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In July 1853 I moved to Payson and intended to settle down as a farmer. I had thirty acres of land, good teams and everything ready to start. My return from California with little or no money made it hard to start.
On the 18th of July Kiel was killed by the Indians and the celebrated "Indian War" followed. women and Children were gathered to the school house in the night and men posted on duty to try and prevent a further disaster, as there were known to be over four hundred Indians within five miles under Chief Walker. But, for some reason they did not come. The next morning relief came from Provo with Gen. Peter W. Conover in charge, who was the commanding officer of the county. Efforts were made, by him, to get some men away from the saw-mill, some four or five miles distant up the canyon. In doing so they discovered that the Indians had left in the direction of Sanpete County.
As the Sanpete settlement was weak, it became necessary to send them relief. More troops were called from Provo and Springville and an expedition fitted out for Sanpete with Gen. Conover going in charge, leaving a strong guard at Payson under Major David Canfield. I now recall that at the reorganization of the Nauvoo Legion in September 1851, I was duly elected 1st Lieutenant in Company A Payson Cavalry. Though I had not been called for any particular duty, I found that the office with all of its responsibilities were expected of me now that war had broken out. Hence, nearly all of my time for the balance of the season was occupied in army matters.
Not wishing to give a detailed account of the Walker War, I simply say the whole territory of Utah was more or less affected by it. Fort walls were built around every settlement, requiring an immense amount of labor and toil. I sent my wife to Provo, which left me untrammeled for whatever was required.
Late in the Fall, after all was quiet, I went to Provo to move my family back but was induced to remain over winter. In the early spring I made arrangements to go back to Payson and raise a crop. My wife not wishing to return to Payson, I traded my thirty acres of land at that place for an old adobe house and two city lots worth, at that time, probably $75.00, though called $250.00. Then I arranged a partnership with one James Smith and became a "stone and adobe mason" and as building was in order, I done well that season. Late in the autumn of 1854, Smith, myself and Goddard built the first music hall in Provo (28' x 64') and completed it for theaters and dancing that winter and for several winters thereafter.
At the April Conference, April 6, 1855, I was called, with a number of others, to go on a mission "to the Indians" and was, on 30 April 1855, ordained a Seventy, and set apart for my mission by Apostle George A. Smith in the following blessing, recorded by John B. Milliner:
In the name of Jesus Christ, and in the Authority of the Holy Priesthood and Apostleship conferred on us, we lay or hands upon thy head, and we set thee apart to go forth as a messenger of the Gospel unto the Lamanites, to be a Savior upon the mountains of Israel unto the redemption of the seed of Joseph, and we say unto thee, be humble and the spirit of the Almighty shall rest upon thee and thou shalt have influence and great power to do good in the redemption of the children of Israel. Thy name shall be had in perpetual remembrance, and thousands shall rejoice in thy testimony. Exercise wisdom and faith, and thy dominions shall increase, thy children shall increase as the sands upon the sea shore. Thou shalt be prepared to inherit eternal glory in Celestial Kingdoms. We seal all these blessings of this mission upon thee in the name of Christ our Redeemer, Amen.
The above was inserted for it's preservation. I have had many blessings before and since the above, all pointing to the same, but have been lost or destroyed.
May 14th 1855 I bid farewell to my wife and home and joined the company that was designated as the Elk Mountain boys destined for Grand River, then the eastern part of Utah, where we were to build a fort and try to civilize the Ute Indians in that vicinity.
At Payson I tried to sell some land to help my family and get some things I needed along the way, but no one seemed to care for land, seeing I was going away, though it was in great demand before I was called. After spending some time, I finally met George Patten who condescended to give me a $10 rifle and one pound of powder for seven and one half acres of land next to the city, worth at that time not less than $75. Now it would bring several thousand, but as I had to have a rifle I was compelled to take it and go as the company had gone ahead the day before.
Thomas Wilson and myself then took the trail for Salt Creek on foot, but succeeded in catching the train at Pungeon Spring (now Willow Creek) at noon. At night camped near Salt Creek. Thomas J. Patten and others from Manti, met and camped with us. I traded guns with Patton and got 100 pounds of flour at Manti for the difference. When we got to Salt Creek, Now Nephi, the boys for the Las Vegas mission parted from us and we took the road for Manti where we arrived on the 19th of May.
On the 20th got my flour, repacked our wagon, got a steer from James Ivie to work with John McEwans cow, making four yoke to our wagon in which myself, Clinton Williams, John McEwan and Thomas G. Wilson were interested.
On the 21st moved out to Six Mile Creek in a storm. At night the company was organized with Alfred N Billings President, Joseph Rawlings Wagon Master and Oliver B. Huntington Clerk. At South Salt Creek, now Salina, we turned to the east, left the road and crossed the Wasatch Mountains to Huntington Creek where we met some Green River Indians who were very friendly and wished to pilot us across the Spanish Trail and save us two or three days. Some of our boys went with them as far as the ridge and we decided to go with them that way.
On the second day of June 1855 we reached Green River. River very high, large valley covered with large cottonwood trees. The next day being Sunday we held meeting and in the afternoon met with some of the Indians of the vicinity who made us welcome.
Fourth to eighth was occupied in crossing the river, broke camp at four-thirty PM and started for Grand River where we arrived on the tenth after a perilous journey for want of water, river very high and wind blowing a gale. I took until the 15th of June before all got across the river on account of high winds. Sunday, the 17th, President Billings selected Joseph Rawlings and William Holden as his counsel and some arrangements were made as to farming. Joined a mess with James A. Ivie's making a total of seven men in all.
On the 18th we commenced farming. Some of the men pulling and burning sage while others plowed and helped to clear the land. Some were called to burn coal, one to make a grind-stone, others to building a dam across Elk Mountain Creek for the purpose of turning water for irrigation purposes as the farming land had to be irrigated previous to planting and sowing, etc. On the 23rd we finished planting gardens, etc. Seven Indians came in and camped close by us. The next day being Sunday, we called in the natives and held meeting. They seemed pleased to have us among them. After they were told our business, etc., they became interested and wanted to learn to farm.
The fort was made at the foot of the East Mountains, near a spring not far from the dam in the river. Wagons, etc. were moved to the fort. was left in camp and worked on a saddle tree. On the 27th we began cutting logs for a corral which took us two days. We finished the corral in the afternoon. The Elk Mountain Chief (St. John) with three or four of his men, came down to see what was the matter in the north end of the valley. He saw great smoke (from the men burning sage). He did not know we were there until he came in sight of the wagons.
After a conversation between himself and the interpreter as to our business there on his domain, he expressed himself as well satisfied and said we were welcome to a share of his country; that we were the first white men (or red), that he had ever given any privileges to stop on his premises any longer than they had time to get away. He told them he had a dream the other night and that he saw the Mormons coming here to live on his land. How he went and got his men together and was going to drive them off, but the Great Spirit told him to let the Mormons alone, that he must be good friends and not fight any more, etc. He said he knew it was good for us to be there and wanted us to learn his wild boys how to plow, raise grain and work like we did.
Sunday July 1st, I went with Joseph Rawlings and others to accompany Chief St. John to his farm some twelve miles from our camp. His corn and melons looked fine though it had not been irrigated for some time. We assisted him in getting the water out of the creek and turned it upon his corn and then returned to camp leaving him well pleased.
On the 3rd William Hamblin and James Ivie commenced cutting hay for our mules and working on the farm. the next afternoon a company of St. John's Indians came in to trade. In the evening we held a council meeting for the purpose of taking into consideration holding a Fast Meeting on the morrow and decided we should.
Thursday, meeting at 10 o'clock, good speaking from different ones. All voted to hold Fast Meetings on the first Thursday of every month (as they do in the valley). The following day the teams commence hauling stone for the fort. I worked on the fort walls laying stone.
Sunday, the 8th, we held meeting in the afternoon. Good speaking in the afternoon from the boys. The following day I laid stone on the fort walls. As the walls began to rise, old Nicholas, (a relative of Chief St. John and others did not like our staying on this land and hauling stone and piling them up as we pleased. etc. (as they called it) which was soon settled satisfactorily. The next day large bands of Indians kept coming from all directions. The Arropean Chief of the Utah's came with the mail from Manti. The following three days we laid stone and rested part of the time.
Sunday the 15th, I wrote home several letters. Meeting was held in the afternoon with the natives. Chief Arropean gave them to understand our business here. With some good instructions relative to how they should do towards us. He spoke lengthy and with great power, which seemed to take deep root in the minds of the leading men of the natives.
On the 17th President Alfred N. Billings, John Lowery and myself finished laying our share of the fort stone wall. On the 18th I worked for Oliver B. Huntington laying stone. About noon a heavy shower of rain came down which done some good to our crops. In the evening I wrote home to my family. On the 19th Huntington's men finished their share of the fort. In the afternoon Bros. William R. Holden, John Crawford, James A Ivie, William Hamblin, John Lowry, William . Carroll, Stephen Moore and Columbus Perkins started for Great Salt Lake City with the mail. myself and others accompanied them as far as the river and ferried them across.
The next day I went to the river after some timber for a house. Hauling stone the following day to build a house while the boys finished hauling hay in the afternoon.
The 22nd being Sunday, we held meeting. I the afternoon several natives came forward for Baptism. We went to the river where President Billings baptized fifteen including several leading men, among them Chief St. John's brother and family, two of St. John's sons. St. John was absent at this time. On returning to the fort they were confirmed members of the Church. Some were ordained Elders and were set apart to; preach to their tribe, etc.
Twenty third hauled stone for the house while four men went to the mountains to look for timber for a gate for the fort. I commenced laying stone on our house in the afternoon. The boys returned from the mountains the following day, reporting there was an abundance of timber, rather hard to get at. A road would have to be made.
On the 26th I finished laying stone on the house, put the roof on, which was made of willows covered with hay and dirt. We moved our things into it.
The 29th, Sunday, we held meetings with the Indians. Brother O. B. Huntington and John Clark presiding. The native brothers felt well toward us. A few visiting strangers seemed to take some interest in the work.
The next few days was spent making a saddle and covering it. I traded one of my oxen for a horse.
The 2nd of August being Fast Day we held a meeting, a good spirit prevailing. The next two days we made fence around our hay and I covered another saddle.
The 5th, Sunday, held meeting. Bros. Moses Draper and William Freeman presided. Had a good meeting. On the 6th in the afternoon, Spoods, one of Arropean's band returned from the Navajos; reported that they (the Navajos) were friendly and that four of their Chiefs were coming with Arropean.
On the 8th, Arropean in company with the Navajo Indians arrived at our fort. The object of their visit was to make a treaty with the Elk Mountain Utes that they might travel the road and visit the Mormon settlement. They seemed well pleased with us and wished to get acquainted with our habits and customs. In the afternoon we killed an ox and gave them that they might have something to treat upon.
The next day was occupied by the Indians in making a treaty which, I believe was made satisfactorily by both parties. Arropean started for Manti and the Navajos for their country.
The 12th, Sunday, meeting was held in the forenoon. In the afternoon I crossed the river with some of the boys expecting to meet the mail from Great Salt Lake City but returned without success. The next five days were spent making a saddle and a gate for the fort, which was hung (one side was made of cottonwood logs hewn to eight inches thick, doubled and pinned together).
Eighteenth we hung the other side in the morning. In the afternoon I was shoeing my horse and fixing for going home with the mail. The next morning John Lowry, John Crawford and Stephen Moore returned from Great Salt Lake City bringing the mail. I received two letters from home. It being Sunday, we held meeting with the natives. A number was called upon (all those that had horses sufficient) to take the mail back to the valleys in accordance with instructions of President Brigham Young. I being one of the number, on the 20th we commenced fixing for a start on the morrow. I traded another ox for a horse, but in consequence of it not being in good condition, I left it with John Clark until I returned, which I expected would be in about five weeks. At half past twelve o'clock I started in company with fifteen others for Great Salt Lake City. We traveled to Quincy Rock Springs and camped. Had a little trouble with some of our animals, they being wild. At night I stood guard with Joseph Rawlings and others around the horses. The 22nd, packed our horses and traveled thirty six miles to Green River, crossed and camped on the west bank. 23rd, five of our company took the trail for Manta while the remaining ten took the Spanish Fork trail for Utah County, and traveled thirty miles to Duchesne Fork on the Green River and camped, muddy water and poor grass. On the 24th we traveled twenty four miles down Spanish Fork Canyon and camped on the Whitbeck Creek for the night. The 25th traveled through several deep ravines in Duchesne Fork, distance of 24 miles and camped at foot of high bluffs. The 26th, we traveled nineteen miles, killed a mountain sheep on our way and camped in the tops of the mountains.
On the 27th, traveled thirty one miles across mountains, down canyon forks, reaching the rim of the basin, then fourteen miles down Spanish Fork Canyon an camped for the night. The 28th, traveled on down the canyon to Springville. Here I left the company and rode on to Provo, where I arrived about 8 o'clock. I found my family all well and in good spirits. Remained at home the next three or four days receiving visits from my friends. September 1st, I went to Spanish Fork after a horse I left there on the 28th. Hunted all day without success. Spent the night with my Uncle William Pace. The 2nd, I got Wilson Pace to assist me in hunting. After searching the brush several hours we found the horse in the field near the river. Being near Payson, where mother lived, we concluded to go there for dinner. I found my mother and family well, spent a couple of hours and started home, arriving after dark.
I spent the remainder of the month at home settling accounts against the Provo Music Hall of which I was a partner, also paid Zemira Palmer two hundred dollars for an adobe house and two lots. October 1st I began to prepare for going back to Elk Mountains in a few days. The 2nd, an express came in from Manti stating the Indians had become hostile on Grand River and drove them from the mission, killing three of our boys and taking possession of the for, provisions, cattle, clothing and everything, the boys barely escaping with animals enough to get away on. That they were in a bad condition and were not able to get home having driven without eating for several days.
On the 3rd, I got Joseph Clark to take his wagon and horses and go with me to their assistance. We started about noon. I rode out on horse back for the purpose of assisting in driving their loose animals. Called at Springville and got Bro. J. G.. Metcalf to accompany me on horse back. Arrived at Payson after dark and stayed all night at Mother's. The 4th we prepared to start early when brothers Orson Miles and Brigham Lamb came in from Manti informing us the boys were getting along well and would not need the assistance of a team. I then selected brother Joseph Clark, J. G. Metcalf and myself. We went on horseback with some provisions for them and met them about two miles beyond Summit Creek. Bros. Clinton Williams, Stephen Moore and John Clark gave them some refreshments and returned to Payson. Had dinner at Mother's and came on to Provo in the evening. The 6th, I went to Great Salt Lake City with Stephen Moore. Arrived about dark. The 7th and 8th, attended Conference and was informed we would not go back this season. Returned home on the 9th, staying at home until the 16th. I went to Payson with my wife to get my corn down from there, which I had raised on my land.
The 18th, returned home this afternoon. C. A. Huntington, William H. Sterret and Richard James of the Elk Mountain Mission arrived in Provo, they having undertaken to come on the Spanish Fork Trail from Green River, but lost their way. Was out twenty four days, having eaten one dog and the greater portion of a horse in consequence of lack of provisions. the 19th, assisted in getting a team to take the boys home and get Clinton Williams to take them down to Great Salt Lake City.
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