Jacob Hamblin: His Life in His Own Words

by Jacob Hamblin, Richard Lloyd Dewey (Foreword)

This is the best of all Jacob Hamblin books -- his UNABRIDGED autobiography in clean, modern, easy-to-read type. In order to make it THE MOST READABLE EDITION IN PRINT, a staff of editors spent months meticulously re-typesetting the work to make it FREE FROM O.C.R. AND OTHER ERRORS found in most other versions. Thus, Hamblin's FULL NARRATIVE is now easier than ever for readers to enjoy. Who was Jacob Hamblin? He was America's bravest adventurer among Native Americans -- and never carried a gun, SHOWING HIS FAITH IN THE NATIVE AMERICANS AND TO GOD THAT HE WOULD NOT BE HARMED. In his amazing adventures he encountered apparent Divine intervention at every turn, trying to keep the peace between Indians and settlers. Like gun-toting super-lawman Porter Rockwell, Jacob Hamblin was one of those incredibly rare souls who was absolutely fearless. No less exciting than Porter's account, Jacob reveals his conversion to the Latter-day Saint faith, then his adventures among certain hostile Indians with life-and-death trials of faith that keep the reader spellbound. Venturing single-handedly into hostile territory, Hamblin takes the reader into hearts of darkness and hearts of light. This FULL EDITION, free from problems of other versions, makes this narrative worth every moment in reliving his experience.

Genres: Nonfiction, Church, History, Biography

127 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1995

Reviews

[Lisa-Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hamblin is an intriguing character for me in history as he helped settle southern Utah with some of my relatives in the 1850s. I read the definitive Hamblin biography by Todd M. Compton in 2016 and found it riveting. I picked up this book because it is written/dictated in Hamblin’s own words later in his life. I like to go to the source. I am interested in hearing Hamblin’s description of his interactions with the indigenous people because that was the central mission of his life. He swore never to shed the blood of a Native American. “When the white man has settled on their lands and his cattle has destroyed much of their scanty living, there has always appeared in them a disposition to make all reasonable allowances for these wrongs,” Hamblin wrote in the 1880s. He was known as a friend to the various Paiutes, Hopis, and Navajos he dealt with in the Utah Territory.

Scholars debate the completion of this autobiography because it omits many personal details about his wives and children as well as confrontations he had. I wasn’t reading it for scholarship though; I just wanted to hear his voice. In one incident, Hamblin is captured by a Navajo group who intend to kill him and his friends to avenge a white man’s killing of other Navajos. “Under the trying circumstances, it was a serious question…The heavens seemed like brass over our heads and the earth as iron beneath our feet. It seemed utterly impossible to reach the Moquis (Hopi) which were in sight and like certain death to attempt to escape in the night with our jaded animals.” Trapped on the dark desert like this, Hamblin prays earnestly to God to know his next step. His Navajo interpreter advises him to sacrifice two of his men so the others could go free. “I replied that I did not think so; that I would not give a cent to live after I given up two men to be murdered; that I would rather die like a man than live like a dog.”

The frontier life is a deeply-layered mystery to us nearly 200 years on. But the land is the same, the vastness of the sky the same, and the nearness of death the same. “The Navajos who had been guarding our trail beyond the camp started after us, coming down like a whirlwind…I again predicted there would not be a one of us hurt, for so the Spirit whispered to me…the Navajos came almost within range of our rifles and then turned suddenly to the right.” The party was saved.
Hamblin epitomizes the complexity of early Utah settlement involving white people. I enjoy picturing his daily life in his own words, even when it is full of anguish and exhaustion. He is a man who trusts his God and his own spiritual connection with the universe.

[J Kir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started off great then dragged a bit

[Molly Gould · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacob Hamblin is my great great great grandfather. His interaction with the Native Indians and his descriptions of their barbaric culture were fascinating.

[Jileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think we could all learn a lot from Jacob Hamblin and the way he treated others.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great glimpse into the Colorado plateau of the late 1800’s

[Krystine · Rating 4 out of 5]

So interesting learning about what settling Utah was like. Great book, crazy stories. I really liked it!

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Jacob Hamblin's autobiography, in his own words as dictated to James E. Little (initially published in 1881). This narrative concludes with his visit to the Sunset and other settlements on the Little Colorado in 1876, so does not cover his later years. What a great man he was among the Mormon people and especially among the Indians of Utah and Arizona - a man of great faith and a man of peace - a man who received the constant whisperings of the Spirit to guide him in his efforts - a man without guile. I recommend this book to everyone of all ages. It is one of the best and most enduring biographies I have ever read.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating autobiography, focusing on Hamblin's conversion and his travels and interactions with the Paiute, Hopi and Navajo tribes. I felt that my reading of "Wrecks of Human Ambition," which offered glimpses of Jacob Hamblin but also provided a secular perspective on the Mormon settling of Southern Utah, helped me understand this account better. All the same, his unflinching faith and willingness to do whatever was asked of him, and to go to all lengths to establish friendship and peace with Native Americans. It makes me want to read more about his life from a historical perspective, especially as there were more details about his life and his family I want to know about.

[Clara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one ranks way up there on my list of pioneer autobiographies. Can't wait to read J.H.'s life story from the historian's point of view. His first-person narrative is absolutely fascinating and shows an incredible faith, can-do attitude, as well as my favorite- a dry sense of humor.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick, short, and an easy read. Very interesting life. It gave me a fresh perspective on the Native American's around 1840's. They really were savage and like the Lamanites in the Book of Mormon. I enjoyed it and want to know how Jacob Hamblin's life ended.

[Joanne Rollins Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book puts Jacob Hamblin as a choice person to work with Southwest Natives. He believed that every person should be treated with honesty and to be trustworthy. That is how to build friendships and is a good policy for all. The book was an easy, one that can be read in a short time.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting to see the interactions of the church with the Native Americans of the Utah area. Great testimony building stories.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written. Interesting. Inspiring