Forty Years Among the Indians A true yet thrilling narrative of the author's experiences among the natives

"The town of El Paso is situated on the right bank of the Rio Grande del Norte, in the State of Chihuahua, on a low bottom, liable to much damage from high water; land sandy. Th...

Learn of the "Mormons"--Leave with a Company bound for Salt Lake Valley with Eight Thousand Sheep--My First "Big Scare"--Surrounded and Threatened by Indians Many Times on the R...

President Young Requests Brother Brizzee and Myself to Prepare for a Mission to Mexico--Mileton G. Trejo Joins the Church--His Remarkable Conversion--I Report to President Young...

The mail company again fitted up with packs, leaving their coaches. They took Brother Heywood with them. This time making the trip successfully. They left all the meat they coul...

Deceit of my Interpreter--Indians Apply for Baptism--Some Truehearted Natives Receive the Ordinance--Help Given on our Ditch by the Pimas and Maricopas--The U. S. Agent Forbids...

We arrived in the Republic of Mexico on Friday. It was not long before everyone in El Paso knew of the arrival of Mormons. We were stared at, but nothing occurred until Sunday t...

We visited a few days with the Moquis, who received us very kindly. After taking into consideration our instructions to visit Salt River valley, we tried to hire an Indian to pi...

My wife remained in the city with me during the time we were delivering the goods, some three weeks. After getting through, I, in company with W. Roberts of Provo, fitted up a t...

We left Santa Fe about the loth of September, 1860. Two young men that came through from Utah, whose homes were in the States, accompanied us on horseback. They were well mounte...

we made our first camp, in an old house. I had taken from the city a large, strong dog with the idea of having a camp guard, as wolves and other wild animals were in the mountains.

Another Trip to Uintah Agency--Confidence of the Indians--My Return to Salt Lake City--Call on Secretary Delano--G. W. Dodge Visits the Indians as a Peace Commissioner--Speech o...

During the Black Hawk war a great many from Utah and Salt Lake counties were sent out to repel the Indians and assist in protecting the settlements of Sanpete and Sevier countie...

Whisky Sold to the Indians--I Forbid the Traffic--Douglas and his Band Demand an Order to get Fire-water--They Threaten to Kill me--My Trick on them for Threatening me--Mr. Dodg...

This chapter will be devoted to what I have seen and learned about Apaches and other southern tribes. The common supposition is that the Apaches are by nature and desire a blood...

Difficulty in Finding the Trail--The Character of our Commanding Officer--My Discharge as Guide--A Proposition to Kill Stith--Rejected by Moore and Myself--Arrival at Santa Fe--...

Accidental Shooting of my Son-in-law--My Opinion of Early Colonization by the Saints--I go on an Exploring Trip--I Find the Land Described by President Young--I Endeavor to Make...

We had received information that a great many natives lived in the Canton de Guerero. This district commences about one hundred and fifty miles west of the city of Chihuahua and...

My offer was unfavorably received, and I was told to have the cash ready to pay by the time named. I counseled with those who presided over me, and though the advice I received...

In 1861, I went to Provo valley and took up land on Snake creek, where I fenced a farm, built a house, and corrals and raised a crop of wheat and potatoes and while binding whea...

Pulling Sticks--"Rawhide Against Corn"--Our Buffalo Hunt-- Dissatisfaction at the Food Rations--Permission Given to eat All that was Wanted--Ben Hampton's Prophecy--Its Fulfillm...

I will give you a short account of the actions of the first authorities of Franklin as given to me by the main actor, that the "tenderfeet" of the present day may know a little...

The Troops Ordered from Camp Floyd to New Mexico--I am Solicited to Act as Guide--Through the Killing of an Ox I am Charged with being a Traitor to the Church--The Trial--My Acq...

While the work of printing was in the press, the brethren wanted to go on the mission were selected. It was agreed instead of going by rail road and ocean to Mexico, that we wou...

Major Chaffee had been watching the efforts of the whites to rob the natives of their rights. He had reported to the proper department the condition of affairs. He did all he co...

Word reached Utah on the twenty-fourth of July, 1857, while the people were celebrating Pioneer day in Big Cottonwood canyon that U. S. troops were on the road to Utah. As soon...

My Severe Toil in Getting to Camp--Three Stray Cattle Come to the Fort--The Second Company of the Y. X. Express Passes us--Our Hunt for the Cattle--Two Days' Travel Without Food...

On leaving the Gila our route led to Tucson. We crossed the eighty-five mile desert where the Battalion suffered so much for water. When we crossed there were two wells furnishi...

Before writing any further account of our travels and experiences in Mexico. I will explain as briefly as I can the cause of the mission being called and the expectations entert...

After leaving Namaquipe the the next place of importance is El Valle. We arrived about noon and halted on the public square. We saw a large crowd collected at a corner store. I...

More white people were coming into the valley all the time to settle, and a deep prejudice against the Indians was soon developed. I was accused of being in collusion with them...

The Indians were greatly pleased to see me. It is well understood by all who are acquainted with Indian character, that they are undemonstrative as a rule, except when angry, es...

I returned to Provo after the October conference. Soon after my return a large party of Mexican traders from New Mexico arrived in Utah and camped near by. They came in on their...

Soon after the events just narrated occurred, Major Chaffee took command at Camp McDowell. He soon "took in" the situation and took an interest in the welfare and rights of the...

The winter storms had now set in, in all their severity. The provisions we took amounted to almost nothing among so many people, many of them now on very short rations, some alm...

On the 29th of January, 1852, Miss Harriet Emily Colton was united to me in marriage. All I will say at present is, that her life and labors are as much a part of mine as is pos...

We passed down the Virgin river, crossed the Colorado at Stone's Ferry, then through Mineral Park, Walapai Valley, Cottonwood, Anvil Rock, Oaks and Willows and Walnut Creek, lea...

I left the company feeling a little downcast, to return to Devil's Gate. It was pretty well understood that there would be no relief sent us. My hopes were that we could kill ga...

The mail company went down fifty miles to Platte bridge to winter. Marshal Heywood decided to remain with us and live or die, as the case might be, preferring to be with his bre...

The wagons being sent out for the goods soon began to arrive. Provisions were not in question now, as we had plenty. There was also a big Y. X. company, Levi Stewart in charge,...

We expected to get some assistance from a man by the name of William Martin, whom we were acquainted with. He had been at Provo merchandising, but had moved to Denver.

About noon, while we were in camp, a gentleman, apparently some forty-five years of age, came down the trail from the mountains. His outfit consisted of two fine looking mules,...

I arrived home about the 1st of July, 1876, found my family all well; I settled down to work at once making saddle-trees, as they were in good demand, and my family needed the h...

One item of home history that I took a small part in I will mention. At the August election of city officers of 1874 there was an attempt made by the U. S. marshal to control th...

We found the road from the Gila to Camp Apache to be most of the way about the roughest any of us had ever seen. It was all we could possibly do to get over some of the rough pl...

Having seen the sufferings of Brother Willie's company, we more fully realized the danger the others were in. The Elders who had just returned from England having many dear frie...

On arriving in Salt Lake, in company with Mr. Morgan, the agency blacksmith, who had been discharged by the clerk because he refused to put long, sharp corks on the agent's team...

I attended the October conference of 1856. When conference was opened President Young arose and said: "There are a number of our people on the plains who have started to come wi...

After settling myself with the Bishop's family, I soon got so that I could hobble around a little. Everyone was kind and treated me with great confidence. I listened to the elde...

WHEN the troubles began Brother George A. Smith, who was presiding in Utah county was in Salt Lake City. There was much confusion in the county. All the cattle belonging to Prov...

Cross the Plains with Volunteers to Engage in War with Mexico-- Attacked by Mounted Comanches--Remain in Mexico about Three Years after the War--Indulge in many of the Wild and...

I now made up my mind to get the best understanding of various tracts of lands, then for sale. I succeeded to my satisfaction. I wished, before leaving Mexico, to get some of ou...

After the Indian troubles were settled I was advised to move to Sanpete valley to try and keep an influence for peace with the whites as well as the Utes. The authorities of San...

During the winter I made several trips to Salt Lake City in company with Patrick, one of the firm in whose employ I was. The winter was very cold, we were glad to get under shel...

My health became entirely restored. After coming to Provo I worked wherever there was a demand for help, and after harvest was over I concluded to go to Salt Lake City to have a...

I remained in Manti until April, 1851, when I, still in the employ of Patrick and Glenn, came down to Spanish Fork and helped to open the first farm on that stream; it was known...

Learn of the "Mormons"--Leave with a Company Bound for Salt Lake Valley with Eight Thousand Sheep--My First "Big Scare"--Surrounded and Threatened by Indians Many Times on the R...

Cross the Plains with Volunteers to Engage in War with Mexico--Attacked by Mounted Comanches--Remain in Mexico About Three Years after the War--Indulge in Many of the Wild and R...

The Troops Ordered from Camp Floyd to New Mexico--I am Solicited to Act as Guide--Through the Killing of an Ox I am Charged with being a Traitor to the Church--The Trial--My Acq...

Pulling Sticks--"Rawhides Against Corn"--Our Buffalo Hunt-- Dissatisfaction at the Food Rations--Permission Given to Eat all that was Wanted--Ben Hampton's Prophecy--Its Fulfill...

President Young Requests Brother Brizzee and Myself to Prepare for a Mission to Mexico--Mileton G. Trejo Joins the Church--His Remarkable Conversion--I Report to President Young...

Whisky Sold to the Indians--I Forbid the Traffic--Douglas and his Band Demand an Order for Fire-Water--They Threaten to Kill me--My Trick on them for Threatening me--Mr. Dodge O...

My Severe Toil in Getting to Camp--Three Stray Cattle Come to the Fort--The Second Company of the Y. X. Express Passes us--Our Hunt for the Cattle--Two Days' Travel Without Food...

Another Trip to Uintah Agency--Confidence of the Indians--My Return to Salt Lake City--Call on Secretary Delano--G. W. Dodge Visits the Indians as a Peace Commissioner--Speech o...

Accidental Shooting of my Son-in-law--My Opinion of Early Colonization by the Saints--I go on an Exploring Trip--I Find the Land Described by President Young--I Endeavor to Make...

My Scrutiny of the Mormons--Employment as an Indian Trader --Acquaintance with "Winter Mormons"--A Proposition of Theft--Loomas Threatens my Life--My Resolve to Kill him--He Fin...

Difficulty in Finding the Trail--The Character of our Commanding Officer--My Discharge as Guide--A Proposition to Kill Stith--Rejected by Moore and Myself--Arrival at Santa Fe--...

Deceit of my Interpreter--Indians Apply for Baptism--Some True-Hearted Natives Receive the Ordinance--Help Given on our Ditch by the Pimas and Maricopas--The U. S. Agent Forbids...