John D. Lee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John D. Lee |
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| Member of the Council of Fifty | |
| 1844 – March 23, 1877 | |
| Member of the Utah Territorial Legislature | |
| In office | |
| 1858 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Doyle Lee September 6, 1812 Illinois Territory, United States |
| Died | March 23, 1877 (aged 64) Mountain Meadows, Utah Territory, United States |
| Resting place | Panguitch City Cemetery 37°48′57.96″N 112°24′56.88″W / 37.8161000°N 112.4158000°W |
| Spouse(s) | Agatha Ann Woolsey Nancy Bean Louisa Free Sarah Caroline Williams Rachel Andora Woolsey Polly Ann Workman Martha Elizabeth Berry Delethia Morris Nancy Ann Vance Emoline Vaughn Woolsey Nancy Gibbons Mary Vance Young Lavina Young Mary Leah Groves Mary Ann Williams Emma Louise Batchelor Terressa Morse Ann Gordge |
| Children | 56 |
John Doyle Lee (born September 6, 1812 – died March 23, 1877) was an American pioneer. He was an important early member of the Latter Day Saint Movement in Utah. Lee was involved in the tragic Mountain Meadows massacre. He was later held responsible for his part in the event.
Contents
John D. Lee's Early Life and Faith
John D. Lee was born on September 6, 1812, in Kaskaskia, which was then part of the Illinois Territory. In 1838, he joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He became a close friend of Joseph Smith, who founded the church.
Lee was also considered an adopted son of Brigham Young. This was part of an early Latter Day Saint practice where people could be "adopted" into spiritual families.
Missionary Work and Family
In 1839, Lee served as a missionary with his childhood friend, Levi Stewart. They traveled and taught in Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. During this time, Lee helped convert and baptize "Wild Bill" Hickman.
John D. Lee practiced plural marriage, which was common in the early Latter Day Saint movement. He had 19 wives and 56 children.
Moving West and Building Communities
Lee was a member of the Council of Fifty. This was a group that helped guide the church in practical matters. They especially helped with the move westward to the Rocky Mountains from the eastern United States.
After Joseph Smith's death, Lee traveled with Brigham Young and other Latter Day Saints to what is now Utah. He helped establish several new communities there. One important place he helped settle was Lee's Ferry and Lonely Dell Ranch, near Page, Arizona.
Lee was a successful farmer and rancher. In 1856, he became a United States Indian Agent in Iron County, Utah. His job was to help Native Americans in the area start their own farms.
In 1858, Lee served as a member of the Utah Territorial Legislature. Later, in 1872, he moved and set up a busy ferry crossing on the Colorado River. This place is still known as Lee's Ferry today. The nearby ranch was called the Lonely Dell Ranch. Both the ranch and the ferry site are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Mountain Meadows Massacre
In September 1857, a group of travelers from Arkansas, known as the Baker–Fancher party, camped at Mountain Meadows. This area in southern Utah was a stopping point before crossing the Mojave Desert to California.
The Tragic Event
The Baker–Fancher party was attacked by a group that included Native Americans and Mormon militia members. Some of the militia men were dressed like Native Americans. There were several reasons for this conflict. Tensions were high between the U.S. government and Mormon settlers during the Utah War (1857-1858). There was also a rumor that the Baker–Fancher party included people who had harmed Mormons in an earlier event.
On the third day of the attack, John D. Lee approached the travelers under a white flag. He was not dressed as a Native American. He convinced the emigrants to give up their weapons and belongings. In return, he promised them safe passage to nearby Cedar City.
The travelers agreed and surrendered. However, about 120 people from the Baker–Fancher party were then killed by Mormon militia and Paiute Indians. Only about 17 young children survived the event.
After the massacre, those involved promised not to tell what happened. Lee told Brigham Young that only the Native Americans were responsible. He said no white men were involved. Lee later stated that he had followed orders from his militia leaders, even though he disagreed with them. He remained active in his faith and local government for several years afterward.
John D. Lee's Family Legacy
John D. Lee had 19 wives and 56 children. Today, his descendants are very numerous. Many of his family members have become well-known.
For example, Rex E. Lee, a former top lawyer for the United States government, was a direct descendant. His sons, Senator Mike Lee of Utah and Utah Supreme Court Justice Thomas R. Lee, are also descendants.
Another descendant, Gordon H. Smith, served as a U.S. Senator from Oregon. US Representatives Mo Udall (D–AZ) and Stewart Udall (D–AZ) are also descendants, as are their sons, Mark Udall (D–CO) and Senator Tom Udall (D–NM). Stewart Udall was even a Secretary of the Interior for two U.S. Presidents. You can find more of his notable descendants in the Lee-Hamblin family list.
John D. Lee in Movies
John Lee was played by actor Jon Gries in the movie September Dawn (2007).
See also
In Spanish: John D. Lee para niños
