The Mormon Mountain Meadows Massacre: From the Diary of John I. Ginn [Hardcover]

Steven E. Farley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 7, 2003

Captain Ginn's manuscript is, without a doubt an unusual collection of events that occurred on the Western Frontier, in the volatile years of 1857 and 1858. There are uniquely interesting and highly detailed accounts of a most pertinent and intimate nature regarding the condition in Utah and the West in 1857-58, that up to this time, has never, to the best of my knowledge, been seen by the general public. Through this novel,you will witness secret Mormon rituals, and the dark side of the 19th century Mormon doctrine, like polygamy's vicious bite, forcing women both Mormon and non-Mormon to marry against their will, and so much more on the Mountain Meadows Massacre.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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About the Author

Steven Farley likes to write about Western History, looking for new adventure around every turn in the bend of the river. Farley's ancestors in 1887 after crossing into Wyoming from Missouri en-route to Oregonto homestead. They started the long uphill pull to Fort Laramie and on up the North Fork of the Platte to where it meets the Sweetwater River. Here they followed up the Sweetwater to it's beginning and up over South Pass with an Elevation of 7,550 ft. Down the west side of the pass they went to Fort Bridger near the Utah border. The Forts were a welcome change for the travelers as they could talk to other people and replenish their depleted food supply. Farley, was told even Prairie Dog stew became a delicacy. From Bridger the trail turned North West again toward Fort Hall. It was along this area where the Mormons had installed a ferry across the stream and were charging to cross. ¿The fee was too high to please the travelers so they decided to follow along the bank until a place to cross was found so the Mormons offeredto lower the price but by now it was too late. They refused and went their way and did indeed find a crossing with no toll to pay. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 184 pages
• Publisher: 1st Book Library (May 7, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1410743632
• ISBN-13: 978-1410743633
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,148,731 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars History or fiction?, April 20, 2011

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flying professor (SAINT GEORGE, UT, US) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Mormon Mountain Meadows Massacre: From the Diary of John I. Ginn (Paperback)

The title alludes to this being an edited version of an actual diary. At least in his own notes Farley refers to this work as a novel not history. If this were an actual diary, it would be a reworked diary written well after the fact, not as the events occurred which is the way it is portrayed. Even his "new found" supporting evidence is hear say of hear say that has been hidden in fear for over a hundred years. Where I was looking for a possible primary source for historical research, good, bad & ugly, I found a nice fairy tale. If this volume was taken from an actual diary, I would suspect that "I was in Utah. I met a Mormon. I was in Southern Utah. I saw bones." would probably be the entirety of what was gleaned from the diary. Nearly everything else is conjecture or fiction.

If you are looking for a disparaging read against the evil mormon church, this is your ticket.
If you are looking for fiction and conjecture, loosely based on actual events, this may be for you.
If you are looking for impartial history don't bother, unless you are looking for a timeline, sort of. Even the fastest indians couldn't make it from southern Utah to Salt Lake and back in 4 days, especially on foot.