Payson in Utah County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

The Walker War

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, October 1, 2018

1. The Walker War Marker

Inscription. You are a fool for fighting your best friends, for we are the best and the only friends that you have in the world" wrote Brigham Young to the Ute Indian Chief Walkara in 1853, after the latter had engaged the settlers of Utah in their first major Indian war.
Angered because the whites had put an end to the Indian slave trade in the territory and had encroached upon their lands, the redmen found a pretext for beginning hostilities at Springville, July 17, 1853, when an Indian, while beating his squaw, was killed by a white man. The following day, Alexander Keele, a guard at Payson, was shot by Indians and the war was on. The policy of the white defenders was one of vigilant watch and limited offensive warfare. However before Governor Brigham Young led a peace mission into Walkara's camp in May 1854 that ended the conflict, 20 whites had been killed including the U.S. Government surveyor Captain John W. Gunnison, who was massacred with 7 of his men near the present site of Hinckley, Utah.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Wars, US Indian. A significant historical year for this entry is 1853.

Location. 40° 1.997′ N,

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111° 44.04′ W. Marker is in Payson, Utah, in Utah County. It is at the intersection of South 100 West and 700 South, on the right when traveling north on South 100 West. Marker is on the southeast corner. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Payson UT 84651, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Wasatch Front

and in Greater Provo.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in Colorado Plateau.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Dominguez y Escalante Expedition (approx. half a mile away); Payson's Pioneer Industry (approx. half a mile away); City Hall (approx. half a mile away); Salt Lake to Southern California Road - Peteetneet (approx. half a mile away); In Memory of Alexander Keele (approx. 0.6 miles away); Payson City Library (approx. 0.7 miles away); S.W. Corner of Payson Pioneer Fort

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, October 1, 2018

2. The Walker War Marker

(approx. 0.7 miles away); Our Pioneers (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Payson.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, October 1, 2018

3. The Walker War Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on April 25, 2020. It was originally submitted on April 25, 2020, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 929 times since then and 66 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 25, 2020, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona.