UTAH'S DIXIE HISTORICAL SITES
SONS OF THE UTAH PIONEER - COTTON MISSION CHAPTER

M02- SHEM GRAVE

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Shem and his wife, Suzie are two prominent Indians, Shem having been the chief of the group. He was friendly and kind, a sort of peacemaker. The town where the Utah leader Eastern Copper Company built a smelter and operated on the Santa Clara Creek was name for him .Shem, about 80 years of age, one of the oldest local Indians, died in his wigwam east of St George early Monday morning. Shem was for a long time speaker for the Shivwits Indians, and during his early life affiliated himself with the Mormon Church. He possessed a splendid personality, was always friendly, and was anxious that his people should make an effort to put away undesirable tribal customs and become educated to the white men’s ways. He has always had an enviable record as a native. Funeral services were held at the cemetery Monday afternoon at 4 o clock, the aged native’s wish that he be buried among his white brothers being complied with. Eleven Indians and five squaws attended the service, including Shem’s aged wife, Susie. Services were in charge of John H. Cot am, and twenty-four citizens Including President Jos K Nicholes and W. P. Hanington, agent at the Shivwits reservation being in attendance.

After a song by the congregation and prayer by James McArthur, D. H. Morris, a, boyhood acquaintance of Shem's made al brief address. He was followed by Tony Tillolish, a Carlysle trained Indian, who concluded his remarks with a nicely worded sentiment of appreciation for the good life Shem, and for the services afforded him by his white brothers. He was born in 1840 and died 24 Feb 1930, buried in St. George cemetery.

SUSIE, SQUAW OF SHEM

Susie. Squaw, eighty year old wife of Shem Indian, last of the Shivwits Chieftains in this section. passed away at the Shivwits reservation last Thursday and was buried in the reservation cemetery under direction of the agency.

Susie is well remembered by all the early settlers of Dixie and has been an outstanding native character in her devotion to her husband and her full faith in the course that he essayed  to follow. Whatever Shem set about to do he could count on her cooperation and she was faithfulness itself in caring for him after he became afflicted up until the time of his passing. Since that time she has been in poor health and there is peace in the thought that she too has been released.