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
Early Life
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 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; Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah states that William Rufus Slade was born July 2, 1811, in Washington County, New York.]
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.
Migration to Utah
After joining the Mormons they immigrated to Utah sometime in the late 1840s or early 1850s.
To Washington County and the Cotton Mission
By spring 1857, the Slades had settled in Washington County in southern Utah among other like-minded Southerners. Slade is listed as head of household among the original settlers in Washington, Washington County, in 1857.
In the Iron Military District: Private William R. Slade, Company I, John D. Lee's 4th Battalion
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.
Later Life
William and Julianne Slade had upwards of eleven children, most of whom died before reaching adulthood. The Slades remained in southern Utah, then moved to Panaca, Lincoln County, in southeastern Nevada where in 1872, he died at the age of 61.
References
Alder and Brooks, A History of Washington County, 29, 50, fn 11; Esshom, ed., Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, 1163; Lee, Mormonism Unveiled, 228, 380; the Lee Trial transcripts; New.FamilySearch.org; Walker, Massacre at Mountain Meadows, Appendix C.
For full bibliographic information see Bibliography.
External Links
For further information on William R. Slade, see:
Further information and confirmation needed. Please contact editor@1857ironcountymilitia.com.
