The Gottfredson Files

Utah Black Hawk War Treaties

There were no treaties made between the Ute and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or the state of Utah. They were only agreements. Only the federal government had the authority to make treaties with the Indian people.

Even so, according to Utah history accounts, "treaties" were made. But they were never ratified by the United States Government. Yet the Native people were made to believe they were legal and honored those agreements, whereas the Church changed and modified those agreements at will.

The most significant of those agreements was signed by Chief Tabby. However clearly it was Black Hawk who is responsible for encouraging the peace process.

1866 July-August Bishop Canute Peterson of Ephraim, Utah paid a visit to the ailing Ute leader Black Hawk who had been wounded in battle at Gravely Ford near Richfield, Utah. Taking gifts of sugar, hams, bread, beads, molasses, tea, coffee, tobacco, flour, medicines and clothing. The Chief was grateful for the presents and a friendship developed, which put a partial end to the hostilities. Five important chiefs called upon Canute Peterson's home and established peace pacts. As they talked, Sarah Peterson prepared a meal of the good things that could be brought from the cellar and pantry. After the meal, Black Hawk and Canute went across the road and smoked the pipe of peace under the old juniper tree, now referred to as the "peace treaty tree." The old Juniper tree still stands on the west bank of the creek. They agreed that they would not fight as long as water continued to run in the creek. A Black Hawk Peace Treaty marker was erected there in 1987. (See the Peace Treaty Tree story here.)

In the spring of 1867 at Heber City, a Ute was captured after butchering a cow. He expected to be killed but Bishop Murdock told him he would be released if he would carry a personal message to Chief Tabby requesting a meeting to negotiate an end to the long and needless war. After Chief Tabby received Joseph’s message, a government Indian agent tried to meet with Tabby but Tabby said he would only talk with “Old Murdock!”

1867 Aug 12th several accounts explain that while near the Uinta reservation Black Hawk and his warriors in a prearranged meeting, met with Indian Superintendent Franklin Head. The Indian people, it appears, had respect for Franklin. Well, it is said that Black Hawk told him that he and his warriors were tired of fighting and wanted peace.

Black Hawk, with his massive army could have caused far more depredations to the saints, and certainly had just cause. But in a surprising change of tactics he elected to give up his campaign of vengeance to take a more altruistic course. But, at that moment all hopes of there ever being freedom, or holding onto their land... was gone. And Noonch knowing that the Transcontinental Railroad would soon be completed meant an even greater influx of Anglos into Utah.

The Chief knew what he was doing. Taking upon himself the agony of his people, Black Hawk handed Franklin his knife and would ask him to cut off his hair to symbolically demonstrate his sincerity in wanting peace. To understand what happened here, we need to examine closely the cultural beliefs of the Utah Indian before we can appreciate this powerful gesture. This was no small matter reader, and is well worth the effort to understand for it underscores the humanity and humility of Noonch as a leader.

1867 August 17th, Black Hawk met with his brother Chief Tabby, who had made preparations to join his warriors with Black Hawk's men. Tabby had sent the women and children to an area where they would be safe, it was time to settle the score with the Mormons. But, Black Hawk convinced his brother that it would be better to end the war. The odds were clearly against them, to continue would mean certain annihilation of their people.

1867 August 19th, hundreds of Northern Ute people accompanied Chief Tabby and his six sub-chiefs went to Heber City. They went directly to Tabby's old friend Joseph Murdock’s home at 115 East 300 North where they camped in his yard and pasture. The following day, August 20, four of Murdock’s five wives who were living in Heber City, and the townsfolk prepared a feast on a lot owned by John Carroll. This lot is located across the street from the Murdock home. A large pit was dug to roast enough beef to feed everyone. Each woman had been asked to bake a dozen loaves of bread. Rows of tables were loaded with corn and whatever the townsfolk could find in their pantries and larders to feed their guests.

The feasting and talk lasted all day. Murdock and Tabby exchanged a few simple gifts. The leaders then went across the street to an upstairs room in Murdock’s home where a peace pipe was smoked and a treaty of friendship was signed. Chief Tabby signed his name and the six sub-chiefs made their marks.

This peace agreement ended the fighting between the settlers in Heber Valley and the Northern Ute people. It was one of the first agreements in a series of peace pacts made between Mormon settlers and Ute leaders that lead to the eventual end of the Black Hawk War.
 

The news of Black Hawk's tactical maneuver spread quickly. Brigham Young grasped the moment, and took credit for having reconciled the war through vigilance, and kindness, underscoring his policy “to feed them and not fight them” had paid off. The Rocky Mountain News paper quoted Brigham Young's boasting, "If you want to get rid of the Indians try and civilize them," speaks to Brigham's 'two hearts.'

Black Hawk did not surrender to Brigham Young. Taking upon himself the agony of defeat, and the humiliation of his people, if he surrendered, he surrendered to a higher power, for he knew it was futile and wrong to expose his people to more torment, while fighting a loosing battle. But the Chief's fight for freedom didn't end here. He follows his heart and changes his strategy as he campaigns for peace three more years prior to his death in 1870. (Please see Black Hawk's Mission of Peace.)


See treaties click here

Conclusion: There was only one treaty signed between the Ute and the United States government that was ratified. That treaty was in 1868. (See Treaty Here)

"In many ways the Native people of Utah continue to suffer following the Black Hawk War. They continue to suffer," according to Forest Cuch, from limited land-base, scattered and substandard homes sites, intertribal political strife, poverty, poor health, and ineffective educational programs for their children. In 1861 President Lincoln set aside four million acres of land which became known as the Uinta Reservation. Today less than 25% of that land remains intact, the rest was turned back to public domain." The Paiute suffered again late in their history, "when, during the 1950s, after decades of failed policies and programs, the U.S. government under President Eisenhower implemented the Relocation/Termination Programs as the official Indian policy of the Federal Government" and as a result "their reservation lands" where again "taken from them." Forrest Cuch - Executive Director of Indian Affairs

 

Native American Indians were not given citizenship status until 1924. In Utah the right to vote was not granted to Utah Indians until in 1990's.

The American Indian Religious Act of 1978 extended the right to Native Indians to protect sacred lands religious practices, Rare film footage taken at a demonstration on the steps of the capital building in Salt Lake reveals blatant opposition to religious freedom in 1983. Native Indians continue to struggle for their rights to this day.

 

ARROPEEN - Brother of Wah-kara

ANTONGUER aka Antonga aka Antoñgua - Historical accounts use the name Antonga, or Antonguer saying that Black Hawk went by this name also. Names were often spelled phonetically. Accounts also theorize that the name is French and that the name may have been given to Black Hawk by French trappers. I argue the name is Spanish/American. I have never been able to find the name in the French language.  I believe the name is not French but Spanish. Spelled "Antoñgua." Translation of this name is not available, but it does exist in the Spanish language. How Black Hawk got this name is not known, however my theory is since the Ute had considerable contact trading with the Mexicans, and they also occupied Utah territory the name was given to him by Mexican trappers and not French.

The exact date of birth of Antoñgua is not known, the best estimation is circa 1838.  

AUKEWAKETS - Taken prisoner at Manti and Brother VanBruen cut his throat, and held him to the ground until he died .

AUG-A-VOR-UN - Sub Chief of Black Hawk

BATTEST - Brother of Tintic, he was shot point-blank through the head in his teepee at Cedar Valley.

BLUE SHIRT - Murdered at Battle Creek

*BOQUOBITS- Alleged assailant at Gunnison Massacre

*CARBOORITS- Alleged assailant at Gunnison Massacre

*Gunnison Massacre - Deseret News Article Vol. 4 March 30, 1854

*Several articles appeared in the Deseret News regarding the murder of the Gunnison party presenting strong evidence that Indians were not involved but were blamed for the event.

"Our present object is to call public attention to certain facts connected with the murder of Captain Gunnison and his party, which indicate that it was not the work of the Indians, as we were at first led to believe. We have conversed upon the subject with several old mountaineers, men who have spent a large portion of their lives in the Rocky Mountains, and who are familiar with the Indians of that region; and they have informed us that the facts and circumstances, as stated in the published accounts of the affair, indicate most strongly that it was not the work of the Indians. In the first place, the murder could not have been committed by the Pauvants, the tribe inhabiting the region of country in which it occurred, because Kern, and others of the party, were killed with firearms; and those Indians have no guns, and do not understand their use. The Utahs live remote from the spot where the tragedy was performed, and, besides, they are at peace with all white men, except the Mormons. Beale and Heap passed through the country of the Utahs without molestation of any kind. On the contrary, they were kindly received; game was killed for them; and the Indians informed them that they made war only upon the Mormons who had taken away their lands. Gunnison, also, had passed through the country of the Utahs, and they made no attack upon him. There are others, and still stronger circumstances, which, in the minds of those acquainted with Indian usage, are conclusive of the fact that the murder was not committed by them. Prominent among these, is the fact that the slain were not scalped. -- The scalp is the Indian's trophy. To the Indian warrior it is more valuable than booty. It is the proof of his valor, and confers upon him rank and distinction in his tribe. The accounts say that the bodies were mutilated; that both of Gunnison's arms were cut off; and one of Kern's. This proves that the authors of the deed were not so much hurried to have scalped their victims, if they had chosen to do so; for an arm is more difficult to remove than a scalp. Another circumstance is that notes, surveys, and other papers of the party were carried away. -- Papers are valueless to an Indian. He never takes them away, and usually scatters them upon the ground as useless.
 

DANITES

"The Danites were a fraternal organization founded by Latter Day Saints in June of 1838, at Far West in Caldwell County, Missouri. During their brief period of formal organization in Missouri, the Danites operated as a vigilante group and took a central role in the events of the Mormon War. The exact nature and scope of the organization, and its connection to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a matter of some dispute among historians.
 

In June 1838, a group of zealous Mormons began meeting together in Far West under the leadership of Sampson Avard, Jared Carter, and George W. Robinson to discuss the problem of the dissenters. The group organized under the name "The Daughters of Zion," but they soon became known as the "Sons of Dan."

"I knew of many men being killed in Nauvoo by the Danites. It was then the rule that all the enemies of Joseph Smith should be killed, and I know of many a man who was quietly put out of the way by the orders of Joseph and his Apostles while the Church was there. It has always been a well understood doctrine of the church that it was right and praiseworthy to kill every person who spoke evil of the Prophet." - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

DOCTOR BILL - Died of gun shot wound in self defense. Marysville, 1866.

GRASPERO

*HUNKOOTOOP- Alleged assailant at Gunnison Massacre

*JIM - Brother of Mareer- Alleged assailant at Gunnison Massacre

*JIMMY KNIGHTS - Shot Captain Gunnison during Gunnison massacre.- Alleged assailant at Gunnison Massacre

*KOONANTS - Son of Tomwants- Alleged assailant at Gunnison Massacre

*see above Deseret News Article regarding Gunnison Massacre

LITTLE CHIEF - Timpenogos Attacked Wanship's band in 1847. It is said he lead Militia to the family of Black Hawk who allegedly stole cattle, which is not true it was his son Little Wolf. They were attacked and murdered while sleeping. It became known as the Battle Creek Massacre.  

LITTLE WOLF- The son of Little Chief. Timpenogos Ute Led the Mormon Militia to the encampment of Kone and Blue shirt which commenced the Battle Creek Massacre.

MOAB- Alleged assailant at Gunnison Massacre

NICQUINA

NUNKIBOOLITS- Alleged assailant at Gunnison Massacre

OLD ANTERO

OLD BATTISTE  Old Elk's brother. Brother to Tintic. Died from gun shot to the head at point blank range by white man, in Tintic's tent, they were camped about a mile from Cedar Fort. 1856

OLD BISHOP - Murdered by Richard A. Ivie, Y. Rufus Stoddard, and Gerome Zabrisky, he was then gutted and the cavity of his body filled with rocks and tossed in the Provo River. It was alleged he had stolen a shirt he was wearing. Historian Will Bagley states the cause was stolen cattle. His name was given him by whites.

OLD ELK aka (Pareyarts) aka (Big Elk) aka Para-yah, died from wounds at Fort Utah, after he had asked the Mormons for medicine as he was sick with measles, but was thrown out of the fort and refused help.

OLD MAREER - Took part in the Gunnison massacre 1853. Died from gun wound in skirmish at Meadow Creek. He had caused a slight wound on the chest of a white by jabbing him with an arrow because the white man was trying to take from Mareer his arrows during a peaceful exchange of gifts.

OLD PETNICH n/a

 

CHIEF BLACK HAWK - Black Hawk's Ute name was Noonch. Noonchee is the name the Ute call themselves which means people of the mountain. Another name Noonch went by was "ANTOÑGUA" which is a Spanish name. Noonch was often referred to as the "friendly Indian" by many.

Lineage of Black Hawk

Pan-pitch aka San Pedro aka Sanpete was father of OLD UINTA. Uinta was the  father of Sowiett, Kanosh, San Pitch, Grosspeen, Arapeen, Tabiona, Ammon, and Pan-a-carre Quinker (which means "Iron Twister"), who to be known as Chief Joseph Walker -- or simply Chief Walker (Walkara or Wah-kara). Walker was born about 1808, and so had been a boy of about seven when his grandfather (Sanpete) had been murdered by the Spaniards.  Sanpitch was the father of Noonch or Black Hawk.

PAN-A-PITCH

Pan-a-pitch had been born in the Uintah Basin, on the banks of the Seeds-ka-dee ("Prairie Hen", i.e. the Green River), and was a boy of only three or four years when his father had been forced to leave their homeland. Pan-a-pitch had ridden the entire journey from the Seeds-ka-dee to the Timpanogos River -- 150 miles -- tied to the back of a pony. Thus he was probably born about 1752. He had been a strapping youth of about twenty-four when the Spanish priest Escalante visited and traded with the Timpanogos.
 
Pan-a-pitch was a great warrior and his feats of daring made him legendary among the neighboring tribes. He made forays to steal horses from his northern cousins, the Shoshones, and ranged as far south as Santé Fe to sell Piede and Paiute slaves to the Spaniards. On one such expedition, the Spaniards captured him and tortured him in an effort to cause him to tell the source of the Ute gold, which they wore as trinkets on their bodies. He refused to tell them what they wanted to know, and told them he would die rather than to betray his people. The Spanish governor devised a plan to convert him to Christianity in the hopes that he would then reveal his secrets. Pan-a-pitch was sent to a monastery in Mexico where he was held by the Provincial Minister of the Franciscans. He was shorn of his long hair, made to wear Spanish clothing, and taught the Spanish language, as well as the rudiments of Catholicism. He was fitted with a metal collar and chained to the floor at night.
 
After several years of captivity, Pan-a-pitch was able to effect his escape and returned to his mountain home in the north, with an undying hatred of the Spaniards. For many years thereafter he would raid their territory and steal their horses, until he warriors became the best mounted and best experience in the region.
 
The Spaniards had given him a new "Christian" name -- San Pedro (Saint Peter). In time this was shortened to simply "San Pete", though his people, wrapping their tongues around the syllables, called him "Sanpitch". The place where his tribe lived came to be known as Sanpete Valley.
 
In about 1815 a detachment of Spaniards came up from Santa Fe and once again captured Pan-a-pitch, or Sanpete, and tried to convince him the lead them into the mountains to the source of the Ute gold. When he still obstinately refused, they fired a cannon into his tepee, killing his favorite wife and at least one of his young sons. He finally agreed to lead them. After the Spaniards had found the source of the gold, they put chief Sanpete and two of his men to death, and buried their bones in rock cairns in the mountains -- but his people found them, and rode hard for the valley to warn the tribe of the treachery.
 
Sanpete's son, Uintah (Old Uinta), then in his late thirties, was now chief of the Sanpete Utes, because of the death of his father, and he ascended with the fire of vengeance in his eyes.
 

According to the descendents of Black Hawk, the only way a person became Chief they had to be born into the family bloodline. It follows then that all who bore the title of chief were blood relatives. The following is a list of chiefs, but I do not know how they are related to Black Hawk, I am researching this. 

CHIEF ANGIZEBL- Present during signing of treaty ending the Black Hawk War 1872

CHIEF ANTERO- Went to Washington and spoke with President Grant for help in ending the war.1872

CHIEF BEAR HUNTER - Murdered at Bear River Massacre 1863

CHIEF KANOSH - Pahvant Chief-Went to Washington and spoke with President Grant for help in ending the war.1872 Born 1821, died 1884.

CHIEF KONE - Murdered at Battle Creek (blood relative to Black Hawk)

CHIEF LEHI - Murdered at Bear River Massacre 1863

CHIEF MASHOQUOP Pahvant war Chief Father of  Old Mareer Father killed by white men.

CHIEF MOUNTAIN - aka Kibets brother to Black Hawk. Wounded at Diamond Fork Battle. 1866.

CHIEF PETEETNEET - His son's held prisoner by Captain Hancock as ransom, was told he must sign a treaty before his sons would be released. He signed. Brigham Young then had a house built for him, a ploy to teach other Indians. Close friend of Tintic.

CHIEF ROMAN NOSE - (This was not his Ute name, this is a name the whites called him) Sub Chief under Chief Kone killed in the Battle Creek Massacre. Five Natives killed, no whites, for stealing some cattle. Fought at Fort Utah.

CHIEF SAGWITCH- Escaped murder at Bear River Massacre 1863

CHIEF SANPETE - Father of Old Uintah circa 1750

CHIEF SAN-PITCH - Father of Noonch (Black Hawk) and Kibets (Mountain) Murdered by George Tucker and Dolph Bennett at Birch Canyon between Fountain Green and Moroni. 1865. Brother of Wakara.

CHIEF SOWIETTE - Wanted peace with the whites.

CHIEF TABIONA - Present during signing of treaty of 1868. Went to Washington and spoke with President Grant for help in ending the war.

CHIEF WANSHIP

CHIEF WHITE HARE- Present during signing of treaty ending the Black Hawk War 1872

CHIEF WHITE HORSE - Led attack at Rocky Ford (aka Gravely Ford) near Vermillion, Utah. Two whites killed, one wounded. 1868. Black Hawk was wounded while trying to recue White Horse.

CHIEF YENEWOODS - Well known by the whites. Refused to sign treaty at Manti 1865.

OPECARRY aka (Stick-In-The-Head) - Murdered at Battle Creek massacre. Timpenogos Ute wanted peace with the whites. He got his name by whites, because he always wore a mahogany stick done up in his hair.

PANTS - Brother of Mashoquop - Alleged assailant at Gunnison Massacre

PEANITCH - Indian guide

PORTSOVIC n/a

SAM aka Toady- Alleged assailant at Gunnison Massacre

SANTIK - Murdered at Louder's Spring. - Express rider for Black Hawk

SANPITCH - Principal Ute leader during Black Hawk War, was murdered by Dolf Bennet. Father of Black Hawk and Tabby.

SHEGUMP - Murdered at Louder's Spring. Express rider for Black Hawk.

SHENANAGON - Sub Chief of Black Hawk killed Major Vance and Sergeant Houtz.

STICK IN THE HEAD - See Opecarry above.

SKIPOKE aka "Doctor Jacob"- Assailant at Gunnison Massacre

SQUASH HEAD - Killed himself rather than remain prisoner of Joseph Kelly and Bishop Don C. Johnson. He may have actually been murdered.

TABBY - son of Old Uinta. Brother of Wakara. Tabby was also brother of Black Hawk.

TACKWITCH - Murdered by Dolph Bennett, he cut his throat with a hunting knife.

TINTIC - Sub Chief of the Utes - Murdered by gun shot when attacked by John Clark and George in is camp. 1856

TOMWANTS- Alleged assailant at Gunnison Massacre

WAHBITS- Alleged assailant at Gunnison Massacre

WAH-KARA - Brothers Arropeen, Sanpitch, Tabby, uncle of Black Hawk. Walker was born about 1808, and so had been a boy of about seven when his grandfather Sanpete, had been murdered by the Spaniards.

"WILD BILL" HICKMAN

"Hickman was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1839 by John D. Lee. He later served as a personal bodyguard for Joseph Smith, Jr. and Brigham Young. Hickman was a member of the Danites.

In 1854 Hickman was elected to the Utah Territorial Legislature. He was an important figure in the Utah War. He torched Fort Bridger and numerous supply trains of the Federal Army. He was a serial killer.

Around Sept 1871, while under arrest for the murder of Richard Yates years earlier, Hickman wrote an autobiography/confession in which he confessed to numerous murders." - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

UIN-PAH-QUINT
He was born about 1725 in the Uintah Basin and became chief of the Uin-tah Utes. In about 1755 Uin-pah-quint was challenged in his leadership by his brother, Pah-yampa. Uin-pah-quint was deposed and compelled the leave the Basin with a few of his loyal followers. He removed to the territory of his cousins, the Timpanogos Utes, on the banks of the Timpanogos River (Provo River). Because of a shortage of food, the Timpanogos urged them to move on southward and establish their own settlement. They moved to the Pequi-nary-no-quint (Spanish Fork River; the Ute name for "Stinking Water" because of the nearby sulphur springs). Uin-pah-quint had three wives and many children. Three of his sons grew in stature and became chieftains over surrounding domains. Oquirrh became the leader of a tribe which lived in the Tooele Valley, on the western slope of the mountains which today bears his name; Pah-vaun moved farther south with his followers, who became known as the Pahvants, and settled near present day Nephi, on chicken Creek; the third son was known as Pan-a-pitch.

History. The Ute occupied the region above indicated when they came to the knowledge of the Spaniards, who were the first Europeans to encounter them. They were the first to make use of the horse introduced by Spanish explorers in 1776. Our first intimate knowledge of them is derived from the diary of Fray Silvestre Velez de Escalante, who penetrated 'their country in 1776. For a brief period they were organized into a confederacy under a chief named Tabby (Taiwi). The first treaty between the United States Government and the Ute was concluded December 30, 1849. By Executive order of October 3, 1861, Uintah Valley was set apart for the Uinta Band, while the remainder of the land claimed by them was taken without formal purchase. By a treaty of October 7, 1863, a reservation was assigned to the Tabeguache, and the remainder of their land was taken without formal purchase. On May 5, 1864, various reserves, established in 1856 and 1859 by Indian agents, were ordered vacated and sold. By a treaty of March 2, 1868, a reservation was created in Colorado for the Tabeguache, Moache, Capote, Wiminuche, Yampa, Grand River, Uinta, and other bands, who relinquished the remainder of their lands, but by an agreement of September 13, 1873, a part of the reservation, was ceded to the United States. When it was found that a portion of this last cession was included in the Uncompahgre Valley, the part so included was retroceded to the Ute by Executive order of August 17, 1876. By Executive order of November 22, 1875,the Ute Reservation was enlarged, but this additional tract was restored to the public domain by an order of August 4, 1882. By Act of June 18, 1878, a portion of the Act of May 5, 1864, was repealed, and several tracts included in the reservations there under established were restored to the public domain. Under an agreement of November 9, 1878, the Moache, Capote, and Wiminuche ceded their right to the confederated Ute Reservation established by the 1868 treaty, the United States agreeing to establish a reservation for them on San Juan River, a promise which was finally fulfilled by Executive order of February 7, 1879. On March 6, 1880, the Southern Ute and the Uncompahgre acknowledged an agreement to settle respectively on La Plata River and on the Grand River near the mouth of the Gunnison, while the White River Ute agreed to move to the Uinta Reservation in Utah. Sufficient agricultural land not being found at the point designated as the future home of the Uncompahgre, the President, by Executive order of January 5, 1882, established a reserve for them in Utah, the boundaries of which were defined by Executive order of the same date. By Act of May 24, 1888, a part of the Uinta Reservation was restored to the public domain. The tribe has since been allotted land in severalty.

 

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