Much of the material used in this study was gathered while the writer
was engaged by the National Park Service in Zion Canyon, and he himself
participated in many of the events described in the latter pages. The
foundation for understanding the historical background, however, was
laid during his early life in St. George and the surrounding region.
Expressions and opinions have been interpreted largely through that
experience.
The writer was acquainted with many of the early Dixie settlers, and
notes of interviews with some of these have furnished details otherwise
unobtainable. Personal letters also have filled in many gaps.
Additional source material has been obtained from the Office of the
Adjutant General of Utah, the Salt Lake Public Library, the libraries of
the University of Utah and Dixie Junior College, newspaper files,
published books, unpublished manuscripts, original journals or extracts,
records of the National Park Service, the United States Land Office and
in the L.D.S. Church Historian’s Office, Salt Lake City, the “Journal
History,” (a collection of extracts from journals and newspapers
arranged chronologically) proved to be a fruitful source of information.
This was supplemented by access to additional reports, publications and
records of the St. George L.D.S. Temple, compiled by James G. Bleak.
The writer is grateful to many for their encouragement, advice,
information, pictures, reading and criticism of the manuscript. He is
particularly indebted to Dr. H. E. Gregory, Horace M. Albright, Randall
L. Jones, D. D. Rust, H. L. Reid, J. W. Thornton, Zaidee Walker Miles,
J. Cecil Alter and Miss Marguerite L. Sinclair, Secretary of the Utah
State Historical Society. Further assistance came from William W.
Seegmiller, Frederick S. Dellenbaugh, Frederick Vining Fisher, Dr. J. K.
W. Bracken, Lawrence S. Mariger, Charles B. Petty, William R. Palmer and
Mrs. Margery Browne Cottam (granddaughter of Levi Stewart), as well as
the following persons who furnished source material through interviews
and written notes:
Hyrum Leany, Frank Foster, Joseph S. Snow, Leo A. Snow, St. George;
Chauncey G. Parry, Gronway Parry, Randall L. Jones, Richard A. Thorley,
Frank Petty, Cedar City; David Hirschi, John Petty, Mary Jane Stout,
Hurricane; James Jepson, Thomas Maloney, Virgin; James H. Jennings, Mr.
and Mrs. John Dennett, Arley Dalton, Rockville; Oliver D. Gifford, Edwin
M. Greene, John Winder, Walter Ruesch, Harold Russell, Springdale;
Marion Heap, Zion; Ezra Stevens, Mt. Carmel; William Wallace Adair,
Orderville; Nate Adams, Walter Hamblin, Lavina Johnson Farnsworth,
Thomas Greenhalgh, Brigham A. Riggs, Kanab; Mr. and Mrs. Peter Munk,
Manti; the late Anthony W. Ivins, Edwin G. Woolley, Jr., D. S. Spencer,
Howard C. Means, Lewis T. Cannon, Scott P. Stewart, H. S. Kerry, Salt
Lake City; Old George (Kaibabit Indian), Moccasin, Arizona; Tony
Tillohash, Frank Mustache, Tommy Mayo (Shivwits Indians), Santa Clara.
—_Angus M. Woodbury._