Historical Marker

John Christopher Armstrong

Iron County · Utah
Erected by John Christopher Armstrong Family Association

John Christopher Armstrong went south with Pratt's company in 1849 as its bugler, a tailor by trade who had sewn for Brigham Young. He kept a journal through the winter crossing, writing of oxen falling through river ice and of nights so cold his teeth chattered as he blew the trumpet for prayer. On December 21 he cut his name into a sandstone face up Fremont Canyon; the carving is still there. Because no one knows where he was buried, this monument stands in place of a grave. Its reverse lists Pratt's whole company, ten by ten.

What the plaque says

John Christopher Armstrong 1813 - This monument is a memorial to the dedication and perseverance of John C. Armstrong and to all the brave men, see reverse side, who explored this area under the direction of Parley P. Pratt. Since a burial spot is not known this will serve as a burial monument for him. He arrived in the Salt Lake Valley Sept. 1847 and settled his family in a mud dugout. As a skilled tailor he applied his trade for many including Brigham Young. He played in Captain Ballou's brass band and accepted the call to join Pratt's exploration party as bugler and explorer. Later he was called to defend Fort Bridger against Indians on the war path. He carved his name on a sandstone cliff east from this marker up Fremont Canyon on December 21, 1849. The carving, as depicted on this monument is still plainly visible on the rock in the canyon. His journal tells of the sacrifice, hardships and near tragedy endured by these explorers. "Sunday. 9th This night one of the coldest ... both feet froze." "Thursday 13th I walked as well as I could blew thf trumpet for prayers...rubbed my limbs all the time trembling with cold my teeth chattering in my head. Truly I thought about home and a good bed. "Friday 21st ... we have fought with the storm and the tempest and it must have been through the divine interposition of God, who led Nephi of old that we were brought over these mountains. To look at them it would be said that no white man could do it or be rash enough to undertake it the Mormons are the boys for such expeditions they fear neither kanyon, mountain, snow storm, gully or river because they know that they are led by the mighty God of Jacob. Parley P. Pratt received a commission from Brigham Young, the Governor of the State of Deseret to raise fifty men, with the necessary teams and outfit, on an exploring tour to the southward. First Ten Isaac C. Haight, Captain Parley P. Pratt, President William Wadsworth · Hial K. Gay Rufus Allen · George B. Mabson Chauncey West · Samuel Gould Dan Jones · Wm. P. Vance Second Ten Joseph Matthews, Captain John Brown · Schuyler Jennings Nathan Tanner · John H. Bankhead Sterling G. Driggs · John D. Holiday Homer Duncan · Robert M. Smith Wm. Matthews Third Ten Joseph Horn, Captain David Fulmer, Counselor Wm. Brown · James Farrer George Nebiker · Henry Heath Benjamin F. Stewart · Seth B. Tanner Alexander Wright · Alexander Lemon Fourth Ten Ephraim Green, Captain Wm. W. Phelps, Counselor Robert Campbell, Clerk Charles Hopkins · Peter Dustin Sidney Willis · Thomas Ricks Andrew Blodgett · Isaac H. Brown Wm. Henry Fifth Ten Josiah Arnold, Captain Jonathan Packer · Isaac B. Hatch Christopher Williams · John C. Armstrong Stephen Taylor · Dimick B. Huntington Manti Group Madison D. Hambleton · Edward Everett Gardner G. Potter · Sylvester Hewlitt John Lowry Jr. Monument sponsored by The John Christopher Armstrong Family Association Site courtesy of B.L.M.

Where it stands

38.12790, -112.62570 · Directions

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