The Circleville Massacre
April 1866
Believing that Paiutes had aligned with the Utes, regional militia officers decided to question "All straggling Indians in the vicinity." After a skirmish between two local Paiutes and militia men near Fort Sanford, settlers received word that two Paiutes had shot a member of the Utah Militia, and the area's military commander advised Circleville and Panguitch residents to disarm the Paiutes encamped near those settlements.
Circleville residents met and decided to convince the local band of Paiutes to come into town to hear a letter read by the local bishop. The men who complied were disarmed and placed under guard, and the women and children were held in a cellar.
What happened next is not clear. One recorded account states that two young Paiute men attempted an escape amid gunfire, one successfully; it was then decided to put all the captives to death. The settlers buried the bodies of their victims in a mass grave. Several young Paiute children thought too young to bear witness were spared and adopted by local families. Soon after the incident, Circleville was abandoned.
In 1874, Circleville
this page online
On April 22, 2016, Representatives of the Town of Circleville, Paiute Tribe of Utah, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Utah Division of State History, and Utah Westerners dedicated this monument. The monument was paid for by numerous caring organizations and individuals.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1866.
Location. 38° 10.318′ N, 112° 16.193′ W. Marker is in Circleville, Utah, in Piute County. Memorial is on U.S. 89, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Circleville UT 84723, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 4 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Circleville Massacre Monument (here, next to this marker); Circleville (within shouting distance of this marker); Kingston Ward (approx. 5.1 miles away); Piute County Courthouse (approx. 5.3 miles away).
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 3, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 1, 2020, by Jacob Oscarson of Salt Lake City, Utah. This page has been viewed 326 times since then and 42 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on August 1, 2020, by Jacob Oscarson of Salt Lake City, Utah. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
