Alma Lutz

Alma Lutz

Pioneer Personal History of Alma Lutz

Alma Lutz was born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania 28 June 1841. He is the son of Albert Lutz and Susan DuBois. At the age of four or five years, he went with his parents to Nauvoo, Illinois where the family resided until 1847, at which time the saints were driven from Nauvoo on account of religious beliefs. The Lutz family was among the saints driven out. They then settled at Winter Quarters, his father was bishop for six years.

During the time the saints were crossing the plains , they could not all keep up together due to some being in such a weakening condition. President Young sent a company of young men back with supplies for the saints who were starving on the way. Among this company was Alma Lutz. They could not however, give them all they wanted to eat as they had come for miles on rations so long it would have been dangerous. Some of them had come for miles barefoot over the plains, and their feet were bleeding and sore.

Alma only had a few months schooling and at that time the teacher boarded around to the homes to pay for the children’s schooling.

Alma married Anna Foreman in the year 1863, the definite date is unknown. A little girl, Nellie Lutz was born to them in June 1864. Mrs. Lutz died with the measles the 15th of June 1864, in Salt Lake City Utah. The baby died 18 August 1864.

Alma was in the Blackhawk War, which was probably the most serious encounter between savages and Utahans. This started in Manti Utah in April 1865, when one of the citizens pulled the son of the Ute Chief from a horse. This was considered by the Indians as an insult, and it was the beginning of a series of raids on cattle in Sanpete and Sevier Counties, but some of the men of Utah County were sent to aid. Blackhawk, the leader of the Ute side in the war was an educated Indian who in times of peace was very friendly towards the whites. Upon one occasion he was at the home of Alma Lutz to eat dinner and he showed him a sore which was running where he had been wounded in the Blackhawk War. During the war Alma had ridden with the captain so much that he knew all the commands and calls, and really understood the Indians’ method of fighting as well or better than any other man in the company. Consequently when two men were killed on the other side of the river by the Indians , Alma was chosen to lead the company across the river to find them. He was one of Company D or better known as the Dare Devils as they were the most daring company. Upon entering the river the men had guns ready for immediate use, put their spurs to their horse and bravely entered the river. When they crossed the River Alma was the first to the bodies of the two men whom the Indians had killed. One of the dead was Heber House who had been a special friend of Alma’s. Heber House had always said that the Indians would never get him as long as he had his gun. He had been equipped with two six-shooters and a belt of shells, the search party could see tracks in the mud where Heber had walked backwards and shot as long as his ammunition had lasted, but when it was exhausted the Indians had killed him with arrows. Two were found in his body. The killing had taken place the day before. The rest of the company left. There were besides Company D., Company A., and B., They had wagons come from Salt Lake City to get the bodies of these two men who had been killed. During the Blackhawk War the white soldiers had their horses picketed, or staked around in sort of a circle, and at night they kept their guns ready in their tents, for immediate use. One night one of the men on guard had sent in the alarm on Indians, and when help arrived they found out it was a false alarm. The next night Alma was the guard and it was very dark. He heard something howl just like a wolf. The same noise kept coming from various places, first one would howl then one someplace else. Very faintly he could see a dark object jump up. He cautiously walked around where he could see better: he suspicion it was Indians in disguise. He decided it was Indians with wolf hides over their heads, so he fired a shot which was the signal for all the men to turn out and aid. Immediately they began chiding and telling Alma that it was another false alarm like the night before. He told them that he had investigated as nearly as he could before sounding the alarm. Next morning just as it broke daylight, they went to the end of the picket and sure enough there were the tracks where the Indians had jumped up to imitate the wolves. Their object was to howl like wolves, kill the guards, stampede the horses with their blankets and then there would be no one to sound the alarm, but they did not get to accomplish their evil purposes. Alma stayed with the Blackhawk War until it ended in 1867.

Alma lived single for four years, then married China Stewart. She was the daughter of William Stewart and Delphia Jones, owners of slaves and large plantation. When he came to Utah he sold the slaves some of them had such deep regard for him that they begged to come to Utah with him, but due to certain conditions he had to sell them and leave them in the South. Alma and China were married in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City Utah. After their marriage they moved to Smithfield, Cache, Utah. Six children were born to them. They were; Rosetta, born 12 May 1870, Delphia, born 30 Aug. 1872, Isabelle, born 16 july 1874, Hattie Elizabeth, born 10 march 1876, Florence May, born 23 Aug. 1878,(she died 26 Dec. 1878), Jesse Lawrence, born 6 Nov. 1877 (he died in Smithfield). The Lutz family moved to Randolph Utah where another daughter was born. Katie May , date of birth and death not known.

Randolph Stewart, brother to China , was called to go to Moab and preside there. After he came he liked the location so well that he kept writing to his sister to come, so the next year, 1884 the Lutz family moved to Moab, and lived in the old fort for some time. Elouise was born 15 Oct.1884. She was their eight child. On 24 Oct 1886 the ninth child, Alma Clarence was born. China died three days later, 26 Oct 1886.

Alma was left with six children, the oldest being 16 and the youngest but three days old. He never married again

He lived a life of usefulness, being ever ready to help in time of need and his house was always open to the hospitality of his friends. He used to call for all the public dances and played what was called the “bones”. He also had charge of a string orchestra. Alma Lutz was a real pioneer. He helped build the first Morman Church in Moab and all the early houses. He died 25 Nov. 1922 at Provo Utah. His death being due to general disability due to advanced age.

This information was obtained from his daughter Elouise Hawks of Moab Utah the only living child at the time of this writing. From the files of the “Grand Valley Times” vol. 48. Under the date of 30 Nov. 1922 the following: Alma Lutz, one of the earliest pioneers of Moab died Saturday at Provo. He had been in the hospital receiving medical treatment for the last year. Death was probably due to general disability due to advanced age. He was one who responded to the call for volunteers to defend Utah settlements from depredations of the Indians. He took a prominent part in the war. He was a man of many fine traits of chacater. Always ready to offer service whenever sickness or trouble entered homes of neighbors or friends. He has won scores of friends. He was the soul of hospitality as his home was always open for the reception of visiting friends from out of town. At the time of his death in 1922, he had 30 grand children, 17 great grand children, and three daughters.