Kanosh (1821 – December 24, 1884) was a nineteenth-century leader of the

Pahvant Pahvant (''Pavant, Parant, Pahva-nits'') was a band of Ute people that lived in present-day Utah. Called the "Water People", they fished and hunted waterfowl. They were also farmers and hunter-gatherers. In the 18th century they were known to be f ...

band of the

Ute Indians Ute () are the Indigenous people of the Ute tribe and culture among the Indigenous peoples of the Great Basin. They had lived in sovereignty in the regions of present-day Utah and Colorado in the Southwestern United States for many centuries un ...

of what is now central

Utah Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to it ...

having succeeded the more belligerent Chuick as principal chief. His band had "a major camp at Corn Creek." He is remembered for having been "friendly toward early Mormon Pioneer settlers." It is believed Kanosh was born near modern-day

Spanish Fork, Utah Spanish Fork is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem Metropolitan Statistical Area. The 2020 census reported a population of 42,602. Spanish Fork, Utah is the 20th largest city in Utah based on official ...

but this claim is not certain. Kanosh spoke Spanish, and according to an early 1900s source "learned to speak good English for an Indian. William Black, one of the pioneers of the Sevier and San Pete Valleys, was a lifelong friend of this chief." Kanosh invited the

Mormons Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement started by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s. After Smith's death in 1844, the movement split into several ...

to come and settle in his area where they founded the town of Kanosh. He "represented the Pahvant Utes at the signing of the treaty with

Brigham Young Brigham Young (; June 1, 1801August 29, 1877) was an American religious leader and politician. He was the second President of the Church (LDS Church), president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), from 1847 until his ...

which signalled the end of the

Walker War Walker or The Walker may refer to: People *Walker (given name) *Walker (surname) * Walker (Brazilian footballer) (born 1982), Brazilian footballer Places In the United States *Walker, Arizona, in Yavapai County *Walker, Mono County, California ...

in 1854," and was among the Utes who took up farming. Kanosh joined

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Christianity, Christian church that considers itself to be the Restorationism, restoration of the ...

in 1858. In 1874, Kanosh was ordained an

elder An elder is someone with a degree of seniority or authority. Elder or elders may refer to: Positions Administrative * Elder (administrative title), a position of authority Cultural * North American Indigenous elder, a person who has and tr ...

Dimick B. Huntington Dimick Baker Huntington (May 26, 1808 – February 1, 1879) was a leading Indian interpreter in early Utah Territory. He commissioned a 22-foot-long missionary panorama of C. C. A. Christensen to use in his presentations of the gospel to the Na ...

. Kanosh was one of the very earliest Native Americans to receive the

endowment Endowment most often refers to: *A term for human penis size It may also refer to: Finance *Financial endowment, pertaining to funds or property donated to institutions or individuals (e.g., college endowment) *Endowment mortgage, a mortgage to b ...

, a ceremony in Mormon temples. Kanosh met with

on September 1, 1857, to discuss strategy in relation to the

Utah War The Utah War (1857–1858), also known as the Utah Expedition, Utah Campaign, Buchanan's Blunder, the Mormon War, or the Mormon Rebellion was an armed confrontation between Mormon settlers in the Utah Territory and the armed forces of the US go ...

. At one time, widely circulating

anti-Mormon Anti-Mormonism is discrimination, persecution, hostility or prejudice directed against the Latter Day Saint movement, particularly the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The term is often used to describe people or literat ...

literature speculated that Kanosh recruited the Utes who had participated in the

Mountain Meadows massacre The Mountain Meadows Massacre (September 7–11, 1857) was a series of attacks during the Utah War that resulted in the mass murder of at least 120 members of the Baker–Fancher party, Baker–Fancher emigrant wagon train. The massacre occur ...

later that month, but no credible evidence has ever been presented to tie Kanosh to the event. One of Kanosh's wives was

Sally Sally may refer to: People *Sally (name), a list of notable people with the name Military *Sortie (siege warfare), Sally (military), an attack by the defenders of a town or fortress under siege against a besieging force; see sally port *Sally, ...

, a

Southern Paiute The Southern Paiute people are a tribe of Native Americans who have lived in the Colorado River basin of southern Nevada, northern Arizona, and southern Utah. Bands of Southern Paiute live in scattered locations throughout this territory and ha ...

who had been raised in Young's household. This relationship is a key part of why Kanosh's band worked so closely with the Latter-day Saints. Another of Kanosh's wives was a Paiute named Mary who had been raised by Latter-day Saints in Payson,

Utah Territory The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah, the 45th state. ...

.Dixon. ''Peteetneet Town''. p. 103 Kanosh built a regular cabin for her, whereas his other three wives lived in wikiups. Chief Kanosh and Group of Piute Indians ca 1860s

Chief Kanosh and Group of Piute Indians ca 1860s

Kanosh and his fellow Pahvants were the only large group of Utes who did not participate in the

Black Hawk War The Black Hawk War was a conflict between the United States and Native Americans led by Black Hawk, a Sauk leader. The war erupted after Black Hawk and a group of Sauks, Meskwakis (Fox), and Kickapoos, known as the "British Band", crosse ...

.Garr. ''LDS History''. p. 601 Kanosh died at the town of Kanosh, Utah Territory.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kanosh (chief) 1821 births 1884 deaths 19th-century Native Americans Converts to Mormonism Latter Day Saints from Utah Mormonism and Native Americans Native American leaders Native American people from Utah People of the Utah War People of Utah Territory Ute people