*VICTIM OF THE 1857 MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MASSACRE*
William Prewit was the second son of David Prewit and Sarah "Sadie" Downs, born 26 July 1839 in Rutherford County, North Carolina. The Prewits, and their nine children, migrated from North Carolina to Arkansas in the late 1840's, and settled in Marion County. Headed to California, William Prewit, and his brother John, departed from Sugar Loaf Township, Marion County, Arkansas with "The Mitchell Train" in April, 1857. The Mitchell Train was comprised of the family of Charles Roark Mitchell, and his brother Joel Dyer Mitchell, who were taking approximately 74 to 100 head of cattle to California to start a cattle ranch. The Prewit brothers probably worked as a drovers, or hired hands, on the trip and may have planned to work for the Mitchells when they reached their destination in California. Another possible drover with the Mitchell Train was Lawson A. McEntire, whose family, like the Prewits, had come from Rutherford County, North Carolina and settled in Marion County, Arkansas. (Lawson McEntire's sister Rachel Dulcina McEntire, was married to George Francis Elam. George Francis Elam's father, William Thomas Elam's, second wife was Sarah Prewit, the sister of John and William Prewit.)
During their journey west, the Mitchell Train traveled in conjunction with "The Dunlap Train", who were relatives of the Mitchell brothers, and were also from Sugar Loaf Township. William Prewit was single, and 18 years old, when he died in the Mountain Meadows Massacre. His older brother, John Prewit, also died in the Massacre.
© 2008 Mountain Meadows Association. All rights reserved
*VICTIM OF THE 1857 MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MASSACRE*
William Prewit was the second son of David Prewit and Sarah "Sadie" Downs, born 26 July 1839 in Rutherford County, North Carolina. The Prewits, and their nine children, migrated from North Carolina to Arkansas in the late 1840's, and settled in Marion County. Headed to California, William Prewit, and his brother John, departed from Sugar Loaf Township, Marion County, Arkansas with "The Mitchell Train" in April, 1857. The Mitchell Train was comprised of the family of Charles Roark Mitchell, and his brother Joel Dyer Mitchell, who were taking approximately 74 to 100 head of cattle to California to start a cattle ranch. The Prewit brothers probably worked as a drovers, or hired hands, on the trip and may have planned to work for the Mitchells when they reached their destination in California. Another possible drover with the Mitchell Train was Lawson A. McEntire, whose family, like the Prewits, had come from Rutherford County, North Carolina and settled in Marion County, Arkansas. (Lawson McEntire's sister Rachel Dulcina McEntire, was married to George Francis Elam. George Francis Elam's father, William Thomas Elam's, second wife was Sarah Prewit, the sister of John and William Prewit.)
During their journey west, the Mitchell Train traveled in conjunction with "The Dunlap Train", who were relatives of the Mitchell brothers, and were also from Sugar Loaf Township. William Prewit was single, and 18 years old, when he died in the Mountain Meadows Massacre. His older brother, John Prewit, also died in the Massacre.
© 2008 Mountain Meadows Association. All rights reserved
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Bio by: Mountain Meadows Association
