Daniel Macfarlane

 

Biographical Sketch

Daniel Macfarlane's background and his involvement in and statements about the Mountain Meadows Massacre.

Daniel Sinclair Macfarlane (1837-1914)

Biographical Sketch

Daniel S. Macfarlane was born in Stirlingshire in the Scottish highlands. Several members of the Macfarlane family joined the Mormon Church and attended the Glasgow conference. They were unable to emigrate, however, until the church established its Perpetual Emigration Fund to assist indigent European converts to immigrate to Utah Territory in the American West.

With that assistance, Daniel Macfarlane, his mother, and his older brother, John Menzies Macfarlane, began their journey in early 1852 to the Mormon "Zion" in Utah. In Liverpool, they met Mormon elder Isaac C. Haight and traveled under his direction in their voyage. After the long, arduous journey, they arrived in Utah in the fall and settled in Bountiful. The following year they joined their friend Isaac Haight in settling in Cedar City in the newly-founded Iron mission. Daniel's mother became a plural wife of Isaac Haight and Daniel became his step-son.

Dan Macfarlane was an early member of the Cedar Dramatic Association where his bearing and deep voice made him successful in both tragedies and farces. He also joined other Scots as well as English and Welsh in the choir where he met his future wife, Temperance Keturah Haight, the daughter of Isaac and Eliza Ann Haight. Now his step-father became his father-in-law.

In 1857, 20-year-old Daniel Macfarlane was a 2nd lieutenant in a one of the Cedar City platoons, then was promoted to adjutant to Captain Joel White. in Company D of Major Isaac C. Haight's 2nd Battalion. His older brother, John Menzies Macfarlane, was adjutant to Major Haight.

In 1862, Macfarlane married Keturah Haight, who bore him twelve children. In 1879, he took a second wife, marrying Elizabeth Ford, a Welsh emigrant, who bore him nine children. His last child was born when he was 63.

During the mid to late 1860s the Black Hawk War caused the militia units in southern Utah to be reorganized and strengthened to provide greater security to the white settlers. Daniel Macfarlane was in some of the militia units that patroled for raiding Paiute and, later, Navajo Indians.

In the late 1870s, Macfarlane served as a missionary to his native Scotland. Later census records list Macfarlane as a "day laborer" who did "odd jobs." He lived for more than 60 years in Cedar City, died in 1914 and was buried there. He was survived by his two wives and numerous children.

Captain's Adjutant Daniel S. Macfarlane, 2nd Battalion, Company D, Cedar City

His Role and Statements Relative to the Massacre

A 2nd lieutenant in a platoon in Company D in early 1857, Macfarlane was promoted to adjutant to captain Joel White of company D. In September 1857, when the Arkansas emigrant train became besieged at Mountain Meadows, Macfarlane was among those who mustered there.

Macfarlane was at the military council at the Meadows in the evening of Thursday the 10th. On Friday the 11th, according to John D. Lee, Macfarlane was on horseback. As the emigrant column proceeded north, from his position on his horse, Macfarlane headed the cluster of women and children on horseback. Being on horseback, he was to prevent any emigrants from escaping to either side of the road. As the firing commenced, Macfarlane rode from one side of the field to the other, carrying orders. Lee later claimed that the Scottish emigrant Macfarlane was among the most violent in the massacre but his account is uncorroborated. "Daniel McFarlan" was included in the 1859 arrest warrant.

Macfarlane did not testify in either of the Lee trials of 1875 or 1876. Nearly four decades after the massacre, Macfarlane prepared an affidavit of some events surrounding it. John M. Higbee, Joel W. White and William Tait also made affidavits around the same time. Daniel Macfarlane's statement is of lesser value. Somewhat vague and conclusionary in nature, its primary purpose appears to have been to minimize the role of John M. Higbee, who was still under indictment and still at risk of prosecution.

This portrait of Daniel Sinclair Macfarlane and Keturah Haight Macfarlane
and their child was probably taken in the 1860s.

References: Macfarlane, Yours Sincerely, John M. Macfarlane; Shirts, A Trial Furnace, ; Lee, Mormonism Unveiled; Lee Trial transcripts; New.familysearch.org; Walker, et al, Massacre at Mountain Meadows, Appendix C.

For further information on Daniel S. Macfarlane see:
http://macfarlane-sinclair.org/index.php?page=7

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