Wading Through Utah History

Utah's history is fascinating. The story of Utah is really made up of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of pioneers, explorers, workers, ranchers, and everyday individuals whose lives, often quietly, helped shape this place. That is what makes Utah history so interesting. There is always another story waiting to be discovered, researched, and told.  In this episode we will discuss George Keller and Jack Chew.

Is Soldier Summit fact or fiction? In 1860, did a freak spring winter storm cause U.S. soldiers to freeze to death? This episode takes a deep dive into the events of 1860 and the U.S. Army, focusing on the 5th Infantry as they traveled up Spanish Fork Canyon en route to Fort Garland, New Mexico. This podcast may challenge the narrative we’ve long accepted.

Tom and Bill McCarty were some of the most significant outlaws in Utah history.   Butch Cassidy and Matt Warner started their outlaw careers under the leadership of Tom and Bill.   This episode will take a deep dive into the McCarty family.

In 1891, at 19 years old Al Scorup left Salina, Utah, with two horses, 20 pounds of flour and $5.00 and would eventually become one of the largest cattle producers in Utah.   In this episode we will talk about Al and how he overcame adversity and adapted to the harsh environment to find success.

This episode will cover two train robberies that involved the Nay and Earl families.  We will discuss the first train robbery in Utah that happened in 1889 in Thompson Springs, Utah.  We will also discuss the Montello, Nevada train robbery in 1882 and how both of these robberies were committed by Mormons.  

On July 14,  1943, WWII light bomber left Sacramento, California for Grand Junction, Colorado.  The plane failed to arrive and went missing for three months until three cowboys from Wayne County discovered the crash site.

For nearly 8 years, Mountain Man Troy Knapp went on a crime spree burglarizing mountain cabins in nine Utah Counties.  His crime spree ended with his arrest and capture on the Manti La Sal National Forest.  This episode will discuss how law enforcement officers were able to track down the mountain man and take him into custody.

Sheriff Jesse Tyler, relentless in his pursuit of justice, tracked outlaws and rustlers across southeastern Utah. After taking down Flat Nose George, he faced a deadly confrontation with five outlaws in the remote Book Cliffs, where he was killed in the line of duty. His death sparked a massive manhunt across the Wild West. We’ll uncover the mystery of his killer and explore the stories of the fearless lawmen who pursued these dangerous outlaws.

Sheriff Jesse Tyler of Grand County, Utah, earned a place in Wild West lore for his daring confrontation in March of 1900 with the notorious outlaw "Flat Nose" George Curry.  In an intense standoff, Sheriff Tyler shot and killed Flat Nose on the banks of the Green River.  Sheriff Tyler was one of the first law enforcement officers to chase outlaws into the San Rafael Desert and Robbers Roost.

In the rugged wilderness of the Manti Forest in 1894, Sheriff Burns met a tragic and violent end while attempting to apprehend notorious sheep rustlers. As the fearless lawman of Sanpete County, he had earned a reputation for restoring order in a land often ruled by chaos. But his pursuit of justice came to a deadly end with suspects Moen Kofford and James Mickel. After the murder, the duo vanished into the sprawling, unforgiving expanse of the San Rafael Swell Desert, eluding relentless posses.