During the Indian War years of 1865-72, Sanpete and other central Utah areas suffered bitter hardships as different bands of Indians stealthily attacked settlers from mountain hideouts and then fled to safety. Twenty-seven settlements were evacuated, two entire counties and portions of seven others were temporarily abandoned, seventy pioneers were slain and many wounded, and hundreds of cattle and horses were stolen. On Aug. 1, 1866, U.S. Indian Supt. Col. H.F. Head and Stake Pres. Orson Hyde obtained a promise of peace from Chief Black Hawk. By Aug. 18, 1868, they had assembled a peace parley at Fort Ephraim on Hans Hansen's lawn by a red cedar tree, where Black Hawk calmed the defiant braves, a pipe of peace was passed, and the treaty was signed and later ratified by U.S. Pres. Andrew Johnson. Black Hawk continued to help arrange peace parleys until other hostile chiefs had signed.