Kanosh

Deceased Person

1821 – 1884

89

Who was Kanosh?

Kanosh was a nineteenth-century leader of the Pahvant band of the Ute Indians. 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 in Spanish Fork Canyon, but this is not certain.

Kanosh spoke Spanish, and "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 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 which signalled the end of the Walker War in 1854," and was among the Utes who took up farming.

Kanosh joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was baptized in 1858. In 1874 Kanosh was ordained an elder by Dimick B. Huntington. He was one of the very earliest Native Americans to receive the endowment.

Kanosh met with Brigham Young on September 1, 1857 to discuss strategy in relation to the Utah War.

One of Kanosh's wives was Sally, a Southern Paiute 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 Piute named Mary who had been raised by Latter-day Saints in Payson, Utah Territory. Kanosh built a regular cabin for her, whereas his other three wives lived in wikiups.

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Born
1821
Religion
  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Nationality
  • United States of America
Died
Dec 24, 1884

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

Citation

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