150th Anniversary of the Start of the Black Hawk War ~ By David R. Gunderson Pt 2

The 150th Anniversary of the Start of the Black Hawk War ~ by David R. Gunderson

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Andrew Madsen's Journal ~ Malitia Organized, Thrashing Machine, Brigham Young Visits

Andrew Madsen

On July 15th,   General W. S. Snow was put in command of the Sanpete District and ordered against the Indians.  Three companies were at once organized at Mt. Pleasant and officers appointed.  Company "A" with Frederick Neilson, who resigned later and Lauritz Larsen succeeded him.

Company "B" with Jacob Christensen as Captain and myself (Andrew Madsen), First Lieutenant.  "Home Guard" called the Silver Grays consisted of the elder men with John Tidwell as Captain.

While the organization of the Militias were being effected throughout the county, Robert Glisby and Anthony Robinson were attacked and killed by Indians in Sevier County. Glisby being a resident of Mt. Pleasant was brought here for burial.

General Snow, with Captain Ivie, Orange Seely, Peter Christofferson, Aaron Bennet, George Frandsen, W.W. Brandon, Joseph Gleddel, Jefferson Tidwell, William Stevenson and Neils Madsen from Mt. Pleasant and a number of others from other settlements at once started and on July 16th surprised a party of hostile Indians in Grass Valley.  Twelve of them were killed and the balance were routed.  The command then went east to Green River.  Robert Bennet swam over the river, found Indian tents and wikiups, which had just been vacated by the fleeing Indians.  They suffered much of the journey by long marches and for want of supplies.

July 26th,  the raging savages raided Glenwood, Sevier County, wounding some of the settlers and killing a number of horses and driving away nearly all the cattle belonging to the people.

On July 30, 1865, we organized a Sunday School.  H. P. Miller became Superintendent and A.H. Lund became Church Recorder.

August 6th, a meeting was held at Manti, consisting of the Bishops throughout the county and several of the authorities of the militia.  It was decided and agreed to have a standing army and pay the men for their services.

John Ivie was appointed Commander of the Militia in the northern settlements of the county.

Charles Durkie, Utah's first Governor, commissioned the officers and captains.  The system of paying the men was by assessment upon the settlers.  My portion was $75.00 per year.  Some of the men could not fit themselves out.  We were ordered to let them have such articles as they could use and receive credit for it.

Besides the above assessment, I furnished them a horse, bridle and saddle, kept it on hand for them and together with this, One Ballard Rifle and one cap and ball revolver.  Others did likewise.

After being equipped, the Company at once started south on Indian Campaigns, while the Home Guards remained at home, and were called out by the call of a bugle to answer to roll call and some detailed for Guards each day.

The Militia was also called out at various times during the three years of their services, for encampments and inspections, which were held at Chester, Ephraim, and Manti.

Sunday School commenced at Mt. Pleasant August 6, 1865 with 150 scholars: Joseph Stanford, Superintendent; George Farnworth, Edward Cliff, Germia Page, A.H. Lund, Mrs. Charlotte Hyde, Mrs. Susan Holly, S. Anderson, and Miss Jeanette McArthur, teachers.  Previous to this, George Farnworth had taught in the bowry as early as 1860. 

Another Visit from Brigham Young

First Thrashing Machine

During this season the first imported thrashing machine was brought into our city.  The name of it was "PITTS".  It was manufactured in Buffalo, New York.  It was shipped up the Lawrence River and around by way of South America around to San Francisco in a sail vessel and from there it was hauled overland by Alma Bennet to this point, being several months on the way.  

It was ordered by C.W. Anderson, Peter Madsen, Hans Y. Simpson, Rasmus Frandsen and myself, Andrew Madsen.

November 1, 1865 a number of missionaries were called to settle Muddy (now in Nevada).  John L. Ivy, Paul Stark, Peder Nielson, C.P., Larsen, James C. Harbro, George Merrick, Bendt Hansen, Martin Rasmussen, Soren Jacobsen and Hyrum Winters.

Givens Family Murdered by Indians ~ Brigham Young and Apostles Visit ~ Andrew Madsen's Journal

Andrew Madsen 

May 25th 1865
Trouble began on the north end of the County and the Indians began to raid the settlers.  Jens Larsen, a cattle herder was killed four miles north of Fairview.  The following day, John Given, his wife and four children were murdered and their bodies badly mutilated at Thistle Valley.  Many of the cattle from Mt. pleasant and Fairview were stolen and driven away.

The next day a company of men drove to Thistle Valley and brought down the bodies of the Given Family and routed the Indians.

On May 29th, the Indians made an attack upon the settlers three miles north of Fairview, killing David Handcock Jones, a member of the Mormon Battalion.
in the evening a company made up at Mt. Pleasant and Fairview visited the scene in search of Indians, but they made their escape to the mountains.

Early in July President Brigham Young visited Sanpete County to investigate the Indian trouble and to preach to the Saints.  He visited Mt. Pleasant July 13th.  President Brigham Young, the Apostles John Taylor, George A. Smith and Wilford Woodruff constituted the company.  They came by way of Nephi, accompanied by the Nephi Brass Band and were met at the outskirts of town by throngs of people who welcomed them. 

Elders Woodruff, Smith and Taylor spoke in the forenoon and in the afternoon, President Young occupied the time.  His remarks to us were brief and his advice good.  He said that he had seen many of the prophecies of Joseph Smith fulfilled when he (Brigham Young) was first sent to Europe.  "Go and my spirit shall be with you and my authority shall be invested in you."  I can fully testify that it was fulfilled to the very letter and is with me today.  If you want your children to be like yourself, if you want them to increase in wisdom, intelligence and good behavior, give them a pattern in yourself. Few have children more than I.  When traveling amongst the nations, I never saw a child destitute without relieving its distress, and I always felt to bless them.  Mothers, if you want your children to possess Christian meekness and lead a virtuous life, show them a pattern in your own life indications.  Fathers, if you want your wives and children to show you respect, respect yourself.  If you want them to be good, be good and righteous in all your actions.

Young men, I was sent out in the world when young.  I had to make my own way through it.  I made it a rule to withstand the temptations of gambling, drinking and swearing, and never deviated from it.  You do the same yourself.

You were born in the Kingdom and I want you to make your own way through the world.  Don't marry until you marry right.  Your children will then belong to the Kingdom. etc. etc. etc.

July 1865 ~ Brigham Young's Visit ~ A Sunday School Was Organized

 

 The Militia was also called out at various times during the three years of their services for encampments and inspections, which were held at Chester, Ephraim and Manti.

Andrew Madsen's Journal 1865 ~ Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

Early in the Spring a meeting was called for the purpose of discussing the erection of a new meeting house.  The Social Hall, now occupied, was inadequate.

It was proposed to erect a large meeting house in the center of the Church Block.  A contract was let to James Hansen and Alfred Rosenlof to erect the same and it was to be a white adobe house, the contract price being $14,000.00.

A resolution was adopted assessing each person over eighteen year of age $10.00, and besides this, there would have to be a property tax  of three per cent levied and assessed upon the property.  Work was started at once and a first class foundation built.

William Morrison was then acting as Church Recorder having succeeded David Candland.

March 4th, a grand celebration on the occasion of the re-inauguration of President Abraham Lincoln was held at Salt Lake City and the  Saints throughout the territory were invited to attend.  On Saturday, April 15th, the news reached Salt Lake City of the assassination of President Lincoln.  All business houses in the City were closed and the whole community was placed in a state of mourning.

The information below has been added for further interest and is not a part of Andrew Madsen's Journal.

{{Information |Description=The assassination of Abraham Lincoln. From left to right: Henry Rathbone, Clara Harris, Mary Todd Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth |Source={{LOC-image|cph.3b49830}} |Date=c. 1865 |Author= Currier & Ives, 1865. |Per


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Daily Vidette  ~ April 19, 1865

Biographical Sketch of the Life of Jacob Christensen ~ from History of Mountainville ~ Compiled by Melba Hill

photos courtesy of Mt. Pleasant Relic Home

House Research  and photos by Tudy Standlee