Person:Edward Dalton (2)

SOURCE CITATION: Title: Ancestral File (TM) Author: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Publication Information: July 1996 (c), data as of 2 January 1996 Repository Name: Family History Library Address: 35 N West Temple Street Salt Lake City, UT 84150 USA SOURCE CITATION: Title: The John Dalton Book Of Genealogy Author: Mark Ardath Dalton Publication Information: Deseret News Press Repository Name: Arthur Whittaker Address: 531 No. 150 West Kaysville, Utah 84037 Phone: 801-544-9466 SOURCE CITATION: Title: The John Dalton Book Of Genealogy Author: Mark Ardath Dalton Publication Information: Deseret News Press Repository Name: Arthur Whittaker Address: 531 No. 150 West Kaysville, Utah 84037 Phone: 801-544-9466 Born 25 Aug. 1852, the eldest son of Edward Dalton and Mary Elizabeth Meeks. He was a handsome man, 6 feet tall, weight 190 pounds, brown eyes and black hair. He married Emily Stevens, 10 April, 1871 and later Helen Delila Clark. He was the father of ten children. They bought and lived in the Bishop Dame house on Main Street, Parowan, Utah. He was left-handed. During his teenage years, by accident the fingers of his right hand were partially cut off while cutting the tails off of young sheep with a knife. The Indians named him "Mat-tome" which meant man without fingers. In spite of partial loss of his fingers he learned to play the banjo quite well and was known in Parowan and Cedar City as the jolly singing caller for the old-time square dances. Edward Meeks was a counselor to President Thomas J. Jones of the Parowan Stake in Utah. In October 1881 Edward Meeks Dalton and James J. Adams left Parowan on a L.D.S. mission to the Southern States Mission. There he labored in North Carolina. In 1884 Edwards Meeks Dalton and others were indicted by a Federal Grand Jury for a misdemeanor under the Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Law. About 1884 the U.S. marshals arrested Edward M. Dalton at Parowan, Utah. They left him unguarded in front of the old Co-op store, while they went into the store to buy tobacco. While the U.S. marshals were in the store, Edward M. Dalton by the use of his toes, slipped off his boots and ran barefooted and hid behind some big cottonwood trees. Waiting his chance, he made it to his father's home, got on a fast race horse and left town. He made his way to Gila Valley, Arizona. In Arizona he found work on a big cattle farm. Emily, his wife, visited him in Arozona. He remained in Arizona almost two years. After so long an absence he became very tired and lonesome to be with his family once again. About December 8, 1886 he returned unexpectedly to Parowan, Utah to enjoy the holidays with his family. During the night of December 15, 1886 Deputy U. S. Marshal William Thompson, Jr., and Bill Orton, rode into Parowan and hid their horses and buggy behind a big straw stack on a lot owned by William Rowley. They proceeded to spend the remainder of the night at the home of Daniel Page, an apostate Mormon. On December 16, 1886 Robert Dalton, Edward Dalton's young son, brought two bareback horses for them to drive their cattle to the winter pastures. Before leaving Edward brought out his banjo, sat on the fence and played and sang two songs for the delight of his family and friends. Then he got on the bareback of his favorite horse, Red Man. As Edward and his 15 year old son Robert talked and leisurely drove their cattle in the middle of the street they passed Daniel Page's home. Bill Orton was seen by the neighbors looking around the corner of the house. William Thompson, Jr., came out of the home with a gun and said, "halt." Not waiting for a sign of halt he instantly shot Edward Meeks Dalton in the back. Edward fell to the ground mortally wounded. Colley and Edgar Clark saw the shooting and rode through the streets calling to the neighbors that Edward Dalton had been shot. Morgan Richards who was at his mother's house heard what Collie Clark said and ran as fast as he could down the street, for he knew that he would be needed. As he came to Page's house they were just going to carry Edward M. Dalton into the house on a cot. Edward straightened out, looked up and said, "Morgan, don't let them take me into Dan Page's home." Morgan did not allow him to be taken into Page's residence, but laid him on the porch. In forty minutes Edward died. Young men, George W. Decker, Warren Tye, Harm Bayles, Jess Ward and a large group gathered at the scene of the murder intending to string Marshal Thompson up if they could find him. Morgan Richards had nearly worked his head off trying to persuade them not to do anything they would be sorry for all the rest of their lives. Morgan said, "This is the governmnent's job. Thompson is a U.S. Marshal and while we are all so very sorry and feel so badly about it, let the officers do their work. You must not take the law in your hands. Leave the punishment to the government." The crowd quieted down. Sheriff Hugh L. Adams was soon on the job and took Thompson into custody. He could see the attitude of Edward's friends, so he swore them all in as deputies to help guard the prisoner. The prisoner and accomplice were taken to the sheriff's home for supper, but they could hardly eat anything. After dark they took Thompson to Beaver to await trial. The trial of William Thompson, Jr., was held in the second district court at Beaver, Utah. The jurors all being anti-Mormon. On January 7, 1887 after a two day trial the jury accepted the plea that Edward Meeks Dalton had endeavored to escape arrest by the U.S. Marshal, and gave a verdict in favor of the murderer. Residents in Beaver often remarked that William Thompson, Jr., acted like a hunted man all his life. He would never walk on the side-walks, but always in the middle of the street. If he had to take water on his lot at night he took his lantern, after he had opened the head gate for the water, and would run for dear life until he got back into his house. The people of Parowan freely contributed means for the erection of a beautiful stone monument for the grave of Edward Meeks Dalton in the Parowan, Utah, cemetery. ACTION: Find other 3 children. He was the father to 10 children and only 7 are listed. (Another birthdate is listed for him as the 25 of Aug 1859)