Ephraim in Sanpete County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Fort Ephraim Peace Treaty

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, June 14, 2014

1. Fort Ephraim Peace Treaty Marker

Inscription. The Indian War years of 1865-72 brought bitter hardships to Sanpete and other central Utah areas. Different bands of Indians stealthily attacked settlers from their mountain hideouts, then fled to safety. Twenty-seven settlements were evacuated; two entire counties and portions of seven others were temporarily abandoned; seventy pioneers were slain and many wounded; hundreds of cattle and horses stolen. On Aug. 1, 1866, U.S. Indian Supt., Col. H.F. Head and Stake Pres. Orson Hyde obtained promise of peace from Chief Black Hawk. By Aug. 18, 1868, they had accomplished the hazardous feat of assembling a peace parley in Fort Ephraim on Hans Hansen's lawn by a red cedar tree. Black Hawk calmed the defiant braves, a pipe of peace was passed, the treaty was signed and later ratified by U.S. Pres. Andrew Johnson. Black Hawk continued to help arrange peace parleys until other hostile chiefs had signed.

Erected 1982 by Fort Ephraim Camp, Daughters of Utah Pioneers. (Marker Number 423.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Wars, US Indian. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of Utah Pioneers

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series list. A significant historical month for this entry is August 1868.

Location. 39° 21.666′ N, 111° 35.285′ W. Marker is in Ephraim, Utah, in Sanpete County. It can be reached from West 100 North Street west of North Main Street, on the left when traveling west. The marker is in Ephraim Pioneer Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ephraim UT 84627, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Central Utah Valleys. It is also in the American Mountain West

and on the 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 walking distance of this marker: Hansen-Sparks Home (within shouting distance of this marker); John Dorius, Jr., House and Barn (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ephraim Relief Society Granary (about 300 feet away); Ephraim Co-op Building (about 300 feet away); Canute Peterson House (about 500 feet away); The Old Fort (about 600 feet away);

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, June 14, 2014

2. Fort Ephraim Peace Treaty Marker

Ephraim Carnegie Library (about 700 feet away); Indian Massacre (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ephraim.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, June 14, 2014

3. Fort Ephraim Peace Treaty Marker

Marker is at center-right in photo.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 2, 2014, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,196 times since then and 23 times this year. Last updated on June 27, 2025, by Lajos Juhasz of Corona, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 2, 2014, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.