William R. Slade

William Rufus Slade, his personal and family background, and his involvement in the Mountain Meadows Massacre.

William R. Slade (1811-1872)
Biographical Sketch

William Rufus Slade (1811-1872) was a transplanted New Englander who moved first to Landry Parish, Louisiana and subsequently to the Republic of Texas, Iowa-Nebraska territories and frontier Utah before passing the remainder of his life in southeastern Nevada. He was an American frontiersman and pioneer of southern Utah.
The family history records for William Rufus Slade refer to his father as John Slocum and his mother as Phoebe Slade. Slade’s brothers and sisters have the last name of Slocum. [Needs confirmation] They are listed in as being from Massachusetts. Slade is listed as born in Pittstown, Rensselaer County in eastern New York near its intersection with both Massachusetts and Vermont. [Needs confirmation.]
In any event, in 1832 William R. Slade married Julianne Higgenbotham (1808- ?) of Georgia, in Landry Parish, Louisiana. They lived in Opelousas, the county seat and had several children there until circa 1839 when they moved west to the Republic of Texas, settling in Jefferson, Marion County in northeastern Texas.
After joining the Mormons they immigrated to Utah sometime in the late 1840s or early 1850s. 
By spring 1857, the Slades had settled in Washington County in southern Utah among other like-minded Southerners. By September, William R. Slade, 46, was a private in the third Washington platoon in Harrison Pearce’s Company I in John D. Lee’s 4th Battalion. 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 federal arrest warrant. This could be either the father, William Rufus Slade, or the son, William Slade.
The Slades remained in southern Utah, then moved to Panaca, Lincoln County, in southeastern Nevada where he died and was buried in 1872.
Additional Information: Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah contains the following on William Rufus Slade: Born July 2, 1811, in Washington county, N. Y. Married Julia Higganbotham in Louisiana. Their children: William, m. Nancy Katherine Holt; Martha, d. 1835; Jefferson, m. Sarah M. Chestnut; Margiana, d. 1840; Albert, d. 1853; Clara; Benjamin, d. 1847; John, d. 1853; Henry; Alice, d. 1853; James McGaw, d. 1870. Family home Opelousas, La. Died Nov. 28, 1872, Panacea, Nev. (Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, 1163.)
William R. Slade is listed as head of family among the original settlers in Washington, Washington County, 1857. (History of Washington County, 29, 50, fn 11.)
References: Esshom, ed., Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, 1163; Alder and Brooks, The History of Washington County, 29, 50, fn 11; Lee, Mormonism Unveiled; the Lee Trial transcripts; New.FamilySearch.org; Walker, Massacre at Mountain Meadows, Appendix C.
Further information and confirmation needed.
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