Richard Nebeker Adopted son of

John Nebeker

F A M I L Y H I S T O R Y

C O M P I L E D B Y D A R L E N E N E B E K E R

H U T C H I N G S O D E N W A L D E R

April 27, 2014

M y great-great uncle was

a Native American. I have

known this, it seems all my

life. I was told by my mother

(Anna Althea “Betty” Nebek-

er Hutchings) that I should

feel honored that he was part

of our family. I would like to

share what I know about

(Pautaunnt ) Richard Nebek-

er. The information compiled

here is from newspapers and

family histories. I hope some-

day his Native Family learns

what happened to him and

that they know he was loved

by many brothers and sisters

and now by many nieces and

nephews. We are honored to

call him our “great uncle”.

Darlene Nebeker Hutchings

Odenwalder

2014

Richard Nebeker (1856 - 1906)

is my great grand uncle

John Nebeker (1813 - 1886)

father of Richard Nebeker

George Washington Nebeker (1864 - 1937)

son of John Nebeker brother to Richard

George Washington Nebeker Jr (1886 - 1919)

son of George Washington Nebeker

Anna (Betty) Althea Nebeker (1908 - 1991)

daughter of George Washington Nebeker Jr

Darlene Nebeker Hutchings Odenwalder

I am the daughter of Anna (Betty) Althea Nebeker

Page 2

parents and how he came to be

with the Nebeker family.

In his childhood Dick was

frightened at his own race. When-

ever an Indian was in sight Dick

would run to the house and hide

under the kitchen table.

Until he was a young man the

story of his parent’s death and his

capture remained with him. He

despised his race and hated to be

called an Indian. He loved John

Nebeker and watched him with

jealousy when favors were granted

to others of the family. Dick

worked hard to please Mr. Nebek-

er and when he moved to Rich

County came with him.

R ichard Nebeker a full-

blooded Shebit, Indian, 55

years of age, whose life was

once saved by a man who trad-

ed a horse for him met death in

the bottom of the sewer exten-

sion at Eleventh West and

Eleventh North streets, shortly

before 10 o’clock yesterday

morning. He was struck in the

abdomen by a steel bucket load-

ed with earthen which was being

hoisted out of the trench twenty

feet in depth. His body was lift-

ed from the trench by means of a

rope. Dr. Charles F Wilcox was

summoned but before he reached

camp Nebeker had died.

The bucket which weighed about

400 pounds broke from its car-

riage. Just as it hooked onto the

cable running to the dump and

fell into the trench several work-

men were under it and a rush

was made to escape being

crushed. Nebeker slipped and

fell against the side of the trench

where he was pinned between

the bucket and wall. The broken

carriage ran back into the engine

house, breaking considerable

machinery and damaging the

cable. After the accident took

place operations were shut down

and it will be several days before

the machinery can be repaired.

Justice Dana T Smith ordered an

autopsy over the body which

was held last night at S. D. Ev-

ans undertaking establishment

County Physician E. W. Whitney

and his assistant Dr. E. Van Colt

found that a blood vessel had

been ruptured in the abdomen

causing a hemorrhage which

resulted in Nebeker's death. Af-

ter the autopsy it was decided

that an inquest was unnecessary.

They had taken captive a number

of children whose parents had

been killed and were intending to

kill them when they returned to

their villages to hold a war dance.

“Old Dick” then a boy 4 years

of age was one of the captives.

John Nebeker traded a horse for

Dick and made peace with the war

-painted band. When John Nebek-

er returned to St George he

brought Dick with him and reared

him among his Children. Dick

was taught to handle shovel and

do farming work in general. Dur-

ing the cold winter nights he was

taught with the other children to

read and write. He was bright in

many respects and as he grew up

he was taught the Christian reli-

gion. Dick was told the story of

his capture, and the death of his

“Old Dick,” as he was famil-

iarly called by those who knew

him was brought up

by John Nebeker a pioneer of 47

who moved to Dixie with the

first band of Mormons in the

early 50s. While across the

Utah line in the deserts of Ari-

zona. John Nebeker met a band

of Apache Indians armed and

painted. They were hostile and

tried to make trouble for Mr.

Nebeker and his associates who

were in search of grazing

grounds and watering

places for horses and cattle.

These war painted Indians

proved to be the remnant of a

victorious band of Apaches

which had engaged in deadly

conflict with the Shebit tribe,

which inhabited that region.

Boy Bought for Horse

Richard Nebeker

Once Traded for Horse to Save Life

Killed in Sewer.

Richard Nebeker Adopted son of

Page 3

SALT LAKE HERALD

(Salt Lake City, Utah)

June 26, 1906

Article found at the U of U

Marriot Library and Library of

Congress

Transcribed in its entirety by

Darlene N. H. Odenwalder

April 3, 2014

While Dick was a young

man he fell in love with a white

girl who lived not far from the

Nebeker ranch in Rich County.

He never approached the girl

knowing she hated him. He did

her favors and eyed with jeal-

ousy the young men who went

to see her or talked with her.

This love drove Dick to desper-

ation. He left the Nebeker ranch

for a while on account of it.

Once or twice he took to drink

which crazed him but a word

from Mr. Nebeker straightened

him out again.

When John Nebeker died he

was a heartbroken. He after-

ward went to the home of Ira

Nebeker a son who was kind to

him. He worked as faithfully

for the son as he had for the

father.

About eight years ago he

decided to take up land on

the Fort Hall reservation. He

was fitted out by Ira with

provisions a team and wagon

and farming implements.

When he left was told that at

any time he was welcome to

come back to the ranch. Dick

took up a quarter section of

land but he was simple and

honest. He knew no Indian

characteristics and was

robbed by his race of all he

owned.

He came back to the Ne-

beker ranch and worked

there until three years ago.

He became jealous of a white

man who was foreman and

bossed the men. Dick wanted

to herd a bunch of cattle, but

another man was given the

job. Dick was kept about the

place doing odd jobs. This he

felt was beneath his dignity

after his long years of ser-

vice. He could not bear it so

he packed up his things and

left. The day he quit the

ranch he was told again that

at any time he was welcome

to come back.

Wandered Two Years

His body now lies in the

morgue, but the funeral ar-

rangements have not been

completed. The Nebeker fami-

ly were in informed of his

death and they will see that he

gets a deserving burial.

During the past two years

“Old Dick,” whose coarse

black hair was streaked with

gray roamed about unhappy

and friendless. He worked at

any kind of labor. For several

months he was in Boise, Ida.

Later he went to Montana and

recently came to Salt Lake. He

had some money when he came

here, but soon went to work on

the sewer where he met his

death. “Old Dick” had a good

go heart his friends say. He

was known from Dixie to

Cache County.

Spurned by White Girl

Richard Nebeker Adopted son of

“He knew no Indian

characteristics and

was robbed by his

race of all he owned.”

N O T E : T H E A R T I C L E W A S T R A N S C R I B E R

E X A C T L Y A S I T W A S W R I T T E N

Page 4

I was taught by my mother to be respectful of all people and to listen and learn from them. We all want the same

things, to provide for our families and to have a good and happy life. Often because of bigotry some are not able to

have what so many of us take for granted, equality. The article transcribed on the second and third page was upset-

ting to read but the head line was disturbing to me. I know it was a different time, but the head line of the article

made me sick to my stomach. Here is the actual copy of the newspaper. Darlene N. H. Odenwalder

Richard Nebeker Adopted son of

Page 5

The Salt Lake City Tribune June 26, 1906

Richard Nebeker Adopted son of

Other articles found regarding the

Accident.

The Salt Lake City Telegram June 26, 1906

Volume:5 Issue:1381 Page 5

Page 6

Richard Nebeker

Richard Nebeker’s life story published in the

The Nebeker Family

Reunion Announcement August 12, 1978

Page 7

Richard Nebeker Page 8

Richard Nebeker Adopted son of

Memories

Richard Nebeker

“I never was afraid of the Indians as my father,

John Nebeker, raised an Indian boy which he had

legally adopted. The Boy's name was Pautaunt

Richard

Nebeker, and I loved my Indian brother very

much.”

Nettie May Nebeker Kearl

Heart Throbs of the West: Volume 1

Indian Chiefs of Pioneer Days

Page 9

The Nebeker Family Book published in Spring 1979 page 73 paragraph 3

e