Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 39

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), 1844-1928. 4n; Scofield, Charles J. (Charles Josiah), 1853- 4n
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1174

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"It was then in good formation, marching in good time, with guns properly at shoulder and flag flying, as if on dress parade, or ready for business. But as nothing remained to be done at that late hour, a detail, or guard, was left, and the company returned to quarters, put away their guns, and all but four of its members broke for the tall timber before the sun arose next day. None of them were in the plot-no indeed !

"Upon going home I found our house full of excited neighbors. I told my little story to them, which seemed to add fuel to the flames. They had heard the reports of the guns, and some of them had relatives in the company, who

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they feared had been shot. I was also able to assure them that none of the soldiers had been hurt, and that none but the Smiths had been killed. Then began the talk that as soon as the Saints found out that the Smiths had been killed, the Nauvoo Legion and Danite Band would raid the town, and all would be killed and quartered, or burned at the stake. Soon a Coroner's jury was impaneled and held an inquest.

"My father took a team, went to the jail and removed the bodies, together with Taylor, to the hotel ; had rough pine boxes made, in which they were placed, and the next morning went with the coffins to Nauvoo-he taking one, and William and Samuel Smith (brothers) the other. That night the town was almost deserted, only four families being left in it-father's, Fred Loring's Abram Baker's and a widow with a sick child. Such was the hurry to get away from Carthage that many left doors and win- dows open, which gave Loring and me quite a job to go around and shut gates, doors and win- dows. By night a few of the men came strag- gling back, and in three or four days most had returned.

"After the Smiths were killed, the county officers, beeing afraid that the town would be raided by the Mormons and the records burned, got father to send me with a team and take them away. To tell all would be a long and interesting story ; but, in short, I went, having with me David E. Head and a Mormon girl who was living with Backenstos, the Circuit Clerk and Recorder. We had every valuable record and paper of all the county offices in the one load (could hardly do the job now). We took them to an old sugar camp, about eight miles east of town on the land of Thomas H. Owen, where I left them in charge of Head and returned home, arriving a little after sunset to find the town deserted and father and the Smiths preparing to start for Nauvoo with the bodies of the Smiths. I wanted to go; but father and mother said no, that I had been out all night, and that was enough; so it had to be.

"I might relate more of the scenes of those days; but I think it would be of little use now -of the raid of Backenstos on Carthage, with his three hundred Mormons, at a later date; of the burying of the cannon, to keep him from getting it (it was subsequently unearthed by J. D. Hainline and George Head and taken to

McDonough County, where, after remaining some years, it was called for by the United States Government in 1861; and that was the last of "Emma") ; of the celebrated battle of Nauvoo (in which, by the way, I took part) ; of the stealing of the General's whisky jug, and the treating of our company from it upon our re- turn to camp after the battle was over; of our triumphant entry into the sacred city; of our capture of prisoners (none of whom were taken to Babylon), and starting them on their journey westward-but it is much easier to think them over than to write about them. I have, of late years, thought that I have not received my just dues; the Government has never said pension to me- badly treated !"

THE STATEMENT OF J. H. S.

"The Governor indiscreetly had Joseph and his brother taken round and formally presented to the soldiery. The latter were incensed that so much respect should be shown a criminal, and suspected that he would be let off upon his submission, without any adequate punish- ment; whereas, they had answered the Gov- ernor's call in the expectation of sterner dealing. Their suspicions were strengthened by the fact that the prisoners, instead of being confined in the criminal's apartment of the jail, were allowed to occupy a parlor chamber with their friends, under a guard of six soldiers, detailed from the Carthage Grays, stationed at the front door at the front of the stairway.

"On the morning of June 27th, Governor Ford discharged all his forces except a cavalry com- pany and the Carthage Grays, and leaving the jail, with Smith and his friends in the parlor chamber, in charge of reliefs of guards from the Grays, he went with the cavalry to Nauvoo to inspect the city, to give good advice to the Mormons, and require a surrender of the State arms in their possession.

"The militia from other counties started home with alacrity. But two companies from the southwest portion of Hancock seemed to linger and depart reluctantly. Late in the afternoon, a large body of men was seen coming rapidly from the west road on the road over which the two companies had departed, who, about a mile from town, turned off north to a line of woods coming down back of the jail. Soon they emerged from the woods and came round to the front. The guard, standing on the steps,

2 01, DuJail

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

fired down from an elevation of three or four feet into the midst of them, when not twenty feet distant. The writer saw six flashes stream- ing toward the crowd, but nobody fell. The assailants, having their faces blackened with powder, rushed forward and seized the guards and threw them upon the ground. Most of them were easy to handle; but one, who did not know that ball cartridges had been replaced with blanks in their guns, at the last relief -- who was not in the secret at all, but thought he had fired to kill, and was all in earnest throughout-a tall, athletic, stammering boy of nineteen years-made it rough for those who held him. He floundered and pounded, voci- ferating, 'Y-y-y-y-you !' 'Lie still, you fool, we're not going to hurt you!' 'D-d-d-' continued Frank, kicking and struggling to break loose, and trying frantically to break the third com- mandment, though his impediment of speech saved him from the actual sin.

"As many as could, now rushed up the stair- way, at the head of which was the room where the prisoner and his friends were. They tried in vain to burst in the door, for the Smiths and two bishops-all heavy men-bore against it from the other side. Then, turning the muzzles of their guns against the thin-paneled door, several of them fired, killing Hyrum, and wound- ing Joseph and Bishop Taylor,-when all inside retreated, except Richards, who, shielded in a corner behind the now opened door, escaped unhurt. A window opposite the door was open, and Joseph sprang upon its broad sill as if to get out ; but balls struck him from behind, and with a loud cry he pitched headlong to the ground. Balls from the outside met his falling body. It seemed to me-twenty rods distant, but in full sight-that he for a moment partly raised himself to a sitting posture against a well-curb beside which he fell; but it is not true, as was sometimes reported, that his assail- ants leaned his body up against the curb, and made it a target.

"A panic spread, and within two hours the town was deserted, with the exception of the Hamilton Hotel, where the killed and wounded were taken, and a few gathered for service, and a harbor for safety in the expected storm. Men, women, and children fled in wagons, on horse- back and afoot, while Delenda est Carthago seemed sounding in their ears."

THE STATEMENT OF WILLARD RICHARDS

"Two Minutes In Jail.

"Possibly the following events occupied near three minutes, but I think only about two, and have penned them for the gratification of many friends :

"Carthage, June 27, 1844.

"A shower of musket balls were thrown up the stairway against the door of the prison in the second story, followed by many rapid footsteps; while Generals Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Mr. Taylor and myself, who were in the front chamber, closed the door of our room, against the entry at the head of the stairs, and placed ourselves against it, there being no lock on the door, and no ketch that was usable. The door is a common panel, and as soon as we heard the feet at the stair's' head, a ball was sent through the door, which passed between us, and showed that our enemies were despera- does, and we must change our position. Gen- eral Joseph Smith, Mr. Taylor, and myself, sprang back to the front part of the room, and General Hyrum Smith retreated two-thirds across the chamber directly in front of and facing the door. A ball was sent through the door which hit Hyrum on the side of his nose, when he fell backwards extended at length without moving his feet. From the holes in his vest (the day was warm, and no one had their coats on but myself), pantaloons, drawers and shirt, it appears evident that a ball must have been thrown from without through the window, which entered his back on the right side and passing through, lodged against his watch, which was in his right vest pocket, completely pulver- izing the crystal and face, tearing off the hands and mashing the whole body of the watch, at the same instant the ball from the door entered his nose. As he struck the floor he exclaimed emphatically : 'I'm a dead man ' Joseph looked towards him and responded; 'Oh dear! Brother Hyrum! and opening the door two or three inches with his left hand, discharged one barrel of a six-shooter (pistol) at random in the entry, from whence a ball grazed Hyrum's breast, and entering his throat, passed into his head-while other muskets were aimed at him, and some balls hit him. Joseph continued snapping his revolver round the casing of the door into the space as before (three barrels of which missed fire), while Mr. Taylor, with a walking stick,

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stood by his side and knocked down the bayonets and muskets which were constantly discharging through the doorway, while I stood by, ready to lend my assistance, with another stick; but could not come within striking distance, with- out going directly before the muzzle of the guns. When the revolver failed, we had no more fire-arms, and expecting an immediate rush of the mob, and the doorway full of muskets-halfway in the room, and no hope but instant death from within-Mr. Taylor rushed into the window, which is some fifteen or twenty feet from the ground. When his body was nearly on a balance, a ball from the door within entered his leg, and a ball from without struck his watch, a patent lever, in his vest pocket, near the left breast, and smashed it in 'pie,' leaving the hands standing 5 o'clock, 16 minutes and 26 seconds,-the force of which ball threw him back on the floor, and he rolled under the bed by his side, where he lay motion- less the mob from the door continuing to fire upon him, cutting away a piece of flesh from his left hip as large as a man's hand, and were hin- dered only by my knocking down their muzzles with a stick ; while they continued to reach their guns into the room, probably lefthanded, and aimed their discharge so far around as almost to reach us in the corner of the room to where we retreated and dodged, and then I recom- menced my attack with the stick again. Joseph attempted as the last resort, to leap the same window whence Mr. Taylor fell, when two balls pierced him from the door, and one entered his right breast from without, and he fell outward, exclaiming, 'O Lord, my God!' As his feet went out of the window my head went in, the balls whistling all around. He fell on his left side, a dead man. At this instant the cry was raised, 'He's leaped the window!' and the mob on the stairs and in the entry ran out. I with- drew from the window, thinking it of no use to leap out on a hundred bayonets, then around General Smith's body. Not satisfied with this, I again reached my head out of the window and watched some seconds, to see if there were any signs of life, regardless of my own, de- termined to see the end of him I loved; being fully satisfied that he was dead, with a hundred men near the body and more coming around the corner of the jail, and expecting a return to our room, I rushed towards the prison door, at the head of the stairs, and through the entry from whence the firing had proceeded, to learn

if the doors into the prison were open. When near the entry, Mr. Taylor called out, 'Take me!' I pressed my way until I found all doors un- barred, returning instantly caught Mr. Taylor under my arm, and rushed by the stairs into the dungeon, or inner prison, stretched him on the floor and covered him with a bed, in such a manner as not likely to be perceived, expecting an immediate return of the mob. I said to Mr. Taylor, 'This is a hard case, to lay you on the floor ; but if your wounds are not fatal, I want you to live to tell the story.' I expected to be shot the next moment, and stood before the door awaiting the onset."

COMPARISON OF STATEMENTS

In many respects the statement of Willard Richards corroborates the statements of Wil- liam R. Hamilton and J. H. S. Joseph Smith was not set up and used as a target after falling or jumping from the window. There was no savage . flourishing of a bowie-knife. There was no intervention of a miraculous light, the dimming of which left the place shrouded in twilight. The story of Daniels is thus shown to be a pure fabrication.

On the other hand, there are evidences of extreme exaggeration in Richards' statement. His estimate of the number of shots fired is certainly extravagant. It is highly improbable that Joseph Smith was snapping his revolver · around the casing of the door and that at the same time Taylor with a walking-stick stood by his side and knocked down the bayonets and muskets which were constantly discharging through the doorway, and that he, Richards, stood ready to help, with another stitck, but could not get within striking distance without going directly before the muzzle of the guns.

It is past belief that Taylor would have escaped with his life, if he had been knocking down bayonets, and guns constantly discharging, and this with a walking-stick as his only weapon.

The fact is, that the mob went to the jail to kill the Smiths (which was unlawful), and not to kill Taylor or Richards, and that, when the Smiths had been killed, they departed as quickly and as silently as they had come.

STATEMENT OF MRS. EUDOCIA BALDWIN MARSH.

(Mrs. Eudocia Baldwin Marsh published an article, entitled "When The Mormons Dwelt Among Us," in two parts in the issues of The

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Bellman of Minneapolis, dated April 1, and April 8, 1916, from which the following extracts are taken. Mrs. Marsh was the widow (she is now dead) of Judge John W. Marsh, a prominent Warsaw lawyer, and her version of what occur- red is entitled to full credit. It will be ob- served that the word "Greys" is spelled with an "e," whereas, in other parts of this volume, it is spelled with an "a." The name as applied to the "Carthage Grays" was probably sug- gested by the Scottish regiment of cavalry forming the second regiment of dragoons in the British army called the "Grays," formerly written "Greys," but now, preferably "Grays." See Century Dict., last Ed.)

"My two older brothers were members of the Carthage Greys. After the other troops had been disbanded, this company moved their tents to the southwest corner of the square. Squads of six men were sent from time to time to relieve the guard at the jail.

"In the morning, word had been sent us of the order to disband, that we might not proceed further in our efforts to add to the commissary supplies. Wondering much at such an ending to all our hopes, and being uncertain as to the cause, my mother, little sister, and I walked to town after dinner. My married sister lived on the west side of the square, and from her house we had a full view of the tents occupied by the Greys.

"After a short visit, I went with a friend to call upon a friend living but a few blocks away. We started to return to my sister's between four and five o'clock, and passed three men from Warsaw, whom I knew well. As they were members of the Warsaw company halted on its march that day, I was surprised to see them in Carthage. The significance of their appearance I understood later.

"As I was removing my hat, my brother-in-law, an officer of the Greys, came in hurriedly, and said, 'A party of men are coming to take Joe Smith from jail, and hang him in the square.'

"His face was very white, as he buckled on his sword, and rushed back to his company. Our feeling of horror and consternation may be imagined, for bad as we believed the man to be, this outcome was too terrible to be thought of.

"We went to the door and looked down the street. The news that something unusual was about to happen was evidently abroad, for men were running about and gathering in groups, many with frightened faces. As we stood watch-

ing, a group of men stopped in passing, and one of them told us, 'A party of Mormons are coming to rescue the Smiths and take them to Nauvoo; we fear the guard will all be killed, they are so few.'

"My mother turned away without a word, and went into an inner room. We all knew why-my oldest brother was on duty at the jail; he had marched by two hours before in the relief guard.

"We must have taken it for granted that my brother-in-law was mistaken in his message, for none of us thought of questioning this last report. By this time, the square was the scene of the greatest excitement and confusion. Men ran about, some shouting, 'The Mormons are coming, the guard will all be killed'; others, 'The Danites are coming for the Smiths.' They did nothing but shout. None of them went near the jail.

"Meanwhile, the Greys were standing about in front of their tents, apparently in confusion. The captain, a man over six feet in height, seemed to be trying to get the men into line. Some of them had been sleeping, and were now but half-awake. But my brother Tom was awake, very wide-awake, for I saw an officer take him by the arm several times and shove him roughly into the ranks.

"At last, Tom shouted, 'Come on, you cowards, damn you, come on; those boys will all be killed !' I must confess that he swore, some- thing I had never known him to do before. Finally, he broke away from those holding him, and, with his gun on his shoulder, ran with all his might past us to the jail.

"Just then a group of men passed, going in the opposite direction. Fearing for my brothers, I said to them, 'Aren't you going to the jail to help those boys'. All shook their heads, and one, a 'Jack Mormon,' said, 'I dare not.' The 'Jack Mormons' were thought little of by either Mormons or gentiles, for they feared to side with either.

"'Well,' I replied, 'my brother was right; you are all cowards,' and, turning away, I ran after Tom to give him what help I could. Turn- ing a corner sharply, I met my mother, who had left my sister's home by the back gate to join her sons at the jail.

"We had almost reached the jail, when the mob appeared, anad we became separated. The men were all disguised, and mother, supposing them to be Mormons, kept on, nothing daunted,

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

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firmly resolved to stand by her sons. But before she reached the gate of the jail yard, the foremost men had leaped the fence, thrown the guard to the ground, and were streaming up the stairs of the jail. A moment later, my mother saw Joseph Smith come to the window, and lean far out. Bullets whistled about him, and, with a loud cry, he pitched headlong to the ground. Only then did mother realize that these men were not Mormons, and she turned away, heartsick and terrified.

"We both returned to my sister's, feeling that our troubles were by no means over, since the 'Prophet's' death would certainly arouse the vengeance of his people.

"The Smiths were not in the jail proper, but in a large front room of the sheriff's quarters. When the news reached the sheriff that a large body of men were coming, he told the prisoners, and begged them to allow him to lock them in a cell. Joseph Smith replied gaily, 'Oh, I think they must be friends. Don't worry, Mr. Sheriff, it will be all right.'

"Long afterwards it was known that, after the demonstration the Carthage Greys, Smith had written to the lieutenant in command of the 'Legion' at Nauvoo to come at once with sufficient men to release him and his brother. This is why he was so sanguine that the men approaching were friends.

"In less than a half-hour from the time I saw the three Warsaw men ride into town, the Smiths were lying dead. I have always believed that they tried to disperse the mob, and, failing, spurred into town to bring word to those whom they thought might avert the tragedy."

OTHER DIFFICULTIES

The killing of Joseph and Hyrum Smith did not put an end to the Mormon difficulties and complications. It was the second year after that event before the Mormons crossed the Mississippi River to establish a new home in the wilderness. A brief account of principal events during that time follows :

There was some friction as to the succession to the presidency, the contestants being Sidney Rigdon and Brigham Young, both of whom were absent when Joseph Smith's death occurred. Young was chosen president by the Council of Twelve, and Rigdon was tried for treason, and cut off from the church. Joseph Smith's family insisted that his son Joseph was the rightful

head of the church, but Young overcame all opposition anad maintained his supremacy.

PRESENT-DAY LATTER-DAY SAINTS IN HANCOCK COUNTY

Inasmuch as there is a congregation of Latter- day Saints in Hancock County, not adherents of the Brigham Young or Salt Lake Branch of the church, it is proper to state that the Hancock County Latter-day Saints belong to that branch of the church whose headquarters are at Lamoni, Iowa; that they teach that Brigham Young was never the lawful head of the church, but was the, originator of the doc- trine of polygamy or plural wives, as to which as they claim Joseph Smith did not have, and did not claim to have, a revelation; and that the succession to the headship of the church did not pass to Brigham Young, but in the line of descent from Joseph Smith; and that obedi- ence to the laws of the state and nation is a religious obligation. The Lamoni church claims to be the true church. Some of the adherents of this church in Hancock County are relatives of Joseph Smith. The Latter-day Saints of this county are as good citizens generally as the members of any other communion and are doubtless sincere in their religious belief.

As we understand it, the Mormons or Latter- day Saints of Salt Lake City have always in- sisted that Joseph Smith received and acted upon the revelation concerning plural marriages, and that Brigham Young was the proper suc- cessor to the presidency, and that the Lamoni branch of the church is an apostasy.

TRIAL OF FIVE MEN CHARGED WITH THE MURDER

The terms of the circuit court at this time were held on the third Monday of May and October. At the October term, 1844, which was the first term held 'after the killing of the Smiths, indictments were found by the grand jury against Levi Williams, Jacob C. Davis, Mark Aldrich, Thomas C. Sharp, William Voras, John Wills, William N. Grover and two others by their surnames of Gollaher and Allen, one indictment for the murder of Joseph Smith, and the other for the murder of Hyrum Smith. These indictments were returned into court by the grand jury after a five day session, on Oct. 26th. Hon. Jesse B. Thomas was the presiding Judge, William Elliott was State's Attorney,

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J. B. Backenstos was Clerk, and Minor R. Deming was sheriff.

GREGG says: "Of these Col. Williams had been in command of the Warsaw regiment that had been disbanded on the prairie; Capt. Aldrich was an officer of the same; Davis and Grover were attorneys at law; and Sharp was also an attorney, and editor of the Warsaw Signal."

Certain of the defendants appeared and de- manded trial. The prosecution was not ready. By agreement the cases were continued until the next term. It was further agreed that no capias should be issued if the defendants would pledge themselves to appear. It is said that this agreement was afterwards violated by the prosecution. The next term of the circuit court began on May 19, 1845. Richard M. Young was the presiding Judge, James H. Ralston was State's Attorney pro tem., David E. Head was Clerk, and Minor R. Deming was Sheriff. On this day five of the defendants appeared, viz., Levi Williams, Jacob C. Davis, Mark Aldrich, Thomas C. Sharp and William N. Grover, and entered into recognizance in the sum of $5,000 for attendance in court from day to day during that term to answer the charge of murder with which they stood charged. Josiah Lamborn prosecuted for the people, the State's Attorney being absent. The attorneys for the five de- fendants appearing were William A. Richardson, O. H. Browning, Calvin A. Warren, Archibald Williams, Onias C. Skinner and Thomas Morri- son. Richardson was from Rushville, Skinner and Morrison from Hancock, and the others from Quincy.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 39

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), 1844-1928. 4n; Scofield, Charles J. (Charles Josiah), 1853- 4n Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1174

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), 1844-1928. 4n; Scofield, Charles J. (Charles Josiah), 1853- 4n
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1174