Copied from Beneath Ben Lomond’s Peak: A History of Weber County, 1824-1900, pg 274-275.

A Threatened Massacre

In 1869 a band of Shoshone Indians camped on the outskirts of Plain City, situated about ten miles northwest of Ogden. The natives depended on the white people for much of their food. Up to this time, they had displayed a friendly spirit and all had gone well. However, one member of the band, a lame Indian, came one morning during the early part of August to the home of Hans Peterson and said: “Give me food. I am hungry.”

“I haven’t any food cooked,” Mrs. Peterson replied. “I am doing some baking now. If you come back later, I’ll divide it with you.”

Then Mrs. Peterson turned to her baking, and the lame Indian went away muttering to himself. As he passed through the front yard, he observed one of the Peterson girls lying asleep under a currant bush. He picked her up and carried her away, unnoticed by any of the family. However, one of the neighbor boys saw what happened and ran to give the alarm out to where the father of the child was working.

Immediately Mr Peterson secured a blacksnake whip and went in pursuit of the savage, whom he overtook near the Indian camp. The father was very angry. After securing his little girl, and without waiting to think what the outcome might be, he gave the Indian a severe beating with the blacksnake whip. Three days later the Indian was found dead by the members of his tribe.

This caused a general uproar and a threatened Indian massacre. The savage warriors all came to the settlement dressed in their war paint prepared for battle. The settlers had some fine melons and a quantity of late vegetables which they expected to preserve for winter use. The redmen went from one garden to another and chopped into small pieces everything in sight. The citizens, however, were afraid to interfere; so they just watched the destruction with tears streaming down their faces. After the gardens were all completely destroyed, the white men went out to try to compromise with the Indians, who at first would not listen, but would wave their weapons in the air and threaten to destroy all the settlers. But after they had been promised a big fat steer, several hundred pounds of flour, and many other provisions, the Indians promised to go back to their camp and not molest the settlers.