Will Dewey in Utah

Will Dewey in UTAH

EDITED BY CHARLES A. POVLOVICH, JR.

A little over a hundred years ago a young man named Will Dewey came to Utah Territory after having worked his way west from Missouri in the summer of 1858. He had left home under some sort of cloud; debts are mentioned in his letters and paternal wrath is hinted, but we cannot be sure now what it was that drove him to leave "with very little ceremony," as he expressed it.

Between the summer of 1858 and the summer of 1860, Will wrote five letters to his older brother, Dr. Samuel J. Dewey, who lived in Daviess County, Missouri. Dr. Dewey kept the letters and since nothing further was heard from Will after the last one, they furnish the only information we have regarding his adventures in the West. Family speculation is, of course, of no value, but Dr. Dewey and the rest of the family always assumed that Will was killed by Indians. It is equally likely that he was killed by a claim jumper, or that he became a drifter and was ashamed to write home.

His first letter to Dr. Dewey was by far the shortest of the five. It was simply a hurried note to explain his whereabouts and to request a clearing up of his debts. The reader will note that in his haste Will omitted a word or phrase after "Please."

June 5th 58

Cravensville

Dear. Brother

Today I have hired to go to Utah at 25 Dollars per month and everything found me Please the instrument as I have made nothing since I was here take my pony and pay off What I owe to Humphrey $60 as I paid him 2 & I owe Griffin a small acct of about 400 if he calls for it before I come back pay it and Oblige Your Brother W J Dewey

A search for Cravensville has proved fruitless, but it must have been in Kansas Territory or western Missouri. Will Dewey's reference to the "instrument" is not at all clear. His imposition in asking his brother to discharge his debts seems rather light-hearted. This is particularly the case when we learn later that his departure was in the nature of running away from home.

The second letter was sent from "The Black Hills west of Fort Laramie," a range today called the Laramie Mountains, located in southeastern Wyoming.

This letter seems to have been received on October 12, 1858, judging from a faint, penciled notation on the cover, although it was dated six weeks earlier. The interval of six weeks suggests something about the state of the mails at that time. The letter may have been continued from time to time; the handwriting changes somewhat toward the end of the letter. Furthermore, the writer tells in the early part of the letter that he is engaged as "Night Herder," while at the end he states that he has been promoted to "Sergeant of the Night Herd." His writing breathes the young man's joy at his adventuresome life, in which he encounters "thieving Pawnees" and fights a duel with a teamster who struck him. His sudden increase in pay from $25.00 to $40.00 per month is passed over casually, but it must have convinced him that he was entering a land of great opportunity, for he is sure that he will have "a few dimes" in his pocket when he returns, probably the following summer. His derision at the "hard life on the plains" is in keeping with the spirit of the whole letter.

The Black Hills west of Fort Laramie Aug 21st 58Dear Brother

I embrace the opportunity this evening afforded me of writing to you to let you know how I am Progressing on my trip in the first place I am well and in good spirits I have had some Adventures that would please you to hear but they are mostly of not sufficient interest to write about we had an Indian alarm below Kearney but it turned out to be only 3 thieving Pawnees attempting to steal some of our Cattle I forgot to tell you that I engaged when I got to Leavenworth to go as Night Herder I get 40 Dollars per month and every thing found me but my Clothes all the talk about hard life on the plains is all foo foo pish for I never had an easier time in my life I had one adventure on the Road of rather serious import one of the teamster struck me at Scotts Bluffs and as he had his revolver by his side and I was unarmed I had to take the blow without resenting but when I got to Laramie I challenged him he chose Colts Revolvers 12 steps at the first fire I gave him a severe flesh wound in the shoulder and his ball cut the rim of my hat about 2 inches from my head by this time friends interfered and I confess I was willing enough to stop My adversary has a pretty sore shoulder and cannot use his left arm much but is doing well his name is Estes he is from Ray, Co. Mo, . I have nothing of importance to write about I do not expect to be back this winter and probably not for a year or two if there is a chance to get from Utah to Arazona I shall go down and try my luck at digging if not I will either go through to San Francisco and around back by water or winter in Salt Lake and come back next summer Overland I dont think I shall come back without a few dimes in my pocket the Country I have passed through is mostly prairie and resembles the prairies of missouri but is generally more level and sandy we are now Climbing the Black Hills and I cannot say that it is too level for it is first up and then down like a see saw I have nothing more of importance to write about I should like to hear from you You can address me at fort Bridger or Salt Lake City I forgot to tell you that I have been promoted I am now Sergeant of the Night Herd my business is to see that the men are out at the right time &c I get the same pay and have a great deal easier task but now I must close

So no more but remain ,. ~ . Your Brother

W J Dewey

P.S. tell Papa and all the Connexion friends and acquaintances and the rest not to forget me Tell all the folks to write excus bad writing for I am in a hurry and in a bad place for writing and a poor writer at best

After traveling the usual route from Fort Leavenworth to Salt Lake City, Will Dewey arrived at the latter place in late October. Due to a misunderstanding, accidental or deliberate, he was not paid for having worked his way west; thereafter he found expenses high and jobs scarce. He went north to Bountiful, a few miles outside Salt Lake City, lured there by the promise of the town's name. Unsuccessful in finding sufficient for his needs there, he went on to nearby Centerville and at last to Farmington, where he worked in a blacksmith's shop until the end of the year. Will's rather strict Methodist upbringing led him to make profane comments about Mormonism even though he knew that his employer-landlord was "a good mormon." He went on to say that the Mormons were a "pack of fools." His next line is eloquent: "Of Course I had to look for other lodgings."

He went north to Ogden, but failing to find work there, he returned to Salt Lake City and proceeded south to Provo, where he was taken in by a family named Coray. (The name is slightly illegible in the letter.) Apparently, he grew to know and understand the Mormons better here as the concluding lines of his letter contain high praise of the Mormons as a group and of several of their leaders mentioned by name. Nevertheless, he assured his older brother that he remained unconvinced of the truth of Mormon teachings. He indicates at last some qualms of conscience about having left Dr. Dewey "with the bag" and we notice his concern that he has not yet received any letters from home in reply to his first two.

Provo City Utah Territory January 30th 1859

Dear Brother

I embrace the present opportunity of writing to let you know I am still alive and Kicking I arrived in this Territory on the 27th of October at Camp Floyd from there we went to Clyve at Salt Lake City where all of our train were paid off except me the Wagon Master pleaded that I was not hired at all but just came along for the fun of the thing he also plead that I shot one of his best Teamsters at Laramie and disabled him so that he was worth nothing the rest of the trip . . . and although I proved that I did as much as any of the hands Coming out and that Estes was shot in fair fight for which he gave thr provocation Still the Court awarded me nothing so that I have had to the best I can for it is a very hard place to get employment there are so many Idle hands in the Territory after staying 5 weeks in Salt Lake City I found myself out of employment I had sold my blankets and Watch & Revolver but it cost considerable to conduct my suit and board was very high from 8 to 15 dollars per week and all the employment I could get was an occasional days work or so I was about strapped so I started north I first went to Bountiful thinking from the high sounding name I should be certain of employment but I could not find a man who would keep me the winter for my board I then went to Centerville with the same success then on to Farmington where I got work in a Blacksmith Shop where I staid till the first of January but my employer was a good mormon and shocked by my gentility he was trying to convince me of the truth of mormonism and the heavenly calling of Joseph Smith & I told him that Joe Smith was a D- d Impostor & that Brigham Young was a Whoremonger and his followers were all a pack of fools of Course I had to look for other lodgings So I went north to Kaysville Weber Ogden City and Ogden Hole but failing of getting employment I turned South from the City I went to Lehi American fork & Battle Creek without success I then came to this town where I got a berth with a family by the name of Coray where I expect to stay till spring I would like to tell you something of the country over which I passed but I could not do it the least justice on paper but I would only say that it is worth any bodys while to come over it to see it I would only mention Chimney rock Scotts Bluffs Independence rock Devils gate Fremont Peak Echo Kanyon Cash Cave Tar Springs where Volcanic Oil comes out by the ladle full & Boiling Springs where the water is hot enough to boil meat & Ice Springs where you can get Ice in the middle of the summer & Provo (Kanyon) properly Canon in which is a waterfall said to be one of the wildest & Grandest in the World certainly the finest sight I ever saw a column of about 40 feet broad leaps down over the Mountain as if at a little distance right on the head of any body passing but it is nearly a quarter of a mile from the road to the river into which it falls we passed there just-at-Sunset and the View you may imagine but I cannot describe it I suppose you would like to hear something about the Great Salt Lake City and the Mormons about the first it is a great big Muddy Smoky looking town the houses are nearly all made of Dobies a kind of brick that is not burnt at all they look like a piece of Stone taken from an old Chimney more than any thing else I can liken them to about the Mormons all I have to say is they are very much Misrepresent in the States they are generally a very quiet industrious people very zealous in their Religion with very liberal ideas and generally tolerably well informed if anything more intelligent than the Majority of the Missourians I was at Meeting today George A Smith a Cousin to the prophet Joseph and one of the Twelve Apostles preached he was a fine Speaker but I was convinced from the first of the absurdity of his doctrine so that all his fine arguments had no affect on me on the 2d of January Orson Pratt the Mormon Philosopher preached in the Tabernacle. I was not there but saw his sermon printed it was as brilliant a piece of Oratory as I ever saw\ I have been to Salt Lake & live on the shore of Utah Lake I went across Utah Lake on the ice last week for a load of Wood it is 12 miles across the Lake but we have to go about 5 or 6 miles further into the Mountains to get wood I have a gret deal more to tell you but I have not time nor space Wages will be very high in the Spring & I think I can get 40 or 50 dollars per month next summer the first money I get I will send you as I left you with the bag to hold last spring but I will not let you lose anything by it I have Received no news from home since I left but as I dont expect to stay here long it is no use to write I dont expect to write again until I get some money to send you

Your Affectionate Brother W J Dewey

A year passed before there was another letter. The young man spent a great deal of time traveling, it would seem. When he reached Sacramento, he was "forced to travel," — for what reason he does not state. Perhaps nothing more serious than a lack of funds was intended here. He then went to Carson City (then in Utah Territory, but now in Nevada) where he began to mine quartz. His brief letter sounds fairly optimistic.

Carson City Utah Territory Jan 21st 1860

Dear Brother

Tis with pleasure I again write to you I have been roving from place to place so much that I did not know when to write as I was never Stationary Long enough to get an answer I thought when in Sacramento that I would at least stay long enough for that but like the wandering Jew I was forced to travel I thought I would try my luck in the Mines instead of working for wages & I am not sorry for the move I have two Claims here in Quartz Leads for one of which I have been offered 450 dollars for 50 feet which is J4 of my Claim as I have 2,00 feet but I dont want to sell yet. the Quartz assays 60 dollars per ton on top and I am running a tunnel in I have to run about sixty ft when I will be about 40 or 50 ft deep on the Ledge when I expect to get good pay my other claim I think is a good thing also I expect to make something nice I am Camping at the Devils Gate 14 miles from Carson City hoping this may find you in the enjoyment of health and all the blessings of life I must Close give my respects to all the family & tell them to write to me excuse Brevity you will hear from me again soon

Your affectionate Brother

W J Dewey

Six months later Will Dewey wrote his last known letter. He had received a letter from his brother in the interval. His estimate of his prospects from the quartz mining is very hopeful. While this could be discounted as mere boasting to justify his having left home, the rather detailed account of the mining in the fourth and fifth letters sounds quite truthful.

The real story in the fifth and final letter, though, is a tale of a campaign against the Paiute Indians, in which Dewey was engaged. After a circumstantial account of the action, including a reference to his receiving "an honorable wound being in front," he closes on a personal note in which he hopes the family (especially his father) will forgive his unceremonious departure from home.

Silver City. U.T.

July 10th 1860

I received your letter of 22 March yesterday & was rejoiced to hear from you It came at so late a date that instead of Writing to Kansas I will try you at home You want me to tell you my prospects my adventures when I am coming home & everything else, that would interest you what a Variety of Questions I have well to begin as to my prospects I own in Near fifty Quartz Leads some of which are Known to be good the Majority are just unprospected I hope to come home this fall or next spring & will with ordinary luck have from 5 to 10,000 dollars to bring with me I have been offered 5000 for my entire interest one half down & onehalf in 3 months but I hope for something better this is a good Country we have the best Silver Mines in the World we have also Gold Lead Copper Arsenic Iron & Cinnabar in Quantities that will pay after a time at present we have no Mills for the Gold Quartz some that is very good we work in an Arastra a kind of one horse Quartz Mill in this way we make expenses as to my adventures I have been in a Campaign against the Pah Utah indians was engaged in 2 Battles one at Pyramid Lake where about one-

half of my Comrades were massacred. we went into action 103 strong 42 of our men were left dead on the field they beat us by force of Numbers and advantage of position we retreated and they pursued us for 18 or 20 miles pressing us very hard my horse gave out during the retreat & I fell behind in going into a ravine 15 or 20 indians came up & fired at me I was unhurt but my horse which although he could not run I still rode was struck by an arrow the indians were in twenty feet of me at this time I gave myself up for lost but determined not to die without a struggle drawing my revolver I picked my indian luckily one on horse back he fell I made a rush caught his horse & started at a gallop it appeared to rain arrows but only one struck me it was in the arm & one hit the pony in the neck my arm gave me a great Deal of pain but the bone was Not injured & I am glad to say that it is now well & that it was an honorable wound being in front

After going for a short time at Double Quick the indians just at my heels I passed the rear of the retreat & leaving the trail travelled all night in the Morning I found myself on the 40 Mile desert & taking a southern direction reached Carson River about 10 in the morning seeing a house I made for it & found myself at Ragtown a Trading post at the sink of Carson River here I had the arrow cut out of my arm in 4 days I was able to travel & taking the Emigrant road Came to Chinatown 55 miles the first day without seeing indians the Next day I came home every body in town thout I had been killed & had given up all hopes of seeing me again I immediately Volunteered to go again & started in about a week with my arm in a sling I was engaged in a Skirmish at Williams Ranch & was wounded in the Breast with a spent ball a mere flesh wound I am now all right & have an honorable discharge which will bring me a Land Warrant after while. Give my respects to the Majors Family To Walls & Family & tell them to write I say nothing about you Papa Walker & Daniel of course you are all understood to have the first place in respect Tell Papa to write as I have not had a letter from him since I left home if he has ceased to regard me as his son I want to know it but this is a tender subject I am aware that I treated you all with very little ceremony in leaving you without saying good bye but that ought to be forgiven if you are Christians & go by the Golden Rule

tell Abby & Mary Ann that Uncle Will will be back by & By (Poco tiempo) I have nothing more of importance to tell you So 1,11 Close

Excuse my Chirography I have no time to Practice writing

Your affectionate Brother

W J Dewey

After this letter, nothing further was ever heard from Will Dewey. Each of us is free to guess at the conclusion.

For full citations and images please view this article on a desktop.