The wagon train, mostly families from arkansas, was bound for california on a route that passed. Felix marion jones 18561832 one of the few survivors of the mountain meadows massacre, in september 1857, felix was just 18 months old when the tragedy occurred. The mountain meadows massacre stands without a parallel amongst the crimes that stain the pages of american history. Be the first to ask a question about the mountain meadows massacre. Mormon transgressions and the mountain meadows massacre. Largest collection of records and information on the mountain meadows massacre on the internet.
Part ii, the dilemma of blame, salt lake tribune, march 14, 2000 that which we have done here building a monument to victims of the m. Books on the mountain meadows massacre, utah,september. The victims, most of them from arkansas, were on their way to california with dreams of a bright future. What amazes me most about the evolution of the story of the mountain meadows massacre is that 150 years it was about blood atonement, hatred of gentiles and robbery. Leonardfor their book, massacre at mountain meadows. Sep 11, 2008 the mountain meadows massacre is the worst event in latterday saint history, says richard turley, assistant historian of the lds church and coauthor of massacre at mountain meadows. In utah, governor cumming is unwilling to press prosecution, which he sees as futile. Managing director, family and church history department. Friends of the mountain meadows association home facebook. Neither a whitewash nor an expose, massacre at mountain meadows provides the clearest and most accurate account of a key event in american religious history. A biocultural history of the mountain meadows massacre by shannon a novak on september 11, 1857, some 120 men, women, and children from the arkansas hills were murdered in the remote desert valley of mountain meadows, utah. Leonard for twentyeight years, juanita brooks served on the board of state history, an advisory group to the utah state historical society.
A series of attacks was staged on the bakerfancher wagon train around mountain meadows in utah. My favorite book on the mountain meadows massacre is one written by josiah f. The mountain meadows massacre church of jesus christ. This was my first indepth study of the mountain meadows massacre. Lee center, the only individual held publicly responsible for the 1857 massacre of more than 100 settlers from arkansas. Online books mountain meadows massacre online book by josiah f.
The leaders of the mormon church also counseled silence. The couple had two children, alfred and martha, born just before milums illfated trip to utah. Book provides an unflinching look at mountain meadows massacre. Arkansas folk songs about the 1857 mountain meadows massacre. For sharlot hall museum library, prescott, arizona 1. The mountain meadows massacre is an american tragedy in a west full of atrocities.
House of mourning is a bold experiment in a new kind of history, the biocultural analysis of complex events. Until the 1985 oklahoma city bombing and the events of september 11, 2001, the mountain meadows massacre. Each spring, thousands of wagon trains left for california and the story of the arkansas emigrants and the mountain meadows massacre has incorrectly morphed into one large, allinclusive, bakerfancher train that departed from caravan springs, carroll county, arkansas. Mountain meadows massacre encyclopedia of arkansas.
Mountain meadows massacre 1857 massacre frank kirkmans mountain meadows massacre site mountain meadows massacre. Sep, 2015 two massgrave sites for victims of the 1857 mountain meadows massacre have been located in southern utah, an archaeologist said. The mountain meadows massacre is something most people have probably never heard of before unless youre a mormon or had ancestors who were part of the massacred fancher wagon party. Mountain meadows massacre monument, harrison, arkansas. Also, in an effort to bring to light the details of the event, latterday saint leaders opened the churchs archives to the authors of the 2007 book massacre at mountain meadows. Ugo perego will introduce a little bit of the massacre, and talk about his tests to answer questions about the dna of certain people in the mountain meadows massacre. Meadows in 1857, honor those who died, preserve the site, and build understanding with others. In april 1857, near harrison boone county, 120 to 150 settlers, mostly arkansans, started a journey toward the promise of a better life in california.
Speaking at the sesquicentennial of the massacre on 11 september 2007, president henry b. The massacre, in 1857, was one of the most explosive episodes in the history of the american westnot only were 120 men, women and children killed, but the united states and the church of jesus christ of latterday saints almost went to war. The new book, massacre at mountain meadows, published by oxford. Gibbs, ed 1910 by the salt lake tribune publishing co. The aftermath of mountain meadows the massacre almost brought the united states to war against the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, but only one man was brought to trial. There were a lot of things that happened that led to this horrible end. The survivors mountain meadows massacre descendants. The mountain meadows massacre was a series of attacks on the bakerfancher emigrant wagon train at mountain meadows in southern utah. The aftermath of mountain meadows history smithsonian magazine. The attacks began on september 7 and culminated on september 11, 1857, resulting in the mass slaughter of most in the emigrant party by members of the utah territorial militia from the iron county district, together with some southern paiute native americans. The book is a rebuttal to the mormon churchs position that neither the church nor mormons were responsible for the murder of 140 men, women, and children as they emigrated from arkansas to california. An american tragedy by ronald walker and richard turley, as the latter is the director of the church of lds public affairs department. Alexander fancher, and in due time set out for the journey across the plains and the rocky mountains to california. The mountain meadows massacre 1950 by juanita brooks was the first definitive study of the mountain meadows massacre juanita brooks, a mormon historian trained in historical methods, was discouraged from studying the incident, and she suffered some ostracism from fellow mormons after its publication.
Before the tragedies of oklahoma city in 1995, and september 11, 2001, the mountain meadows massacre was the largest civilian massacre in our. For a more complete, documented account of the event, readers are referred to the forthcoming book massacre at mountain meadows. The tragedy in mountain meadows on september 11a date that would later. In 1857 an army of roughly 1,500 united states troops was marching toward utah territory, with more expected to follow. Jan 03, 2005 lost to history fancher wagon train reenactors discuss their options as they are surrounded by the mormon militia during their portrayal of the 1857 mountain meadows massacre. See more ideas about family history, history and oregon trail. From the beginning, accounts have been confused and muddled about why it happened, who ordered it, and what might have provoked it.
This one was published in 2008 so, 58 years later by ronald walker a mormon historian in slc, richard e. Articles featuring the mountain meadows massacre from history net. The militiamen carried out a deliberate massacre, killing 120 men, women, and children in a valley known as mountain meadows. The claim was out of this party of 120 people that left arkansas and were moving to california as they went through the salt lake valley and then down all the way through. References on mountain meadows massacre mmmf research materials for sharlot hall museum library category i. Known as the mountain meadows massacre, the history of this event continues to generate fierce controversy and deep emotions even to this day. The couple would eventually have ten children, all but two of whom would be killed in the mountain meadows massacre. Juanita brooks must be commended for writing as thorough a history of the mountain meadows massacre as she has. Find books like the mountain meadows massacre from the worlds largest community of readers. The mountain meadows massacre is one of the most controversial moments in utah history. On september 11, 1857, approximately 120 men, women, and children in a wagon train from arkansas were murdered by a band of mormons set on a holy vengeance. The mountain meadows massacre book by juanita brooks. The mountain meadows massacre september 11, 1857 eerily sharing the same september 11 date, the 1857 meadows massacre was the largest religious massacre in americas history until september 11, 2001. Mountain meadows massacre, church history topics mountain meadows massacre.
Harrison, arkansas vengeance is mine, i will repay, saith the lord. After a long forgetfulness, the last five years have seen a flurry of histories, biographies, novels, plays, films and articles about the massacre. The massacre almost brought the united states to war against the. The 26th annual lecture revisiting the massacre at mountain. Meanwhile, several extended families left arkansas by wagon train on what. Leaving his wife and children safe in arkansas, milum was traveling alone when he joined the fancher wagon train in fort smith, arkansas in late march 1857. Ron walker is one of the three mormon historians writing the upcoming rebuttal to be published by oxford university press. In the fall of 1857, some 120 californiabound emigrants were killed in lonely mountain meadows in southern utah. Goodreads members who liked the mountain meadows massacre al.
This massive slaughter claimed nearly everyone in the party from arkansas and is the event referred to as the mountain meadows massacre. Horrible massacre of emigrants the mountain meadows. Tell it all, the story of a lifes experience in mormonism. The mountain meadows massacre by juanita brooks goodreads.
A biocultural history of the mountain meadows massacre, and juanita brooks the mountain meadows massacre. This notorious massacre was, in fact, a mass execution. The mountain meadows massacre of 1857 and the trials of john d. A biocultural history of the mountain meadows massacre. The fanchers and all their children were caught in the mountain meadows massacre of september 1857. The mormon war was just starting and buchanan had sent an army to quash the mormon rebellion. The 26th annual lecture revisiting the massacre at. The booty stolen from this train alone most likely built the temple in salt lake city. In 1841, the couple and their children moved to missouri, and a few years later, they were living in carroll county, arkansas. Mountain meadows massacre online book by charles w. After reading michael richan on the event in one of his river books i had to read the true story on the event. The men on the ground after the bloody deed took an oath that they would never mention the event again, either in public or in private. The first was the seminal work by juanita brooks the mountain meadows massacre in 2016.
On september 11, 1857, some 120 men, women, and children from the arkansas hills were murdered in the remote desert valley of mountain meadows, utah. Brigham young and the massacre at mountain meadows published by the university of oklahoma press. A very sad book of the deaths of so many people at the mountain meadows massacre. Mormon guerillas, stoked by religious zeal and a deep resentment of decades of public abuse and federal interference, murder 120 emigrants at mountain meadows, utah on september 11, 1857. Before they could reach their destination, a party of mormons and indians attacked them while they camped on a plateau known as mountain meadows in southern utah. If the bones found in 1999 have been reinterred by official fiat, and most of the relics of the massacre remain undiscovered, the valley is still littered with the debris of unsettled history. I knew very little about the incident previous to reading this book and now i feel much more aware of the conditions within the mormon church as well as in the state of utah, etc. Resisting this tendency to oversimplify the past, novak explores mountain meadows as a busy and dangerous intersection of cultural and material forces in antebellum america. The mountain meadows massacre stands as one of the darkest events in mormon history. An anthropologist, novak considered the forensic evidence gathered from the site where the victims were buried. Very good popculturestyle history of the 1857 mountain meadows massacre in utah. The mountain meadows massacre in public discourse is a digital history project that examines public discourse surrounding the mass murder of 120 arkansas emigrants by mormon settlers in southwest utah in september 1857, and how the creators of these texts represented the event and its aftermath. For a century and a half the mountain meadows massacre has. He was the author or editor of eight books and more than a hundred historical articles dealing mainly with western, utah, and mormon history.
Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Today, some massacre victims descendants and other relatives are latterday saints. A new book, massacre at mountain meadows, tries to explain what. Mountain meadows massacre timeline exploring mormonism. American massacre is totally absorbing in its narrative as it brings to. Mountain meadows massacre utah, united states 1857. The tragedy at mountain meadows, september 11, 1857 by sally denton. Although unremarkable to look at, the mountain meadows massacre monument has an inscription that pulls no punches, describing how 140 settlers left the area, camped at mountain meadows in utah, and were then attacked by indians directed by mormons. The attacks culminated on september 11, 1857, with the mass slaughter of most in the emigrant party by members of the utah territorial militia from the iron county district, together with some paiute native americans. Appearing in 2008 was another important work, shannon a. Records, history, monuments, information and links on the september 11, 1857 massacre at mountain meadows of more than 120 arkansas emigrants while traveling through utah on their way to california. Most of the facts connected with that episode have long since been made public.
American massacre by sally denton the mountain meadows massacre by juanita brooks white flag americas first 911 by wayne capurro american history revised. Nearly everyone who has read western history knows something about the mountain meadows massacre, which took place in southern utah in september 711 th, 1857. September dawn book by carole whang schutter burying the past documentary by brian patrick. In september of 1857, a mormon militia murdered about 120 people who were part of a wagon train from arkansas. The mountain meadows massacre was a mass slaughter of the fancherbaker emigrant wagon train at mountain meadows, utah territory, by a local mormon militia and members of the paiute indian tribe on september 11, 1857.
This scene is part of an investigating history segment about the massacre, tentatively scheduled to air on the history channel on december 15, 2005. Mountain meadows massacre site the scene at mountain meadows, utah, prior to the execution of john d. The aftermath of mountain meadows history smithsonian. The mountain meadows massacre leave a comment carroll county by arkansas genealogy in the spring of 1857 an emigrant train was organized in northwestern arkansas, and principally in carroll county, by capt. This event became known as the mountain meadows massacre. Juanita brooks, a mormon historian trained in historical methods, was discouraged from studying the incident, and she suffered some ostracism from fellow mormons after its publication. Born to john milum jones and eloah angeline tackitt jones on december 15, 1856, in johnson county, arkansas, felix was their second child.
Juanita brooks book, the mountain meadows massacre is an early historical attempt to explain why this horrible event happened. Denton is a talented writer, but mormon historians found her book an easy target. In her riveting book, sally denton makes a fiercely convincing argument that they were. Anyone who reads it will be shaken up by the history of the mormon church and what it has sanitized. The title of the book is the mountain meadows massacre.
Her colleagues on the board and the societys directors valued her willingness to defend the societys emphasis. After finishing jon krakauers amazing under the banner of heaven, i turned to dentons book for a fuller account of the mountain meadows massacre. The mountain meadow massacre took place along the wagon train route to california that passed through the southern utah territory. A pilgrimage to some local places connected to the history of the mountain meadows massacre in boone and carroll counties. Its probably the most documented work of any in utah history, she said. The mountain meadows massacre was a series of attacks on the bakerfancher emigrant. This book was the first to seriously attempt an honest investigation of the massacre, unflinchingly seeking the truth. The book provided an important history of early mormonism as well as. Throughout the book, the authors paint finely drawn portraits of the key players in the drama, their backgrounds, personalities, and roles in the unfolding story of misunderstanding, misinformation, indecision, and personal vendettas. Mormons and paiutes murder 120 emigrants at mountain meadows.
The mountain meadows massacre 1950 by juanita brooks was the first definitive study of the mountain meadows massacre. The history of the massacre has often been treated as a morality tale whose chief purpose was to vilify or to glorify some collective body. In 1990, on a hill in the mountain meadows, the state of utah erected a memorial honoring the arkansas emigrants. Her colleagues on the board and the societys directors valued. Mountain meadows monument foundation collection of materials related to massacre. On september 11, 1857, one hundred and twenty men, women, and childrenmembers of a wagon train party traveling west from arkansas were slaughtered in a valley in southwestern utah, an event now known as the mountain meadows massacre. On tuesday, september 11, 2007, another wagon train from arkansas will arrive at mountain meadows to commemorate the sesquicentennial of one of the grimmest anniversaries in american history. Revisiting the massacre at mountain meadows by glen m. I was amazed to see the event took place on 9111857. Book provides an unflinching look at mountain meadows massacre copied to clipboard scholars are praising a new book that offers an indepth look at one of the greatest tragedies in the history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Carleton, special report on the mountain meadows massacre.