William Slade: Difference between revisions
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=== Immigration to Utah === | === Immigration to Utah === | ||
After joining the Mormons the Slades traveled to the temporary Mormon settlements in western Iowa. In 1856, they joined the Jacob Croft Company, which departed on the trek west in late June. In the Slade family were William Rufus, 45, Dorinda Melissa Moody Goheen Slade, 48, William, 22, Jefferson, 19, Clara Elizabeth, 14, Henry, 6, and James McGaw, 5. | |||
[[Image:Mormon Trail.jpg|thumb|center|700px|<center>'''The Mormon Trail'''</center>]] | |||
They passed the usual milestones on the trail: Fort Kearney, the South Fork of the Platte River, Chimney Rock, Fort Laramie, the Sweetwater River, Independence Rock, Devil's Gate, Green River, Fort Bridger, Bear River, and Weber River. After suffering the usual hardships of overland trail they arrived in the valley of the Great Salt Lake in early October. | |||
=== To Washington County and the Cotton Mission === | === To Washington County and the Cotton Mission === | ||
[[Image:Cotton Mill 02.jpg|thumb|right|400px|<center>'''The Cotton Mill in Washington County.'''</center>]] | |||
In spring 1857, the Slades joined the steam of southerners bound for southern Utah. They encamped at Adair Springs near what would become Washington in Washington County. These southerners founded the Cotton Mission in what came to be known as Utah's Dixie. | |||
Washington appeared to have many advantages over other nearby locales. It was located near several fine springs and the Washington fields seemed to provide a lush expanse of farmland. However, appearances proved to be deceiving and soon "Dixie" was considered one of the most difficult areas to colonize. The broad fields were actually floodplains so if their dams washed out, as they did with discouraging frequency, their crops were jeopardized. Meanwhile the springs, so inviting in an arid, hot country, created marshes, the perfect habitat for mosquitos. Many of them suffered from bouts of malaria (the "fever and ague" or "chills") for many years. | |||
Although it eventually proved commercially unsuccessful, the Cotton Mission did succeed in producing cotton goods for local use and export at an important stage in Utah Territory's economic development. | |||
A "William Slade" is listed as a county commissioner in Washington County from 1857 to 1859. This could have been young Slade who was then in his early twenties, but more likely was his father, [[William_R._Slade|William Rufus Slade]]. | |||
=== In the Iron Military District: Sergeant William Slade, Company I, John D. Lee's 4th Battalion === | === In the Iron Military District: Sergeant William Slade, Company I, John D. Lee's 4th Battalion === | ||
[[Image:Map southern utah 1.jpg|left|300px]] | |||
In 1857, the Iron Military District consisted of four battalions. The platoons and companies in the first battalion drew on men in and around Parowan. (It had no involvement at Mountain Meadows.) [[Isaac_C._Haight|Major Isaac Haight]] commanded the 2nd Battalion whose personnel in its many platoons and two companies came from Cedar City and outer-lying communities to the north such as Fort Johnson. [[John_M._Higbee|Major John Higbee]] headed the 3rd Battalion whose many platoons and two companies were drawn from Cedar City and outer-lying communities to the southwest such as Fort Hamilton. [[John_D._Lee|Major John D. Lee]] of Fort Harmony headed the 4th Battalion whose platoons and companies drew on its militia personnel from Fort Harmony, the Southerners at the newly-founded settlement in Washington, the Indian interpreters at Fort Clara, and the new settlers at Pinto. | |||
[[Image:William slade 1.jpg|right|150px|William slade 1.jpg]] | |||
"William Slade" was listed in the 1859 arrest warrant. This could refer either to the father, William Rufus Slade, or the son, William Slade. | By September 1857, 23-year-old William Slade was a sergeant in the third Washington platoon, in [[Harrison_Pearce|Harrison Pearce’s]] Company I in [[John_D._Lee|John D. Lee’s]] 4th Battalion. See [[A Basic Account]] for a full description of the massacre. | ||
Slade was among the Washington party who were probably recruited on Sunday the 6th and traveled toward Mountain Meadows on Monday the 7th and encamped there on Tuesday the 8th. His exact role in the massacre on Friday the 11th is unknown. | |||
"William Slade" was listed in the 1859 arrest warrant. This could refer either to the father, William Rufus Slade, or the son, William Slade. | |||
=== Service in the Black Hawk War in the 1860s === | === Service in the Black Hawk War in the 1860s === | ||
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A few short years later, settlers such as [[Don_Carlos_Shirts|Carl Shirts]] from Panguitch would push east into the Escalante Valley and pioneer new settlements in the region first explored by William Slade, [[William_S._Riggs|William Riggs]] and other southern Utah militiamen during the Black Hawk War. | A few short years later, settlers such as [[Don_Carlos_Shirts|Carl Shirts]] from Panguitch would push east into the Escalante Valley and pioneer new settlements in the region first explored by William Slade, [[William_S._Riggs|William Riggs]] and other southern Utah militiamen during the Black Hawk War. | ||
=== | === Marriage; Settling in Washington County; Relocating to Garfield County, Utah === | ||
[[Image:Garfield_County.jpg|right|thumb|500px|<center>'''Map of Garfield County, Utah.'''</center>]] | |||
Slade may have had an earlier marriage but in 1869 he married Nancy Catherine Overton Holt (1850-1931) who was born in Iowa but whose early American forebears were from North Carolina and Virginia. By 1872, they had settled in Hamblin and Pine Valley in northern Washington County. | |||
In the late 1870s, the Slades settled in Panguitch, Garfield County. His last child was born in Panguitch in 1887, indicating that Slade probably remained there. In later years he moved to Colonia Dublan, Chihuahua, Mexico where he died and was buried. | In the late 1870s, the Slades settled in Panguitch, Garfield County. His last child was born in Panguitch in 1887, indicating that Slade probably remained there. In later years he moved to Colonia Dublan, Chihuahua, Mexico where he died and was buried. | ||
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<br> | <br> | ||
[[Image:William nancy slade 1b.jpg|center|400px|William nancy slade 1b.jpg]] | [[Image:William nancy slade 1b.jpg|center|400px|William nancy slade 1b.jpg]] | ||
= References = | = References = | ||
Alder and Brooks, ''A History of Washington County,'' App. A, 383; Bagley, ''Blood of the Prophets,'' 128, 287 (ambiguous reference to "William Slade": Is it father or son?); Bigler and Bagley, ed., ''Innocent Blood: Essential Narratives,'' 235; Chidester, ''Golden Nuggets of Pioneer Days: A History of Garfield County,'' 120; Newell and Talbot, ''A History of Garfield County,'' 87; Crampton, "Military Reconnaissance in Southern Utah, 1866, ''Utah Historical Quarterly,'' 32/2 (Spring 1964), 160; Gottfredson, ''Indian Depredations in Utah,'' 225; Lee, ''Mormonism Unveiled,'' 228, 380; Lee Trial transcripts; New.FamilySearch.org; Utah State Archive and Records and Service, Commissioner of Indian War Records, Indian War Service Affidavits, affidavit of William Slade, accessed at http://archives.utah.gov/research/inventories/2217.html; Walker, et al, Massacre at Mountain Meadows, Appendix C. | Aird, Bagley and Nichols, ''Playing With Shadows,'' 274-75 (ambiguous reference to "Slade"); Alder and Brooks, ''A History of Washington County,'' App. A, 383; Bagley, ''Blood of the Prophets,'' 128, 287 (ambiguous reference to "William Slade": Is it father or son?); Bigler and Bagley, ed., ''Innocent Blood: Essential Narratives,'' 235; Bradshaw, ed., ''Under Dixie Sun,'' 185; Chidester, ''Golden Nuggets of Pioneer Days: A History of Garfield County,'' 120; Newell and Talbot, ''A History of Garfield County,'' 87; Crampton, "Military Reconnaissance in Southern Utah, 1866, ''Utah Historical Quarterly,'' 32/2 (Spring 1964), 160; Gottfredson, ''Indian Depredations in Utah,'' 225; Lee, ''Mormonism Unveiled,'' 228, 380; Lee Trial transcripts; New.FamilySearch.org; Utah State Archive and Records and Service, Commissioner of Indian War Records, Indian War Service Affidavits, affidavit of William Slade, accessed at http://archives.utah.gov/research/inventories/2217.html; Walker, et al, Massacre at Mountain Meadows, Appendix C. | ||
For full bibliographic information see [[Bibliography]]. | For full bibliographic information see [[Bibliography]]. | ||
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For further information on William Slade, see: | For further information on William Slade, see: | ||
*http://mountainmeadowsmassacre.org/appendices/appendix-c-the-militiamen | * http://mountainmeadowsmassacre.org/appendices/appendix-c-the-militiamen | ||
Further information and confirmation needed. Please contact editor@1857ironcountymilitia.com. | Further information and confirmation needed. Please contact editor@1857ironcountymilitia.com. | ||
Latest revision as of 08:23, 8 January 2014
William Slade, his personal and family background and his involvement in the Mountain Meadows Massacre
William Slade
1834-1902
Biographical Sketch
[edit]William Slade was a native of Louisiana who later moved to the Republic of Texas before moving to western Illinois and then frontier Utah. Like about two-thirds of the militiamen involved in the massacre he was an American frontiersman and pioneer of southern Utah.
Early Life in the South
[edit]Slade was born in Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, the son of William Rufus and Julia Higganbotham Slade. Soon his family moved to the Republic of Texas. They joined the Mormons in the 1840s.
Immigration to Utah
[edit]After joining the Mormons the Slades traveled to the temporary Mormon settlements in western Iowa. In 1856, they joined the Jacob Croft Company, which departed on the trek west in late June. In the Slade family were William Rufus, 45, Dorinda Melissa Moody Goheen Slade, 48, William, 22, Jefferson, 19, Clara Elizabeth, 14, Henry, 6, and James McGaw, 5.
They passed the usual milestones on the trail: Fort Kearney, the South Fork of the Platte River, Chimney Rock, Fort Laramie, the Sweetwater River, Independence Rock, Devil's Gate, Green River, Fort Bridger, Bear River, and Weber River. After suffering the usual hardships of overland trail they arrived in the valley of the Great Salt Lake in early October.
To Washington County and the Cotton Mission
[edit]
In spring 1857, the Slades joined the steam of southerners bound for southern Utah. They encamped at Adair Springs near what would become Washington in Washington County. These southerners founded the Cotton Mission in what came to be known as Utah's Dixie.
Washington appeared to have many advantages over other nearby locales. It was located near several fine springs and the Washington fields seemed to provide a lush expanse of farmland. However, appearances proved to be deceiving and soon "Dixie" was considered one of the most difficult areas to colonize. The broad fields were actually floodplains so if their dams washed out, as they did with discouraging frequency, their crops were jeopardized. Meanwhile the springs, so inviting in an arid, hot country, created marshes, the perfect habitat for mosquitos. Many of them suffered from bouts of malaria (the "fever and ague" or "chills") for many years.
Although it eventually proved commercially unsuccessful, the Cotton Mission did succeed in producing cotton goods for local use and export at an important stage in Utah Territory's economic development.
A "William Slade" is listed as a county commissioner in Washington County from 1857 to 1859. This could have been young Slade who was then in his early twenties, but more likely was his father, William Rufus Slade.
In the Iron Military District: Sergeant William Slade, Company I, John D. Lee's 4th Battalion
[edit]
In 1857, the Iron Military District consisted of four battalions. The platoons and companies in the first battalion drew on men in and around Parowan. (It had no involvement at Mountain Meadows.) Major Isaac Haight commanded the 2nd Battalion whose personnel in its many platoons and two companies came from Cedar City and outer-lying communities to the north such as Fort Johnson. Major John Higbee headed the 3rd Battalion whose many platoons and two companies were drawn from Cedar City and outer-lying communities to the southwest such as Fort Hamilton. Major John D. Lee of Fort Harmony headed the 4th Battalion whose platoons and companies drew on its militia personnel from Fort Harmony, the Southerners at the newly-founded settlement in Washington, the Indian interpreters at Fort Clara, and the new settlers at Pinto.
By September 1857, 23-year-old William Slade was a sergeant in the third Washington platoon, in Harrison Pearce’s Company I in John D. Lee’s 4th Battalion. See A Basic Account for a full description of the massacre.
Slade was among the Washington party who were probably recruited on Sunday the 6th and traveled toward Mountain Meadows on Monday the 7th and encamped there on Tuesday the 8th. His exact role in the massacre on Friday the 11th is unknown.
"William Slade" was listed in the 1859 arrest warrant. This could refer either to the father, William Rufus Slade, or the son, William Slade.
Service in the Black Hawk War in the 1860s
[edit]In 1866, William Slade is listed as a private in the 2nd platoon of the Volunteer Cavalry Company, 1st Brigade, in the Iron Military District, who did military reconnaissance during Utah's Black Hawk War. He was one of sixty cavalrymen in a company under the command of Captain James Andrus that made an expedition from St. George through Pipe Springs and Escalante to the Green River in eastern Utah. On their return, they traveled through Circleville, the Sevier River valley, Bear Valley, Parowan and back to St. George. Also in the company was William S. Riggs. They were the first to explore the Escalante Valley.
A few short years later, settlers such as Carl Shirts from Panguitch would push east into the Escalante Valley and pioneer new settlements in the region first explored by William Slade, William Riggs and other southern Utah militiamen during the Black Hawk War.
Marriage; Settling in Washington County; Relocating to Garfield County, Utah
[edit]Slade may have had an earlier marriage but in 1869 he married Nancy Catherine Overton Holt (1850-1931) who was born in Iowa but whose early American forebears were from North Carolina and Virginia. By 1872, they had settled in Hamblin and Pine Valley in northern Washington County.
In the late 1870s, the Slades settled in Panguitch, Garfield County. His last child was born in Panguitch in 1887, indicating that Slade probably remained there. In later years he moved to Colonia Dublan, Chihuahua, Mexico where he died and was buried.
Around 1910, Slade's widow filed for Indian Wars veterans benefits for his service in 1866 during Utah's Black Hawk War.
References
[edit]Aird, Bagley and Nichols, Playing With Shadows, 274-75 (ambiguous reference to "Slade"); Alder and Brooks, A History of Washington County, App. A, 383; Bagley, Blood of the Prophets, 128, 287 (ambiguous reference to "William Slade": Is it father or son?); Bigler and Bagley, ed., Innocent Blood: Essential Narratives, 235; Bradshaw, ed., Under Dixie Sun, 185; Chidester, Golden Nuggets of Pioneer Days: A History of Garfield County, 120; Newell and Talbot, A History of Garfield County, 87; Crampton, "Military Reconnaissance in Southern Utah, 1866, Utah Historical Quarterly, 32/2 (Spring 1964), 160; Gottfredson, Indian Depredations in Utah, 225; Lee, Mormonism Unveiled, 228, 380; Lee Trial transcripts; New.FamilySearch.org; Utah State Archive and Records and Service, Commissioner of Indian War Records, Indian War Service Affidavits, affidavit of William Slade, accessed at http://archives.utah.gov/research/inventories/2217.html; Walker, et al, Massacre at Mountain Meadows, Appendix C.
For full bibliographic information see Bibliography.
External Links
[edit]For further information on William Slade, see:
Further information and confirmation needed. Please contact editor@1857ironcountymilitia.com.
