Deseret
The early settlers of Mt. Pleasant as well as other communities migrated to Utah from the east to the west, over land and over sea, coming in many companies, with hand carts, horse or ox teams. In speaking of Utah, TuIlidge said, "The community grew so rapidly that before the close of the second year it was deemed wise to establish a
constitutional government; and accordingly representatives of the people met in convention and formed the 'Provisional Government of the State of Deseret.' A constitution adopted and delegates sent to Washington asking admission into the Union. . . . . But congress saw fit to disregard their desire for a state organization and on the 9th day of September 1850, passed an act organizing the Territory of Utah."
The name "Deseret" means Honeybee and is taken from the Book of Mormon. The reason for choosing this name is because the Bee represents industry.
The name "Utah" quoting Levi Edgar Young, "is a corruption of the word 'Eutau' the name of an Indian tribe that lived in these valleys and mountains long ago. . . . . Utah means 'In the tops of the mountains.' Other meanings have been given to the word, including that of 'The Land of Sunshine' and 'The Land of Plenty.' "
Settling of Sanpete County
After coming to Utah, prior to coming to Mount Pleasant, many of the pioneers located in and about what is now Salt Lake, Utah and Cache Counties.
In June of 1849, scarcely two years after the arrival of the first company of pioneers in Utah, Chief Walker (Walkara, meaning yellow) and Chief Sowiette with a band of Ute Indians visited President Brigham Young in Great Salt Lake City, and asked that colonizers be sent to the San pitch valley, named after an Indian Chief, Sanpitch, a brother of Chief Walker, to locate there and teach the Indians how to till the soil, and to build their homes and become civilized. This valley was described by them as "good land having much water." An exploring company with Chief Walker[1] as guide was sent out to investigate. They camped on the present site of Manti, August 20th, where they were kindly received and entertained by the Indians. After remaining there a few days, they returned to Great Salt Lake City and reported conditions favorable for settlement.
(An
inserted historical note) On page 68 of his book “Utah’s Black Hawk War” John Alton Peterson revealed that Walkara
had a hidden agenda in inviting the
settlers to Sanpete: “When Walkara learned that the Mormons were abandoning
villages (as they did during both conflicts [Walker and Black Hawk wars] ), he wrote George A. Smith telling
him that ‘the Mormons were d--- fools
for abandoning their houses and towns’, for he did not intend to molest them
there, as it was his intention to confine his depredation to their cattle, and
that he advised them to return and mind their crops, for, if they neglected
them, they would starve, and be obliged to leave the country, which was not
what he desired, for then there would be no cattle for him to take. " (added by David R. Gunderson)
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