Archives West Finding Aid

Daniel Henry was born 15 November 1824 at Miami, Hamilton County, Ohio, to William and Myra Mayall Henrie. The Henrie's were of Scotch-Irish descent, coming to North Ireland in the seventeenth century. The families had heard talk of a new religion during the 1830s and had heard such men as Parley P. Pratt and Samuel Smith preach the strange doctrine founded by Joseph Smith Jr. They had even allowed cottage meetings to be held in their home, but were reluctant to be baptized. However, after meeting the prophet in person, they were so impressed by his personal magnetism that they were baptized as a family on 17 July 1842.

The Henrie family moved with others to Nauvoo and helped in the building of the temple there. They ran a grist mill and continued to pride themselves in raising fine horses as they had done in more prosperous days in Ohio. One of their horses was borrowed by John Taylor for the use of Joseph Smith when he made his fateful journey to Carthage Jail.

At Winter Quarters, Daniel was made captain of the nightwatch for community-owned cattle. His father, William, an experienced frontiersman, was made a member of the 5th Ten of the 2nd Fifty Group under Captain Stephen H. Goddard. Col. Kearney and Col. Allen representing the government of United States, appeared to request 500 volunteers as battalion to march to Mexico against the rebellion there. Daniel was among these volunteers and was assigned to Company D under Captain Nelson Higgins. He and Amanda Bradley had become engaged shortly before his departure with the company on 21 March 1846.

Following an agonizing and thirsty trek across what is now known as Death Valley, the men were finally garrisoned at the San Luis Ray (sic) Mission on 29 January 1847 where they remained for six months. Upon their release, they traveled together to Sacramento in groups of 100, 50, and 10 as they had learned to travel in earlier times.

Upon learning of the scarcity of work in the Great Salt Lake Basin, Daniel was among those who decided to remain in Sacramento for the winter. When word came in January 1848 of the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill by James Marshall and crew, Daniel was among the first there and had acquired a small fortune by the time he left for Salt Lake in May 1849.

The story of his beautiful black stallion makes an exciting addition to the colorful history of those early gold rush days. He so yearned to own this animal that he proudly had it shod with silver shoes once he attained his dream, and rode it about the streets of Califronis settlements. When it came time to start the lonely ride to the Great Salt Lake Basin, he sewed gold dust into small bags and then into a blanket which he folded like a saddle blanket and cinched to his horse's back as he began the perilous journey alone over the rugged Sierra-Nevada mountains. He followed Indian trails, traveling mostly at night to keep out of sight of marauders who might steal his gold. The site of the Donner tragedy made a frightening impression on him and a vivid description is given of this place and other points along the route. In October 1849, he reached the a Sessions settlement (Bountiful) and was happily reunited with his family. Daniel and Amanda were married on 29 October 1849 by Brigham Young.

Daniel Henrie was sherif of Sanpete county, city treasurer, president of the 48th Quorum of Seventies, and father of twenty-six children. He was considered a financial leader owning stock in Manti Co-op Store, sheep in the Co-op herd, and valuable farming and pasture land just north of town. He died in Manti on 28 June 1914.