Pioneer Day Tribute

Major Howard Egan, my great-great-grandfather.

(Excerpted from an article by Bob Hale in the Salt Lake Telegram, a daily newspaper, April 14, 1934). "When the first bunch of letters and papers were brought into Salt Lake City by Pony Express on April 7, 1860, Major Howard Egan was in the saddle. It was appropriate he should be the first rider because no one man played a greater part in this romantic history of western history than did this Utahn.

Major Egan knew virtually every foot of the route between Salt Lake and California, having driven stock and escorted many a train out of this city. He laid out Egan's route, which was chosen by the firm of Russell, Majors and Waddell, when it organized the Pony Express".

Howard Egan was originally from Ireland, and was converted to the Mormon Church by Erastus Snow at Salem, Massachusetts in 1842. That same year he went to Nauvoo, Illinois where he was appointed major in the Nauvoo Legion and became a member of the Nauvoo police force and the Prophet Joseph Smith's guard, who has said "he felt safe when Howard Egan was on guard". He received his Patriarchal blessing under the hands of Hyrum Smith. He was made captain of the Ninth Ten when the first group of pioneers were organized at Winter Quarters. Major Egan was often called on by President Brigham Young to help with the entertaining. His first home was built on North Main Street. Some years later he served as a member of the police force and as deputy sheriff. He also acted as guard a the home of Brigham Young and after the death of the Mormon leader, he was appointed to guard his grave. While still performing this duty he was stricken with pneumonia and passed away in 1878.

Howard Egan's second son, my great-grandfather Richard Erastus Egan.

"Rass" as he called in his youth by fellow riders and friends in Salt Lake, was one of the most daring of all the couriers in the Pony Express. Young Egan made the first westbound trip out of Salt Lake City on his sorrel mare "Miss Lightning", which became famous for later rides.

Like his father, Rass Egan had his brushes with the Indians between Salt Lake and Rush Valley during the Piute War of 1860. While making a regular trip in the spring of that year he came upon a stage which had been held up by Indians. He viewed the tragic scene. The driver and passenger had been killed and the mail rifled and horses stolen.

As Egan pounded along the trail, a lone Indian, one of the raiders, suddenly appeared, armed with a rifle and bow and arrows and set out after the pony rider.

Young Egan knew just what to do. Confident his horse was the better steed, he rode just fast enough to keep out of gunshot range. Then suddenly he wheeled and charged straight at the Indian, who turned and fled. Egan related the incident as though he regarded it as a good joke on the Indian.

Rass made the longest ride on record, riding two routes, meeting the express from the west, then returning over the two routes without stopping, a continuous ride of 330 miles.

Love the Old West and the Pioneers!

T