Amos G. Thornton - Revision history

1857admin: /* Journey to Utah */

2013-12-08T23:11:08Z

Journey to Utah

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	=== Journey to Utah ===		=== Journey to Utah ===

	In 1846, the Thornton family joined the Mormon exodus from western Illinois and eventually migrated to the Great Basin. They sojourned in Iowa Territory for several years until they could gather the means to immigrate to Utah. In 1852, ~~they~~ joined the Edward Wimmer Company which ~~crossed~~ the ~~plains~~ and arrived in Great Salt Lake ~~Valley that~~ September~~. Amos Thornton was nineteen years old~~.		In 1846, the Thornton family joined the Mormon exodus from western Illinois and eventually migrated to the Great Basin. They sojourned in Iowa Territory for several years until they could gather the means to immigrate to Utah.

			[[Image:Mormon Trail.jpg\|thumb\|center\|700px\|<center>'''The Mormon Trail'''</center>]]
			In 1852, having gathered the necessary outfit and provisions, the Thorntons joined the Edward Wimmer Company which had 230 individuals and about 130 wagons when the company began its journey from the outfitting post at Kanesville, Iowa (present day Council Bluffs) in early July. In the Thornton family were Oliver and Mary Griswold Thornton, Lydia, 21, Amos, 19, Joseph, 17, Alice 12, Oliver, 4, Joseph, 2, Some member of the company died from cholera. They passed the usual milestones on the trail: Fort Kearney, the South Fork of the Platte River, Chimney Rock, Fort Laramie, the Sweetwater River, Independence Rock, Devil's Gate, Green River, Fort Bridger, Bear River, and Weber River. After suffering the usual hardships of overland trail they arrived in the valley of the Great Salt Lake in mid-September.

	=== Pioneering in American Fork in Utah Valley ===		=== Pioneering in American Fork in Utah Valley ===

1857admin: Undo revision 4871 by 1857admin (talk)

2013-12-08T22:00:39Z

Undo revision 4871 by 1857admin (talk)

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	=== Journey to Utah ===		=== Journey to Utah ===

	In 1846, the Thornton family joined the Mormon exodus from western Illinois and eventually migrated to the Great Basin. They sojourned in Iowa Territory for several years until they could gather the means to immigrate to Utah.		In 1846, the Thornton family joined the Mormon exodus from western Illinois and eventually migrated to the Great Basin. They sojourned in Iowa Territory for several years until they could gather the means to immigrate to Utah. In 1852, they joined the Edward Wimmer Company which crossed the plains and arrived in Great Salt Lake Valley that September. Amos Thornton was nineteen years old.

	~~[[Image:Mormon Trail~~.~~jpg\|thumb\|center\|700px\|<center>'''The Mormon Trail'''</center>]]~~

	=== Pioneering in American Fork in Utah Valley ===		=== Pioneering in American Fork in Utah Valley ===

1857admin: /* Journey to Utah */

2013-12-08T21:59:33Z

Journey to Utah

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:59, 8 December 2013
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	=== Journey to Utah ===		=== Journey to Utah ===

	In 1846, the Thornton family joined the Mormon exodus from western Illinois and eventually migrated to the Great Basin. They sojourned in Iowa Territory for several years until they could gather the means to immigrate to Utah. ~~In 1852, they joined the Edward Wimmer Company which crossed the plains and arrived in Great Salt Lake Valley that September. Amos Thornton was nineteen years old~~.		In 1846, the Thornton family joined the Mormon exodus from western Illinois and eventually migrated to the Great Basin. They sojourned in Iowa Territory for several years until they could gather the means to immigrate to Utah.

			[[Image:Mormon Trail.jpg\|thumb\|center\|700px\|<center>'''The Mormon Trail'''</center>]]

	=== Pioneering in American Fork in Utah Valley ===		=== Pioneering in American Fork in Utah Valley ===

1857admin: /* Thornton Takes a Second Wife */

2013-12-08T06:49:00Z

Thornton Takes a Second Wife

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	=== Thornton Takes a Second Wife ===		=== Thornton Takes a Second Wife ===

	By the 1860s, Thornton's dairy cows were producing sufficient milk, butter and cheese to allow him to sell the surplus for much needed cash. Traveling to northern Utah, he visited Spanish Fork in Utah County where he renewed his acquaintance with John Lowe Butler, Caroline Skeen Butler, and their daughter Charity Artemesia Butler. A Kentuckian, John Lowe Butler had been a Mormon frontiersman of some renown in the early years in Missouri, Illinois and Utah. According to family lore, Thornton and Butler's daughter Charity had been fond of each other as teenagers in ~~Nauvoo,~~ Illinois. The Butlers had immigrated to Utah and settled in Spanish Fork where John Lowe was the bishop. Charity had gone to San Bernardino, California, but had since returned to Spanish Fork in the midst of the Utah War of 1857-58 which had caused Mormons to withdraw from settlements in Nevada and California. Amos and Charity soon renewed their friendship and in 1862, Thornton took Charity Artemesia Butler (1834-1908) as a plural wife. Over the course of their marriage, Charity bore Thornton ten additional children.		By the 1860s, Thornton's dairy cows were producing sufficient milk, butter and cheese to allow him to sell the surplus for much needed cash. Traveling to northern Utah, he visited Spanish Fork in Utah County where he renewed his acquaintance with John Lowe Butler, Caroline Skeen Butler, and their daughter Charity Artemesia Butler. A Kentuckian, John Lowe Butler had been a Mormon frontiersman of some renown in the early years in Missouri, Illinois and Utah. According to family lore, Thornton and Butler's daughter Charity had been fond of each other as teenagers back in Illinois. The Butlers had immigrated to Utah and settled in Spanish Fork where John Lowe was the bishop. Charity had gone to San Bernardino, California, but had since returned to Spanish Fork in the midst of the Utah War of 1857-58 which had caused Mormons to withdraw from settlements in Nevada and California. Amos and Charity soon renewed their friendship and in 1862, Thornton took Charity Artemesia Butler (1834-1908) as a plural wife. Over the course of their marriage, Charity bore Thornton ten additional children.

	[[Image:Amos g. thornton 1.jpg\|right\|225px\|Amos g. thornton 1.jpg]]		[[Image:Amos g. thornton 1.jpg\|right\|225px\|Amos g. thornton 1.jpg]]

1857admin: /* In Jacob Hamblin's Expeditions to the Hopi Mesas */

2013-12-08T06:46:40Z

In Jacob Hamblin's Expeditions to the Hopi Mesas

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	=== In Jacob Hamblin's Expeditions to the Hopi Mesas ===		=== In Jacob Hamblin's Expeditions to the Hopi Mesas ===
	[[Image:Hopi_Mesas_Map.jpg\|thumb\|right\|300px\|<center>'''Map of the Hopi Mesas.'''</center>]]		[[Image:Hopi_Mesas_Map.jpg\|thumb\|right\|300px\|<center>'''Map of the Hopi Mesas'''</center>]]

	Meanwhile, Pearce had joined several of the winter expeditions of Jacob Hamblin in Hamblin's continuing explorations of the Hopi and Navajo in northeastern Arizona. In 1858, [[Jacob Hamblin\|Jacob Hamblin]] decided to visit the Indians who intrigued him so much, the Hopi. Over the years he would make many trips to the Hopi Mesas and Navajo lands.		Meanwhile, Pearce had joined several of the winter expeditions of Jacob Hamblin in Hamblin's continuing explorations of the Hopi and Navajo in northeastern Arizona. In 1858, [[Jacob Hamblin\|Jacob Hamblin]] decided to visit the Indians who intrigued him so much, the Hopi. Over the years he would make many trips to the Hopi Mesas and Navajo lands.

1857admin: /* References */

2013-12-08T06:46:12Z

References

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	= References =		= References =

	Alder and Brooks, ''The History of Washington County'', 20, 49 fn. 4; Bagley, ''Blood of the Prophets,'' 128; Bradshaw, ed., ''Under Dixie Sun,'' 25, 36, 130, 146, 214, 215, 217; Brooks, "Indian Sketches from . . . Brown and Hamblin," ''Utah Historical Quarterly,'' 29/4 (October 1961), 357; Brooks, "Indian Relations on the Mormon Frontier," ''Utah Historical Quarterly,'' 12/1-2 (Jan.-Apr. 1944), 34; Brooks, ed., ''Journal of the Southern Indian Mission,'' 3, 5, 7, 42, 459, 64, 76, 78, 103; Huff, ''Memories That Live: Utah County Centennial History,'' 226, 227; Jenson, ''Encyclopedic History of the Latter-day Saints,'' 656-57 (Pinto Ward), 776 (Santa Clara Ward); New.FamilySearch.org; Shelley, ''Early History of American Fork''; Statement of Joseph Clews, in Turley and Walker, ''Mountain Meadows Massacre: Jenson and Morris Collections,'' 168, 170, 184, 187, Walker, et al, ''Massacre at Mountain Meadows,'' 152, 164, 214, 217, Appendix C, 263; Woodbury, "The Cotton Mission," ''Utah Historical Quarterly,'' 29/3 (July 1961), 201-202.		Alder and Brooks, ''The History of Washington County'', 20, 49 fn. 4; Bagley, ''Blood of the Prophets,'' 128; Bradshaw, ed., ''Under Dixie Sun,'' 25, 36, 130, 146, 214, 215, 217; Brooks, "Indian Sketches from . . . Brown and Hamblin," ''Utah Historical Quarterly,'' 29/4 (October 1961), 357; Brooks, "Indian Relations on the Mormon Frontier," ''Utah Historical Quarterly,'' 12/1-2 (Jan.-Apr. 1944), 34; Brooks, ed., ''Journal of the Southern Indian Mission,'' 3, 5, 7, 42, 459, 64, 76, 78, 103; Compton, ''A Frontier Life,'' 51, 73, 173-74, 189-92; Huff, ''Memories That Live: Utah County Centennial History,'' 226, 227; Jenson, ''Encyclopedic History of the Latter-day Saints,'' 656-57 (Pinto Ward), 776 (Santa Clara Ward); New.FamilySearch.org; Shelley, ''Early History of American Fork''; Statement of Joseph Clews, in Turley and Walker, ''Mountain Meadows Massacre: Jenson and Morris Collections,'' 168, 170, 184, 187, Walker, et al, ''Massacre at Mountain Meadows,'' 152, 164, 214, 217, Appendix C, 263; Woodbury, "The Cotton Mission," ''Utah Historical Quarterly,'' 29/3 (July 1961), 201-202.

	For full bibliographic information see [[Bibliography]].		For full bibliographic information see [[Bibliography]].

1857admin: /* In Jacob Hamblin's Expeditions to the Hopi Mesas */

2013-12-08T06:44:00Z

In Jacob Hamblin's Expeditions to the Hopi Mesas

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:44, 8 December 2013
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	Meanwhile, Pearce had joined several of the winter expeditions of Jacob Hamblin in Hamblin's continuing explorations of the Hopi and Navajo in northeastern Arizona. In 1858, [[Jacob Hamblin\|Jacob Hamblin]] decided to visit the Indians who intrigued him so much, the Hopi. Over the years he would make many trips to the Hopi Mesas and Navajo lands.		Meanwhile, Pearce had joined several of the winter expeditions of Jacob Hamblin in Hamblin's continuing explorations of the Hopi and Navajo in northeastern Arizona. In 1858, [[Jacob Hamblin\|Jacob Hamblin]] decided to visit the Indians who intrigued him so much, the Hopi. Over the years he would make many trips to the Hopi Mesas and Navajo lands.

	In fall 1860, Hamblin made his third crossing of the Colorado River. Ira Hatch, his Indian wife Sarah, ~~Amos Thornton,~~ James Pearce, and others accompanied Hamblin on this third crossing of the Colorado to visit the Hopi Mesas. George Smith, Jr., the son of Mormon leader George A. Smith, was along on the journey. They hauled a boat in a wagon as far as the Vermillion Cliffs but failed to find a passable wagon road to the river. Leaving the wagon and boat to use on another occasion, they proceeded to the river’s edge where they made a raft and crossed to the other side. Unfortunately, they were unable to ford their animals so they retreated to the north side of the river and continued on to the Ute Ford. Crossing to the south of the river, they journeyed to Quichintoweep near Moenkopi Wash. There hostile Navajos fatally wounded George Smith Jr. and he died within hours. The party was forced to abandon his body and retreat without reaching the Hopi Mesas. After crossing the Colorado they returned to southern Utah.		In fall 1860, Hamblin made his third crossing of the Colorado River. Amos Thornton, [[Ira Hatch\|Ira Hatch]], his Indian wife Sarah, [[James Pearce\|James Pearce]], and others accompanied Hamblin on this third crossing of the Colorado to visit the Hopi Mesas. George Smith, Jr., the son of Mormon leader George A. Smith, was along on the journey. They hauled a boat in a wagon as far as the Vermillion Cliffs but failed to find a passable wagon road to the river. Leaving the wagon and boat to use on another occasion, they proceeded to the river’s edge where they made a raft and crossed to the other side. Unfortunately, they were unable to ford their animals so they retreated to the north side of the river and continued east to the Ute Ford. Crossing to the south of the river, they journeyed to Quichintoweep near Moenkopi Wash. There hostile Navajos fatally wounded George Smith Jr. and he died within hours. The party was forced to abandon his body and retreat without reaching the Hopi Mesas. After crossing the Colorado they returned to southern Utah.

	In February 1861, Hamblin returned to Arizona to recover the remains of George Smith, Jr. ~~Bill Stewart~~, [[Samuel Knight\|Sam Knight]], [[~~Amos G~~. ~~Thornton~~\|~~Amos Thornton~~]], and others accompanied him on this fourth crossing of the Colorado River. Following their previous route they arrived at the Ute Ford and crossed to the south of the river. Traveling generally southeast, they passed the Inscription House ruins. Fearing to go farther into Navajo lands, they sent their Paiute companions ahead to retrieve what they could of Smith’s remains. Then they returned to Utah via the Ute Ford without going to the Hopi Mesas.		In February 1861, Hamblin returned to Arizona to recover the remains of George Smith, Jr. Amos Thornton, [[Samuel Knight\|Sam Knight]], [[William C. Stewart\|Bill Stewart]], and others accompanied him on this fourth crossing of the Colorado River. Following their previous route they arrived at the Ute Ford and crossed to the south of the river. Traveling generally southeast, they passed the Inscription House ruins. Fearing to go farther into Navajo lands, they sent their Paiute companions ahead to retrieve what they could of Smith’s remains. Then they returned to Utah via the Ute Ford without going to the Hopi Mesas. This was Thornton's last time to accompany Hamblin on his expeditions across the Colorado River.

	=== Thornton Takes a Second Wife ===		=== Thornton Takes a Second Wife ===

1857admin: /* Setting Down Roots in Pinto */

2013-12-08T06:29:35Z

Setting Down Roots in Pinto

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	In her later remembrances, Mary W. Thornton noted the insecurity they felt in the early years at Pinto Creek (later shortened to Pinto) because of some degree of unrest among the local Native Americans. This may have been in the aftermath of the massacre at Mountain Meadows when relations with local Paiutes deteriorated. In 1859, seven or eight families had settled in Pinto and it was organized as a settlement with Richard Robinson was president or first elder. Amos Thornton was his first counselor. In 1860, he was elected pound keeper of the settlement. During their lengthy marriage, Mary bore Thornton six children, four girls and two boys.		In her later remembrances, Mary W. Thornton noted the insecurity they felt in the early years at Pinto Creek (later shortened to Pinto) because of some degree of unrest among the local Native Americans. This may have been in the aftermath of the massacre at Mountain Meadows when relations with local Paiutes deteriorated. In 1859, seven or eight families had settled in Pinto and it was organized as a settlement with Richard Robinson was president or first elder. Amos Thornton was his first counselor. In 1860, he was elected pound keeper of the settlement. During their lengthy marriage, Mary bore Thornton six children, four girls and two boys.

			=== In Jacob Hamblin's Expeditions to the Hopi Mesas ===
			[[Image:Hopi_Mesas_Map.jpg\|thumb\|right\|300px\|<center>'''Map of the Hopi Mesas.'''</center>]]

			Meanwhile, Pearce had joined several of the winter expeditions of Jacob Hamblin in Hamblin's continuing explorations of the Hopi and Navajo in northeastern Arizona. In 1858, [[Jacob Hamblin\|Jacob Hamblin]] decided to visit the Indians who intrigued him so much, the Hopi. Over the years he would make many trips to the Hopi Mesas and Navajo lands.

			In fall 1860, Hamblin made his third crossing of the Colorado River. Ira Hatch, his Indian wife Sarah, Amos Thornton, James Pearce, and others accompanied Hamblin on this third crossing of the Colorado to visit the Hopi Mesas. George Smith, Jr., the son of Mormon leader George A. Smith, was along on the journey. They hauled a boat in a wagon as far as the Vermillion Cliffs but failed to find a passable wagon road to the river. Leaving the wagon and boat to use on another occasion, they proceeded to the river’s edge where they made a raft and crossed to the other side. Unfortunately, they were unable to ford their animals so they retreated to the north side of the river and continued on to the Ute Ford. Crossing to the south of the river, they journeyed to Quichintoweep near Moenkopi Wash. There hostile Navajos fatally wounded George Smith Jr. and he died within hours. The party was forced to abandon his body and retreat without reaching the Hopi Mesas. After crossing the Colorado they returned to southern Utah.

			In February 1861, Hamblin returned to Arizona to recover the remains of George Smith, Jr. Bill Stewart, [[Samuel Knight\|Sam Knight]], [[Amos G. Thornton\|Amos Thornton]], and others accompanied him on this fourth crossing of the Colorado River. Following their previous route they arrived at the Ute Ford and crossed to the south of the river. Traveling generally southeast, they passed the Inscription House ruins. Fearing to go farther into Navajo lands, they sent their Paiute companions ahead to retrieve what they could of Smith’s remains. Then they returned to Utah via the Ute Ford without going to the Hopi Mesas.

			=== Thornton Takes a Second Wife ===

	By the 1860s, Thornton's dairy cows were producing sufficient milk, butter and cheese to allow him to sell the surplus for much needed cash. Traveling to northern Utah, he visited Spanish Fork in Utah County where he renewed his acquaintance with John Lowe Butler, Caroline Skeen Butler, and their daughter Charity Artemesia Butler. A Kentuckian, John Lowe Butler had been a Mormon frontiersman of some renown in the early years in Missouri, Illinois and Utah. According to family lore, Thornton and Butler's daughter Charity had been fond of each other as teenagers in Nauvoo, Illinois. The Butlers had immigrated to Utah and settled in Spanish Fork where John Lowe was the bishop. Charity had gone to San Bernardino, California, but had since returned to Spanish Fork in the midst of the Utah War of 1857-58 which had caused Mormons to withdraw from settlements in Nevada and California. Amos and Charity soon renewed their friendship and in 1862, Thornton took Charity Artemesia Butler (1834-1908) as a plural wife. Over the course of their marriage, Charity bore Thornton ten additional children.		By the 1860s, Thornton's dairy cows were producing sufficient milk, butter and cheese to allow him to sell the surplus for much needed cash. Traveling to northern Utah, he visited Spanish Fork in Utah County where he renewed his acquaintance with John Lowe Butler, Caroline Skeen Butler, and their daughter Charity Artemesia Butler. A Kentuckian, John Lowe Butler had been a Mormon frontiersman of some renown in the early years in Missouri, Illinois and Utah. According to family lore, Thornton and Butler's daughter Charity had been fond of each other as teenagers in Nauvoo, Illinois. The Butlers had immigrated to Utah and settled in Spanish Fork where John Lowe was the bishop. Charity had gone to San Bernardino, California, but had since returned to Spanish Fork in the midst of the Utah War of 1857-58 which had caused Mormons to withdraw from settlements in Nevada and California. Amos and Charity soon renewed their friendship and in 1862, Thornton took Charity Artemesia Butler (1834-1908) as a plural wife. Over the course of their marriage, Charity bore Thornton ten additional children.

1857admin: /* In the Iron Military District: Sergeant Amos Thornton, Company H, John D. Lee's 4th Battalion */

2013-12-08T06:20:09Z

In the Iron Military District: Sergeant Amos Thornton, Company H, John D. Lee's 4th Battalion

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	In 1857, the 24-year-old Amos Thornton was a sergeant of a militia platoon in Pinto, which was midway between Cedar City and Mountain Meadows. His platoon was attached to [[Alexander G. Ingram\|Captain Alexander Ingram's]] Company H in [[John D. Lee\|Major John D. Lee's]] 4th Battalion. See [[A Basic Account]] for a full description of the massacre.		In 1857, the 24-year-old Amos Thornton was a sergeant of a militia platoon in Pinto, which was midway between Cedar City and Mountain Meadows. His platoon was attached to [[Alexander G. Ingram\|Captain Alexander Ingram's]] Company H in [[John D. Lee\|Major John D. Lee's]] 4th Battalion. See [[A Basic Account]] for a full description of the massacre.

	On Sunday, September 6, Thornton and two other unidentified militiamen visited the emigrants at Mountain Meadows. According to [[Richard Robinson]], Amos Thornton delivered an express to Pinto shortly after the emigrants had passed.		On Sunday, September 6, Thornton and two other unidentified militiamen visited the emigrants at Mountain Meadows. According to Richard Robinson, Amos Thornton delivered an express to Pinto shortly after the emigrants had passed.

	[[Joseph Clews\|Joseph Clews]] recollected that on Monday, September 7, he carried an express from Cedar City to Pinto which he delivered to [[Richard Robinson]] or Amos Thornton. That afternoon, Thornton rode southwest along the trail from Pinto to Mountain Meadows, intent on delivering a "cease and desist" order to [[John D. Lee\|John D. Lee]]. However, upon arriving at the Meadows that evening, Thornton failed to encounter Lee. Unbeknownst to Thornton, Lee had ridden south in search of the militia detachments from the "southern settlements," Fort Clara and Washington.		[[Joseph Clews\|Joseph Clews]] recollected that on Monday, September 7, he carried an express from Cedar City to Pinto which he delivered to Richard Robinson or Amos Thornton. That afternoon, Thornton rode southwest along the trail from Pinto to Mountain Meadows, intent on delivering a "cease and desist" order to [[John D. Lee\|John D. Lee]]. However, upon arriving at the Meadows that evening, Thornton failed to encounter Lee. Unbeknownst to Thornton, Lee had ridden south in search of the militia detachments from the "southern settlements," Fort Clara and Washington.

	Thornton's other activities, if any, during the four-day siege and the final massacre are not known.		Thornton's other activities, if any, during the four-day siege and the final massacre are not known.

	"___ Thornton" was named in the Judge John Cradlebaugh's 1859 arrest warrant. Thornton was also identified in T.B.H. Stenhouse's ''Rocky Mountain Saints'' whose list of participants followed the 1859 arrest warranty. However, Thornton was not mentioned during the 1875-76 Lee trials nor in Lee's posthumous memoir, ''Mormonism Unveiled.''		"___ Thornton" was named in the Judge John Cradlebaugh's 1859 arrest warrant. Thornton was also identified in T.B.H. Stenhouse's ''Rocky Mountain Saints'' whose list of participants followed the 1859 arrest warranty. However, Thornton was not mentioned during the 1875-76 Lee trials nor in Lee's posthumous memoir, ''Mormonism Unveiled.''

	=== Setting Down Roots in Pinto ===		=== Setting Down Roots in Pinto ===

1857admin: /* Indian Interpreter in the Southern Indian Mission */

2013-12-08T06:17:29Z

Indian Interpreter in the Southern Indian Mission

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	In fall 1853, Amos Thornton was called as an Indian missionary/interpreter and in spring 1854 he moved to southern Utah with the other young Indian interpreters, [[Samuel_Knight\|Samuel Knight]], [[Ira_Hatch\|Ira Hatch]], Thales Haskell and others. Later, Jacob Hamblin, [[Dudley_Leavitt\|Dudley Leavitt]], [[Don_Carlos_Shirts\|Carl Shirts]], [[Nephi_Johnson\|Nephi Johnson]], [[James_Pearce\|James Pearce]], and others joined them and Hamblin became their leader. Some like Thornton and Knight remained in southern Utah. But others such as Hamblin, Hatch, Haskell and Ammon Tenney moved to adjoining territories and states. For the next nearly half century, these men provided service in southern Utah and in the settled portions of Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. They were Indian missionaries, but they were also interpreters, ambassadors, and peace brokers.		In fall 1853, Amos Thornton was called as an Indian missionary/interpreter and in spring 1854 he moved to southern Utah with the other young Indian interpreters, [[Samuel_Knight\|Samuel Knight]], [[Ira_Hatch\|Ira Hatch]], Thales Haskell and others. Later, Jacob Hamblin, [[Dudley_Leavitt\|Dudley Leavitt]], [[Don_Carlos_Shirts\|Carl Shirts]], [[Nephi_Johnson\|Nephi Johnson]], [[James_Pearce\|James Pearce]], and others joined them and Hamblin became their leader. Some like Thornton and Knight remained in southern Utah. But others such as Hamblin, Hatch, Haskell and Ammon Tenney moved to adjoining territories and states. For the next nearly half century, these men provided service in southern Utah and in the settled portions of Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. They were Indian missionaries, but they were also interpreters, ambassadors, and peace brokers.

			In June 1854, [[Jacob Hamblin\|Jacob Hamblin]], Amos Thornton, Rufus Allen, Lorenzo Roundy, Thomas Brown, Gus Hardy, Thales Haskell, and others set out on an expedition to the Santa Clara Creek to explore its environs. They traveled down Ash Creek until they encountered Chief Toquer and established favorable relations with his bands. They continued to the Virgin River where they found the Paiute headman Tutsegabits and the Santa Clara Indians. Those on the Santa Clara were known as Tonaquint-its. The future Indian missionary headquarters was called Tonaquint Station, Fort Clara, or Santa Clara. Then they returned to Harmony.

	By 1855, Thornton was among the Indian interpreters who moved to the Santa Clara River to build a small fort, a dam and an irrigation canal. When not farming, building or tending irrigation ditches and tending their livestock, they interacted with the local Paiute Indians whose traditional lands were along the Santa Clara.		By 1855, Thornton was among the Indian interpreters who moved to the Santa Clara River to build a small fort, a dam and an irrigation canal. When not farming, building or tending irrigation ditches and tending their livestock, they interacted with the local Paiute Indians whose traditional lands were along the Santa Clara.