Wesley
Middleton was born abt. 1835 in Roane County, Tennessee. He was
the son of Vinson Hugh Middleton, a farmer and grocer, and Martha Snow.
His family moved from Roane County, Tennessee to Carroll
County, Arkansas around 1854. He was a hired
hand, or drover, with The Baker Train,
which departed from Milum Spring (also called Caravan Spring)
located in present day Boone County, Arkansas, south of the town
of Harrison. The Baker Train consisted of three (known) wagons,
and approximately 260 head of cattle.
Wesley Middleton
died en route
of "Mountain Fever" (Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever), while the Baker Train was traveling
in conjunction with
the Basil G. Parker wagon train. (The Basil G. Parker Train was
not involved in the 1857 Mountain Meadows Massacre.)
Wesley Middleton died on the trail somewhere
between Fort Bridger and Salt Lake in the Utah territory. He was
NOT a victim of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. His sister-in-law
at the time,
Matilda Mira (Rush) Middleton, the wife of Zion Middleton, was the
first cousin of Milum Lafayette Rush,
who was also a hired hand, or drover, with the Baker Train. (Milum
Lafayette Rush did die in the Massacre.)
© 2008 A.C. Wallner for the
Mountain Meadows Association. All rights reserved.
