mile or two above. They were protected not only by the river-bank, but by a breast-work of cotton-wood trees which they had felled. Near by their strong-hold stood a double log house facing the river. This house, which at one time became the center of action in the fight that ensued, was immediately opposite the Indian fortification. It had been deserted by one of the settlers who had taken refuge with his family at the fort. The house was now held by the savages who, during the battle, kept up a continuous fire from its windows

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and crevices, as well as from their redoubt, upon the attacking party.

Captain Conover, commander at the fort, united his men with Captain Grant's, and the main forces then proceeded to occupy a position near a deserted building about half a mile south-west of the log-house mentioned. The Indians were led by Chiefs Elk and Ope- carry-surnamed "Stick-on-the-Head"-the latter, like Sowiette, rather friendly with the whites, while Elk, as has been stated, was more like the warlike Walker. Ope-carry, it seems, desired peace, and had come out of the redoubt to talk with Dimick B. Huntington, the interpreter, when Elk and his warriors opened fire, and the battle was thus begun.

The engagement lasted two days, during which an almost incessant fusilade was kept up between the white assailants and the dusky defenders of the river redoubt. Artillery was also employed against the savages, but with little effect, as they were right under the bank, and most of the balls passed harmlessly over. A squaw was killed by a chain shot, however, during the progress of the fight. The Indians would make frequent sorties, and after delivering their fire, return to cover. Again, they would thrust their gun barrels through the snow lying deep upon the banks above them, and momentarily raising their heads high enough to take aim, discharge their broad-sides at the besiegers. They fought so stubbornly that all efforts to dislodge them for a time proved futile. They killed Joseph Higbee, son of Isaac Higbee-then President of the settlement-and wounded several others of the attacking force.

Finally, in the afternoon of the second day, Captain Grant, whose care had been to expose his men as little as possible, determined to capture the log-house at all hazards. He therefore ordered Lieutenant William H. Kimball, with fifteen picked men, to charge upon the house and take it. Among those who participated in this charge-the one daring exploit of the campaign-were Robert T. Burton, Lot Smith, James Ferguson, John R. Murdock, Ephraim

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HISTORY OF UTAH.

K. Hanks, A. J. Pendleton, Orson K. Whitney, Barney Ward, Henry Johnson and Isham Flyn. Kimball and his men proceeded up the river until directly opposited the log-house, which now intervened between them and the stream. They then turned to the left, facing the rear of the house, and the leader gave the word to charge. Dashing forward through a ravine that for some moments hid them from view, the horsemen emerged upon the flat and were within a few rods of the house, in the act of crossing a small slough, when a roaring volley from the log citadel met them. Isham Flynn was wounded and the charge was momentarily checked. Several swept on, however, and the Indians, hastily vacating the house, fled to their entrenchments .** The first two troopers to gain the house were Lot Smith and Robert T. Burton, who, riding around to the front of the building, entered the passage between the two compartments. Bullets whizzed past them, splintering the wood-work all around, but both they and their horses were soon under shelter. Their companions, a moment later, gathered to the rear of the house, and none too soon, for the Indians, recovering from their surprise, began pouring their volleys into the ranks of the cavalry and upon the captured building. Half the horses were instantly killed, and their riders escaped by miracle. Between the volleys, Lieutenant Kimball, Ephraim Hanks and others, darting around the corner of the house, gained the inside, while others waited until an opening had been made in the rear.

To support the cavalry charge, Captain Grant ordered forward a small detachment of infantry. These men, ten in number, were a portion of Captain Conover's command, and were led by Jabez B. Nowlin. On reaching the log-house, with saw and ax they effected an entrance at the rear. Some, however, went around the corner into the passage, and were fired upon by the savages; Nowlin being wounded in the nose.

The services of a surgeon were now in demand. Seeing that

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History of Utah, Part 37

Author: Whitney, Orson Ferguson Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Salt Lake City, Cannon Number of Pages: 1026

Author: Whitney, Orson Ferguson
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Salt Lake City, Cannon
Number of Pages: 1026