USA > Missouri > Cedar County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 7
USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 7
USA > Missouri > Barton County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 7
USA > Missouri > Hickory County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 7
USA > Missouri > Polk County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 7
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THE MORMONS AND THE MORMON WAR.
The origin, rapid development and prosperity of the relig- ious sect, commonly called the Mormons, are among the most remarkable and instructive historical events of the present cen- tury. That an obscure individual, without money, education or elevated position in society, should persuade people to believe him inspired of God, and cause a book, insignificant as a literary production, to be received as a continuation of the sacred reve- lation, appears almost incredible. Yet in less than half a cen- tury, the disciples of this personage have increased to hundreds of thousands; have founded a State in the distant wilderness, and compelled the Government of the United States to practically rec- ognize t hem as an independent people.
The founder of Mormonism was Joseph Smith, a native of Vermont, who emigrated, while quite young, with his father's family to western New York. The story of the finding of the golden plates in the "Hill of Cumarah," their transcription, the printing of the Mormon Bible, the organization of the first church of the new faith, are themes not important to be considered here. It may be well to state in passing that the believers in Mormon- ism claim that their Bible gives a history of the peopling of the Western Continent, as the common Bible narrates the origin of the human race on the Eastern, and the Mormons accept both volumes as of Divine inspiration, calling themselves "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." The common name by which they are known is that given to one of the writers of the Mormon Bible.
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
Having gained a number of converts, Smith, in 1831, moved to Kirtland, Ohio, and, during the same year, made a visit to Missouri in search of a location for " Zion." He found it at In- dependence, Jackson County, named the place "The New Jerusa- lem," and returned to Kirtland.
In 1832 Smith established himself with many followers in Jackson County. Here the new church acquired several thou- sand acres of land, which the members professed to hold in com- mon, and published a paper called The Morning and Evening Star, in which were printed promises of boundless prosperity to the "Saints," and frightful denunciations against the "Gentiles." The result was a series of trifling encounters between the two parties, until, October 31, 1833, an engagement occurred near Westport, in which two citizens and one Mormon were killed.
The Gentile citizens of Jackson County now rose in arms in considerable numbers, and committed a series of acts of violence toward the Mormons. The bishop was tarred and feathered, the printing press thrown into the river, the storehouse plun- dered, and the "Saints " were forced to leave the county without any compensation whatever for the lands they were compelled to abandon.
The Mormons next located in Clay, Carroll and Caldwell Counties, but principally in the latter, which was organized for their benefit. They established headquarters at Far West, which was founded in 1836, and which Smith assured his followers would soon become one of the great cities of the world. As the result of the preaching of missionaries in the Eastern States, converts flocked into the country and their settlements soon spread into Daviess and Clinton Counties, but Far West was their chief town and commercial center. Some of the Mormon settlers were good and industrious people, but many were violent and lawless, and considered that they had a right to take anything they chose from the Gentiles. As the latter were in the minority in Cald- well County, and as most of the county offices were held by "Saints," there was considerable dissatisfaction among the Gen- tiles, and violent deeds were committed on either side.
In Carroll County a committee of citizens waited upon the leaders of the Mormon settlement at De Witt, and notified them
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
that they must leave the county. Mormon recruits poured into the town, and an engagement took place on the 21st of Septem- ber, 1838, but no serious casualty occurred. The attacking party was now increased by reinforcements to 400 or 500 men, but before renewing the battle, they demanded once more that the obnoxious settlers should leave the county.
Although the terms of this proposition were quite stringent, it was acceded to, and the Saints loaded their property on wagons and removed to Far West.
October 25 a skirmish took place at Crooked River in the southwestern part of Caldwell County, where one Gentile was killed, several others wounded, and David Patten, the leader of the Danite Band or United Brothers of Gideon, and two other Mormons, were killed. The Gentiles were commanded by Capt. Sam. Bogart.
The people of Missouri now determined to be rid of the Mormons, and in 1838 Gov. Boggs issued an order to Maj .- Gen. David R. Atchison to call out the militia of his division and proceed against the Mormons and expel them from the State or "extenuate them." A part of the First Brigade of the Mis- souri State Militia, under command of Gen. Alexander W. Doni- phan, at once proceeded to the seat of war. Upon receipt of Gov. Boggs' exterminating order, Gen. Atchison left the field, and the command of the forces was turned over to Maj .- Gen. S. D. Lucas, of Independence, pending the arrival of Gen. John B. Clark, of Howard County. The Mormon forces numbering about 600 men were led by Col. George W. Hinkle.
The principal event was the massacre at Haun's mills, five miles south of the present site of Breckinridge, Caldwell County. Three militiamen were wounded and seventeen of the Mormons, two of them little boys, killed - some of them after their sur- render - and their bodies were thrown into a half finished well. This massacre, for it was nothing else, was perpetrated by 250 men from Livingston and Daviess Counties, under Col. Thomas Jennings.
When the militia appeared at Far West where the principal Mormon forces were gathered, the Mormons surrendered, agree- ing to Gen. Lucas' conditions, viz .: That they should deliver up
5
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
their arms, pay the expenses of the war, surrender their promi- nent leaders for trial, and the remainder of the Mormons should, with their families, leave the State.
The leaders were taken before a court of inquiry at Rich- mond, Judge Austin A. King presiding. He remanded them to Daviess County to await the action of the grand jury on a charge of treason against the State. The Daviess County jail being poor, they were confined at Liberty. Indictments for various offenses - treason, murder, robbery, receiving stolen goods, arson, resisting legal process, etc.,-were found against Joseph Smith, Hiram Smith, Sidney Rigdon, G. W. Hinkle, Parley P. Pratt and a number of others. Sidney Rigdon was released on a writ of habeas corpus. The others requested a change of venue, and Judge King sent their cases to Boone County for trial. On their way to Columbia, under a military guard, Joe Smith effected his escape. It is generally believed that the guard was bribed, subsequently, P. P. Pratt and others also escaped; some of the prisoners were acquitted, and the indictments dismissed against all the others. In connection with the removal of the Mormons, and according to the terms of their surrender, there were many terrible scenes. Numbers of them were poor, and had invested their all in lands from which they were about to be driven. Valuable farms were traded for an old wagon, a horse, a yoke of oxen, or anything that would furnish means of transportation. In many instances, convey- ances of lands were demanded and enforced at the muzzle of the pistol or the rifle. Nearly 4,000 Mormons removed from Cald- well County to Nauvoo, Ill.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1845.
At the August election of 1845, sixty-six members were chosen by the people to remodel the constitution. Representa- tion under the old constitution, which allowed each county at least one representative, and limited the whole number to 100 members in the lower branch of the General Assembly, had become very unequal. Chiefly to remedy this irregularity, but at the same time for other purposes, the convention was called.
It convened at Jefferson City, on November 17, 1845, and
·
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
organized by the election of Robert W. Wells as president; Clai- borne F. Jackson, vice-president, and R. Walker, secretary. Some of the most able and distinguished men of the State were members of this body. The whole organic law was reviewed, and, in many material respects, remodeled. The convention a dopted (ayes, forty-nine, nays, thirteen) a new constitution, and submitted it to the people, and adjourned sine die January 14, 1846. During the canvass the constitution was very generally discussed by the newspapers and candidates, and finally, at the August election, rejected by about 9,000 majority, the whole number of votes cast being about 60,000.
THE MEXICAN WAR.
From 1821 to 1836 the vast territory lying between Louisi- ana and Mexico had been a province of the latter country. It had been the policy of Spain and Mexico to keep Texas uninhab- ited, in order that the vigorous race of Americans might not en- croach on the Mexican borders. At last, however, a large land grant was made to Moses Austin, of Connecticut, on condition that he would settle 300 American families within the limits of his domain. Afterward the grant was confirmed to his son Ste- phen, with the privilege of establishing 500 additional families of immigrants. Thus the foundation of Texas was laid by people of the English race.
Owing to the oppressive policy adopted by Mexico, the Tex- ans, in 1835, raised the standard of rebellion. Many adventur- ers and some heroes from the United States flocked to their aid. In the first battle fought at Gonzales, 1,000 Mexicans were de- feated by a Texan force numbering 500. On March 6, 1836, a Texan fort, called the Alamo, was surrounded by a Mexican army, commanded by Pres. Santa Anna. The feeble garrison was overpowered and massacred under circumstances of great atroc- ity. David Crocket, an ex-congressman of Tennessee, and a famous hunter, was one of the victims of the butchery. In the next month was fought the decisive battle of San Jacinto, which gave to Texas her freedom. The independence of the new State was acknowledged by the United States, Great Britain and France.
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
On the 1st of March, 1844, Texas was admitted into the Amer- ican Union as a sovereign State, and on the 4th of July, 1845, the Texan Legislature ratified the act of annexation. Knowing the warlike attitude of Mexico, the authorities of Texas sent an immediate and urgent request to the President to dispatch an army for their protection. Accordingly, Gen. Zachary Taylor was ordered to occupy Texas. The real issue between that State and Mexico was concerning boundaries. Texas claimed the Rio Grande as her Western limit, while Mexico was determined to have the Nueces as the separating line. The territory between the two rivers was in dispute. Having made an unsuccessful at- tempt to settle the difficulty by negotiation, the American Gov- ernment sent Gen. Taylor to Corpus Christi, at the mouth of the Nueces, where, by the beginning of November, 1845, he had concentrated a force of 4,000 or 5,000 men. In the following January Gen. Taylor was ordered to advance to the Rio Grande. He took his station opposite Matamoras and hastily erected a fortress, afterward named Fort Brown.
In April, 1846, Mexico declared war against the United States, and this was promptly followed by a counter declaration, on the part of the American Congress, against Mexico. Soon after this exchange of challenges, the Mexicans crossed the Rio Grande in strong force, headed by their famous generals, Arista and Ampudia, and, on the 8th and 9th of May, at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, were met and repulsed with great slaughter by Gen. Taylor.
When the news of the battles on the Rio Grande was borne through the Union, the national spirit was everywhere aroused, and party dissensions were hushed into silence. A call was made for 50,000 volunteers, and Missouri was not backward among her sister States in responding to the appeal. The St. Louis Legion, a military organization under command of Col. A. R. Easton, quickly prepared for the field of action. Supplies were raised for them by liberal subscriptions on the part of the citizens, and in a few days they departed for the seat of war. The American forces were organized in three divisions: the Army of the West, under Gen. Kearney, to cross the Rocky Mountains and conquer the northern Mexican provinces ; the Army
ta si t
chain Mould street.
With Mmes. Greathouse and Wells.
Mrs. S. R. Wells, assisted by Mrs. W. Greathouse, charmingly entertained their neighborhood friends with an aft- ernoon party at the home of Mrs. Wells, 1121 Washington avenue, Fri- day afternoon. The color scheme of pink and white was carried out in the decorations and an abundance of car- nations and ferns furnished the floral effects. The reception hall and dining room were exceptionally artistic.
-
An enjoyable · programme was given by little Miss Marion Griffiths at the piano, and Mrs. S. R. Wells and. Miss Birge gave several vocal solos.
A contest of quotations from the Bi- ble and from Shakespeare was entered into with 'much enthusiasm, with the result that Mrs. Penber and Mrs. Por- ter tied for the prize. A shopping con- test was next in order, which proved to be quite a memory test. Mrs. C. B. Beard carried off the prize.
The drawing of the family tree was very amusing and brought out the art talent of the participants. Mrs. Pen- ber, Mrs. Harry Wynne, Miss Birge and Mrs. Wright showed the greatest pro- ficiency and in a cut for the prize, Mrs. Wright was successful.
The guests were then invitedt into the dining room, which was beauti- ful in every appointment, and a three- course luncheon was served.
Exquisite hand-painted place cards, the work of Mrs. W. H. Greathouse, marked the covers for the guests.
The Better Way
To be a strong hand in the dark to another in the time of need, to be a cup of strength to a human soul in a crisis of weakness, is to know the glory of life .- Black.
$1.00-Soft Nainsook, yok with embroidery. lace edge, beadin bon, lace trimmer bottom. $1.00-Soft Nainsook, 54 1 embroidery trim · lace edge, beadin bon round neck lace trimmed ruf tom. . $2.00-Fine Nainsook, medallions and tion in front, lace ing and ribbon I lace insertion ar ruffle on bottom
gowns and pet WE DESIRE to particular attè our patrons to the quality, the great va exceptional values in Women's Gowns
Tests, should weigh approximatey three pounds." The account proceeds : It is well known that all animals are easily susceptible to the action of mine gases, and the presence of the latter could therefore be easily detected from the be- havior of the rat, thus dispensing with
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
of the Center, under Gen. Scott as commander-in-chief, to march from the Gulf coast into the heart of the enemy's country ; and the Army of Occupation, commanded by Gen. Taylor, to subdue and hold the districts on the Rio Grande. About the middle of May, 1846, Gov. Edwards, of Missouri, called for mounted volunteers to join the first of these divisions, which was about to undertake an expedition to Santa Fe. By the 18th of June the full com- plement of companies to compose the First Regiment had ar- rived at Fort Leavenworth, the appointed rendezvous. These volunteers were from the counties of Jackson, Lafayette, Clay, Saline, Franklin, Cole, Howard and Callaway. Alexander W. Doniphan, of Clay, was elected colonel; C. F. Ruff, lieutenant- colonel, and William Gilpin, major. The battalion of light ar- tillery, from St. Louis, was commanded by Capts. R. H. Weight- man and A. W. Fischer, with Maj. M. L. Clark as its field officer. Battalions of infantry from Platte and Cole Counties were com- manded by Capts. Murphy and W. Z. Augney, respectively. The Laclede Rangers, from St. Louis, were led by Capt. Thomas B. Henderson.
In all, Gen. Kearney had 1,658 men and sixteen pieces of ordnance. After a long and wearisome march he reached Santa Fe, and on the 18th of August captured and garrisoned the city. The whole of New Mexico submitted without resistance. With a body of 400 dragoons Kearney then continued his march toward the Pacific coast, leaving Col. Doniphan in command of New Mexico.
With a body of 700 fearless men, this latter officer made one of the most brilliant movements of the war. He undertook a march through the enemy's country, from Santa Fe to Saltillo, a distance of more than 800 miles. Reaching the Rio Grande on Christmas day, he fought and gained the battle of Bracito; then crossing the river, captured El Paso, and in two months pressed his way to within twenty miles of Chihuahua. On the banks of Sacramento Creek he met the Mexicans in overwhelming numbers, and on the 28th of February completely routed them. He then marched unopposed into Chihuahua, a city of more than 40,000 inhab- itants, and finally reached the division of Gen. Wool in safety.
Early in the summer of 1846, Hon. Sterling Price, a member
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
of Congress from Missouri, resigned, and was appointed by Presi- dent Polk to command another regiment of Missouri volunteers to reinforce the Army of the West. This force consisted of a full mounted regiment, one mounted extra battalion, and one extra battalion of Mormon infantry. These troops were raised in the Counties of Boone, Benton, Carroll, Chariton, Linn, Liv- ingston, Monroe, Randolph, Ste. Genevieve and St. Louis, with Lieut .- Col. David Willock's extra battalion from Marion, Ray and Platte.
Col. Price's command took up the line of march for Santa Fe, over the same route pursued by Doniphan and Kearney, and ar- rived on September 28, three days after Kearney's departure for California.
In the winter of 1847 an insurrection against the American authority broke out in New Mexico, and on the 24th of January Col. Price met the enemy, numbering about 2,000 men, at Canada, and repulsed them with a slight loss on both sides. He totally routed them at El Embudo, on January 29. On February 3 he found the Mexicans and Indians strongly fortified at Taos, and engaged them on the following day with shot and shell. The battle raged all day, and at night the Mexicans surrendered. Price's loss in these three engagements was but fifteen killed and forty- seven wounded. Afterward, by order of Gen. Price, twenty-one of the Mexican leaders were hung.
In August, 1847, Gov. Edwards made another requisition for 1,000 infantry to follow Col. Price's command. The regiment was organized immediately, and Maj. John Dougherty, of Clay County, was chosen colonel, but before it marched the President countermanded the order under which it was raised.
Another regiment of mounted volunteers (the Third Missouri Regiment) was formed to serve during the Mexican War. It was commanded by Col. John Ralls, of Ralls County, and was mustered into service about May, 1847. A portion of this regi- ment went as far as El Paso, Chihuahua and Santa Cruz De Rosales, and at the latter place participated in a battle against the Mexicans under Gen. Trias. The enemy were in the town and sheltered by breastworks, but after fighting all day were obliged to surrender with their arms, ammunition, wagons and teams. The Americans were commanded by Gen. Sterling Price.
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
The war was now drawing to a close. Everywhere the arms of the United States had been victorious, and on February 2, 1848, a treaty was concluded between the two belligerent nations. By the terms of settlement the boundary line between Mexico and the United States was fixed as follows: The Rio Grande from its mouth to the southern limit of New Mexico; thence westward along the southern, and northward along the western boundary of that Territory to the river Gila; thence down that river to the Colorado; thence westward to the Pacific. The whole of New Mexico and Upper California was relinquished to the United States. Mexico guaranteed the free navigation of the Gulf of California, and the Colorado River from its mouth to the confluence of the Gila. In consideration of these territorial acquisitions and privileges, the United States agreed to surren- der all places held by military occupation in Mexico; to pay into the treasury of that country $15,000,000, and to assume all debts due from the Mexican Government to American citizens, said debts not to exceed $3,500,000. Thus, at last, was the territory of the United States spread out in one broad belt from ocean to ocean.
THE GREAT FIRE AT ST. LOUIS.
In May, 1849, occurred the great fire at St. Louis; a brief ac- count of it from Switzler's History of Missouri is here copied:
"On the evening of the 19th of that month a fire broke out on the steamer 'White Cloud,' lying at the wharf between Vine and Cherry Streets, and set at defiance every effort to arrest its prog- ress. The flames very soon communicated to four other boats lying contiguous. By the action of the fire, the 'White Cloud' became loosened from her fastenings, and drifted out into the stream and among the other steamers in port. In a short time the spectacle of twenty-three boats on fire presented itself. The immense conflagration was a mile in length. The levee being covered with combustible materials, bales, barrels, boxes, etc., the fire reached the city and whole blocks were swept away. The area of the burnt district will be understood by the statement that Front Street, from Locust to Market, was entirely destroyed, with the exception of two or three houses on Commercial Street. Between Commercial and the levee, there was not one left. In
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
this immense conflagration there were twenty-three steamboats, three barges and one canal boat destroyed, whose total value with their cargoes was estimated at $439,000. The whole value of property destroyed amounted to over $3,000,000."
THE JACKSON RESOLUTIONS.
The sixteenth General Assembly of the State of Missouri, which convened at Jefferson City, December 25, 1848, will ever be remembered on account of its passage of the famous "Jackson Resolutions." The occasion of these was a bill called the "Wil- mot-Anti-Slavery Proviso," which had been introduced into the preceding Congress by Hon. David Wilmot of Pennsylvania, prohibiting the extension of slavery into the recently acquired Territories. Slave holders throughout the Southern States were exceedingly agitated over this measure, seeing that it must effect- ually put an end to the formation of new pro-slavery States, thus giving the majority of members in Congress to the anti-slavery party, and insuring the final triumph of the Free Soilers. As a result of the excitement in Missouri, Carty Wells, a Democratic State senator from Lincoln County, introduced into the Upper House of the Legislature a series of resolutions on various sub- jects suggested by the Wilmot Proviso, which was referred to the Senate Committee on Federal Relations. On January 15, 1849, Claiborne F. Jackson, senator from Howard County, re- ported from this committee to the Senate the following modifica- tion of Mr. Wells' resolutions:
Resolved, by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, That the Federal constitution was the result of a compromise between the conflicting interests of the State which formed it, and in no part of that instrument is to be found any delegation of power to Congress to legislate on the subject of slavery, excepting some special provisions, having in view the prospective abolition of the African slave trade, made for the securing the recovery of fugitive slaves; any attempt, therefore, on the part of Congress to legislate on the subject, so as to affect the institution of slavery in the States, in the District of Columbia, or in the Terri- tories, is, to say the least, a violation of the principles upon which that instru- ment was founded.
2. That the Territories acquired by the blood and treasure of the whole nation ought to be governed for the common benefit of the people of all the States, and any organization of the Territorial Governments, excluding the citizens of any part.of the Union from removing to such Territories with their property, would be an exercise of power, by Congress, inconsistent with the spirit upon which our Federal compact was based, insulting to the sovereignty
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
and dignity of the States thus affected, calculated to alienate one portion of the Union from another, and tending ultimately to disunion.
3. That the General Assembly regard the conduct of the Northern States on the subject of Slavery as releasing the slave-holding States from all further adherence to the basis of compromise fixed on by the act of Congress of March 6, 1820, even if such act ever did impose any obligation upon the slave-holding States, and authorizes them to insist upon their rights under the constitution; but for the sake of harmony, and for the preservation of our Federal Union, they will sanction the application of the principles of the Missouri Compromise to the recent territorial acquisitions, if by such concession future aggressions upon the equal rights of the States may be arrested and the spirit of anti-slavery fanaticism be extinguished.
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