USA > Missouri > Jackson County > The History of Jackson county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens, Jackson county in the late warhistory of Missouri, map of Jackson county > Part 34
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
action taken until the 20th of July, when a number of citizens, about four hun- dred, assembled to take action on the situation.
The following account of this meeting is taken from a report published in the Western Monitor, at that time published by Weston F. Birch, at Fayette, Mo. :
The meeting was organized by calling Colonel Richard Simpson to the chair, and appointing James H. Flournoy and Colonel Samuel D. Lucas, as Secretaries.
Messrs. Russell Hicks, Esq., Robert Johnson, Henry Chiles, Esq., Colonel James Hambriglet, Thomas Hudspeth, Joel F. Chiles, and James M. Hunter, were appointed to draft an address ; the meeting then adjourned, and convened again, when the following was presented :
"This meeting, professing to act not from the excitement of the moment, but under a deep and abiding conviction, that the occasion is one that calls for cool deliberation, as well as energetic action, deem it proper to lay before the public an exposé of our peculiar situation, in regard to this singular sect of pre- tended Christians, and a solemn declaration of our unalterable determination to amend it.
"The evil is one that no one could have foreseen, and it is therefore un- provided for by the laws, and the delays of legislation, would put the mischief beyond remedy.
" But little more than ten years ago some two or three of these people made their appearance in the upper Missouri, and they now number some twelve hun- dred souls in this county, and each successive autumn and spring pours forth its swarm among us, with a gradual falling of the character of those who compose them, until it seems that those communities from which they come were flooding us with the very dregs of their composition. Elevated, as they mostly are, but little above the condition of our blacks, either in regard to property or education, they have become a subject of much anxiety on that point, serious and well grounded complaints having been already made of their corrupting influence on our slaves. *
X- * X * *
*
" When we reflect on the extensive field in which the sect is operating, and that there exists in every country a leaven of superstition that embraces with avidity notions the most extravagant and unheard of, and that whatever can be gleaned by them from the purlieus of vice and the abodes of ignorance, it is to be cast like a waif into our social circles. It requires no gift of prophecy to tell that the day is not far distant when the civil government of the county will be in their hands ; when the sheriff, the justices and the county judges will be Mormons, or persons wishing to court their favor from motives of interest or ambition.
" What would be the fate of our lives and property in the hands of jurors and witnesses who do not blush to declare, and would not upon occasion hesitate, to swear that they have wrought miracles, and have been the subjects of miracu- lous and supernatural cures ; have conversed with God and his angels, and possess and exercise the gifts of divination and of unknown tongues, and fired with the prospect of obtaining inheritances without money and without price, may be better imagined than described. * * × * -X- * *
" And we do hereby most solemnly declare,
" That no Mormon shall in future move into and settle in this county.
" That those now here who shall give a definite pledge of their intention, within a reasonable time, to remove out of the county, shall be allowed to remain unmolested until they have sufficient time to sell their property and close their business without any material sacrifice.
"That the editor of the Star be required forthwith to close his office, etc. * * * * * * * * *
" That those who fail to comply with these requisitions be referred to those
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of their brethren who have the gift of divination and of unknown tongues to in- form them of the lot that awaits them."
Compliance with these demands being refused, the people assembled, tore down the printing office, scattering the materials and papers on the ground, and took Bishop Partridge, and a man named Charles Allen, to the public square, where they stripped and tarred and feathered them. Mr. Gilbert, who was now connected with the store, agreed to close it, and the mob then dispersed until the 23d.
On the 23d of July this convention of citizens again convened, and a com- mittee was appointed to confer with the Mormon leaders. This committee was met by Messrs. Phelps, Partridge, Gilbert, and Messrs. Covil, Whitmer and Morley, elders of the sect. Between them an agreement was made to the effect that Oliver Cowdrey, W. W. Phelps, William McLellin, Edward Partridge, Lyman Wright, Simeon Carter, Peter and John Whitmer, and Harvey Whitlock, were to remove from the county on or before January 1, 1834, and were to use their influence to secure the removal of all the Saints-one-half by January Ist, the other half by April 1, 1834; John Corril and Algernon Gilbert were to be al- lowed to remain as agents to settle up the business of those removing; the Star was not again to be published nor any other press set up in the county; Mr. Phelps and Mr. Patridge, if their families removed by January Ist, were to be al- lowed to come and go in settling up their business. The committee of citizens pledged themselves to use their influence to see that no violence was to be used against the Saints while compliance to the agreement was being observed.
This agreement was reported to the meeting, was unanimously adopted by the citizens, and the minutes signed by the chairman, Richard Simpson, and the secretaries, S. D. Lucas, J. H. Flournoy.
In September Orson Hyde and W. W. Phelps were appointed by the Mor- mons as a delegation to Governor Dunklin, then Governor of Missouri, to represent the affairs already recited, and to ask for protection. They prepared and presented to the Governor, October 8th, a long memorial setting forth a long list of grievances, wrongs and intimidations which they had suffered at the hands of the people of Jackson county. The Attorney-General being absent, Governor Dunklin declined to take any action until his return, so that it was not until the 19th of October that they received his decision. The case presented to him was an ex parte one, and it received a decision which led the Mormon leaders to rely upon his protection. He denied the right of any citizen to take into their own hands the redress of their grievances, and recommended the Mormons to appeal to the civil courts by affidavit and legal process for redress of the wrongs com- plained of, and promised them a faithful enforcement of the laws.
In pursuance of this action of the Governor, the leaders resolved not to abide by the agreement made with the people in July. Preparations for removal from the county were stopped, and their leaders engaged Messrs. Woods, Reese, Doniphan and Atchison to defend them and prosecute for them in the courts. This aroused the citizens again, and although the Mormons had not so violated law as to enable the people to proceed against them by legal process, the prospect, from the facts already stated, were regarded by the people as so extraordinary as to warrant extraordinary measures. Their safety, appeared to them, depended upon the expulsion of the Mormons from the county by force, and they at once began preparations to that end.
On the 31st day of October, a party of forty or fifty armed men, without other warrant than their own judgment of the requirements of the situation, visit- ed a settlement of Mormons on the Big Blue, destroyed ten houses and whipped a number of the men. On the night of the Ist of November another party visit- ed a settlement about twelve miles southwest of Independence, where Parley P. Pratt had assembled a force of about sixty men; here they encamped for the
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night and put out guards, two of which, Robert Johnson and a man named Har- ris, had an encounter with Pratt, whom one of them knocked down with a mus- ket. They were then captured by Pratt's party and detained over night. The same night they were attacked in Independence and houses were stoned, doors broken down, etc. Part of A. S. Gilbert's house was pulled down and the doors of the store were broken in and the goods scattered on the street. A party of Mormons, summoned from a neighboring settlement, saved part of the goods and attempted to have a man named Richard McCarty arrested for participation in the affair, but the Justice of the Peace applied to, Samuel Weston, refused to issue a warrant for the purpose. At the same time other Mormon settlements were visited by the people and great consternation was caused thereby among the women and children, the men having fled, but no injury was done them. The next day, November 2d, all the Independence Mormons, numbering about thirty families, left town and gathered together for protection. The same day people made another attack on the Big Blue settlement, when they unroofed another house. They attacked also another settlement about six miles from Independ- ence. The next day, November 3d, Joshua Lewis, Hiram Page and two other Mormons went to Lexington to ask protection from the circuit court, which was refused; while others applied to Justice of the Peace Silvers at Independence with a like result. A number of persons at this time visited the Mormons and advised them to leave the country as the people were so incensed at them that their lives were in danger. This was Sunday, and the Mormons had a rumor among them that a general massacre was impending for Monday.
When Monday came the citizens collected and took possession of a ferry be- longing to the Mormons across the Blue, but they soon abandoned it and gather- ed in greater numbers at Wilson's store about one mile west of it. A party of Mormons, numbering about thirty started from an adjacent settlement to help those on the Blue, but hearing of the assembly of the citizens at the store fled through the cornfields and were pursued by the citizens. Later in the day a party of about thirty arrived from the settlement on the prairie where Pratt had encountered the guards a few nights before, and between them and the citizens a fight occurred, in which Hugh L. Brozeal and Thos. Linville of the citizens were killed and a Mormon named Barber fatally wounded. This fight created great excitement throughout the county.
The same day Richard McCarty caused Gilbert and Whitney to be arrested for assaulting him in Independence Saturday night, and for causing his arrest and attempting to prosecute him afterward. The situation of affairs now was that no Mormon could receive justice from the public courts any more than a citizen could have received justice in a trial by Mormons. The conduct of the Mormons had so disrupted public peace and order that the county was virtually in the hands of a mob. In this situation Samuel C. Owens, Clerk of the County Court, advised Gilbert and Whitney to go to jail as a means of protection, and they together with W. E. McLellin and a Mr. Covil and Morley, and one other Mormon, took his advice. During the night Gilbert, Covill and Morley were taken out for the purpose of an interview with their fellow Mormons, but on being returned the next morning were fired upon by a party of six or seven citizens. Covill and Morley ran and escaped, but Gilbert was retained by the sheriff. The balance of the party were released next day.
The next day, November 5th, brought still more exciting times, for rumors from both sides exaggerated the scenes that had transpired; the citizens gathered to the number of hundreds from all parts of the county ; the Mormons, too, were rallying, one hundred of them collecting about a mile west of Independence. There they halted waiting to learn the condition of affairs. They were informed that the militia had been ordered out for their protection and that Colonel Pitcher was in command. Upon application to this officer the Mormons were told that
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there was no alternative, they must leave the county forthwith; and deliver into Col. Pitcher's hands certain ones of their number to be tried for murder; and to give up their arms. To these demand the Mormon's yielded. The arms, about fifty guns of all sorts, were surrended; the men present accused of being in the skirmish the evening before, were given up for trial ; and after being kept in dur- ance for a day and a night Col. Pitcher took them into a cornfield near by and said to them, " Clear out! "
Following this event small parties of citizens went over the country warning the Mormans away wherever found, and not unfrequently using violence with the men when any of them were caught. This was continued by the infuriated citi- zens until the Mormons had all fled the county. They attempted to find refuge in adjoining counties, but Clay was the only one that would receive them.
This was the end of Mormonism in Jackson county but not the end of the Mormon trouble, for through the influence of their attorneys, and in the absence of such open violations of law as would have warranted the legal expulsion from the county, they were able to impress Governor Dunklin with the idea that they were then the victims of a ruffianly mob and were being persecuted on account of their religion. Hence for several years afterward there was a sort of support given them by the governor, which, though insufficient to reinstate them in Jack- son county, was sufficient to inspire them with the hope, and caused them to expect and to some extent propose to return. This kept up the trouble.
Whether the people were justified in so employing violence to rid themselves of an obnoxious sect, the members of which had not so violated law as to war- rant their legal expulsion, was shown by the events of the next few years. The Mormons settled, finally, in Clay, Carroll, Ray, Caldwell and Davies counties, where they grew strong and prosperous, and, as in Jackson county, became cor- respondingly arrogant, and unbearable. They took political possession of Davies county, and there and in Caldwell county began to put in practice the things the people of Jackson county had apprehended and to prevent which they ex- pelled them from the county. After making for themselves a record for treason, arson, burglary, theft, murder, and a long list of other crimes, they were finally, in 1838, expelled from the State by Governor Boggs, whom they attempted after- ward, on the 6th day of May, 1842, to assassinate while sitting in his house at Independence.
A quite detailed account of their efforts to get back to Jackson county, and of the action of Governor Dunklin, and the negotiations between them and the people of Jackson county has been furnished in the following, which, it will be observed, is as favorable to the Mormons as possible :
November 21st, R. W. Wells, Attorney-General of Missouri, wrote to the legal counsel employed by the Saints, that he felt warranted in advising them, that in case the " Mormons " expelled from Jackson county desired to be re-in- stated, he had no doubt the Governor would send them military aid. He further advised that the ." Mormons" might organize into militia and receive public arms for their own defense. Judge Ryland, also wrote attorney Amos Reese, stating that the Governor had inquired of him respecting the "outrageous acts of un- paralleled violence that have lately happened in Jackson county ; " and wished to know whether the " Mormons " were willing to take " legal steps against the citizens of Jackson county."
He further wished to know whether a writ issued by him upon the oath of Joshua Lewis and Hiram Page had been handed to the sheriff for service ; and if so, what was the fate of said writ. This letter was dated Nov. 24, 1833.
In answer to the Governor's inquiries Mr. Gilbert wrote that officer on Nov. 29th, giving the following reasons why an immediate court of inquiry could not be held. "Our church is scattered in every direction : some in Van Buren, (a new county ;) a part in this county, (Clay ; ) and a part in Lafayette, Ray, etc.
17
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Some four principal witnesses would be women and children, and while the rage of the mob continues, it would be impossible to gather them in safety to Inde- pendence. And that your Excellency may know of the unabating fury with which the last remnant of our people, remaining in that county are pursued at this time, I here state that a few familes, perhaps fifteen to twenty, who settled themselves more than two years ago on the prairie, about fifteen miles from the county seat of Jackson county, had hoped from the obscurity of their location, that they might escape the vengeance of the enemy through the winter; conse- quently, they remained on their plantations, receiving occasionally a few individ- ual threats, till last Sunday, when a mob made their appearance among them ; some with pistols cocked and presented to their breasts, commanding to leave the county in three days, or they would tear their houses down over their heads, etc." * * *
" An immediate court of inquiry called while our people are thus situated, would give our enemies a decided advantage in point of testimony, while they are in possession of their homes, and ours also; with no enemy in the county to molest or make them afraid."
This letter was read and concurred in by Mr. Reese.
Those people threatened on the 24th, as stated by Mr. Gilbert, fled into Clay county and encamped on the Missouri.
December 6th, an additional memorial of facts and petition for aid, was sent to Governor Dunklin, setting forth the facts of their dispersion, and signed by six of the elders of the church. A letter accompanied the petition informing His Excellency of the wish and intention of the Saints to return to their homes, if assured of safety and pretection.
On Monday, December 24th, four families, living near Independence, whose age and penury prevented their removal in haste, were driven from their homes ; the chimneys of their houses were thrown down, and the doors and windows broken in. Two of these men were named Miller and Jones, Mr. Miller being sixty-five years old, and the youngest of the four.
A court of inquiry was held in Liberty, Clay county, during December, which resulted in the arrest of Colonel Pitcher, for driving the Saints, or Mor- mons, from Jackson, for trial by Court Martial.
Mr. Gilbert wrote Governor Dunklin from Liberty, Clay county, January 9th, 1834, submitting for consideration the idea of the Saints making the endeav- or to purchase the property of a number of the most violent opposers, if such effort would be satisfactory, and help to solve the question peaceably.
Governor Dunklin replied to the memorials and petitions of the Saints in a friendly manner, avowing his desire and design to enforce the civil law, and, if practicable, to re-instate those unlawfully dispossessed of their homes. Two clauses in this letter disclose something in reference to the peculiar animus of the persecution waging against the Mormon population. He wrote: "Your case is certainly a very emergent one, and the consequences as important to your society as if the war had been urged against the whole State; yet, the public has no other interest in it, than that the laws be faithfully executed. Thus far, I presume the whole community feel a deep interest, for that which is the case of the Mor- mons to-day, may be the case of the Catholics to-morrow; and after them, any other sect that may become obnoxious to a majority of the people of any section of the State. So far as a faithful execution of the laws is concerned, the Execu- tive is disposed to do everything consistent with the means furnished him by the Legislature, and I think I may safely say the same of the Judiciary.
" As now advised, I am of the opinion that a military guard will be neces- sary to protect the State witnesses and officers of the court, and to assist in the execution of its orders, while sitting in Jackson county."
An order was sent by the same mail from the Governor, directing the captain
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of the Liberty Blues, a military organization, to comply with the requisitions of the Circuit Attorney, in the progress of the trials that might ensue. This letter is dated February 4th, 1834.
Suits were instituted by Messrs. Phelps and Partridge, in the proper courts of Jackson county, and a dozen or so of the brethren summoned by subpoena to attend the sitting of the court of inquiry to be held. These witnesses were met February 23d, at Everett's Ferry, by the Liberty Blues, fifty strong, commanded by Captain Atchison, to guard them into Jackson county. They crossed the riv- er, and encamped about a mile from it. From reports brought into camp by scouts sent out, Captain Atchison sent an order to Captain Allen for two hundred drafted militia, and to Liberty for ammunition. The next day the party reached Independence, where the witnesses met the District Attorney, Mr. Reese, and the Attorney General, Mr. Wells ; and from them it was ascertained that all pros- pect for any criminal prosecution was at an end. Mr. Wells had been instructed by the Governor, to investigate, " as far as possible," the outrages in Jackson ; but the determined opposition presented to the enforcement of the law, by those who had driven the Mormons out, prevented the performance of executive duty. The Judge discharged Captain Atchison and his company of Blues, stating that their service was not needed ; and that officer marched out of town, with the witnesses under guard, to the tune of " Yankee Doodle."
While all this was transpiring time passed on and others were made to suffer. One old man, Lindsay, nearly seventy, had his house thrown down, his goods, corn, and other property piled together and fired, but was fortunate enough, after the parties, who did it left, to save a part of his effects through the exertions of a son. Lyman Leonard, one of those who was compelled to return from Van Buren county was dragged from his house, beaten and left for dead, but revived and escaped. Josiah Sumner and Barnet Cole were beaten severely at the same time.
March 31, 1834, Ira I. Willis went over from Clay county into Jackson to look for and reclaim a cow that had strayed. While at the house of Justice Manship, making proof to the ownership of the cow he was set upon and cruelly whipped.
April 10, 1804, a petition was prepared memorializing the President of the United States, and stating the facts of the expulsion of the people from Jackson county ; and further setting forth that an impartial investigation into their several individual wrongs in the county where those wrongs were committed was impossible; they therefore asked that the executive power of the United States be exercised in their protection. This memorial and petition was signed by one hundred and fourteen of the expelled refugees.
In answer to this petition the president by order replied that the matter of the petition was referred to the War Department, and the department declined interference, as it did not appear that the emergency warranting such interference had occurred. This information was dated May 2, 1834, and signed by Lewis Cass. On the same day Governor Dunklin wrote to Messrs. Phelps and others, that the Court of Inquiry, before which Lieut. Col. Pitcher was to answer, had decided that the demand made by that officer for the surrender of the arms of the Saints on November 5, 1833, was improper, and an order was sent to Col. Lucas to return them. This order directed Col. Lucas to deliver to W. W. Phelps, E. Partridge and others, fifty-two guns and one pistol, received by Col. Pitcher from the Mormons, November 5, 1833.
The result of this order is seen from the following communication made to Gov. Dunklin, May 7, 1834 :. "Since the 24th ult , the mob of Jackson county have burned our dwellings to the number of over one hundred and fifty. Our arms were also taken from the depository, (the jail), about ten days since and distributed among the mob." *
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The order for the restoration was forwarded to Col. Lucas, at Independence, May 17th, with a statement that he might return the arms to either of the three ferries on the Missouri, the line between Jackson and Clay counties. Of this delivery of the order the Governor was informed by letter dated May 29th. To the letter and order to Col. Lucas, that officer stated that he would reply by May 22d, but before that time he removed to Lexington and did not reply what he would do.
Some time in May the expelled Mormons and their friends in Clay county began the manufacture of weapons, in order to be prepared for defense if occasion again required it; and in this many of the influential men of the county encour- aged them in order, as they said, " to help the Mormons to settle their own diffi- culties."
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