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 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139
In the fall, and before the agreement to leave Jackson county had been made, by the Mormons afterward expelled, a number of their brethren in Ohio, including Joseph Smith, Sylvester Smith, Frederick Williams and others, not far from one hundred and fifty men in all, had made arrangements to move into Missouri, with the intent to aid their followers there in defending themselves, or to share with them the fate that might await them. Of their intention thus to enter the State as immigrants, they notified their brethren in Missouri, who by letter dated April 24th, 1834, informed the Governor, asking that their arms be restored to them and they be re-instated in their homes with the privilege of maintaining themselves in those homes, when so re-instated, by force; further asking the Governor to give them a guard to escort them to Jackson county, when their friends from the east arrived. This letter was signed by A. S. Gilbert and four others.
This company, above referred to, left Kirtland May 5th, 1834, and on June 5th, Mr. Gilbert notified the Governor, in accordance with the opinion of Mr. Reese, District Attorney, that the company was nearly to their journey's end; and again asked for an escort.
In answer to the communications of Mr. Gilbert and others, Governor Dunklin made answer, dated at Jefferson City, June 6th, 1834, from which letter, directed to Col. J. Thornton, the following extracts are taken :
"DEAR SIR :- I was pleased at the reception of your letter, concurred in by Messrs. Reese, Atchison and Doniphan, on the subject of the Mormon difficult-
ies. * * * A more clear and indisputable right does not exist, that the Mormon people, who were expelled from their homes in Jackson county, to return and live on their lands, and if they cannot be persuaded as a matter of policy to give up that right, or to qualify it, my course, as the chief executive officer of the State is a plain one. The Constitution of the United States declares : "That the citizens of each State shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States." Then we cannot interdict any people who have a political franchise in the United States from immigrating to this State, nor from choosing what part of the State they will settle in, provided they do not trespass on the property or rights of others. * * * And again, our Constitution says, "That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences." I am fully persuaded that the eccentricity of the religious opinions and practices of the Mormons, is at the bottom of the outrages committed against them. They have the right constitu- tionally guaranteed to them, and it is indefeasible, to believe, and worship Joe Smith as a man, an angel, or even as the true and living God, and to call their habitation Zion, the Holy Land, or even heaven itself. Indeed, there is nothing so absurd or ridiculous, that they have not a right to adopt as their religion, so that in its exercise they do not interfere with the rights of others. * * I con- sider it the duty of every good citizen of Jackson and the adjoining coun- ties, to exert themselves to effect a compromise of these difficulties, and were I
261
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
assured I would not have to act in my official capacity in the affair, I would visit the parties in person and exert myself to the utmost to settle it. My first advice would be to the Mormons to sell out their lands in Jackson county, and to settle somewhere else, where they could live in peace, if they could get a fair price for them, and reasonable damages for injuries received. If this failed I would try the citizens and advise them to meet and rescind their illegal resolves of last summer ; and agree to conform to the laws in every particular, in respect to the Mormons. If both these failed, I would then advise the plan you have suggested, for each party to take separate territory, and confine their numbers within their respective limits, with the exception of the public right of ingress and egress upon the public highway. If all these failed then the simple question of legal right would have to settle it. It is this last that I am afraid I shall have to con- form my action to in the end, and hence the necessity of keeping myself in the best situation to do my duty impartially.
To facilitate any effort that might be made to effect a settlement of the trouble, the Governor appointed Col. Thornton as an aid to the commander-in-chief, and requested him to keep himself and the Governor closely informed of all that was transpiring.
The company emigrating from Ohio, under the charge of Joseph Smith, were joined at Salt River, Missouri, by a number from Michigan in charge of Hyrum Smith and Lyman Wright, their united number being two hundred and five men. These were organized and drilled under Mr. Wright, who was appointed to the command of the whole force.
June 9, 1834, the Governor issued a second order for the return of the arms, directed to Col. Pitcher, Col. Lucas having resigned his command and left the county. This order to Col. Pitcher required him to collect the arms, if not in his possession, and return them to Messrs. Phelps, Partridge and others from whom they were taken.
June Ioth, Judge. John F. Ryland wrote Mr. Gilbert from Richmond, re- questing that the Mormons be called together at Liberty the following Monday, the 16th, at which time he would meet them with a deputation of some of the most respectable citizens of Jackson county and explain to them his views; stat- ing further that he dreaded the consequences likely to ensue if he failed in his efforts to secure an amicable adjustment between the parties. This request was acceded to. Mr. Gilbert and others notified their brethren of the time and place of meeting and its object ; and on the 16th the meeting was held, the citizens of Clay county, including the Mormons, numbering between eight hundred and a thousand, assembled at the Court House, where they were met by the Judge and a deputation from Jackson county. At this meeting the citizens of Jackson county, through a committee consisting of Mr. Samuel C. Owens and nine others, submitted propositions in substance as follows: That they would purchase the lands and improvements of the Mormons at a valuation to be fixed by arbitrators to be agreed upon by the parties; that when these arbitrators should have been chosen, twelve of the Mormons should be permitted to go with the arbitrators to point out the lands and improvements to be valued, the people of the county guaranteeing their safety while so doing; that when these arbitrators should have fixed said valuation, the people of Jackson county would pay the same with one hundred per cent added thereto within thirty days after said report. That upon said payment so made the Mormons should execute deeds for the lands, and make no effort ever after to settle as a community. or as individuals within the county. Both parties were to enter into bonds to keep the terms of the agreement when made. A counter proposition was that the Mormons should buy all the lands of the people of Jackson county and their improvements on the public lands, the valuation to be made in the same way by arbitrators, and the same addition of one hundred per cent to such valuation when reported, payment to be made by
262
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
the Mormons within thirty days after said report of valuation, as in the first propo- sition.
After the reading of this proposition, its adoption and enforcement were warmly urged by Mr. Owens, chairman of the deputation from Jackson county, and were as warmly met and opposed by Gen. Doniphan. Rev. M. Riley, of the Baptist church, urged the expulsion of the Mormons, stating that they had " lived long enough in Clay county, and must either clear out or be cleared out." Mr. Turnham, the moderator of the meeting, answered this speech, counseling moderation, saying, among other things, "let us be Republicans; let us honor our country and not disgrace it like Jackson county. For God's sake don't dis- franchise or drive away the Mormons. They are better citizens than many of the old inhabitants." This expression was indorsed by Gen. Doniphan. Consider- able excitement ensued, during which a quarrel occurred between some part- ies outside the door, in which one Calbert stabbed another man named Wales. Some one shouted into the door of the court room, "A man stabbed," which broke up the meeting. Pending the restoration to order, Messrs. Phelps, McClellin and others consulted together and replied to the proposition, that they were not authorized to accede to either of the set of terms submitted, but that they would give general notice and call a meeting of their brethren and make definite answers by the following Saturday or Monday; and that such answer should be placed in the hands of Judge Turnham, chairman of the meeting earli- er than the day named if possible ; assuring Mr. Owens and others that there was no design to open hostilities upon the people of Jackson or other counties. They further pledged themselves to prevent any of their brethren coming from the east from entering into Jackson.
Messrs. Philips and Gilbert submitted to Mr. Owens and others of the Jack- son committee a reply dated June 2 Ist, 1834, stating that they had consulted with their brethren, as agreed, and were authorized to state that the propositions as made to them June 16th could not be acceeded to. In the same communication they gave the assurance that there was no intention on the part of themselves or their brethren to invade the County of Jackson in a hostile manner.
By this uniting, immediate conflict seemed to be averted, and the Jackson county committee returned home by way of the ferry where is now the Wayne City landing. The boat was taken over to them and ten or twelve men and as many horses went aboard the boat. When about the middle of the Missouri the boat filled with water and sank ; men, horses and all went down together. George Bradbury, David Linch and James Campbell were drowned. S. V. Nolan could not swim, but catching hold of his horse's tail was hauled safely to the Jackson county shore. Samuel C. Owens and Thomas Harrington clung to the wreck of the boat and floated down a mile, and when the boat reached a sand bar Mr. Owens divested himself of all his clothes except his shirt, left the wreck and swam safely to the shore. He found a cow path which he followed to the main road. While traveling the path he found himself terribly annoyed by the sting of the nettle, but he walked to Independence a distance of some four miles. Mr. Harrington hung to the boat and was drowned. William Everett swam to the Jackson shore and was washed against a drift and was found there ten days afterward, one hand fast hold of a projecting snag. The other men swam back to the Clay county shore where they all made it safe except Smallwood Nolan who clung to a "sawyer" only a short distance froin the shore. The men who made the shore built a fire and encouraged Nolan to "cling on" till they could rescue him. He did cling with the grip of death. When daylight came and the men went in to take him off his scanty support, they found that the water was only waist deep and he could have waded to the shore with ease if he had known it.
It was rumored that the Mormons had secretly bored holes in the boat above .
263
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
the customary water mark, but when loaded would sink to the holes and then fill with water. But the most reasonable idea was that the boat did not generally carry such heavy loads, hence the timbers had become dry and the corking loose, and when the water pressed against it gave away and the boat filled.
Joseph Smith and his party passed through Richmond, Clay county, June 19th, and encamped between two branches of Fishing River, not far from their junction. Here they were met by five armed men, who informed them that sixty men from Ray, and seventy from Clay counties, were to meet others from different places and prevent their further progress. They also learned that two hundred from Jackson county were to cross the Missouri River at Williams' Ferry, there to meet the forces from Ray and Clay counties, at Fishing River Ford, and thence to attack and disperse or destroy them. Their designs, if entertained, were pre- vented, for on the night following a severe storm of wind and rain occurred, which raised the streams, flooded the country and prevented any hostile move- ments being made by either party.
Mr. Smith's band moved out on the prairie on the 20th and encamped, where on the 21st they were visited by Col. Sconce and two other leading men from Ray county, who were anxious to know what were their intentions. Mr. Smith replied stating that they had come to assist their brethren, bringing with them clothing and other supplies to aid them in being re-instated in their rights; and disclaimed any design to interfere with, or molest any people. These men returned from this visit satisfied of the intentions of Mr. Smith and those with him, and rode through the neighborhood using their influence to allay the excitement.
Cornelius Gillium, Sheriff of Clay county, went to the camp of Mr. Smith and party on June 22nd, and asked for Mr. Smith ; and upon being presented to him, gave them some instructions concerning the peculiarities of the inhabitants of the county ; and advised Mr. Smith and the rest as to the course that should be pursued by them to secure the protection of the people. Mr. Smith and those with him resumed their march to reach Liberty, Clay county, on the 23rd; but were met by Gen. Atchison and others, when within six miles of the town, and were by them persuaded not to go to Liberty, as the people were too much in- censed against them. The party, therefore, turned away to the left and encamped upon the premises of a member of the fraternity named Burghardt, on the bank of Rush Creek.
From here, a proposition for settlement was agreed to on the part of the Mormons, and was by them sent to Mr. S. C. Owens, and others, the committee from Jackson county. This proposition was in substance, as follows :
That if the inhabitants of Jackson county would not permit theni to return to their homes and remain in peace, then twelve disinterested men were to be chosen, six by each party to the strife, and these twelve men were to fix the value of the lands of those men resident in the county who were opposed to the Mormons, and could not consent to live in the county with them; that when this valuation was made, the Mormons were to have one year in which to raise the money ; that none of the Mormons should enter the county to reside until the money was paid; that the same twelve men were also to fix the amount of damages incurred by the Mormons in their expulsion, and the amount of damages so fixed, should be taken from the aggregate sum to be paid by the said Mor- mons for the land appraised by said arbitrators.
On June 25th Mr. Smith caused his company to be broken into small bands, and scattered them among the resident members. He also apprised Generals Doniphan, Atchison and Col. Thornton of what he had done, informing them that his company of emigrants would so remain dispersed until every effort for an adjustment of differences had been made on their part, "that would in any- wise be required of them by disinterested men of Republican principles."
264
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
June 26th, by agreement among the Elders of the Mormons, a letter was prepared to Governor Dunklin, informing him of their arrival in Clay county, of their having been met by General Doniphan, of their present condition and the nature of the negotiations then pending, of the character of the proposals made by them, and notifying the Governor that if the present effort for peace failed they should do all that could be required of them by human or divine law to secure peace- ably their homes in Jackson county, their claim to which they would not abandon. They further notified the Governor that within the week one of their brethren was taken by some citizens from Jackson county, and forcibly carried from Clay county across the Missouri, and after being detained in custody for a day and night was threatened and released. Also, that the houses of a number of their members in Clay county had been broken into and rifled of guns and arms during the absence of the men folks, the women being threatened and intimidated. . On the same day they received a rejection of their proposals to Mr. Owens, by the way of their attorney, Mr. Reese.
While encamped on Rush Creek the cholera broke out among them, and out of sixty-eight attacked thirteen died, among them John S. Carter, Eber Wilcox and Algernon S. Gilbert, he who was expelled from Independence.
Mr. Gillium published the result of his visit to the Mormon camp, and the propositions made by them as stated above, in the " Enquirer," July Ist, 1834, and the whole country then became acquainted with the purposes and wishes of these worshipers. We quote from this publication the following :
" We wish to become permanent citizens of this State, and bear our proportion in support of the Government and to be protected by its laws. If the above prop- ositions are complied with, we are willing to give security on our part, and we shall want the same of the people of Jackson county, for the performance of this agreement. We do not wish to settle down in a body, except where we can pur- chase the land with money; for to take possession by conquest or the shedding of blood is entirely foreign to our feelings. The shedding of blood we shall not be guilty of, until all just and honorable means among men prove insufficient to re- store peace."
This declaration was signed by Joseph Smith, Jr., F. G. Williams, then Acting-President of the Church, Lyman Wright, Rodger Orton, Orson Hyde and John S. Carter, all leading men among the Mormons. It was directed to John Lincoln, John Sconce, George R. Morehead, James H. Long and James Collins.
The Mormons also appointed a committee of their number, who drafted an Appeal to the people of the United States, in which they set forth the purposes expressed by them in their statement to Mr. Gillium. This appeal was published and scattered abroad, but it is not known what effect it had, other than possibly to exasperate the feeling in Missouri against them.
The message of the Governor of Missouri to the General Assembly of the State, then in session, communicated on November 20th, 1838, recommended a commission of members of both Houses of the Legislature to inquire into the Mormon difficulties. The House, in Committee of the Whole on the State of the Republic, November 22d, appointed a select committee of seven to co-operate with such number from the Senate as that body might appoint, to inquire into the " causes of said disturbances, and the conduct of the military operations in sup- pressing them, with power to send for men and papers." The Senate, on Novem- ber 23d, appointed Messrs. Turner, Noland and Scott as their part of said com- mittee, thus concurring in the action. This committee reported in the Senate, on December 18th, that they had taken the matters submitted to them into consider- ation, and decided that they "thought it unwise and injudicious under all the circumstances of the case to predicate a report upon the papers, documents, etc., purporting to be copies of the evidence taken before an examining court, held in Richmond, Ray county, for the purpose of inquiring into the charges alleged
265
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
against the people called Mormons, growing out of the late difficulties between that people and other citizens of this State."
The reasons given are : The evidence given in that examination was in a great degree ex parte, and not of a character to afford a "fair and impartial investigation." The papers had not been so certified as to satisfy the committee of their authenticity. There were still charges pending against some of the Mormons for treason, murder, and other felonies, which charges were to be tried before the courts in the several counties, where such crimes were charged to have been committed. Publication of the evidence and papers referred to might affect seriously, the right of trial by a " jury of the vicinage," by prejudicing public sentiment against the accused. Were the committee to act, and send for papers and persons, it might interfere with the action of the courts wherein the suits . were pending. For these reasons the committee recommended the appointment of a committee, who should, after the adjournment of the assembly, go into the vicinity of the scenes of difficulties, there to make inquiry and make proper report to the legislature of their inquiry and examination when concluded. Among other reasons given for such recommendation occur these; that the " documents, although serviceable in giving direction to the course of inquiry, are none of them, except the official orders and correspondence, such as ought to be received as conclusive evidence of the facts stated." And that it "would not be proper to publish the official orders and correspondence between the officers in command, and the Executive, without the evidence on which they were founded; and that evidence is not sufficiently full and satisfactory to authorize its publication."
The recommendations of the committee were concurred in by the senate, January 10th, and on the 16th, Mr. Turner introduced a bill providing such inquiry ; making it the duty of the commission when appointed to inquire into the causes of the disturbances. This bill passed after amendment, and being reported to the house, was on February 4, 1839, laid on the table until July 4th, by 48 to 37.
Pending the expiration of the time for which this bill to inquire into the causes of disturbance of the peace in the various counties of Clay, Ray and Davies, the history of the Mormons of the State is about as follows :
After the removal from Jackson, and the acceptance of the final decision, nothing further appears of any settlement being attempted in Jackson county by the expelled party, or their brethren. Joseph Smith returned to Kirtland, Ohio, with many others, while some concluded to remain in the, to them, land of Zion; and these settled in and through the counties above named.
Things did not long remain in a peaceful condition, however, and, it became apparent that there would again be trouble. To avoid this, if possible, it appears that some of the leading men among the Mormons were sent to Rich- mond, Ray county, and made inquiry as to whether the citizens would be willing that they should settle upon the territory, north and contiguous to the county of Ray, at that time unorganized. To this no answer was given, and, taking it for granted that no objections would be offered, many removed, and Mr. James M. Hunt, in his "Mormon War," written in 1844, declares that: "Here, for some time, the prophet concentrated his followers; houses were erected, as if by magic-improvements were prosecuted with such rapidity as to promise a flour- ishing town and country in a very short time. The country round about was fast being settled, and undergoing improvements-every month bringing swarms of deluded fanatics, to forward the designs of their ambitious leader."
Settlements were made at Far West; one on Grand River in Davies called Adam-on-di-Amon, and one in Carroll county called DeWitt. At these places, says Hunt, "members gathered, improving town and country rapidly." "It is due the Mormons," further says this writer, "here to state, that they were an
266
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
industrious, agricultural people, or at least that portion of them who located in the country round about the 'stakes'" as these settlements were called by them.
Between the years 1834 and the beginning of 1838, these settlements, out- side of Jackson, continued to thrive, disturbed, possibly, by now and then an outrage or reprisal, such as may occur in newly settled countries among any class of settlers, for which mutual wrongs, attempted redresses were sought before mutual courts, as some of the local minor courts were in the hands of the Mor- mons, though the county and superior ones were held by other citizens; and each party claimed that injustice was done them by these courts by reason of partisan bias. The feeling was growing bitter against the Mormons on the part of the citizens, and the feelings of injury and resentment began to crystallize into provo- cation and resentment, (especially so with some indididuals,) on the part of the ยท Mormons. Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon had settled with their families in the State, and under their direction the people had been organized and armed, more or less efficiently, to repel encroachments and protect themselves, as they stated, from unlawful aggressions. They had been told that the authority of the Legislature and Executive could not be brought to bear for their defense until remedies at the lesser courts failed them, and then only at the requisition of local civil officers, and had been advised whether judiciously or otherwise to defend themselves. There grew up some dissensions among themselves ; a few, some of their prominent men among them, dissented from the rules of the society and the authority of Messrs. Smith and Rigdon; these were denounced as apostate, and attempts made to drive them out from the society and settlements, which resulted in mutual recrimination and the making public exaggerated accounts of the intentions of the Mormon leaders. Some of the brethren more fanatical or more unwise than others, were guilty of of flagrant excesses of language calculated to createsuspicion and uneasiness in the minds of those already prejudiced against them as a people. There were some law-breakers among them who committed crimes and were not punished ; all of which hastened the impending trouble. These things among themselves, and the constant manifesta- tion of hostility from many of the citizens, lawless and irresponsible, and some of note and ability among the most respectable as well, with occasional depre- dation upon the Mormons, resulted in making further peace very improbable.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.