The history of Cedar Valley is a blend of progress, tragedy, and folklore, highlighted by pivotal events like the Weeks brothers’ murders, Arthur Gary Bishop’s crimes, and the enigmatic Joe’s Dugout. In 1854, the brutal murders of teenage brothers William and Warren Weeks by Goshute Indians marked an early dark chapter in the valley’s history, with the brothers’ mutilated bodies found by their father and uncle. The execution of two Goshute men, Knolzoent and Uanzitch (possibly translated as Antelope and Long Hair), became the first legal execution in Utah Territory. Decades later, serial killer Arthur Gary Bishop’s murders cast another shadow, as he buried his young victims on the western slopes of Lake Mountain. His eventual capture and confession shocked the local community, and the burial sites remain a haunting reminder of his crimes.
Adding to the valley’s lore, Joe’s Dugout, once a Pony Express stop, has become steeped in mystery and tales of hauntings. Founded by Joseph Dorton, the site was known for its deep well, which some believed harbored evil spirits. Notable figures like Orrin “Porter” Rockwell avoided the well, fearing it was cursed, and residents continue to report strange sightings, including apparitions and shape-shifting creatures. Together, these stories encapsulate the valley’s layered past, reflecting both its historical hardships and its enduring mysteries, making Cedar Valley a place where history, legend, and the paranormal coexist.
The Weeks Murders (1854)
The Weeks murders took place in Pole Canyon, near the modern-day Eagle Mountain subdivisions of Cedar Fort and White Hills, on August 8, 1854. The victims were two teenage brothers, William (18) and Warren (16) Weeks, who had been sent by their father, Bishop Weeks, to gather poles for building.
When the boys didn’t return home, their father and his brother-in-law, Eli Bennett, went searching for them. They discovered the brothers’ mutilated bodies in the canyon the next morning. One account describes the scene:
“Following the wagon tracks, they came to where it had been turned off the road, and a short distance farther found the dead bodies of the cruelly murdered boys. They were shot twice through the chest, had their scalps torn off, and were otherwise horribly mutilated.”
According to the sources, the boys were killed by five Goshute Indians. One account suggests that the boys had initially shared their lunch with the Indians, who then attacked them when the food ran out. Another account claims that only two of the Indians wanted to kill the boys, while the others wanted to let them go.
Warren Weeks is said to have put up a fierce fight against the attackers. In accordance with Goshute tradition, the Indians cut out his heart and ate it as a way to absorb his bravery.
David K. Crafts, the town constable, worked with friendly Indians to identify the murderers as Knolzoent and Uanzitch. The friendly Indians captured the two men and turned them over to Crafts, who took them to Salt Lake City for trial.
Knolzoent and Uanzitch were tried and convicted of murder in a people’s court. They were hanged on September 15, 1854, making this the first legal execution in the Utah Territory.
One source mentions that, while the names Knolzoent and Uanzitch were used in several accounts, the author believes they may be translated to Antelope and Long Hair. Another source confirms that two Indians named Antelope and Long Hair were hanged on September 15, 1854 for killing the sons of a Mormon bishop in Cedar Valley, lending credence to this theory.
A newspaper article from the time, published nine days after the murders, attempts to downplay the incident and discourage hostilities between settlers and Native Americans. However, the brutal nature of the killings and the subsequent execution of the perpetrators undoubtedly left a lasting impact on the early settlers of Cedar Valley.
Arthur Gary Bishop and Lake Mountain
Arthur Gary Bishop was a serial killer who murdered five young boys in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He buried three of his victims – Alonzo Daniels, Kim Peterson, and Danny Davis – on the western slopes of Lake Mountain, in an area now part of the Eagle Mountain benches.
Lake Mountain played a significant role in the Bishop case, serving as both a burial ground and a crucial piece of evidence. The remote location provided Bishop with a sense of secrecy, but it also ultimately led to his capture and conviction.
The Murders and Burials
Bishop’s first victim, four-year-old Alonzo Daniels, was murdered on October 14, 1979 and buried in a shallow grave amidst the cedar trees on the west side of Lake Mountain.
A year later, on November 9, 1980, Bishop killed 11-year-old Kim Peterson while they were supposedly rabbit hunting. He shot Kim in the back, hid the body, and later returned with a shovel to bury him within 40 feet of Alonzo’s grave.
Danny Davis, Bishop’s third victim, was only four years old when he was lured away from a store by Bishop on October 20, 19812. Bishop killed Danny, placed his body in a box, and buried him the next day on Lake Mountain alongside Alonzo and Kim.
Bishop’s final two victims, Troy Ward and Graeme Cunningham, were killed in 1983 and their bodies were disposed of in a creek in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
Confession and Discovery of the Graves
After Graeme’s murder, police questioned Bishop, who confessed to all five killings and led authorities to the Lake Mountain burial site.
Marc Haddock, a local journalist at the time, accompanied law enforcement to the gravesites in July 19833. In a column published on July 28, 1983, he described the scene:
“The three graves lay secluded in a clump of small cedar trees at the base of Lake Mountain – just over a mile off the main dirt road that runs along the mountain’s foothills… The graves aren’t next to each other; they are about 40 feet apart and placed in a triangular configuration. All that’s left now are four holes – three for the actual graves, and a fourth, much smaller, near one of the graves where officers had started to dig and then had to move their shovels a foot or two before they found the actual site… Littered around the area are the evidences of the investigation carried out by the law officers – paper scraps, photographic film wrappers and an occasional plastic bag… Two of the graves were dug in soft clay, the third in rockier soil…”
Trial, Sentencing, and Execution
Bishop’s trial began on February 27, 1984, and on March 19, he was found guilty of five counts of aggravated murder, five counts of aggravated kidnapping, and one count of abusing a minor. He was sentenced to death and executed by lethal injection at the Utah State Prison on June 10, 19884.
The site on Lake Mountain where Bishop buried three of his victims is a chilling reminder of his crimes. While the area has changed over the years, the memory of the boys and the heinous acts committed against them remains a haunting chapter in the history of Lake Mountain and the surrounding community.
Joe’s Dugout: A Pony Express Stop Shrouded in Mystery and Legend
Joe’s Dugout was a Pony Express station located in Cedar Valley, along what is now Pony Express Blvd in Eagle Mountain, Utah, just north of Hidden Hollow Elementary School. While sometimes used interchangeably, there were actually two separate elements to Joe’s Dugout.
The Dugout: This refers to a shelter, partially dug into the hillside, built by Joseph A. Dorton for a young Native American boy he employed to assist at the station. The exact location of this dugout is unknown and no trace of it remains.
The Well: Also situated at the site was a well dug by Dorton. Historical accounts vary on its depth, ranging from 90 to 350 feet, but most records claim it was at least 350 feet deep. Given the typical well depths on the Cedar Valley side of Lake Mountain, which range from 500-700 feet, it’s believed Dorton’s well only reached about halfway to the water table. The well’s location is known, however, and it is now marked by a split rail fence and a plaque.
While the 1861 mail contract listed “Dugout” as an official station, various sources use a variety of names, including Joe’s Dug Out, Joe Dugout, Joe’s Dugout, Joes Dugout, and Joe Butchers4. Joseph Dorton managed the station, ran a grocery store there, and lived in a two-room brick house on the property. Other structures included a log barn and the aforementioned dugout shelter for Dorton’s helper.
Several accounts from sources offer insight into the history of Joe’s Dugout:
Limited Use: According to Kate Carter, Joe’s Dugout was only used for “a few times” during Pony Express operations. The well’s failure to produce water eventually led to the station’s abandonment4.
Serving Camp Floyd: The station’s primary clients were soldiers from Camp Floyd. Dorton also sold water hauled from Utah Lake for 25 cents per bucket.
Life After the Pony Express: It’s unclear if the station continued to operate after 1861, although it may have served as a stagecoach stop.
Dorton Family History: Joseph Dorton and his wife Martha had three children while living at the station: Martha Jane, John William, and George Henry. Martha traveled back to Lehi to her mother’s home for each childbirth. An incident involving Black Hawk, a Native American chief, is also recounted in the sources. Black Hawk arrived at Dorton’s home one night with a gunshot wound, and Dorton treated the injury, stitching up the wound.
Hauntings and Legends: The area around Joe’s Dugout, specifically the well, has a history steeped in mystery and tales of hauntings. Orrin “Porter” Rockwell, a well-known figure in Utah history, avoided passing by Dorton’s Well, believing it to be haunted. According to Rockwell, five or six men had been buried in the well, and he attributed various misfortunes to the presence of evil spirits there. One story recounts an incident where 30 of Rockwell’s horses suddenly fell ill near the well. He instructed his men to perform a ritual that involved splitting the horses’ tails, smearing their blood on straw, and setting it on fire. This supposedly broke the witches’ spell, and the horses recovered.
More recently, there have been reports of strange occurrences near Joe’s Dugout, adding to its unsettling reputation.
Man in the Well: One resident, Barbara, claims her daughter witnessed a man in a hat and jacket walk into the well and never come out.
Shape-Shifting Creature: Another resident, David, reported seeing a dark, shadowy figure near Hidden Hollow Elementary School. The creature seemed to be running on all fours, but as it reached the road, it stood upright on two legs and ran off at high speed.
These modern accounts, coupled with the historical legends and Rockwell’s belief in the well’s haunted nature, have cemented Joe’s Dugout’s place in local lore as a site of mystery and paranormal activity.
Mike Kieffer is an IT geek by hobby and trade, with a BS in Information Systems & Technology. He is a proud father of 10, a grandpa, an author, a journalist, and internet publisher. His motto is to “Elevate, Inspire and Inform”, and he is politically conservative and a Christian. Mike has a passion for technology, writing, and helping others. With a wealth of experience, he is committed to sharing his knowledge with others to help them reach their full potential. He is known for his jackassery or his form of self-expression that encourages boldness, creativity, and risk-taking. It can be a way to push the boundaries and challenge traditional norms, leading to creative solutions and positive change.