USA > Illinois > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Illinois, together with an outline history of the State, and a digest of State laws > Part 20
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THE CIRCUIT COURT.
We turn now to the Circuit Court record :
STATE OF ILLINOIS, HANCOCK COUNTY.
SET.
At a Circuit Court commenced and held in and for the county of Hancock and state of Illinois, at the house of James White, Esq., at the head of the lower or Des Moines rapids, the place appointed by the County Commissioners' Court of said county, for holding of the Circuit Courts, this 27th day of October, A. D. 1829, the Court having been adjourned from yesterday to the hour of nine o'clock, by the Sheriff of this county, in pursuance of law. Present:
RICHARD M. YOUNG, Circuit Judge. WESLEY WILLIAMS, Clerk. EDSON WHITNEY, Sheriff. t
Ordered, That the order heretofore made on the 15th day of June, A. D. 1829, for the organization of said county of Hancock, together with the order regulat- ing the times of holding the Circuit Court in said county, be spread upon the records of this Court, which said orders are in the words and figures following, to-wit: [Here follow the orders heretofore given.]
Next follow the bonds of Edson Whitney, Sheriff, and Robert Wallace, Coroner eleet, with oaths of office, and bond of Wesley Williams, Clerk; and a parcel of rules of practice to the number of thirty-two,-all as in the County Court records and those of the Probate Court, in the neat and plain hand-writing of Mr. Williams, the competent Clerk.
It does not appear of record that there was any Prosecuting Attorney present at this first term of Court; but at the June term following (1830) George Logan was appointed Prosecutor pro tem .; and at the October term ensuing, Thomas Ford, the regular Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit, was present.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
Below we give a list of Judges and officers of the Circuit Court from organization, to Jan. 1, 1880, with date of their services:
JUDGES.
Oct., 1829-Richard M. Young. 1 Mar., 1852-Onias C. Skinner.
Apr., 1837-James H. Ralston. Oct., 1854-Pinckney H. Walker.
Sept., 1839-Peter Lott. Mar., 1855-Onias C. Skinner.
May, 1841-Stephen A. Douglas.
Oct., 1855-Joseph Sibley.
Oct., 1843-Jesse B. Thomas.
Mar., 1878-Chauncey L. Higbee.
May, 1845-Richard M. Young.
June, 1878-Joseph Sibley.
Oct., 1845-Norman H. Purple.
Oct., 1878-John J. Glenn.
Apr., 1849-William A. Minshall.
Mar., 1879-L. P. Shope.
June, 1851-Onias C. Skinner.
June, 1879-Joseph Sibley.
Oct., 1851-David M. Woodson.
Oct., 1879 -- John H. Williams.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
Oct., 1829-No prosecutor. Apr., 1847-William Elliott.
June, 1830-George Logan, pro tem. Sept., 1848-Robert S. Blackwell.
Oct., 1830-Thomas Ford. June, 1851-William C. Wagley, pro tem.
June, 1831-Arch. Williams, pro tem.
Oct., 1851 -- James H. Stewart.
June, 1832-Thomas Ford.
Mar., 1853-Calvin A. Warren.
Aug., 1834-O. H. Browning, pro tem.
Oct., 1854-George Edmunds, pro tem.
Apr., 1835-Wm. A. Richardson.
Mar .. 1855-Calvin A. Warren.
Sept., 1839-William Elliott.
Mar., 1856-George Edmunds, pro tem.
May, 1843-James H. Ralston, pro tem. Oct., 1843 -- William Elliott.
June, 1856-C. A. Warren. May, 1857-Wesley H. Manier, pro tem.
May, 1845-James H. Ralston, pro tem.
Oct., 1857-(). A. Warren.
June, 1845 -- Calvin A. Warren, pro tem.
Mar., 1865 -- Bryant F. Peterson.
Oct., 1845-Mason Brayman, pro tem. May, 1846-William Elliott.
Mar., 1869 -- William G. Ewing.
Mar., 1873-Bryant F Peterson.
Oct., 1846-Henry Stephens, pro tem. Mar., 1877-William E. Mason.
CIRCUIT CLERKS.
Oct., 1829-Wesley Williams. May, 1845-David E. Head.
May, 1841-Sam'lO. Williams, pro tem. Mar., 1857-Squire R. Davis.
May, 1842 -- Jacob C. Davis. Mar., 1865-Melancton S. Carey.
May, 1843-Jacob B. Backenstos. Mar., 1873-Andrew J. Davis.
It will be perceived that during the fifty years since organization, his honor, Judge Sibley, held the office of Judge for nearly half the period-almost as long a time as the remaining fourteen. Of prosecutors there have been eighteen, including several pro tem. appointments-none of whom held office for a long period. Of Circuit Clerks there have been eight only: Williams, the first, holding the office by appointment for a period of about twelve years. David E. Head held it, by appointment and election, for about the same length of time. S. R. Davis and M. S. Carey each held it for a period of eight years, and A. J. Davis' term will expire at the end of another eight years' service.
The first civil cause docketed was "John R. Wilcox, assignee of Peter Kinney, Complainant, vs. Nathan Kennedy, Defendant, on appeal from Justice's Court."
The first criminal cause on docket is: "The People of the State of Illinois vs. Isaac Galland, Indictment for Perjury, from Schuyler county," which was continued and subsequently dismissed.
We shall not follow this Circuit Court record any further in this place. There have no doubt been many interesting and important
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
civil causes tried in our courts, argued by the eminent counsel practicing at onr bar; but our limits will not allow reference to them. The important murder cases and other criminal causes will be found in future chapters of this book.
THE PROBATE COURT.
The first Court of Probate for the county of Hancock was held on the 4th of January, 1830, Wesley Williams, Judge. At this and also at the subsequent term in February, no business was transacted. At the March term, 1831, the estate of Major Morrill Marston was entered for probate, and John Clark and Robert R. Williams appointed administrators, with orders to sell personal property on April 18, and rent the farm till March 1, 1832; Jacob Lewis, John Dedman, and Dempsey Hood being named as appraisers.
April 4, 1831-The official seal was ordered : "On the outer circle the words ' Hancock Court of Probate;' the word ' Illinois' through the middle; above it two orphans embracing each other, and under- neath a loaf of bread."
At this term the estate of Andrew Vance was entered for probate.
June term, 1831, John R. Wilcox, being a creditor, was appointed administrator of Morrill Marston, deceased; but at the September term following, David Marston, of Rockingham county, N. H., brother of deceased, appearing, was appointed administrator, and Wilcox removed.
The following entries of estates occur in their order:
John Shook, Sr .- Sept., 1831. Hazen Bedell-Feb., 1835.
Daniel Crenshaw- Oct., 1831.
Thomas Crabtree-March, 1835.
Almon S. Foot-1832.
William C. Hawley-April, 1835.
George Y. Cutler-Sept., 1834.
Horace B. Whitney-June, 1835.
Henry Wedding-Sept., 1834.
James White-Jan , 1837.
Oliver Felt-Sept., 1834.
Alexander White-Jan., 1837.
Preston H. Houston-Sept., 1834.
John Johnson-Jan., 1837.
Josiah Smith-Nov., 1834.
Agrippa Wells-Sept., 1837.
Joseph Dewey-Nov., 1834.
Lewis Chamberlain-Dec., 1837.
Henry Butler-Dec., 1834.
John Gordon-July, 1839.
Thomas O'Neal-Dec., 1834.
James M. Wells-July, 1839.
CHAPTER VI.
THE MORMON PERIOD.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
When at Mecca, in Arabia, about the close of the sixth century, Mahomet, the founder of Islamism, began his career, he was doubt- less honest in his purposes, which were to modify and improve the idolatrous worship of his people. But he was an enthusiast and a fanatic. His efforts met first with neglect and contumely, then with opposition and violence. Enemies increased around him, and he was compelled to flee his native city to save his life; and hence- forward he was a changed man. Revenge and ambition became his ruling passions.
The character and career of this great leader have sometimes been compared with those of the pretended Mormon prophet, Joseph Smith; but the contrast is so great as to afford but very slight resemblance. When Joseph Smith began his career at Pal- myra, New York, his motives were not honest, nor was he prompted by either revenge or ambition. His feeble imagination had not yet grasped at anything beyond a mere toying with mysterious things, by which he hoped, if anything, to earn a living without honest labor. It is evident that at first he had no higher or more ambitious purpose in view. He was one of those indolent and illiterate young men to be found in all communities, who, dissatis- fied with their lot, have embraced the pernicious doctrine contained in the phrase "The world owes me a living." Fortune, luck, chance, deception, jugglery, any or all of these that would aid him to obtain that living he was ready to employ. Hence we find him at an early age trying his skill at little tricks to impose on the credulity of his associates. As he grew older, searching for lost treasure became one of his favorite employments; for was it not. better to obtain the golden millions from the nooks and crevices of the earth, in which Kidd and the pirates and robbers had hid them, and live in splendor, than it was to obtain a sinall competency by the slow and uncertain processes of honest labor? And as he pro- gressed from one wild scheme to another, new light began to dawn upon his mind, till accident threw Rigdon and "The Manuscript Found" in his way. Then it was that the idea of a new sect, a new creed, a new play upon popular ignorance and credulity, and consequent place and power and fortune, was gradually developed and boldly and persistently carried forward.
(242)
Joseph Sinith
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
It is the purpose in these pages to give not only a true and faith- ful history of Mormonism as it existed in Hancock county for eight or nine years, but to go back to its beginnings and investigate the claims of its founders. We say founders, because all who knew Joseph Smith, the so-called prophet, can bear testimony that he was not, without help, capable of building up the structure to the shape and consequence it assumed. Ignorant and unlettered as he was, he managed to draw to him a few men of greater mental capacity than his own, through whose combined efforts his and their crude purposes were gradually brought into shape.
Mormonism had its birth and incipient growth in Western New York; it gained strength and acquaintance with the world in Northern Ohio; it increased to a considerable magnitude in Northi- west Missouri. But it was broken and weakened there in its con- tests with its neighbors and the authorities. After a few years of arrogant pretension and active proselytisin, it met with a similar fate in Illinois, and also lost its daring leader. When left to itself in the wilderness of Utah, it developed into what it now is, an ugly and troublesome excrescence upon the body politic.
When the little band of "Latter-Day Saints," as they called themselves, landed in Illinois, in the winter of 1838-9, they were poor and disheartened, and many of them were objects of charity. Their troubles in Missouri had brought them into notice. They were thought to have been persecuted for opinion's sake; and when they crossed the Mississippi at Quincy, they received much sympa- thy and material aid from the people of that city and Adams county; and afterward as they passed up into Hancock, the same kindness and consideration were shown them. Their prophet and his chief adviser, Sidney Rigdon, were yet in durance at Liberty, Mo., and their principal men scattered, some as refugees from Missouri wrath, and some as missionaries to the Gentile world.
Such were the Mormons and such Mormonism when they first became a reality to the people of Hancock county and the State of Illinois.
At that time there was a little village on the river shore, where Nauvoo now stands, called Commerce, with but a few houses. Below was the farm of IIngh White, and out northeast on the hill, where the temple since stood, was the farm of Daniel H. Wells, another old settler, who, after growing rich by the sale of his lands to the new-comers, joined the Church, and finally left with the rest for Salt Lake, where he has since become a leader high in authority among them. Alongside of this village of Commerce lay the lots and squares, and streets and parks of Commerce City -- a paper town which, a few months before, had been ushcred into existence by a brace of Eastern speculators.
Opposite, across the Mississippi, in the then Territory of Iowa, stood the barracks of the old fort Des Moines, but lately vacated by the U. S. Dragoons and occupied by a few settlers. Here was also the land-office of the New York half-breed land company. The
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
village of Keokuk, on the same side and twelve miles below. also on the half-breed lands, had but a few inhabitants, while Fort Madison, above, had a somewhat larger population.
In Hancock county was .Warsaw, eighteen miles below, with a population of, say, 300; Carthage, the county seat had not so many ; Augusta, St. Mary's Plymouth, Fountain Green, La Harpe, Chili, and a few others, had been laid out (chiefly in 1836), and contained each a few families, and were in the midst of young and fast grow- ing settlements. There was no newspaper in the county; The Car- thagenian, at Carthage, had, in 1836-7, a sickly existence, and had now "gone where the woodbine twineth." The population of the county was probably 6,000; by the census of 1840 it was 10,000, including the then Mormon emigrants.
Such was the status of Hancock county and its neighborhood when the Mormon exodus from Missouri began. That people crossed directly eastward to Quincy, in Illinois, through North Missouri, as the nearest and best route to a place of safety. Their leader was yet in jail, but he, somehow escaping, soon made his appearance among them, and at once began operations for planting a " new stake," and gathering his followers around him. The first intention was to settle on the half-breed lands in Iowa, to which Smith had been invited through correspondence with Dr. Isaac Galland before leaving Missouri. Dr. G. had interest in those lands, and also resided and held some interest at Commerce. For various reasons, chief of which was imperfect title, the negotiation as to the half-breed lands fell through, and the main body of the Mormons remained in Hancock county, though numbers had already settled on the other side of the river.
In September, 1839, the city of NAUVOO was laid out and named, its proprietors being Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Hyrum Smith and George W. Robinson. Afterward, down to May, 1843, as many as fifteen additions had been made to it by different parties, including one in 1840 by Daniel H. Wells, embracing part of his farm. The whole of the two farms named, including a portion of Mr. Davidson Hibbard's, and much additional land, was finally in- cluded within the limits of the fast rising city.
The name "Nauvoo" was said by its projectors to be Hebrew for " pleasant land." Whether this be true, we leave for linguists to determine, but the site of the city is certainly one of the most pleas- ant and beautiful in the West. It is presumed, however, that Smith and Rigdon knew about as much of Hebrew as they did of the "Reformed Egyptian" (whatever that may be), in which the "Book of Mormon " is said to have been written on the golden plates.
All the important movements of this people from the beginning, as well as some very unimportant ones, had been directed by pro- fessed revelation from heaven, through Joseph Smith, their " proph- et, seer and revelator." There had been revelations before, as will appear hereafter, that these "Latter-Day Saints" were to enter in and enjoy promised lands, first in Ohio at Kirtland, then at two
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
or three different places in Missouri. And now the way was open for a new revelation; and it came, under the sanction of a "Thus saith the Lord," that this "pleasant land " was the "promised land," to be henceforth occupied by the scattered saints. And the command went out to all the world, and summoned them hither; and hither they came as fast as proselytes could be made and cir- cumstances would permit. A monthly paper called the Times and Seasons was started, to be the organ. Revelations were multi- plied, as occasion demanded, and promulgated through the organ and from the stand. A city began to be built. The sounds of industry were heard on every hand. For whatever may be said of the Mormon people in other respects, it is true that the great body of them were hard-working, frugal and industrious citizens.
Is it any wonder, then, that in view of all these circumstances, these people and their prophet and leader should attract attention? The war in Missouri; their sufferings there and during their flight, in an inclement season; their cry of oppression, so industriously repeated, and the sympathy created in their behalf, had drawn pub- lic attention to them over the whole country.
ORIGIN OF MORMONISM.
But what of this man, Joseph Smith, and these people, his pro- fessed disciples and followers? He claimed to be a holy man, a prophet of God, a seer and revelator; a chosen minister of the Most High, for the accomplishment of a grand and divine purpose. And yet he was killed-slain by the hand of violence! And these peo- ple who followed him and believed in his mission, claim that he died a martyr to the cause of righteousness!
Concerning him and his history and claims, there are two theo- ries, neither of which may be true; and if neither be true, one must be infamously and blasphemously false. The story told by himself and accepted as true by his followers, is as given below, and pur- ports to be in his own words, contributed for publication in a " History of the Religious Denominations of the United States," published in Philadelphia, and is orthodox Mormon history:
"I was born in the town of Sharon, Windsor county, Vt., on the 23d of December, 1805. When ten years old my parents removed to Palmyra, N. Y., where we resided about four years, and from thence we removed to the town of Manchester, a distance of six miles.
"My father was a farmer, and taught me the art of husbandry. When about 14 years of age, I began to reflect upon the importance of being prepared for a future state, and upon inquiring the place of salvation; I found there was a great clash in religious sentiment; if I went to one society they referred me to one place, and another to another, each one pointing to his own particular creed as the summum bonum of perfection. Considering that all could not be right, and that God could not be the author of so much confusion,
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I determined to investigate the subject more fully, believing that if God had a Church it would not be split up into factions, and that if He taught one society to worship one way, and administer in one set of ordinancese, he would not teach another principles which were diametrically opposed. Believing the word of God, I had con- fidence in the declaration of James: ' If any man lack wisdom let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.'
" I retired to a secret place in a grove, and began to call upon the Lord. While fervently engaged in supplication, my mind was taken away from the objects with which I was surrounded, and I was enwrapt in a heavenly vision and saw two glorious personages who exactly resembled each other in features and likeness, sur- rounded by a brilliant light which eclipsed the sun at noonday. They told me that all the religious denominations were believing in incorrect doctrines, and that none of them was acknowledged of God as His Church and kingdom. And I was expressly commanded ' to go not after them,' at the same time receiving a promise that the fulness of the gospel should at some future time be made known unto me.
"On the evening of the 21st of September, A. D. 1823, while I was praying unto God and endeavoring to exercise faith in the precious promises of scripture, on a sudden a light, like that of day only of a far purer and more glorious appearance and brightness, burst into the room; indeed, the first sight was as though the house was filled with consuming fire. The appearance produced a shock that affected the whole body. In a moment, a personage stood before me surrounded with a glory yet greater than that with which I was already surrounded. This messenger proclaimed himself to be an angel of God, sent to bring the joyful tidings that the covenant which God made with ancient Israel was at hand to be fulfilled; that the preparatory work for the second coming of the Messiah was speedily to commence; that the time was at hand for the gospel, in all its fullness, to be preached in power unto all nations, that the people might be prepared for the millennial reign.
"I was informed that I was chosen to be an instrument in the hands of God to bring about some of His purposes in this glorious dispensation.
" I was informed also concerning the aboriginal inhabitants of this country, and shown who they were and from whence they came; -a brief sketch of their origin, progress, civilization, laws, govern- ments, of their righteousness and iniquity, and the blessings of God being finally withdrawn from them as a people, was made known unto me. I was also told where there were deposited some plates, on which was engraved an abridgment of the records of the ancient prophets that had existed on this continent. The angel appeared to me three times the same night, and unfolded the same things. After having received many visits from the angel of God, unfolding the majesty and glory of the events that should transpire
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
in the last days, on the 22d of September, A. D. 1827, the angel of the Lord delivered the record into my hands.
"These records were engraven on plates which had the appearance of gold; each plate was six inches wide and eight inches long, and not quite so thick as common tin. They were filled with engrav- ings in Egyptian characters, and bound together in a volume as the leaves of a book, with three rings running through the whole. The volume was something near six inches in thickness, a part of which was sealed. The characters in the unsealed part were small and beautifully engraved. The whole book exhibited many marks of antiquity in its construction, and much skill in the art of engraving. With the records was found a curious instrument, which the ancients called ' Urim and Thummim,' which consisted of two transparent stones set in the rim on a bow fastened to a breastplate.
" Through the medium of the ' Urim and Thummim' I translated the record, by the gift and power of God."
The foregoing is the story of his life to the finding of the Golden Plates, in what is since called "Mormon Hill," in the town of Manchester, near Palmyra, N. Y. Corroborative of his statement is the testimony of eleven witnesses, to be found prefixed to all edi- tions of the Book of Mormon, as follows:
THE TESTIMONY OF THREE WITNESSES.
Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come, that we, through the grace of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, his brethren, and also of the people of Jared, which came from the tower of which hath been spoken; and we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for His voice hath declared it unto us; whereof we know of a surety that the work is true. And we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates; and they have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of men. And we declare with words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bare record that these things are true; and it is marvelous in our eyes; nevertheless, the voice of the Lord commanded us that we should bear record of it; wherefore, to be obedient unto the command- ments of God, we bear testimony of these things. And we know that if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be found spotless before the judgment seat of Christ, and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. And the 'honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.
(Signed),
OLIVER COWDERY, DAVID WHITMER, MARTIN HARRIS.
And also the Testimony of Eight Witnesses.
Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, unto whom this work shall come, that Joseph Smith, Jr., the author and proprietor of this work, has shown unto us the plates of which hath been spoken, which hath the appear- ance of gold; and as many of the leaves as the said Smith has translated we did handle with our hands; and we also saw the engravings thereon, all of which has the appearance of ancient work, and of curious workmanship. And this, we bear record, with words of soberness, that the said Smith has shown unto us, for we
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have seen and hefted, and know of a surety, that the said Smith has got the plates of which we have spoken. And we give our names unto the world, to witness unto the world that which we have seen ; and we lie not, God bearing witness of it. (Signed),
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