Lot Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lot Smith
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| Born | May 15, 1830 Williamstown, New York, U.S.
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| Died | June 20, 1892 (aged 62) Tuba City, Arizona, U.S.
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| Resting place | Farmington, Utah |
Lot Smith (May 15, 1830 – June 20, 1892) was a brave Mormon pioneer, soldier, and lawman. He was also a skilled frontiersman in the American West. People called him "The Horseman" because he was so good with horses. He even helped gather wild mustangs on Utah's Antelope Island. Lot Smith is best known for his actions during the Utah War in 1857.
Contents
Early Life and Adventures
Moving West
Lot Smith was born in 1830 in Williamstown, New York. His family moved from New York to be with other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They settled near Nauvoo, Illinois, across the Mississippi River. Lot was 14 years old when Joseph Smith, a leader of their church, died. In 1846, Lot's family had to leave their home because of ongoing problems. His mother passed away during this journey in Iowa.
Joining the Mormon Battalion
When he was just 16, Lot Smith joined the Mormon Battalion. This group served during the Mexican–American War. They made one of the toughest overland marches in American history. They traveled from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, all the way through the Southwest to San Diego. The battalion finished their service in San Diego.
Life After the Battalion
After leaving the army in California, some members of the Mormon Battalion found gold at Sutter's Mill. Lot Smith also gathered some gold. He then traveled back across the mountains to the Great Salt Lake area. He settled in Farmington, Utah, where he got married. He became a military leader in the Nauvoo Legion in Utah. He was known for helping to stop conflicts with Native American groups.
Military Service and Conflicts
Battle at Fort Utah
In 1850, Lot Smith volunteered to join the Mormon militia. This group was called to action against the Timpanogos people. On February 8, in what was called the Battle at Fort Utah, the militia attacked a Timpanogos village.
On the second day of fighting, Lot Smith was one of 16 men chosen for a special charge. They attacked a log house where the Timpanogos were defending themselves. They successfully took the log cabin, and the Timpanogos retreated. The militia pursued them, and many Timpanogos people were killed or captured.
Role in the Utah War (1857)
In 1857, the U.S. President and Senate decided to replace Brigham Young as governor of Utah. This was based on reports from federal officials who had left Utah. The new governor, Alfred Cumming, was escorted by 1,400 U.S. soldiers. This was part of what was called the Utah Expedition. The army was ordered to help the new governor take office, using force if needed.
Brigham Young sent Lot Smith on an important mission. Young hoped to delay the army's arrival so a peaceful solution could be found. Smith led a group of Nauvoo Legion rangers east across Wyoming. This was along the trails where the California, Oregon, and Mormon Trails met.
Smith and his men caused problems for the army without harming soldiers. They burned grass along the army's path. They also scared away the army's mules and cattle. Fort Bridger, Wyoming was burned down. Smith ordered the army's supply wagons to turn back. In one night, Smith and his men burned three wagon trains full of supplies. These supplies included food, clothing, and gunpowder for the army.
Lot Smith and his rangers held off the federal soldiers until an early blizzard hit. The cold winter weather forced the army to stop. They had to spend the winter near the ruins of Fort Bridger. Smith's efforts and the harsh weather stopped the army. No Mormon troops harmed any federal soldiers. A peaceful agreement was reached, allowing Governor Cumming to take office without conflict. This protected the people of Utah from the army.
Civil War Service
During the American Civil War, Lot Smith led a group from the Nauvoo Legion. At the request of President Abraham Lincoln, they helped guard the telegraph line. They worked together with the U.S. Army to protect this important communication line.
Public Service and Settlement
Public Office
Lot Smith was a respected leader. He became the first Sheriff of Davis County, Utah. He also served in the Utah Territorial Legislature, helping to make laws for the territory.
Settling Northern Arizona
Lot Smith was asked to help develop Mormon settlements along the Little Colorado River in Arizona. In the spring of 1876, he led a large group that settled Sunset, Arizona and Brigham City, Arizona. These towns were near what is now Winslow. Other settlements like Obed and St. Joseph (now Joseph City, Arizona) were also started.
Lot Smith became well-respected by the local Navajo and Hopi Native Americans. These settlements were very important for future Mormon colonization in Arizona and other nearby states. Lot Smith also started a cooperative community called a United Order at Sunset. He became the first leader of the local church district in Arizona.
Life in these settlements was hard. They faced flash floods, droughts, and crop failures. There were also disagreements among the settlers and problems with anti-Mormon feelings. The Aztec Land & Cattle Company also caused tensions. Lot Smith was a strong speaker, but some found him to be too bossy. Many residents moved closer to the timbered land near the Mogollon Rim. Lot Smith built a home near Mormon Lake. He also started a dairy, a sawmill, and ranching operations in that area.
Later Life and Death
Conflict in Arizona
After 1886, the Sunset community struggled, and Lot Smith was no longer a church leader. He also suffered serious injuries from farm machinery. He continued to face legal threats. In 1892, he lived in cabins with two of his wives in Big Canyon, east of Tuba City, Arizona. Mormons had earlier shared their beliefs with the local Hopi and Navajo people there.
At first, relations with the Native Americans were good. However, as more Mormons moved into the Tuba City area, there was less water, grazing land, and farming resources. This caused friction. On June 20, 1892, Smith found a flock of sheep in his fenced barley field. Navajo sheepherders had put them there. Smith tried to drive the sheep out, but the Navajos kept shooing them back in.
Angered, Smith went to his cabin for his pistol. His wife begged him not to go back. But Smith returned and tried again to remove the sheep. Each time a sheep was shooed back in, Smith shot the animal. The Navajos then shot several of Smith's nearby cows.
Smith began to ride away back to his cabin. A Navajo man named Cat-chose ambushed him. Smith was shot in the back by a rifle and badly wounded. He died that evening. Many Native American friends and onlookers mourned his death.
Burial and Legacy
Lot Smith was first buried near his cabin. About ten years later, his remains were moved with a special ceremony to Farmington, Utah. His grave became a symbol of the Mormon pioneer. He was remembered as a frontiersman, soldier, and a figure of the American West.
