Taken from: The History of Clinton County, Missouri (St. Joseph, MO: National Historical Co., 1881), p. 246.
In 1836, the Bozarth brothers, Albert and John, from Kentucky, both members of the Mormon fraternity of Far West, in Caldwell County, a few miles east, located on Shoal Creek, four and a half miles south of Cameron, a water power grist mill, with one run of burrs.
Burr stones and housing like those used in Bozarths' Mill
On the expulsion of the Mormons, the mill ceased to be operated, and in the course of subsequent years, all traces of this pioneer enterprise were effaced, and the memory of whose existence is fast fading from the minds of their descendants or successors.
The Bozarths were among the largest private land owners in Caldwell County during the Far West Period. The mill mentioned above would have helped serve the needs of the Plum Creek Settlement west of Far West. In Squire Bozarth's redress petition, for example, he said, "I owned more than fifteen hundred acres of land in Caldwell County and the counties round about" (Clark, p. 422). Adding verification to the Clinton County History, Squire Bozarth also stated in his redress petition that his family resided three miles from Far West (Clark, p. 422).
Because the Bozarth Brothers had land in both Clinton and Caldwell Counties, there is mention of them in the 1886 History of Caldwell and Livingston County as well:
"Among the many others who came in with the Mormons were the Bozarths (sometimes pronounced Bozier), of whom Squire, John and Abner became well known citizens of the county. In June, 1837, John Bozarth settled upon and entered the e. 1/2 of the se. 1/4 of section 29, [Mirabile Township] and moved a house upon it from Far West. He had lived in Far West and near Fugitt's Mill. Abner Bozarth entered the w. 1/2 of the s. 1/2 of section 18 [Mirabile Township] in 1837."
The above quote indicated the Bozarths stayed in Missouri following the expulsion of the LDS Church during the winter 1838-39. Squire did record his redress petition in January 1840 in Illinois, but a year after the expulsion, John Bozarth was named as an "Inspector" in a newly formed school district in Clinton County (1977 History of Clinton County, Missouri, p. 326). His assimilation from Mormon society to the non-Mormon community was very rapid.
Additional information about the post Far West story of one of the Bozarths was provided in Joseph Smith III's Memoirs (p. 178b).
"Brother Bozarth was 'to the mannor born,' for his family had settled there in time of the old church, and in the bitter days of Missouri persecution had not been driven away, for the reason, as we understood, that they had owned and operated the only grist mills in quite a large area of that country. By honesty of purpose and uprightness in dealing, Brother Bozarth had demonstrated his good citizenshep, and had been permitted to remain. Later, when the 'good news' of the Reorganization found him, he joyfully united with us. His son William also took up cudgels in our defense and preached with good effect in the country round about, wherever opportunity offered an opening."
Ponca City, Oklahoma news as reported in the Saint's Herald, vol. 85 (10 December 1938): 1591:
A son was born October 7 to Mr. and Mrs. William T. Bozarth. He was named William Thomas, after his father and after his great-grandfather, a pioneer missionary in the church. On October 23 Elder John A. Bozarath, and wife, of Gorham, Kansas, arrived to honor their new grandson and for
a brief visit with the family.
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