Walkara, a Ute Indian chieftan, was one of the principal Indian chiefs when the Mormons first entered this area in 1848. Feared from California to New Mexico, he was portrayed as a remarkably sly chief, daring horse thief, savage slave trader, furious enemy, admirable friend, and unprincipled lover. He became a war chief considered unrivaled in his ability to lead his band with cunning, power, and fierceness. His name refers to yellow buckskin, and he was nicknamed the "Hawk of the Mountains" and "Napoleon of the Desert" as an opportunist in the changing West. He was characterized as more notorious than great and more bandit than chief, and was called the West's greatest horse thief, stealing over 1000 horses on one raid alone. The ill-fated Walker War began in July 1853 and lasted until May 1854, transforming every Mormon settlement into an armed fort at a final cost of upward of $200,000 and many lives. Peace was concluded after a mile-long peace train under Brigham Young met the aging warrior on Chicken Creek (Levan). Born on the banks of the Pequinarynoquint (Stinking) River in Utah County, Walkara was buried in a seplechre of stone on the rugged eastern hillside above Meadow, with his grave located up Dry Canyon, the first canyon north of Corn Creek. On the day of burial, two of his squaws and some Paiute children were offered up as sacrifice; besides his weapons, trinkets, presents, the two squaws and two girls, a young boy was fastened alive to the pedestal beside Walkara's body. It is presumed that whites robbed the grave in 1909. Another famous chief and brother, Kanosh, was buried a short distance away.