Early History
The history of Monroe would not be complete without first mentioning the Native Americans who were living in the Monroe area before the White Settlers. The first Indians in the area were Paleo-Indians who lived here from about 10000 B.C. to 7500 B.C., following them were the Archaic Culture Indians who lived here from 7500 B.C. to 500 A.D. After they left, the Fremont Culture occupied the area from 500 A.D. to 1300 A.D. The Fremont Indians left many ruins in the area; for example the Fremont Indian State Park is located only a few minutes away from Monroe in Clear Creek Canyon. The Fremont Culture just disappeared though, and following them were the Numic-Speaking Indians. This group of Indians [The Numic-Speaking] were living in the valley when the white settlers came. The two main tribes that lived in the Sevier Valley were the Utes and Southern Paiutes, often these two tribes only passed through the area, as they used the valley mainly as a hunting ground. It has been said if you were to write a complete history of the area from the time it was first inhabited up to the present time, and it was 100 pages long. 99 of the pages would deal with the times the Native Americans lived here, and only 1 page would deal with the time that the white settlers have been in the area. The Old Spanish Trail also ran through the area, it came up through the current site of Marysvale, then through the towns of Joseph and Elsinore. From there it headed up Salina Canyon, and then crossed the Green River before heading to Santa Fe, New Mexico. It would probably be safe to say that people traveling the trail might have explored the eastern part of the valley, and also might have grazed stock in the Monroe area.
The first white settlers came in late fall of 1863; they were George Wilson, his son, and two other men. They built a dugout and lived in it throughout the winter of 1863-1864. On February 20, 1864 David Griffith and other men arrived in the area, and began building the town. They called the town "South Bend" [Due to the bend in the Sevier River, located nearby] at first, but the name was soon changed to "Alma" in honor of the Book of Mormon Prophet. By the end of 1864 many families had arrived in the town, they started to build fences, plant crops, etc., some returned to their former homes for the winter, and around 40 families spent the winter of 1864-1865 in Alma. Wiley Allred was chosen to be in charge of the town, and in March 1865 the Sevier County Court created the Alma Precinct.
The first white settlers came in late fall of 1863; they were George Wilson, his son, and two other men. They built a dugout and lived in it throughout the winter of 1863-1864. On February 20, 1864 David Griffith and other men arrived in the area, and began building the town. They called the town "South Bend" [Due to the bend in the Sevier River, located nearby] at first, but the name was soon changed to "Alma" in honor of the Book of Mormon Prophet. By the end of 1864 many families had arrived in the town, they started to build fences, plant crops, etc., some returned to their former homes for the winter, and around 40 families spent the winter of 1864-1865 in Alma. Wiley Allred was chosen to be in charge of the town, and in March 1865 the Sevier County Court created the Alma Precinct.
Early Dugout
The Black Hawk War
On April 9, 1865 [The same day Generals Ulysses S. Grant, and Robert E. Lee meet together in Appomattox, Virginia to bring an end to the Civil War] a meeting was held in nearby Manti, Utah between the local Indians and white settlers. This meeting was held because the Indians had started to steal the white settlers stock. This was because the Settlers had moved onto the hunting grounds of the Indians, and the Indians were now starving and needed food. Unfortunately the meeting did not go as planned and a white settler named John Lowry Jr., ended up pulling an Indian, named Jake Arapeen, off his horse. This act infuriated the Indians, especially one by the name of Black Hawk.
“Black Hawk” as he is commonly known as today, was really named Antonga, and was born circa 1827 in Spring Lake, Utah. It is believed by many historians that Antonga Black Hawk’s first scrimmage with white settlers was in 1849, during a battle in present day Pleasant Grove, Utah. On March 1, 1949 a company from the Nauvoo Legion was sent to the mouth of Battle Creek Canyon in Pleasant Grove to take care of some problems with stock being stolen. At the Canyon a group of Indians were camped that were believed to have stolen about 13 head of cattle. The Nauvoo Legion surrounded the lodges and told the Indians they had not come to battle, but to find out what happened to the cattle. Confused many of the Indians took cover in the creek bottom and started firing at the Legion. The Legion returned fire, killing many of the Natives. 13 Women and Children surrendered and were taken to Salt Lake City. Among this group was the young man believed to be Antonga Black Hawk. Later these Natives were released. It is interesting to note that “Battle Creek” is considered the first major Indian Battle, and that Black Hawk who would later lead many Indians in battles, and raids against the settlers, was present during the first Utah Indian battle.
Later we know Black Hawk was present during an Indian Battle at Fort Utah in Provo, Utah. He was spending some time inside the Fort on a friendly basis when the Battle broke out. Several Indians were killed just outside the Fort, and after the battle Antonga Black Hawk was forced to lead the white settlers to where the surviving Indians had retreated to. He lead them to Rock Canyon [Located behind the Provo LDS Temple] where the remaining Indians where located. As the group came closer many Children and Squaws scattered up the Canyon. The Group entered the lodges and found many dead and frozen corpses including, Chief Old Elk. When this happened the Squaw of Chief Old Elk, climbed up the steep cliffs of the Canyon walls and jumped to her death in front of the white settlers. [Squaw Peak was named for this reason] Later a few prisoners were gathered and taken to Fort Utah, they were forced to spend the remainder of the winter under a cannon platform that had no walls. Antonga Black Hawk was also forced to remain in the Fort with the other Indians for the winter. It is believed that during this time is when Black Hawk’s anger towards white settlers grew.
Now we jump forward several years to the meeting in Manti when John Lowry pulled Jake Arapeen off his horse. As early stated this act infuriated Antonga Black Hawk, and he became the leader of a group of Indians that soon began raiding settlements. During these raids many people were killed and thousands of cattle and other stock were stolen. In retaliation for these murders and raids the white settlers tried hunting down these groups of raiders, and started defending themselves and stock better. All this action became known as the Black Hawk War, which lasted from 1865-1872, making it the longest lasting Indian War in the American West. This is mainly due to the fact that the LDS [Mormon] Church was having problems with the US Government, and tried to keep the whole thing quiet so no more federal troops would be sent to Utah. So the small militias in Utah had to try to stop the War. [Something they were unsuccessful at]
Throughout the so called “Black Hawk War” the following massacres, battles, and raids took place: Thistle Valley Massacre, Manti Raid, Salina Canyon Fight, The Squaw Fight/Massacre, 1st and 2nd Glenwood Raids, Red Lake Battle, Ephraim Massacre, 1st and 2nd Circleville Raids, Navajo Battles, The Pipe Springs Murders, Manti Hostage Situation, Circleville Massacre, Scipio Raid, Battle of Gravelly Ford, Battle of Thistle Valley, Battle of Diamond Fork, Glenwood Massacre, Fountain Green Murders, Twelve Mile Creek Murders, The 1872 Ghost Dance Crisis, and possibly hundreds of other small raids.
Alma [Monroe] was lucky to not have any major battle occur, although the entire settlement was effected because of the war in one way or another. The first being in July of 1865, when a resident of Alma, Anthony Robinson was killed by Indians while returning from Manti with a grist of flour. The following year after much council from LDS Prophet Brigham Young the settlers of Monroe began construction on a fort, which they named Fort Alma. It was completed soon after, and featured wooden walls, with several log cabin homes, a large meeting house, a black smith shop, and a public corral. While the settlers were living in the fort two men who were on guard spotted two Indians trying to get into the corral, so they started shooting at them and scared them off, but on their way out of town the Indians filled Andrew Rasmussen’s stock full of arrows and took a sheep for dinner. The next day about 20-30 men gathered to go after the Indians and chase began that lasted for a few days. When the Sevier Valley Posse caught up to them at the upper Sevier River the Indians had joined their tribe, and a battle took place between the two parties, Albert Lewis was killed, and Chris Christensen was mortally wounded and had to marry his sweetheart, Nicoline Bertelsen, on his death bed.
“Black Hawk” as he is commonly known as today, was really named Antonga, and was born circa 1827 in Spring Lake, Utah. It is believed by many historians that Antonga Black Hawk’s first scrimmage with white settlers was in 1849, during a battle in present day Pleasant Grove, Utah. On March 1, 1949 a company from the Nauvoo Legion was sent to the mouth of Battle Creek Canyon in Pleasant Grove to take care of some problems with stock being stolen. At the Canyon a group of Indians were camped that were believed to have stolen about 13 head of cattle. The Nauvoo Legion surrounded the lodges and told the Indians they had not come to battle, but to find out what happened to the cattle. Confused many of the Indians took cover in the creek bottom and started firing at the Legion. The Legion returned fire, killing many of the Natives. 13 Women and Children surrendered and were taken to Salt Lake City. Among this group was the young man believed to be Antonga Black Hawk. Later these Natives were released. It is interesting to note that “Battle Creek” is considered the first major Indian Battle, and that Black Hawk who would later lead many Indians in battles, and raids against the settlers, was present during the first Utah Indian battle.
Later we know Black Hawk was present during an Indian Battle at Fort Utah in Provo, Utah. He was spending some time inside the Fort on a friendly basis when the Battle broke out. Several Indians were killed just outside the Fort, and after the battle Antonga Black Hawk was forced to lead the white settlers to where the surviving Indians had retreated to. He lead them to Rock Canyon [Located behind the Provo LDS Temple] where the remaining Indians where located. As the group came closer many Children and Squaws scattered up the Canyon. The Group entered the lodges and found many dead and frozen corpses including, Chief Old Elk. When this happened the Squaw of Chief Old Elk, climbed up the steep cliffs of the Canyon walls and jumped to her death in front of the white settlers. [Squaw Peak was named for this reason] Later a few prisoners were gathered and taken to Fort Utah, they were forced to spend the remainder of the winter under a cannon platform that had no walls. Antonga Black Hawk was also forced to remain in the Fort with the other Indians for the winter. It is believed that during this time is when Black Hawk’s anger towards white settlers grew.
Now we jump forward several years to the meeting in Manti when John Lowry pulled Jake Arapeen off his horse. As early stated this act infuriated Antonga Black Hawk, and he became the leader of a group of Indians that soon began raiding settlements. During these raids many people were killed and thousands of cattle and other stock were stolen. In retaliation for these murders and raids the white settlers tried hunting down these groups of raiders, and started defending themselves and stock better. All this action became known as the Black Hawk War, which lasted from 1865-1872, making it the longest lasting Indian War in the American West. This is mainly due to the fact that the LDS [Mormon] Church was having problems with the US Government, and tried to keep the whole thing quiet so no more federal troops would be sent to Utah. So the small militias in Utah had to try to stop the War. [Something they were unsuccessful at]
Throughout the so called “Black Hawk War” the following massacres, battles, and raids took place: Thistle Valley Massacre, Manti Raid, Salina Canyon Fight, The Squaw Fight/Massacre, 1st and 2nd Glenwood Raids, Red Lake Battle, Ephraim Massacre, 1st and 2nd Circleville Raids, Navajo Battles, The Pipe Springs Murders, Manti Hostage Situation, Circleville Massacre, Scipio Raid, Battle of Gravelly Ford, Battle of Thistle Valley, Battle of Diamond Fork, Glenwood Massacre, Fountain Green Murders, Twelve Mile Creek Murders, The 1872 Ghost Dance Crisis, and possibly hundreds of other small raids.
Alma [Monroe] was lucky to not have any major battle occur, although the entire settlement was effected because of the war in one way or another. The first being in July of 1865, when a resident of Alma, Anthony Robinson was killed by Indians while returning from Manti with a grist of flour. The following year after much council from LDS Prophet Brigham Young the settlers of Monroe began construction on a fort, which they named Fort Alma. It was completed soon after, and featured wooden walls, with several log cabin homes, a large meeting house, a black smith shop, and a public corral. While the settlers were living in the fort two men who were on guard spotted two Indians trying to get into the corral, so they started shooting at them and scared them off, but on their way out of town the Indians filled Andrew Rasmussen’s stock full of arrows and took a sheep for dinner. The next day about 20-30 men gathered to go after the Indians and chase began that lasted for a few days. When the Sevier Valley Posse caught up to them at the upper Sevier River the Indians had joined their tribe, and a battle took place between the two parties, Albert Lewis was killed, and Chris Christensen was mortally wounded and had to marry his sweetheart, Nicoline Bertelsen, on his death bed.
'Fort Alma' Drawn by Vance R. Nielson; From a description by Mrs. Katherine Erickson and from the biography of John E. Johnson.
Tensions continued to increase between settlers and the Indians so in 1866, most, if not all, families left Alma and went to nearby Richfield, where it was safer. Some returned that fall, and started trying to increase the safety of the Fort in hopes they would not have to evacuate again. But in April of 1867 LDS Church Apostle Orson Hyde [Who was in charge of the Sanpete and Sevier Counties] recived a letter from Brigham Young saying: “The Church Presidency had “learned of the designs and probable power of Black Hawk and his band…the least of them sufficiently hostile,” and gave instructions. All “settlements on the Sevier above Gunnison” should be evacuated. “Your settlements through Sanpete should take hold and help move them and take care of their property, houses, and fences. “To prevent the Indians from burning or destroying property the brethren can scatter their house logs and fences and cover them with dirt and they can take with them their doors, window frames of adobe houses…”
The entire settlement of Alma was evacuated and people were moved away to Sanpete County, where they lived in very uncomfortable, cramped, and often dirty fort circumstances. About a year later a 16 wagon party started back to Alma, and when they got near Sigurd they encountered Indians and a two hour battle ensued, in which two more men were killed. After the battle they made it to Alma, but soon were forced return to Sanpete County.
During a Battle at Gravely Ford on June 11, 1866 Antonga Black Hawk was wounded, and he never seemed to fully recover. Although he continued to lead raids for about a year more, he started to get tired of the business, and in August of 1867 he made a peace agreement with the Utah Superintendent of Indian Affairs. Unfortunately the raids did not stop after Black Hawk made peace. Even though he was no longer the leader, many of his warriors still continued the War. Black Hawk began meeting with other Indian Chiefs, asking that they make a peace agreement also. As Black Hawks health got weaker he soon went around to many of the settlements that he had raided, asking for forgiveness, but he also asked the settlers to remember that he did it because his people were starving, and dying off. In 1870 Antonga Black Hawk died and was buried on Elk Mountain above Spring Lake, Utah.
The War that carried his name continued for two more years after his death, until 1872. In that year the Indians were going to began a Ghost Dance. They planned for the majority of Indians in the American West to gather to a sacred spot near Fountain Green, Utah. The purpose of the Ghost Dance was so the Indians could dance to petition God to send back their dead, because their numbers had grown so small. It was expected that thousands of Indians would be gathering in Sanpete County, and this made many of the settlers of Utah very nervous. So the both Settlers and Brigham Young finally asked the Federal Government to intervene, which they did, and it quickly put an end to the Black Hawk War.
The entire settlement of Alma was evacuated and people were moved away to Sanpete County, where they lived in very uncomfortable, cramped, and often dirty fort circumstances. About a year later a 16 wagon party started back to Alma, and when they got near Sigurd they encountered Indians and a two hour battle ensued, in which two more men were killed. After the battle they made it to Alma, but soon were forced return to Sanpete County.
During a Battle at Gravely Ford on June 11, 1866 Antonga Black Hawk was wounded, and he never seemed to fully recover. Although he continued to lead raids for about a year more, he started to get tired of the business, and in August of 1867 he made a peace agreement with the Utah Superintendent of Indian Affairs. Unfortunately the raids did not stop after Black Hawk made peace. Even though he was no longer the leader, many of his warriors still continued the War. Black Hawk began meeting with other Indian Chiefs, asking that they make a peace agreement also. As Black Hawks health got weaker he soon went around to many of the settlements that he had raided, asking for forgiveness, but he also asked the settlers to remember that he did it because his people were starving, and dying off. In 1870 Antonga Black Hawk died and was buried on Elk Mountain above Spring Lake, Utah.
The War that carried his name continued for two more years after his death, until 1872. In that year the Indians were going to began a Ghost Dance. They planned for the majority of Indians in the American West to gather to a sacred spot near Fountain Green, Utah. The purpose of the Ghost Dance was so the Indians could dance to petition God to send back their dead, because their numbers had grown so small. It was expected that thousands of Indians would be gathering in Sanpete County, and this made many of the settlers of Utah very nervous. So the both Settlers and Brigham Young finally asked the Federal Government to intervene, which they did, and it quickly put an end to the Black Hawk War.
Resettlement
In March of 1871 the settlers finally were able to return and started making permanent homes; when they first returned they used the fort as a temporary home. In 1872 they applied for a Post Office under the name of Monroe in honor of U.S. President James Monroe. [Because they had heard another settlement up north was named Alma] The city started to grow, and many people moved in.
By the end of 1872 the Telegraph Line came through Monroe, connecting it with the rest of Utah. On January 1, 1889 the Town was incorporated and Andrew Larsen became the first president. Then on June 3, 1921 it was incorporated as a City with Joseph A. Smith as the first Mayor. In 1906 piped water was available to citizens, and the following year on Christmas Eve, Monroe was lit up with electricity for the first time. And finally in 1908 the telephone service came to Monroe.
By the end of 1872 the Telegraph Line came through Monroe, connecting it with the rest of Utah. On January 1, 1889 the Town was incorporated and Andrew Larsen became the first president. Then on June 3, 1921 it was incorporated as a City with Joseph A. Smith as the first Mayor. In 1906 piped water was available to citizens, and the following year on Christmas Eve, Monroe was lit up with electricity for the first time. And finally in 1908 the telephone service came to Monroe.
Fort Alma
Today, exactly when Fort Alma was constructed, how it looked, and what it was constructed of remains a bit of a mystery. There are a few different artists' interpretations of the Fort, which are displayed on this website; these interpretations rely mainly on journals, and the autobiographies of early settlers. So we have included a number of these sources for your own study.
Another artists interpretation of how Fort Alma looked; From a description in the Autobiography of Lewis Barney.
♦ Lewis Barney, Autobiography pg. 88 -
“Early in 1865 the settlers of Alma built a fort enclosing lot 1, or the southwest quarter of block 53. A corral for stock was built on the northeast quarter and a stockyard on the west half of the same block. This fort was built of log houses on the three sides while a rock wall, 10 feet high, was built on the east side…the fort was built in nine days”.
♦ Andrew Ole Anderson –
“Early in 1865 a fort, enclosing 1 block of the town was built. The fort was built of log houses on three sides with a rock wall, 10 feet high, on the east. The fort was built in nine days”.
♦visitsevier.com –
“Fort Alma was built in 1866 on the land that in now 200 North & 100 West in Monroe. The fort was originally built as protection from Native Americans. The fort included 18 one room cabins constructed closely together to form three sides of the fort. The structure took 9 months to build, during which time the settlers lived in local dugouts”.
♦ Ann Sophia Petersen Stark –
“Early in 1864, for their protection, the settlers of Alma built a fort with log houses on three sides and a rock wall ten feet high on the fourth side. On the northeast side of the same block was built a corral for the livestock. The fort was built in nine days, in the month of February. Before the fort was ready for occupation, many people slept in the meetinghouse overnight, as they were in danger of attack by the Indians. Many of the settlers who built on their lots originally, moved their houses into the fort”.
♦ Monroe, Utah: Its First One Hundred Years 1864-1865 –
“Early in 1865 the settlers built a fort on one block of the town survey”.
“Logs were cut close by in the main canyon for the building of Fort Alma”.
“when they built the first structure, Fort Alma, they built one of the rooms larger than the others. This room was to be used for a school room as well as for their meetings and social gatherings”.
“Monroe’s first business was transacted during 1865-66 in a log room in the southeast corner of Fort Alma by Walter Jones. The first stock of goods was collectively owned by the settling party, and they chose Walter to handle the distribution of goods to the families.”
"The first one [Blacksmith Shop] was built just outside old Fort Alma".
♦ Autobiography of John E. Johnson –
“Peace having been made with the Indians, we together with a number of families moved back to Alma in the spring of 1871. There we occupied the houses of with the Fort was constructed.
In my mind’s eye I can see now the inside of the old Fort and each house and the family occupying it. As I remember our family lived in the Fort for nearly two years”.
♦ Letter from Orson Hyde to The Desert News, published in the March 20, 1867 The Desert News –
“Tuesday noon left for Alma, where we found the people towards evening busily engaged in prosecuting their labors upon their new rock fort, which is being rapidly completed; spake to them in the evening, also on Wednesday morning, and in the afternoon of the day proceeded to Richfield..."
“Early in 1865 the settlers of Alma built a fort enclosing lot 1, or the southwest quarter of block 53. A corral for stock was built on the northeast quarter and a stockyard on the west half of the same block. This fort was built of log houses on the three sides while a rock wall, 10 feet high, was built on the east side…the fort was built in nine days”.
♦ Andrew Ole Anderson –
“Early in 1865 a fort, enclosing 1 block of the town was built. The fort was built of log houses on three sides with a rock wall, 10 feet high, on the east. The fort was built in nine days”.
♦visitsevier.com –
“Fort Alma was built in 1866 on the land that in now 200 North & 100 West in Monroe. The fort was originally built as protection from Native Americans. The fort included 18 one room cabins constructed closely together to form three sides of the fort. The structure took 9 months to build, during which time the settlers lived in local dugouts”.
♦ Ann Sophia Petersen Stark –
“Early in 1864, for their protection, the settlers of Alma built a fort with log houses on three sides and a rock wall ten feet high on the fourth side. On the northeast side of the same block was built a corral for the livestock. The fort was built in nine days, in the month of February. Before the fort was ready for occupation, many people slept in the meetinghouse overnight, as they were in danger of attack by the Indians. Many of the settlers who built on their lots originally, moved their houses into the fort”.
♦ Monroe, Utah: Its First One Hundred Years 1864-1865 –
“Early in 1865 the settlers built a fort on one block of the town survey”.
“Logs were cut close by in the main canyon for the building of Fort Alma”.
“when they built the first structure, Fort Alma, they built one of the rooms larger than the others. This room was to be used for a school room as well as for their meetings and social gatherings”.
“Monroe’s first business was transacted during 1865-66 in a log room in the southeast corner of Fort Alma by Walter Jones. The first stock of goods was collectively owned by the settling party, and they chose Walter to handle the distribution of goods to the families.”
"The first one [Blacksmith Shop] was built just outside old Fort Alma".
♦ Autobiography of John E. Johnson –
“Peace having been made with the Indians, we together with a number of families moved back to Alma in the spring of 1871. There we occupied the houses of with the Fort was constructed.
In my mind’s eye I can see now the inside of the old Fort and each house and the family occupying it. As I remember our family lived in the Fort for nearly two years”.
♦ Letter from Orson Hyde to The Desert News, published in the March 20, 1867 The Desert News –
“Tuesday noon left for Alma, where we found the people towards evening busily engaged in prosecuting their labors upon their new rock fort, which is being rapidly completed; spake to them in the evening, also on Wednesday morning, and in the afternoon of the day proceeded to Richfield..."