Uncle (3G) Ephraim Knowlton Hanks

Jenson, Andrew. LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, 1951. Volume 2, pp 764-66 (continued, paragraphing and emphasis added): …Horace S. Eldredge being his assistant. Subsequently, in the winter of of 1850–1851, he hired out to Mr. Magers to take mails out on the plains. Later he took a contract to carry the mail over the plains, with [his brothers-in-law, [Uncle] Feramorz Little and [Uncle] Chas. Decker as partners, and remained in that business for three years. In 1856 he rendered very efficient aid in helping the handcart companies into the valley. (See “Contributor,” Vol. 14.) For all these public services he never received any remuneration. He took an active part in the so-called Echo Canyon war during the years 1857 and 1858. He served as captain of the life guards and escorted Col. Thomas L. Kane to Fort Bridger early in 1858, returning with him safely to Salt Lake City. During the campaign Elder Hanks made a most bold and daring exploit, by which he took a band of horses and mules from the soldiers. For many years Elder Hanks was kept on the frontiers and passed through some very interesting experiences. During “the move” in 1858 he went to Provo, and after his return he settled at Mountain Dell, Parley’s Canyon, between Big and Little Mountain. Here he kept a trading post, doing a good business. He also built a number of houses and barns, but finally sold out his improvements in the canyon, bought a saw mill and located near Heber City, Wasatch county. There he lived till the breaking out of the Black Hawk war in 1865, when he removed to Salt Lake City. He spent several months in the mountains, mainly in Sanpete county, participating in many daring adventures in Indian fighting, but he was always proud of being able to say that he never killed an Indian. Prior to this he had taken an active part in the Indian wars of 1848 and 1853. After the Black Hawk war he engaged in stockraising in Parley’s Park and found the first silver quartz on the spot where the rich mines of Park City now are situated. Being advised by President Young to purchase Lee’s Ferry, on the Colorado river, he sold out his improvements in Parley’s Park in 1877 and made all preparations to start south when President Young took sick and died; that altered his program. President John Taylor, however, also advised him to go south, which he did, and settled in Burrville, Grass Valley. This being a cold region, he soon changed location and, moving farther east, he settled in a box canyon on Pleasant Creek, a small tributary of the Fremont river. There the writer of these lines visited him in June, 1891. His place of abode was a cozy little nook in an opening in the mountain where there is a few acres of land on which Bro. Hanks had set out about 200 fruit trees and was making a comfortable home. At this romantic mountain retreat Bro. Hanks [p.766] died, June 9, 1896. Prior to his demise he had been ordained a Patriarch.

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