Indian Massacre

On Tuesday, October 17, 1865, a Ute chief named Black Hawk, as he was known by the settlers of Ephraim, led his warriors out of Cottonwood Canyon, currently known as Ephraim Canyon, with the intent on foraging for cattle

The entire cattle herd of the settlers in Ephraim was stolen by Black Hawk and his men. They also killed several settlers.

Settlers who were working the fields were massacred when Black Hawk and his men arrived. William D. Kuhre, a young toddler, was orphaned by the Indians who chose to spare the young boy’s life

These are the settlers who were killed and all buried in a single grave: Martin P. Kuhre, Hansine J. Kuhre, Elizabeth Petersen, Benjamin J. Black, William T. Hite and William Thorpe, who was killed closer to Guard Knoll. There was also Soren N. Jespersen, who died at Wiregrass Flat, and Jens Sorensen, who was killed on April 12, 1865.

A monument was erected for the massacred settlers in 1949 by the Ephraim Camp, DUP (Daughters of Utah Pioneers). The historic marker is located at the intersection of South Main Street and 50 South, on the right when traveling along South Main Street.