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Utah. Militia

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1852 - 1887

Administrative History

The Utah Militia (1852-1887), also known as the Nauvoo Legion, was the territorial militia organization for Utah Territory.

Citation:
Bennett, Richard Edmond. The Nauvoo Legion in Illinois, 2010 CIP introd. (the Nauvoo Legion functioned at the behest of the governor of the state of Illinois; a regularly constituted arm of the Illinois State Militia from its chartering in 1841 until its repeal in 1845; after 1845, Nauvoo Legion acted under the direction of Mormon Church leadership until 1849; in 1849 became a militia in the State of Deseret; in 1852 became a [i.e. the] militia in the Utah Territory)

Utah State Div. of Archives and History www homepage, May 26, 2009 (These papers document the administration and activities of various segments of the territorial militia, also known as the Nauvoo Legion)

Encycl. of Mormonism, c1992 (Nauvoo Legion; disbanded as a result of the Edmunds-Tucker Act of 1887)

Found in 8 Collections and/or Records:

George Washington Bean diaries

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1038
Scope and Contents Handwritten diaries, two autobiographies, account books, patriarchal blessings, biographies of family members, and Bean family history and genealogy. Bean writes about his early life and migration to Utah; his work as an Indian interpreter from 1852 to 1853; his pursuit of the Ute chief, Walker, in 1854; his Indian mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1855 to 1856; his life in Provo, Utah; his participation in the Black Hawk Indian War; and...
Dates: 1852-1897
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / George Washington Bean diaries

Collection on Utah Expedition

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2379
Scope and Contents

The collection contains the original and typescript of "The Echo Canon War," probably written by William Stowell, and a typed document regarding the Weber Military District and the Utah War, beginning with Chapter 3 [no author].

Dates: 1857-1858
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Collection on Utah Expedition

Peter Wilson Conover autobiography

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230244359]
Identifier: MSS SC 664
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a typescript of an autobiography. The date of composition of the item is uncertain. Conover writes about the persecutions of Mormons before their emigration to Utah, his service in the Utah Militia against the Utes and in the Utah War from 1857 to 1858, and his family.

Dates: approximately 1860
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Peter Wilson Conover autobiography

William Horne Dame papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Vault MSS 55
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, patriarchal blessings, financial records, militia records, photographs, and miscellaneous items. Much of the correspondence is between Dame and General Authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The material relates to Dame's life and activities, including his militia service and his connection to the Mountain Meadows Massacre in 1857.

Dates: 1846-1884
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / William Horne Dame papers

Jesse Perse Harmon papers

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230348572]
Identifier: MSS 502
Scope and Contents

Photocopies of handwritten and printed letters, notes, military orders, and certificates. The materials relate to the migration of Mormons to Utah, the operations of the Utah militia during the Black Hawk War against Ute Indians, Harmon's Mormon Church activities, and his life in Holden, Utah.

Dates: 1832-1874
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Jesse Perse Harmon papers

Samuel W. Richards diaries

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197232486305]
Identifier: MSS 732
Scope and Contents

Photocopies of excerpts from handwritten diaries. The items cover the years 1846-1847, 1857-1859, 1868, 1869, 1873, and 1875-1876. Richards lived in Nauvoo, Illinois, presided over the European Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, prepared Utah Militia units for an expedition into Sanpete County, and served on another mission to the Eastern United States. Also included are patriarchal blessings and miscellaneous items relating to Richards and his family.

Dates: 1846-1876
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Samuel W. Richards diaries

John Steele papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Vault MSS 528
Scope and Contents Contains diaries, notes, correspondence, dictionaries, surveys, bonds, certificates, horoscopes, and military orders. The correspondence was to and from John Steele, other family members, and acquaintances. The materials document the activities of the Steele family, John's militia and Mormon Battalion activities, his missions to England and to the Indians, his migration to Utah, and his life in Utah and Nevada. Also included is a dictionary of the Southern Paiute language created by John...
Dates: 1816-1989
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / John Steele papers

Daniel H. Wells papers

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197239135541]
Identifier: MSS 9637
Scope and Contents Two photocopies of original handwritten letters written by Daniel H. Wells. Typed transcripts of both letters are also included. The first letter was written on September 26, 1848, from Salt Lake City by Daniel Wells to "dear brother." He discusses sending his two yoke of oxen to a camp in addition to assistance from others. The second letter was written on April 26th, 1852, and is titled "Special Order No. 1" and is signed by Lieutenant General D. H. Wells, James Ferguson, Adjutant General....
Dates: 1848-1852
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Daniel H. Wells papers

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