Born Jan 12, 1840 to Jonathan C. and Rebecca Wheeler Wright in Nauvoo, Illinois, Amos Russell Wright lived an adventurous and colorful life. Raised as a “Mormon,” as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were commonly called, at the age of 10 Amos walked 1,500 miles across the plains from Missouri to Salt Lake City, Utah.
As his pioneer company rested at Fort Laramie, his life-long fascination with the Indians began. After his family moved to Brigham City, Utah in 1854, he and his brothers and sister played with the Indian children near their home. When not working or doing chores when young, he could usually be found at the Indian camp at the edge of town, learning the ways of the Indians. He spoke three Indian languages and universal sign language fluently.
At the age of 15, Amos, commonly called Mose, was called by his church as a missionary to the Indians. He, Lewis Shurtliff, and a few others were called to explore and settle the Salmon River country of what is now central Idaho. Arriving in the Salmon River valley, they soon established a fort and built stockades. But, after an Indian attack, the settlers were ordered by Brigham Young to abandon the settlement and regather in Utah, since Johnston’s Army was then on its way to invade Utah and isolated settlements were deemed to be in greater danger.
Mose rode as a mail carrier for the Pony Express. And while working for them in Ruby Valley, Nevada, he taught Englishman Richard Burton the Shoshone language. Burton later wrote a popular book about the “Mormons,” entitled, City of the Saints, where the experience was related in detail.
At twenty-one, he’d been a missionary, a freighter, Pony Express rider, detective, linguist, Indian lore specialist and was well-known as a raconteur; or as the dictionary defines it, a person who tells anecdotes in a skillful and amusing way. He later became a farmer, a miner, a schoolteacher, state legislator and Mormon bishop. He was well-known as a peacemaker, orator and educator and even and delivered mail through treacherous mountainous passages.
After Mose had a misunderstanding that led to an altercation with prominent local church leader, Lorenzo Snow in Brigham City, he was excommunicated from the church, and became embittered. Snow later went on to become the fifth President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Though excommunicated by the church, Amos received a letter from Brigham Young, inviting him to settle with others in the Bear Lake Valley, which at that time was believed to be in Utah territory. However, later when a formal survey was later taken, it was found to be in Idaho.
After moving to the Bear River Valley, Amos formed a life-long devotion to early church leader, Charles C. Rich, and was eventually rebaptized in the church. He eventually became a polygamist with two wives, serving time in the penitentiary for the practice, which by that time became illegal. He went on to become a trusted Bishop in the church, serving for many years in Bennington, Idaho, located five miles north of Montpelier. Both Bennington & Montpelier were named after towns in Vermont, by Brigham Young because they reminded him of the towns in his native Vermont.
Amos’ knowledge of the Shoshone Indian language served as a great help to him and his companions throughout his life. He served as an interpreter for treaties with Indians several times, negotiating treaties with noted chiefs Pocatello and Washakie. As an adult he dressed in buckskins and moccasins with long hair most of the time, and was well known for his impassioned orations. On one notable occasion he addressed the Idaho legislature, dressed in buckskin and moccasins.
He died at age eighty-five of what was believed to be a stroke on February 24, 1915 and is buried next to his two wives in the Bennington Cemetery in Bennington, Idaho.
Source: The Adventures of Amos Wright, by Geneva Ensign Wright, published by Council Press, Provo, UT © 1981.
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