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Tom Tabby

Son of Chief Tabby

One day of 1867, Chief Tabby came into Provo River Valley after the Indian peace treaty with his dead son in his arms. As he rode up on his horse, Joseph Stacy Murdock, the Mormon Presiding Bishop, recognized Chief Tabby. After a brief greeting, Chief Tabby said that he was holding how own dead son, who was killed in an accident while hunting. The chief knew that Joseph was the religious leader among his people, so he asked that Joseph bury his son in the custom of the Mormons. With a feeling of great sorrow for his friend, Joseph conducted a Christian funeral service and buried Tom Tabby under a beautiful pine tree, which had been planted several years before by John H. Murdock in the Heber Cemetery.

When the final prayer was said, Chief Tabby said, “My son has been buried in the white man’s custom. Now he will be honored in the Indian fashion.” A rick of cedar logs was then laid upon the new grave and the boy’s favorite pony was led up to it, where it’s [sic] throat was cut and the animal was laid upon the pier and the logs were set afire.

As the embers slowly died, Chief Tabby got on his horse and rode into the mountains east of Heber with his braves.

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• Heber City
• Heber City Cemetery

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