Kanab, Utah

The very first settler in the area was Jacob Hamblin who build a dugout on Kanab Kreek in 1858. The name "Kanab" comes from an Indian word meaning "place of the willos." In 1865 Kanab Fort was built by Mormon settlers, which was abandoned in 1868 because of Indian hostilities. In 1870 a group of eleven families led by Levi Stewart came from Cottonwood and settled Kanab. They were joined by settlers from the Muddy settlment in southern Nevada. The town of Kanab was incorporated in 1885. Read more about the history of Kanab in the news section.

Kanab Tragedy

About six months after the settlement of Kanab, a fire broke out in the fort in which Levi Stewart's wife, Margery, and five of his sons died. These are notices from the Deseret News:

[Deseret News, Vol. XIX, No. 47, December 27, 1870, p. 1] TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE AT KANAB,-- The following was received last evening, too late for publication in yesterday's NEWS: St. George, Dec. 20. Editor News:--James Thorp has reached Toker from Kanab and reports that the wife of Brother Levi Stewart, Levi Jun., and four children were burned to death. There were, in the house at the time of the fire, two kegs of powder and ten gallons of coal oil. Sister Stewart and young Levi rushed into the burning building to save the children and while they were in, the oil exploded, killing them both and badly burning a young man who was assisting in trying to save the children.

The news of this great calamity will be received with grief by the numerous friends of Bishop Stewart all over the Territory. He is one of our oldest and most respected citizens. We deeply sympathize with him in his present trouble. -- George A. Smith

THE CATASTROPHE AT KANAB. We have received from Elder Levi Stewart, the following account of the terrible calamity which was overtaken his family.

Kanab, 18, via Toker.... One of the most heart-rending scenes took place on the morning of the 14th, at about 4.30 a.m., resulting in the death of my wife Margery, and her sons Charles C., Heber C. and Edward; also my sons L. H. Stewart and U.V. Stewart, who perished in the flames, although there was a guard on at the time; which failed to know anything about it until the cry of fire by myself, at which time two rooms were in a light of flame. Seven boys were sleeping in the back room, two of whom escaped through the flames there being no other opening to the room. My wife rushed in through the flames, to waken her children, and perished before there was any chance of rescue, although there was an opening made in the back part of the house within five minutes from the time we awoke; but all had perished by the explosion of the coal oil which was in the room with them. E. H. Stout and Alonzo Stewart were the two who made their escape before getting badly hurt; they are out of danger at present, the latter only slightly burnt. The origin of the fire is a mystery to all."

This is the most appalling calamity, we believe, that has ever occurred in the Territory since its settlement; and we feel convinced that the sympathy and condolence of the entire community will be with Bro. Levi in the fearful dispensation of Providence which has overtaken him.

[The Deseret News, Vol. XIX, No. 48:

Kanab, Dec. 18, 1870.

Editor Deseret News:-- Dear Brother: I send, by first chance, particulars of the recent melancholy loss of life in this place. On the morning of the 14th, at a quarter past four o'clock, we were alarmed by the cry of fire,--one of Bro. Levi Stewart's buildings in the N.W. corner of the fort was in flames. The building was used partly for storage, and also as a sleeping apartment for the boys. This building, with contents, were destroyed; also the adjoining kitchen room. The loss of property is between two and three thousand dollars, but far worse than this was the loss of life. At the first alarm, Sister Margery Stewart, sprang from her bed and rushed into the flames before any one could prevent her, and was probably the first victim. Brother Eli H. Stout, son of Hon. Hosea Stout, escaped from the fire, bringing one of the little boys. Brother Stout is badly burned about the face, shoulders, back and hands; but is now mending very rapidly, and we are sanguine he will recover. The little boy, Alonzo was not burned seriously. There perished in the fire six persons, viz: Margery Stewart, aged 38; Levi H., aged 22; Charles Courtland S., aged 14; Urban Van, aged 13; Heber Carlos, aged 9; Edward Lorenzo, aged 7. The first named is the wife of Elder Levi Stewart, and the remainder are his sons, three of which are by the wife who perished, one by his wife who is still living, and the eldest son is by his wife who died in the city some sixteen years ago.

How the fire originated, will probably never be known, for the guard was relieved at a quarter past three, at which time the wind was blowing strong from the north, but no sign of fire. The guard on duty at the time, neither saw nor heard anything, until the cry of fire. We did all that could be done to rescue the inmates of the building, but all in vain. There could not possibly, have been five minutes of time elapsed from the first discovery of fire, until the lives of the inmates were lost, and as soon as life was extinct, the wind ceased to blow entirely, and where the fire had spread into an adjoining house along the roof, we extinguished it with but little difficulty. As soon as the fire was all put out, the wind arose again and blew violently, during the night, the little boy, Alonzo awoke, and went to the creek to get a drink, and when he returned, he searched for fire to warm his feet, and found none.

Had it not been for the interposing hand of Providence perhaps the entire fort would have been destroyed and a number more of lives. The wind which almost invariably blows strong from the north during the night, and which was blowing at the time the guard was relieved, suddenly fell. There was in the building, under the bed, two kegs of blasting powder, one of which was uncorked. The staves are blackened and charred, but the powder did not explode. Nearly all the persons in the fort were around the building, carrying water, and doing what they could to arrest the progress of the flames; but had the powder exploded, fire, death and destruction would have been hurled in every direction. We cannot help but thank God for manifesting Himself in our behalf. The family and friends all fee sad under the terrible bereavement, yet we feel that "Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth," and that like Job when his fair sons were taken from him, the Lord is still the friend of brother Stewart. Your brother as ever, M. F. Farnsworth.