Westerners in Action

WESTERNERS IN ACTION Camp Timpanogos Camp Timpanogos, on Timpanogos creek, which hurries down from the. glazier of that huge Utah wonder mountain, was1 conducted by the Timpanogos Council, Boy Scouts of America. The camp is situated sixteen miles from Provo, on the Alpine Scenic Loop. This is one of the biggest items in the program of the Timp- anogos Council. Last Summer over four hundred boys participated in its activities during the five weeks which it was conducted. Scouts came from nine counties and as many as five nationalities SALUTING THE FLAG were represented at one time at camp. The weekly program was one of instruction and entertainment for the boy, by experts in the various fields of scouting. Each morning the Scouts in camp would divide into the various sections and remain in them throughout the forenoon. Classes were conducted throughout the week in: handicraft, Indian lore, nature, wood craft, photography and many other fields of scouting. Each evening the tasks of the day were forgotten while the whole camp revelled in a camp fire around the council ring. Stunts were given by the various localities. Wednesday night was devoted to Indian lore when half a dozen braves would entertain with stories, dances and songs of the red man.

WESTERNERS IN ACTION 151 Each Friday the camp would be deserted while the Scouts jour- neyed up to the top of Timpanogos to view the wonders of the valley below them. Friday night the Court of Honor would convene and award the boys the badges which they had won during the week. The food was prepared by an expert cook and served cafeteria style. There were shelters for all and the camp is situated in an ideal place for nature study, hikes and other activities which went to mak: up a pleasant week for a live Boy Scout. — DeAlton Partridge, Provo. Utah. The Still Small Voice By Ellen L. Jakeman "During the Black Hawk war I volunteered and went down into Sanpete county, to help guard the cattle, and fight Indians, — if I had to," said Matt. Peterson of Lehi, to the author. "Abe Conover, of Provo, was our captain and he had divided MATT PETERSON his men, with one camp on Nine Mile creek, while the group I was attached to were stationed at the foot of a hill near a favorite runway where the Indians drove off the settlers' cattle. There was a spring

152 IMPROVEMENT ERA some little distance from camp, and as things were pretty quiet, a number of us went up there to spend Sunday, though such unmilitary ways were strictly against orders — that is, loose general instruction. We had been cutting each other's hair, washing our clothes in a con- venient pool below the spring and mending such as we could not pin together with a thorn, or skewer together with a horeshoe nail, singing songs, and having a nice, quiet Sabbath. "To the east of us1 was a cedar ridge, and on that was stationed the picket guard. Into the peace and quiet of that Sabbath day came the alarm of gun fire! One man came out of the woods on the run and in our sight fell sprawled out as one dead of mortally wounded. Grabbing whatever of our belongings lay nearest, we all began running toward the main camp, three hundred yards away, for, of course, we had no guns with us. "James Lamb, of Lehi, was one of the company at the spring, and he happened to be near me when the firing began. He reached out a big paw, and jerked me into the lea of some upstanding rocks before I got fairly started, and said: " 'Matt, what are you running for?' 'Let go of me!' I panted. 'You big fool! Don't you know the boys and Indians will be shooting right across us in a few minutes? Is this any time for your jokes and horse play?' I tried to jerk away, but couldn't, for by this time he not only had me down but was sitting on me. ' 'You can't run away from a bullet marked with your name, but there is no bullet marked with your name or mine today. I've had experience and just naturally know those Indians are not going to kill anyone today.' " 'Didn't you see that man fall that came out of the cedars where the guards were stationed?' I almost shouted at him, struggling to free myself, for I was too frightened to mind making a noise. "When he had quelled me again, he said: 'Mat, I know something that you'll have to learn if you are ever a successful frontiersman. I sensed something about it when I crossed the plains, and learned to respect and trust the men who had it. It was1 thoroughly ground into me when I conducted the U. S. mail through this territory, — almost a desert, few settlements, and many Indians, — for two years.' "I was not interested in his remarks as every nerve of hearing was strained for the next shots, and all my energies directed to a chance to escape the strangle hold Jim had on me. 'I drove four good mules and a huck-board for a mail wagon, and I've made a hundred miles between stations without stopping, and driven round cedar hills and other convenient ambush places because I was warned of danger; and have often had my impressions verified.' "The first bustle at camp, when the boys arrived, had quieted down and I could imagine them all on guard and the Indians hatching

WESTERNERS IN ACTION 153 up some development before attacking, — running off the horses, like as not! With that thought came the remembrance of my own horse, the best horse in Utah and a present from a lady, and I almost choked with rage and despair, but Jim never let go his hold on me. Not having a suitable horse when I enlisted, Sister Jane Hatch, daughter of John Lott, said: " 'If Matt Peterson can volunteer and offer his life in defense of the people and property of Sanpete county, ,1 can, and will, give him the best horse in the country,' and she did. And here was this big bloke holding me down while the Indians ran away with him. I am a peaceable man by nature, but I just knew that if ever I got a chance, I'd give old Jim Lamb the beating of his sweet, young life. Gosh, I was mad! " 'Once,' he went on calmly, 'I was on one of those trips and had Wilford Woodruff, and George Q. Cannon for passengers. It was1 a long and wearysome drive, and we found the camp I had selected occupied by a small but rather boisterous party of gold seekers. We withdrew a short distance and I fed my mules, gathered wood, built a fire, and after supper went to take the nose sacks off the animals with the intention of hobbling them, and turning them out to graze. When I took the grain bag off the first mule something said to me: " 'Hook up, and get out! but I paid no attention. With the second (mule it was a little (Stronger, and by the time I had collected the fourth nose bag, it was being said so plainly, that every nerve in my body was jumping to obey. " 'I thought my tired passengers would think me a fanatical, crazy fool, — just what you're thinking now, — but nevertheless, I led those mules to the wagon.' "By this time, as there were no demonstrations from the camp, I began to be interested in Jim's yarn, and he kept right on talking. "Gentlemen," I said, addressing my passengers, "I feel like we should go on to another camping ground I know of." ' 'Matt, they looked at me in surprise, and I hadn't told them how far it was. " ' "I don't feel just exactly right here," I stammered. "What do you say if we go on?" " 'They looked at me earnestly a moment, and then Brother Woodruff said, like the kind and courteous gentleman he always was, "We are ,in your hands, Brother Lamb, do just as you think proper."" He asked no questions, there was no quibbling, and both those tired gentlemen, turned to, and helped me to reload the wagon. The mules seemed of the same mind and cut up no didoes while being harnessed and we were soon on the road. We drove twenty miles before we camped again.' "Jim got up casually from my crushed and humiliated anatomy,

154 IMPROVEMENT ERA and we ivalked toward the camp which was out of sight over a rise, though so near. 'Well,' I suggested, ,for I knew that was not the end of the yarn." 'Next morning a single man, wounded and riding an exhausted horse came into our camp. He said he was the sole survivor of the party we had left at the first stopping place the night before. First, they fought among themselves, and the Indians finished them.' "We topped the rise and came to our military camp just as Cap- tain Conover rode up with his detachment, and gave our crowd the horse-laugh. The attack proved to be a very bitter jest per- petrated by our captain to see what kind of discipline was maintained, and what the men would do if really attacked by Indians. Even the man who came out of the woods and fell was part of the hoax; and, thanks to Jim's premonition, we two were the only ones of our crowd entitled to laugh with 'the jokers. Oh, yes, we certainly were more military thereafter, for most of those men would rather have been shot at than laughed at. "I learned to listen to, and profit by, the warnings of the Still Small Voice, not only in matters of physical danger but other things more precious." PATRIARCH JORDAN H. BRADY AND WIFE About Early Pioneers Patriarch Jordan Brady and his wife are a pioneer couple. The picture was taken on the day they celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary, December 10, 1921.

WESTERNERS IN ACTION 155 Patriarch Brady was born at Nauvoo, June 7, 1843; arrived in Utah September 18, 1850; made a trip back across the Missouri river to help others get out and start on their way to Zion. Needless to say, he had many thrilling experiences and became well acquainted with the plains and travel with ox team. He was among the first to settle Fairview, Sanpete county, in the Fall of 1859. He is the only man living at this time who spent the first Winter in Fairview, then called Northbend. He has had a great deal to do with the Indians in Utah. It was always his desire to make friends and he usually succeeded in doing so. He did much guarding around the fort and in the hills and woods, but never had to shed blood. Sister Brady was born in New York City, November 27, 1844; came to Utah with her parents, Edmond W. Howel and Sarah Vale Howel, in September, 1852. They were married in Fairview, De- cember 10, 1861, and in the Endowment House, April 30, 1866. They had thirteen children: one died while a baby, and one, Sister Keziah Cheney, died two years ago, a mother of seventeen children. Eleven of Brady's children were married in the temple; all of these are still living and active in Church duties. Five generations are living; Baby Geraldine, Mother Cecil James, Grandmother Elvina Christiansen, Great-grandfather Jordan H. Brady, Jr., and Great-great-grandfather Patriarch Jordan Brady. Baby Geraldine has seven living grandparents on the mother's side of the family. They are Grandmother and Grandfather Fred Christian- sen, Great-grandmoth:r and Great-grandfather Jordan H. Brady, Great- grandmother Sarah J. Sanderson, and the great-great-grandparents, the Patriarch and his wife. The Patriarch and his wife have eleven children living and eighty-one grandchildren, one hundred eighteen great-grand- children, and one great-great-grandchild.^" These sturdy pioneers aire not just waiting to die. They are very active and still enjoy living, though they are well prepared to meet their Maker. Sister Brady does her own house work and feels glad she can, while the Patriarch does a few chores. Since he was set apart as a patriarch in the Church, in 1893, he has given many won- derful blessings to the youth of Zion who have desired that guide. — L. W. Peterson, 73 7 East Taylor Street, Portland, Oregon, formerly of Fairview, Utah. An Early Westerner By Bishop W. E. Abbott "Utah" means "much to eat." While the author of this article was traveling as a missionary in the state of Illinois, in the year of 1896, I put up at a hotel in the little town of Omaha, Gallatin county, Illinois, for about two weeks. While at this hotel I met and made the acquaintance of the old man, with long, gray hair, you see in the

156 IMPROVEMENT ERA picture. I was sick with malaria at the time, and the aged gentleman proved to be a friend in need. He took me to his room and there rehearsed to me the story of his life. "I do not know," he said, "where I was born, or where my people came from. They started for California in a very early day. Some time before the 'Mormon' pioneers came to Salt Lake, they were crossing New Mexico and Arizona, on the Southern rout?, when the Indians came upon them and killed the entire company, except a little baby three months old. The wife of the old chief begged for my life, and I was given to her to care for. A gold ring , was taken from my mother's finger, and kept by my adopted mother. I grew up with the boys and girls of the tribe. When I had arrived at the age of twelve or fourteen, I was permitted to go with the warriors on their trips for conquest. We would cross the Colorado river, thence northward along the Rio Virgin river and up to the big lakes. On our way we made war against all of the small tribes, taking all horses, guns and the best-looking women. While at the lakes we would hunt and fish, dry or cure venison, and fish for two or three months. On our way back we had a long train of horses, mules and burros, packed with dried fish and venison. Do you 'Mormons' know the meaning of the word, 'Utah' ? It means 'much to eat.' There was always much to eat around those lakes. I made two or three trips up there before your people come to Utah. When I became a young man, my old Indian mother gave me my mother's ring. On the inside of this ring was engraved 'Lavier.' I believe that was my mother's name." The old man showed me the ring with the engraving, and said, "My name is Lavier." Later in life he left the Indians; turned his face eastward, in hopes that he might find some of his kindred. He was an artist by trade, and painted ornamental ceilings and signs. He still held to the customs and habits of the Indians. He still had with him Indian relics, such as, arrows, spikes, paints and other relics. On certain nights he would leave his room in the hotel, and would climb to the top of a high hill, and there he would worship the sftarfg. The historians of Utah in the past have differed in their opinions as to the meaning of the word, "Utah," a land of plenty — "much to eat." — W. E. Abbott. Mesquite, Nevada.

WESTERNERS IN ACTION 157 Giving Maple Canyon the Once-over By H. R. Merrill Since Governor George H. Dern took hold of the steering wheel in Utah affairs, he has been one of the most active governors that has ever occupied the governor's chair, in the way of inspecting the domain over which he presides. Almost from the very first week he has been riding and tramping over this state in an effort to become acquainted with its beauties as well as with its resources. One of his latest expeditions was to the unique Maple canyon, which lies due west of Moroni, in Sanpete county. This trip was taken late in September in order that he might behold the canyon Governor George H. Dern, from a cliff, surveys Maple Canyon. The man pointing is Bob Hinckley of Mt. Pleasant. Next to him the Governor and daughter. The guide is B. F. Eliason, of Moroni, standing. garbed in its new Autumn clothing, fresh from the "artiste shoppe" of Jack Frost, the king of decorators. More than one hundred and fifty people had assembled in the defiles of the beautiful canyon to greet the Governor and to eat dinner with him in the wildwood. He was accompanied from Salt Lake by his secretary, William Iglehart, Mayor C. Clarence Neslen, J. Cecil Alter, and by members of his own family. The mayors of several of the Sanpete county towns, presidents of various clubs, and other prominent men also assembled to take part in the day's outing. The entire party was under the direction of the Lion's Club, of Mt. Pleasant. This organization acted as host, also.

158 IMPROVEMENT ERA The Governor and his party were first conducted through Box canyon, a tributary to Maple canyon, which is really unique among Utah canyons. Box canyon is a crooked gash or gorge cut into the conglomerate to a depth of more than five hundred feet. Its walls rise perpendicular upon Iboth sides. Only in few places is it a rod wide, and in many places it is even narrower., This canyon extends THE PARTY IN BOX CANYON for more than a mile, I am told, although we followed it only about that far. At certain seasons of the year a waterfall thirty feet high plays over a cliff in this elfin chute. From Box canyon the party moved on to the forks of Maple canyon, where some expert cooks had prepared a luncheon under the

WESTERNERS IN ACTION 159 wide-spreading maples and boxelders. Sandwiches, both hot and cold, fruits and ■ salads were served. An ice-cold spring had its origin beneath ,la cliff nearby, where the guests of the Lion's Club 'could! quench their thirst. The Governor and the Mayor, proving that they were of the people, sat on the ground among the many people and ate their luncheons even like the ordinary citizens. After the lunch, which was especially appreciated since the hike had been a prolonged though not a difficult one, the party moved on up the canyon. Part of them walked, others rode horse-back. Tower- ing cliffs rose on either side, pf the canyon, while in the crevices and along the bottom of the canyon were splotches of color that gave the place a fairy-like lightness and beauty. Far up the canyon, the trail turned aside up on to the north ridge. There the party, perched upon a cliff, surveyed the canyon. Governor Dern was much impressed with its ethereal beauty. Below him on the south side of the canyon a perfect natural bridge, fashioned from the gigantic conglomerate cliffs, could be seen, while far up the left-hand fork of the canyon the cliffs rose from the varicolored leaves like fortresses from some fairy bower. The right-hand fork was equally brilliant and colorful. To the east, one could see the Sanpete valley partly filled with sunshine and partly with a deep shadow which hung over the eastern rim of the valley. "It is beautiful," said Governor Dern. "I think it is a canyon of which you Sanpete citizens can well feel proud; in fact, it is a canyon of which the entire state may boast." The Governor had been invited to visit the place in order that he might pass upon the advisability of working for its exclusion from the range and its inclusion among the monuments or state parks of which much is being said at present. The Governor seemed favorable. The argument advanced by some of the promoters of the scheme was that it could be a half-way scenic camping ground between the state capital and Bryce canyon and the southern Utah wonders. As such it would be ideal. A good road to the forks of the canyon would make it a delightful place" for a one-night stop. After the party had viewed the scenery all returned to the forks, where Governor Dern made a graceful speech. Mayor Neslen, due to an appointment in Salt Lake City, had left earlier, but before going he had expressed himself as favoring the project of making the canyon a state park. Provo, Utah