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Show 3 The Past Sharing The two little Itoyi lay in the cool slunk? of the old camp wagon. They had just turned their team out to graze after the hot and dusty ride from Clover Creek and were resting near a well newly dug by their father when they heard a noise. ". . . raising up, I taw the biggest Indian 1 had ever teen. . . He dismounted, and as he had no shirt, I taw he had a large scar across his breast." The year was 1897, and the two small Ikivs were Hiram Wallace and his brother Clyde Severe. The event is recorded in the diary of Wallace, longtime were Yarilia, Ike, Welia Tom, Charley, parley resulting in a kindlier feeling toward Severe on the part of the Indians, one of whom went home with him. William, Narkus, Dick Moon Eye, Dave Eagle and others," Severe wrote. Great Funeral Captured By Indians Another story tells of Harrison and Wilford Hudson going to the West Mountains for timlier. The two were taken by the Indians and sentenced to death. They had tied Hudson to a tree and were tying Severe when Indian Joe, a young Indian that lived at Severe's Severe tells that in the summer of 1901. Tabby died, and there was a great funeral held for the old chief. To start him on his journey to the Happy Hunting Grounds, Five of his liest horses were killed by twisting a loop around their noses so that no blood would be shed. Grantsville resident. Excerpts from his diary enumerating his remembrances of early Skull Valley appear in "History of Tooele County" one of the most informative and delightful books ever printed and the most popular Isook at the Tooele Library. Wallace Severe was bom in 1888 and lived until he was 78 yean old. His life span covered the time of the late pioneer era to the modem space age. He lived through some exciting times, but then today is just as tumultous. The trouble is that not enough of us are writing about our times as Wallace Severe wrote alout his. Must of us have not seen the need yet to get our life history down on paper for the benefit of our descendants and othen. We think our lives are dull, boring or will be of little importance. Yet two young boys navigating a team of horses and a wagon by themselves and camping out between Crantsville and Skull Valley was not unusual in those days. An encounter with an Indian was not an infrequent occurrence, nor was living in a log cabin with a dirt floor and a dirt roof. Yet to us, only a generation or two away, those are fascinating times. Dynamic Era We live in one of the most dynamic eras of history. None of us knows when we lie down at night what new drama is unfolding somewhere in the world news of which will greet us when we arise ' in the morning. Those of us approaching our post middle years were mostly homebound as youngsters. It was not until the 50's -those post World War II days that our pace of life really began to speed up. In those earlier times, a trip to Yellowstone Park was the adventure of a lifetime, and a trip to Salt Lake City twice a year was a momentous event. Times change so fast. Our times will soon be as much history as that of two little boys trembling with fear at a confrontation with an Indian near their fathers well 84 years ago. As did Wallace Severe, weve lived in two worlds ourselves: the idyllic or peaceful and romantic prewar era and this one that which has shaken our former way of life to its roots. Each of us has something unique to contribute as did Wallace Severe. Our stories will someday be just as vital and fascinating to those who are yet to be bom as his is to us. For instance, we are indebted to him for his insights into life in Skull Valley. Without his and others stories, this wide valley to our west would be nothing more than the road to Dugway, or the site of a few scattered ranches a long stretch of alkali desert, greasewood, shadscale, coyotes .and cactus. Wallace Severe was the grandson of one of Grantsville s first white settlers, Harrison Severe who arrived there in 1850. His involvement with Skull Valley came when Indians from that valley drove off his cattle along with those of and the James McBride, a brother-in-laother first settler of Grantsville. They tracked the Indians west to the Cedar Mountains. From that time on, the family was involved with ranching and other activities in the valley. Harrison eventually became an Indian Agent and learned to speak the Goshiute language fluently. Spectator of Life Wallace Severe was a spectator to the drama of life in the old west. He witnessed the plight of the redman as he struggled to cope with the strange ways of the white man - his language his culture - and at the same time keep his own identity. At first the Indians resisted with open warfare as we read in History of Tooele County. In the autumn of 1852 Severes grandfather Harrison went into the mountains with a wagon and two yoke of oxen for timber. Near his home was the wickiup of a friendly Indian whose life he had saved from the irate whites. This Indian followed him closely into the mountains where a gang of thieving savages were watching the coming of Severe. The story tells that Severe was unarmed and was soon taken captive by the Indians who meant to kill him and take his oxen. His Indian friend arrived on the scene with his bow and arrow convincing the thieves that some of them would also die. The incident as recounted in History of Tooele County ended with a good friend and ate at our house many times," Severe writes. "We pitched hay foot stopM-by Severe's overnight and started into the desert next morning. one summer for Neff Brothers. Dick They were found less than a week later; complained that he was not satisfied one had died, the other was blind but was able to ride in the freight wagon to with the food. He said all the time. Tomato can, tomato can. I dont like the settlement. damn tomato can. I like peach can!" There were many others. A Mr. White, who had milling claims on GranGimme Sheep Meat Mormon settlers had lieen taught to ite Mountain, always walked across, but treat the Indians with friendship and to at night and with a gallon keg of water. share whatever they had with them. This Dan Egan also walked in from Dugway, but always at night as did the Lundcen system seemed to go a long way in neutralizing the enmity lietween them, and Brothers. The desert can lie treacherous also cemented some lifelong friendships to those not familiar with it; and even according to Severe. I was at my now there are those who tour through Grandmother Severe's home one time the land suddenly seeing Ireautiful lakes when Old Sugar came in. . . Crandma and tall trees, wandering caravans of life, knew all of them. Sugar wanted bread, but they never catch up with this." A Thirty Day Trip flour, tea and coffee. Moodiwalk relumed one winter at Christmas with his According to Severe freight wagons wife and three daughters after being on were an every day scene, headed toward a trip for supplies enough for the winter. the mines in Nevada and Western Utah. I asked why he had all two quart bottles 'Tie said that it was a thirty day trip for of peaches and no other kind of fmit, he the wagons pulled by four to six horses, answered, My wife she tellum peaches. and that the outfits who could load both ways were fortunate. Often one would Before Wallace Severe himself see some of them returning with great passed from the scene, the children of loads of beef hides and sheep pelts; some these Indians already has mastered the with sacks of highgrade ore. Every wawhite man's language and many of them gon had a water barrel strapped or wired had become educated in the area schools to the side of the wagon lied. Winter and summer they plied their trade. One of and scattered abroad in the land. However, many of them maintain their ties these long line skinners, seeing that he would lie short of water emptied fifty with their past and visit the reservagallons of whiskey on the ground so he tion located in Skull Valley. Although Severe lived to see the might have the barrel for water. His wonders of technology in our contem- horses would not drink hard liquor. Severes father participated in a porary world such as space flight, he also lived during those days when wild, roundup for the Rockwell Ranch (Orin wild west was still a very apt descrip- Porter) near the Juab-- Tooele county line which was a famous cattle headquarters. tion of life here in Skull Valley. In the spring of 1867, one of the He said that as late as 1900 as far as one ' cattle herders, hearing calves bawling at could see there were cattle. The herd the Woodmansee Ranch, rode in to with which his father rode had 2200 was not investigate. Riding up to the corral, he head. In those days saw a note tied to the gate, advising known, so one can only imagine the whoever should come that way to turn fierce looking sight of so many homed the calves out that they might be with their mothers. On going into the cabin, he found the place had been ransacked and patches of blood and womans hair. Remains a Mystery He saw where the woman had lieen dragged and her body dumped in the spring hole where the ranchers got their culinary water. The table had been pre' pared that three people could have eaten. Evidentally the woman, Mrs. Gordon, had been preparing a meal. Her husband, George Gordon, apparently had been irrigating in the field where his body was found. The bodies were buried on the ranch. The crime will remain a d Jus Talkin HIRAM WALLACE SEVERE 1888-196- home came to the scene, having run away from school in Crantsville, and followed the woodsmen into the canyon. Joe pleaded with the Indians, explaining the whites meant no harm and were friends to all the Indians. The Goshiutes eventually became friendly to the settlers and learned to depend on them for many things. We are once again indebted to Wallace Severe for his records of dealings with the Indians and the color and interest they lent to those days. The Indian who rode into his camp was Moon, one of those Indians who in earlier days had given the people of Grantsville a lot of trouble by running off the cattle. He with four other Indians at one time were locked in the old adobe schoolhouse; two of the Indians were shackled together. Lyman Severe shot Moon in the breast. He was taken to my grandmothers home where he remained until the wound healed. Moon was very proud of the score, and liked to tell us, you papa brother shoot em. The Goshiute Indians had no horses at the time white men arrived, records For meat History of Tooele County. they depended mostly on antelope with which the big desert abounded. There are still the remains of drift fences on the edge of the desert where the Indians would lie in wait for the antelope herds. To Build and To Farm When the Indians were persuaded to move onto Hickman Creek and establish a home, Harrison Severe and William Lee lived with them and taught them to build buck fence and to farm. Wallace Severe tells that at that time, the only threshing machine he had ever seen .was owned by Tom Watson and was powered by twelve horses hitched to a horse power, with a man stuffing the grain into the front of the thresher. Pa had a different plan. He had three Indian women come to the ranch to do the threshing. They laid canvas on the ground around the stack. They would place a few forks full of grain on the canvas and lead their horses over it until the grain was tromped out, then after forking the straw away, gather the grain and chaff onto flat baskets, toss and shake until all the chaff was gone, then sack the wheat. It took five days to bushels. The women thresh seventy-fiv- e bushels for their got seven and one-hashare; this they ground into meal on g rocks. their homemade These squaws were the wives of Tabby, the Chief. With the little wheat the Indians raised on their farms and a good patch of sun flowers, which they also threshed and ground, they fared quite lf stone-grindin- well. Of the old Indians on the Hickman Creek Ranch besides Tabby and Moon 6 Three sacks of wheat were placed in the grave with other food, a frying pan, coffee pot, gun, knife, saddle, bridle, everything appertaining to a pleasant trip. Seymour Severe (Wallaces father) asked one of the Indians what would become of Tabbys squaws. The Indian re- mystery. Skull Valley had its share of prospec- plied, Brankets (blankets) good enough for them. Wallace Severe learned to love the Indians and to appreciate their tors looking for gold and precious metals, and robbers looking for an escape route or places to hide their loot. unique personalities. There were charIn 1902, while herding Condies acters among them just as there were bucks along Barlow Creek, three men among the hardy settlers. came there in a white-to- p buggy and Once while Seymour was digging a ) and curious, I camped. Freckled-face- d water trench, Dave Eagle, sometimes soon learned these men were looking for known as Dave Kimball (having spent gold. I remember the name of one of the his boyhood in the Kimball home) came men was Jim Pitt. He had a map which along. . . . (Dave) had the imagination a prisoner by the name of Taylor had that would make Nick Carter or Horatio drawn just before he died in Illinois Alger blush; and many would stop their State Prison, claiming he and four other work to listen to him. Daves first words j men had robbed a train near Wells, Neas you met him whether on horseback or vada, in 1870, had made their way across in his wagon were, Gimme matches! the desert and had camped for a while Regardless if his pockets were full, he al- - on a creek in Skull Valley where they ways wanted matches. After being accodivided the loot, all but forty pounds of modated with a match or two, he would ' gold bars which they buried at a dam roll a Bull Durham and start his yarn, some ranchers had built across the creek which usually continued until he had to convey the water to their farms. If been fed. they ever found the gold, Wallace SeThis day he said, Me, Im just com- - vere did not know. in back from Clover Creek. Me and my Severe had heard a story of early setwife and my boy and me, we hogo pike who told of a rancher being offered tlers catchum-tater(go way) to Clover Creek, amounted to a quart can of gold what bushel catchum we (potatoes) fifty coins by some strangers in exchange for a on one horse. We spillum all down on The rancher was afraid to accept horse. Charle pick top Johnsons pass. Maybeso The men were indeed robbers coins. the em up, Dave continued, Seyma (Seyand arrested right there routed were and I time here. mour) long ago camp right Skull in Valley. We look up in sky, see big bird, Redone Today people from all over Utah zip Chub he say, Maybeso the Lord. Then two or we get bows and arrows and shoot em out and back to Wendover in just that bird, long time we shoot em that three hours for a few hours of frolic at bird cornin down, over that way. Me the gambling casinos. Jumping Off Place and Chub and both us go look. Thats a Wallace remembers the days when big bird, Red one. Seyma you never see heading out over that vast salt encrusted that kinda bird. wilderness was a gamble in itself. Many Saved His Life men gambled and lost their lives. Severe continued,Pa said, No ' Dave, I never have. Dave said, Ah, Orrs ranch was the jumping off kinda bird down in Sanpete, Steal em place for the big desert where the bar horses. rels were filled all ready for a daylight The early winter of 1903, Dave start. The next water was at Salt Spring froze his foot and all the next summer west, or a day and a half lay around his tepee in the filth. . . his drive. I remember in the late 90s, a man leg was taken off in the fall. Dr. Benedict said that maggots which had been with a team and buckboard camped eating the gangrene out of the sore was overnight, at Orrs. The next morning the what saved Daves life. He was very ranchers advised him not to venture into proud of the wooden leg he had made the desert without water for his horses, which he wore for many years. but the man said he could drive the miles to Salt Spring with his According to Wallace Severe, Dave forty-fiv- e loved to read the newspapers. It didnt light outfit. matter whether the paper was upside The next freighter out found the down or not. He would read to the In- mans wagon with the horses harness dians that the U.S. soldiers were coming hanging on the brake where he had to move the Injuns to Uintah. This turned his team out to graze; the horses would frighten them off to the mounbeing without water all day of course, tains until Dave would come and tell left. The mans bones were found the them the soldiers had gone away. next year by Richard Rydalch 20 miles Another of the Skull Valley Indians away. was Diejc Moon Eye. Dick was a very A short time after this, two men on plenty that forty-fivemil- I have had second thoughts about the great American pastime known as getting away from it all. The term is a misnomer. Getting away from it all has become a lopsided quest: there are so many of us rushing to get away that the only true place to actually get away from what we were getting away from is at home in your own bathtub (unless you are a one bathroom family). ON WEEKENDS and holidays, the freeways with cars, pickups, vans, campers, and motorcycles, look like a one way street scene of Exodus motor-home- s, -- eager civilization dwellers rushing like eager Children of Israel on the way to the Promised Land. Once arrived the cry is Smell the mountain air. But what we inhale is a conglomeration of fry- ing fish, cigars, and exhaust fumes. Resorts take on the look of an army encampment with tents and rigs of all sizes and shapes lined up like the prize offerings on a used car lot. WE SQUEEZE into line, jock- eying with 2,000 others for our square inch of the environment. With each new arrival, we all go through the pains of backing in and leveling up. A little to the left! Now, back up just a bit! Hold it! Perfect! Then we can all settle down until the next one comes along. . . and the next. . . and the next. . . We soon find out what it is that everyone has forgotten to bring, and we exchange matches, eggs, toilet paper, salad dressing. (Imagine forgetting to take butter on a fishing trip.) we all sit down to dinner - not in lonely seclusion, but like strangers on a train. We, FINALLY, cattle together." Those stupendous scenes of cattle, tenacious settlers, and Indians have faded from our view, but they live again through the pen of men like Wallace Severe. His own personality comes through in statements taken from his diary: The greatest blessing possessed by the of that day was time; everyone had time." In the spring of 1900, my father had completed a log cagin. dirt floor and dirt pio-nec- is roof. It was really home. Horses Housed Better Than Men The. . . Condie ranch was much like any other place in the desert: a one-roocabin; if a company of travelers came along they could sleep on the floor. The stables and corrals were ample. The horses were usually housed letter than m the men." I wonder how we lived, but there was always plenty, and when the neighbors or some traveler came along, we all fared alike. The lies! part of it all was we did not have to go to school, although mother and must of the children moved to Crantsville for the winter. I remember I went into the fourth grade and we memorized Paul Reveres Ride and Lady Clair. I also know every canyon and ledge on both sides of the valley and all the water holes and brands of the desert. Exciting? yes. Memorable? yes. The small boy who watched with apprehension as the huge Indian rode his pony into camp, grew to manhood in a dynamic, colorful era of history that he was wise enough to record for us. Thanks to the generosity of his family, and the un- tiring efforts of the Tooele County Daughters of the Pioners, we are able to share in those great moments of the past. Your life will Ire just as exciting and memorable to your descendants. Dont let them down. forward; they, backward - neighbor to neighbor. We eat in embarrassed silence, trying not to look at each other as we chew. I do the dishes in my cute little sink; she does the dishes in her cute little sink. Eyeball to eyeball, we are so close, there is no place else to look but at each other. Well, we came to see the scenery, didnt we? WE ARE part of each others lives for better or worse. Private conversations echo up and down the shores. Lefty, thats your fourth beer since dinner. Susie, you got to ride in the boat all afternoon. Its Jasons turn. We hear the steam hissing in the teakettle, the spoon in the coffee cup, the brewsippers burp. We are strangers knowing more about each others intimacies than " the neighbors at home. Somehow I am reminded of the Russians who live in big cities and share one apartment with three other families. I WONDER what they do about pets. At resorts there seem to be millions of them - all dogs. People who would not dream of letting their children jump on you with their muddy feet or bound unbidden into your lap cant un- derstand why everyone doesnt regard Fifis antics as jus dar-li- n. And so Muffin leaves his on your spot of calling card camping grounds and yaps all night unchecked. The inevitable boat that wont run, with its whining, and smoke accompanied by caustic com- ments; the drinking parties which you cant avoid even with your shades drawn and door closed; the roaring motorcycles; the unfettered, unwashed kids of all ages, sizes, and temperaments give a quiet weekend away from it all, all the ballyhoo of Independence Day at the Park. Ah, yes, theres nothing like a few days at a picturesque moun- tain or lakeside resort to make one appreciate the quiet of the city street, the privacy of the backyard barbecue, the friendly ringing of the telephone. BUT A few days at home, and most of us are once again dreaming and scheming how to soon get away from it all again. Im sure if we went to a weekend resort and found it Lcmpty, wed hate it. Somehow, I think the Garden of Eden must have been a lonely place. |