John Mangum

John Mangum, his personal and family background, and his involvement in the Mountain Meadows Massacre

John Mangum

1817-1885

Biographical Sketch

John Mangum was born in Albemarle, Surry County, Virginia. His earliest American forebears were from Boydton, Mecklenburg County in south-central Virginia, close to the border with North Carolina. His parents moved from Mecklenburg County to Warren County in southwest Ohio before moving south to St. Clair County, Alabama where Mangum was born.

Around 1844, the Mangums had relocated to Mississippi where Mangum married Mary Ann Adair (1822-1892), a native of Pickens County, Alabama. She was part of the large Adair clan which had converted to Mormonism. Mangum and Mary Ann eventually had twelve children.

Migration to Utah

Mangum, his wife, his mother and many of his siblings joined the Mormons and immigrated to Utah in 1852. Initially, they settled in Nephi, Juab County, where Mangum served as marshal. In 1853, Mangum married Ellen Bardsley (1819-1864), an emigrant from Lancashire, England.

Joining the Southerners in Washington County

In spring 1857, many in the Mangum clan joined other Southerners in southern Utah where they founded Washington in Washington County.

===In the Iron Military District: Private John Mangum, Company I, John D. Lee's 4th Battalion, Washington

In September 1857, John Mangum, 40, like his brother James, was a private in the fourth Washington platoon in Harrison Pearce’s Company I in John D. Lee’s 4th Battalion. Mangum was among those recruited from Washington. According to Lee, John Mangum helped quiet Indians about midway through the four day siege. His role in the massacre on Friday, September 11, is unknown. He was listed in Judge John Cradlebaugh's 1859 arrest warrant.

Later Years

The Mangums remained in Washington County for many years where he worked as a farmer and stockraiser. According to Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, Mangum also married Mary Hamblin, the daughter of Jacob and Priscilla Hamblin.

Move to Kane County

In the 1860s, Mangum was a founder of the settlements in Long Valley, Kane County. At the beginning of the Black Hawk War, Kanab and the other Long Valley settlements were abandoned and the Mangums and other families returned to Washington County. 

Return to Kane County

In 1869, they reestablished the Kane County settlements. They were troubled by Navajo raiders for a time and Mangum helped establish a fort at Kanab. In 1872, Mangum had dealings with the John Wesley Powell's Colorado River expedition.

Final Years: Move to Arizona

Later, like his brother James, Mangum and his family moved to Apache County, Arizona where he died in either 1881 or 1885. He was survived by his first wife and nine children. Their children later settled in Utah, Arizona and New Mexico.

References

Alder and Brooks, A History of Washington County, 29 fn. 11; Bradley, A History of Kane County, 52, 66-67, 69; Esshom, Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, 1022; Gregory, "Journal of Jones, 1871-1872," Utah Historical Quarterly, 16,17 (1948-1949), 106, 108, 112, 250; "Journal of ... Powell, Utah Historical Quarterly, 16-17 (1948-1949), 358 fn. 78; Kelly, "Captain . . . Bishop’s Journal, 1870-1872," Utah Historical Quarterly, 15, 1-4 (1947), 232, 233; Lee, Mormonism Unveiled, ; Lee Trial transcripts; New.FamilySearch.org.; Woodbury, "A History of Southern Utah and Its National Parks, Utah Historical Quarterly, 12/3-4 (Jul.-Oct. 1944), 179; Walker, et al, Massacre at Mountain Meadows, Appendix C.

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