Plodding along on my 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, here is Week 16. This week, the theme is to write about someone who should be featured in a movie. Well, I'm going to write about someone who WAS in a movie- at least his story was. Philip Klingensmith lived quite near me- in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. And his story is not a pretty one but remember to consider the times and the stresses he (and other) Mormons had endured. The movie was September Dawn (2006), a love story set against the Mountain Meadows Massacre starring John Voight as John D. Lee- Philip is depicted but not named.
(This is a long story! So go get a cup of coffee and a few cookies!)
Klingensmith
Germany to Pennsylvania
In the early part of the 13th century, 3 families, Milles, Millin and one other came to Solingen, Germany. They found large amounts of iron which they used to make metal products (swords, etc.) All three families took the name Klingensmith, which means Swordmaker. In 1964, there are still Klingensmiths making steel in Solingen.
Solingen was first mentioned in 1067 by a chronicler who called the area "Solonchon".In medieval times, the swordsmiths of Solingen designed the town's coat of arms, which continues to the present.
Solingen is called the "City of Blades", since it has long been renowned for the manufacturing of fine swords, knives, scissors and razors. Blacksmiths' smelters, dating back over 2000 years, have been found around the town, adding to Solingen's fame as a Northern Europe blacksmith centre.
(A descendant of Philip, Lester, son of Lewis Klingensmith, has a hatchet and knife set that were made in Solingen.)
History says that the Klingensmiths were Palatines and were persecuted from 1700-1759. About 39.000 people left the area for religious freedom. The families that were persecuted and driven from Germany in 1708/9 were refugees in England, Ireland and the Americas. The majority of Palatines were devout Lutherans and resisted attempts to take away their religious freedom.
Immigrants in Pennsylvania from 1727 to 1776 [database online], Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2001 lists these persons as arriving on Sept. 11, 1738. "Palatines imported in the ship Robert and Alice, of Dublin, Walter Goodman, Commander, from Rotterdam, last from Dover. 320 passengers."
Daniel Klingenschmidt . . . Frantz Klingenschmidt . . . Peter Reitenauer . . . Balthaser Reydenauer . . . Hans Hen. Reitenauer . . . Christian Cassell. (name written by clerk)
This group of passengers is surely those who ended up in the Jeanette Area of Westmoreland, then known as Brush Creek. Members of both families left Berks (later Northampton) County, Pennsylvania and moved on to Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, as did Christian Cassell.
Johann Daniel Klingensmith was born on July 16, 1701, in Kutzingen, Wuertiennberg, Germany. He married Anna Christina Reitenauer on January 1718 at Waldhambach, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France. She was born on May 8, 1692 in Tieffenback, Lutzelstein, Elsass Lothringen, Germany. She died on November 3, 1755 in Berks County, Pennsylvania. She was 63 years old. Her parents were Nicholas Claus Reitenauer and Susanna Lufidach Windstein.
John Philip Klingensmith was born on March 31, 1725 in Erkartswiller, Bas Rhein, Alsace, France. He was a child of Johann Daniel Klingensmith and Anna Christina Reitenauer. His christening in Evangelische Kirche is recorded as "31 March 1725, son of Daniel Klingensmith erbbestander (Hereditary Tenant) of Moderfeld and Christina Reitenhaur." He died on July 2, 1781 in the Klingensmith Blockhouse, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania at 56 years old. They had the following children: Maria Catharina (1720-1730); Anna Christina (1721-); John Peter (1723-1790); John Philip (1725-1781); Balazier (1727-1780); Catherine Margaretha (1728-); John Philip (1732-1781); John George (1734-); Margaret Elizabeth (1737-1749); Maria Barbara (1739-1763).
From the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community Affairs, Harrisburg, PA 17120, Bureau of Land Records, P.O. Box 155, Harrisburg, PA 17120:
Warrant #118, dated May 21, 1751, to Philip Clingersmith for 100 acres situate on Indian Creek near the Blue Mountains in Lehigh Township, Bucks, now Northampton County. Surveyed on November 21, 1761 for 65 acres 40 perches. Patented on September 10, 1784 to Simon Triesbach. (signed Edward D. Price, Director, Bureau of Land Records). . . .
Record is found that on March 25, 1756, Berks County, Colebrookdale, Philip Klingensmith, Ensign was listed in "The Pennsylvania Gazette" as having received Commission from his Honour the Governor, under Militia Law. [Cited by Michael J. Stewart, M.D.: The Pennsylvania Gazette, (transcripts available online at Accessible Archives)
John Jacob Klingensmith, son of Blockhouse Philip K. applied for military pension March 31, 1839 from Marion Co., IN. He stated that he was born in Northampton Co., PA in 1757; and that he entered the military from Westmoreland Co., PA.
IV. Philip Klingensmith, b- 29 Feb. 1790, with Philip & Catherine Klingensmith as sponsors, baptism; at First Reformed Church; m-1 1808 Anna Marie Kauffer, div. 24 Jan. 1829; m-2 Mary Anderson, d/o James Anderson, c- c. 1865 PA.
V. Philip Klingensmith, b- 3 Apr. 1815 Westmoreland Co., d- c. 1881 Mojave Desert, AZ m-2 Betsy Cattle (or Cattell) , d/o William Cattle (Cattell) & Elizabeth Dagley, b- 9 Sept. 1835 Foulshullz, Eng., d- 16 Mar. 1867 City Cem., Cedar City, UT
Westmoreland County, PA
Papers from John Philip Klingensmith's Family Bible (Owned by Don Rupert and translated by Pastor Ruff.) In the year 1760, on the 15th of July, John Philip Klingenschmidt was born in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. His father was Philip Klingenschmidt and his mother Christina. He was brought to holy baptism. The sponsors were Peter Klingenschmidt and Elisabeth his wife. (Nicely tying Peter and Philip together!)
Both Philip and Peter fought in the Indian Wars. Philip Klingensmith, Ensign fought in French and Indian War from Colebrookdale Berks County Pa (Phila. Gazette Paper) A list in Fort Allen has Peter and Philip Klingensmith names listed 1774.
They then settled in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
In 1769, Johann Philip Klingensmith and his brother John Peter Klingensmith established Fort Klingensmith, a defense against marauding Indians at what is now Jeannette, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. not far from the site of British Col. Bouquet's battle at Bushy Run in 1763, near present day Greensburg. Philip descended from a family that came to America in 1700 fleeing religious persecution from what is now Germany. He was one of the first white settlers to Westmoreland County, where he farmed and hunted to provide for his family. Both Philip and brother John Peter Klingensmith served as scouts/guide to a young George Washington during the French and Indian War (1754-1763). Both Philip and Peter fought in the French and Indian War. After it was over, they settled in Hempfield Township in Westmoreland County, not far from the site of the Battle of Bushy Run in which Peter had participated. There is no record of land ownership by either of them, but by 1783 they were being asked to pay taxes on 550 acres of land. In 1784 the eldest sons of Philip and Peter secured warrants for land in the county. One of the first things that the Klingensmith and other German Lutheran settlers did when they came to Westmoreland County, according to the History of Old Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, was that "they preempted 158 acres of the choicest land for church purposes." The time, according to the book, was "in the year of 1765 or before." **
In 1774 a petition detailing trouble with the Indians and asking for protection was sent from Hempfield Township to Governor John Penn. Among the signers were Peter and Philip Klingenschmit. Philip's house was chosen as the place to fortify as the blockhouse for the protection of his family and his neighbors. There were also other blockhouses in the area. Col Lochry wrote (July 4th 1781 Pa Archives IX 247) "We have very distressing times here this summer. The enemy are almost constantly in our county killing and captivating the inhabitants."
Four of the Klingensmiths were not there when renegade Seneca Indians attacked the Klingensmith fortification on 2 July 1781. Peter's sons, Philip and Daniel, were in the militia serving under Captain John Crisp and Philip's sons, John Philip and Andrew, were with Captain Christopher Truby. The four served from 1777 to 1783.
The following is what happened on 2 July 1781 as told by Ruby Fennell Ralston, whose grandfather handed down the story to her:
The people had gathered in the Klingensmith blockhouse for the night, as was their custom. The next morning there was no sign of Indians about the place. Christina, wife of Philip Klingensmith, decided to go to the spring for water. She carried her young baby with her, and took along her two sons, Caspar and Peter, to carry the buckets. They had made their way to the spring, filled the buckets with water, and were coming back along the path when the Indians broke out of the surrounding trees. Christina started to run towards the house, but the two terrified boys stood rooted in their tracks. The Indians passed by the two motionless boys and converged upon Christina. Her cries had alarmed the blockhouse, but before the men could spring to their guns the savages had murdered the mother and babe. Christina put up her hands to shield the baby's head, and it was said her arms were slashed to ribbons by the deadly tomahawks. Philip Klingensmith had opened the door trying in vain to rescue his wife, and he too was slain. In Col. James Perry's report, he says that between twenty and thirty men, women, and children were destroyed, but Grandfather only told me about Philip, Christina, and the baby. The Indians fled , taking the two small boys with them. That night they camped for the night on the banks of a river, and during the night Caspar made his escape and eventually made his way back home. Peter was kept by the Indians, and treated very kindly by them. . . According to the Hannastown Record he came back once to claim his inheritance, but his brothers refused him unless he left the Indians, but he went back to live with them and his family.
(The following note was in the Family Bible all these years given by Don Rupert in 1990 to Rev Paul Ruff paper wrote in German. Rev. Paul Ruff gave Margaret (Stivenson) Krecota a copy he wrote in English. Paul Ruff said this proves Baby Klingensmith was not killed in July 2, 1781. Note Maria Catharine born 17 Sep 1780 to Philip Klingeschmidt and Christine baptized 16 Jul 1781 sponsor were Jacob Machling & Catharina. This is in Rev Paul Ruff book The German Church Records Westmoreland County Pa 1772-1791 Vol. I Copyright 1979. Rev. Paul Ruff spoke at First Evangelical Lutheran Church 175 years of Lutheranism in the Leechburg Pa.Community 1814- 1989 also call the Klingensmith Church.)
Jonathan Sarver . . . married Susanna Klingensmith, daughter of John Philip and Barbara (Broadsword) Klingensmith. She was born and raised on a farm on the present site of the Fort Pitt glass works, near Jeannette, her father being the owner of the land. The Klingensmiths settled in that section at a very early date, before the war of the revolution. Their names were among those who signed a petition to Governor Penn in 1774. On the farm of her grandfather stood a blockhouse known as "Fort Philip Klingensmith," which served as a place of refuge for the surrounding settlers during the numerous hostile attacks of the Indians. During one of these attacks, her grandfather, P[h]ilip Klingensmith, and his wife were killed, and her paternal uncle, Peter, who was then a child of five years, was taken captive by the Indians. He was treated with kindness, grew up, married an Indian woman, and reared a family. He had a faint recollection of his early home, and in after life paid a visit to his brothers and sisters, but soon returned to his Indian wife and family. (Boucher, John N., History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, New York, NY: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906, p. 630)
The Klingensmith log cabin, dating back to around 1800, was discovered in Gilpin Township in 1982 and moved to Hanna's town, (Unknown as to which Klingensmith family it belonged.)
On his father's side, Philip Klingensmith descended from German emigrants who settled in central Pennsylvania. But his grandfather moved to western Pennsylvania and established Fort Klingensmith. His parents settled in back country Westmoreland County, west of the Allegheny Mountains in southwestern Pennsylvania. Philip was born on 3 April 1815 to Phillip and Mary Anderson Klingensmith. When a young man, Klingensmith moved to Ohio, then Indiana. He may have left behind a wife, Betsey Hazel or Hazlett. Westmoreland County records show the marriage. Then a divorce shows where Philip Klingensmith divorced Elizabeth Klingensmith. Betsey is short for Elizabeth and Philips brother had married a Hazlett so it seems likely that his first wife was Betsey Hazlett.
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| Mary Anderson Klingensmith, mother of Philip |
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| Philip Klingensmith |
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| Keziah Klingensmith, sister of Philip |
When a young man, Klingensmith moved to Ohio, then Indiana. He may have left behind a wife, Betsey Hazel or Hazlett. Westmoreland County records show the marriage. Then a divorce shows where Philip Klingensmith divorced Elizabeth Klingensmith. Betsey is short for Elizabeth and Philips brother had married a Hazlett so it seems likely that his first wife was Betsey Hazlett.
There were large numbers of people heading west. Philip probably went down the Ohio River on board a flat boat or paddle wheel steamer to Cinncinnati. Then by wagon or horse, he would have made his way to Pike Township, where several Klingensmiths lived. Philip would have then gone on to Tippecanoe to join yet more relatives.
On 28 February 1841 he married Hannah Henry Creemer in Tippecanoe County, Indiana and they briefly lived in Indiana. and possibly in Michigan. She was described as dark-eyed and black haired and was only 15 when she met and married Philip.
Sometime after Oct. 1841, he reportedly became a member of the Fraternal Order of the Masons.
Moving westward to Nauvou, he received a blessing from Joseph Smith, the patriarch of the Mormon church, on 25 Aug 1845. He was told to be humble, patient, prayful and watchful. Philip was promised that "Not a hair of thy head shall fall by an enemy: bars, not gates, no prison walls, nor chains shall be able to hold thee; you will accomplish every purpose of thine heart, and in the end inherit eternal lives with thy family and all thy father's house."
They were endowed on 21 January 1846 in Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois. They lived in the Fifth Ward, where Isaac C. Haight was the bishop. (Haight appears later during the massacre.)
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| Hannah Creamer Klingensmith |
Philip and his family were caught up in the expulsion of the Mormons from Nauvoo, losing their home and most of their belongings. They had already dealt with so much- the turmoil, persecutions and murder of Joseph Smith, death of their daughter Mary., etc. As arrangements were made for the Mormons to move west, Joseph continue to work to build the Nauvoo temple. A truce was struck and the expectant mothers, sick, afflicted and poor were to be allowed to wait to move until spring. But in September, an army of 1600 men arrived with plans to massacre or push out the Mormons still in the town. and they did so.
They departed Illinois in 1846, suffering losses in common with others, and arrived in Utah in 1849.
They moved on to Garden Grove, with Philip charged with using his blacksmith skills to help others along the way. Garden Grove was described as a pleasantly situated place with a thick stand of tall hickory, rich soil. After traveling through snow, ice and mud, it must have seemed wonderful. But on 6 May 1846, a fierce storm arose, trees fell. Here he first crossed paths with John D. Lee whose mule was killed in during the strong winds. (Another participant in the massacre)
Crossing through Council Bluffs, the family next settled in Winter Quarters (the new headquarters of the Church.) A large group left there and blazed a trail to the Great Salt Lake Valley where they laid out a town and planted some crops.
On 30 October 1847, Hannah was delivering her daughter, Hannah Henry, when Brigham Young arrived back in Winter Quarters. Young and his elders told the Saints to prepare to leave for Greater Salt Lake in May. They were to gather enough food, every book they could fine so as to educate the children, and anything-gold, silver, jewels, zinc, brass, etc. that could be used to beautify the temple to be built there. Brigham Young, shortly after this was appointed President of the Church.
In May 1848, when the company left, Philip and his family did not. Perhaps finances were an issue.
In January 1848, Sarah Ann almost lost her life. The head of police, Mr. Stout reported “This evening before dark, a child belonging to Br. Klingensmith had her clothes to catch on fire and nearly burnt her to death.” No other details were given.
In 1849, they joined the Howard Egan Company which departed in mid-April from the outfitting post in Pottawattamie County on their westward trek. Besides Philip, 34, there were Hannah Henry Creemer Klingensmith, 23, Moroni, 3, and Hannah, 1.
By departing early in the spring, they were ahead of most of the flood of "forty-niners" bound for the California Gold Rush that year. Hannah Klingensmith was in late-term pregnancy for most of the trek. In mid-July while still three weeks from their destination, she gave birth to a baby girl. Mother and infant survived the ordeal. The family passed the usual milestones on the trail: Fort Kearney, the South Fork of the Platte River, Chimney Rock, Fort Laramie, the Sweetwater River, Independence Rock, Devil's Gate, Green River, Fort Bridger, Bear River, and Weber River. After suffering the usual hardships of overland trail they arrived in the valley of the Great Salt Lake in early August.
Nothing remains of this trip from Philip or Hannah but one member of the Egan Company kept a diary. Excerpts of the diary are below.
Hansen, Peter Olsen, Diary, 1849 Apr.-Aug. Trail Excerpt Howard Egan Company
May, Wedenssd. [Tuesday] the 15. Crossed the Missouri at fort Kearny & went on about 1½ mile & encamped on Table creek after crossing it. The feed is good & weather pleasant.
Thurs the 17. Traveled about 14½ m[ile]s & encamped on the prairie.
Friday 18. Traveled about 10 ms. & encamped on Weeping Water. Wood very scarce.
Satid. 19. Rain last night. We forded with double teams as the banks were high & steep. Traveled 6 ms & encamped on Willow creek after crossing it with double teams. Some Box elder trees here. 3 more wagons joined us: Bro Nathan[iel] Jones & family, W[illia]m. Jones & family, Fred[erick] Jones & family, Charles Snow. & John Steward.
Mond. 21. pleasant weather. Went on to Salt–creek or Saline, the banks being high & steep we had to let the wagons down by a rope. This is the largest stream we have crossed. its water is a little salty from Salt banks being above. plenty Cottonwood good grass on the bottom. most of the cattle would not drink it. Met 3 teams of the gold seekers going back home. past a camp. Encamped on an a dead branch. some wood, good grass, standing water. 12 ms. From Saline to Elkcreek 16 ms.
Tuesd. 22. cold & windy. went on to Elkcreek. first rate chance for watering team & plenty cottonwood. Encamped on the prairie after traveling about 15 ms
23 past by oak grove. encamp on prairie. 15 ms. going back
Thursd. 24 Windy & dusty forenoon & stormy afternoon, encamped on a creek near Platte river.
Phillip Klingensmith, 33 year old, 2 oxen, 4 cows, 1 dog, 1 wagon, 7 in family
Hannah Klingens[mith]., 23 year old; Sarah Ann Kling[ensmith]. 7 year old; Moroni Kl[ingensmith]., 4 year old; Hannah Kl[ingensmith]., 3 year old; Susan Colman, 10 year old; Emma Campbell, 10 year old
Saturd. 26. pleasant. traveled to above the Pawnee village. about 18 miles. Two Pawnees seen. good grass al[l] the Time
Tuesd. 29. pleasant. Report: that 60 individuals had died with Colerah between Independence & Grand Isl[an]d. Traveled about 12 miles and encamped on the river.
June
Frid. the 1st. pleasant. Traveled on an stopt to bede at the fort Kearny formerly fort Childs at the head of Grand. Island. Wagon worth 125 dollars sold for 15 to 20 dollars here[.] bacon 1 cent pr lb. 2000 wags at the crossing of South fork.
4. pleast. Traveled along the creek, crossed it ok on a dry place & encamped after comeing about 16 miles on a slough near the river. A Co. of U.S. Dragoons past by, going to fort laramie Oregon.
Frid. 8. pleasant. heavy rain and wind last night. About 6 ms above the junction of the North & South forks. saw 2 buffalos.
Sat. 9. cloudy. Mr. J Cox of Polk Co. Mo. belong to Nelson Comp. died last night with the Colerah after very few hours illness. after crossing some old dry creeks, some ponds, & come about 20 ms we crossed the South fork with duble tea[ms.] we went strait across. This afternoon we met Bro. Tomas Williams & Levi Merrills coming from the Valley going to the States. they had bene robd by the Crows.
Sund. 10. pleasant. Traveled about 13 miles crossing, the Bluffs. Encamped on the north side off from the river. saw many Buffalos, killed one
Tuesd. 12. cloudy. come about 12 ms & encamped about 1 m from the river. very good feed as yet. past a place where there is some ash wood near the river about 7-8 ms west of Cedar Bluffs. About 7 ms west of Cedar Bluffs we met 3 wagons from the Valley, the Company consisted of Bro. Lorenzo Young & part of his family, Bro. [text missing] & family, [text missing] & a man who was going on towards the gold mines in a company which got fighting amongst themselves & he was wounded & returns back with these folks.
Thursd. 14. pleasant. Went on a few miles & bated about 2 hours. Encampd after traveling about 18 ms on a creek near the river. feed not very plenty. Mosquitos very trouble som. road very sandy whole day.
Wed. 20. pleasant. started at sunrise or before, went about 10 ms & encamped on Horseshoe creek which is wide & shallow, not far from Platte. after comeing down from the bluffs we crossed a creek with muddy water & bad to cross. At the foot of the bluffs we crossed another wors[e] one and then the Horseshoe. A [illegible word] regiment of Dragoons with a great number of bagage wagons encamped with us.
Wed. 27. pleasant. went 18 ms on good road, encamped on la bonte river. tolerable good feet. some rain. List of deaths in Nelsons Com: Mr. Hagan of Ky Co[,] Mr. Buchart of Morgan Co. Mo., Mr. J. Bradshaw of Van Buren Co. Mo.[,] Mr. Jason Cox of Johnson Co.[,] Mr. J. B. Olephant—Johnson Co.[,] Mr. David Amick of Morgan Co. all died of Diarha [diarrhea].
Frid. 29. pleasant, traveled 8 ms, encamped on Bois[']s fork, ill tasting water, good spring few rods above the crossing under the east bank. gras most ate up by gras hoppers. drove our catle over the hills into a big hollow to the right from the road where they done very well. S
aturd. 30. pleasant laid up to shoe oxen. Capt. Egan went on to the ferry a horseback.
July
Tuesd. 3 cloudy & coole. reparing wagons &c. The Some of the troups going to Oregon & California are here trying to cross. More than half of them have deserted already & about half of the next are fixing themselves for to leave likewise. It was great joy to us to meat with our brethren who are ferrying here.
Wed. 4. pleasant. continued our works. two men of the soldiers & a hors drowded [drowned] trying to cross. several others have Drownded & a number of wagons lost. Mr. Frederic[k] [Frederick] Jones of our Co was accidently shot into his lower parts as he was trying to melt out the ball in his gun[.] Co. supper, invited the ferry men.
Sund. 8. rater windy. F. Jones died this afternoon. Bro. Benj. Jones arived here a horseback leaving his family about 75 miles behind him, send letters to the Valley by him. Frederic babtized
Mond. 9. same weather. Burried the dead. We crossed the river & went over the Sand hills & encamped on the river for the last time. feed tolerable. One wagon tire run off & the wheel broke down, we got another wheel in its place.
Thursd 12. cold windy & cloudy. traveled on to Indep[e]ndence Rock. This morning some of the catle were somewhat affected by mineral water. A larg number of dead catle are lying along the road
Tuesd. 17. Went on by Ice spring & crossed the river, & went over the high mountain & encamped on the big bottom. feed tolerable good. Sr. K[l]ingensmith had a daughter. come over 20 ms.
Thurd. 19. pleasant. Traveled on about 20 ms & encamp on Sweet water on the top of a high hill with a beautiful view to the north about [blank space] ms above the last crossing. plenty good grass. Report brought that the deserting soldiers was calculating to rob Pomeroys & this Co. for provisions. Left an ox dying with the blody murr[a]in belonging to Widow G[h]een. Another one belonging to her left dying above Sulpher spring being very old & woar out. Yester day an ox died on the road being woar out belong to Wd.[widow] Jones. This morning a haphor [heifer] belogig to Winchest[er] found dead with bloody murrins Plenty snow at last crossing.
Frid. 20. pleasant. Traveled till 2 o clock when we stopt on a swampy place about 3 ms beyond passific [Pacific] creek[.] went on again at 5 oclock & traveled whole night accompanied by Mr. Pomeroy & Co. Left a steer sick.
Wednesd. 25. plesnt. ferryed the wagons over. traveled 8 ms. encamp on river. feed enough[.] l ox dead belog to N. Jones. Cpt. H Egan went on this morning with the mail.
Sat. 28. rater windy. As Sr. Jones, N. Jones wife was taken sick on child bed we remained here. A manchild was born, died & was burried under the banck 2-3 rods south of the road. good gras. Named Samuel.
August
Frid. 3 pleasnt. traveled to within 2 ms of Weber river and encampd after meting H. Egan with others from the Valley with some wagons & ox teams. great joy. good grass.
Mond. 6. pleasnt. Went over the mountain. encamped at the foot of the next. Tuesd. 7. rater dusty. Went over the mountain and went into the Valley. great pleasure
On 22 October 1849, Philip and Hannah were sealed in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City.
The Seventies were the "9th Quorum of Seventies at the reorganization of the old stand, " and from 1835-1846, Philip was a member of this quorum.
From Salt Lake City, they were asked by Brigham Young to go to San Pete and help establish a new settlement. The wagon train had 224 people. They had to clear the way for the wagons to pass. Hannah, only 5 foot 5 inches tall and 118 pounds, was handling the wagon team while the men cleared the way.
Upon arrival, the snows began before homes could be erected. Many of the settlers dug into the “oolite” (Limestone) to make caves in which to shelter. They had to shovel snow for the cattle to eat. One woman, Maggie Cragin, had to watch her young son being dragged behind an Indian pony to his death. The warmth of spring did not bring relief- instead it brought hundreds of rattlesnakes. Philip thought Sanpete was the worst experience of his life. Brigham Young renamed the settlement, calling it Manti. The church authorities wanted to ensure good member of the Church so required all to be rebaptized after entering the Great Salt Lake Valley.
In 1851, they moved to southern Utah where Klingensmith became one of the first settlers in Iron County. Their first winter there was mild and much appreciated after the horrible experience in Sanpete. He was the first bishop of Cedar City, which had been settled in 1851. He resigned July 31, 1859.
Even prior to his official appointment as Bishop, Philip was doing those duties. Henry Lunt stated “Saturday, May 2nd, 1852, Bishop Smith called the men out to work on Public works at fixing water ditches, etc. “He was not afraid to do his part.” and was known to say “come on boys, let us go” instead of sending them to work without his help.”
On Tuesday, July 27, 1852, Lunt and Klingensmith visited the Indians and smoked the peace pipe with them. An iron furnace was built and began to work at the end of September that year. Calls were sent out for more families to settle in Parowan, in either Old Town or New Town. Apparently, life was good there. A singing group included Betsey Cattle who would become Philip's second wife (And my ancestress.) Christmas was celebrated with stories and dancing,
Hannah gave birth to a healthy brown haired daughter, Lavinia in January of 1853.
In 1853, Philip was elected alderman of Cedar City at the first election ever held in the city.
From 1852 to 1857, Philip helped to build the town of Parowan. He was involved in the Mormon religion, civic duties, the iron works, and the hardships. Living on the Old Spanish trail, he became a friend of the Indians. They called him Bishop Smith and according to his daughter, Margaret Jane, were often heard to say about him “heap good bishop.... he no stingy, always give flour, potatoes, squash, he never turned anyone away hungry or cold.”
From 1852 to 1859, Klingensmith was the bishop of Cedar City. By the mid-1850s, he had embraced polygamy and had three wives, Hannah, Margaretha and Betsy. Betsy was born in 1814 in West Salem, Mercer, Pennsylvania and died in Cedar City on the 16th March 1870. She and Philip had eight children.
Despite the move to “Deseret” the Mormons still had troubles. There were ill feelings between Gentiles and the Mormons. Also the fact that they taught the gospel to the Indians and non-member Gentiles. Philip taught the settlers to be kind to the Indians. He also helped to provide food for them. He even adopted Joseph, a young Indian. Joseph was raised in Hannah's household.
A prenuptial dance on Monday, May 22, 1854, was given by Philip to celebrate his betrothal to Betsy. On May 30, 1854, Philip married Betsey Cattle, following the Mormon ways of plural wives. He provided her with a floorless, red adobe home, heated by an open fireplace and lighted by pine knots. The wedding was performed by George A. Smith on May 30th at the home of Henry Lewis in Cedar Fort.
Hannah had stood by Philip through numerous moves, losses, doing whatever needed done. But she stood up for her rights in this – she went to Jonathan Pugmire seeking counsel over her husband's abuse. (The abuse is not explained but is believed to have been over his 2nd marriage and the fact that her 12 (almost 13) year old daughter, Sarah Ann had just been sealed to an older man, Charles Carter.) Priscilla describes her father as kind and loving: "He was of a very low quiet voice, very kind to his family. I never remember hearing him scold or talk cross in my life. I have heard such people that was neighbors and very intent with him say he was a very good man. Such as brother and sister Birkbeck and John Hamilton as well as others always had a good word to say of him.)"
The family stories indicate that the wives had to be kept apart. One walked into the home and saw him in a compromising situation- she threw a bucket of water on them. Hannah was at home giving birth to another child, Donna Isura, while Philip took Betsey to Salt Lake for marriage under the covenants of the church.
In 1854, George A Smith reported that Philip came to conference with about 30 wagons and had procured 150 or so persons and brought them to Cedar City using the Perpetual Emigration Fund.
Another daughter, Priscilla, was reportedly born to Betsey and Philip on 20 Mar 1855. (It is believed that she is the child Philip brought back from the Massacre.)
Working as a blacksmith in Cedar City, Peter made the first bell to ring in Cedar City.
Eliza was born and died in 1856 to Betsey and Philip while in Cedar City.
On 19 Mar 1857, Betsey gave birth alone to a blue-eyed baby girl with brown hair, Mary Alice to the family. Philip was in Salt Lake City, courting Margaretha.
On 23 March 1857, he married Margaretha Elliker in Great Salt Lake City. She was described as a 20 years old, blue-eyed woman with light brown hair.
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| Margaretha Elliker Klingensmith |
With such a large family, Philip required lots of work from his children and wives. As soon as the children were old enough, they helped anyway they could- wiping tables, threading needles, tearing cloth strips, churning butter, rinsing and pressing curds for cheese, or stirring soup. As they got older, there was wheat to be threshed and flour to grind. They gathered the long straws to weave hats, fed the animals, gathered wool, picked wild berries, brought in kindling and milked cows.
Klingensmith was a blacksmith who lent his skills to the newly formed Iron Mission. Philip, in fact, made and hung the first bell in Cedar city. It's quality and tone showcased years of the mastery of his ancestors. (it is still on display in the Iron Mission State Historical Monument, Cedar City.) Although most of those involved in the ironworks hailed from the British Isles, Klingensmith was among a handful of Americans who contributed to it.
Here is a brief summary of the development of the Deseret Iron Company, known more familiarly as the Ironworks.
In April 1857, the delivery of a new steam engine from Great Salt Lake City seemed to breathe new life for the Ironworks. From April to June, the steam engine was finished, In the first week of July, they began smelting but problems continued- from poor quality raw materials to smelting equipment. To the steam engine seized with sand from the dirty creek water. All the while crews at the ironworks kept it going, while other, mainly miners and teamsters, gathered iron ore, coal, limestone, and wood needed for smelting. From late April to September, among those working up the canyon in mining or hauling wood, coal, limestone, rock, sand or “adobies” to the ironworks was Philip Klingensmith. Those working at the ironworks on the furnace, engine, coke ovens or blacksmith shop included John Urie. (John Urie was a good friend of Philip although he was younger, Urie later married Philip's daughter.)
In September, the blast furnace was running nonstop. And when the militiamen, many of whom were ironworkers, were sent to Mountain Meadows, other ironworkers in Cedar City continued the smelting runs night and day.
During this period of 1857, Philip Klingensmith’s specific role was as a teamster. In April, Klingensmith logged 383 hours hauling supplies for the steam engine from Great Salt Lake City to Cedar City. He also hauled three-quarters of a ton of coal to the ironworks in August.
Klingensmith, 42, was a private in one of the Cedar platoons in Captain Joel White's Company D. White's company was attached to Major Isaac C. Haight's 2nd Battalion. Klingensmith was also the bishop of Cedar City.
Philip was referred to as a Dutchman, which simply put, means that he was "Pennsylvania Dutch," - a member of a group who used a mixture of the German and English language. He is described as being heavy, rather stolid looking, six feet high and well-muscled. (6 foot tall, Broad but well-muscled, not fat, Weighing about 175 pounds, dark hair and beard, blue eyes)
In September, while the Fancher-Baker party traveled from Cedar City toward Mountain Meadows, Klingensmith and White carried a message to Pinto concerning the emigrant party, passing John D. Lee enroute. In the days of September 7-11, during which the train was besieged, Klingensmith was among those who mustered to the Mountain Meadows.
To understand the circumstances around the Mountain Meadows Massacre, one must look at a little history of the Mormons. It occurred in a time of great anxiety, a multitude of events providing the setting.
In 1838, the Mormon-Missouri War was an armed conflict between the Latter-day Saints and other citizens of northern Missouri in the fall of 1838. The conflict expanded to involve state officials, including the governor, and resulted in the incarceration of Joseph Smith (along with one of our ancestors, Alexander McRae) and the forced expulsion of the Saints from Missouri Governor Boggs, who had previously supported anti-Mormon activities in Jackson County, issued what came to be known as the “extermination order,” which authorized the state militia to drive the Mormons from the state or exterminate them if necessary. Imagine not only being told you have to leave your home, most of your belongings and property and get out of town! Not only that, but if you don't you will be exterminated!
In 1838-39, the beleaguered, exiled group of Mormons crossed the Missouri border into Jackson County, Illinois. Fleeing from years of violent persecution by Gentiles, the Mormons set up the city of Nauvoo under the aegis of their prophet, Joseph Smith, the founder and first prophet of the Church. The Mormon community was initially welcomed and expanded rapidly into a permanent, thriving center of Mormon religion, but over the course of five years, the Mormons rapidly lost favor with authorities and neighboring towns. Violence and persecution sprang anew among the citizens of Illinois.
In 1844, Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were murdered during an anti-Mormon raid at a Carthage jail. The Mormons were being held for treason and inciting a riot only to be killed by a riotous mob. As Joseph was running for US President, his death was the first assassination of a presidential candidate.
In 1846, the Mormons had settled in Nauvoo, Illinois. The government came in and forced out the Mormons from Nauvoo, losing their home and most of their belongings. Arrangements were made for the Mormons to move west. A truce was struck and it was agreed that they could wait to move until spring. But in September, an army of 1600 men arrived with plans to massacre or push out the Mormons still in the town. and they did so. Burning homes and threatening the lives of women and children, poisoning wells – the Mormons were again forced to leave behind most of what they had worked so hard for. If they were able to sell their homes, they would be lucky to get ½ the cost of building the home. Parley’s Street where the wagons lined up waiting for their turn to cross the river, became known as the Trail of Tears, as the Mormons took their last look at the town they had created out of a swamp and the homes they had built. More than 700 Mormons died before they reached what became known as “Winter Quarters” near present day Omaha, Nebraska.
They were in their new home, governed by themselves and not part of the US only a few months before Mexico signed a treaty ceding California, New Mexico and other territories, including the Mormon's new home.
Another incident--one that happened in Arkansas contributed to bitter feeling toward this particular caravan. In 1857 Elder Parley Pratt, one of the devout saints, had come to Louisiana and Arkansas as the first missionary to represent his sect in these states. In 1838–39, Pratt was arrested because of his participation in the Mormon-Missouri War was in jail in Richmond and Columbia, Missouri, and escaping to join the Mormons in Illinois. In May of 1857, he met Eleanor Jane McComb McLean who allegedly deserted her alcoholic and abusive husband to marry Parley. McLean, who was away when this happened, pursued Pratt and had him arrested. Pratt was freed on arraignment at Van Buren, Arkansas, and again started his journey west. McLean, not satisfied with the outcome of the court hearing, again followed Pratt. This time he overtook Pratt near the present town of Alma and there attacked him with a bowie knife and stabbed him to death. The word of Pratt's death soon made its way to the Mormon country, and the Mormons felt that it should be avenged.
Now, in 1857, the Mormons were settled in Cedar City, and President Buchanon had sent troops who were reported to be brutal and threatening to persons encountered on their way to Utah. They claimed that their wagons carried the ropes which would be around the necks of the Mormon leaders as they were hung to death. These threats brought back the Mormon's fears and their experiences in Missouri and Illinois. They felt it was their duty to watch the emigrants travelling through town for any signs of hostility. The companies travelled through the local towns, staggering from drink and announcing their intent to take their families to safety and return to finish off any Mormons left after Buchanan's Army left.
This mean-spiritedness worsened when one of the wagon trains was attacked by Indians and their stock run off. A group of men in that company were believed to have thrown poison into the water sources and to have injected poison into cattle so that the Indians would become ill upon eating stolen beef. Cedar City was the last settlement of any size before the wagon train crossed into unsettled lands. And the men became even more violent once there, burning fences, killing chickens in the streets or the yards, and otherwise endangering the inhabitants of the city.
In Missouri, Gov. Boggs sent 17,000 troops to exterminate the Mormons. Three hundred and sixteen houses were burned, a few men killed, and women ravished. They plundered and stole and arrested leaders and thought they had eradicated Mormonism. Instead, it had grown, and that growth was then blamed on polygamy.
Brigham Young concluded that the problems facing the Mormons, (Including drought and grasshopper infestation) stemmed from a loss of righteousness among his people. In early 1856, Young launched the Reformation, a campaign to arouse religious consciousness. The Reformation fueled a fanaticism that led to the tragedy at Mountain Meadows.
One of the objectives of the reformation, known as blood atonement, was to place the Priesthood in possession of every secret act and crime that had been committed by a member of the Church.
They would question the accused and if the confession was not full and complete, it was made the duty of the members of the Church to make public the 'Crime'.
Unless the party then confessed, a charge was preferred against him or her for a violation of covenants, and either full confession and repentance immediately followed, or the sinful member was slain for the remission of sins. This was called Blood Atonement. The members who fully confessed their sins were again admitted into the Church and rebaptized. The most deadly sin among the people was adultery, and many men were killed for that crime.
Brother Rosmos Anderson was a Danish man who had come to Utah with his family and had married a widow lady somewhat older than himself; and she had a daughter who was fully grown. The girl was anxious to be sealed to her stepfather. Anderson was equally anxious to take her for a second wife, but Bishop Klingensmith had set his eye on her, and desired her for himself. At one of the meetings Anderson and his stepdaughter confessed they had committed adultery, believing that if they did so that Brigham would allow them to marry. Their confession being full, they were rebaptized and received into full membership. They were then placed under covenant that if they again committed adultery Anderson should suffer death. Soon after this another accusation of adultery was made and Anderson was brought before the Bishop's Council which was composed of Bishop Klingensmith and his two counselors. The Council voted that Anderson must die for violating his covenants. Bishop Klingensmith went to Anderson and told him the judgment was that he must die by having his throat cut, so that the running of his blood would atone for his sins. Anderson, being a firm believer in the doctrine of Blood Atonement and the teachings of the Mormon Church, made no protest, but asked half a day to prepare for death. His wife was directed to tell those who inquired after her husband that he had gone to California. Bishop Klingensmith and Danite James Haslem dug a grave in a field near Cedar City, and that night, about twelve o'clock, went to Anderson's house and told him to make ready to obey the Council. Anderson got up, dressed himself, bid his family good-by, and without remonstrance accompanied those he believed were carrying out the will of Almighty God. They went to the place where the grave was prepared, Anderson kneeling by the side of the grave and praying. Bishop Klingensmith then cut Anderson 's throat and held him so that his blood ran into the grave. As soon as he was dead, they dressed him in his clean clothes, threw him into the grave and buried him. Anderson was killed just before the Mountain Meadows massacre. The killing of Anderson was a religious duty and a just act. It was justified by the people.
Due to the extreme crop shortages caused by the infestation of grasshoppers and the drought, the Mormons had been told by the Church leaders that they should not sell to the immigrants on the wagon trains.
All of these wrongs had burned deep into the hearts of the Mormon people, so that it was easy for Dame, Haight, Klingonsmith, and Higbee to whip them into a religious frenzy. Records of the Cedar City Council meeting indicate that the council developed a messianic complex, in that they felt God had actually sent the caravan to them so that blood atonement could be made for great wrongs done against Mormons in Missouri, Illinois, and Arkansas.
It was reported that Dame, Haight, Klingonsmith, and Higbee were too cowardly and too hypocritical to attack the train themselves; so they decided to bribe the Paiutes to do the job. This is where John D. Lee came into the picture, for as Indian agent he was on friendly terms with the various tribes in the Mormon country.
They dispatched a messenger to Brigham Young to ask his decision. It is pretty conclusively established that Young sent the messenger back immediately with the command to give the emigrants safe passage through the Mormon Country. The messenger did not arrive until after the siege had begun, and as a matter of fact, it had almost failed because the Indians had met such stubborn resistance that they were ready to call the whole thing off.
Haight received Brigham Young's message, but the besieged caravan already knew too much, so there could be no backing up. He deliberately lied to Higbee, who in turn passed the erroneous order to Lee. The order Lee received: "Kill everyone old enough to talk."
The fanaticism of these men, coupled with their memory of the martyred Joseph Smith, and their possession of information that part of the travelers were from Missouri and Illinois had helped move them into an unholy plot. The Missouri Wild Cats certainly had not done anything to improve relations with the Mormons. They had bullied and threatened, and it is authoritatively reported that one of them even claimed to be carrying the gun, which shot "Old Joe Smith."
On Thursday evening, September 10, Klingensmith attended the war council meeting and was one of the prominent participants.
Mountain Meadows Massacre, September 11, 1857
One of the most tragic and disturbing events in Mormon history took place on 11 September, 1857, when approximately 120 men, women and children, traveling through Utah to California were massacred by a force consisting of Mormon militia members and Southern Paiute Indians. The Mountain Meadow Massacre, as it is known, has remained a topic of interest and controversy as Mormons and historians struggle to understand this event, and the Church's detractors seek to exploit it for polemical purposes.
For the wagon train, the trip from St. Joseph, Missouri to Utah was a pleasant one, marred only by the fact that an undesirable group, known as the “Missouri Wild Cats” fell in with them while crossing the plains. Information handed down about the Wild Cats indicates that they were properly named, for they were given to loud and boisterous conduct. No doubt their actions often cast the Fancher Party in an unfavorable light with the Mormons. Juanita Brooks of St. George, Utah, author of a recent book "The Mountain Meadows Massacre: quotes a Utah citizen, who traveled with the Fancher Party from Port Bridger to Great Salt Lake City, as saying that "the train was divided into two parts--the first a rough-and-ready set of men--regular frontier pioneers, the other a picked community, the members of which were all more or less connected by family ties." We know that some of those who left from Beller's Stand took a different route because of the conduct of the "Wild Cats." Among these were Sally Cecil, widow of Riley Cecil, together with her nine children. A relative of Mrs. Cecil has told this writer that the Widow Cecil left the party because she heard one of the Wild Cats threaten to poison a spring. This course of conduct, coupled with the fact that the Mormons were then virtually at war with the United States, created an explosive situation. The saints had even been counseled by Brigham Young that it "might be necessary to set fire to their property and hide in the mountains, and leave their enemies to do the best they could." In blind obedience to their leader's orders, the faithful in South Utah were preparing for the worst, some even going so far as to flee to the mountains and hide their food-stuff there.
When the covered wagons and carriages passed through that city they were closely watched by four Mormon Saints. These men were Colonel William H. Dame, Isaac Haight, Philip Klingonsmith and John Higbee. Dame was Commander of Iron Military District. Haight was President of the Parowan Stake, and a lieutenant colonel in the Mormon Militia. Klingonsmith was bishop of Cedar City. Higbee was a major in the militia. Klingensmith, Philip (1815–81?), Private, Company D, First Platoon, Cedar City. Though only a private, he was considered a key supporter of the massacre and used his role as local bishop to exert his influence.
On September 11, 1857, some 50 to 60 local militiamen in southern Utah, aided by American Indian allies, massacred several dozen emigrants who were traveling by wagon to California. Klingensmith was among the militia guard who accompanied the emigrant men from their wagon circle. When the signal was given, Klingensmith wheeled on the man beside him, then shot and killed him. He later played some role with the surviving children. Carrying a white flag of truce, Lee tricked the wagon train into sending the women and children ahead in the wagons. The militia men each accompanied one of the men.
Klingensmith was among the militia guard who accompanied the emigrant men from their wagon circle. When the signal was given, Klingensmith wheeled on the man beside him, then shot and killed him. He later played some role with the surviving children. He also reportedly had one of the children killed. Most of the remaining surviving children were taken back to Cedar City, where Klingensmith aided in finding homes for them.
The horrific crime, which spared only 17 children age six and under, occurred in a highland valley called the Mountain Meadows, roughly 35 miles southwest of Cedar City. The victims, most of them from Arkansas, were on their way to California with dreams of a bright future. For well over a century and a half, the Mountain Meadows Massacre has shocked and distressed those who have learned of it. The tragedy has deeply grieved the victims’ relatives, burdened the perpetrators’ descendants, saddled people who live in the region with sorrow and feelings of collective guilt, and raised painful, difficult questions. All of the people on the wagon train were killed except for the children, they felt were small enough not to remember the events of the day.
Phillip Klingonsmith picked up a little girl from among the crying and terrified children found on the Mountain Meadows after her parents had been murdered before her very eyes. Bishop Klingonsmith had helped gather up the surviving babies and children. He cared for them as best that he could. He then took them back to Cedar City and put them in the care of motherly Sister Hopkins.
One small child he took particular notice of was a little golden-haired tyke. His thoughts went to his wife Betsey, who he knew wanted another child desperately. He returned home with this little girl and told his wife that they should keep her as their own. Betsy held out her arms to her and accepted her as her own. This is the story of little Priscilla, as she was now named. She grew up and married John Urie from Scotland.
Some who participated estimated that entire massacre was over in five minutes, others said it was nearer thirty. At any rate it did not last long, but the aftermath has lingered in the hearts of many for a century."
Life After The Massacre
First Trial
From 1851 to the early 1860s, Klingensmith and his families would live in Parowan, Cedar City, Beaver, Toquerville, the upper Virgin River, and elsewhere.
At a conference, held on October 6, 1857, in Salt Lake City, Philip, accompanying John D. Lee and Charles Hopkins, reported on the Mountain Meadow Massacre. President Young supposedly told them not to discuss the matter with anyone, "not even among themselves." John D. Lee, "the Indian Farmer," was to be left in charge of the cattle. Young denied this in his affidavit to the court during the second trial of John D. Lee. He claimed he had no recollection of speaking to them on this matter.
Betsey was probably in Toquerville but left to go to her sister's home in Cedar city for the delivery of Betsy Ann, born 9 July 1859 in Cedar City.
In Judge John Cradlebaugh's 1859 arrest warrant, neither Klingensmith nor his counselor Samuel McMurdie was named, a curious anomaly. This has led to conjecture that one of them may have been among the secret informants to Judge John Cradlebaugh in 1859. But whomever the militia informants may have been, Judge Cradlebaugh's inquiry led to the issuance of an arrest warrant for 38 militiamen, most of whom were from the area around Cedar City. (Another source states that Philip was “released on 31 July 1859) In the spring of 1859, Judge Cradlebaugh ordered Philip's arrest. He and John D. Lee went into hiding at a private place on top of the mountains near Harmony, Utah. From this spot with field glasses he could watch over his family and they could bring him supplies.
In 1860, Philip started a small settlement, known as Adventure. It was situated on the Rio Virgin and had a beautiful, large backyard. This boxed in canyon was his hiding place. It later became Zion National Park. He also built a home in Rockville. He built a blacksmith shop, and a mill to produce molasses. Everything he worked so hard for was destroyed in the flood of 1862. He then moved to St. Thomas, 3 miles up the Muddy Creek where it was a struggle to deal with the mosquitos and severe heat.
On March 5, 1863, Betsey gave birth to Margaret Jane in Cedar City, Iron County, Utah.
Philip made a brief return to Parowan but spent much time in hiding as he was still a fugitive. He resided outside Utah Territory for the remainder of his life. In March of 1866, he, Hannah and their children moved to Meadow Valley, Nevada.
At this time, he was not affiliated with the church. Philip and Hannah's oldest son, Moroni, was killed in a teamster accident on 16 May 1867. To add to their grief, August 3, 1867, Philip and Hannah's five year old daughter died in Parowan. Two months later, Hannah at age 41, gave birth to twin girls.
Hannah remained in Beaver and seldom saw Philip.
Margaretha was in Cedar City, using her maiden name and supporting herself and children as a seamstress. She must have had some contact with Philip as in 1863, she gave birth to her third child, Elizabeth. The companion wife, Betsy, went by Smith, and was probably living with Margaretha.
In 1865, Betsy and Philip's only son, William Cattle Klingensmith was born and died “of teething” on 22 Aug. 1866.
In 1869, Margaretha had a son, John Henry. He lived less than 5 years and never really knew his father. Betsy Cattle Klingensmith died 16 March 1870. Having to leave his families to go into hiding was very hard on Philip.
Around 1870, Klingensmith was living in Lincoln County, Nevada where he pursued ranching and mining in several locales.
During the early 1870s John D. Lee, Dame, Philip Klingensmith and two others (Ellott Willden and George Adair, Jr.) were indicted and arrested while warrants were obtained to pursue the arrests of four others (Haight, Higbee, William C. Stewart and Samuel Jukes) who had successfully gone into hiding. Klingensmith escaped prosecution by agreeing to testify. Brigham Young removed some participants including Haight and Lee from the LDS church in 1870. The U.S. posted bounties of $500 each for the capture of Haight, Higbee and Stewart while prosecutors chose not to pursue their cases against Dame, Willden and Adair.
It is known that Klingensmith was tormented in the aftermath of the massacre. In fact, Philip was so distraught about those events he turned state's evidence and testified against John D. Lee who was eventually convicted and executed for leading the massacre. In 1870 releasing a statement that became quite sensational in the whole affair. Because of this Philip and his family separated from the main church, first founding a small settlement Adventure, Utah (1860-1862) which was washed away in a flood and is now a ghost town. (From Wikipedia: Adventure was an early settlement in Washington County, Utah, United States, established in 1860 by Philip Klingensmith and five other people from Iron County. They formed a small settlement as part of the cotton growing colony in the area, at a place a couple of miles up the Virgin River from Grafton. Adventure was destroyed by the Great Flood of 1862 and the settlers moved to settle on some nearby land with more space for growth and above the river floods, in what is now Rockville. The site of Adventure is just west of Rockville, on the south side of the Virgin River, east of Grafton)
He moved to Lincoln County, Nevada and eventually to Kern County, California.
The guilt he had lived with for so long finally caught up with him. He must have felt like Job- losing a son, his wives, his homes, etc. or that he was being punished for his sins. Philip was so distraught about those events, that after much serious contemplation, he turned state's evidence and testified against John D. Lee who was eventually convicted and executed for leading the massacre. On April 10, 1871, Philip Klingensmith appeared in a Nevada court and swore out an account of the massacre, including a detailed description of his own role in the crime. Still, however, Mormon control of the Utah justice system stymied any prosecution in Utah. In 1871, he was interviewed by Charles Wandell about the massacre and cooperated in preparing a formal affidavit. His was the first statement for attribution of any of the massacre participants. Wandell, under the nom de plume of "Argus," immediately published details of the massacre in the Corinne Reporter without disclosing Klingensmith's identity. But the following year Klingensmith's affidavit was published in Utah where it created a sensation. It did much to fan interest in the massacre and spur efforts to prosecute its perpetrators.
Affidavit of Philip Klingon Smith (Klingensmith) April 10, 1871 ( Referenced in Klingensmith's Testimony At John D. Lee's First Trial)
STATE OF NEVADA, COUNTY OF LINCOLN, ss:-
Personally appeared before me, Peter B. Miller, Clerk of Court of the Seventh Judicial District of the State of Nevada, Philip Klingon Smith, who being duly sworn, on his oath, says: My name is Philip Klingon Smith; I reside in the county of Lincoln, in the State of Nevada; I resided at Cedar City, in the County of Iron, in the Territory of Utah, from A.D. 1852 to A.D. 1859; I was residing at said Cedar City at the time of the massacre at Mountain Meadows, in said Territory of Utah; I had heard that a company of emigrants was on its way from Salt Lake City, bound for California; after said company had left Cedar City, the militia was called out for the purpose of committing acts of hostility against them; said call was a regular military call from the superior officers to the subordinate officers and privates of the regiment at Cedar City and vicinity, composing a part of the militia of the Territory of Utah; I do not recollect the number of the regiment. I was at that time the Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Cedar City; Isaac C. Haight was President over said church at Cedar City and the southern settlements in said Territory; my position as Bishop was subordinate to that of said President; W. H. Dame was the President of said Church at Parowan in said Iron County; said W. H. Dame was also colonel of said regiment; said Isaac C. Haight was lieutenant-colonel of said regiment, and said John D. Lee, of Harmony in said Iron County, was major of said regiment; said regiment was duly ordered to muster, armed and equipped as the law directs, and prepared for field operations; I had no command nor office in said regiment at the time, neither did I march with said regiment on the expedition which resulted in said company's being massacred in the Mountain Meadows, in said County of Iron; about four days after said company of emigrants had left Cedar City, that portion of said regiment then mustered at Cedar City took up its line of march in pursuit of them; about two days after said company had left said Cedar City, Lieutenant-Colonel I. C. Haight expressed in my presence, a desire that said company might be permitted to pass on their way in peace; but afterward he told me that he had orders from headquarters to kill all of said company of emigrants except the little children; I do not know whether said headquarters meant the Regimental Headquarters at Parowan, or the Headquarters of the Commander-in-chief at Salt Lake City; when the said company had got to Iron Creek about twenty (20) miles from Cedar City, Captain Joel White started for Pinto Creek settlement, through which said company would pass, for the purpose of influencing the people to permit said company to pass on their way in peace; I asked and obtained permission of said White to go with him and aid him in his endeavors to save life; when said White and myself got about three miles from Cedar City we met Major John D. Lee, who asked us where we were going; I replied that we were going to try to prevent' the killing of the emigrants, Lee replied, 'I have something to say about that;' Lee was at that time on his way to Parowan, the Headquarters of Colonel Dame; said White and I went to Pinto Creek; remained there one night, and the next day returned to Cedar City, meeting said company of emigrants at Iron Creek; before reaching Cedar City we met one Ira Allen, who told us 'that the. decree had passed, devoting said company to destruction;' after the fight had been going on for three or four days, a messenger from Major Lee reached Cedar City, who stated that the fight had not been altogether successful, upon which Lieutenant-Colonel Haight ordered out a reinforcement; at this time I was ordered out by Captain John M. Higbee, who ordered me to muster, 'armed and equipped as the law directs;' it was a matter of life or death to me to muster or not, and I mustered with the reinforcing troops; it was at this time that Lieutenant-Colonel Haight said to me that it was the orders from headquarters that all but the little children of said company were to be killed; said Haight had at that time just returned from headquarters at Parowan, where a military council had been held; there had been a like council held at Parowan previous to that, at which were present Colonel Dame, Lieutenant-Colonel I. C. Haight, and Major John D. Lee; the result of this first council was the calling out of said regiment for the purpose already stated; the reinforcement aforesaid was marched to the Mountain Meadows, and there formed a junction with the main body; Major Lee massed all the troops at a spring, and made a speech to them, saying that his orders from headquarters were to kill the entire company except the small children; I was not in the ranks at that time, but on the side talking to a man named Slade, and could not have seen a paper in Major Lee's hands; said Lee then sent a flag of truce into the emigrant camp, offering said emigrants that if they lay down their arms, he would protect them; they accordingly laid down their arms, came out from their camp, and delivered themselves to said Lee; the women and children were then, by the order of said Lee, separated from the men, and were marched ahead of the men; after said emigrants had marched about a half mile toward Cedar City, the order was given to shoot them down; at that time said Lee was at the head of the column; I was in the rear. I did not hear Lee give the order to fire, but heard it from the under officers as it was passed down the column; the emigrants were then and there shot down except seventeen little children, which I immediately took into my charge; I do not know that total number of said company as I did not stop to count the dead; I immediately put the little children in baggage wagons belonging to the regiment, and took them to Hamlin's ranch, and from there to Cedar City, and procured them homes among the people; John Willis and Samuel Murdy assisted me in taking charge of said children; on the evening of the massacre, Colonel W. H. Dame and Lieutenant 1. C. Haight came to Hamblin's, where I had said children, and fell into a dispute, in the course of which said Haight told Colonel Dame, that, if he was going to report of the killing of said emigrants, he should not have ordered it done; I do not know when or where said troops were disbanded; about two weeks after said massacre occurred, said Major Lee (who was also an Indian Agent), went to Salt Lake City. and, as I believe, reported said fight and its results to the commander-in-chief; I was not present at either of the before-mentioned councils, nor at any council connected with the aforesaid military operations, or with said company; I gave no orders except those connected with the saving of the children, and those, after the massacre had occurred, and said orders were given as bishop and not in a military sense; at the time of the firing of the first volley I discharged my piece; I did not fire afterward, though several subsequent volleys were fired; after the first fire we delivered I at once set about saving the children; I commenced to gather the children before the firing had ceased. I have made the foregoing statement before the above-entitled court for the reason that I believe that I would be assassinated should I attempt to make the same before any court in the Territory of Utah. After said Lee returned from Salt Lake City, as aforesaid, said Lee told me that he had reported fully to the President, meaning the Commander-in-chief, the fight at Mountain Meadows, and the killing of said emigrants. Brigham Young was at that time the Commander-in-chief of the militia of the Territory of Utah; and further deponent saith not.
(Signed) PHILIP KLINGON SMITH
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| This is a copy of his signature, taken from a letter written to a family member. |
District Court, seventh Judicial District, Lincoln County, Nevada.
In turning State's Evidence during the Trial of John D. Lee, Philip broke the oath of complete and total secrecy made by every man involved in the massacre of the Francher-Baker Wagon Train. Philip was ex-communicated from the L.D.S. Church for giving state's evidence in his part and others of the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
In 1874. the grand jury seated by Judge Jacob Boreman of the federal court in Beaver, Utah, returned an indictment against Klingensmith and eight other Iron County militiamen. Besides Klingensmith and Lee, the others indicted were important principals or active participants such as William Dame, Isaac Haight, John Higbee, and William Stewart, as well as, for obscure reasons, three privates, George W. Adair, Ezra Curtis, and Ellott Willden
The First Trial
Congress passed the Poland Act, which redefined the jurisdiction of the courts in Utah. The law restricted the authority of Mormon-controlled probate courts and opened all Utah juries to non-Mormons.
Within months of passage of the Poland Act, arrest warrants for nine men: Lee, Higbee, Haight, Dame, Klingensmith, Stewart, Wilden, and Jukes. Federal authorities arrested John Lee, long considered Mormon officials' most likely candidate for scapegoat for the massacre, after finding him hiding in a chicken coop near Panguitch, Utah, on November 7, 1874. Shortly thereafter, Dame was also arrested. The best prospects for conviction seemed to rest with Lee, so the decision was made to proceed first with his trial.
In 1875, the prosecution proceeded to trial on the murder charges against John D. Lee. Klingensmith was brought to the courthouse in Beaver, Utah under subpoena. There he and the U.S. Attorney's office negotiated a plea bargain under which the murder charges against him were dropped in exchange for his cooperation in testifying against Lee.
The prosecution's star witness in the first trial was Philip Klingensmith, the former bishop of Cedar City and the apostate Mormon whose affidavit given in a Nevada courtroom had first renewed hopes of achieving long-delayed justice in the Mountain Meadows case. The heavyset Klingensmith began his account slowly, but his emotions showed as the events he described moved toward their tragic climax. He recounted how the Mormon men responded to the militia call by traveling to the emigrant's camp by wagon and horseback. He told of the men watching in formation as John Lee conducted his "negotiations" with the emigrants. Finally, he described the killing. From his vantage point, he could see only the shooting of the men; Lee was over the crest of the hill with the wagons and the women and children. About fifty of the emigrant men, Klingensmith testified, died with the first volleys from their "guards." A few started to run away, but none got very far. Lee appeared downcast as the prosecution's chief witness told his story of death. Klingensmith said Lee and the other men acted on orders from Higbee, which had come from Isaac Haight, and--in turn, he thought--from Dame. The former bishop testified that a few weeks after the massacre he was among a group of Mormons that met with Brigham Young. Young, he said, discussed how the emigrant's property should be divided and counseled them against discussing the massacre: "What you know about this affair do not tell to anybody; do not even talk about it among yourselves."
In his testimony regarding the massacre Philip Klingensmith says he was about a mile in back of the wagons and was out of sight of them, so he knew nothing of the actions of John D. Lee. When the order was given to "Do your duty" it is his story that he discharged his weapon once killing one emigrant man and commenced to supervise the gathering up of the little children. Newspapers throughout the United States carried his sensational testimony. Publication of his riveting first-hand account did much to fan interest in the trial of John D. Lee.
Trial Testimony by Philip (Transcript)
Questioned by the Defense:
Mr. [Klingen]Smith, how old are You? Klingensmith: I believe I'm going on sixty-one. I was born in '15, I understand the third of April.
Q: Where were you born? A: Pennsylvania.
Q: How long did you reside in Pennsylvania after your birth? A: I guess I was about twenty-three or twenty-four years old.
Q: Where did you remove to from Pennsylvania? A: Indiana.
Q: How long did you remain there? A: Maybe, four, maybe five years.
Q: Where did you go, next? A: I moved to Michigan and from there to Nauvoo.
Q: What year did you go to Nauvoo in? A: In forty-four, I believe.
Q: How long did you remain in Nauvoo? A: Till about forty-six, when the Mormons left Nauvoo.
Q: After leaving Nauvoo, where did you go to? A: I went to Garden Grove, and stopped a while in Iowa, and I remained there about a year.
Q: From there, where did you go? A: Council Bluffs.
Q: How long did you remain there? A: I think I remained in that country somewhere about a year.
Q: Where did you go from Council Bluffs? A: I came to Salt Lake.
Q: When did you arrive in Salt Lake? A: In forty-nine.
Q: What month? A: August.
Q: How long did you remain in Salt Lake? A: I remained there probably three months; not all the time in Salt Lake; I lived in Salt Lake, I had a lot there.
Q: Where did you go from there? A: Sanpete, in the year forty-nine.
Q: How long did you remain in Sanpete? A: I was there to make two crops.
Q: Where did you go next? A: I came down here, to Parowan.
Q: How long did you remain in Parowan? A: I remained there one winter till next spring, and the same year.
Q: Where did you go from there? A: Cedar City-or Cedar Fort, then.
Q: What year did you settle there in Cedar City? A: I think it was in fifty-two.
Q: How long did you make that your home? A: I remained there some eight or nine years, in all, until a year after this affair took place, when I left there.
Q: You lived there till fifty-eight? A: Yes, sir.
Q: Did you live there in fifty-eight? A: I think it must have been fifty-nine when I left there.
Q: Where did you go, then? A: I went to a little town over the mountains, Toquerville.
Q: How long did you remain there? A: Not very long, at that time.
Q: Where did you go from Toquerville? A: To this place.
Q: How long did you remain here? A: A year and a half.
Q: Where did you go from here? A: Back on the Virgin.
Q: How long there? A: Two years, I think.
Q: After that, where did you go? A: I came back to Toquerville again, and lived there a little while.
Q: How long at Toquerville? A: Oh, the last time about six months.
Q: Where did you next settle? A: I went up on the ranch, then, east from there on the bench country.
Q: How long did you remain on that ranch? A: I think about one year.
Q: Where did you go next? A: I moved to Parowan.
Q: How long did you remain in Parowan at that time. A: I think I stayed there a year, probably.
Q: Where did you go next? A: I moved to the Muddy [River], when the settlements was made on the Muddy.
Q: In what year did you settle on the Muddy? A: Must have been-I could not tell exactly - in about sixty-two or three, I think.
Q: How long did you remain on the Muddy? A: I remained there to make two crops.
Q: How many crops a year? A: I went there in May, and the next season I left there on the fifteenth of April.
Q: Give the year you left there in. A: I think it was in sixty-five, but I didn't keep a record.
Q: Where did you go from the Muddy? A: I moved to Parowan.
Q: How long did you remain in Parowan? A: I don't recollect.
Q: Then, where did you move to? A: Out to Muddy Valley, where I live now.
Q: That is in Lincoln County, Nevada? A: Yes, sir.
Q: How long did you reside in Muddy Valley? A: I resided there a year, down on Wash Dam Ranch.
Q: How far is that place that you now reside at from the County Sent of Lincoln County? A: Up to Pioche. We generally call it twenty-two miles, maybe twenty-four.
Q: What year did you settle at this place, that you call your present home? A: I think it was in seventy, if I mistake not.
Q: Do you refer to the place called Newman's Ranch as your home? A: It is generally known as Dutch Flat.
Q: Twenty-two miles from Pioche? : Yes, sir. Or twenty-four.
Q: How many years have you lived there? A: Five years.
Q: How much of that time, during the last five years, have you been at that place? A: Half of it, probably; a part of the time I lived at Bullion.
Q: Where hope you remained the other portion of the time? A: Been out prospecting and mining.
Q: You say you went to Nauvoo in forty-four, and remained there until forty-six? A: Yes, sir.
Q: Then you describe how you got to Salt Lake, and various mopes at the time you left Salt Lake to go with the company that were making new settlements. Did you then hold any office in what is known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? A: Yes, sir. I was an Elder, and belonged to the Seventies at that time, ordained in Nauvoo to that office - the ninth quorum of Seventies at the reorganization of the old stand.
Q: In what year were you ordained? A: In the year I went there-in a month or so after I went there.
Q: When you got to the settleme1lts, state whether you had any office in the Church at that place. A: In Sanpete, I had not.
Q: At Cedar City, in the year fifty-seven, did you hold my office in the Church then? A: I was a Bishop, there.
Q: Of that place? A: Of Cedar City.
Q: Did you have any jurisdiction, as such Bishop, over any other settlements than the settlement of Cedar? A: No, sir.
Q: How long had you been Bishop at that point in the month of September fifty-seven? A: From the day I had been made Bishop, until this-I could not tell without counting up.
Q: That would be about how long? A: Probably six years, 5 or 6, something like that it must have been.
Q: As Bishop of that Church, what was your duty? A: My duty as a Bishop was to act with the temporal affairs, and tithing, and lead out as a father among the people, making fields and water ditches, and such things. That was my duty, and I done it.
Philip reported of Lee: "He asked us where we was going, and the reply was from Mr. White that we was going out to see that the emigrant train got through safe, and to talk to the people at Painter Creek. He said he would see about it, that he had something to say about that matter."
Q: When did you resign your office of Bishop? A: Well, it was in '58 or '59.
Q: What time in '58? A: I think it was sometime about-
Q: Can't you give me the date when you resigned as Bishop?
Prosecution: I cannot see the relevancy of these questions.
Defense: You will see it, before we get through.
Witness: A: I don't know as I can, unless I go and get the records.
Q: Are you positive it was in '58? A: No, I am not, it may have been in '59. I am not positive to that. Perhaps it was in '59. It was sometime in the summertime, when George A. Smith and some of them was down there.
Q: What time was you cut off from the Church? A: I don't know I heard it. I was living out on my ranch some four or five years ago.
Q: That was before you made this affidavit? A: Yes, sir.
Q: Have you ever taken steps to reunite yourself with that church since that time? A: No, sir.
Q: Are you now a member of that church, in full standing? A: I am not, and never expect to be.
The defense never presented a cohesive story of the massacre itself. Instead, it presented witnesses that testified that members of the Fancher party had done things to earn the enmity of local Indians. One witness claimed to have seen members of the wagon train leave bags of poison by a spring at Corn Creek. Witnesses took the stand to describe various aspects of a concerted plan by Mormon officials to make life for emigrants traveling through Utah in 1857 as difficult as possible. Several witnesses testified that they had received orders not to sell grain or provisions to the Fancher party.
The prosecution, in Brigham's Young's Utah with a jury that included eight Mormons, never expected a guilty verdict--and they didn't get one. The jury hung, with the eight Mormons and the one former Mormon voting to acquit Lee, and the three non-Mormons voting to convict. A newspaper in Idaho presented a typically cynical view of the trial's outcome: "It would be as unreasonable to expect a jury of highwaymen to convict a stage robber as it would be to get Mormons to find one of their own peculiar faith guilty of a crime."
On 23 July 1875, he testified at the first trial of John D. Lee. It ended in a hung jury. Philip left the area and began a life among the Native Americans.
Hannah divorced Philip in 1876. and remarried. Due to the conflict over the Mountain Meadow Massacre, Margaretha was advised by members of the church to remarry.
The Second Trial
A few days later the newspaper stated that although Lee had been brought there, he was not called as a witness due to the fact that he had left the church.
In a second trial, it appears that Brigham Young and the prosecution made an agreement whereby Lee (an ex-Mormon, having been excommunicated) would be found guilty but no other Mormons would be charged.
Following the hung jury in the first trial, the U. S. Attorney retried Lee in 1876. Again, Klingensmith was called to Beaver for the trial. But for tactical reasons the new U. S. attorney did not call him to testify.
On September 20, 1876, at 3:30 in the afternoon in Beaver, the all-Mormon jury returned its verdict. John Lee was guilty of murder in the first degree.
On the 14 October 1876. the Salt Lake Tribune stated this:
"Yesterday morning Deputy Crowe arrived in Salt Lake City with Klingonsmith, the prosecuting witness in the John D. Lee trial. The Deputy found his man in the Mohave Desert, California; where he was endeavoring to escape from civilization. He was living among the Indians, and had taken unto his bosum a dusky maiden of the desert. Before leaving the indians, he assured them that he would return in 2 or 3 moons. Yesterday, he took a look through Zion, but unlike all distinguished visitors, he didn't call on Brigham Young, fearing his presence might harrow up the old man's feelings. This morning he will be taken to Beaver."
A few days later the newspaper stated that although Lee had been brought there, he was not called as a witness due to the fact that he had left the church.
Some other news articles stated:
15 Sept. 1876, Lee stated that he was told a council of the priesthood had met and decided to sacrifice him.
Sept. 16, 1876 New witnesses appear. Seems apparent that they are in a conspiracy to sacrifice Lee for the good of the Church.
19 Sept. 1876 Lee was found guilty but the testimony of the 6 new witnesses is questioned by the paper- none recalled anyone else at the massacre, except Lee and Klingensmith. It was felt that they were testifying truthfully only about John D. Lee. 'The witnesses were sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth." They may have told the truth but definitely not the Whole truth.
Oct. John D. Lee is sentenced to death by Judge Boreman. Lee was executed on 28 March 1877 at the site of the massacre.
He chose to be shot to death and at his execution stated: "I do not believe everything that is now being taught and practiced by Brigham Young. I do not care who hears it. It is my last word--it is so. I believe he is leading the people astray, downward to destruction. But I believe in the gospel that was taught in its purity by Joseph Smith... I have been sacrificed in a cowardly, dastardly manner.... Having said this, I feel resigned. I ask the Lord, my God, if my labors are done, to receive my spirit."
After the Second Trial
Following the 1876 Lee trial, Klingensmith's wandering life continued. Reportedly, he moved to Arizona and then to Sonora, Mexico. There are some reports that indicate he may not have died until after 1900. Rumor has it that Philip was killed in Sonora, Mexico by people involved with wanting vengeance for his breaking that Silence Oath. Others say Philip died later of natural causes.
The following article was written in the Record:
"News has reached Pioche, says the Record, that bishop Philip Klingensmith, at one time a man of high standing and great influence in the Mormon Church, and the exposer of the Mountain Meadows massacre, and the names of the men who participated in the bloody deed, is dead. His body was found in a prospect hole, in the State of Sonora, Mexico, and a letter from there, which was received in the vicinity of Pioche, states that the mystery surrounding the body indicates that Klingensmith had been murdered. Klingensmith died just as he expected, for on his return from Beaver in 1875, after testifying in the trial of John D. Lee, we met Klingensmith in town, in a sort of secluded spot, and during the conversation Klingensmith remarked: "I know that the Church will kill me, sooner or later, and I am as confident of that fact as I am that I am sitting on this rock. It is only a question of time; but I am going to live as long as I can." Immediately after Klingensmith's return from Lee's trial, as his wife at Panaca refused to have anything to do with him, being so ordered by the Church, he started southward and lived in Arizona for a while following prospecting. During his residence in the mountains of that Territory two attempts were made upon his life, but by whom he never was able to discover. "
The Salt Lake Daily Tribune
Murder of Bishop Klingensmith
He is Supposed to Have Been Murdered by Mormons
News has reached Pioche, says the Record, that bishop Philip Klingensmith, at one time a man of high standing and great influence in the Mormon Church, and the exposer of the Mountain Meadows massacre, and the names of the men who participated in the bloody deed, is dead. His body was found in a prospect hole, in the State of Sonora, Mexico, and a letter from there, which was received in the vicinity of Pioche, states that the mystery surrounding the body indicates that Klingensmith had been murdered. Klingensmith died just as he expected, for on his return from Beaver in 1875, after testifying in the trial of John D. Lee, we met Klingensmith in town, in a sort of secluded spot, and during the conversation Klingensmith remarked: "I know that the Church will kill me, sooner or later, and I am as confident of that fact as I am that I am sitting on this rock. It is only a question of time; but I am going to live as long as I can." Immediately after Klingensmith's return from Lee's trial, as his wife at Panaca refused to have anything to do with him, being so ordered by the Church, he started southward and lived in Arizona for a while following prospecting. During his residence in the mountains of that Territory two attempts were made upon his life, but by whom he never was able to discover. Klingensmith made the exposure of the butchery at Mountain Meadows more for self protection than anything else. In early days, when Hiko was the county seat of Lincoln and the flourishing and only prominent mining camp in this southern country, the Mormons used to haul all the freight from Salt Lake to Hiko. Klingensmith was engaged in freighting, and his son, Bud Klingensmith, was assisting him. During one of these trips father and son had [a] quarrel and Bud went to Hiko and obtained employment. It was during the winter of 1867-68, when Klingensmith arrived in Hiko with a load of freight, his son pointed him out to the people, and told them that just after the massacre he pointed out a young girl to him and ordered him to kill her, saying that if he (Bud) did not kill her he (his father) would kill him." Then Bishop Klingensmith turned upon the poor girl himself and knocked her brains out with a club. This was the first inkling to anything authentic in connection with the massacre, and caused considerable excitement among the settlers of Hiko. Wandell, one of the county officials at that time informed Bishop Klingensmith what his son exposed, and hurried him out of town. After that, while engaged in handling freight, upon his arrival at Panaca, Klingensmith would always hire some one to drive his team over to Hiko. In 1871 Bishop Klingensmith made affidavits before the Clerk of Lincoln county, making the exposure of the massacre, and the names of those connected therewith, which was published in the Record and made public for the first time. Mrs. Klingensmith is now living at Bullionville, and is married to a man named Dolf Laundrich. Mrs. Klingensmith is an intelligent old lady, and is the mother of seventeen children by Klingensmith, the last two being girls, who are now about sixteen years of age. Most of the Klingensmith family reside in Lincoln county.
There was always something incomprehensible about Klingensmith and the actions and exposures of the Mountain Meadows massacre. In the first place it is remarkable that he should have told his story at all, for he possessed no such keenness of conscience as would compel him to divulge the crime as an act of justice to the world. Then, when he did tell it, he never would tell it all, but stopped just where it was most desirable that he should continue; again, he never told the story alike any two tellings, and it always stopped just short of being legally conclusive against any person. That he professed fear of his life on account of what he had told is certain, that he actually felt and realized such fear is not so certain. When he was found in 1875 and brought to Utah as a witness in the second Lee trial, he was living with two Indian squaws near the river, below Ehrenburg, Arizona. He was with some difficulty persuaded to come after being assured the fullest protection against the Mormon violence he professed to fear. On leaving Beaver, however, he requested not to be returned by the safe way he had come, but desired to have a horse, saddle and traveling outfit, and on being supplied he struck off through the southern Mormon settlements to go back to Ehrenburg by the southern overland trail, alone and unprotected, as he had asked to do, thereby ignoring the very protection he had insisted upon. That did not look as if he had any particular fear of assassination at that time, whatever he may have really felt at other times. He was certainly a most reckless liar, and probably a cruel villain, who did his full share of the bloody work at the Meadows. If he was really killed by the Mormons at the last, all we have to say is, they waited an unconscionable while before taking their revenge upon him and missed many a good and more convenient opportunity than that of which they finally availed themselves.
In this connection we publish the following letter, just received.
Dillon, M. T., July 30, 1881.
Eds. Tribune. I see by an item in the Ogden Pilot of the 27th inst., a notice of the death of Phillip Klingensmith, and referring to the Tribune from which the item was taken. I write now to ascertain how the news was obtained and all the particulars. He was my brother, and I have a deep interest in knowing all about his death, which I have long expected at the hands of the Mormons. Very truly, Mrs. D. H. Simmons. The main credit for solving this terrible crime goes to Judge Cradlebaugh, who was federal judge for Utah Territory. When Justice Cradlebaugh's investigation brought all the facts to light, Brigham Young excommunicated Haight, Klingonsmith, Higbee and Lee. Klingonsmith turned against the others and made an affidavit placing blame on them. Haight and Higbee managed to avoid arrest and Lee alone was captured and tried.
The Mormon people have paid a terrible price for their greatest error. On this point Juanita Brooks had the following to say:
"It (the massacre) was tragic for this those who were killed and for the children left orphans, but it was also tragic for the men who became murderers, and for their children who for four generations now have lived under that shadow.
I do not know. But I do know that Philip's family and others think poorly of him. I say he should be honored on this site at least as much as John D. Lee. Philip made dire mistakes but eventually he was the person that honored humanity over that oath with his religious brethren.
Philip's last bit of advice to his son Alfred was to live by the Golden Rule “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them.” (Treat others as you wish to be treated.”
Laura A. Pederson stated “I think this statement alone speaks a great deal as to the true character of the man, Philip Klingensmith. It is the advice that the world needs to follow today.”
Note: Philip is, after the massacre, often listed as P. K. Smith
SOURCES
Juanita Brooks's classic history, The Mountain Meadows Massacre, in Appendix IV, 238-242.
https://www.famous-trials.com/mountainmeadows/936-home
http://www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/meadowscontents.htm Mountain Meadows Massacre (online book by Josiah Gibbs)
September Dawn (2006)(a love story set against the Mountain Meadows Massacre starring John Voight as John D. Lee)
What is the "Mountain Meadows Massacre" - Mountain Meadows Massacre
Mountain Meadows Massacre: Collected Legal Papers - Mountain Meadows Massacre
The Mormon Menace The Confessions of John Doyle Lee, Danite, pp. 136-136.
Deseret Iron Company Account Book, 1854-1867: http://www.footnote.com/document/241905844/
http://mountainmeadowsmassacre.org/appendices/appendix-c-the-militiamen
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/m/e/n/Rosemarie-Nelson-Mentzel/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0302.html (genealogical information)
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:2390032&id=I428 (ditto)
http://pioneerheritagecenter.org/drupal-6.17/?q=KLINGENSMITH,_PHILIP (links)
https://ojs.lib.byu.edu/spc/index.php/BYUStudies/article/viewFile/6907/6556 (Klingensmith pioneering Sanpete County, Utah, 1849-50)
(https://www.famous-trials.com/mountainmeadows/936-home)
http://www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/meadowscontents.htm Mountain Meadows Massacre (online book by Josiah Gibbs)
The Mountain Meadows Massacre and Its Completion as a Historic Episode, by Ralph R. Rea
Boucher, John N., History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, New York, NY: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906, p. 630
Papers from Klingensmith, John Philip's Family Bible of Westmoreland County. Bible owned by Don Rupert, translated by Pastor Paul Miller Ruff. Reported in the WPGS Quarterly, Spring, 1996, Vol. 22, No. 4.
"Evangelische Kirche Erkartsweiler, (Kr. Zabern) 1711-1830. LDS Film #1143958."
(Papers from Klingensmith, John Philip's Family Bible of Westmoreland County. Bible owned by Don Rupert, translated by Pastor Paul Miller Ruff. Reported in the WPGS Quarterly, Spring, 1996, Vol. 22, No. 4.)
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