On another trip Christen Jensen was given the task of looking after 175 head of cattle which were being driven across the plains. Marauding bands of Indians had taken several of the beefs for food and were committing many depredations in the neighborhood. Christen, with a picked guard of five men took charge of the cattle the balance of the way to their permanent homes in Utah never lost another head. They met bands of Indian Scouts, but were always able to out-wit them.
The trouble with the Indians arose over treaties with the government. The U.S. government had a treaty with the Indians giving them all of the lands west of the Platte river to the Pacific Coast. In 1860, they negotiated another treaty in which certain lands were designated as reservations. The Indians objected to the latter treaty. After three years of relentless warfare, the Indians were compelled to lay down arms and accept the government's terms of treaty. A peace pact was signed.
Even after this had been accomplished, marauding bands of Indians had been roving over the western plains of Wyoming and Utah. Many depredations had been committed. The Indians were no worse than some of the white traders who would give the Indians a quart of whiskey and take in exchange for the bottle of "fire water" furs up to a thousand times the value of the liquor. Then too, there were lots of ruthless outlaws in the west. They killed Indians without cause. A was of extermination was waged until the government stepped in and conquered the Indians and told the wild men to move on. If one of these frontiersmen were a ruffian and had escaped punishment in the East, he was hunted down and tried and just punishment was meted out to him. It was almost three years after the federal troops took the field to the time when peace and quiet were restored to those taking overland trails.
1. Looking into the Past, Ledger-News, Antonito, Colorado, 78th Year Number 15, Thursday, Sept. 16, 1971.
The trouble with the Indians arose over treaties with the government. The U.S. government had a treaty with the Indians giving them all of the lands west of the Platte river to the Pacific Coast. In 1860, they negotiated another treaty in which certain lands were designated as reservations. The Indians objected to the latter treaty. After three years of relentless warfare, the Indians were compelled to lay down arms and accept the government's terms of treaty. A peace pact was signed.
Even after this had been accomplished, marauding bands of Indians had been roving over the western plains of Wyoming and Utah. Many depredations had been committed. The Indians were no worse than some of the white traders who would give the Indians a quart of whiskey and take in exchange for the bottle of "fire water" furs up to a thousand times the value of the liquor. Then too, there were lots of ruthless outlaws in the west. They killed Indians without cause. A was of extermination was waged until the government stepped in and conquered the Indians and told the wild men to move on. If one of these frontiersmen were a ruffian and had escaped punishment in the East, he was hunted down and tried and just punishment was meted out to him. It was almost three years after the federal troops took the field to the time when peace and quiet were restored to those taking overland trails.
1. Looking into the Past, Ledger-News, Antonito, Colorado, 78th Year Number 15, Thursday, Sept. 16, 1971.
2 comments:
Grandpa Jensen was a colorful person. He helped bring the temple font from Salt Lake to St George. That is an interesting story. He worked on the temple here in St George, until it was finished.
I agree. He was a colorful person. When we were in Utah last summer, we talked about his involvement with the St. George temple construction. I don't have any of that history. That would make a very interesting article. Would you be able to share some of that history?
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