Royal Blood of the Utes

Utah Historical Quarterly

Vol. 22, 1954, Nos. 1-4

ROYAL BLOOD OF THE UTES

BY CONWAY B. SONNE

MIDWAY in the nineteenth century the Ute Indians had reached their high-water mark of power and influence. After generations of roaming freely over vast deserts and among towering mountains they found themselves being squeezed by expanding pockets of white civilization. Soon they would face a dreary confinement on reservations.

There is no doubt that the invasion of their lands by the Mormon pioneers disrupted and uprooted a fairly stable and wellestablished primitive government, a government which had endured for many years. This government was built upon a loose confederation of tribes, and these tribes in turn were made up of bands and clans. Their unity appears to have stemmed from family relationships of chiefs and subchiefs.

During the first few years of Mormon settlement one Ute family, in particular, was predominant. It was the family which had Wakara, or Walker, and Sowiette as its spokesmen. Its control seems to have been the result of family members being placed in strategic positions of leadership among the various tribes and tribal subdivisions. This situation is revealed in a passage from the writings of Captain John W- Gunnison:

A late chief, acting on the plurality law, left above thirty sons, most of whom have small clans under them. His true successor is a fine brave Indian, with the largest band immediately around him; and he exercises control over all when he chooses. He is a friend of the Mormons. A half-brother of his, named Walker, has become rich and celebrated for his success in stealing horses from the Mexicans.

To account for all of these brothers and their place in the government of the Ute nation is probably an impossible task, since these Indians left no written history for our use. We are dependent upon gleanings from the diaries, letters, and records of explorers, pioneers, Indian agents, and others who lived among them. There are, however, many references to these remarkable brothers and the role they played in this royal family. In the following, care has been taken to avoid duplication in names, although we can never be certain that all duplication has been eliminated since Indians were sometimes known by several names.

AMMON

There seems to be no doubt that Ammon was a half brother of the famous Walker. He was an influential chief and was the personal emissary of Walker on many occasions.

It also is possible that Amorah was another name for Ammon. In the Journal History of May 18, 1850 is recorded this reference: "Amorah, a young Indian brother of the chief Walker, called at the President's Office in Great Salt Lake City with Seth Taft. The Indian, who had a bright and intelligent countenance, appeared very friendly and cheerful."

In the Journal History of December 8, 1849 there is this reference: "The best he [Walker] could do would be to send his brother Ammornah, or Ammon, with the company." The name Ammornah could be a different spelling of Amorah, indicating that both refer to Ammon.

ANTONGUER

We know very little about this Indian, who appears to have been some kind of chief. One mention of him in the Journal History reads: "Antonguer, sometimes called Black Hawk, and several other Indians came into the fort [Fort Utah], asking peace for themselves and families, and offering service to aid the settlers. [This was not the Black Hawk who gave the southern settlements so much trouble in the Black Hawk War of 1865-66.] This Indian scout was a half brother to the famous War chief Walker."

ARAPENE (Also Arapine, Arrowpeen, Aropeen, etc.)

The relationship between Arapene and Walker is well established, since there are many references to their being full brothers. Arapene succeeded Walker as chief. He was a powerful leader but bore the reputation for being daring, cruel, and excitable. It is said that he was an effective orator. He died December 4, I860.

CALOECHIPE

According to William R. Palmer, long a student of Utah Indians, the important Pahute tribe was ruled by the royal family. "The great Pahute Chief Cal-o-e-chipe was a brother of Wahkar-ar and had his headquarters on Coal Creek where Cedar City now stands."

GROSEPENE, OR GROSEPEEN

Among those who identified this Indian as Walker's brother was Brigham Young. Evidently the head of a small band or a subchief under Walker, Grosepene appeared with Walker in several councils. He may also have been known as:

Groceepe, one of Walker's brothers listed by Mrs. A. B. Sidwell. It is probably a different spelling of the name.

Josephine, which appears to be a variation of the name in William Morley Black's account. Black describes an occasion when this chief with a small band exacted tribute from a company of settlers. This tax collector was a "reputed half brother of Walkers the king of the mountain utes."

HANKITER, OR HUNKITER

According to Edward L. Black, Hankiter was a brother of Walker, Arapene, and Kanosh. He seems to have had an undistinguished career, never marrying, and lived in Kanosh until his death in 1881.

KANKAWALKITS, OR YANKAWALKITS

Mrs. Sidwell lists this Indian as a brother of Walker. Virtually nothing is known about him.

KANOSH

Kanosh was the intelligent and peace-loving chief of the Pauvantes. He became a Latter-day Saint and constantly worked for peace and harmony between his people and the Mormons. Edward L. Black states that he was a brother of Walker, Arapene, and Hankiter. There is no doubt that Walker and Kanosh were allies on occasion and participated together in councils. Kanosh died in 1884. He is buried near the city that bears his name.

NEPHI

History gives us only a glimpse of this Indian. On February 5, 1853, John D. Lee wrote in a letter as follows: "On 15th, Ammon, the bro. of Walker, arrived, reported Walker one sleep back, passed on to Parowan to learn the feelings of the citizens relative to Waker; and on 18th, Nephi, another brother, came and wished to know whether Walker would meet a friendly reception at our settlement. . . . 25th, Nephi returned with two of my horses, which had strayed to their encampment."

SANPITCH (Also Sampitch, Saampitch, and Sanpete)

This chief was head of the Sanpetes. Although his people were among the poorer and more destitute Utah Indians, Sanpitch himself seems to have had considerable influence and was an ally of his brother, Walker. Sanpitch was known as a bad-tempered, tempestuous leader. He balked at signing the treaty of 1865, although he later accepted the treaty along with the other chiefs.

SOWIETTE

This grand old chief, who befriended the Mormons on several occasions, was apparently the half brother of Walker mentioned by Gunnison. He was the political or civil chief of the Ute nation, and was well respected by both the whites and Indians. Tullidge reports that he is supposed to have "died at the remarkable age of 110 years, according to his own count."

SPOODS

According to Garland Hurt, Indian Agent, Spoods was an emissary of his brother Ammon, who was a half brother of Walker. Whether Spoods was also a brother of Walker is not known for certain, since the marriage relationships of the Utes were often quite involved.

TABBY (Also Tabba and Tabinaw)

Tabby was an important Ute chief who served under Arapene after Walker's death. Mrs. Sidwell, Dimick Huntington, and Tullidge identify him as Walker's brother.

TOBIOB

On June 2, 1849, Brigham Young received a delegation of three Indians. They were Grosepene and Tobiob (the clouds), both brothers of Walker, and Antero, Walker's cousin representing Big White Eye, chief of all the Utes between the Uintahs and Taos.

TANTERBUS, OR TANTABES

This Indian was a messenger from Walker and Ammon. George A. Smith wrote in his journal on March 13, 1851: "Br. Horn made claim to a horse that Tantabes, Walkers brother stole from Williams Rancho."

We have here listed some fifteen sons of a Ute chief, about whom little is known. These sons played important roles in the government of the Utes. However, there also were other relationships which had a strong bearing on tribal affairs.

Uinta, a shadowy but powerful chief, may have been a kin of Walker, possibly a brother. Queech was Walker's brother-inlaw, and Antero his cousin. There are indications that Peteetneet may have been related to Walker, and we wonder if Unhoquitch might have had blood ties with the noted war chief.

Big Elk was one of five brothers, including Blue Shirt and Roman Nose, who were prominent in their tribe until their deaths at the battle near Fort Utah. We are also told that Little Chief and Wanship were brothers, both heads of strong bands. Little Chief was killed in what appears to have been a family feud with Wanship.

As in most tribes, family ties were important to the Utes. At the time the Mormons were settling Utah, blood seems to have been the binding element holding the Ute nation together.

For full citations please view this article on a desktop.