Jacob Hamblin: His Life in His Own Words

My ancestor, Jacob Hamblin, wrote this book. Originally title "My Life with the Indians" it was edited in the late 1800s. Elders in the Morman Church removed the references to his only Indian wife, a Paiute woman, my great grandmother. They were married in Utah, and moved to New Mexico, where my grandmother was born. Other than some things that were edited out, this is one of the most accurate accounts of life in the Southwest that I know of. They also edited how how Jacob testified after finding an entire tribe slaughtered on a horseback ride he made back from Arizona. A valley full of woman and children who had been killed. Later, as a result of Hamblin's testimony, three Caucasian men were hung in Utah, the ones who led the massacre on their own accord, not under any military instructions. Jacob Hamblin was a hero in American History and for that reason, this book is important. He negotiated the first peace treaty between the Ute and Navajo tribes successfully. He is probably best known for that accomplishment.