By the time the Mormon War with the Ute Indian had started in 1865, Ute leaders Chief Black Hawk, and Chief Tabiona
long before been friends of Peter as he was invited into their camps on numerous occasions. In his book Indian Depredations in Utah and his biography he speaks of spending time helping them gather food, playing with the children, and socializing.
Peter was only in his early 20's when he first became
acquainted. Peter then found himself amid two cultures. He was keenly aware of and witness to the exploitation that encircled himself and imposed upon the Native people he loved and respected as his own.
"I have been more than twenty years compiling this [Black Hawk War] history, and have not left a stone unturned in my endeavors to obtain correct data on all the important events which properly belong to this history. In collecting and compiling this history of Indian Depredations in Utah, it has been my purpose to 
obtain my information first handed, as far as possible. I was personally acquainted with conditions in Sanpete and Sevier Valleys during the years 1863 to 1872. It fell to my lot to be herd-boy in Thistle Valley, which was then a favorite haunt of the Indians, and they often told us that we were trespassers on their domain. In 1865, when the Black Hawk War broke out, I had left Sanpete to locate in Sevier Valley, which was then most exposed to Indian raids because of having been settled but one year when the war broke out and that afforded the handiest and most convenient outlets into the Indian strong-hold in the mountains and country lying to the east, which was then unsettled by white people and but little known to them. The Indians were numerous in those days. I spent much of my time with my companions at the Indian camps. - Peter Gottfredson 1919 (Please
See Peter's account )
Peter first became acquainted with the Native people as he was a herd boy. Often his time was spent in remote locations tending sheep and cattle. As Indians would come into Peter's camps they would ask for a meal and spend time talking with them. Peter would oblige the weary travelers and this is how he eventually developed a long standing relationship with with them. What is remarkable is that these experiences took place mostly during the Black Hawk War.
Peter cites one story when he was lost in the mountains in Thistle Valley area at night. he had been looking for a few stray cattle and when night fell he couldn't find his way out of the mountains. During that moment he was suddenly attacked by some dogs. Both he and his horse were startled and Peter had a freighting time being in control of the situation. As he yelled some nearby Indians camping heard the cries of Peter and came to his rescue. They invited Peter into their camp. The women cooked Peter a meal of roasted deer meat, and a bread made with crickets in the dough. Peter joked that he didn't like the cricket legs, while the women laughed and said that's the best part. Grateful for the hospitality never the less, Peter was satisfied by their generosity. Peter's hosts then offered him a blanket to spend the night with them.
Peter was keenly aware of and witness to the injustices inflicted upon these people. It was often difficult for him to be in such a position and sympathized with their predicament. He spent a lot time with them,
and in so doing became familiar with their life ways. Numerous times he was invited into their camps, and eventually became acquainted with their leaders such as Black Hawk, Tabiona, and others.
It is apparent he was not one to choose sides, so to speak, as he later became Bishop of the little town of Glenwood in the south east region of Utah. Peter gives very few detailed accounts of his experiences
while in the Indian camps in both his book and his biography. Information gathered from oral history of his family, those family Elders who remember him recount he was shy about discussing intimate details of his relations with the Indians. My father, Merrill Gottfredson, lived with Peter in his home in Springville for some time recalls that Peter was always preoccupied with writing his book of the war, and spent years traveling about collecting firsthand accounts. Merrill told me that Peter was very proud of the fact he knew Black Hawk. One thing is for certain that he never spoke poorly of his Native friends and it most likely that his reluctance of speaking more openly about them may have had more to do with his empathy and personal agony he felt while he was witness to their sufferings. It certainly was a hot topic at the time, and politically unacceptable to have such ties with the Native people.
For when
Brigham Young would make such demands as: "Seek out the
murdering Indians and slay them;" but in light of the political
situation he commanded them "to keep quiet about it. Do your
duty and say nothing to any man," he ordered, "and call upon
nobody to help you for you are able to help yourselves." Young's
long-time admonition to the members of his church was to "Treat
them kindly, and treat them as Indians, and not as your equals,"
came in the wake of the tens-of-thousands of settlers who
systematically spread out across the most fertile land of the
Utes. Many “saints” were spending time in the Indian
camps and inviting Indians into their homes, to which Brigham
responded, "If the inhabitants of this Territory, my
brethren, had never condescended to reduce themselves to the
practices of the Indians, (as few of them have,) to their low,
degraded condition, and in some cases even lower, there never
would have been any trouble between us and our red neighbors."
As a member of the church such words would put the fear of
God into Brigham's followers. There is no question about it,
Peter and his brother Hans thought it best not to say much about
their experiences with the Ute, doing so would have put them in
a perilous situation. One of the sad truths about Mormon history
is that those who opposed Brigham's council suffered dire
consequences even death.
Peter was
very aware of the massacres that were taking place, Mountain
Meadows, Bear River,
Battle Creek, Fort Utah,
Circleville,
Grass Valley, and more. Reason enough to remain quiet as a
matter of self preservation.
Hans, Peter's brother, also spent
six years with the Indians and gives less of an account than Peter does. (Please see Hans and Peter.)
I have always been proud of my
great-grandfather Peter, and have strove to honor the friendship between he
and the First Peoples of Utah. I too have spent considerable time living
with the Native people and understand why Peter loved them so much, as do I.
It may be of some interest to some that because of my working the Indian
people many of my own family and friends have distanced themselves from me.
At the same time the State of Utah Division of Indian Affairs awarded me
with a certificate of appreciation for my advocacy. - Phillip Gottfredson
Great-grandson of Peter Gottfredson
