• Preface
  
• Introduction
  
• Chief Walker
  
• Yosemite
  
• Grand Canyon
  
• Walker Pass
  
• Rutherford
  
• Topogs
  
• 1776
  
• Timeline
  
• FamilyPictures
  

    Chief Walker = 1852 wearing a traditional Trapper's hat and the red sash of an officer.

Above Chief Walker Sitting in Council Sept 4 1852 (There was a strange note: This is the same "Joseph Walker" painting that was loaned to Fredrick Hawkins Piercy to copy for his book.)

White settlers viewed Wakara as "a fine figure of a man...a crack shot, a rough rider, and a great judge of horse flesh. He is very clever, in our sense of the word. Said to have spoken English, Spanish and was a peculiarly eloquent master of the graceful alphabet of Indian Sign Language , which stranger tribes employ to communicate with one another. He also had a great since of geology and the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements. He wasn't your average everyday bear. 

It is said that Chief Walker began raiding horses from California in 1829. Funny as it may seems, in August of 1829 Ewing Young and 40 men, including Kit Carson set out for Sacramento, California to trap and buy horses, equipped with a passport from  Secretary of State Henry Clay & the Mexican minister. They head north of Taos, west over the divide past San Juan & Chama Rivers thru Navajo country to the Colorado. Somewhere near the Salt River, Young kills 15 to 20 Apache. Having sent half the party back to Taos, Young and 18 men pass thru the Cajon Pass to the mission San Gabriel early 1830. Trapping along the Sacramento & San Joaquin Rivers, unlike Jed Smith, Young has no difficulties from Mexican officials. They encounter Peter Ogden and 60 men of the Hudson Bay Company & traveled with them for 10 days. 

 Stranger yet, in January of 1830 Joe Walker packs up and leaves his deputy Jacob Gregg as Sheriff of Jackson County and goes horse shopping.  By November: Ewing Young’s trappers are now in the horse and mule business with a vengeance; begin stealing stolen Spanish horses from Indians, probably Apache.

Young's horses and mules went over the Spanish Trail and found there way to Missouri. At about the same time, Joe Walker travels to Fort Gibson with a fresh herd of horses where he just so happens  to bump into "Sam Houston". 

1840 May: Chief Walker, Bill Williams, Peg-Leg Smith, Phil Thompson and Levin Mitchell out stealing horses in southern California. Some say that Peg-Leg Smith was the leader.

1844 May 20th: Fremont meets Chief Walker.

We met a band of Utah Indians, headed by a well-known chief, who had obtained the American or English name of Walker, by which he is quoted and well known. They were all mounted, armed with rifles, and used their rifles well. The chief had a fusee (fusil), which he carried slung, in addition to his rifle. They were journeying slowly towards the Spanish trail, to levy their usual tribute upon the great California caravan.

a real "Walker" Officers Flintlock Fusil

They were robbers of a higher order than those of the desert. They conducted their depredations with form, and under the color of trade and toll, for passing through their country. Instead of attacking and killing, they affect to purchase--taking the horses they like, and giving something nominal in return. The chief was quite civil to me. He was personally acquainted with his namesake, our guide, who made my name known to him. He knew of my expedition of 1842; and, as tokens of friendship, and proof that we had met, proposed an interchange of presents. We had no great store to choose out of; so he gave me a Mexican blanket, and I gave him a very fine one which I had obtained at Vancouver.

1848 May--It was not far from Little Salt Lake that we met the Eutah Indians. At this point, we found one of their principal chiefs, "Wacarra, "or Walker, as he is commonly called by the Americans. His encampment consisted of four lodges, inhabited by his wives, children, and a suite of inferior warriors and chiefs. This party was awaiting the coming of the great Spanish caravan, from whom they intended taking their yearly tribute which the tribe exact as the price of safe-conduct through their country.
George Douglas Brewerton, Overland with Kit Carson, 1848

1849 February 28^th: Mormon Captain John Scott and 40 men attack destitute Ute Indians at Battle Creek Canyon, Utah. Five warriors killed, and capture 25 women and children including Black Haw

 1849 June 14^th: Chief Walker appeared suddenly in Salt Lake City at the head of a large contingent of Utes, to speak with Brigham Young about the intentions of the Mormons towards his people.

1849 August 5th: Standing on the west bank of the Green River William Lewis Manly and his six companions watched the soldiers and emigrant party disappear into the distance. Having split off from the main group in lieu of the "river" route to California, the men made preparations to begin their descent down the Green. In addition to Manly, the band of adventurers included, John Rogers, Richard Field, the brothers Charles and Joseph Hazelrig, M.S. McMahon, and Alfred Walton. Because of his travels and confident manner, Manly was elected captain of the group.

In Ashley Valley, the group met the famous Ute Chief Walker who persuaded them that further travel down the Green River would be fatal. There the party split - McMahon and Field didn't trust Chief Walker and decided to continue down the river. The Ute Chief's words proved true as McMahon and Field had to abandon the river in Desolation Canyon and wound up walking overland back to Wyoming. They eventually made it to Salt Lake City in December 1849, via Fort Bridger. Manly and the remaining four headed overland towards Salt Lake.

The Indians here have the reputation of being blood thirsty savages who took delight in murder and torture, but here, in the very midst of this wild and desolate country we found a Chief and his tribe, Walker and his followers who were as humane and kind to white people as could be expected of any one. I have often wondered at the knowledge of this man respecting the country, of which he was able to make us a good map in the sand, point out to us the impassable cañon, locate the hostile Indians, and many points which were not accurately known by our own explorers for many years afterward. He undoubtedly saved our little band from a watery grave, for without his advice we had gone on and on, far into the great Colorado cañon, from which escape would have been impossible and securing food impossibility, while destruction by hostile Indians was among the strong probabilities of the case. So in a threefold way I have for these more than forty years credited the lives of myself and comrades to the thoughtful interest and humane consideration of old Chief Walker.
 

1851: Wakara was given a "talking paper" by George A. Smith certifying "that Captain Walker and Peteetneet of the Eutah Indians and their band have resided here about 3 weeks and as they have showed themselves friends and gentlemen and are now leaving to visit your settlements it is my desire that they should be treated as friends, and as they wish to Trade horses, Buckskins and Piede children, we hope them success and prosperity and good bargains."

1852 July 4th to 26th: Andrew Goodyear party in Salt Lake "remained in the neighborhood twenty-two days," traveling nearly the length of the Great Salt Lake Basin south to the headwaters of the Sevier River, where he met with Walker the little chief of the Utah Indians. (Ben Holladay)

 “Our company numbered but four, consisting of my uncle (Andrew), then and now resident in California, who was returning to his home, from a visit to the States; myself (William), who was crossing the continent mainly for the love of adventure; another young man (Ben Holladay), and an Indian boy, about sixteen years old, called Joe. The boy had been brought from the Indian country, and was about as wild and ungovernable a spirit as ever chased a buffalo or shouted the war-whoop.” (William E. Goodyear)

1853 July: Towards Spring through the prayers of the Saints and the blessings of my Heavenly Father, my health commenced to mend slowly and continued until I was able to attend to some business but not to labor. I employed myself in writing as before mentioned until the 23rd of July, 1853 (the 24th being on Sunday) when I met with the brethren of Parowan to celebrate the 24th; and on the 25th the brethren from Parowan, with myself, met with the brethren in Cedar and celebrated the 24th, and we had a good time in both places. And on the 26th an express arrived from Great Salt Lake City, informing us that Walker's band of Indians had made war against the inhabitants of the territory and had killed one or more brethren and had driven away many of their cattle. Orders were also received from the governor-that all the out settlements should immediately repair to some fortified post.

Solomon N. Carvalho was a Jewish-American born in South Carolina in 1815. He was a portrait painter, daguerreotypist, and expeditionary artist. He died in New York in 1897.

In 1853-54, Carvalho accompanied John C. Fremont on his fifth expedition from Missouri to Utah, a journey that required travel over several ranges in the Rocky Mountains. Carvalho became seriously ill and left the Fremont party in Parowan, Utah and then traveled to Salt Lake City. While in Salt Lake, he became a popular portrait artist with subjects including Brigham Young, authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and other Utah notables. He published this event in 1857.

 We left Payson at nine o'clock, on the 10^th May 1854, and camped at noon, on a creek twelve miles S. S. W. from town.

The country around looks beautifully verdant, brilliant colored flowers cover the plain, and the grass is excellent. At five o'clock P. M. we camped before Nephi, which is a large town, containing six hundred men, women and children; one hundred and fifty men bearing arms, six hundred head of cattle, and six hundred sheep, flour-mills, saw-mills, etc. Jos. L. Heywood, president, Josiah Miller mayor.

The Governor and party, were met by the authorities of the city, I was introduced to the old Patriarch Wm. Cazier, who invited me to the hospitalities of his house. Nephi is twenty-six miles from Payson. I attended meeting this morning, and Governor Young addressed the people, exhorting them to be kind and friendly to the Indians, etc. To-morrow we are to have an interview with Walker, the Utah Chief.

A portion of the cattle intended for him was obtained at this place. The massacre of Captain Gunnison, by the Parvain Indians, caused great excitement among the inhabitants of the villages. The various tribes of Indians, who had, at different times, been wantonly and cruelly shot down, like so many wild beasts, by the American emigrants to California, were now incited to revenge. The first principle inculcated among them was life for life; it made no difference whether, in their wrath they massacred an innocent, or an unoffending man; "a white man slew my brother, my duty is to avenge his death, by killing a white man." Their first open demonstration, was the massacre of Gunnison; and the allied troops of Utahs, Pahutes, Parvains, and Payedes determined to continue in open hostility, both to the Mormons, and Americans. The inhabitants of the different settlements withdrew within the walls of their towns, and vigilant watchers, well armed, patrolled them all night. Major Biddell, the sub Indian agent, was sent to parley with the chief of the tribes, and succeeded in obtaining a truce, until the Governor could personally make arrangements for a treaty of peace.

Preliminaries being settled, the chiefs of the tribes were to meet Governor Brigham Young, at the camp of the Wakara. We left Nephi, and arrived at noon, on the road opposite to Wakara's camp, twelve miles from town.

TREATY OF PEACE WITH THE UTAHS.

The camp-ground or village where Wakara permanently resides, when not travelling, is situated about one mile off the main road, from the city of Nephi, to the Sevier River (Chicken Creek).

 Gov. Young made extensive preparations for this treaty. A large cavalcade accompanied him from Great Salt Lake City, composed of Heber, C. Kimball , Woodruff, John Taylor, Ezra T. Benson, Lorenzo Young, Erasmus Snow, Parley Pratt, (his apostles and advisers), together with about fifty mounted men, and one hundred wagons and teams filled with gentlemen, with their wives and families. This was an imposing travelling party, all following in regular succession; taking the word of command from the leading wagon, in which rode Gov. Brigham Young. One of his wives, an accomplished and beautiful lady, who made her husband's coffee, and cooked his meals for him at every camp, thus making herself a most useful appendage to the camp equipage, as well as an affectionate and loving companion to her spiritual lord while travelling. I sometimes formed a third party on the road, and frequently had my seat at their primitive table, which was, in fine weather, a clean white cloth, spread over the grass; or, in rainy weather, a movable table was arranged in the wagon. Venison, beef, coffee, eggs, pies, etc., were served at every meal.

I have often stopped at the top of some commanding eminence, to see this immense cavalcade, lengthened out over a mile, winding leisurely along the side of a mountain, or trotting blithely in the hollow of some of the beautiful valleys through which we passed, to the sound of musical choruses from the whole party, sometimes ending with

"I never knew what joy was 
Till I became a Mormon,"

to the tune of "bonny breastknots." Certainly, a more joyous, happy, free-from-care, and good-hearted people, I never sojourned among. When the cavalcade arrived on the road, opposite to Walker's camp, Gov. Young sent a deputation to inform Wakara that he had arrived, and would be ready to give him an audience at a certain hour, that day.

Wakara sent word back to say, "If Gov. Young wanted to see him, he must come to him at his camp, as he did not intend to leave it to see any body."

When this message was delivered to Gov. Young, he gave orders for the whole cavalcade to proceed to Wakara's camp--"If the mountain will not come to Mahomet, Mahomet must go to the mountain."

The Governor was under the impression that Walker had changed his mind, and intended to continue the war, and for that reason declined to meet him. But old Wakara was a king, and a great chief. He stood upon the dignity of his position, and feeling himself the representative of an aggrieved and much injured people, acted as though a cessation of hostilities by the Indians was to be solicited on the part of the whites, and he felt great indifference about the result.

Gov. Young, at the expense of the people of Utah, brought with him sixteen head of cattle, blankets and clothing, trinkets, arms and ammunition. I expressed much astonishment, that arms and ammunition should be furnished the Indians. His excellency told me that from their contiguity to the immigrant road, they possessed themselves of arms in exchange and trade, from American travellers. And as it was the object of the Mormons to protect, as much as possible, their people from the aggressions of the Indians, and also from the continual descent upon their towns-begging for food, and stealing when it was not given, he thought it more advisable to furnish them with the means of shooting their own game. The Utah Indians possess rifles of the first quality. All the chiefs are provided with them, and many of the Indians are most expert in their use.

When we approached Wakara Camp, we found a number of chiefs, mounted as a guard of honor around his own lodge, which was in the centre of the camp, among whom were Wakara and about fifteen old chiefs, including Ammon, Squash-Head, Grosepine, Petetnit, Kanoshe, (the chief of the Parvains), a San Pete chief, and other celebrated Indians. The Governor and council (including George A. Smith) were invited into Wakara's lodge, and at the request of his excellency, I accompanied them. Wakara sat on his buffalo-robe, wrapped in his blanket, with the old chiefs around him; he did not rise, but held out his hand to Gov. Young, and made room for him by his side.

After the ceremony of shaking hands all round was concluded, our interpreter, Mr. Huntington, made known the object of the Governor's visit, and hoped that the calumet of peace would be smoked, and no more cause be given on either side, for a continuation of illfeeling, etc.

For five minutes intense silence prevailed, when an old grey headed Utah chief got up, and in the effort, his blanket slipped from his body, displaying innumerable marks of wounds and scars. Stretching aloft his almost fleshless arm, he spoke as follows:

"I am for war, I never will lay down my rifle, and tomahawk, Americats have no truth-Americats kill Indian plenty—Americats see Indian woman, he shoot her like deer—Americats no meet Indian to fight, he have no mercy—one year gone, Mormon say, they no kill more Indian—Mormon no tell truth, plenty Utahs gone to Great Spirit, Mormon kill them—no friend to Americats more."

The chief of the San Pete Indians arose, and the tears rolled down his furrowed cheeks as he gave utterance to his grievances:

"My son," he said, "was a brave chief, he was so good to his old father and mother—one day Wa-yo-sha was hunting rabbits as food for his old parents—the rifle of the white man killed him. When the night came, and he was still absent, his old mother went to look for her son; she walked a long way through the thick bushes; at the dawn of day, the mother and the son were both away, and the infirm and aged warrior was lonely: he followed the trail of his wife in the bush, and there he found the mother of his child, lying over the body of Wa-yo-sha, both dead from the same bullet. The old woman met her son, and while they were returning home, a bullet from the rifle of Americats shot them both down." He added, "old San Pete no can fight more, his hand trembles, his eyes are dim, the murderer of his wife, and brave Wa-yo-sha, is still living. San Pete no make peace with Americats."

The old warrior sank down exhausted on his blanket.

Wakara remained perfectly silent.

Gov. Young asked him to talk, he shook his head. "No," after the rest had spoken, some of whom were for peace, Wakara said, "I got no heart to speak-no can talk to-day—to-night Wakara talk with great spirit, to-morrow Wakara talk with Governor."

Gov. Young then handed him a pipe. Wakara took it and gave one or two whiffs, and told the Governor to smoke, which he did, and passed it around to all the party; this ended the first interview.

An ox was slaughtered by the orders of Gov. Young, and the whole camp were regaled with fresh beef that evening. I made a sketch of Wakara during the time that he sat in council. I also made a likeness of Kanoshe, the chief of the Parvain Indians.

The next morning the council again assembled, and the Governor commenced by telling the chiefs, that he wanted to be friends with all the Indians; he loved them like a father, and would always give them plenty of clothes, and good food, provided they did not fight, and slay any more white men. He brought as presents to them, sixteen head of oxen, besides a large lot of clothing and considerable ammunition. The oxen were all driven into Wakara's camp, and the sight of them made the chiefs feel more friendly.

Wakara, who is a man of imposing appearance, was, on this occasion, attired with only a deer-skin hunting shirt, although it was very cold; his blue blanket lay at his side; he looked care-worn and haggard, and spoke as follows:

"Wakara has heard all the talk of the good Mormon chief. Wakara no like to go to war with him. Sometimes Wakara take his young men, and go far away, to sell horses. When he is absent, then Americats come and kill his wife and children. Why not come and fight when Wakara is at home? Wakara is accused of killing Capt. Gunnison. Wakara did not; Wakara was three hundred miles away when the Merecat chief was slain. Merecats soldier hunt Wakara, to kill him, but no find him. Wakara hear it; Wakara come home. Why not Merecats take Wakara? he is not armed. Wakara heart very sore. Merecats kill Parvain Indian chief, and Parvain woman. Parvain young men watch for Merecats and kill them, because Great Spirit say—'Merecats kill Indian'; 'Indian kill Merecats.' Wakara no want to fight more. Wakara talk with Great Spirit; Great Spirit say-'Make peace.' Wakara love Mormon chief; he is good man. When Mormon first come to live on Wakara's land, Wakara give him welcome. He give Wakara plenty bread, and clothes to cover his wife and children. Wakara no want to fight Mormon; Mormon chief very good man; he bring plenty oxen to Wakara. Wakara talk last night to Payede, to Kahutah, San Pete, Parvain—Indian say, 'No fight Mormon or Merecats more.' If Indian kill white man again, Wakara make Indian howl."

The calumet of peace was again handed around, and all the party took a smoke. The council was then dissolved.

Gov. Young intended to visit all the settlements south, to Harmony City.

 Wakara told his excellency, that "he and his chiefs would accompany him all the way and back, as a body-guard." Grosepine, Ammon, Squashhead, Wakara and his wife, Kanoshe and his wife, and about thirty Indian young men, all mounted on splendid horses, got ready to accompany the Governor's party. During the day, a great many presents were distributed among the tribe.

When I returned to our camp, I saw a crowd around the Governor's wagon. I approached, and found that his excellency had just concluded a purchase from the Utahs of two children, about two to three years of age. They were prisoners, and infants of the Snake Indians, with whom the Utahs were at war. When the Governor first saw these deplorable objects, they were on the open snow, digging with their little fingers for grassnuts, or any roots to afford sustenance. They were almost living skeletons. They are usually treated in this way—that is, literally starved to death by their captors. Gov. Young intended to send them to Salt Lake City, and have them cared for and educated like his own children. I never saw a more piteous sight than those two naked infants, in bitter cold weather, on the open snow, reduced by starvation to the verge of the grave—no, not the grave; for if they had died, they would have been thrown on the common for the wolves to devour!
 

We remained in camp, near Wakara's village until next day; I induced Wakara, to sit for his portrait; also Squash-head, Baptiste, Grosepine, Petetnit, and Kanoshe, the chief of the Parvain Indians.

12^th, May 1854: We all started this morning, for the Seveir river; we arrived at the crossing at 4 o'clock P. M. and found the stream very high, and unfavorable. There had been a bridge built (Sevier Bridge), a year before, but the swollen and rapid stream, carried it away; on the bank of the river, were piled up several of the planks saved from the wreck. All hands went to work to construct a raft, which they completed in an hour, and by 8 o'clock P. M., 41 wagons (the rest remained behind,) were ferried over in safety; we camped on the other side of the river.

By invitation, supped with Brigham Young:

I conversed through an interpreter with Wakara, the Utah chief. He states that he supplied Jose, the Mexican, whom Col. Fremont found in the mountains, and who left at Parowan, with a mule, to go with several Indians, back on Col. Fremont's trail, to find the "cache," (the goods buried in the snow,) about 100 miles from Parowan; he had been absent 30 days, yet nothing had been heard from them. He also told me of his interview with Col. Fremont, some years before, and showed me the place where Col. Fremont crossed the Seveir River, which was a short distance from where we crossed it. He remembered Col. Fremont, as the "great Americats Chief." While the men were constructing their raft, I occupied myself in making drawings of the surrounding country.

 14th May 1854: To-day I made a trade with Wakara, for a horse; I gave him my double-barrel gun and a blanket in exchange, I have now a relief for my mule-we have a long journey before us, and I must give him as much liberty as possible. My sole dependence is on him, for crossing those dreaded jornadas* of over two hundred miles in extent.

Above is Captain Walker with double barrel gun and wearing the M1833 Army issue folding soft leather Forage cap. The second picture is a red sashed Army officer.

 16^th May 1854:  Wakara, the Utah chief, one of the Indians who accompanied us, informed me that a few miles from our present camp there was a most extraordinary vinegar lake (Sulpherdale), where all bad spirits dwell; a place where a living animal never was seen, and near which there was no vegetation. Our interpreter told me he had heard before of such a lake, but he placed no faith in it. Wakara said he would go along and show us the place. Being anxious and determined to explore, and make some discovery which might benefit science, if any was to be made on this journey, I induced several Mormons to make up a party sufficiently large to insure us against an Indian surprise. The next morning we left the main trail, and proceeded about two miles in an easterly direction towards the base of the Warsatch range. Our path was covered with large quantities of obsidian, and presented every indication that the lake we were approaching was of volcanic origin. Before the lake was in sight, the atmosphere gradually became unpleasant to inhale, leaving a sulphurous taste on your palate. The approach to the lake was, for the last five hundred yards, over limestone rock, carbonized evidently from great heat, at some remote period. The air was greatly charged with sulphuric hydrogen gas, which caused me to feel an inclination to vomit. It affected the rest of the party in a similar manner. Being determined to examine further, we descended the lime formation for about one hundred feet; this brought us immediately on the spot. Its appearance indicated from the character of the surrounding country, that it evidently had been a lake; it now looked like the dry bed of what was once a lake. The surface was covered with an efflorescence to the depth of a foot, more solid, however, as you dig into it, composed of impure alum, and most probably formed by the action of sulphuric acid on feldspathic rock.

Further towards the base of the mountain which bounded it on the east side, I found large quantities of pure crystalized alum, and also pure sulphur. The efflorescence which covers the lake, might be composed by the spontaneous evaporation of a mixture of sulphate of iron, and tersulphate of alumina, excess of sulphuric acid being present.

June 2nd.—

WHILE encamped on this spot we met a party of gold explorers from Los Angeles. They had been down on the Colorado, looking for gold, but had been unsuccessful. They were under the command of a man with one leg, known as "Peg-leg Smith," a celebrated mountaineer.

He told me he had been several times across the continent, and had been in this part of the world for some years.

He says he crossed the Rocky Mountains in 1824—30 years ago. He is a weather-beaten old chap, and tells some improbable tales. They are on their way back, and will travel with us; they comprise ten men, all mounted on mules.

To-day two more of our horses gave out; one of them belongs to the wagon which contained my baggage. Mr. Peg-leg Smith tells me these are called Kingstone Springs. I made drawings of the mountains which are near them; they are curiously formed land marks, and may be useful to future travellers. We have another terrible Jornada to pass, a distance of fifty miles. I hardly think we shall get over it without leaving some of our animals.

Daily Alta California, Volume 4, Number 227, 27 August 1853

 There have been serious Indian difficulties between a chief named Walker, and the inhabitants about Springfield. On the 18th, Walker and his two brothers Arrapin and Ammon. with many of the tribe, were camped on the Peteeneet. just above Payson, in Utah county, and Arrapin was riding from the town to his camp, he passed close by Alexander Keele. who was on guard, and though another Indian was near by. as near as the spectators could Judge, it was Arrapin shot Keele dead on the spot, and this, too, after having partaken of a hospitable meal Inside the Fort with all apparent friendliness.

On the 19th, Col. Peter W. Conover started from Proro city, with 150 men, to assist the weak settlements on the route The Indians continued their depredations, stealing stock On the 24th July, Clark Roberts was shot in the shoulder, and John Berry in the wrist, by Indians secreted in a vacant house. Col. Conover states that a scouting party, sent out by him from Man«l, under command of Lieut.-Col. Jabez Nowlin, fell in with a company of twenty or thirty Indians.

On the 23 July, about 10 miles east of the Pleasant Creek Settlement, who were addressed by the Interpreter of the party, and replied that they were our enemies, and commenced firing. Col. Nowlin immediately charged upon them and killed six, the rest scattering and escaping; returned on the 24th, with his company, all safe.