Tarleton and Malinda (Gimlin) Lewis

Tarleton Lewis (1805-1890)

Tarlton Lewis was born May 18, 1805, at Pendleton District, South Carolina. He was the fourth child in a family of twelve born to Neriah and Mary Moss Lewis. When Tarlton was a small boy he was afraid of ghosts. He had to go round up all the cows and bring them in from the meadow. By the time this was done it was generally dark outside. So he told his father he didn't want to go after the cows. “Well”, said his father, “next time you see a ghost I tell you what to do. You pick up a big stick and walk right up to that thing and hit it hard, and you will never be scared again.” Tarlton had always loved and obeyed his father, so one night sure enough he could see a ghost through the big trees as he was in the forest. His first impulse was to run home but then he remembered what his father had told him. So he found a big stick and with trembling hands and knees a shaking, he walked right up to the ghost, and there stood one of the old milk cows with a new little white calf walking around her. It was a lesson Tarlton never forgot, and he never was afraid of ghosts anymore.

In 1809 his parents family moved to Kentucky and here Tarlton grew to young manhood and also fell in love with his future wife, Malinda Gimlin, the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Moore Gimlin.

He married Malinda Gimlin on March 29 1828 at Simpson Co. KY and had their first two children there. In 1833 this little family moved to Macoupin Co. Illinois. They became the parents of eight children.

Tarlton and Malinda were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints by Tarlton's brother, Benjamin on Jul 25, 1836 while they were living in Macoupin Co. Illinois. In 1836 the saints were gathering in Missouri due to persecutions in Kirtland and Independence areas. Tarlton, Benjamin, and David’s families were among about 75 families that located along the banks of Shoal Creek, Fairview Township, Caldwell Co. Mo. Jacob Haun owned a working mill along this waterway and about 30 families had settling at the mill and blacksmiths shop area.

On Sunday Oct 28, a large group of Mormon families from the region gathered at the mill to decide their course of action. They could leave for the protection of Far West as the Prophet had counseled, or to stay and defend their property as Jacob Haun counseled. The settlers decided to organize a defensive force and plan in case of attack. They would have a small group of armed men stationed as lookouts about the mill region to defend their families from any further attacks. They had already suffered losses of property, grain, stock, household equipment and now had been threatened with house burning and killing. That same evening, Sunday, one of the militia groups sent a representative who did negotiated a truce with the settlers.

Monday the 29th and most of Tuesday the 30th passed without incident until early evening about 4:00pm. The children were playing and sporting on the other side of Shoal Creek, the mothers were engaged in domestic activities and the fathers stood guard in the mill and at other properties. The sun shone clear and low in the sky. A large company of armed militia men mostly from Livingston County approached on horses and began firing about one hundred rifles upon anyone, women, men, or children.

One woman was picking up wood chips when the mob started shooting at her. She dropped the chips and ran towards the house to shield herself from the bullets. She fell to the ground and hid behind a big sawed log. She lay there while the mob filled the log with bullets. These demons were bragging among themselves that they had killed another Mormon.

The Mormon men having few weapons to defend themselves, as they were surrendered most of them for the truce agreement, were compelled to run in all directions, some hiding behind trees, or in buildings or wherever they could find shelter. Most ran into the blacksmith shop. Unfortunately, the building was a particularly vulnerable structure as the widely-spaced logs made it easy for the attackers to fire inside. The shop became a deathtrap, since the militia gave no quarter, firing about one hundred rifle and musket shots into the building.

After the initial attack, several of those who had been wounded or had surrendered were shot dead. Members of the militia entered the shop and found ten-year-old Sardius Smith hiding under the blacksmith's bellows. William Reynolds put his musket against the boy's skull and blew off the top of his head. Reynolds later explained, "Nits will make lice, and if he had lived he would have become a Mormon."

Seventy-eight year old Thomas McBride surrendered his musket to militiaman Jacob Rogers, who then shot McBride and hacked his body apart with a corn knife. Several other bodies were mutilated or clothing stolen, while many women were assaulted. Houses were robbed, wagons, tents and clothing were stolen, and horses and livestock were driven off, leaving the surviving women and children destitute.

By the end of the skirmish at least seventeen Mormons were dead: Thirteen more had been injured, including a woman and nine-year-old child. A non-Mormon sympathizer was also killed. Three of the 250 militiamen were wounded, but none fatally. Tarlton was shot in the shoulder and Benjamin was shot in the chest, fatally, and David was a walking target taking numerous shots, putting 5 bullet holes in his clothing but not a mark on his skin.

The fifty-five men known by name to be involved were never prosecuted. The militia involved in the massacre was led by Colonel William Jennings, Sheriff of Caldwell County. At the time of the attack it consisted of 240 men from Daviess, Livingston, Ray, Carroll, and Chariton counties and included prominent men such as Charles Ashby of the Missouri state legislature and Thomas O. Byron, Clerk of Livingston County.

Although the massacre took place a few days after Missouri's governor, Lilburn Boggs, issued his infamous Extermination Order, most historians have now concluded that the militia unit had neither the time nor the opportunity to have received news of the order.

Tarlton's wife, Malinda, said that on that awful night, the floor of her house was so covered with dead, dying, or wounded men that it was difficult to get among them to attend to their needs. Tarlton was shot in the shoulder and carried the shot the rest of his life. Tarlton made it home and Benjamin reached his house before his strength gave out. Joannah tended her husband before he died.

That morning, those in the blacksmith shop and elsewhere were gathered and tended to. They found eight already dead, some expiring, and the mutilated body of old brother McBride, who after he was shot dead, was hacked to pieces. As the attackers were still in the woods taking shots at the living and dead, digging graves for the dead exposed them to further danger. Those strong enough gathered up the bullet pierced and maimed bodies of their friends and put them into a recently dug well. It was about 12 feet deep and still dry. They could be buried and out of the reach of further abuse.

In this wanton slaughter 17 were killed and 13 wounded. Although Tarlton was badly wounded he helped his wife Malinda Gimlin, dig a grave for Benjamin as he died after the others. Malinda, Joannah, and Tarlton dug a shallow grave, wrapped his body in his coat and buried his body. He was the only one buried independent of the others.

There was one Isaac Laney, who was shot in the abdomen. He was so badly wounded that his intestines were falling out. Malinda tore off her own kitchen apron and bound it about his abdomen to keep them in place. They managed to get Mr. Laney to the Lewis home before the mobs returned. Malinda saw the militiamen coming and had Tarlton hide under the house as these fiends were going house to house shooting the injured and looting what they felt for.

The mob searched the house and upon seeing Mr. Laney, decided to not waste another bullet on him as he was near dead. They left never knowing the whereabouts of Tarlton. After they were gone Malinda wondered what she would disinfect the wound with. She knelt down by her husband's bed and prayed to the Lord to show her the way; what to do next. As she finished praying she opened her eyes and noticed the white ashes on the hearth. It seemed the answer to her prayer had come, and she gathered up the white ashes and soaked them in water.

This water she used to bathe the wounds of both men. For weeks she nursed them back to health. Yes, Mr. Laney recovered and came to Utah with the saints as history relates.

Tarlton Lewis recovered although he carried the imbedded bullet in his shoulder as a mark of this event. Despite this shocking tragedy, the two surviving brothers never lost their faith in the principles of the Gospel.

Having been expelled from Missouri, Tarlton and his family (consisting of his wife and three children aged 10, 8, and 3years old), moved first to Quincy, Illinois, then in October 1839 to Commerce (later called Nauvoo). When he arrived in he was quickly put to work. He was ordained a High Priest and Bishop of the Nauvoo 4^th ward, by the Prophet Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith in October 1839 and served in this capacity from 1839 until their expulsion from Nauvoo.

He served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Nauvoo Legion, Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois on 1 May 1841.

Tarlton Lewis had great love and respect for the Prophet Joseph Smith. On June 5, 1841, Tarlton and several other men “started from the Nauvoo landing, in a skiff in order to overtake me and rescue me, if necessary.” When the group arrives at Quincy, they find that Joseph has been taken back to Nauvoo in the company of two officers.

Tarlton’s skills with wood were utilized during the construction of the Nauvoo Temple. He spent nine months at one time getting out timber from the Black River country near Minnesota, and floated the lumber down the river to be used for the erection of the Nauvoo Temple. While he was home he had charge of the cranes used for hoisting materials for erecting the temple. As the Temple neared completion he and eight other men helped Brigham Young hoist the last stone and secure it in place.

He was also a very skilled cabinet maker and carpenter, and made useful household furniture to comfort the people. In 1842, his value of cattle: $20, other property: $30, total personal property: $50.

In 1844 Malinda had another daughter to add to their family.

At the age of 40, Tarlton Lewis received his endowment on Wednesday, 17 December 1845 in the Nauvoo Temple, and on the 17th of Dec 1845 and were sealed in this Temple for time and all eternity 6 Feb 1846.

The Lewis family traveled west to help prepare for the trek to the “Rocky Mountains”. They settled in Winter Quarters. On the 26th of June, 1846, the Mormon Battalion was organized. Samuel their eldest son, being only 16 years of age, signed up and served in Company "C". What feelings Tarlton must have had as he considered his young son being shot at, possibly being hit with a bullet, and enduring the sounds of pain and sorrow, he heard and felt at Haun’s Mill. This proved a terrible blow to his Tarlton. They say it was at this time that his hair turned white almost over night, being 41 years old.

The winter of 1846 was spent at Winter Quarters where the saints suffered much from the cold and for want of food. A new baby was born during this winter Tarlton Jr. Dec 1846. One situation of sorrow was that one cold day Malinda went to get water from the river. Their young son, Edward, tagged along behind her with his little brass bucket. There was a hole chopped in the ice of the Missouri River for the purpose of supplying the camp with water. As the mother returned with her two buckets, she thought Edward was right behind her. Turning she found he was not anywhere in sight. She hurriedly returned to the hole and all that she could find was the little brass bucket he had carried, sitting on the ice. It was supposed that he slipped into the hole and was carried downstream. He was 6 year old. The family never quite recovered from this incident.

During the winter, planning for the emigration of the saints west proceeded fervently. It was decided that there would be a scout company made up of men who would build the trail, bridges, and establish the settlement in their final home. Tarlton was chosen to be in this small group.

Leaving his family camped in a covered wagon at Winter Quarters, Tarlton Lewis came with Brigham young as one of the original Vanguard Pioneers to Utah .

On April 4, 1847 on the Elk Horn River, Nebraska: The first two pioneers to leave Winter Quarters are Tarlton Lewis and Stephen H. Goddard. They arrived on the east bank of the Elk Horn River and began to build rafts that would be used to ferry the pioneer wagons across.

On April 16, 1847, Tarlton was asked to be Captain over fifty people. He took charge of the ox teams and also took his turn at the various duties along the trail. This vanguard company arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on July 21, 1847.

“Under the direction of Bishop Tarlton Lewis, the brethren of the valley continued their labors on houses which were being created in the stockades known as Pioneer Square, now Pioneer Park.” Andrew Jensen’s note: These adobe houses were built in the interest of future immigrants as the following people were expected to arrive from the east within the next month.

Monday 9, August: He left with Brigham Young and about half of the original vanguard party, to go back to Winter Quarters with supplies to meet the following immigrant trains. In early winter of 1847 they reached Winter Quarters and found his family just as he had left them. After spending the winter of 1847-48 with his family, he crossed the plains. (Had Samuel returned from Battalion duty to help with the immigration of his family?)

When he arrived he was asked to act as first Bishop of Salt Lake City, which position he held until the saints were organized into five wards. When Salt Lake City was divided in February, 1849, into 19 wards, he was chosen as 1^st counselor to Bishop Edward Hunter of the 13th ward for the next 9 month.

Late in the winter of 1850-51 he was called to assist in locating a settlement in Little Salt Lake Valley. He was, accompanying George A. Smith to Iron County, where they settled in Parowan, Utah. This was the beginning of settlements in Southern Utah.

From the diary of George A. Smith we read “Sunday, Dec 15, 1850, Bishop Tarlton Lewis assisted by the brethren, made a large campfire in the center of the corral. By request a general meeting was opened by singing and the prayer was given by Bishop Tarlton Lewis. A call was made for the Bishops to come forward and answer to their names. This took place on the Provo River.
Monday morning, Jan 20, 1851, (at Parowan), Bishop Lewis and nine other men started up the canyon to cut timber for a new meeting house.

Tuesday February 18, 1851, Bishop Lewis and three other men commenced framing the mill.

Friday, May 16, 1851, Tarlton Lewis appointed 2nd Alderman on the City Council.”

Saturday May 24, 1851 Tarlton Lewis and Brimhall took a walk to Red Break and took their spades. With them made an excavation into a mound. They found an adobe wall and some human bones and timbers.

Monday June 16, 1851 Brother Lewis went south to examine the possibility of bringing water out of the Red breaks to water our fields he reported rather unfavorable. Then he, Joel H Johnson and W. H. Sams examined Summit Creek, but that was also no good.

Friday June 27 1851, Brothers Lewis, Grobe and Elmer went out to meet their families and returned with them in the evening.”

Malinda Lewis had another baby boy about a year later, on June 17, 1852, while he was gone again on another expedition. They named him Ephraim Lewis. Bishop Tarlton was later made Bishop of that Parowan also.

Tarlton was a real Pioneer, always helping to find new towns, making reservoirs, clearing new land and encouraging people to build and build well. He was always lived on the frontier and was a colorful figure in early days of southern Utah. It is said Tarlton gave away more than he kept for himself. This family was dearly loved by all their neighbors. He was often referred to as The Grand Old Man.

In September 5, 1855 Tarlton had to bury his younger brother David, as he had died in service to the Indian Mission and as an accumulating effect of deteriorating health.

In 1856 he married David’s widow, Elizabeth Carson Lewis. She was 22 years old at the time and had with two small daughters, ages 3 and 2 and David had also traded for two Indian children to save them from slavery. Elizabeth was able to learn their Indian language and raised these children to adulthood. She married her brother-in-law with the idea that he would take care of her.

Here is a statement made by Tarlton Lewis at a meeting being held in Southern Utah, before the Mountain Meadow Massacre on Sept. 5-11 1857, It shows the general feelings and fears of the saints at this time of the “Mormon War” year, when United States Soldiers were marching through Salt Lake City just months prior. Elder Pratt had been killed in Arkansas in June and feelings of persecution and fears were rekindled.

At the meeting Bishop Lewis reviewed the remarks of the previous speaker, who was Lot Smith. Tarlton then said: “All good and for good, all the scenes that Brother Lot has recounted, I shared in Missouri. My brother was killed in Missouri and I am alive to avenge his blood, when the Lord wills.

The second time I heard a Mormon preach, he declared holding up a Book of Mormon, that this is a record of the Red Men, and of Gods' dealings with their forefathers. That one day we should carry this book to the Indians and we are now living among them to carry this work to them. We must treat them like children to quite their savage ways. Shall we have no opportunities? We shall! No conquest without a struggle. No victory without a fight. Be diligent and faithful and patient and the Lord will reward you when you have been proved. Ephraim is the battle ax of the Lord. May we not have been sent to learn how to use this ax with skill?” (the original of this journal is in the archives of the LDS Church)

This was a very sad time for the saints after this attack.

In 1858, Tarlton Lewis, Isaac Grundy, Jesse N. Smith and William Barton were sent to explore Beaver Valley. While working in this territory they discovered rich deposits of lead and iron in the mountains. Specimens were taken to Brigham Young and caused quite a bit of excitement. Several men went upon the mountain and were able to get lead so rich that they melted and separated the lead over a pine fire.

These men were ordered to open the mines and lay out a town site. Being obedient to the Prophet, in 1959 Tarlton and Malinda left to establish this settlement. They left Elizabeth and Jane and their families behind in Parowan. Elizabeth had 6 children as Tarlton had two sons with her, William born Feb 1, 1858 and Benjamin Lewis was born after Tarlton had left. He was born Feb 1860. There are numerous descendants from these boys, also who have lived and raised their families in Circleville, Piute County, Utah.

With the arrival of the first families in Minersville, the Lincoln Mine was opened and a company formed. Tarlton was made Bishop over the mining settlement and his wife Malinda Lewis, the first Relief Society President. They lived in Minersville presumably for about 14 years.

Elizabeth Craig, a friend of the Lewis family used to relate this story. She said that when they moved to the same neighborhood that the Lewis family lived in they didn't have much to eat. They were very poor and worked all day on the old house they were moving into. It was full of cracks. The windows were broken and the house was not much good. It was cold and they had worked very hard all day without a bite to eat.

When evening came they were wondering what they could eat to ease their hunger pangs, when a knock came to their door. Upon opening it, Brother Lewis and his wife walked in with a basket full of food; a huge beef roast, a pot of beans and a loaf of hot bread, with a bowl of fresh butter. They all sat down to the best tasting food they had ever eaten. She thought Tarlton Lewis was the best man she had ever known. They lived close to them for years. She said the Lewis' had a good comfortable home, lots of milk cows, chickens and other farm animals.

Tarlton kept his place so clean of weeds that he had to go to his neighbors to get weeds to feed his pigs. He was a big man and had a big tummy, which made it hard for him to stoop, so he got down on his hands and knees to pull the weeds out of his garden. She said she believed that he gave away more food to the needy than he kept for himself and family.

Near the end of his life He and several of his children’s families and many others moved to Joseph City, often called Joe Town. Here they lived the United Order for a few years and then moved to Richfield, Sevier County.

Tarlton held the position of Bishop in Richfield for slightly more than a year before his health forced him to resign. The many sufferings he had endured along with the saints had begun to show on him and he was then a man of 73 years. He had been Bishop in most every community he lived in. Although he was a very large man, he was always very active and hard working and all of his life was spent in the service and building up of Zion.

Tarlton died at the ranch home of his son Beason on Fish Creek, near Teasdale, Wayne County, Utah on 22, Nov 1890. He was buried in Teasdale Cemetery.

Malinda was a small woman as were all the Gimlins; they were a small tribe, I guess. She only weighed about 100 lbs. and when she stood beside Tarlton, with him sitting down, she and him were about the same height. That her posterity of today may get some idea of her looks, she was a very thin and tiny woman with beautiful dark hair and eyes. What she lacked in size, she made up in sweetness and energy. She was one of the kindest persons that ever lived and ever on the lookout for ways to help those in need. It seemed that she knew just when her neighbors needed her help the most and would appear on the scene at the right time to do the most good. This attribute gained for her many lasting friends. Even after she passed away those incidents of her helpfulness were told and retold to her posterity by those who knew her personally. Thus her memory will live forever and be revealed by each generation of her family as they come along. Malinda died at Richfield, Utah, 5th June 1894 and was buried there.

Children of Tarleton and Malinda:

1. Lewis, Samuel - Born: October 27, 1829 at Simpson Co., KY, USA

2. Lewis, Mary - Sept. 10, 1831 at Simpson Co., KY, USA

3. Lewis, Beason - February 19, 1836 at Carlinsville, Macoupin IL,

4. Lewis, Edward Partridge - January 3, 1840 at Nauvoo, Hancock, IL,

5. Lewis, Malinda - January 30, 1844 at Nauvoo, Hancock, IL,

6. Lewis, Tarlton Jr. - Dec. 23, 1846 at Winter Quarters, Douglas, NE,

7. Lewis, Martha Gimlin - July 10, 1849 at Salt Lake City, UT,

8. Lewis, Ephraim - July 17, 1852 at Parowan, Iron, UT,

Second Marriage:

Spouse: Carson, Elizabeth, Divorced (first Husband was David Lewis)

Children:
1. Lewis, William
2. Lewis, Benjamin

Third Marriage:
Spouse: Pearce, Jane/divorced

Children:
1. Lewis, Joseph P.
2. Lewis, Adelbert