History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Volume 3Smith, Joseph, Jr.
History
History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Volume 3
Smith, Joseph, Jr.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844
On the sixth day of July last, I started with my family from
Kirtland, Ohio, for the state of Missouri, the county of Caldwell,
in the upper part of the state, being the place of my destination.
On the thirteenth day of October I crossed the Mississippi at
Louisiana, at which place I heard vague reports of the disturbances
in the upper country, but nothing that could be relied upon. I
continued my course westward till I crossed Grand river, at a place
called Compton's Ferry, at which place I heard, for the first
time, that if I proceeded any farther on my journey, I would be in
danger of being stopped by a body of armed men. I was not willing,
however, while treading my native soil, and breathing republican
air, to abandon my object, which was to locate myself and family in
a fine, healthy country, where we could enjoy the society of our
friends and connections. Consequently, I prosecuted my journey till
I came to Whitney's Mills, situated on Shoal creek, in the eastern
part of Caldwell county.
After crossing the creek and going about three miles, we met a
party of the mob, about forty in number, armed with rifles, and
mounted on horses, who informed us that we could go no farther
west, threatening us with instant death if we proceeded any
farther. I asked them the reason of this prohibition; to which
they replied, that we were "Mormons;" that everyone who adhered to
our religious faith, would have to leave the state in ten days, or
_renounce_ their religion. Accordingly they drove us back to the
mills above mentioned.
Here we tarried three days; and, on Friday, the twenty-sixth, we
re-crossed the creek, and following up its banks, we succeeded in
eluding the mob for the time being, and gained the residence of a
friend in Myer's settlement.
On Sunday, twenty-eighth October, we arrived about twelve o'clock,
at Haun's Mills, where we found a number of our friends collected
together, who were holding a council, and deliberating on the
best course for them to pursue, to defend themselves against the
mob, who were collecting in the neighborhood under the command
of Colonel Jennings of Livingston county, and threatening them
with house burning and killing. The decision of the council was,
that our friends there should place themselves in an attitude of
self defense. Accordingly about twenty-eight of our men armed
themselves, and were in constant readiness for an attack of any
small body of men that might come down upon them.
The same evening, for some reason best known to themselves, the mob
sent one of their number to enter into a treaty with our friends,
which was accepted, on the condition of mutual forbearance on both
sides, and that each party, as far as their influence extended,
should exert themselves to prevent any further hostilities upon
either party.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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