Copied from “Items of History” by David Moore, early settler of Ogden, found among papers in possession of his son Joseph B. Moore.
From Items of History – Memories of the Early History of Weber County
We found two large camps of Indians, one camp of Utahs on the south side of Weber River with about sixty-five warriors, and one camp of Shoshones camped down at the big bend of Weber, estimated to number about eight-five warriors. All the natives were generally quiet during the winter of 1849-50.
[…] The Shoshones had left early in the spring [of 1850] for a hunt but Soldier’s band had the measles very bad and quite a number died of that disease, and he did not go away until some weeks later.
The Shoshones chief’s name was Terikee. He was quite an old man and of quite a good disposition. His band came back about the middle of August. His Indians acted very bad after their return, would rife through grain fields and melon patches, and acting bad in many ways. I met their old chief, l think it was on the 18′”of September 1850, at Urban Stewart’s, and he told me that he had sent his Indians away again for they had acted bad towards the settlers and he did not want his Indians to act bad. His family was with him at the time, he said that he was going to leave the next day.
That night Urban Stewart found him in his corn field and fired at him with his rifle and killed him dead on the spot, but the old chief’s son stated afterward that his father was not stealing but was getting his ponies out of the com, which l believe was the truth.
As soon as Stewart found that he had killed the old chief he became alarmed and came first to the Barkers house, called to them and asked them to help him get his stock and household goods away, but when they found out what he had done, refused to help him. He next came to me for help but after I had made enquiry I also refused to help him knowing that it would be very dangerous to do so, he then left and went somewhere south of Ogden River.
About the first appearance of day, George Barker, generally known as “Uncle George” took William Barker, his nephew, with him and rode out to Stewart’s place (which is now Bishop Pleasant Green Taylor’s farm), met little Soldier and his band there.
The lndians had burned Stewarts’s hay, killed his cow, dog, and cat, took his featherbed out of his house, cut it open and scattered feathers over the ground about the yard. They were very angry but did not attempt to injure “Uncle George” or William Barker but followed them into their home. I saw the Indians coming and expected that we would have to fight for our lives. They formed a circle around Barkers’ door and I had no other thought but they intended to kill the family. After looking at them for a few minutes I went over to them and got close behind them before they saw me, but the moment Little Soldier saw me he gave a terrible yell and they all wheeled their horses and formed a circle around me. The chief leveled his gun just a little above my head and fired it off. They then gave several long Indian yells. l thought my end was near but as I could not get out of the circle I stood my ground and when they were done yelling, I spoke to the Chief and after saying a few words induced them to go with me to President Lorin Farr’s house.
They all went in and sat sown in the circle around the room. I judged there was from thirty-five to forty of them. We had a long talk with them after they had all smoked the same pipe, they would not talk before. After a talk of over an hour they agreed to wait until about ten o’clock the next day, and if Stewart was not given up to them they would commence to kill the settlers and burn up their houses and property. This was all the time they would agree to give us. It was decided that I should go to Salt Lake City to see what Governor Young would do about our position.
I arrived at Salt Lake City about 4:30 p.m. Found Governor Young absent but Willard Richards, the Secretary of the Territory, after some council with leading men, all ordered all the troops up to Weber County that could be mustered and get to that point by daylight if possible the next morning.
Sometime after my arrival at Salt Lake City, Daniel Burch came in with another express stating that some of Terrikee’s band had come back, killed one man and drove off a lot of horses. This news, together with Governor Young’s’ return intended to hasten the expedition very much.
We left Salt Lake City about twelve o’ clock at night and when the company of about one hundred and fifty men under the command of General Horace S. Eldridge arrived at Kays creek they stopped for breakfast but Daniel Burch, George W. Hill, and myself continued on our way for home.
We found Indian tracks at the crossing of Kay’s creek showing that the Indians had some design against Burch and me or they wanted to see what course would be taken at head-quarters. We continued over the sand ridge down lo the high bank west of the depot before we crossed the Weber river. We were not sure that our families were alive or not, but from our position we would see the smoke from the fires of our families and friends and felt sure they were safe.
We crossed the Weber and then separated, Burch and Hill going south and I going north. On my way from Weber to Ogden River I discovered Soldier’s band on the move. I rode behind a clump of brush to see, if possible, what was their object in making such a move. I was soon convinced that it was a bonafide camp move, their object proved to be that they had seen the troops coming and they were getting out of the way, and the killing of Campbell also upset their plans.
After the troops arrived at Captain Brown’s, General Eldridge sent a few men after Soldier and his band and induced them to return. He then went north to Box-Elder, now Brigham City, but not finding any of Terrikee’s band, returned the next day. When the company got in about five miles of Ogden they saw what they thought to be an Indian in the distance and a small party was sent after him, and on the other hand the man thought the troops was a large body of Indians, but his horse on his best speed to get away from the Indians, but the party had got near enough to him to call to him and the mistake became a source of a good joke all around.
General Eldridge remained in camp two or three days until the incoming emigration began to arrive at Weber. A large number having been sent up to Weber by Governor Young to make a settlement strong enough to sustain themselves against the natives in the future. The next move was to get all the scattered settlements into a fort south of Captain Brown’s Residence. This did not suit those north of Ogden River and President Lorin Farr went to Salt Lake City and got the order changed so far as to build another fort near to his mill site. This was a good change for it was the hastening on of his mill which was greatly needed.
From First Settlement of Mound Fort 1848
Some time during the spring [of 1850] Lorin Farr was sent up from Salt Lake City to preside over the Saints settled here and in Ogden City. He located in Mound Fort Ward near the …………(page lost)…….
Time and got them out of the corn twice (see page 9) the third time Stewart found him in his corn and shot him. Terrikee’s son having witnessed the deed went forth with to the Utah camp and about day light they were at Stewarts’ house in force, he however had fled. They killed his cow, burned his hay and destroyed his household furniture. There were from thirty to thirty-five of the Utahs with their
Chief, Little Soldier. George and William Barker went out to see them and talk with them. The Indians came in with them and David Moore took them to President Lorin Farr’s house where they made an agreement with President Farr and David Moore that they would wait until about ten o’ clock the next day before they would commence hostilities. David Moore was sent to Salt Lake City for help. After he was gone President Farr sent out several men to gather up the stock from the range – by this time a party of old Chiefs band same in and met them, the brethren retreated to their homes and escaped, but a man by the name of Campbell, an emigrant on his way to California, was overtaken and killed. Daniel Burch was then sent with another dispatch to Salt Lake City. By the time he arrived orders were out for one hundred and fifty men and the information from him hastened the gathering of the companies. The companies were on the march for Ogden by ten o’ clock p.m. And marched to Kay’s creek before they made a halt where the companies took breakfast a little after daylight. David Moore, Daniel Burch and G.W. Hill continued on their journey arriving at Ogden about nine o’clock a.m. The Indians had got to know by some means that a company of men was near at hand and were on the march for Weber Canyon as David Moore was cropping the bottom land where Ogden City now stands. The companies got to Ogden about ten o’ clock a.m. and sent some men after the Indians and got them to return when they agreed to be quiet and not molest the settlers. Some four days afterwards the companies returned to their homes.