USA > Missouri > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Missouri > Part 13
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The church was completed in 1882, with Rev. Wagoner pastor. By the latter part of 1883 all indebtedness was paid. Rev. C. C. Woods, presiding elder of the Kansas City district, preaching the dedication ser- mon on the fourth Sunday in November of that year. Several names were suggested, but the one chosen, Oakland, was offered by Mrs. Julia Bowling, now of Independence, Mo., the only living charter member.
As time passed an earnest effort was made to enlist each successive generation in the work of the Master. Rev. J. A. Swift was pastor from 1892 to 1894. In 1901 the church was transferred from the Kansas City to the Lexington district, and the removal from Pink Hill to Buckner circuit, where the parsonage is now located. This change was made dur- ing the four years pastorate of Rev. Hedges.
During the winter of 1902 Rev. J. A. Jared held a successful revival meeting, following which Chapter 4274 Epworth League was organized with 34 members. It is a splendid organization that meets the social needs of the young people of the church, as well as a medium to awaken religious interest. This church has an enrollment of between 60 and 70 members, and no longer suspends through the winter months, as in years past. The present pastor is Rev. H. S. Dubois.
The church, with the addition of a vestibule and small extension, was built through the efforts of the Aid Society, and also improved grounds, to the extent of concrete walks, rock posts and retaining wall, which won for it, recently, a first prize for best kept country church in the county.
The service flag, with 20 stars, representing 20 lives of our boys who so nobly answered the call to the colors in the World War, is the pride of the congregation. The stars of gold represent Charles and Henry Spen- cer and Perry Cartmill. The following are the names and order as they left for the training camps: Willie Tucker, Claude Hodges, Terrence Love, Ernest Owings, Walter Owings, Floyd Ketteman, Theodore Hoene,
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Keith Adams, Harry Spencer, Owen Steward, Delbert Campbell, Clifton Johnson, Tony Johnson, Emmit Doane, James Rolen, Warren Rolen, Wil- ber Biddle, Aaron Duane, Perry Cartmill and Charles Spencer.
THE "MORMONS" IN JACKSON COUNTY.
(By Bishop Orson F. Whitney, Author of "Whitney's History of Utah.")
Jackson County, Missouri, is the place for the City of Zion, the New Jerusalem, to be built by a redeemed and gathered Israel preparatory to the second coming of the Savior. So taught Joseph Smith, the first Prophet-President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. As early as the summer of 1831 the Prophet, then residing at Kirtland, Ohio, sent a colony into western Missouri to begin the work of prepara- tion. That colony grew until it numbered about fifteen hundred souls.
Jackson County was on the western fringe of the Nation, and most of its inhabitants were from the South. Lands were purchased by the new-comers in and around Independence, "the center place" for the pro- posed city, with its sacred Temple. There and at other points they built houses and cultivated their farms and fields. At Independence they established a store, set up a printing press, and issued a periodical, "The Evening and Morning Star." By means of this publication and the preaching of their ministers, the religious tenets and social views of the "Mormon" people were more or less widely disseminated:
The motives of these colonists were misinterpreted by many of the older settlers, who, misled by false reports, actually feared that it was the purpose of the Prophet's followers to forcibly possess themselves of the whole country, to unite with the Indians across the border, and drive the "Gentiles" (non-Mormons) from the land. There was no foundation for such a fear. According to the Book of Mormon-a history of and a prophecy concerning America,-God had given into the hands of the "Gentiles" this land; had inspired Columbus to discover it, the Pilgrims and others to people it, and the Patriots of the Revolution to win its inde- pendence and maintain it as a land of liberty. So many of the "Gentiles" as would embrace the Gospel were to assist modern Israel-the Latter- Day Saints-in building up Zion, and were to share in her glory; the red men to have the same privileges upon like conditions. The Saints were under sacred obligations to show good will to the people around them, to deal fairly with all men, and honestly purchase every inch of ground nec- essary for the rearing of the New Jerusalem.
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In addition to the charge of "tampering with the Indians," the new settlers were accused of being Abolitionists-anti-slavery agitators. This accusation, though it had nothing to support it but the fact that they were mostly from the Eastern and Northern states, was alone sufficient, wherever credited, to blacken them in the minds of the Missourians of that period. Religious and political rancor made the most of these and other canards, to the injury of a peaceable, moral and industrious com- munity.
In April, 1833, meetings were held to consider the most effective means of ridding the country of the unpopular "Mormons." The first attempts were unsuccessful, but in the latter part of July a mass meet- ing of 500 convened, and a declaration embodying similar charges to those mentioned was unanimously adopted. It was resolved that the "Mormons" be required to leave the county at once, and that in future no "Mormon" be permitted to settle there.
The local authorities of the Mormon Church, having been informed of this decision, asked for sufficient time to fully consider the matter and consult with their leaders in Ohio. The answer to this request was a furious outburst of mob violence. The residence of William W. Phelps, editor of "The Evening and Morning Star," was assaulted, and his house razed to the ground; his family, including his wife with a sick child in her arms, being thrust into the street. The household furniture, books, etc., were destroyed or carried away by the mob, and the printing press, type and other materials likewise confiscated. Phelps himself was cap- tured by the marauders, but escaped through the crowd. The church store was looted and its goods strewn in the streets. The crowning out- rage was upon the persons of Bishop Edward Partridge and Elder Charles Allen, who were taken to the public square of Independence, partly strip- ped of their clothing, and covered with tar and feathers. Mixed with the tar was a powerful acid which severely burned their flesh.
Three days later the mass meeting again convened, this time in greater numbers than before. They were now a little more reasonable in their demands. The result was a mutual compact, by the terms of which one-half of the "Mormon" population was to be permitted to remain in the county until January 1, 1834, and the other half until the first of April. It was agreed that the "Star" should not again be pub- lished, and that "Mormon" immigration to that part should immediately cease. In return for these concessions, a pledge was given that no fur- ther attacks should be made upon them.
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Two months had not elapsed before the mob resumed hostilities. The persecuted people appealed to the Governor of the State, Daniel Dunklin, asking for military aid and protection while seeking redress in the courts. The Governor declined to give the aid requested, but prom- ised the petitioners that if they failed to obtain a proper execution of the laws through the courts, he would take steps for their relief. Thus encouraged, they instituted legal proceedings against their oppressors.
It was as the application of a lighted match to a mine. Another explosion of mob fury followed; "Mormon" houses were unroofed, men whipped and pelted with stones, and women and children driven scream- ing into the wilderness. Every peaceful effort to obtain justice having proved futile, the "Mormons" armed themselves and prepared to resist the outlaws who came against them. In a battle that ensued several men were wounded and one or two killed on either side. Lieutenant-Governor Lilburn W. Boggs ordered out the militia to suppress the alleged insur- rection. Colonel Thomas Pitcher was placed in command. He required the "Mormons" to lay down their arms and deliver up, to be tried for murder, certain men who had taken part in the battle. The rest of the community were to leave the county forthwith. His first two behests having been obeyed, Pitcher enforced the third demand at the point of the bayonet. Armed bands, including the rioters who had caused the trouble, ranged in every direction, bursting into houses, terrifying women and children, and threatening with death the defenseless people if they did not instantly flee. Out upon the bleak prairies, along Missouri's bank, chilled and drenched by November winds and rains, wandered forth the exiles.
But they did not utterly despair. Conscious of their innocence, they continued to sue for protection and redress of grievances. The Gover- nor, judges and other State officials were appealed to, and even the Pres- ident of the United States was memoralized in relation to the tragic affair.
Governor Dunklin, a humane, well-meaning man, doubtless did all that he felt capable of doing in behalf of the homeless fugitives. He held that he could not lawfully extend military aid to maintain them in possession of their homes; but at his instance a court of inquiry was held and Colonel Pitcher was court-martialed. It was decided that there had been no "Mormon" uprising, and that the calling out of the troops and the enforced surrender of arms by citizens defending themselves against unrighteous aggression, was therefore unnecessary and unlaw-
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ful. The Governor commanded the militia officers to restore the arms to the rightful owners; but this order was ignored.
REORGANIZED CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS. (By Walter W. Smith.)
During the month of May, 1820, Joseph Smith, Jr., a lad of 15 years, announced that while. praying in the forest, near his father's home, in Seneca County, New York, he was visited by two heavenly personages, who informed him that the time for the restoration of the gospel, and the organization of the church after the new testament pattern, was near at hand. In accordance with this announcement, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was regularly organized, on April 6, 1830, at Fayette, Seneca County, New York. Joseph Smith, Jr., Oliver Cowdery, Hyrum Smith, Peter Whitmer, Jr., Samuel H. Smith and David Whitmer being the charter members. Joseph Smith, Jr., and Oliver Cowdery were chosen by them as the first ministers of the church, accord- ing to the call they had previously received.
The infant church was scarcely a year old when its first missionaries reached Independence, in Jackson County, Mo. Oliver Cowdery, with Parley P. Pratt, Peter Whitmer, Jr., Ziba Peterson and Frederick G. Williams, M. D., arrived in Independence in the early part of 1831, as mis- sionaries to the Indians. They began their work among the Indians on the frontier at once, also preaching often among the settlers of Inde- pendence and Jackson County. They were favorably received among the white settlers, but were soon denied access to the Indian country. They were pleased with the country, and, believing it a good place in which to work, sent to Mr. Pratt back to Kirtland, Ohio, which was then the head- quarters of the new church, to report their labors and the prospects of the new country.
About the middle of July following, Joseph Smith, Jr., with several other elders, arrived in Independence. Shortly after their arrival a coun- cil was held, when it was decided that the country afforded splendid opportunity for settlement, as most of the land belonged to the public domain, and was subject to homestead and pre-emption. The advantages and opportunities of the country were made known to the members of the church in the eastern states, and at once a large number of church people began settling in Independence and other parts of Jackson County. During the latter part of July, 1831, the first permanent settlement of Latter Day Saints was made in Kaw township, about 12 miles southwest
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The generation that witnessed these troubles has long since passed away, and a wonderful change of sentiment toward the Latter-Day Saints has taken place in Jackson County and elsewhere. In 1833 it was as much as a "Mormon's" life was worth to be seen in that part of Mis- souri. In 1893 the head of the "Mormon" church, President Wilford Woodruff, visiting Independence with a large party from Utah, was given a kind and cordial welcome. The church now has a mission head- quarters at Independence, established in February, 1907, with Elder Samuel O. Bennion in charge. Grounds near the old Temple lot have been purchased; a handsome chapel has been erected; and where the "Evening and Morning Star" was suppressed by mob violence, now flourishes "The Liahona," a bi-weekly magazine, issued by Zion's Print- ing and Publishing Company, under the combined auspices of the church's several United States missions. The best of relations exist between the present-day "Mormons" and non-"Mormons" of Jackson County.
of Independence. This neighborhood was known as the Colesville settle- ment, because most of the settlers were from Colesville, Boone County, N. Y. This was the first congregation of Latter Day Saints organized in Jackson County. They seem never to have built a church house, but worshiped in a grove during the summer, and in dwelling houses during the winter. Newel Knight was pastor of this congregation for some time ; who, if others, occupied as pastors, we are not informed. The first church conference held in Jackson County met with this congregation, in the home of Joshua Lewis, Aug. 4, 1831. This congregation was main- tained until the church was expelled from the county.
On Aug. 3, 1831, the church lot at Independence (known as the tem- ple lot) was dedicated, and immediately thereafter work was begun on the first Latter Day Saint church building in Jackson County. It was a large log meeting house, located on the Westport road, within a few feet of the intersection of Union and West Lexington streets, on property now owned by Mr. Walter Page. A part of this building remained stand- ing until 1883, when it was removed by Mr. F. C. Warnky to make room for the dwelling now occupied by Mr. Page. Bishop Edward Partridge was the first minister of this congregation. He was succeeded by Elder Daniel Stanton and others. This church grew and became a very im- portant congregation, as many church activities centered here. It had a very prosperous experience until the church was expelled from the county.
There were only the two congregations organized during the year 1831, but with the spring of 1832, there was an influx of settlers from
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the New England States, New York and Ohio. The latter part of April Joseph Smith, Jr., Bishop Newel K. Whitney, of Kirtland, Ohio, and sev- eral others arrived in Independence. A conference of the ministers and the churches was held, on the first of May; at which arrangements were completed for the establishment of a publishing house in Independence, the printing of a monthly paper, the publication of church books and other literature. W. W. Phelps and Company was the style of the pub- lishing firm, and engaged in this publishing enterprise, as editors were William W. Phelps, Oliver Cowdery and John Whitmer. This firm issued from its press in June, the first number of "The Evening and Morning Star." The first paper published in Jackson County, likewise the first paper published by the Latter Day Saints. This paper was published in a brick building on the southeast corner of Lexington and Liberty streets. It continued for 14 numbers, until the publishing plant was destroyed by a mob and the Saints were expelled from Jackson County.
During the summer of 1832 a congregation was organized in the neighborhood of the Big Blue Ferry, near where Independence avenue now crosses the Blue River at Sheffield. This congregation had for its pastor Bishop John Corrill. Another church was organized about three miles west of the Blue in what was called the Whitmer settlement, over which David Whitmer presided. Eight or ten miles southwest of Inde- pendence, another congregation was organized during this summer, called the Big Blue Church, Wheeler Baldwin was its first pastor, and after him Thomas B. Marsh. Lyman Wight presided over a small congrega- tion about six miles southwest of Independence. At the November con- ference of the churches in Jackson County, reports showed there were 830 members in the several churches.
During the fall of 1832 there began to be friction between the new settlers and the old inhabitants. The differences grew largely out of the fact that the early settlers of Jackson County were almost entirely fiom Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia, with a few scattering families from the Carolinas. They were slave owners and belonged to the old cavalier stock which had settled Virginia and the South; while the Latter Day Saints were almost entirely from New England and the north central states, and were Abolitionists, descended from old Puritan stock, with its antipathy for rank and privileged classes. It was a revival of the age old feud between Puritan and Cavalier, which had rent England under the Stuarts and Cromwell, and was destined to rend the United States in the great Civil War, some three decades later. Religious prejudice
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and sectional hatred was fanned into a fury until eventually violence broke out between the Saints and their neighbors, during the month of July, 1833. The Saints being fewer in number, and less firmly attached to the soil, since they were the last comers, were driven out of Jackson County in November, 1833. At this time there were ten churches in the county, with an aggregate of 1,200 members.
After the Saints were driven out of Jackson County, they settled first in Clay County, and later they settled and organized Caldwell County, from which the same kind of friction caused their expulsion. In 1839 and 1840 they settled in Nauvoo, Hancock County, Ill., where they established a prosperous community. In 1844 Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum, were assassinated. Following this the church fell into disorder, and was torn by many schisms, and the claims of aspirants for leadership.
During the year 1852 a number of churches which had been estab- lished during the life-time of Joseph Smith, began the work of reorgan- izing the church, on the basis of the doctrine and practice of the early church. To this standard was gathered many of those who had been dis- couraged by the false teachings of aspiring leaders.
The elders of the reorganized church visited and preached in Jack- son County as early as 1871; but it was not until May 25, 1873, that an- other congregation was organized. Forty years after the Saints had been expelled, ten members met at the court house and organized the In- dependence church, with Henry Etzenhouser as pastor. Meetings were held in the court house, in halls, and in private houses until the summer of 1881, when the brick church on East Lexington street was completed. The general conference of the church met in this church in 1882, which continued to be the church home of the Independence Saints until 1888, when the stone church on West Lexington street and Bowen was opened. The general conference convened here on that year. The stone church has continued to be the parent church in Independence to the present time. Four other congregations have been organized from this body, the Second church on Delaware and South avenue, Walnut Park church on Pearl street and Alton avenue, Enoch Hill church on Osage street south of South boulevard, and Liberty Street church on North Liberty street and Nettleton.
In 1916 the city of Independence was organized into a separate con- ference, with Walter W. Smith as president, and pastor of the stone church. He has had as assistant pastors, Israel A. Smith, J. August
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Koehler and Roy V. Hopkins. Mark H. Siegfried was chosen bishop of the conference, and has been subsequently succeeded by Bishop John A. Becker. All of the churches conduct regular services on Sunday, main- taining Sunday schools, young people's meetings and kindred church activities.
On February 27, 1878, a congregation was organized in Kansas City, meeting at Sixteenth and Grand avenue. Francis M. Sheehy was chosen pastor. This congregation subsequently built a church on Troost avenue, south of Nineteenth street, and still later moved to Twenty-fourth and Wabash avenue, and finally located at Ninth and Lydia streets, and has since been known as Central church. From this parent organization sev- eral congregations have been organized in Kansas City. The Second Kan- sas City church, at Twenty-third and Holly; the Third church, in the East Bottoms, since removed to Thirteenth and Bennington; the Fourth church, at Forty-third and Garfield; the Montgall church, at 417 North Montgall; Mount Washington church, Independence avenue and Brook- side, and Englewood church, on Wayne avenue. In 1916 the Kansas City churches, including those on the Kansas side, were organized into a conference, with Joseph A. Tanner as president, and pastor of the Cen- tral church. He has as assistant pastors Seth Sandy and Thomas J. Elliott. Frederick B. Blair is bishop of the conference. There are three other churches in Jackson County, one at Lees Summit, organized in 1891; and one at East Independence, organized in 1918; and one at Grandview, organized in 1916.
CHAPTER XIII
STEAMBOAT DAYS
FROM 1856 TO 1860 THE ZENITH OF STEAMBOATING ON THE MISSOURI-CARGOES -AVERAGE CAPACITY-BOATS IN SERVICE-FASTEST BOATS-EXCURSION PARTIES-DEMAND FOR STEAMBOAT TRANSPORTATION.
During the period from 1856 to 1860, 56 steamers or more were plying between St. Louis and Kansas City, some of them going as far up as Fort Benton. A few of these were only freighters, but some 50 odd were veritable floating palaces and generally came up the river swarming with passengers and loaded to the guards with merchandise. Sometimes a boat would be all day discharging its freight, and what piles would be deposited along the rubble-paved levee. Hundreds of barrels, piles of boxes, hogsheads, crates, household goods, stoneware, coal, charcoal, bacon and grain. Barrels of molasses from the refineries in St. Louis; hogsheads of sugar from the mills in New Orleans; crates of queens- ware from Liverpool, England; boxes of drygoods from New York, Bal- timore and St. Louis; of glass and window glass from the factories at Wheeling and Pittsburgh; packages of chinaware from Limoges and Dresden; barrels of whisky from the distilleries in Kentucky and Ten- nessee; casks of wine and brandy from France, Spain and Germany ; bags of coal from Pennsylvania and the canal banks of Kentucky; tons of stoneware from Arrow Rock, Missouri, and Liverpool, Ohio; house- hold goods from everywhere; grain and bacon picked up here and there; rice from South Carolina in tierces, and articles of miscellany that would make one's head swim if an attempt were made to enumerate them.
The average carrying capacity per vessel was about 500 tons, and the number of passengers from 50 to 300, and good it was to hear the
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whistle of the oncoming leviathan, knowing that loved and long expected ones were aboard, or that merchandise anxiously awaited would soon be ready for your dray.
As near as I can recall the following boats were in service in 1858: Meteor, Esmerelda, Martha Jewell, Hiawatha, Rob-Roy, Iriquois, Peer- less, Twilight, Belle of the West, Emma, D. A. January, Sioux City, Joe Kinney, Sam Gatey-government, Isabella, War Eagle, Kate Howard, Joe Howard, Hollander, Bonita, Iatan, Polar Star, E. A. Ogden, Ben W. Lewis, Cataract, Jas. H. Lucas, A. B. Chambers, John Warner, Alonzo Child, Reindeer, Hannibal, Antelope, Rowena, Hesperian, Platte Valley, Black Hawk, Florilda, Southerner, Omaha, New Lucy, Kate Kinney, Sil- ver Heels, Minnehaha, Morning Star, Southwester, Star of the West, J. H. Oglesby, St. Paul, St. Mary, Mineola, North Star, Northener, Keokuk, Natchez, Miami, Kaw Valley, Arabia and T. H. McGill.
The fastest of these was the James H. Lucas, which held the record for the quickest time from St. Louis to St. Joseph. In the early fifties the Polar Star, with a bow like a knife, and paddle wheels low set in the water, engines quick in stroke and powerful, a load well bestowed so that the stern sat low, and the bow raised like a bird just starting in flight, had made a phenomenal run from St. Louis to St. Joseph. So delighted were her St. Louis owners that they had old Jim Bridger, the famous scout, trapper, guide and explorer, to secure for them the finest pair of elk horns to be found in the upper Missouri valley. Bridger delivered the horns and there was a great blow out when these were presented to the proud captain of the Polar Star. Tacked on to the horns was a sterling silver tablet, upon which was engraved the record of the Star's run, and following that, this couplet:
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