Connor Creek Massacre

Four miles east of Elba, Idaho is a junction called Connor Creek, which was named after General Patrick E. Connor who established Ft. Douglas in Salt Lake City. His assignment was to keep the mail safe.

General Patrick Edward Connor

Irish to the core, he was born in County Kerry, Ireland.  He enlisted with the US Army after arriving in America and served in many states. He lead a group of California soldiers and especially did not like the Mormons. The non-Mormon Governor of Utah sent him to Idaho to kill the Indians.

The tale dates back to January in 1863. A group of Shoshone Indians near Franklin, Idaho had settled in for the winter next to the Bear River. They often raided or begged for food from the Mormon settlement.  

They approached the pioneers in that area begging for food.  Another account said that some drunken Indians came into town and one tried to run over a woman with his horse.  Another man shot the Indian and things began to heat up.  The settlers had nine sacks of wheat stored for planting in the spring. Because these Indians were threatening the settlers and about to steal their grain, the settlers sent word to Utah that they needed help.  Just as the Indians were taking off with sacks of grain, the soldiers came into sight. General Connor had strong horses and beat the Indians to their hideout.

Chief Bear

It was said that some 250 Shoshone were killed, including Chief Bear Hunter and sub Chief Lehi.  A small band of Indians took off west and General Edward Connor sent soldiers to kill the Indians.  At Connor Creek another battle ensued. All of the Indians were massacred and 16 soldiers died.

Connor Creek Ravine

There seems to be a variety of tales about both massacres and one might be related to the other but in other stories, it is not.  It all depends on who wrote the histories.

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