Circleville in Piute County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Circleville Massacre Monument

East side of marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jacob Oscarson, July 26, 2020

1. East side of marker

Inscription.
(front of monument) To the Memory of the
Koosharem Band
Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah
Massacred by local Mormon Settlers April 22–24, 1866
during Utah's Black Hawk War (1865–1872)

In remembrance of the innocent who were lost in this place so long ago. None of us can ever hope to describe the emotions that these people might have felt. All we can do is honor their existence as human beings.
Koosharem Band of Paiutes
Dedicated April 22, 2016

(back of monument)

Paiute Oral Tradition
Circleville Massacre
There used to be a big old log house in Circleville, Utah, beside the road where it curves near where the potato cellars are. Years ago the white men at Circleville locked up in that house all the Indians who were living nearby and told them they were going to cut their throats. They began doing this by taking them outside one at a time and cutting their throats.

There were two young men inside who decided they were going to escape. One said to the other, "We will have to dash through them and run just as they open the door." They did this and ran through the white men who were gathered all around,

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some on horseback. They ran toward the cemetery on the hill to the north. And as they were going over it, one of the pursuing white men on horseback shot one of the Indians in his side by his ribs but it was only a flesh wound. From there they ran up into the mountains and then the wounded Indian put some Indian medicine on this wound and wrapped it in part of his shirt. The white men didn't follow them far, so from there they went on over to Parowan or Beaver.

As told by Jimmy Timmican, Koosharem band (~1895–1972)
who heard this story from Walker Ammon (~1854–1920) son of Chief Walker (~1815–1855)

Erected 2016.

Topics. This monument and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1866.

Location. 38° 10.319′ N, 112° 16.194′ W. Monument is in Circleville, Utah, in Piute County. It is on U.S. 89, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Monument is in this post office area: Circleville UT 84723, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial monument is in

West side of marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jacob Oscarson, July 26, 2020

2. West side of marker

andspecifically he Central Utah Valleys in Color Country. It is also in the American Mountain West

and in Colorado Plateau.

Globally, it is in North America,

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 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Circleville Massacre (here, next to this marker); Circleville Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Circleville (within shouting distance of this marker); "The Paiute Trail Story" (approx. 2.7 miles away); Trade with the Native Americans (approx. 2.7 miles away); Butch Cassidy Childhood Home (approx. 2.7 miles away); "More lives than a dozen cats" (approx. 2.7 miles away); Kingston Ward (approx. 5.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Circleville.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Additional commentary.
1. Father of Walker Ammon
Walker Wasn't Walker Ammon's father. Ammon, half brother to Walker, was Walker Ammon's

General view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jacob Oscarson, July 26, 2020

3. General view

father. It was traditional to name a son after your brother.

— Submitted March 7, 2024, by Fern Lerwick of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

2. The two boys that escaped
One of the two boys that escaped was my great grandfather who eventually was adopted by a Mormon family and given the last name of Monson. He was known in his later life as Indian Dave Monson (sometimes misspelled as Munson or Munsen) He is buried in Saratoga, WY. I am the oldest last living member of that family.

Because of the escape and poor record keeping, our family had to go to court to get recognized as part of the Paiute Tribe. Note To Editor only visible by Contributor and editor

— Submitted March 28, 2025, by Dewayne Monson of Sun City West, Arizona.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 1, 2020, by Jacob Oscarson of Salt Lake City, Utah. This page has been viewed 711 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 1, 2020, by Jacob Oscarson of Salt Lake City, Utah. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.