History of Caldwell and Livingston counties, Missouri, written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Caldwell and Livingston counties--their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens; general and local statistics of great value; incidents and reminiscences, Part 11

Author: Pease, Ora Merle Hawk, 1890-
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: St. Louis, National Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1260

USA > Missouri > Livingston County > History of Caldwell and Livingston counties, Missouri, written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Caldwell and Livingston counties--their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens; general and local statistics of great value; incidents and reminiscences > Part 11
USA > Missouri > Caldwell County > History of Caldwell and Livingston counties, Missouri, written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Caldwell and Livingston counties--their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens; general and local statistics of great value; incidents and reminiscences > Part 11

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In November, 1826, Fishing River township was formed out of Bluffton and comprised all of range 29, lying north of the Missouri river. In 1829, the name of Bluffton township was changed to Rich- mond, and the eastern and western limits of the township were the section line between sections 34 and 35, range 25, and the range line between ranges 28 and 29. The territory of Caldwell was bonnded then as follows : Range 29 lay in Fishing River township, and the re- mainder of the county in Richmond township, Ray county.

In May, 1832, the Raty county court created a new township out of Richmond, and named it Marion. Its boundary line began at the corner of sections 23, 26, and 27, 22, in congressional township 53, range 27; then ran dne north to the township line between congres- sional townships 56 and 57; thence west to the line between ranges 28 and 29; then south to the corner of sections 19, 30, in range 29, and 24, 25, in range 29 in congressional township 53; thence east to the beginning. Marion township, Ray county, comprised among other territory what is now the west four miles of Lincoln and New York, and all of Grant and Kingston townships, Caldwell county.

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HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.

In May, 1832, the authorities of Ray created a new municipal town- ship, called Grand River. It included all the present townships of Davis, Fairview, and Breckinridge, the east two miles of Lincoln, New York and Gomer, in Caldwell county, and a considerable portion of Livingston and Daviess.

In June, 1835, Shoal Creek township was established. It com- prised nearly the southern two-thirds of what is now Caldwell county, as follows : Beginning on the range line between ranges 25 and 26, at the southeast corner of section 1, township 56, range 26, thence west to the county line, thence south eleven miles, thence east to the Carroll county line, thence north to the beginning. It was duly certified that at the time of its organization, Shoal Creek township contained 51 taxable inhabitants, and the total population could not have been far from 250. At this time there were no settlements worth mention in the county of Caldwell outside of Shoal Creek township.

The August election, 1835, was held at the house of Caleb Odell and Jesse Clevenger, Wallace McAfec and Francis McGuire were the judges. In 1836 the election was held at Odell's, and the judges were Jesse M. Mann, Wallace McAfee and Francis McGuire.

In December, 1836, just prior to the organization of Caldwell, its territory was included in the municipal townships of Shoal Creek and Grand River, in Ray county. Grand River township, among other ter- ritory, in what is now Livingston and Daviess counties embraced what are now the municipal townships of Davis, Fairview and Breckinridge, or the east six miles (range 26) of Caldwell county.

ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.

When the Mormon leaders had determined upon the occupation of this portion of Missouri certain public men of the State thought they had discovered an easy and satisfactory solution of the Mormon problem. The Mormons had already selected Far West as their principal town and were clustering about it in considerable numbers, and at various points on lower Shoal creek. They seemed well enough pleased with the county, and were coming in by bands and companies every week.

" Let us fix up a county expressly for the Mormons," exclaimed certain of the politicians and public men. " Let us send all the Mor- mons in the State to that county and induce all Gentiles therein to sell out and leave." The proposition suited every one. The Gentiles said, " If the Mormons are willing to go into that prairie country and settle, let them have it and welcome." The Mormons said, " If we may be allowed to remain peaceably and enjoy our religion, we will go into

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HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.

any country that may be set apart for us, no matter how wild and un- broken it may be, and we will make it to blossom as the rose. If we obtain political control of a county we will honestly administer it and be loyal in all things to the State government over us."

Arrangements were soon made. Every Gentile in the proposed new county that could be induced to sell his possessions at a reasona- ble price was bought out, and his place taken by a Mormon. The authorities of the church agreed that no Mormons should settle in any other county without the previous consent of the settlers already there.

As previously stated, upon the organization of Ray county, in 1820, it was provided that when the county should be divided, its northern boundary should be " the township line between townships 55 and 56 ;"' but the act of 1825, repealing all former acts and " defining the limits of the several counties in this State," fixes the northern boundary of Ray as " the township line dividing townships fifty-three and fifty- four." It was proposed, therefore, to organize the new county out the first 24 miles square north of Ray and with its southern boundary between the said townships 53 and 54. But the Gentile settlers living in the said township 54 protested vigorously against being put into the new Mormon county. This protest took the form of a nu- merously signed petition and some agitation. It became evident that when the Legislature should assemble it would be difficult, if not im- possible, to create the new county with its proposed southern boundary. Those having the scheme in charge, therefore, concluded to fix the boundary line between townships 54 and 55, and thus make the " Mor- mon county " 18 miles north and south by 24 miles east and west. The county to be formed north of the Mormon county was to be 24 miles square, no objection being made.

Hon. Alex. W. Doniphan, then a representative elect from Clay county, had been the leader, if not the proposer, of the scheme, and to him was assigned the work of preparing and introducing into the Leg- islature the act organizing the new counties and of pressing the bill to a passage. Fearing that a separate bill to organize the " Mormon county " might be defeated, Gen. Doniphan incorporated that propo- sition in the bill to organize the other county, and early in the month of December, introduced the measure, which soon passed without much opposition. Following is a copy of the important provisions of the act organizing Caldwell and Daviess counties.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows : 1. All that portion of territory included in the follow- ing limits is hereby declared to be erected into a separate and distinct county, to be called the county of Caldwell, to wit : Beginning at a

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HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.

point where the township line dividing townships 54 and 55 intersects the range line dividing ranges 25 and 26; thence north along said range line to the division line between townships 57 and 58; thence west along said line to the division line between ranges 29 and 30; thence south along said line to the division line between townships 54 and 55 ; thence east along said line to the point of beginning.

2. All that portion of territory included in the following limits is hereby declared to be erected into a separate and distinct county, to be called the county of Daviess, in honor of Col. Joseph H. Daviess, who fell at the battle of Tippecanoe, to wit : Beginning at the north- east corner of the county of Caldwell, as fixed by this act; thence north 24 miles ; thence west 24 miles; thence south to the northwest corner of Caldwell county ; thence east along the north boundary line of said county to the place of beginning.

3. Joseph Baxter, of the county of Clay, Cornelius Gilliam, of the county of Clinton, and Wm. W. Mangee, of the county of Ray, are hereby appointed commissioners to select a seat of justice for each of said counties ; and the said commissioners * shall meet on * * the first Monday in April next, at the house of Francis McGuire, in Caldwell county, for the purpose of selecting and locating the perma- nent seat of justice of said county ; * * * the said commission- ers shall, as soon as convenient, procced to Daviess county for the purpose of selecting and locating a seat of justice for said county.

* * * * *

This act to be in force from after its passage.

Approved December 29, 1836.

As stated to the writer by Gen. Doniphan himself, in the summer of 1885, the origin of the names of the two counties was as follows : Gen. Doniphan's father, Joseph Doniphan, was a soldier of the Revo- lution, and one of the pioneers that accompanied Daniel Boone to Kentucky. In the latter State he belonged to a company of Indian scouts and fighters, commanded by Capt. Matthew ( ?) Caldwell. Of this Capt. Caldwell Gen. Doniphan often heard his father speak as a brave and gallant soldier, and a skillful Indian fighter. Col. Joseph H. Daviess, who was killed under Gen. Harrison at the battle of Tip- Pecanoe, Indiana, in 1811, was also an acquaintance and friend of Mr. Doniphan. When Gen. Doniphan drew up the bill for the organiza- tion of the two new counties, he named one of them for Col. Daviess, and the other Caldwell, in honor of his father's old captain. Caldwell county, Kentucky, was also named for Capt. Caldwell.

January 25, 1839, the Legislature declared that, " all the territory between the northern line of Ray county and the southern line of Caldwell is hereby added to and shall form a part of Ray county." By the same act the northern boundary of Ray was fixed as " the division line between townships 54 and 55." (Laws 10th Gen. As- sembly, p. 25).

CHAPTER II.

THE MORMON OCCUPATION.

Brief History of Mormonism - The Mormon Bible - Early History of the Mormons in New York and Ohio - Emigration to Jackson county, Mo. -- Troubles with the "Gentile " Citizens - The Mormons Mobbed and Persecuted - Expulsion from Jackson County - Settlements in Ray and Clay - The "Mormon Problem" Solved- Caldwell County Created for the Exclusive Benefit of the "Saints "-They Move Up and Take Possession - Settlements Elsewhere - Character of the Settlers in Cald- well - Troubles in the Church - Far West - Salem.

The Mormon occupation of Caldwell county from 1835-36 to 1839 forms an important period, not only in the history of the county, but in that of the State, and even in that of the republic. In detailing it in these pages, it is necessary, in order to arrive at a full and clear understanding of the subject, and make the story a complete and con- nected one, to give a condensed account of the adventures and experiences of the Mormons prior to their coming into this county, and also to refer briefly to Mormonism itself.

To begin with, it may be fairly stated that nothing in the history of modern fanaticism equals the progress of Mormonism in the United States and in all the world. It is marvelously strange that an unedu- cated youth, without wealth or social standing; indeed, without a prestige of common morality (for the founder of Mormonism is said to have been a dissolute, unprincipled young rake, and notorions only for his general wickedness), should excite a revolutionary movement in the religious world, and be able to operate on the public credulity, by means of the wildest and most ridiculous pretensions to divinity and prophecy, and that, too, in an age of refinement and scientific intelligence.

Joe Smith, the founder of Mormonism and its prophet, priest and leader, assumed to act by divine authority, and claimed that his mis- sion was of both a temporal and spiritual character. His mission was not only to radically and essentially change all the features of divine worship, and herald the millennial reign of Christ on earth, but was to establish a temporal kingdom in which his followers, denominated " the Saints," were to reign and crush the unbelieving world beneath their righteous rule. When Smith first came to Missouri, in 1831, it was claimed that the foundations of this kingdom were laid at Inde-

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HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.

pendence, Jackson county, which Smith, in obedience to a revelation, called " The New Jerusalem." From this nucleus the kingdom was to be extended by a series of supernatural incidents and agencies, and by conquests more miraculous, important and complete than those which attended Mohammed in his campaign, which led to the estab- lishment of Islamism.

To accomplish his designs, Smith at first proposed to convert all the Indian tribes of the West but not to incite them to avenge the wrongs they claimed to have suffered at the hands of their white conquerors and oppressors. The blood-thirsty Comanches, the cruel, crafty Sacs and Foxes, together with the Winnebagoes, the Pawnees, the Omahas, the Otoes and other tribes west of the Missouri, were to hear the voice of " the holy prophet of the Great Spirit," heed his coun- sel and consent to and aid in the establishment of Mormon supremacy on the American continent and eventually throughout the globe.

The Mormon Bible or " Book of Mormon," as it is called, con- tains a pretended history of the original inhabitants of America, from whom it is claimed the modern tribes have descended. This book was to be largely used to convert the poor Indians. From the pages of this blundering, meaningless fiction, this mass of but little more than senseless jargon, they were to be taught their high origin; they were to learn of high-toned ancestry that had discovered, settled and peopled a vast continent, and established a civilization far superior to that of their European enemies, who had dispossessed them of their hunting grounds, the once happy homes of their fathers.

A brief sketch of Joseph Smith, the founder and chief apostle of Mormonism, or the Church of the Latter Day Saints, as he christened it, will not be out of place here. He was born December 23, 1805, at Sharon, Windsor county, Vt. In 1815 he removed with his father's family to Palmyra, Wayne county, N. Y. When but 15 years old he claimed to have received the first remarkable vision. He after- wards asserted that while praying in the woods God appeared to him and announced that his sins were all forgiven, that all of the then ex- isting denominations of Christians were in error, and that he was chosen to reinstate the kingdom of God and re-introduce His gospel on earth. Smith acquainted none or but few with the knowledge of his divine visitation at this time, and three years thereafter had fear- fully fallen from grace, as it would seem, for he had formed and prac- ticed vicious habits of swearing, swindling and drunkenness.

September 21, 1823, Smith claimed that he was again favored with a divine visitation and revelation. An angel of the Lord came to him

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HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.

while asleep in bed, he asserted, and revealed to him the existence and preservation of the history of the ancient inhabitants of the American continent, which history was to be found recorded on certain plates or tablets of gold, buried near Palmyra. One of the early Mormon hymns declared : -

An angel came down from Geneva, And to our prophet told That there were plates of gold Hid away in the hills of Cumorah

Smith was further directed by the celestial messenger to take up the aforesaid plates. The next day he obeyed the divine command, and discovered the plates in a stone box buried in the hillside designated as " Cumorah," between the towns of Manchester and Palmyra, N. Y. The angel of the Lord then safely delivered to Smith the plates, which were of gold, bell-shaped, seven by eight inches in size, and in the aggregate were about six inches thick (each plate being of thickness of ordinary tin plate) and fastened through holes in the smaller ends with rings.

These plates contained all kinds of characters, fantastic, arabesque, and irregular, presenting a singular medley of imitations of Greek, Hebrew, Chaldean, and other characters, together with all sorts of hieroglyphics, representations of the sun, moon and stars, various cabalistic symbols, etc. Smith at once set about translating these plates, and his labors were witnessed by Martin Harris, Oliver Cow- dery, and David Whitmer, according to their affidavits, which appear in every edition of the Mormon Bible. These men swore that they saw the angel deliver the plates to Smith, and that they assisted in their transcribing.1

1 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, their brethren, and also of the people of Jared, who 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; wherefore 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 to us by the power of God, and not of man. And we declare with words of soberness, that an an- gel 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 it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear 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

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HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.

David Whitmer still lives, and resides at Richmond, Ray county, an old man and an honest one. It is but the truth and fair to say that he has always seemed to be honest and sincere in his opinions, and positive in his declarations of the particulars of the miraculous circumstances here recorded. Although declared an apostate by the modern leaders of the Mormon church, Mr. Whitmer still claims to be a Mormon, whether he is the victim of a delusion or not.I

the commandments 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 shalld well 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.

TESTIMONY OF EIGIIT WITNESSES.

Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come, that Joseph Smith, Jr., the translator of this work, has shown unto us tine plates of which hath been spoken, which have the appearance of gold: 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 have 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 have seen and lighted, and known of a surety that the said Smith has got the plates of which we have spoken : and we give our names unto the world of that which we have seen; and we lie not, God bearing wit- ness of it.

(Signed) JOHN WHITMER, CHRISTIAN WHITMER, JACOB WIIITMER, PETER WHITMER, JR., HIRAM PAGE, JOSEPH SMITHI, SR., HYRUM SMITH, SAMUEL H. SMITH.

1 A citizen of Caldwell county having made public a statement reflecting on the character of David Whitiner, the latter secured a testimonial, signed by many of the leading citizens of Richmond, where Mr. Whitmer has resided since the year 1838, certifying that, from a long and intimate acquaintance with him, they knew him to be a man of the highest integrity, and of undoubted truthfulness. The Caldwell county man having alleged that Mr. Whitmer had recanted the former faith, and even denied his testimony, the venerable gentleman published the following reply : -

Unto All Nations, Kindreds, Tongues, and People unto whom these Presents shall come : It having been represented by one John Murphy, of Polo, Caldwell county, Mo., that I, in a conversation with him last summer, denied my testimony as one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon, to the end, therefore, that he may understand me now, if he did not then, and that the world may know the truth, I wish now, standing, as it were, in the very sunset of life, and in the fear of God, once for all to make this statement :

That I have never, at any time, denied the testimony or any part thereof, which has so long been published with that book, as one of the three witnesses. Those who know me best well know that I have always adhered to that testimony. And that no man may be misled or doubt my present views in regard to the same, I do again af- firm the truth of all my statements, as then made and published.

He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear! It was no delusion. What is written is written, and he that readeth let him understand.

And that no one may be deceived or misled by this statement, I wish here to state that I do not indorse polygamy or spiritual wifeism. It is a great evil, shocking to the moral sense, and the more so because practiced in the name of religion. It is of man and not of God, and is especially forbidden in the Book of Mormon itself.

I do not indorse the change of the name of the Church, for as the wife takes the

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HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.

While the translation of the plates was in progress, Martin Harris, one of the " scribes," stole 118 pages of the manuscript, as is claimed, and these have never been recovered. The work of translation was then suspended for a time, but in April, 1829, was resumed, Oliver Cowdery, whom John the Baptist came back to the earth and ordained for the work, acting as clerk. The ensuing year the Book of Mormon was published and given to the world as a revelation from heaven.

Mr. Thurlow Weed, a venerable journalist of national reputation, recently living in New York City, in a letter published in the New York Herald, July 29th, 1858, made the following statement concern- ing the publication of the Book of Mormon : -

The original impostor, Joe Smith, came to the writer only thirty- two years ago with the manuscript of this Mormon Bible to be printed. He had then but one follower ( Martin Harris), a respectable and wealthy farmer of the town of Macedon, who offered himself as secu- rity for the printing. But reading a few chapters, it seemed such a jumble of unintelligible absurdities that we refused the work, advising Harris not to mortgage his farm and beggar his family. But Joe crossed over the way to our neighbor, Elihu F. Marshall, and got his Mormon Bible printed.

Mr. Weed was at that time one of the proprietors of a newspaper and printing establishment, in Albany, N. Y.

It has been alleged, and there is some evidence that the real author of the Book of Mormon was Rev. Solomon Spaulding, a Presbyte- rian clergyman, of Ashford, Conn., and a college graduate. Aban- doning the ministry, Mr. Spaulding engaged in merchandising, and

name of her husband, so should the Church of the Lamb of God take the name of its head, even Christ himself. It is the Church of Christ.

As to the high priesthood, Jesus Christ himself is the last Great High Priest, this too after the order of Melchisedec, as I understand the Scriptures.

Finally, I do not indorse any of the teachings of the so-called Mormons, or Latter Day Saints, which are in conflict with the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as taught in the Bible and Book of Mormon; for the same gospel is plainly taught in both these books, as I understand the word of God.

And if any man doubt, should he not carefully and honestly read and understand the same before presuming to sit in judgment and condemning the light, which shineth in darkness and showeth the way of eternal life, as pointed out by the unerring hand of God?

In the spirit of Christ, who hath said, " Follow thou Me, for I am the life, the light and the way," I submit this statement to the world: God, in whom I trust, being my judge as to the sincerity of my motives and the faith and hope that is in me of the eternal life.

My sincere desire is that the world may be benefited by this plain and simple state- ment of the truth.

And all the honor be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.

RICHMOND, MO, March 19, 1881.

DAVID WHITMER, SR.

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resided at Cherry Valley, N. Y., Conneaut, O., and finally at Amity, Pa., where he died in 1816. He was the author of several works of fiction, the manuscript of which he was accustomed to read to his friends. Among the manuscripts was a romance of the mi- gration of the ten lost tribes of Israel to America, advancing the hypothesis that the aborigines of America are the descendants of the Hebrew children.

Being encouraged by some friends, Mr. Spaulding decided to pub- lish this latter fiction, and placed it in the hands of a printer at Pittsburg, Pa. One Sidney Rigdon, afterwards a prominent Mormon, was the printer. The book was never published, and the manuscript was returned to Spaulding. After the appearance of the Book of Mormon, Mr. Spaulding's widow recognized it as having been almost wholly derived from her husband's manuscript, and May 18, 1839, in a card in the Boston Journal, she published a full and authenticated statement regarding its history. It has long been claimed that Sidney Rigdon was the real author of the Book of Mormon, and that he de- rived it wholly or in great part from Spaulding's romance, choosing Joe Smith as a proper person to give it to the world.

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Author: Pease, Ora Merle Hawk, 1890- Publication date: 1886 Publisher: St. Louis, National Historical Company Number of Pages: 1260

Author: Pease, Ora Merle Hawk, 1890-
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: St. Louis, National Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1260