A Basket of Chips: An Autobiography

Basket of Chips, page 103

Reminiscences of Family, Youth, and E&y Manhood was warned by friends that they were after him. He went into hiding for he knew that if he did not his life would be forfeited. His whereabouts were known to a few of his Mormon friends in Cedar Valley. I say this to show that it was not with the better element that this condition existed. I was not living at that time, but was well on the way," hence my mother's state of mind can be imagined. This is a note which was written by my father at the time of his concealment: "My dear beloved wife, 0 what joy there is in receiving your letter. I kiss it every time I look at it. I eat the cakes you made for me and kiss them. I think of the hands that made them. God bless you. There is a ray of hope yet, that tells me we shall yet be happy. 0 my wife, pray for me. I need your prayers. The cloud will burst and the sun will shine brighter than ever. Remember all that I have told you before. I know you will. I shall try to get Thomas to bring you to see me. I have so much I want to say to you, my love. If things settle a little, come and see me but be very careful of yourself. You know you promised me you would. I am very tired." When things quieted down my father returned to his loved ones. When I state that mv father died of senile dementia it will not be wondered at. For many years he lived in terror of his Utah State Prison now stands." Hosea Stout, On the fi~or~~zo~z Froder: The Dirl~y of Hosen Stozlt, ed., Juanita Brooks (Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press and Utah State Historical Society, 1964)) 34 n. 63; also see Part Four, note 8. "During this period {late 1850~3 two large gangs operated with relative impunity throughout the Territory. Bill Hickman, a gunslinger with the tempera- ment of a rattlesnake, headed one faction, while a flashy gambler named Joachim Johnston bossed the opposition. Both gangs were deeply involved in . . . rus- tling . . . . About the first week in November [1859], Rockwell was asked . . . to track down [the] thieves [it turned out to be the Joachim Johnston gang} who had stolen thirty head of mules . . . . Acting in his capacity as a deputy sheriff." Harold Schindler, O~iz Porter. Rodwell: Illnrz of God, Soz of Thwzder (Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1966) 298. 3; J. T. Harwood was born in early April 1860. (j This could be Thomas Taylor. See Part One, note 14. 103