OCR Text |
Show 116 land they held in deed. A similar situation existed at San Pete with Captain Joe and a group of about 75 more San Pitch Utes. The central officers of the Church urged the Indians to remain on their lands, and as interest in Indian loyalties became a matter of concern, the missionary activities of the Mormons increased markedly, led by the capable William Lee. It was Lee who helped Indian people buy their own farms. An additional group were resident in Thistle Valley. By 1877, this small group had purchased 2,400 acres of land in Thistle Valley and had produced 530 bushels of wheat in that year. With such success evident, the citizenry of Utah were acting reasonably when they protested to Congress the continuing pressure to concentrate the Indians who were doing so well. George Q. Cannon, the Territorial Delegate, received many letters on the subject. As the concentrating of the Indians was not taking place, Critchlow was ordered by the Commissioner to gather the Thistle Valley group to Uintah. In response, and stating the reasons for not succeeding, he says: It is unpleasant to me to be compelled to speak harshly or condemnatory of the conduct of those among whom I reside, and with whom I must come in contact in the discharge of my duties, for I am well aware, from past experience, how much they can thwart my plans and interfere with the benevolent designs of the Government. I do not refer to the great body of the people of this Territory, for I have every reason to believe they would be glad to aid me in securing the location of all the Indians in the Territory on this reservation, and |