Mellette County, South Dakota
Family Histories & Biographies - Utterback Surname
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James Utterback History
by Mrs. David B. Estes
(Transcribed, with permission from the Mellette County Historical Society, from "Mellette County 1911-1961" published by the Mellette County Centennial Committee)
James E. Utterback came from Virginia to Fort Robinson in the northwest corner of Nebraska in 1876 at the age of 24 years, to work as a government blacksmith for the army. He was transferred from there to the Red Cloud, later Pine Ridge, Agency.
There he was employed as a government herdsman and had the responsibility of getting cattle to the various government stations as they were needed. These cattle were from the large trail herds that were brought up from the south.
In 1879 Utterback married Zoe Larvie, daughter of a famous French voyageur, Joe Larvie, who built the first log house in Hot Springs. It is still standing today. The town of Hot Springs is built on land once owned by the French fur trader, Joe Larvie.
Mr. and Mrs. Utterback were at the Pine Ridge Agency during the Wounded Knee Massacre. Zoe helped to care for the wounded Indians as they were brought in from the battlefield. Cornie, or as the Indians called him, "Wagamu Sioux," meaning Pumpkin Seed, helped also by furnishing food and shelter for them. The wounded Indians were housed in a church and cared for as well as possible with the limited means available.
Mr. Utterback was at the agency when the trouble started and he sent soldiers out to his home to accompany Mrs. Utterback and their three small children into the agency for safety. In later years Zoe bad many interesting stories to tell her grandchildren about how she hid her sewing machine (a luxury at that time) and other valuables in a deep dry well before leaving her home, not knowing what would be there when she returned.
In 1880 Mr. Utterback moved his family to land inherited by his wife, Zoe, south of Belvidere on Big White River and established and built up the Anvil ranch. Because of his blacksmith work he took the anvil for his brand and today his great granddaughter, Patricia Estes Willard, runs this famous brand. Here on the Big White river bottoms Cornie planted large acreages of alfalfa and crops and ran his large herd of hereford cattle. He operated his ranch until his death in 1959 at the age of 87. Since he was born on February 39 and had a birthday only once in four years, he considered himself a young man.
He is buried in the Belvidere cemetery beside his wife and children. When a young man Cornie sang in the church choir. His favorite hymns were "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Sweet Hour of Prayer." Of course, he always loved to sing, "Carry Me Back to Old Virginia."
Utterback's father had owned a large race horse stable in Virginia and at one time had many Negro jockeys and stableboys. After the Civil War the racing stable was terminated and young Cornie came west to seek his fortune. He was very proud of his heritage; he was an F.F.V., one of the First Families of Virginia.
For a person with limited education, Zoe Larvie Utterback was a remarkable woman, a wonderful helpmate to her husband and a very devoted mother to her children. She was a competent homemaker and a very good cook-her light bread and biscuits were her specialties. Daughter of a French fur trader and Cheyenne Indian mother she had many interesting stories to tell of her childhood. She often told of running to meet her father as he was returning home with large wagon loads of fine furs.
Three of the French fur trader's daughters married prominent pioneer ranchmen. Julia married Michael Dunn; Sarah married the "Buffalo King," Scotty Phillip; and Zoe married the blacksmith from the Red Cloud Agency. Mrs. Utterback lived on at the ranch after her husband's death, making her home with her daughter, Maud, Mrs. Steve Estes. Zoe passed away in 1950 and is buried beside her husband in the Belvidere cemetery.
by Mrs. David B. Estes
(Transcribed, with permission from the Mellette County Historical Society, from "Mellette County 1911-1961" published by the Mellette County Centennial Committee)
James E. Utterback came from Virginia to Fort Robinson in the northwest corner of Nebraska in 1876 at the age of 24 years, to work as a government blacksmith for the army. He was transferred from there to the Red Cloud, later Pine Ridge, Agency.
There he was employed as a government herdsman and had the responsibility of getting cattle to the various government stations as they were needed. These cattle were from the large trail herds that were brought up from the south.
In 1879 Utterback married Zoe Larvie, daughter of a famous French voyageur, Joe Larvie, who built the first log house in Hot Springs. It is still standing today. The town of Hot Springs is built on land once owned by the French fur trader, Joe Larvie.
Mr. and Mrs. Utterback were at the Pine Ridge Agency during the Wounded Knee Massacre. Zoe helped to care for the wounded Indians as they were brought in from the battlefield. Cornie, or as the Indians called him, "Wagamu Sioux," meaning Pumpkin Seed, helped also by furnishing food and shelter for them. The wounded Indians were housed in a church and cared for as well as possible with the limited means available.
Mr. Utterback was at the agency when the trouble started and he sent soldiers out to his home to accompany Mrs. Utterback and their three small children into the agency for safety. In later years Zoe bad many interesting stories to tell her grandchildren about how she hid her sewing machine (a luxury at that time) and other valuables in a deep dry well before leaving her home, not knowing what would be there when she returned.
In 1880 Mr. Utterback moved his family to land inherited by his wife, Zoe, south of Belvidere on Big White River and established and built up the Anvil ranch. Because of his blacksmith work he took the anvil for his brand and today his great granddaughter, Patricia Estes Willard, runs this famous brand. Here on the Big White river bottoms Cornie planted large acreages of alfalfa and crops and ran his large herd of hereford cattle. He operated his ranch until his death in 1959 at the age of 87. Since he was born on February 39 and had a birthday only once in four years, he considered himself a young man.
He is buried in the Belvidere cemetery beside his wife and children. When a young man Cornie sang in the church choir. His favorite hymns were "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Sweet Hour of Prayer." Of course, he always loved to sing, "Carry Me Back to Old Virginia."
Utterback's father had owned a large race horse stable in Virginia and at one time had many Negro jockeys and stableboys. After the Civil War the racing stable was terminated and young Cornie came west to seek his fortune. He was very proud of his heritage; he was an F.F.V., one of the First Families of Virginia.
For a person with limited education, Zoe Larvie Utterback was a remarkable woman, a wonderful helpmate to her husband and a very devoted mother to her children. She was a competent homemaker and a very good cook-her light bread and biscuits were her specialties. Daughter of a French fur trader and Cheyenne Indian mother she had many interesting stories to tell of her childhood. She often told of running to meet her father as he was returning home with large wagon loads of fine furs.
Three of the French fur trader's daughters married prominent pioneer ranchmen. Julia married Michael Dunn; Sarah married the "Buffalo King," Scotty Phillip; and Zoe married the blacksmith from the Red Cloud Agency. Mrs. Utterback lived on at the ranch after her husband's death, making her home with her daughter, Maud, Mrs. Steve Estes. Zoe passed away in 1950 and is buried beside her husband in the Belvidere cemetery.
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Utterback Surname
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