Mountain Meadows Massacre-Part 1

Lately I have made several posts about my husband side of the family. I am going to continue those with this post. If you are a history buff then you more than likely have heard about the Mountain Meadows Massacre. If not hopefully this post will introduce the topic to you.

The Mountain Meadows Massacre was an outright attack on members of the Fancher-Baker Wagon train who were bound for California in search of a better life. The attack occurred in Southern Utah. The Fancher-Baker wagon train contained emigrants from four counties in North West Arkansas: Marion, Crawford, Carroll and Johnson counties specifically. My husbands biological family were members of those who were on the wagon train. Many of the folks traveling with the parties were well to do. The BAKER train was headed up by one John T BAKER from Carroll County, Arkansas and the FANCHER train was led by Captain Alexander FANCHER (a many times great grand uncle to my husband). The Fancher train is said to have left from Benton County, Arkansas.

Some were relocating to California and others were in search of Gold. This was horrible tragedy of unspeakable magnitude. Ironically it occurred on September 11th, 1857. The same date that many Americans would later succumb to another unspeakable, senseless tragedy. Beginning on September 7th of that same year the Wagon party was attacked in their camp by Piaute Indians and Mormon Militiamen disguised as Native Americans. They were very sly and cunning in their plans. History tells us that on the morning of September 11th they approached the wagon party waving a white flag and intending to call a truce. They then told them that if they would agree to turn over all their livestock and supplies to the Native Americans they would then escort them safely to Cedar City, which was a distance of about 36 miles from where they were. They accepted the offer and were led out of their fort. A signal was then given and the Mormon Militiamen turned and opened fire on the males and they would later attack and kill the females and their children, some children died and were crushed in their mothers arms. How horrendous. How sad.

Captain Alexander FANCHER was killed as were his wife and some of his children. There were two Fancher children who survived the attack. Christopher "Kit" Carson FANCHER, the lad in the above photograph and his sister Tryphena D FANCHER.

Those FANCHER family members who lost their lives in this tragedy were:

Captain Alexander FANCHER age 45
Eliza INGRUM-FANCHER age 42
Hampton FANCHER age 19
William FANCHER age 17
Mary FANCHER age 15
Thomas FANCHER age 14
Martha FANCHER age 10
Sarah G FANCHER age 7
Margaret A FANCHER age 7
James Matthew FANCHER age 25
Robert FANCHER age 19

Christopher Kit Carson FANCHER was 5 years old and his sister Tryphena was 22 months at the time of the massacre. They were the only surviving children of Captain Alexander FANCHER and his wife Eliza.

Note: This post will be broken up into two parts so it makes for shorter reading. You will find part 2 HERE

Tracing Your African American Roots

Today I am going to share some new information that I have unearthed during the search for my husbands Roots. When I hear the term "Roots" I am often reminded of the film by Alex Haley entitled "Roots" which I remember watching as a child. It was one film that caught my eye and stands out to this day. I really think that it planted a desire in my heart to learn more about my own ancestry.

When my husband received his matches this past week we noticed he had quite a few African American cousins. Given that fact we decided to set out and see what we could find that might account for his new found family members.



One of our first findings was a man named Richard "Dick" Fancher. According to information contained in his Find a Grave profile, we found out the following:

"Richard "Dick" Fancher was a slave of James Fancher of Osage, Carroll County, Arkansas, and then of his son, Thomas Washington Fancher;after his marriage in 1856. Dick worked in the home of Thomas Fancher and Elizabeth Sneed Fancher, as a Cook until he was released by the Civil War. Upon his emancipation, he married Hannah "Sneed" Riggs, who had belonged to Charles Sneed, but was willed to his daughter Elizabeth in 1855."

(c) Find a Grave Contributor Jenette

You can read the rest of the above Biography on Dick FANCHER at the Find a Grave Memorial, which I have linked above.

The information goes on to state that the family was driven out of the Harrison Arkansas area where they had made their home, in the early 1900`s. They relocated to Eureka Springs and took up jobs working as Porters and Laundresses and other positions at the Basin Park Hotel. According to Historical information the Basin Hotel held its Grand Opening on 1 July, 1905.

It was Dick`s half-brother James Polk FANCHER that purchased his tombstone for him and had it erected upon his death.

What Records Tell Us

The first record that I have located for Dick is the 1880 Census for Osage, Carroll, Arkansas. He is listed as   Mullato.

Richard Fancher	39
Hanah M. Fancher	30
Isaac C. Fancher	4
Thomas Fancher	2
Fanny Riggs	60

We notice that Hannah`s mother Fanny RIGGS is residing in the household with them.  In checking the list of neighbors we turn up some common surnames within the FANCHER family. They are: USREY, MORRIS, SISCO, MILLER, PHILLIPS,SMITH,TRENTHAM, WALKER, POYNER,WEST, SNEED, FULTS (FULTZ).

Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: Osage, Carroll, Arkansas; Roll: 40; Family History Film: 1254040; Page: 244C; Enumeration District: 028; Image: 0009.

By 1900 we find them living in Harrison Township, Boone County, Arkansas.  This time they are listed as Black as opposed to Mulatto.

"United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M3XV-61Z : accessed 29 Jun 2013), Richard Fancher, 1900.

During this Census year Richards Occupation is listed as a Day Laborer, his Son Issac is also listed as a Day Laborer, son Thomas is listed as Laborer in a Saloon and daughter Mattie is listed as a House Keeper.

After that census record I have been unable to locate Richard and Hannah on the 1910 Census. I did find some records on their children, as follows:

Isaac Carlock FANCHER

The oldest child of Richard and Hannah FANCHER. 

Notice that this document is signed by Isaac`s Uncle: James Polk FANCHER as a witness to Issacs age. 

Note: So as to save space I have decided to break this post up into several parts. I will continue with the information found on Isaac Carlock FANCHER in the next post.