(under construction)

Notes: The above is an article by a Mr. Whitehead, containing the record of his interview with Elder Bush of the RLDS Church. The text will be posted once a copy of the article is located and transcribed.

THE  OTHER  SIDE.
________

An Old Settler Gives the Gentile Version of the Mormon Troubles.
________

VISIONARY  ENTHUSIASTS.
________

Whitehead's Sunset Scenes Reviewed and Revised by One Who Knows.
________

Correspondence of the Kansas City Journal.

I have read with no little interest the letter of your California correspondent, Whitehead, published in the Journal last Sunday, about the quiet, peaceful settlement of Josephite Mormons in the Gospel swamp of the occident, and their recital of events that transpired in Jackson county fifty years ago in connection with their residence and final expulsion therefrom, and their confident hope of a triumphant return to their beloved Zion in the near future. And especially is this so because all the names and events mentioned are familiar to me, having been myself a citizen of the county during those troublous times. [I] have no doubt but the statements were made by them to your correspondent in perfect sincerity and implicit belief in their truth. For half a century they have, no doubt, constituted the constant dream and theme of their lives amidst all the vicissitudes and hardships of their journeyings to and fro. As there is such a mixture of truth and fiction, and such a turning of events and facts wrong end foremost, I deem it proper to try to straighten them out somewhat lest some of the misstatements made by them be regarded as historical facts. For instance: "These good old pioneers recite many thrilling episodes of life near Kansas City fifty years ago. One about the scuttling of the ferry boat at Wayne City, loaded with Mormon refugees. A plank had been loosened so that the water pressed it off and several were drowned." The chief trouble about this statement is that it is upside down and wrong end foremost. The boat was not loaded with Mormons, but with a delegation of seven prominent Jackson county Gentiles who were on their return from Liberty, where they had gone to try to effect a compromise with two Mormon leaders and their attornies. But in order to convey a proper understanding of this particular episode I will have to briefly outline the whole affair with its causes and culminations.

The Mormons crossed the Missouri river at Wayne City into Clay county on the 3d or 4th of November, 1833. The scuttling of the ferry boat occurred during the following spring or summer. They met with much sympathy and generous treatment from the citizens of Clay county immediately on their arrival. Gen. Doniphan and D. R. Atchison were employed by them to prosecute suits against parties who had maltreated them, and perhaps for their reinstatement in their possessions in Jackson county, and there was a continued rumor prevailing that they were about to return vi et armis.

At a public meeting of the citizens of Jackson, seven prominent citizens were appointed to go to Liberty to try to effect some kind of compromise with the Mormon leaders and their attornies, their safety being first guaranteed by the Mormons. It was on their return that

THE  BOAT  WAS  SCUTTLED.

Night had set in before reaching the ferry and when nearly half way across the boat was discovered to be rapidly sinking. Some threw off their coats and swam to shore, others saved themselves by holding to their horses' tails. The persons in the boat were Col. Samuel C. Owens, Smallwood Noland, generally known as Uncle Wood Noland; his nephew, Smallwood V. Noland, known as Little Wood; Samuel Campbell, Gen. Lucas, Jesse Overton, and one other whose name I have forgotten; also the boatman, Sol. Everett, his brother-in-law Bradbury, and a hand. Everett was the only one drowned, and whether true or otherwise, he was suspected of having, at the instigation of the Mormons, planned the wholesale murder, as he was known to be in strong sympathy with the Mormons, if not actually a member.

One incident connected with this event I have heretofore related in my occasional old-time sketches. I will tell it again which will make it a thrice told tale. Uncle Smallwood Noland was, as he deserved to be, a favorite with everybody, known far and wide as the popular tavern keeper of Independence. Somehow as the boat sank he missed his hold on his horse, but having been in his younger days an expert swimmer, he struck out manfully for terra firma. It being too dark, however, to see the shore, he unfortunately laid his course right down the river, and, notwithstanding his obesity, had measured more than a mile of the distance to St. Louis when he found his strength failing and knew he would soon have to respond to the last summons, when, to his unutterable joy, he slid right up onto a long, slim sawyer standing a few feet out of the water. But his joy was but short-lived. He was chilled by the cold waters. His cries for help were unheard and unheeded. Away up the river, more than a mile, were seen the dim, flickering lights of persons seeking the lost and drowning. No friendly voice bid him hope and hold on, and the only resource in his extremity was to prepare for death which seemed inevitable.

Uncle Wood was an exemplary Methodist, and Methodist prayers were in those early times generally uttered in a very loud voice. To say that his prayer on that occasion was no exception would hardly do justice to his effort. It was very loud, earnest and to the point. Indeed it was asserted that his stentorian utterances were indistinctly heard a mile and a half up the river at Wayne City. Having exhausted his powers of utterance and the subject, he quietly slipped down into the cold waters, determined to make one last, expiring effort for life, when his foot touched something. Feeling around with his foot he found it to be solid ground and the water but little more than waist deep and Uncle Wood waded out to dry land on the Clay side. He found the next day that the last half mile of his desperate swim of the night previous had been over a sand-bar, where he could easily have touched bottom. Finding his way through the woods to the house of old Joe Brown, where the blazing fire and generous draughts of something warm administered with unstinted hand by his hospitable host, Uncle Wood was soon himself again, except in the hoarseness of voice, which troubled him for a few days afterwards

But to return to the queer sayings of the good saints of Gospel swamp as given to your correspondent. I said that I was a citizen of the county during those troublous times between the Gentiles and Mormons, but I was, except during the winters, almost continuously absent from home, being engaged in making surveys of Indian tribal boundaries during 1831 and 1832, west of Missouri and Arkansas. Still I had a knowledge and still have a recollection of all important events that occurred during the sojourn of the Latter Day Saints in this land of their fancied Zion, and while I feel sure that the statements of Elder Bush to your correspondent were made in the sincere belief that what he was telling was true. I yet know that in some of them he was wrong, and in others he has got things somewhat mixed. It would take more time than I now have to spare and more space than you could afford to notice all the discrepancies contained in their recitals. In one point, however, I can safely agree with them, viz., that during their sojourn in Zion they were ill-used and roughly handled by the unbelieving Gentiles, and when they attempted to retaliate by marching in a body of about 400 armed men to the capture and

DESTRUCTION  OF  INDEPENDENCE.

during the night of November 2d, 1833, and were met soon after daylight not far from the suburbs by the citizens of the towns and vicinity and surrendered their guns and pitchforks and scythes, that the leaders were compelled to sign an agreement that the Mormons should leave the county en masse in twenty-four hours. This they did, being forced to do so, and no doubt great hardships were endured in consequence of that hasty hegira. It would be a long story to tell what led to this culmination of troubles between the opposing factions -- too long for a newspaper article, and I will only say now that since the world began no two claims of people were ever before thrown together who were so thoroughly and completely unfitted to live together in peace and friendship. In habits of thought, in sentiment and homogeneity they were as wide apart as the poles. The Mormons were mostly visionary enthusiasts, many of them firm in the belief that they were to live and reign with Christ a thousand years; that the unbelieving Gentiles, as the citizens were called, were to be gathered into the fold of the saints -- or driven out if necessary by the shedding of blood in order to make ready for the second advent of Christ; that the inheritance of the saints included the entire county, many portions thereof being already [sic - already allotted?] by metes and bounds to various members regardless of present ownership, although no attempts were made to take possession thereof.

The revelations purporting to come from God, through his chosen prophet Joe Smith, and which were regularly published in their Evening and Morning Star, plainly told the old citizens these things and what they might as well make up their minds to accept. Already in less than three years they held the balance of power between the two political parties, and that accounts for the great friendship spoken of by Brother Bush manifested by Little Wood Noland toward the Mormon brotherhood. He was a standing candidate for office and a thorough demagogue.

I said the Mormons received

BAD  TREATMENT.

at the hands of the people of Jackson county. I will modify this by saying at the hands of a very small portion of the citizens; for all the outrages were committed by not more than fifty of the roughs of the county.

The better class of citizens, however much they feared the seemingly inevitable result, took no part in the unlawful proceedings against these people, but all were convinced that it was only a question of time when the entire population would be under the rule and control of the Mormon hierarchy, for the stream of immigrant proselytes to the faith was continuous and increasing in volume -- a very unpleasant outlook to the early settler, truly.

Nearly all the best land had been entered before their arrival, and the worst portions only were entered by their bishop, Partridge, and settled upon by them, about ten acres being a common allotment to a family. The largest settlement was along the valley of Brush creek, from the state line eastward to the road leading from Westport southward -- another a mile or two farther southeastward, on the present farm of Jesse Thomas -- and still another near and around the Linwood school house, called the Whitmer settlement, and it was at this place the battle was fought on the evening previous to their night march upon the town of Independence, and the only other settlement of any consequence was situated west and adjoining the town of Independence, where they fixed the site for their temple. Old man Rockwell, the father of the famous Danite, Oren Rockwell, who shot Gov. Boggs, lived at the crossing of Big Blue, and kept a ferry during high water. Less than half a dozen of the original settlers became proselytes to the faith during their sojourn in the county.

In the interview described by your correspondent, the good old patriarch of Gospel swamp gave utterance to the following deliverance: "The prophet Joseph informs us in his diary that his mind was filled with painful reflections on account of the degradation, leanness of intellect, ferocity and jealousy of a people who were more than a century behind the age." Jerusalem and Jericho! What

A  FEARFUL  INDICTMENT

is this recorded by the holy Joseph against us besotted Philistines, there being then only two persons in all the land, named Harper and Butterfield, found worthy of favorable mention, and they were residents of the Sui hills. The narrative further tells of the journeying on foot from St. Louis to Zion of the pioneer saints, Joseph, the Prophet, Harris, Phelps, Partridge and Coe. Allow me to amplify the record. They halted not at the state line, but continued their weary march still westward into the land of the Lamanites, commonly known as Shawnees and Delawares, where they commenced a vigorous proselyting campaign among those benighted redskins, but the heathen harkened not to the voice of the prophets, nay, even laughed them to scorn at the same time telling them to "puck a chee," which being interpreted means "get up and git," and the brethren not heeding the invitation was alacrity, one Richard W. Cummins, the United States Indian agent for those tribes gave them twenty four hours to get back eastward of the state line or otherwise to travel under an escort of six breech clouted Lamanites to the Fort Leavenworth guard house, and thus was our beloved Kansas cheated out of the glory of the future great temple of the Latter Day Saints. The Indian intercourse laws forbid the settlement or residence of any but Indians on the lands set apart to them, except by special license of the government agent. In their ignorance of this regulation the guiding hand of providence brought them back to the right spot, whereat they set the stakes of Zion and the temple.

In the summer of 1832 my father entered and built a residence upon a tract of land lying in the southern suburbs of Westport, now owned by Gen. Reid, in order to be convenient to his field of labor in locating and allotting lands to the Indian tribes emigrating from east of the Mississippi river. About half a mile south, on Brush creek, there lived an old, gray-headed Mormon named Pryor, who was a frequent visitor at our house, having, as he professed, no doubt honestly,

GREAT  REWARD

and friendship for my father, and who would patiently listen to the harmless nonsense of the garrulous old fanatic while his discourse would often run thus: "Brother M., I have the greatest regard and friendship for you; pray without ceasing for the Lord to open your eyes to see and understand the near approach of the end, as revealed to us through the chosen prophet, Joseph. This land of promise is already parceled to the Saints by divine authority. Your tract, brother M., is included in my inheritance and in the Lord's own good time I will possess it, for it is so recorded. But fear not, Brother M. The Lord will either open your eyes to become one of us, or He will make me an instrument for your welfare."

At one of these friendly visits, while in the room of my oldest brother, Dr. Rice McCoy, who was in bed, just recovering from a protracted illness, the old enthusiast had poured out a long stream of nonsense about the Lamanites, the Nephites, and many other ites mentioned in the book of Mormon, and my brother, wearying of the interminable harangue, slowly turned over toward him, saying:

"See here, my good friend. The name of my ancestors on my mother's side was Polk. Is there any mention made in your book of a tribe of Polkites?"

"None, I think, brother," said Pryor.

"Then please to count me out, and let me go to sleep," responded my brother, as he wearily settled his head on his pillow.

I mention these last incidents merely to give the reader some general idea as to what were the causes that brought about the bitter enmity that was engendered between the Saints and gentiles in our county fifty years ago. The subject is a prolific one upon which I could be as garrulous and interminable as was the good honest old fanatic Pryor, but eui bono! -- and who wants to listen to or read about it? I have a manuscript of twenty of thirty pages written by my father detailing the events that occurred just previous and at the expulsion of the Mormons from Jackson county; these pages I loaned to Mr. North, who is compiling a history of Jackson county for the Union Historical society -- not having been returned as yet. I have been under the necessity of writing this article from memory alone. At a future time I hope to be able to make a systematic and authentic record of those piping days of the Mormon war.

Choutuau, Kas., April 22.                                         J. C. M.


Note 1: The writer of the above piece was John Calvin McCoy (1811-1889), a pioneer resident of western Missouri and a son of the well known Rev. Isaac McCoy. For his father's early report on the Mormons, see the Dec. 20, 1833 issue of the Daily Missouri Republican and a slightly earlier edition of the Fayette Western Monitor. For a sympathetic view of the Rev. McCoy, his interactions with the Mormons, and his Dec. 1833 statement, see Warren A. Jennings' "Isaac McCoy and the Mormons," in the Oct. 1966 issue of Missouri Historical Quarterly, (LXI:1, pp. 63-82). This piece reproduces lengthy quotes from McCoy's 1833 journal, along with extracts from more of his obscure holographs, not otherwise easily accessible for consultation.

Note 2: John C. McCoy's recollection of Joseph Smith's party having "continued their weary march still westward into the land of the Lamanites" is in error. During Smith's one brief visit to Jackson county, he did not cross over into Indian Territory. See also Mr. McCoy's other historical articles in the Jan. 26, 1879, Nov. 18, 1883 and Jan. 18, 1885 issues of the Kansas City Journal. For information on the earliest Mormon activities in western Missouri and in the Indian Territory, see Warren A. Jennings' "The First Mormon Mission to the Indians," in the Autumn 1971 issue of Kansas Historical Quarterly, (XXXVII:3, pp. 288-299) and three articles by Ronald E. Romig: "Jackson County, 1831-1833," in Restoration Studies III, (1986); "First Impressions... 1832-33," in JWHA Journal 10 (1990); and "The Lamanite Mission," in JWHA Journal 14 (1994).

MORMONISM.
________

Authentic Account of the Origin of The Sect from One of the Patriarchs.
________

DISCOVERY OF THE PLATES,
________

And the Translation of the Book of Mormon -- Polygamy an Excresence.
________

In view of the large Mormon immigration that is now pouring into this country, and also in view of difficulties that have heretofore existed between that sect and the people of Jackson county, the JOURNAL has taken the trouble to ascertain the facts as to the origin of the sect, as well as the history of their expulsion from Jackson county in 1833.

For the benefit of a great many persons who probably do not know of what the Book of Mormon consists, an exact copy of the title page of the first edition published is given here:

The Book of Mormon. An account written by the hand of Mormon upon plates taken from the plates of Nephi.

Wherefore it is an abridgment of the record of the People of Nephi; and also of the Lamanites; written to the Lamanites, which are a remnant of the House of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile; written by way the commandment, and also by the spirit of Prophesy and Revelation. Written, and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed; to come forth by the gift and power of God, unto the interpretation thereof; sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by the way of Gentile; the interpretation thereof by the gift of God; an abridgment taken from the Book of Ether,

Also, which is a Record of the People of Jared, which were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people when they were building a tower to get to Heaven: which is to shew unto the remnant of the House of Israel how great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever; and also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the eternal God, manifesting Himself unto all nations. And now if there be fault, it be the mistake of men; wherefore condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment seat of Christ.

Translated from the golden plates by Joseph Smith, jr., Palmyra, N. Y., 1830. Printed by E. B. Grandin for the author.


The translator of the book is said to have been witnessed by eleven persons, as follows: Martin Harris, David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery, Christian Whitmer, Hiram Page, Jacob Whitmer, Joseph Smith, sr., Peter Whitmer, jr., John Whitmer, Hyrum Smith, and Samuel H. Smith, all of whom except David Whitmer are long since dead. David Whitmer,

THE ONLY LIVING WITNESS,

has resided since 1838 in Richmond, Ray county, Mo., and the JOURNAL dispatched a reporter to Richmond, to interview the "last of the eleven."

The reporter called at the residence of Mr. Whitmer and found the patriarch resting in invalid's chair looking very pale and feeble, he having but just recovered from a long and very severe illness. In person, he is about medium height, of massive frame, though not at all corpulent, his shoulders slightly bent as with the weight of years. His manly, benevolent face was closely shaven, his hair snow-white, and his whole appearance denoted one of nature's noblemen. The education acquired during his boyhood days and his long life devoted to study and thought have stored his mind with a vast fund of information.

After introducing himself, the reporter opened the conversation as follows:

"Mr. Whitmer, knowing that you are the only living witness to the translation of the Book of Mormon and also that you were a resident of Jackson County during the Mormon troubles in 1833, I have been sent to you by the JOURNAL to get from your lips

THE TRUE STATEMENT OF FACTS

in regard to these matters. For nearly half a century the world has had but one side only, and it is now our desire to present to our readers for the first time the other side."

"Young man, you are right. I am the only living witness to the Book of Mormon, but I have been imposed upon and misrepresented so many times by persons claiming to be honorable newspapermen, that I feel a delicacy in allowing my name to come before the public in newspaper print again."

"I am very sorry to hear that, but I promise you that we shall only give your statement as you make it and will not misrepresent you in any manner."

After a few other remarks of the same tenor the reporter at last induced the patriarch to furnish the desired facts, which he did in the following language:

BIOGRAPHICAL.

"I was born near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, January 7, 1805, but when only four years of age my parents removed to the state of New York, settling at a point midway between the northern extremities of Lake Cayuga and Seneca, two miles from Waterloo, seven miles from Geneva, and twenty-seven miles from Palmyra, where I lived until the year 1831. In the year 1830 I was married to Miss Julia A. Jolly who is still living. The fruit of our union was a son, David J. Whitmer, now aged forty-eight, and a daughter, now aged 46 years, both of whom are now living with me. "I first heard of what is now termed Mormonism in the year 1828. I made a business trip to Palmyra, New York, and while there stopped with one Oliver Cowdery. A great many people in the neighborhood were talking about the finding of certain golden plates by one Joseph Smith, Jr., a young man of the neighborhood. Cowdery and I, as well as others, talked about the matter, but at that time I paid but little attention to it, supposing it to be only

THE IDLE GOSSIP

of the neighborhood. Cowdery said he was acquainted with the Smith family, and believing there must be some truth in the story of the plates, he intended to investigate the matter. I had conversation with several young men who said that Joseph Smith had certainly golden plates, and that before he had attained them he had promised to share with them, but had not done so and they were very much incensed with them. Said I, 'how do you know that Joe Smith has the plates?' They replied, 'we saw the plates [sic, place] in the hill that he took them out of just as he described it to us before he obtained them.' These parties were so positive in their statements that I began to believe there must be some foundation for the stories then in circulation all over that part of the country. I had never seen any of the Smith family up to that time, and I began to inquire of the people in regard to them, and learned that one night during the year 1827, Joseph Smith, jr., had a vision, and an angel of God appeared to him and told him where certain plates were to be found, pointing out the spot to him, and that shortly afterward he went to that place and found the plates which were still in his possession. After thinking over the matter for a long time, and talking with Cowdery, who also gave me a history of the finding of the plates, I went home, and after several months Cowdery told me he was going to Harmony, Pa. -- whither Joseph Smith had gone with the plates on account of persecutions of his neighbors -- and see him about the matter. He did go, and on his way he stopped at my father's house and told me that as soon as he found out anything, either

TRUTH OR UNTRUTH

he would let me know. After he got there he became acquainted with Joseph Smith and shortly after, wrote to me telling me that he was convinced that Smith had the records and that he (Smith) had told him that it was the will of heaven that he (Cowdery) should be his scribe to assist in the translation of the plates. He went on, and Joseph translated from the plates and he wrote it down. Shortly after this, Cowdery wrote me another letter in which he gave me a few lines of what they had translated, and he assured me that he knew of a certainty that he had a record of a people that inhabited this continent, and that the plates they were translating gave a complete history of these people. When Cowdery wrote me these things and told me that he had revealed knowledge concerning the truth of them, I showed these letters to my parents, brothers and sisters. Soon after I received another letter from Cowdery telling me to come down into Pennsylvania and bring him and Joseph to my father's house, giving as a reason therefore that they had received a commandment from God to that effect. I went down to Harmony and found everything just as they had written me. The next day after I got there they packed up the plates and we proceeded on our journey to my father's house, where we arrived in due time, and the day after we commenced upon the translation of the remainder of the plates. I, as well as all of my father's family, Smith's wife, Oliver Cowdery, and Martin Harris, were present during the translation. The translation was by Smith and

THE MANNER AS FOLLOWS:

"He had two small stones of a chocolate color, nearly egg-shape and perfectly smooth, but not transparent, called interpreters, which were given him with the plates. He did not use the plates in the translation, but would hold the interpreters to his eyes and cover his face with a hat, excluding all light, and before his eyes would appear what seemed to be parchment, on which would appear the characters of the plates in a line at the top and immediately below would appear the translation, in English, which Smith would read to his scribe, who wrote it down exactly as it fell from his lips. The scribe would then read the sentence written, and if any mistake had been made the characters would remain visible to Smith until corrected, when they faded from sight to be replaced by another line. The translation at my father's occupied about one month, that is from June 1 to July 1, 1829."

"Were the plates under the immediate control of Smith all the time?"

"No, they were not. I will explain how that was. When Joseph first received the plates he translated 116 pages of the book of Lehi, with Martin Harris as scribe. When this had been completed they rested for a time, and Harris wanted to take the manuscript home with him to show to his family and friends. To this Joseph demurred, but finally

ASKED THE LORD

if Harris might be allowed to take it. The answer was 'no.' Harris teased Joseph for a long time and finally persuaded him to ask the Lord a second time, pledging himself to be responsible for its safekeeping. To this second inquiry the Lord told Joseph that Harris might take the manuscript, which he did, showing it to a great many people; but, through some carelessness, he allowed it to be stolen from him. This incurred the Lord's displeasure and he sent an angel to Joseph demanding the plates, and until Joseph had thoroughly repented of his transgressions, would not allow him to have the use of them again. When Joseph was again allowed to resume the translation, the plates were taken care of by a messenger of God, and when Joseph wanted to see the plates, this messenger was always at hand. The 116 pages of the book of 'Lehi' which were stolen were never recovered, nor would the Lord permit Joseph to make a second translation of it.

"A few months after the translation was completed, that is in the spring of 1830, Joseph had the book published, and this (showing a well-worn volume) is a copy of the first edition, which I have had in my possession ever since it was printed."

"When did you see the plates?"

"It was in the latter part of June, 1829. Joseph, Oliver Cowdery and myself were together, and the angel showed them to us. We not only saw the plates of the book of Mormon, but he also showed us the brass plates of the Book of Ether and many others. They were shown to us in this way: Joseph and Oliver and I were

SITTING ON A LOG

when we were overshadowed by a light more glorious than that of the sun. In the midst of this light, but a few feet from us, appeared a table upon which were many golden plates, also the sword of Laban and the directors. I saw them as plain as I see you now and distinctly heard the voice of the Lord declaring that the records of the plates of the Book of Mormon were translated by the gift and the power of God."

"Who else saw the plates at this time?"

"No one. Martin Harris, the other witness, saw them the same day, and the eight witnesses, Christian Whitmer, Hiram Page, Jacob Whitmer, Joseph Smith, sr., Peter Whitmer, Hyrum Smith, Jno. Whitmer and Samuel H. Smith, saw them next day."

"Did you see the angel?"

"Yes, he stood before us. Our testimony as recorded in the Book of Mormon is absolutely true, just as it is written there."

"Can you describe the plates?"

"They appeared to be of gold, about six by nine inches in size, about as thick as parchment, a great many in number, and bound together like the leaves of a book by massive rings passing through the back edges. The engravings upon them were very plain and of very curious appearance. Smith made facsimiles of some of the plates and sent them by Martin Harris to Profs. Anthon and Mitchell, of New York City, for examination. They pronounced the characters reformed Egyptian, but were unable to read them."

"Did Joseph Smith ever relate to you the circumstances of his

FINDING OF THE PLATES?"

"Yes, he told me that he first found the plates in the year 1823; that during the fall of 1827 [sic] he had a vision, an angel appearing to him three times in one night and telling him that there was a record of an ancient people deposited in a hill near his father's house, called by the ancients 'Cumorah,' situated in the township of Manchester, Ontario county, N. Y. The angel pointed out the exact spot, and, some time after, he went and found the records or plates deposited in a stone box in the hill, just as had been described to him by the angel. It was some little time, however, before the angel would allow Smith to remove the plates from their place of deposit."

"When was the Church first established?"

"We had preaching during the time the book was being translated, but our church was not regularly organized until after the book was printed in the winter of 1829-30. The first organization was in Seneca county, New York, under the name of 'The Church of Christ.' The first elders were Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, Hyrum Smith, John Whitmer, Peter Whitmer and myself. On the 6th of April, 1830, the church was called together and the elders acknowledged according to the laws of New York. Our instructions from the Lord were to teach nothing except the old and new testaments and the Book of Mormon. From that time the church spread abroad and multiplied very rapidly. In the summer of 1830, Parley Pratt, Peter Whitmer, and S. Peterson went to Kirtland, O., and established a branch of the church, which also grew very fast, and soon after a fine temple was erected, which is still standing. During the winter of 1830, the same parties went to Independence, Missouri, established a church, and purchased very large tracts of land in all parts of Jackson county as well as a large amount of property in the town of Independence, including the site for the temple. The reason for the emigration to Jackson county was that Smith had received a revelation from God designating Independence as the place of the gathering of the Saints together in the latter days. Joseph Smith and Elder Sidney Rigdon, of the Kirtland church, established the church in Jackson County, but soon after returned to Ohio. The temple has never been built at Independence, but the site still remains vacant and the title deeds are held by the church. I have no doubt but that at some future day

IT WILL BE BUILT.

About 500 people emigrated from Ohio to Jackson county and the church thence increased in numbers with extraordinary rapidity during the ensuing two years. They lived in peace in Jackson county until early in the summer of 1833, when difficulties arose between the church and the citizens of the county. What first occasioned these difficulties I am unable to say, except that the church was composed principally of Eastern and Northern people who were opposed to slavery, and that there were among us a few ignorant and simple-minded persons who were continually making boasts to the Jackson county people that they intended to possess the entire county, erect a temple, etc. This of course occasioned hard feelings and excited the bitter jealousy of the other religious denominations.

"The church at Independence established a newspaper called the Morning and Evening Star, which published the revelations of Joseph Smith and the doctrines of the church, which also caused a great deal of hard feelings among the citizens. I was at that time living three miles east of Westport, and the first intimation I ever had that the people intended driving us out of the county was an affray between an organized mob of about eighty citizens and about eighteen Mormons, which occurred at Wilson's store, near Big Blue, about the middle of the summer of 1833. The mob destroyed a number of our dwellings and fired upon the little party of Mormons, killing one young man and wounding several others. The Mormons returned the fire, killing the leader of the mob, A Campbellite preacher named Lovett. The next difficulty was in Independence, about the middle of July, of the same year, when

A LARGE MOB

of armed men gathered in front of the court house under the leadership, I think, of three men, named Wilson, Cockrell, and Overton. A committee of ten was appointed to wait upon the leaders of the church and state their demands, which were that the Morning and Evening Star newspaper office and all other places of business be closed, and that we immediately leave the county. This was so sudden and unexpected that we asked time to consider the matter, which was refused and a battle immediately ensued, during which the newspaper office, which stood on the southwest corner of the square, just south of the present site of Chrisman & Sawyer's bank. was torn down and the type scattered to the four winds. Bishop Partridge and another of the saints were dragged from their houses and tarred and feathered upon the public square, and numerous other indignities heaped upon us, but no one was killed. After this, difficulties of a like nature occurred almost daily until some time in October when the final uprising took place, and we were driven out at the muzzles of guns from the county, without being given an opportunity of disposing of our lands. Our houses were burned and our property destroyed, and several of our number killed. The indignities that were heaped upon us were

SIMPLY TERRIBLE.

"We were beaten, our families grossly assaulted and fled for our lives out of the county. We scattered in every direction, the larger portion going to Van Buren and Grand river. A short time after the citizens of Clay county invited us to come there, which we did, and were treated with the utmost kindness,"

"Did your people ever have an opportunity of selling their lands in Jackson county?"

"No, they did not, and it now, by right, belongs to their descendants."

"What became of the church after their expulsion from Jackson county?"

"In 1836 W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer, accompanied by a large number of our people, went to Far West, Caldwell county, and established a church. They lived there and multiplied very rapidly until a838, when Elders Jos. Smith and Sidney Rigdon came out from Ohio and were dissatisfied with the church, and gave new laws, revelations, etc. The leaders of the Far West church refused to conform to the new laws of Smith and Rigdon, and they issued a decree organizing what was termed the 'Danites, or Destroying Angels,' who were bound by the most fearful oaths to obey the commandments of the leaders of the church. The Danites consisted only of those selected by Smith and Rigdon. They threatened myself, John Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery and Lyman Johnson with

THE VENGEANCE OF THE DANITES

unless we took the same oath, but we refused, and fled for our lives to Clay county, and since that time I have had nothing to do with the so-called 'Latter-Day Saints' church, but I still hold to the truth of the original Church of Christ, as organized in New York. During the fall of 1838 the church of Far West became very violent towards the citizens of Caldwell county, which terminated in an uprising similar to that in Jackson county, and they were driven from the state. Smith and Rigdon were arrested and kept prisoners for some time, but finally escaped and went to Nauvoo, Ill., followed by the saints from Far West, and established a church and built a fine temple. They remained in Nauvoo until 1844, when they became very corrupt, upheld polygamy, established an endowment house, etc., which occasioned an uprising of the people, and Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum and John Taylor, the present head of the church in Salt Lake, were arrested and cast into prison, and the two Smiths afterwards shot and killed through the windows of the jail. The temple was destroyed and the church scattered, a portion going to Salt Lake under the leadership of Brigham Young and John Taylor, where they have remained ever since, practicing the vile system of

POLYGAMY AND SPIRITUAL WIFEISM.

"I belong to the original church, organized 1n 1829, and have never associated myself with any other, and never upheld the reorganization or change of name to 'Latter-Day Saints,' at Kirtland, O."

"Where did you go after leaving Far West?"

I went to Clay county and in the latter part of 1838 came here and have lived here ever since. Oliver Cowdery lived in Clay county until 1848, when he came here and died in my father's house in the winter of 1849."

"What kind of people were the Mormons of Jackson county?"

"They were a peaceable, law-abiding and industrious people, and with the exception of a few simple-minded ones, paid strict attention to their own business. There never was a charge of any kind preferred against any of them during their stay in Jackson county. Their only crime was that they were opposed to slavery, and were industrious, progressive and enterprising in their habits and teachings."

"How did the name of Mormons originate?"

"It was given to us by our enemies and was never recognized by us."

"I understand, Mr. Whitmer, that you have the original manuscript of the Book of Mormon."

"I have; here it is."

He produced about 500 pages of manuscript, yellow with age, of large, old-fashioned, unruled foolscap paper, closely written upon both sides with ink, and fastened together in sections with yarn strings. It very plainly showed that it had been through the hands of the printer, the 'take' marks being still upon it.

"This," continued he, "was kept by Oliver Cowdery, and when he came to die he placed them in my care, charging me to preserve them so long as I lived. When I die I will leave them to my nephew, David Whitmer, my namesake. J. F. Smith and Orson Pratt, of Salt Lake City, were here three years ago, and offered me a fabulous price for them, but I would not part with them for all the money in the universe."

"Are you not afraid they will be destroyed or stolen?"

"No, the Lord will take care of his own. When this house was destroyed by the cyclone three years ago to-day (June 1, 1878), nothing in the room where this manuscript was kept was harmed. Everything else was completely destroyed."

Both Mr. Whitmer and his family are thoroughly imbued with the idea that the manuscript is under the immediate protection of the Almighty."

"Are there any relations of Oliver Cowdery now living in this vicinity?

"Yes, his daughter, Mrs. Dr. Chas. Johnson, now resides in town."

The reporter copied the following certificate of the standing of Mr. Whitmer in the community, among his papers, and obtained his permission to use it. It shows the character of the man, and adds to the value of his statement given above.

We, the undersigned citizens of Richmond, Ray county, Mo., where David Whitmer, sr., has resided since the year A.D. 1838, certify that we have been long and intimately acquainted with him and known him to be a man of the highest integrity, and of undoubted truth and veracity.

Given at Richmond, Mo., this March, 19th, 1881.

A. W. Doniphan.
George W. Dunn, judge of the Fifth Judicial circuit.
T. D. Woodson, president of Ray County Savings bank.
J. T. Child, editor of Conservator.
H. C. Garner, cashier of Ray County Savings bank.
W. A. Holman, county treasurer.
J. S. Hughes, banker, Richmond.
James Hughes, banker, Richmond.
D. P. Whitmer, attorney at law.
Jas. W. Black, attorney at law.
L. C. Cantwell, postmaster, Richmond.
George I. Wasson, mayor.
Jas. A. Davis, county collector.
C. J. Hughes, probate judge & presiding justice, Ray co. court.
Geo.W. Trigg, county clerk.
W. W. Mosby, M. D.
J. P. Quesenberry, merchant.
W. R. Holman, furniture merchant.
Lewis Slaughter, recorder of deeds.
Geo. W. Buchanan, M. D.
A. K. Reyburn.

This ended the interview ad after bidding the old man adieu and thanking him for his kindness the writer took his leave.

The reporter also interviewed several other old settlers of Richmond, who were present during the Mormon difficulties of 1833, upon the subject, and whose statements will be given hereafter.


Note: This article was reprinted in the Saints' Herald of July 1, 1881 and again in the Deseret News, on July 11, 1931.

MORMONISM.
________

The Settlement of the Peculiar People in Jackson County.
________

AND  SUBSEQUENT  EXPULSION.
________

Gen. Doniphan's Recollections of the Troubles of that Early Time.
________

There is probably no man in Western Missouri who is better acquainted with the various causes of the difficulties between the citizens of Jackson and Caldwell counties and the Mormons during the years of 1833 and 1838 than Gen. Alexander W. Doniphan, then a resident of Clay county, but now of Richmond, Ray county, Mo., and there is, perhaps, no one who took such an active part in the events of those years who can now look back and relate the history of those troubles as dispassionately as he can. In view of these facts a representative of the JOURNAL called upon Gen. Doniphan at his rooms at the Hudgins' house at Richmond, for the purpose of interviewing him upon the subject. The general, after learning the object of the visit, seemed very willing to communicate all he knew in regard to the history of the Mormon troubles, and after a few introductory remarks, related the following:

"I came to Missouri in 1830, and located in Lexington, where I lived until April, 1833, when I removed to Liberty, Clay county. The Mormons came to Jackson county in 1830, and I met Oliver Cowdery, John Whitmer and Christian Whitmer, three of the Elders, in Independence, during the spring of 1831. Peter Whitmer was a tailor and I employed him to make me a suit of clothes."

"What kind of people were the Mormons?"

"They were northern people, who, on account of their declining to own slaves and their denunciation of the system of slavery, were termed "free soilers." The majority of them were intelligent, industrious and law abiding citizens, but there were some ignorant, simple minded fanatics among them, whom the prophet said would steal. Soon after they came to Jackson county they established a newspaper at Independence called the Morning and Evening Star, edited by W. W. Phelps, in which they published their peculiar tenets and pretended revelations in which they set forth that they had been sent to Jackson county by divine Providence and that they, as a church were to

POSSESS THE WHOLE OF THE COUNTRY,

which then embraced what is now Jackson, Cass and Bates counties. These assumptions were evidently made use of for the purpose of exciting the jealousy of persons of other religious denominations and the more ignorant portions of the community. This of course caused hard feelings between them and the people of the county, but I think the real objections to the Mormons were their denunciation of slavery, and the objections slave holders had to having so large a settlement of anti-slavery people in their midst, and also to their acquiring such a large amount of land, which then belonged to the government, and subject to pre-emption. From these and other causes a very bitter feeling was engendered between the Mormons and citizens which culminated in the month of July, 1833, when a public meeting was held at the court house in Independence, at which it was resolved to tear down the Mormon printing establishment, which resolve was immediately carried out. The mob also committed numerous other outrages, the most brutal of which was the

TARRING AND FEATHERING

of Bishop Partridge. I can't positively state who were the leaders of the mob, but it was participated in by a large number of the leading citizens of the county. The Mormons made but little if any resistance, but submitted to the inevitable, and agreed not to establish another paper, and there was an apparent tranquillity existing until about the first of the following November when, from imprudent conduct upon both sides, both Mormons and Gentiles -- as the citizens were then called by the Mormons -- seemed to arm themselves as if expecting a collision. The first clash of arms took place at Wilson's store on the Big Blue, about four miles east of Westport , about the third or fourth day of November, which resulted in several persons being killed upon both sides and several others wounded.

"In a few days after this the citizens organized and determined upon ejecting the Mormons from the county which soon after was done. During the ejectment a great many outrages were perpetrated and the Mormons were compelled to leave almost everything they possessed behind them and it was only by

A HURRIED FLIGHT

that they saved their lives. As it was, quite a number were killed on both sides. The majority of the Mormons, after being driven from Jackson county, went to Clay county, where they were received and provided for as well as was possible by the citizens. The Mormons remained in Clay county until 1836, in an unorganized community, when it was agreed between them and the citizens of Clay and Ray counties that if they (the Mormons) would buy out a few citizens then inhabiting what is now Caldwell county, then a part of Ray county, the balance of the land being public, they could enter it at their leisure and we would urge the legislature to create a county for them, which was done at the session of the legislature of 1836-'7.

"I was a member of the legislature and drew the bill organizing Caldwell county for the Mormons exclusively, and the offices of the county were given to their people. The new county filled up very rapidly and they made great progress in agricultural and other improvements. They continued to live prosperously and tranquilly until the summer of 1838, when Joseph Smith came out from Ohio and soon after they commenced forming a settlement in Davis county, which, under their agreement, they had no right to do. This occasioned difficulties with the citizens of Davis county, and in September, 1838, a large number of citizens of Davis and adjoining counties collected with arms in the Mormon settlement called

'ADAM-ON-DI-AHMAN,'

in Davis county. The Mormons also gathered at the same point, and I, being at that time brigadier-general of the western division of Missouri, was sent by Gov. Boggs with a regiment of Clay county militia to prevent a collision, which, after being there one week, I was able to do, and left them apparently harmonious, the Mormons agreeing that they would return to Caldwell county as soon as they could take care of their crops, etc.

"About one month after this new difficulties arose between the citizens and Mormons, from what causes I never knew, which culminated in the Mormons burning and sacking the Gentile towns of Millport and Gallatin, then very small villages. A few days after this a battle took place on the line between Caldwell and Ray counties between the Mormons, under the command of Capt. Patton, and the citizens of Ray county, under command of Capt. Bogard, in which two Ray county citizens and several Mormons, including Capt. Patton, were killed. The place where the battle occurred is still known as

'BOGARD'S BATTLE GROUND.'

"Gen. Atchison, who was afterwards United States senator, was then major-general of Northwest Missouri, and ordered me to raise a regiment of militia from Clay, Clinton and Platte counties. I did so, and proceeded at once to the battle ground, and the next day I received an order from Gov. Boggs to take command of all the forces and remain in Ray county until the arrival of Gen. Clark with the state troops. Being satisfied that the governor had over-estimated the number of Mormons, I went on to Far West, county seat of Caldwell county, where all the Mormon forces were assembled. I sent for Judge King, of the circuit court, to come to my camp, and at that juncture Gen. S. D. Lucas, of Jackson county, arrived with a small number of men sent out by the governor. I opened negotiations with the Mormons by going up to their lines in person, and when Judge King came out I consulted with him, and upon his advice the Mormons gave up their arms and turned over to me such men as had violated the laws of the land, and those upon the other side who had done the same were arrested upon warrants issued by Judge King. It has been said that in the treaty I made with the Mormons I stipulated that

THEY MUST LEAVE THE STATE,

under penalty of annihilation if they refused to do so. This is utterly untrue as I made no such stipulation. It is true, however, that in an order to me and other officers Gov. Boggs used the expression 'that the Mormons leave the state or be exterminated,' whereas this order was entirely illegal. I paid no attention to it. In my report to Gov. Boggs I stated to him that I had disregarded that part of his order, as the age of extermination was over, and if I attempted to remove them to some other state it would cause additional trouble. The Mormons commenced immediately after this to move to Nauvoo, Ill., and I know nothing further about them. While the Mormons resided in Clay county, they were a peaceable, sober, industrious and law-abiding people, and during their stay with us not one was ever accused of a crime of any kind."

Gen. Doniphan is now in his 73d year, but is still hale and hearty. He is a man of fine appearance and intellect, and is well known and highly respected all over the state. He has resided in Richmond during the past several years. His statements as given above may be relied upon as strictly the truth in every particular. There are a few old citizens still living near Independence who were in this county during the troubles of 1833, whose statements will be given in the near future.


Note: The text of this interview was reprinted in various RLDS publications and was eventually added to the official RLDS Church History, in vol. 4, pages 360-62

MORMON  HISTORY.
________

Col. Thomas Pitcher Gives the "Journal Readers His Recollections of
________

MORMONISM  IN  THIS  COUNTY.
________

Events of the Memorable Year of 1833 by one of the Participants
________

Of the many pioneer citizens of Jackson county who were present and took part in the Mormon difficulties of the memorable year of 1833 but few now live. It is, however, fortunate for the historian that a few yet remain to relate the story of the events of those troublous times, nearly half a century ago, as they occurred, without prejudice. Among the very few of the pioneers still living is

COL.  THOMAS  PITCHER,

of Independence, who has been a citizen of Jackson county for almost fifty-five years, and who, during the troubles of 1833, was a colonel of the state militia, and took a prominent part in all of the events of the early history of the county. Knowing these facts, a Journal representative at Independence was sent to Col. Pitcher to interview him upon the Mormon history of Jackson county. After learning the object of the visit the colonel lighted his pipe and related the following facts.

"I came to Jackson county, Mo., in the month of November, 1826, and located four miles southwest of Independence. The Mormon immigration to the county commenced in the fall of 1830, and continued until the autumn of 1833. During the first two years of their residence in the county they and the citizens got along together very peaceably, and no one had any thought of a difficulty until the spring of 1833. In the latter part of 1831 the Mormons established a newspaper in Independence called the Morning and Evening Star, which was edited by one W. W. Phelps. This paper published the so-called revelations of Joseph Smith and other leading elders of the church, and other doctrines of their religion. The Mormons, as a rule, were an ignorant and fanatical people, though there were some very intelligent men among them. The troubles of 1833, which led to their expulsion from the county, were originated by these fanatics making boasts that they intended to possess the entire county, saying that God had promised it to them and they were going to have it. This of course caused ill feeling toward them, which continued to grow more and more bitter, until

THE  FINAL  UPRISING

took place. One Saturday, about the middle of July, 1833, a citizens' meeting was held at the court house in Independence, to declare what was to be done with the Mormons who were pouring into the county, and to devise some means to put a stop to their seditious boasts as to what they proposed to do, etc. This meeting determined to destroy the Mormon printing office, located a short distance south of where Chrisman & Sawyer's bank building now stands, which determination was carried into effect that afternoon."

"Did the citizens give the Mormons any notice of what they intended to do?"

"No, I don't think they gave them any notice whatever, but when they had determined upon destroying the printing office, they immediately proceeded to do so."

"Did the Mormons make any resistance?"

"No, they did not. Some of them tried to argue the case, but it was of no avail. The printing office was a two story brick building, and I don't think its destruction occupied over an hour."

"How many citizens were engaged in the affair?"

"I suppose there must have been over a hundred, altogether."

"Was there any personal violence or other indignities offered the Mormons at that time?"

"Nothing of any particular consequence. Several were knocked down, but as a general thing the Mormons had sufficient discretion to keep out of the way. Bishop Partridge and a saint named Wm. Allen, were taken from their houses and

TARRED  AND  FEATHERED

upon the public square, but I am not sure whether it was done this same day or not, but am of the opinion that it was a few days after. After the excitement attending the destruction of the printing office had subsided, everything went along with comparative smoothness until sometime during the following October, when an outbreak occurred at Wilson's store, near Big Blue, in which Lawyer Brazeale and a man named Lindell, citizens of Independence, and several Mormons were killed, and a number wounded on both sides. This affray seemed to precipitate the general uprising which had been brewing for several months and the next day a band of perhaps 150 Mormons organized and armed themselves in that neighborhood and started for Independence with the avowed intention of burning the town and to kill Col. Sam Owens, Gen. S. D. Lucas, myself and several other leading citizens who had taken part in the destruction of the printing office. We heard of their coming and I being at that time colonel of the state militia organized several hundred citizens of the county under my command in readiness to meet them. The Mormons were under the leadership of Elder Lyman White and were armed with a few guns, chisels fastened on the ends of poles, clubs, etc. The Mormons concealed themselves in the woods just west of town where I met them and finally

MADE  A  TREATY

with them, the conditions of which were that they were to surrender their arms and leave the county within ten days. They accepted the conditions of the treaty and surrendered and made a hurried flight from the county."

"Was there any blood shed at this time?"

"I do not positively remember but don't think there was."

"Were the Mormons allowed to dispose of their lands and other property before they left the county?"

"No, they did not have time, but afterwards, a great many came back and disposed of their lands without molestation."

"Did they own much property in the county?"

"Yes, they owned a large amount of land all over the county and a great deal of property in the town of Independence."

"Are there any of the Mormons here now who were here at the time of the difficulties of 1833?"

"Only two that I know of, Dr. W. E. McLellan and his wife. At the time of the difficulty at Wilson's store, I had Dr. McLellan and another man under arrest upon a charge of some misdemeanor, I don't remember just what, preferred by one Richard McCarty and their trial was in progress when the news of the battle at Wilson's was received, and I had hard work to protect them during the excitement. I placed them in jail until the next day and then turned them loose and told them to "git" which they did in short order. Dr. McLellan came back here about [fifteen] years ago and he and I often talk over the events of those troublesome times. The doctor was always a very peaceable and law-abiding man and very well liked by everybody during his residence here in 1831-2-3."

"Colonel, after reflecting calmly over these troubles for almost half a century, do you believe that the citizens were justifiable in mistreating and

DRIVING  THE  MORMONS  FROM  THE  COUNTY?"

"I do not think they ought to have been unnecessarily mistreated, but I think the people were entirely justifiable in driving them out, as we could not have lived with them in peace."

"What became of the Mormons after they left Jackson county?"

"They scattered in almost every direction, the majority however, going to Clay county, where they lived for several years."

"Did any of them ever come back [here]?"

"None of them ever came back here to live that I know of except Dr. McLellan; but they used to come back [occasionally] during the next few years after their expulsion, [to transact] business."

"Did you have any trouble with them after [the fi--- expulsion] in 1833?"

"No, we did not. About one year after we heard that they had organized in large numbers and intended coming back again. This rumor created intense excitement, and the whole county was organized under command of Col. Sam Owens, to repel them. But the report proved false."

"Do you think, colonel, that the slavery question had anything to do with the difficulties with the Mormons?"

"No, I don't think that matter had anything to do with it. The Mormons, it is true, were northern and eastern people, and "free soilers." but they did not interfere with the negroes and we did not care whether they owned slaves or not."

"Was anything ever done by the state authorities in regard to the expulsion of the Mormons?"

"Yes, I was arrested the next winter on a warrant issued by Gov. Duncan, on a charge of misdemeanor in office in driving the Mormons out of the county. I was taken to Richmond and tried by court martial and acquited. My trial before the court of inquiry and court martial occupied six or seven months and cost the state over $30,000. About one thousand Mormons testified against me."

"Do you know anything about the Mormons after they left this county?"

"No, I do not. They went to Caldwell county and were driven from there in 1838, but I don't know anything about these troubles."

"Did the Mormons practice polygamy or advocate polygamy while in Jackson county?"

"No, they did not. Polygamy, at that time, had not been heard of."

Col. Pitcher is now upwards of 75 years of age, but time has dealt kindly with him. He is still robust and hearty, and would not ordinarily be taken for a man of over 65 years. He has resided within a few miles of Independence ever since he came to the state, 55 years ago, and is well-known to every old citizen in the county as well as to a majority of the younger ones. In the early times, however, his name was known all over the Western country. As a citizen he is well liked and highly respected by everybody, and his reputation for truth is strictly first class. Next Sunday's Journal will contain another installment of the heretofore unwritten history of the Mormon settlement in and expulsion from Jackson county as related by other pioneer citizens.


Note: The above article was reprinted in various RLDS publications, including Part III, Chapter II of Rudolph Etzenhouser's 1894 book, From Palmyra to Independence. Etzenhouser conveniently omits Dr. McLellan's name in his reprint, as well as Col. Pitcher's account of the armed Mormon troop marching upon Independence, with plans to avenge the destruction of their printing office. In the RLDS literature of that day, the Missouri Saints were generally pictured non-aggressive victims, in all cases; while Apostle William McLellan was ignored as much as possible, due to his criticism of the RLDS and their "edited" version of Mormon history.

FIFTY  YEARS.
________

OLD TIMER'S REFLECTIONS.
________

A Half Century View of Kansas City.
________

Correspondence of the Kansas City Journal.

(under construction)

Note: The above piece is just one of several different historical articles by John C. McCoy, that appeared in 1879-1886 issues of the Kansas City Journal. This article says practically nothing about the Mormons, but it does present an interesting description of the western Missouri frontier at about the time the first LDS arrived in that area.

LIFE  IN  THE  "FAR  WEST."
________

OVER  A  HALF CENTURY  AGO.
________

Reminiscences of an Old Pioneer.
________

Fifty-three years ago (August, 1830), I crossed the western boundary of Missouri, which was then the line of demarkation for the restless westward bound pioneer, the ultima thule of civilization...

(under construction)


Note: The above piece is just one of several different historical articles by John C. McCoy, that appeared in 1879-1886 issues of the Kansas City Journal. This article says practically nothing about the Mormons, but it does present an interesting description of the western Missouri frontier at about the time the first LDS arrived in that area.

"A  FAMOUS  TOWN."
________

SOME THRILLING BORDER HISTORY.
________

A Graphic Sketch of the Rise and Fall of the Mormons in Jackson County.
________

A Valuable Contribution from an Old Pioneer.
________

To the Editor of the Kansas City Journal.

In the Kansas City Journal of Sunday, December 28, was published an interesting and well written sketch of a "Famous Town" Independence, MO., which graphically narrates many facts and incidents relating to the early history of that famous border town. The San Francisco writer was not mistaken in his statement that "more thrilling incidents of border warfare and tragic episodes have been enacted in its streets than would fill a large sized volume." From the date of its first settlement as the county seat, in 1826, until about 1848, Independence was peculiarly the border town of the farthest far West, the ultima thule of the progressive and aggressive Angle Saxon...

THE  MORMONS.

But to return to the statements of the article first alluded to... It was not in 1835 "the Latter Day Saints here commenced the establishment of a Mormon colony," but it was in 1831, and their higera or expulsion was on November 3, 1833. General Sterling Price did not command the Gentiles who "drove them (the Mormons) from the city." ...

In the latter part of 1830 [sic] the so-called prophet, Joe Smith, accompanied by four of the saints, arrived in Jackson county. These four were Edward Partridge, the first bishop, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitemon [sic], and one other, Morley or Phelps.

Cowdery was said to be the amanuensis who wrote the "Book of Mormon," as dictated by the Prophet Joseph, as translated by him from the golden plates, (or the manuscript of Parson Spaulding's romance) placed in the crown of his hat, a blanket curtain intervening between the prophet and scribe.

Partridge was the first bishop and grantee of all the lands purchased from the government or individuals during the sojourn of the saints in the county, and was principal of the three martyrs who were in 1833 tarred and feathered at the north front of the old court house by a ruthless mob of unregenerated Gentiles.

These five pedestrian pioneers of Mormonism were journeying westward and were (like Abraham) in search of a country which the Lord had promised to the Latter Day Saints as a perpetual inheritance. They stopped at the state line with Col. Robert Patterson, on what is now known as the Vogel place, near Westport. Patterson was one of four families who first moved west of the Big Blue in the fall of 1825, and was the first justice of the peace for Kaw township, but died about 1831 or 1832. After a short stay Smith and party went up west and stopped for some time among the Delawares on the north of Kaw river, making strenuous efforts to make proselytes among the Indians, but with poor success, until Maj. R. W. Drummins peremptorily ordered them out of the Indian territory.

The Indian intercourse laws and regulations of the war department, then in charge of Indian affairs, prohibited white persons from settling or residing in the Indian territory, except by special license or permit of the superintendent of Indian affairs, at St. Louis, or recommendation of the Indian agent in charge. The first notice of Agent Cummins was disregarded, whereupon that matter-of-fact old Tennessean went up in person and gave them the choice of moving instantly on either end of the road -- eastward into Missouri or westward to the Leavenworth guard-house. The former alternative was chosen. The providential indications showing clearly that they had gone too far West for the site of the temple....

Smith [sic] remained only a few weeks after their return to Jackson county and then went back to the headquarters of Mormonism in the East, and I think was never afterwards in the county. Bishop Partridge and I think all three of his companions remained and commenced missionary labors in the effort to make proslytes among the settlers. In this they signally failed as will be hereadter shown.

In book D. of records of the St. Louis superintendency of Indian affairs, is copied a letter from Cowdery to Gen Clark, dated "Independence, Mo., February 14, 1831," "asking for a permit for myself and all who may be recommended to me by that society (meaning Mormons) to have free intercourse with the several tribes." This letter is dated after their expulsion from the Indian territory, the scheme of Smith and his party originally was no doubt to settle among and proselyte the Indians if possible, and take possession of the unoccupied lands assigned to these "Lamanites." The scheme having failed and their divine mission rejected [so] they returned to the unregenerated Gentiles. "Revelations," so called were furnished through the prophets to explain all things secular and ecclesiastical, governed all their movements and plans, and the weekly installment of "Revelations" as published in their weekly newspaper, the Morning Star, in Independence, as will be shown, was the [chief]

CAUSE  OF  THEIR  OVERTHROW.

and expulsion from the county. Only a limited number of small tracts of the most undesireable land were left unclaimed and unsettled. These were entered during 1831 in the name of Partridge, the bishop, and during that year immigrant saints arrived in large numbers, allotments of ten and twenty acres being assigned to families. They professed to hold their property in common, although several, with some private means, bought land and held it in their own name. Along the valley of Brush creek from the state line eastward for a mile or two, was the largest settlement; another, about two miles southeast of Westport, ehere they had a [borse] mill; still another on the old road to Independence from the Big Blue, eastward, and scattering small tracts elsewhere, few, if any, however, eastward of Independence; another, the Whitmer settlement, was about Linwood, a mile or two southeast of Kansas City. It was at this latter settlement the only real battle was fought between the saints and Gentiles, during the sojourn of the former in the county. Of this battle and its consequences, which resulted in the sudden and summary expulsion of the Mormons from Jackson county, I will make mention hereafter.

The arrival of Joe Smith and his four disciples, followed by the arrival during 1831 of large numbers of the sect, might be termed a surprize to the original settlers. Newspapers were almost unknown at that early period, and few, if any, of the first settlers had heard of the existence of the sect. Their exclusiveness, and assumption of holiness, of miraculous gifts in speaking in unknown tongues as at the day of Penticost and pretended interpretation of the gibberish by those professedly inspired for that purpose and their openly expressed avowal that all the land of this chosen zion, comprising the entire country, had been allotted to the saints by divine authority as made known through his chosen prophet Joseph, surnamed Smith, these together with other causes which will be alluded to hereafter, gradually created a feeling of bitter hostility against them.

During the three years the Mormons remained in Jackson county, viz., 1831, 1832 and 1833, they succeeded in making very few converts among the Gentiles, perhaps not a dozen in all. The first year they were regarded as harmless fanatics. Many were employed as farm laborers and mechanics. I was engaged in surveying boundaries of lands allotted to various Indian tribes, and much of the time I employed them as hands. Few, if any, covert acts of hostility were committed during that year. During the next year, 1832, as their members increased rapidly and they began to openly avow their purpose of possessing the entire country peaceably by converting the Gentiles to the Mormon faith, if they could, but failing in this, to possess it any way, and if necessary by the shedding of blood, and when this determination on the part of the Mormons became manifest to the original settlers, and they saw that immigrants of their class, in view of the speedy ascendancy of the Mormons, socially and politically in the county, were unwilling to risk their fortunes here, and, indeed, that many already here were disposed to get away, then

BITTER  AND  RELENTLESS  HOSTILITY.

grew up and increased as time progressed. The better class of law abiding citizens were unwilling to do or sanction acts of outrage, such as tearing down houses, taking out grown men and whipping them, and of inaugurating a war between the classes that should end in the expulsion of one or the other factions, but there was no lack of volunteers for such work. Already in 1833 the Mormons more than held the balance of power between the two political parties (Whigs and Democrats).

Another year at the same rate of increase they would in all probability have elected and installed all the county officers. No one but a Mormon could be induced to buy land to settle upon, and they in the few purchases made by them fixed ruinous prices.

As before stated their chief settlements were situated west of the Big Blue river, comprising probably three-fourths of their numbers, and yet the quantity of land actually purchased and occupied by them amounted to less than 2,000 acres above the Big Blue river.

The supreme folly of the Mormon leaders was in prematurely assuming the aggressive toward the old residents. In asserting and proclaiming in their talks, their sermons, and especially in their newspaper weekly at Independence, their real purposes and plans "Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad." In their case, however, they were evidently made fools. If they had not provoked the hostility of the Gentiles only another year's occupancy would have given them a sure footing, and the forced exodus would have been comprised of Gentiles instead of saints.

True history, however, must record the fact that the deluded followers of the so called prophet, Joseph Smith, in their first effort to organize and establish a religious socialistic community in Jackson county, Mo., were unjustly and outrageously maltreated by the original settlers, and that in the tragic and pitiful scenes which occurred during the last part of their sojourn in this, their promised inheritance, their Zion and New Jerusalem. With scarcely one exception, the settlers were aggressors so far as overt acts of hostility were concerned. During the last year of their stay the continued persecutions to which they were subjected excited the sympathy of many outside of the county, especially of the people of Clay county, who gave them an asylum and assistance for a year or two after their expulsion. Indeed, material aid and arms were furnished them by some citizens of Clay before their expulsion; a wagon with a quantity of guns was stopped near the south part of Kansas City and seized by parties on the watch.

They purchased a few lots in Independence, established a store at the southwest corner of the public square, called the

"LORD'S  STORE  HOUSE,"

a joint stock concern by one Gilbert, built a small brick printing office just south of the bank of Chrisman & Sawyer, and commenced a small newspaper called the Morning or Evening Star (I forget which), Phelps & Oliver Cowdery, publishers. In this paper "revelations" were published in nearly every issue, purporting to have been delivered from God to the saints through His chosen prophet, Joseph, pertaining to all matters, ecclesiastical and secular. It was these "revelations," openly avowing their purpose of possessing the entire land, if possible, by converting the Gentiles to the faith so that they would freely bestow their earthly possessions and cast in their lots with the saints, or take the consequences of their perverse opposition of the Divine decrees, more than anything else, that provoked the hostility of the citizens and brought about their forcible expulsion.

ANTI-MORMON  RENDEZVOUS.

One mile west of the Blue, on the old road from Independence to the state line, on what is now the Chouteau farm, there was a country store kept by one Moses G. Wilson, a brigadier general of the militia, a restless partisan, very prominent and influential with a certain class.

This [store] was, during 1833, the rendezvous for the anti-Mormons, where they were wont to meet to discuss the situation and form plans and organize raids upon the Mormon settlements up toward the state line. There was no pretense of legality in any of their proceedings, only a unanimous determination to drive out the Mormons from the country or be themselves driven out.

THE  FIGHT.

It was from this rendezvous a mob of about sixty started up the road westward on the 2d of November, 1833, to raid the Mormon settlements, some of them mounted, the rest on foot, one third at least without guns or other weapons, without order or discipline, they marched through the Mormon settlements of Brush creek, without seeing a Mormon man; only women and children were found. With these orders were left for the Mormons to leave the county, and occasionally a Mormon camp was thrown down. Late in the afternoon, on their return through the Whitmer settlement, near Linwood school house, about fifteen, who lived down toward the river, left the main body, and soon afterwards, as the rest were moving east on the road the Mormons

OPENED  FIRE

from both sides, which put at least two-thirds of the raiders to precipitate flight. About fifteen or twenty, however, stood their ground for some time, when they too retreated, leaving two of their number dead, viz., Walter Brageale, a lawyer from Independence, and old Billy Linville, a farmer of the neighborhood. On the side of the Mormons one man named Barber was killed. Very few of the Mormons, and a dozen, perhaps, of the raiders were wounded. The battle, if it could be dignified as one, brought the controversy between the belligerents to a crisis. Both parties seemed to recognize that the issue was now

VICTORY  OR  BANISHMENT.

Those of the citizens who had steadfastly refused to join in these raids, especially of the [eastern] part of the county, knew full well that the issue was then made up -- and the alternative was now fight, flight, or submission to a fanatical hierarchy.

It would make this article too long to tell of many facts and incidents that transpired during that Mormon war, antecedent and subsequent to this battle. Of the night march of the saints, to sack, burn and destroy that Sodom of [iniquity], (Independence), of their final surrender in the fallen timber one mile west of the town.

Of the events that led to the destruction of their printing office, press and type; of the [precipituous] flight of the saints; of the belligerent attitude and alarms that prevailed in the county for a year or two following the flight; and a thousand other episodes of thrilling interest enacted in and around that old border town. would in truth "fill a good sized volume."... a book of interesting facts stranger than fiction.

                                                      J. C. M.




Note 1: The writer of the above piece was John Calvin McCoy (1811-1889), a pioneer resident of western Missouri and a son of the well known Rev. Isaac McCoy. For his father's early report on the Mormons, see the Dec. 20, 1833 issue of the Daily Missouri Republican and a slightly earlier edition of the Fayette Western Monitor. For a sympathetic view of the Rev. McCoy, his interactions with the Mormons, and his Dec. 1833 statement, see Warren A. Jennings' "Isaac McCoy and the Mormons," in the Oct. 1966 issue of Missouri Historical Quarterly, (LXI:1, pp. 63-82). This piece reproduces lengthy quotes from McCoy's 1833 journal, along with extracts from more of his obscure holographs, not otherwise easily accessible for consultation.

Note 2: John C. McCoy has obviously confused and conflated the first three or four advents of early Mormon leaders in western Missouri into a single event. Probably, where he first mentions Joseph Smith as a "pedestrian pioneer," the name of Parley P. Pratt should be substituted. Phelps, Morley, Smith and Partridge all arrived subsequent to the initial Cowdery-Pratt group of "pedestrian pioneers." See also John C. McCoy's articles in the Jan. 26, 1879, Apr. 24, 1881, and Nov. 18, 1883 issues of the Kansas City Journal. For information on the earliest Mormon activities in western Missouri and in the Indian Territory, see Warren A. Jennings' "The First Mormon Mission to the Indians," in the Autumn 1971 issue of Kansas Historical Quarterly, (XXXVII:3, pp. 288-299) and three articles by Ronald E. Romig: "Jackson County, 1831-1833," in Restoration Studies III, (1986); "First Impressions... 1832-33," in JWHA Journal 10 (1990); and "The Lamanite Mission," in JWHA Journal 14 (1994).

"MEMOIRS OF THE MORMONS.
________

A Racy Extract from the Salt Lake Evening News.
________

False Statements Regarding Treatment of Mormons
During Their Sojourn in Clay County.
________

We print below an article taken from the Evening News of the 28th ult., a daily Mormon organ published at Salt Lake City, Utah Ter., a copy of which paper was forwarded us with the article marked with the request that we "answer it as it deserves." The length of the article copied, and our consequent lack of space, precludes our privilege of a systematic reply to the same. We therefore present a few facts relative to the history, conduct and habits of [ye festive?] Mormons during their stay in Clay and Jackson counties, and leave our readers, many of whom have personal knowledge of the occurrences, to draw their own conclusions after reading two sides of the question.

It is not denied that the Mormons were subjected to some harsh treatment at the hands of the people of Jackson and Clay counties; but we submit that it was nothing more than their just deserts, brought on by their own absurd, unlawful and fanatical theories and practices. Here is the article referred to:

MISSOURI  MEMORIES.

(see original article for text)

...The notorious Joseph Smith referred to above, the prophet and leader of the Mormons, or Latter Day Saints, had, according to his profession, received by direct communication from God orders to establish and build up, somewhere in the West, a New Jerusalem. The exact location had not been revealed to him; but traveling under divine guidance, he had been assured that his prophetic vision would recognize the place when it had been reached. Accordingly, about the year 1831, the famous Joseph started Westward from Kirtland, Ohio, in quest of the promised land. When he had reached Jackson county, Mo., it was revealed to Joseph that this was the promised land; which fact he communicated to his followers, and thither came the dupes of his persuasion, in large numbers, and located. The place where Independence is situated was elected as the site whereon the Temple should be built; and under his direction the erection of the Temple was begun, but extended no further than the commencement of the foundation. At the time of the location of the Mormons there, Jackson county was comparatively sparsely settled, and there remained yet much land subject to entry. The Mormons at once set about to possess themselves of large landed interests and, at the same time, inform and convince the oldest residents of that county of Joseph's divine revelations, which were, in part, that the Mormons and heathens (meaning the older residents, or gentiles,) could not dwell together in the same county, and that God had bequeathed and set apart this land to their exclusive use and benefit, and consequently the heathens must render up their possessions.

At about this time a newspaper called the Evening Star, was established at Independence. It was a Mormon organ, and through this medium the revelations to Joseph were made known to the people. It advocated the right, by divine sanction, of the Mormons to absolute possession of the lands and the fullness thereof, and insisted that all the trespassing heathens should depart. The rank and file of the Mormons, fully impregnated with this idea, said unto the Jackson county heathens: "What is yours is ours, and what is mine is my own;" and suiting their actions to their words, they began to appropriate to their own use the property and effects of the heathens. About this time the heathens, also, had a revelation, which was to the effect that the festive Mormons were not disposed to tote fair with them, and they began, accordingly, to expostulate with their persecutors, but all to no purpose. The Mormons persisted in their nefarious practices -- to pillage and over ride the heathen until forbearance ceased to be a virtue. It then became necessary, in order to protect their property and their rights, for the heathens to organize to resist the arrogant and fanatical Mormons.


Thus matters grew from bad to worse until the gentiles of Jackson county, from sheer necessity, drove the pestilential Mormons across the river into Clay county. Their printing press and materials were hurled into the Missouri river after them; and thus set the Evening Star, and it is still setting, presumably, -- at the bottom of the river. The time when the Mormons were driven into Clay county, was mid-winter, and the morning of the first day after their arrival on Clay county soil, between the hour of midnight and daybreak, was the time when the stars fell; and it was at this season, also, according to the recollection of its builder, that the first jail in Clay county was built at Liberty -- a cut of which building is given above, the sight of which aroused to such an extent the editorial flow of the Salt Lake City Evening News. The good people of Clay county, through pity for the destitute Mormons who were driven to their doors hungry, cold and homeless, took compassion upon and kindly received them. They generously provided for and gave employment in their families to the Mormons, as well as on their farms and as teachers of schools; which acts on the part of the Clay countians, by the way, won for them, from the people of Jackson county, the title of "Jack Mormons." But in the course of time, the ungrateful hostages, unmindful of the hospitality which had been extended them by the generous heathen people of Clay, began again their perfidious practices, and claimed to have received through their prophet-leader, Joseph, another revelation to the effect that Clay county was the Canaan of which they were in quest, and that this land, too, was theirs by divine gift; that here the Temple was to be erected, and the heathen must render up their property and possessions and depart from the land. The Mormons here became even more fanatical than before and asserted that they were above the operation and control of the laws of Missouri, being subject only to the edicts of the twelve Mormon apostles -- (wondrously treasonable, this.) -- The ill feeling thus [engendered] between the Mormons and the people of Clay county grew and waxed stronger as the absurd professions and intolerable conduct of the misguided Mormons increased, and in time the gallent sons of Clay, exasperated beyond further endurance, arose in their might and informed the Mormons that they must go; and they went, but at the point of the bayonet.

Subsequent to their expulsion from Clay county the Mormons, after remaining a short time at other places, finally congregated at Far West, where again it was revealed to Joseph that the Temple should be built. The depraved natures of the Mormons, not having been changed by past bitter experiences, again asserted itself, and their depredations -- such as stealing, house-burning and, even, murder, as was charged, -- were practiced by them until the State authorities sent troops, under the command of Gen. A. W. Doniphan, who marched upon Far West and compelled the settlement to surrender. Here Joseph and Hiram Smith, Lyman Wright [sic]. Sidney Rigdon, Parley Pratt, et al. were surrendered to the authorities. -- These leaders of the Mormons were first sent to Richmond for preliminary trial before Judge Austin A. King, whence they were taken to Daviess county to await the action of the grand jury; but, owing to the insecurity of the jail there, they were returned to Clay county and incarcerated in the old jail at Liberty. The prisoners, upon their own motion, were granted a change of venue from Daviess to Boone county, and were there tried by Judge David Todd. They were ably defended by Gen. Doniphan, who commanded the force that captured them, and were acquitted.

The charge that, whilst the prisoners were confined in jail at Liberty, they were fed on or offered "Mormon beef, or human flesh, is as false as Dicer's oaths, and is too preposterous to be entertained even for a moment by any other than the most ridiculous Mormon fanatic; as is, also, the charge that poison was administered to them in their food, which, through divine interposition on behalf of the Mormons, had no other effect upon them than that of "a most powerful emetic." The flagrant falsity of this latter charge is at once apparent to the Christian world, and the expression of such an idea, fully endorsed by the Mormons, is certainly sufficient to lead the average Christianized American to accept, in this instance, the old Latin maxim, "falsus in unum, falsus in omnibus," and totally discredit every part of the senseless wrangle of the poor deluded Mormon editor.


Note 1: The editor's assertion, that while the Mormons resided in Clay county, they claimed the land as their own and intended to build a temple there, is largely unsubstantiated. Caldwell county, however, was formed from the northern half of Ray, the county adjoining Clay on the east , and the LDS soon after dedicated a temple lot in Caldwell -- the LDS also claimed part of neighboring Daviess county, as the holy first residence of Adam and Eve, following that ancient couple's departure from the Garden of Eden. Considered in a much broader sense than the editor indicates, the Mormons probably did lay claim to Jackson, Clay and Ray counties, prior to 1836, as part of the region "round about" their promised land -- a region which they felt they would rightfully come to possess in the millenarian near future.

Note 2: The editor's insinuation, that Joseph Smith and other high LDS leaders, "were acquitted" at a trial in Boone county, is not factual. The top Mormon leaders escaped from legal custody before their intended trial in Boone could commence.

For the Liberty Tribune.

MORMON  MEMOIRS.

My attention has been called to an article which appeared in the Tribune on the 12th of March, 1886, headed, "Memoirs of the Mormons," in which is [copied] an article taken from the Evening News of the 28th of February, a daily Mormon organ published at Salt Lake City, Utah. In this latter article from the Evening News, are made grave charges against the people and officials of Clay county. Of these charges I have some what to say. At the dates and times referred to in these charges I was a citizen of Clay and had been for some years before. I was at the time familiar with all the facts connected with the Mormon troubles in Jackson, Clay and Caldwell. Some of the facts, I have forgotten, or remember imperfectly; others, I still remember perfectly; others, I still remember well. I write now to give some help, if I can, to the preservation of truth for history; not merely for the purpose of denying the false and reckless statements of the News.

It is often best to leave calumnies and slanders unanswered and unnoticed, and these are of a character to make such the wiser and better treatment; but, as a notice of this article of the News will lead to the necessity of showing the part and share Clay county and its people had in these Mormon [affairs?], I will briefly give such notice as seems to be demanded, taking the charges in the order in which they are made.

The News says: "It was in this place" (Clay county jail) "that Joseph Smith, Hiram Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wright [sic], Caleb Baldwin and Alexander McRae were confined for six months after their mock trial at Richmond before Judge Austin A. King. *  *  *  The judge also, during the trial, declared there was no law for the Mormons in the State of Missouri, that he had sworn to see them exterminated and the Governor's order executed to the very letter, and he would do so. *  *  *  They were asked, during their trial, if they believed in the 7th chapter of Daniel, and, on their admitting a belief in it, the judge turned to the clerk and said: "Write that down, it is a strong point for treason."

It is amazing that a man who thinks himself fit to edit a paper he would wish respected should write for, or permit to go into, his paper statements so ridiculous and absurd. Judge King was an able lawyer, of acknowledged talents, and was afterwards Governor of the State. There were about forty of the Mormon leaders, including the above, turned over to the civil authorities, charged with offences against the State, and Judge King himself presided at the examining trial. I was retained by the Governor of the State to aid the circuit attorney; was present during the whole of the examining trial, and nothing occurred as above represented. The parties [-----ed] were committed to be held for enquiry by the grand jury. No one county jail had room for all, and Jo. Smith and others above named were sent to the Liberty jail, for several reasons it was the place of residence of their chief attorney, Col. Doniphan; they preferred to go there, and the jail was regarded as the safest and strongest we then had.

The trial was not a "mock trial." Judge King presided in good faith and with fairness; and, if Mormon evidence, given by such of them as Dr. Avery [sic], W. W. Phelps, [J. and] David Whitmer and others, is entitled to credit, Judge King could not have ruled otherwise than he did. The testimony was all taken down and afterwards, reported to the Legislature, by whose order it was printed in book-form and distributed over the whole State and thus made known to the world for its judgment.

Again, the News says: "It was in this same Liberty jail that the brethren whose names have already been mentioned were subjected to the most inhuman treatment that the ingenuity of [demons] could devise. For five days they were furnished with what their guards jocularly called 'Mormon beef,' which was nothing else than human flesh, probably the flesh of some of their brethren who had been killed. *  *  *  Nor was this the only atrocity perpetrated upon them while there, for they were given poison in their food three or four times --"

This charge is wholly without truth, not having the shadow of foundation for support, and is as wicked as false. The sheriff was himself jailor, a faithful officer of incorruptible integrity, and was not only kind and humane, but generously indulgent to these prisoners. Of this I give an instance. They desired to be permitted to leave the jail to see me. My office was three or four blocks from the jail; he permitted them, under his charge, to make me the visit, and they came -- Joseph Smith, Hiram Smith, Lyman Wright and, I think , others. Joseph Smith stated their object --

He knew I had been retained to assist the circuit attorney in the examining trials, which were concluded, and they wanted me to aid in their defence after indictment; and Smith said the State would not half pay me for what I had done, but that they could give me a liberal fee. I told him I was through with my engagement with the State, but so far as the prosecution had secrets I [knew] them, and I could not appear in their defence without seeming to take a fee on both sides and, this, no fee could induce me to do. They were permitted by the sheriff to remain in social conversation for an hour or two, and on leaving Jo. Smith asked the loan of a book to read. I told him to look among my books and suit himself. He selected a copy of [Bates' Poems], and they left. I never saw him afterwards; a few days later they all escaped. I never heard complaint of sheriff or guard for unkind or other hard treatment; don't believe there ever was ground for such cimplaint; would have heard if there had been, for in those days we had no secrets; we were told everything

As to the "Mormon beef," "human flesh," "the flesh of some of their brethren," all bosh! No ormon was even killed in Clay county [or] within many miles of Lberty ljail], and no Mormon near the date of their confinement in the Clay county jail. And, "poison!" -- but I will say nothing of that; it is not necessary.

As to the court martial that condemned "the leading brethren at Far West to be shot," I know nothing -- never heard of such a court martial; and it is most singular I never did, if it ever had existence in fact. As to General Clark's address at Far West, I know nothing of it; but, having known Gen. Clark well, it would require evidence to convince me he delivered the address imputed to him.

Again, the News says that "before settling in Caldwell county they" (the Mormons) "had dwelt in Clay county, of which Liberty was the capital, and purchased extensive possessions," and again speaks of the "people of Missouri, who inflicted those terrible wrongs upon an innocent and defenceless people, and who now possess the property of which they were robbed." These words will be construed by the reader to apply to their "purchases of extensive possessions" in Clay county.

Now for the facts about these "extensive possessions" in Clay county. When driven from Jackson county the Mormons, on compulsion, crossed the Missouri river into Clay county as a place of merely temporary refuge. The people of Clay, at that time, believed that they had been greatly wronged and the law disregarded and violated, and invited and encouraged them to take shelter in Clay and did all they could for their comfort. They professed no purpose or desire to make a home in Clay; In Independence was their Temple lot and Zion, and special revelation and their religious faith required and enjoined their return to Jackson, and such was their avowed purpose during all the time they were in Clay. They consulted with Doniphan, Atchison, Rees and myself as to prosecuting criminally, and civilly for damages, the mob in Jackson; and, in aid of their efforts, Atchison, then captain of a company called "Blues," under order of the Governor, took them under his charge and remained to protect them at Independence while the grand jury was in session. Neither effort, by prosecution or suit, could avail anything. Of necessity, therefore, for two or three years they remained in Clay, intending still a return to Jackson. Jo. Smith came out with a large reinforcement from Ohio, adding greatly to their numbers, and still the purpose was to return to Jackson. They made no arrangement in Clay for a place of [worship], and but few made purchases of homes. My best recollection now is that they had come to own, in all, three or four tracts of cheap land of 40 acres each, and for this, I suppose, they had paid. In addition to this, I have an indistinct recollection that Lyman Wright -- or it may have been some one else -- had contracted for 100 acres, but paid nothing. This, so far as I can now remember, was all there was of their "extensive purchased possessions" at the time they decided to leave for Caldwell county. I had nothing to do with any land they owned in Clay and may underestimate the quantity they had purchased; but the true facts can be ascertained [at] the Recorder's office and I hope some gentlemen will take trouble to examine, and, if I am mistaken, make the correction. But whether the Mormons owned more or less than I have stated matters little, [as] it will be found that they have [sold] and received pay for every foot of land they owned in Clay county. It will also be learned, on proper enquiry and examination, that they never lost property of a dollar's value by the hand of any citizen of Clay.

The News speaks of Clay county as a "wilderness country" when they were in that county. This is a mistake. It was the best settled county in the State; every tract of land in the county, good and bad, was entered and owned by individuals, and nearly every tract [made] occupant. Clay county has not today a better or more [-----------] community than it had [then].

It was under a state of facts such as I have stated that, in the early part of the summer of 1836 -- if I am right as to the year -- some excitement against the Mormons in Clay was manifested in the [eastern?] part of the county. This excitement increased and extended partially to other parts of the county. It progressed until a company, under a sort of military organization, was gotten up, with [-------- Ebenezer Price] as captain, and, on the part of the Mormons, a still larger force was [believed] to be organized, under Lyman Wright, and there was appreciation that the two companies might meet and commence a bloody strife. I am satisfied there [was] a large majority of the people [for peace] and opposed to all violent action. When the peace of the county was thus threatened some of us, opposed to violence, consulted as to what could be done to maintain peace. Those who thus conferred and consulted, I think, were Atchison, Doniphan, Rees, Judge Cameron and myself. We decided to invite the leading Mormons, five or six in number, to meet us, in private conference, in the woods on a tract of land I owned and then lived on, adjoining and south of town. They consented to [-----d] us in conference and we, accordingly, met in the woods, as we suggested. It was there agreed and unanimously, that it was [best], if it could be effected, that the Mormons should live in a county to themselves. Judge Cameron assured us he could find such a locality -- where Caldwell county was afterwards established and organized: -- said there were only a very few settlers there; he knew them all, and was [satisfied] they would be glad to sell and leave. The Mormons were delighted with the proposition, and Cameron was appointed to go with them, that they might examine the locality in person, and, if pleased, have his assistance in buying out settlers. They went, as agreed, -- Cameron with them -- and they bought out every man within the bounds described, except one Maguire, who was anxious for the Mormons to come and said he could live with them in peace. They had only to buy a few 40 acre tracts, and at a cost but little above government price.

We promptly made public the result of our conference in the woods; and at once all excitement subdued and all dispersed to their respective homes. The Mormons, having decided to occupy the territory selected, made no delay in quitting Clay county and removing there. But little time was required or necessary to enable them to make this agreed change of residence, as they had but very little to carry with them, being very poor; a fact I mention not as discredit or reproach, but as their misfortune. The following winter (183607) the area of territory they occupied was, by the Legislature, organized into the county of Caldwell, and the Mormons were in exclusive possession, except that Maguire still continued upon his farm. All went to Caldwell except Lyman Wright and some others, who settled on the Missouri river in the southeastern part of Carroll county, where they laid off a town they called DeWitt.

After this all was at peace with them, both in Caldwell and DeWitt; until, I think, it was in the summer of 1838, there was trouble and excitement at DeWitt, resulting in warlike demonstrations. About the same time there was some excitement near the line between Caldwell and Daviess counties. A force of hundreds, composed of citizens of Carroll and Chariton, were in arms near DeWitt, and Wright and his friends, under compulsion, abandoned the place and left the county. The armed party of citizens, who were under the command of Dr. Austin and James Clark, did not lay down arms, but marched out to Daviess county and near the line of that county with Caldwell, and with threats of prosecuting war against the Mormons. This was as public rumor states the facts; and I suppose they were so represented to the Governor, for he promptly issued an order to Gen. Atchison of Clay, to go out with an adequate force of the militia of Clay and oppose the movements of Austin and Clark and [disperse] and order them home. Gen. Atchison gave effective obedience to this order; he compelled the return of Austin and Clark with all under their command. No force was however, necessary, as Austin and Clark promptly decided that they would not resist Atchison's command. Ordered out by the Governor, Gen. Atchison returned home to Clay and all was again at peace with the Mormons until some time in the fall of that year, when at a general and public meeting at Far West, attended by many who were not Mormons, held to lay the corner stone and dedicate their temple, Sidney Regdon [sic] made an unwise and violent address, asserting property rights and claims subversive of law and the rights of others not Mormons, with threats of a character to produce alarm. This was the reported character of Regdon's address. I do not know it to be true. But this, I know, many gave credit to the report, and there soon followed much excitement near the southern and northern lines of Caldwell county, resulting in armed parties on both sides, and in bloodshed, with the trouble increasing and to an extent to threaten civil war. Representations were made to the Governor, to what purport, I do not know. He ordered out a large force of militia to be made up from Howard and all other counties, west along the course of the Missouri. The militia thus ordered out had in command three generals, ranking in the order I name them: Clark, Lucas and Doniphan. I do not know the instructions given by the Governor. After organization, they moved direct to Far West, and there without a fight, the Mormon leaders made surrender. The militia took as prisoners, of the leaders about forty, including the two Smiths, Joseph and Hiram, and these were the same parties delivered into the hands of the civil authorities. I do not now remember to have heard that a life was lost or a gun fired. Why they surrendered without a fight, I do not know, unless it was because of superior numbers against them. That they did intend resistence and fight, I am satisfied, from evidence given in the trial by Dr. Avery [sic], who was captain of the Danite band. He said that J. Smith had assured them they were in no danger from the militia; "that when the militia should reach Far West alegion of angels were to descend [direct] over the temple lot and sweep the mob with a [lesson] of destruction, that he firmly believed this, and to see the angels descend, stationed himself near the temple lot as the militia approached, and while looking up to see the heavens open and the angels appear, there came a runner to tell him that Joseph and the other leaders had surrendered," and he said "I at once lost all faith and am no longer a Mormon." This was told by Dr. Avery in a manner to impress upon the hearer its truth. Many other facts were given in evidence, to prove a purpose of resistance and fight.

Where, in this narrative of facts and events, is to be found ground or cause for abuse or charges against the people of Clay? When driven from Jackson the Mormons had their friendly and kind sympathy and protection. It was a gallant company from Clay, under Atchison, that guarded and protected them while giving their evidence to a Jackson county grand jury. It was citizens of Clay who interposed to provide them ample territory for a country to themselves, where they might have lived in peace; it was a military force from Clay that went to their relief and rescued them from a large force under Austin and Clark; and it was from Clay county officials, the vile slanderer of the Evening News to the contrary notwithstanding, that Smith and others in their county prison received the most kind and generous treatment.

I might tell of Porter Rockwell, acquitted by a Clay court and jury on a charge of shooting with intent to murder Gov. Boggs, who by his own statement and confession was afterwards known to be guilty. And I might tell of what transpired at a meeting in the Court House in Liberty on the day that Mormons bored holes in the ferry boat, intending to drown Col. L. C. Owens and a dozen others from Jackson, but I have said enough for those who are willing to see the truth -- to see the facts that prove, that whether wisely or unwisely, the people of Clay county in all their intercourse with the Mormons, manifested not only kindness and generosity, but a manhood affording substantial protection against their bitter and vindictive enemies, and for which this too generous people have received in return only abuse and the most false and wicked slander.

I had here closed this article and affixed my signature, but erased it to add that no malice or other ill feeling against the Mormons, and no quarrel with their religion prompts this article. I was never an attorney, against them in any of their suits or controversys in the courts, except in this one instance of giving my aid to the circuit attorney on their examining trial before Judge King, and went into that with but little faith that the prosecution could be made successful. Up to that time, whilst I knew that there were among them very weak and imprudent men, I regarded them as harmless, and in no respect dangerous to law and order; but developements made on that trial by the evidence, worked a change in my opinion, and candor compels me now to say, that I believe them to be dangerously unfriendly to our Government and to the law of the land; and if for the next quarter of a century they increased as rapidly as in the past quarter, they will cost the government and country untold amount[s] in money and blood.

                                    -- William T. Wood.


Note 1: The supposed remark by Judge King, in reference to the passage in Daniel, LDS treason, etc., was first voiced by Elder Parley P. Pratt in the old Mormon Tabernacle, at Salt Lake City, on April 7, 1856. See the Journal of Discourses, Vol. III, p. 307 for the text.

Note 2: The fantastic account of the guards serving human flesh as food to the LDS prisoners in Liberty jail was first told by Hyrum Smith and Lyman Wight in 1843. No such accounts were related in 1838-39, when the Mormon leaders' lawyers might have easily brought such charges in the local and national press, had they been judged worthy of public attention.

Note 3: For more on Col. William T. Wood's involvement in the 1836 dislocation of the Mormons from Clay county, Missouri, see various contemporary articles in the Liberty paper, The Far West, including the notice of a "Public Meeting," as reprinted from that source into the pages of the Aug., 1836 issue of the Kirtland Messenger and Advocate.