From Maurine Powell Stephensen's A History of Levan: Chicken Creek Camp D.U.P., pp. 131 [1990]
"As has been mentioned before, Salt Creek was settled by three Taylor brothers who practiced polygamy. In Salt Creek were two half-brothers, Rufus and Charles Taylor, sons of Norman Taylor. They were both 23 years old and were boisterous, unruly young men. They often came to Levan seeking excitement. They would get drunk and ride around town causing a disturbance. Often they would crash private parties and ride through town shooting off their guns.
On the night of July 5, 1880, a dance was in progress in the schoolhouse which was on the southwest corner of the public square. These two young men had been drinking. They rode their horses into the building shooting at the lights and the ceiling causing a terrifying situation. The floor manager was Christian Christensen. He, with the help of other men, ousted the two Taylor boys.
After the dance when Chris and his wife had gone to bed, these two young men entered the Christensen home, walked into the bedroom striking matches and calling loudly for Mr. Christensen to come out and fight. They pulled the covers off the bed swearing and cursing loudly. Finally they left the house, rode into the Christensen barnyard disturbing the animals and chasing them around. There was a full moon. Mr. Christensen could see the intruders plainly. He grabbed his gun, poked it out the window and fired. Rufus fell from his horse mortally wounded. Mrs. Christensen grabbed the gun or the other boy would have been killed, too. Charles picked up his brother's body and carried it to a small house which the family owned at 1st east and 3rd south. There Rufus died.
Charles tied the body to the saddle and took it to the ranch at Salt Creek. Christensen was taken into custody and tried in court in Freedom, Sanpete County. The jury freed him saying that he had acted in self-defense. Shortly after this, Mr. Christensen moved from Levan to Springville, fearing retaliation from the Taylor family.
The second boy, Charles, met his death in a tragic manner, also. In less than a year, March 6, 1881, his horse came to Salt Creek from the south with Charles' body tied on the saddle. He was dead from a gunshot wound. The killer was never found.
The Taylor families moved shortly after this, Martin to Freedom, Utah and Norman to Moab, Utah" (p. 39).
My comment: In the 1880 Census records Salt Creek was called Taylorsville because so many Taylors lived in the area (no fewer than seven Taylor households are listed). By the next census (1890) the town had been renamed 'Salt Creek.' Crispin Taylor, third younger brother of Norman Taylor was also living in Taylorsville in 1880. In 1881, Crispin moved his family of five children to Moab. The following spring, Norman moved both of his families to Moab, Martin took his family northeast to Freedom, and Elmer (the only brother not living in Taylorsville in 1880) remained in Levan. Charles Wesley Taylor left behind a pregnant wife (Louannie Jane Gibson) and baby son (William Edgar) at the time of his death. His daughter (Laura Elvira) was born in Moab, on December 18, 1881. Louannie remarried and lived in Grand County, Utah until her death in 1911. Rufus Benjamin Taylor died without issue (he was single at age 23 on the night of his death, July 5, 1880).
"As has been mentioned before, Salt Creek was settled by three Taylor brothers who practiced polygamy. In Salt Creek were two half-brothers, Rufus and Charles Taylor, sons of Norman Taylor. They were both 23 years old and were boisterous, unruly young men. They often came to Levan seeking excitement. They would get drunk and ride around town causing a disturbance. Often they would crash private parties and ride through town shooting off their guns.
On the night of July 5, 1880, a dance was in progress in the schoolhouse which was on the southwest corner of the public square. These two young men had been drinking. They rode their horses into the building shooting at the lights and the ceiling causing a terrifying situation. The floor manager was Christian Christensen. He, with the help of other men, ousted the two Taylor boys.
After the dance when Chris and his wife had gone to bed, these two young men entered the Christensen home, walked into the bedroom striking matches and calling loudly for Mr. Christensen to come out and fight. They pulled the covers off the bed swearing and cursing loudly. Finally they left the house, rode into the Christensen barnyard disturbing the animals and chasing them around. There was a full moon. Mr. Christensen could see the intruders plainly. He grabbed his gun, poked it out the window and fired. Rufus fell from his horse mortally wounded. Mrs. Christensen grabbed the gun or the other boy would have been killed, too. Charles picked up his brother's body and carried it to a small house which the family owned at 1st east and 3rd south. There Rufus died.
Charles tied the body to the saddle and took it to the ranch at Salt Creek. Christensen was taken into custody and tried in court in Freedom, Sanpete County. The jury freed him saying that he had acted in self-defense. Shortly after this, Mr. Christensen moved from Levan to Springville, fearing retaliation from the Taylor family.
The second boy, Charles, met his death in a tragic manner, also. In less than a year, March 6, 1881, his horse came to Salt Creek from the south with Charles' body tied on the saddle. He was dead from a gunshot wound. The killer was never found.
The Taylor families moved shortly after this, Martin to Freedom, Utah and Norman to Moab, Utah" (p. 39).
My comment: In the 1880 Census records Salt Creek was called Taylorsville because so many Taylors lived in the area (no fewer than seven Taylor households are listed). By the next census (1890) the town had been renamed 'Salt Creek.' Crispin Taylor, third younger brother of Norman Taylor was also living in Taylorsville in 1880. In 1881, Crispin moved his family of five children to Moab. The following spring, Norman moved both of his families to Moab, Martin took his family northeast to Freedom, and Elmer (the only brother not living in Taylorsville in 1880) remained in Levan. Charles Wesley Taylor left behind a pregnant wife (Louannie Jane Gibson) and baby son (William Edgar) at the time of his death. His daughter (Laura Elvira) was born in Moab, on December 18, 1881. Louannie remarried and lived in Grand County, Utah until her death in 1911. Rufus Benjamin Taylor died without issue (he was single at age 23 on the night of his death, July 5, 1880).
From Maurine Powell Stephensen's A History of Levan: Chicken Creek Camp D.U.P., pp. 131 [1990]
"As has been mentioned before, Salt Creek was settled by three Taylor brothers who practiced polygamy. In Salt Creek were two half-brothers, Rufus and Charles Taylor, sons of Norman Taylor. They were both 23 years old and were boisterous, unruly young men. They often came to Levan seeking excitement. They would get drunk and ride around town causing a disturbance. Often they would crash private parties and ride through town shooting off their guns.
On the night of July 5, 1880, a dance was in progress in the schoolhouse which was on the southwest corner of the public square. These two young men had been drinking. They rode their horses into the building shooting at the lights and the ceiling causing a terrifying situation. The floor manager was Christian Christensen. He, with the help of other men, ousted the two Taylor boys.
After the dance when Chris and his wife had gone to bed, these two young men entered the Christensen home, walked into the bedroom striking matches and calling loudly for Mr. Christensen to come out and fight. They pulled the covers off the bed swearing and cursing loudly. Finally they left the house, rode into the Christensen barnyard disturbing the animals and chasing them around. There was a full moon. Mr. Christensen could see the intruders plainly. He grabbed his gun, poked it out the window and fired. Rufus fell from his horse mortally wounded. Mrs. Christensen grabbed the gun or the other boy would have been killed, too. Charles picked up his brother's body and carried it to a small house which the family owned at 1st east and 3rd south. There Rufus died.
Charles tied the body to the saddle and took it to the ranch at Salt Creek. Christensen was taken into custody and tried in court in Freedom, Sanpete County. The jury freed him saying that he had acted in self-defense. Shortly after this, Mr. Christensen moved from Levan to Springville, fearing retaliation from the Taylor family.
The second boy, Charles, met his death in a tragic manner, also. In less than a year, March 6, 1881, his horse came to Salt Creek from the south with Charles' body tied on the saddle. He was dead from a gunshot wound. The killer was never found.
The Taylor families moved shortly after this, Martin to Freedom, Utah and Norman to Moab, Utah" (p. 39).
My comment: In the 1880 Census records Salt Creek was called Taylorsville because so many Taylors lived in the area (no fewer than seven Taylor households are listed). By the next census (1890) the town had been renamed 'Salt Creek.' Crispin Taylor, third younger brother of Norman Taylor was also living in Taylorsville in 1880. In 1881, Crispin moved his family of five children to Moab. The following spring, Norman moved both of his families to Moab, Martin took his family northeast to Freedom, and Elmer (the only brother not living in Taylorsville in 1880) remained in Levan. Charles Wesley Taylor left behind a pregnant wife (Louannie Jane Gibson) and baby son (William Edgar) at the time of his death. His daughter (Laura Elvira) was born in Moab, on December 18, 1881. Louannie remarried and lived in Grand County, Utah until her death in 1911. Rufus Benjamin Taylor died without issue (he was single at age 23 on the night of his death, July 5, 1880).
"As has been mentioned before, Salt Creek was settled by three Taylor brothers who practiced polygamy. In Salt Creek were two half-brothers, Rufus and Charles Taylor, sons of Norman Taylor. They were both 23 years old and were boisterous, unruly young men. They often came to Levan seeking excitement. They would get drunk and ride around town causing a disturbance. Often they would crash private parties and ride through town shooting off their guns.
On the night of July 5, 1880, a dance was in progress in the schoolhouse which was on the southwest corner of the public square. These two young men had been drinking. They rode their horses into the building shooting at the lights and the ceiling causing a terrifying situation. The floor manager was Christian Christensen. He, with the help of other men, ousted the two Taylor boys.
After the dance when Chris and his wife had gone to bed, these two young men entered the Christensen home, walked into the bedroom striking matches and calling loudly for Mr. Christensen to come out and fight. They pulled the covers off the bed swearing and cursing loudly. Finally they left the house, rode into the Christensen barnyard disturbing the animals and chasing them around. There was a full moon. Mr. Christensen could see the intruders plainly. He grabbed his gun, poked it out the window and fired. Rufus fell from his horse mortally wounded. Mrs. Christensen grabbed the gun or the other boy would have been killed, too. Charles picked up his brother's body and carried it to a small house which the family owned at 1st east and 3rd south. There Rufus died.
Charles tied the body to the saddle and took it to the ranch at Salt Creek. Christensen was taken into custody and tried in court in Freedom, Sanpete County. The jury freed him saying that he had acted in self-defense. Shortly after this, Mr. Christensen moved from Levan to Springville, fearing retaliation from the Taylor family.
The second boy, Charles, met his death in a tragic manner, also. In less than a year, March 6, 1881, his horse came to Salt Creek from the south with Charles' body tied on the saddle. He was dead from a gunshot wound. The killer was never found.
The Taylor families moved shortly after this, Martin to Freedom, Utah and Norman to Moab, Utah" (p. 39).
My comment: In the 1880 Census records Salt Creek was called Taylorsville because so many Taylors lived in the area (no fewer than seven Taylor households are listed). By the next census (1890) the town had been renamed 'Salt Creek.' Crispin Taylor, third younger brother of Norman Taylor was also living in Taylorsville in 1880. In 1881, Crispin moved his family of five children to Moab. The following spring, Norman moved both of his families to Moab, Martin took his family northeast to Freedom, and Elmer (the only brother not living in Taylorsville in 1880) remained in Levan. Charles Wesley Taylor left behind a pregnant wife (Louannie Jane Gibson) and baby son (William Edgar) at the time of his death. His daughter (Laura Elvira) was born in Moab, on December 18, 1881. Louannie remarried and lived in Grand County, Utah until her death in 1911. Rufus Benjamin Taylor died without issue (he was single at age 23 on the night of his death, July 5, 1880).
Inscription
Sacred to the
Memory
of
Rufus B.
Son of
Norman & Lurana
TAYLOR
Born Mar. 24, 1857
Died Jul. 5, 1880
AGED
23 years
Gravesite Details
Family plot is approximately 6 miles south of Levan proper just east of Utah state highway 28 at 39°28'34.9"N 111°53'29.1"W (gps: 39.4763611,-111.8914167); diseased is buried next to his half brother, Charles W. Taylor, died March 6, 1881.
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