Augustus Erastus Dodge: Substantiating a Family Legend

by Grant Eckstein

Prof. Richard Bennett

Church History 342 Augustus Erastus Dodge: Substantiating a Family Legend

The myth of Augustus Erastus Dodge is family apocrypha. Much is known about him in the family, yet almost none of it has been substantiated. He was a pioneer and he lived in

Toquerville, Utah at the time of his death. Nearly all other details of the life of this enigmatic family hero are no more than rumor and hearsay. As part of an ongoing project to become familiar with and annotate the lives of long-lost relatives, I launched a research project to discover the real Augustus Erastus Dodge.

Notable family lore asserts that he was a bodyguard for Joseph Smith and a stone mason on the Nauvoo and Manti temples. The march of the Mormon Battalion led him to what was then Cuided de los Angeles and he participated in the American acquisition of California. He was a lonely friend to countless Indians in Southern Utah; they in turned helped him escape from the war path of an angry tribe. He went to Toquerville after receiving forged documents supposedly written by Brigham Young and there became a fruit grower of regional renown.

After three wives and countless occupations, Dodge eventually passed away in 1900. Despite the colorful imagery of his pioneer history, precious little of Dodge’s life is attributed to fact and most of it is legend.

But is the legend of Augustus Erastus Dodge factual? What elements are true and which are likely inventions and modifications perpetuated through generations of retelling the story? It is the intention of this paper to prove that the Dodge legend can be verified both in its correct portions and its fallacies. Furthermore, this paper will present an outline of the family myth with corresponding evidence evaluating the validity of the family claim. Finally, a new story—one in line with the truth—will be presented as a preservation of family knowledge. After years of oral history, a definitive account based on the oral tradition of Augustus

Erastus Dodge was written down by Howard Eckstein, great grandson to the enigmatic hero.1 It is the most complete and entertaining discussion of Dodge’s life to date. For this reason it will serve as the official documentation of family legend.

Nauvoo to Manti

The legend begins by describing some of Dodge’s occupations and subsequent activities.

Consistent with pioneers of his era, Dodge would have been expected to provide a number of services to family, country, and church. Indeed, Dodge was something of a renascence man in his time. “[Dodge] was a bodyguard for Joseph Smith. There is evidence that [Dodge] lived in

Nauvoo…He was mustered into the U.S. Army in the Mormon Battalion.” 2 Upon completion of his term in the Battalion, Dodge returned home and received orders to move to Manti.

There he helped build the temple. He also worked on a public building in town. The story goes that he loaned his hammer to a fellow worker who subsequently lost it. Years later the building was razed and the friend who had lost the hammer was involved with the demolition. He found the old hammer under the flooring of the building and promptly returned it to Augustus.

Nauvoo to Manti—Historical Rebuttal

The move from Nauvoo, Illinois to Manti, Utah presupposes several items which will be treated separately.

1) Dodge as bodyguard for Joseph Smith. If Dodge was a bodyguard for the prophet, it is necessary that the pioneer be alive—and well framed—prior to the prophet’s death on 27 June

1844. Dodge was born 6 December 1822.3 He would have been only 21 years old at the time of the martyrdom. It is unlikely that the prophet would enlist boys just out of their teenage years to protect him.

1 Howard Eckstein, “Augustus Erastus Dodge.” Personal correspondence with author, 2004. 2 Howard Eckstein, “Augustus Erastus Dodge.” Personal correspondence with author, 2004. 3 Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register 1845-46, p. 334 On the other hand, Dodge is known to have been associated with the second President of the Church, “After the death of Joseph [Dodge] became very close friends with Brigham Young and was personally invited by him to serve as his guard.”4 As his guard, Dodge fled with the

Mormon leader from Illinois to Iowa Territory.5

Regarding the legend’s allusion to Dodge as Joseph Smith’s bodyguard it appears that the truth was slanted to produce a more romantic view of Dodge in the early history of the church.

Dodge served as the bodyguard of Brigham Young, the second president of the LDS church.

2) Augustus lived in Nauvoo. There is little debate about this issue once historical records are considered. Dodge owned block 1, lot 4 of the Robinson district of Nauvoo.6 It is here, in Nauvoo, that Dodge honed his masonry skills as a stone mason on the Nauvoo House and Nauvoo Temple7 where he received his endowment 7 February 1846.8

3) Dodge’s post in the Mormon Battalion. Historical evidence is rampant that Dodge served as a private in company C of the Mormon Battalion.9 He began 15 July 1846.10 As for his role in the taking of California as a territory, Augustus was likely involved. He marched to

San Diego (a large portion of it on a smashed ankle), remained for six weeks, and then marched to Cuidad de los Angeles where he was discharged from the Battalion on 16 July 1847.11 Los

Angeles was retaken by General Steven Watts Kearny during the Mexican War. He had succeeded in this endeavor 6 December 1846, but lost control of the new ground. By January of

4 Our Pioneer Heritage (compiled by Kate B. Carter, Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1958), p. 210. 5 S. Black and L. Porter, Augustus Erastus Dodge (1822-1900), Biographies, Mormon Battalion. BYU. 6 Historic Nauvoo Land and Records Research Center. 7 Andrew Jenson, LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, 1951. Vol. 4, p.743. 8 Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register 1845-46, p. 334. 9 Frank Esshom, Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, 1913, p44. 10 Our Pioneer Heritage (compiled by Kate B. Carter, Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1958), p. 210. 11 S. Black and L. Porter, Augustus Erastus Dodge (1822-1900), Biographies, Mormon Battalion. BYU. 1847, Kearny succeeded in securing Los Angeles again as an American city.12 This squarely implicates Dodge as a likely participant in the American take-over of Los Angeles.

4) His move to Manti. Augustus arrived in the Salt Lake Valley 23 December 1847. He spent some time in Bountiful as a farmer13 until 12 June 1849 when he left for Southern Utah.

Dodge left with Captain Andrew L. Lamoreaux and a few others to build a ferry on the Green

River.14 It is from here that Chief Walker of the Ute Indian tribe approached the church and requested colonists to “teach the Indians to build homes and till the soil” in Sanpete Valley.

Dodge was in the group.15 It is assumed that this was his introduction to the Manti area. By

1851 the state census shows Manti as his residence.16 Whether orders were issued by President

Young for him to move there is not clear. If indeed Dodge answered the call to assist the Ute

Indians as an order from Young, then such a decree may have been issued but the historical evidence suggests that volunteers were requested, missions of settlement were not drafted.

5) Buildings and equipment in Manti. Family legend is substantiated by a published account of Dodge’s work in Manti.

Augustus helped in building the first Council House in Manti…A Mr. Stringham was very worried over the loss of the hammer as he had borrowed it from Augustus, who, upon learning the details, informed Mr. Stringham that if he was in Manti when the Council House was torn down and the hammer found he could have it. Fifty-six years later when the building was being razed Mr. Stringham found the hammer still in good condition.17

It is clear that Dodge worked on buildings in Manti, or at least he lent his tools to be used on such buildings. The legend, however, that the misplaced tool was returned to Dodge is erroneous. Dodge’s generosity overrode his need for a hammer. Besides this, the building

12 Microsoft® Encarta® Encyclopedia 2003. © 1993-2002 Microsoft Corporation. 13 Our Pioneer Heritage (compiled by Kate B. Carter, Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1958), p. 210. 14 From 12 June 1849 as found in the Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 15 Our Pioneer Heritage (compiled by Kate B. Carter, Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1958), p. 211. 16 Utah Federal Census; Year: 1851, 1860. 17 Our Pioneer Heritage (compiled by Kate B. Carter, Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1958), p. 211. containing Dodge’s hammer was erected in 1854. Fifty-six years later would place the razing of the building at 1910—ten years after the death of Augustus. There is no way that the hammer could have been returned to Dodge.

Indian Relations

On relations of the Dodge family to Indians, the family legend states interesting details.

Augustus became a friend to the local Indians and even learned enough of their language to act as an interpreter. On many occasions, Augustus was able to smooth out differences between the aboriginal peoples and the Mormon settlers. Apparently there were some reasons for differences between the factions, not the least of which was the agenda of some of the white pioneers which was at variance with that of the red man. Because his intervention frustrated some ambitions, Augustus found himself an unpopular man with some powerful people in town.

If Dodge was a gifted peacemaker and linguist, it serves to substantiate many elements of the legend. However, the most notable story of his Indian relations remains shrouded in mystery. Despite his alleged skills as a negotiator, Dodge was at some point unable to dissuade the aggression of an angry Indian tribe. He spoke with the chief who explained that the braves were beyond arbitration and the settlers would be attacked. The Indian chief treated Dodge as a friend and insisted that Dodge leave the vicinity with gunnysacks tied to the hooves of his horses. According to the legend he took the advice and fled for safety with his family. No reason is given for why Dodge failed in his talks with the Indian chief. The destination of the fleeing party is not mentioned in the legend, nor is their return. Also, there is no mention of

Dodge’s attempt to warn others of the impending attack.

Indian Relations—Historical Rebuttal

The legend that Dodge was a friend to the Indians to the chagrin of his white neighbors is slightly trickier to substantiate than his move from Nauvoo to Manti. Several details will be itemized from historical records which can cast an opinion about Dodge’s Indian relations. 1) Dodge as a linguist. Augustus, like most other Americans living in the west at that time, had had many occasions to interact with Indians. His work as a soldier likely brought him in contact with them, as did his role as frontiersman. As has been mentioned, he was recruited by the Ute Indians to teach horticulture and masonry in 1849. All of these activities were undoubtedly instrumental in providing contact with the native Indians, but do not suggest any acquisition of the language took place. His journal, however, does supply two brief glimpses into his linguistic abilities.

Dodge was a man of words. A scrap of paper in his journal contains these lines:

I long to rome [sic] the valley wide And clime the mountains high My trusty rife in my hand The war hoop I defieth…18

Dodge was a poet. This fact allows us to presume that he had the mental inclination to enjoy words—a trait that could lead to competency in a second language.

The most telling clue in his journal, however, is Dodge’s self-description of occupations held in Manti, Utah, “I served as color bearer, as captain of my company, as scout among the

Indians and pilot and interpreter.”19 Here lies the unequivocal evidence that Dodge indeed was gifted with second language abilities. It is not clear, however, what language he spoke with the

Indians.

2) Dodge as a negotiator. In the above poem, Dodge wrote the phrase “The war hoop I defieth…”20 This admission serves to indicate Dodge’s opinion on the matter of war. It is known that he was an interpreter for the Indians; consequently, he likely understood their point

18 Diary of Augustus Erastus Dodge as found in S. Black and L. Porter, Augustus Erastus Dodge (1822-1900), Biographies, Mormon Battalion. BYU. 19 Diary of Augustus Erastus Dodge as found in Our Pioneer Heritage (compiled by Kate B. Carter, Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1958), p. 211. 20 Diary of Augustus Erastus Dodge as found in S. Black and L. Porter, Augustus Erastus Dodge (1822-1900), Biographies, Mormon Battalion. BYU. of view on many matters. Still, historical records are silent regarding any one-on-one negotiations of Dodge with the Indians. In one incident, Dodge is all but a negotiator. He was the victim of horse robbery by Indians on his way from California to Utah after being discharged from the Mormon Battalion. This incident forced him to walk 300 miles to the Salt Lake

Valley.21

In another, more profound incident, Dodge is portrayed as an adept negotiator via written redress. Augustus Erastus wrote to Colonial Tourtellotte, Superintendent of Indian Affairs in

Utah.

…for about 5 years the inhabitants of this section of country have been much annoyed by the depredation of bands of Navajos. These Indians have, at various times, killed 8 or 10 of our citizens and have driven of approximately 500 head of horses and mules, 500 head of cattle and approximately 2000 head of sheep… We would very respectfully ask you to give this matter your consideration, and adopt such measures as you may deem proper to bring about peaceful relations with the Navajos, also to induce the government to cause our citizens to be indemnified for the many losses they have sustained.22

Dodge drafted this letter as the Foreman of the Grand Jury of the 2nd Judicial District in

Utah. At the time, he was living in Toquerville. It is curious that Dodge even made this appeal.

Perhaps his negotiations with the Indians had failed, or perhaps he was simply engaging in his perfunctory duties as a public officer. In either event, Augustus received a letter forty-four days later signed by an F. T. Bennett, Agent of Navajos: Office of Superintendent of Indian affairs,

Santa Fe, New Mexico.

…[I] asked them plainly and candidly to tell me whether they and their good men could and would, without fail stop those raids. They then promised me faithfully that upon hearing of any raid or campaign, they would immediately organize and go to the place to stop it, using force if necessary.23

21 S. Black and L. Porter, Augustus Erastus Dodge (1822-1900), Biographies, Mormon Battalion. BYU. 22 From a letter by Augustus Erastus Dodge to Colonial Tourtelotte, 9 November 1869 as found in the Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 23 From a letter by F. T. Bennett to Augustus Erastus Dodge, 23 December 1869 as found in the Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

This unique glimpse into history shows that Dodge was an articulate statesman and that his redress was answered graciously. It demonstrates his prowess as a negotiator, but not necessarily his prowess with Indian negotiation. Through a process of induction we may be able to assume that Dodge’s skills transferred from race to race though no documented source supports the claim.

3) Dodge’s unpopularity with locals. Unfortunately there is no evidence in any sources to give credence to the claim that Dodge was unpopular with his peers and neighbors. Perhaps history has forgotten what its writers chose not to remember, or else no such evidence ever existed. Much is written regarding Dodge’s congeniality and neighborliness. In one account,

Dodge is the subject of various kind deeds including dining neighbors at his substantial farm in

Toquerville and doing chores for those in need of care.24 It may be safely assumed that Dodge was a kind man to many. If he was disliked by people in authority, it remains up to such people or their ancestors to make a substantial case.

4) Indian intervention in Dodge’s escape. This very intriguing portion of the story is unfortunately not found in sources relating to Dodge’s life. The only hint of such a story being even remotely truthful is the short blurb in the biography of Augustus’ second wife, Marion

Wallace Clark Dodge, “When the Indians became troublesome [the Dodges] lived in the fort for three years.”25 What is meant by this statement relates to their home in Manti. They were then living in a one-room dwelling with their covered wagon as a second “room.” Perhaps they moved to the fort as per suggestions of the Indian chief’s suggestion.

Another significant detail to the history of this story is mentioned just above the previous in Marion’s biography. It explains that Dodge moved to Manti with an ox team and the contents

24 Our Pioneer Heritage (compiled by Kate B. Carter, Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1958), p. 212. 25 Daughters of Utah Pioneers: Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude p. 824-825. of a wagon representing all of the family’s material possessions. If we trace the gunny sack story to this particular event, then at least the family legend should have the Indian chief advising Dodge to place gunny sacks on the hooves of his oxen instead of his horses. Indeed, it is likely that the family legend errs in this section of the retelling.

Manti to Toquerville

Dodge spent a large part of his life in Toquerville. He moved there in 1861, making it his home for 39 of his 88 years. He is buried in Toquerville where his grave stone is still visible in the City Cemetery today. The reasoning behind his transfer to this Southern Utah town represents the most interesting and controversial twist in the life of Augustus Erastus Dodge.

According to the legend he was commissioned by Brigham Young to resettle in the Saint

George area. “This he did without question and I suppose, considering the stress caused by his enemies in Manti, came as a welcome change.” The controversial twist to the story came years later after Dodge had established himself as a prominent fruit farmer.

Brigham Young visited Toquerville on his way back to Salt Lake City from Saint

George. While there he stopped at a farm where he and his traveling group were treated to some of the region’s best fruit. It is on this occasion, according to the legend, that Young saw Dodge, the owner of the farm, and asked in surprise, “What are you doing here?!” Dodge replied, “You sent me here.” The President of the Church responded that he certainly hadn’t. It is assumed in the family that it was “the enemies of Augustus in Manti who had forged documents to send him away to Dixie.”

Manti to Toquerville—Historical Rebuttal

It is not necessary to eliminate the possibility of finding any forged documents in the history of the church relating to Dodge’s removal to Toquerville in order to discredit the claim that Dodge was maliciously ousted from Manti. The reason for this is simple: President Young was surprised to see Dodge in Manti, not Toquerville. The reported meeting of Young with

Dodge in Toquerville did take place26 but was not followed by a query into Dodge’s reason for being there. Instead, the conversation took place in Manti.

When Brigham Young visited his old bodyguard in Manti, he asked, “Dodge, what are you doing here?” Augustus explained that he had answered a settling call to Southern Utah. Young offered to help move him to the Salt Lake Valley, if that was his desire. He refused the offer because of his successful enterprises in Southern Utah.27

Curiously enough, Dodge would not have been in the Manti area as per church orders directly. He moved to Sanpete County to work on the ferry over the Green River, a calling that appears to have been voluntary. The above source suggests that Young indeed was surprised to see Dodge in Manti. It does not, however, suggest why Young was surprised. Did he expect to see Dodge closer to the ferry? Did he forget that Dodge had signed up to help the Indians build houses and raise crops? In any event, the family legend can be substantiated as far as it claims that President Brigham Young was surprised to see Dodge in Southern Utah. Whether this surprise was due to faux church orders or simply a misunderstanding, historical records are silent. What is known, however, is that when Dodge did move to Toquerville in 1861, it was under church order and Young did know that Dodge had moved there.

26 Article in Deseret News, 30 April 1867 as found in the Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 27 S. Black and L. Porter, Augustus Erastus Dodge (1822-1900), Biographies, Mormon Battalion. BYU.