Gunnison, J. W. (John Williams), 1812-1853

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John Williams Gunnison, army topographical engineer in charge of surveying a route to the West for the Pacific Railroad, was born in New Hampshire and graduated from West Point in 1835. He served as ordnance officer in the Seminole War in Florida and in making surveys in Georgia. After further surveying work in the Wisconsin Territory, he was assigned to Captain Howard Stansbury's party to explore the Great Salt Lake region. While leading a survey for the exploration and survey of a railroad route through the mountains of Colorado and Utah, Gunnison perished when his party was ambushed by Indians on the Sevier River in October 1853.

From the description of Papers of J. W. Gunnison, 1832-1926 (bulk 1832-1896). (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 122382994

United States Army officer killed by Indians in Utah.

From the description of Letter, 1842. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122609410

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Stansbury, Howard, 1806-1863. Stansbury Survey diaries, 1849-1850. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Gunnison, J. W. (John Williams), 1812-1853. Diaries 1849-1850 [microform]. Denver Public Library, Central Library
referencedIn J. D. Graham papers, 1804-1896, 1848-1865 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Morrison, George Howard. Biographical sketch of John W. Gunnison : typescript. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Kern, Richard H.,. Photographs of sketches done by Kern for Report of explorations for a route for the Pacific railroad, by Capt. J. W. Gunnison, . . ., 1855. Utah Division of State History, Utah Historical Society
referencedIn Royal Society. Sabine Papers.
creatorOf Gunnison, J. W. (John Williams), 1812-1853. Papers of J. W. Gunnison, 1832-1926 (bulk 1832-1896). Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Livingston, La Rhett L., 1831-1903. Letters : to James G. Livingston, Lewis, N. Y., 1854 May 2-1855 May 15. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Livingston, La Rhett L., 1831-1903. Letters : to James G. Livingston, Lewis, N. Y., 1854 May 2-1855 May 15. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Miscellaneous items concerning the Gunnison Massacre, n.d. Utah Division of State History, Utah Historical Society
creatorOf Gunnison, J. W. (John Williams), 1812-1853. Letter, 1842. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Call, Anson, 1810-1890. Utah sketches : ms., 1880. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf John Williams Gunnison : [collection] : 1841-1855 ;. History Colorado
referencedIn Young, Brigham, 1801-1877. Letters regarding Richard H. Kern, 1854-1859. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
creatorOf Gunnison, J. W. (John Williams), 1812-1853. U.S. Lake Survey payrolls and reports, 1841-1846. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Morris, R. M. (Robert M.), 1824-1896. Journal of an overland trip to California and other Army assignments, 1849-1853. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Survey of the Northwest Lakes payroll sheets, 1843,1844. Clarke Historical Library
referencedIn Morris, R. M. (Robert M.), 1824-1896. Journal of an overland trip to California and other Army assignments, 1849-1853. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Beckwith, E. G. (Edward Griffin), 1818-1881. Papers of Edward Griffin Beckwith and John Laurence Fox, 1805-1909 (bulk 1837-1865). Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Beckwith, E. G. (Edward Griffin), 1818-1881. person
associatedWith Briard family. family
associatedWith Expedition on the route near the Thirty-Eighth and Thirty-Ninth Parallels, 1853 corporateBody
associatedWith Graham, J. D. (James Duncan), 1799-1865. person
associatedWith Gunnison, Charles A., 1861-1897. person
associatedWith Gunnison family. family
correspondedWith Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878 person
associatedWith Hopkins, Timothy, 1859-1937. person
associatedWith Kern, Richard H., person
associatedWith Livingston, La Rhett L., 1831-1903. person
associatedWith Morris, R. M. (Robert M.), 1824-1896. person
associatedWith Stansbury Expedition (1849-1850) corporateBody
associatedWith Stansbury, Howard. person
associatedWith United States. Army. Corps of Topographical Engineers. corporateBody
associatedWith Young, Brigham, 1801-1877. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Utah
Europe
Florida
Japan
Salt Lake City (Utah)
Great Salt Lake Region (Utah)
United States
West (U.S.)
Wisconsin
Georgia
United States
Subject
Mormons
Soldiers
Wisconsin
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1812-11-11

Death 1853-10-26

English

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