Mormon Occupation of and Removal from DeWitt
As Sidney traveled from Kirtland, Ohio to Far West, by chance he met Henry Root at Turkey Creek, Carroll County, Missouri. Root offers Sidney "a liberal share" of the profits from the sale of land in DeWitt to Mormons. A few weeks later, Root and Thomas come to Far West and struck a deal. A few families moved to the new site in July, and by October seventy families had gathered, living in tents and wagons as they worked on erecting permanent houses.
Reed Peck recalled, "About the first of June part of the platte of the small town of Dewitt in Carroll County was bargained for and two families by direction of the Presidency moved to it intending to make it the fourth "Stake of Zion." ... The citizens of Carroll county soon after met and the expression of public feeling was that no Mormormons should be admitted into the county as citizens Resolutions were passed and published setting forth the impossibility of living in amity with a community of Mormons, and a committee appointed to inform the two Mormon families in Dewitt of these transactions and request their departure from the County This notice being disregarded in a subsequent meeting it was resolved by the citizens to employ force to effect what mild measures had not accomplished but they attempted nothing till a company of Mormons from Canada took up their abode in Dewitt when acting on the principles of republicanism as defined by S Rigdon they determined to eject them from the county and the Mormons were soon made sensible that decisive steps must be taken in order to sustain themselves in opposition to the forces daily collecting and the increasing prejudices of the community at large The express from Dewitt informed that the mob had burned one Mormon house and shot at several individuals, and were increasing their numbers constantly from other counties. The Mormons had possession of the town and had ranged their wagons for breastwork The presidency with a large company of volunteers hastened to Dewitt and were permitted to enter the town without opposition through." [History of Reed Peck].
Mobs also threatened Latter-day Saints living in DeWitt, Carroll County, until, on October 11, 1838, they were forced to leave their homes and farms. As the refugees traveled to the LDS stronghold at Far West, they were continually harassed and several died. After Governor Lilburn Boggs refused pleas to protect the DeWitt Saints.
Non-member Edward Lampkin wrote to Thomas Bradford, Carrollton, October 14, 1838 Arthur to Thomas Bradford, Carrollton, November 13, 1838
Church member Abraham Palmer described the event, "
Dear Brother and Sister. . . . The citizens of Carroll County had called meetings, and resolved to drive the Mormons from that county. Several of the citizens of Carroll went to assist the people [gathering against the church] of Davies, but after they were dispersed from Davies they commenced gathering against the Mormons in Dewitt. The number collected was about three hundred, and they also appointed Dr. Austin to be their commander. The Mormons, though weak in that place, prepared themselves for defence, and were commanded by Colonel Hinkle. When they got this news at Far West, they turned out about one hundred in number, and went to assist their brethren at Dewitt. Smith and Rigden went along. General Parks, of Ray County, with two companies of militia, went to the scene of difficulty, but had not force enough to disperse them. Some of the citizens near Dewitt sent a petition to the Governor, praying the dispersion of the mob, as I was informed; but the Mormons were informed that the Governor said they must take care of themselves. [John Corrill, A Brief History of the Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints,36].
About Oct 12, 1838, non-members left Dewitt for Daviess County. They took Amasa Lyman prisoner and rode him another [unclear word] 4 days.
The tax title on the N.W. qr 20-53-22 is owned by Wm M. Kirkpatrick he lives only 6 or 8 miles from here & I think I can redeem it in a few days from this time, though it is with much difficulty that any business can be attended to in our county on account of the confusion with the mormons, there are 2 or 300 mormons at Dewitt, they have the whole town to themselves, the town is about 15 miles east of here on the Mo. River & nearly all the men of our county have been called out against them, & have been stationed within about a mile of Dewitt for about 8 days, the militia have been called out to suppress the mob, but I believe they intend helping to kill them, they have taken a few shots & the report seems to be established that about 5 mormons have been killed, one of our men has been wounded by the mormons & another by our own men through mistake, the City of Carroll is ruined for some years to come agreeable to my judgment & that of many others. [Dialogue, 11, 4, 114].
I feel some anxiety to hear how my dear old mother is, but to judge from your last letter to me I have thought she was ere this time numbered among the dead I have had a hard time of it for three or four months, my own affliction, and that of my poor Elizabeths, with her loss, blended with the difficulties which we have had to encounter with those poor deluded creatures the Mormons has almost run me crazy. I have until recently been disposed to pity all (except the leaders) in them I never had any confidence. the mob which raised in this County some weeks since and drove those who had settled in a little place called Dewit--I did not at first approve of, but I finally believed they were right and I joined in with them. I am convinced history does not afford a deeper laid scheme of vallainy than that which has just developed itself in regard to the course persued by that sect-- their acts of villainy had become so notorious in the Counties bordering on Caldwell that the Governor of the State thought proper to call into service some three or four thousand of the militia of the State. [Dialogue, 11, No. 4, 114].
I will now tell you what I know of the transaction in a few words as I can. A mob of about two hundred drove about eighty families from Dewitt on the Missouri they fired upon or Brethren but killed none. This was in Oct. we called upon the governor for aid; but got none, thus we were left to be murdered by brutes in the form of men or defend ourselves we had been Smitten two yes three times and had borne it, we Said we will bear it no longer without resistance many of our Brethren were shot and throwed into the brush while at work, Their bodies left to be devoured and without doubt their bones lie bleaching in The Sun." [Abraham Palmer to W. Taylor, 26 June 1838, LDS Archives, MS 9464].
The first day the saints left Dewitt, they traveled 12 miles, and encamped in a grove of timber, near the road. That evening, a woman, who had, some short time before given birth to a child, in consequence of the exposure occasioned by the operations of the mob, and having to move her, before her strength would admit, died, and was buried in the grove, without a coffin. There were a considerable number sick, both grown persons and children, which was principally owing to their exposure, and to their having been obliged to live in their wagons and tents so long; and in being deprived of suitable food.
No sooner had they started than Sashel Woods, called the mob together, and made a speech to them, saying, that they must hasten to assist their friends in Daviess county. The land sales (he said) were coming on; and if they could get the Mormons driven out, they could get all the lands entitled to preemptions; and that they must hasten to Daviess, in order to accomplish their object -- that, if they would join, and drive them out, they could get all the lands back again, as well as all the pay they received for them. He assured the mob, that they had nothing to fear from the authorities in so doing; for they had now, full proof, that the authorities would not assist the Mormons, and that they might as well take their properly from them as not. His request was complied with, and accordingly the whole banditti started; taking with them, their cannon, for Daviess county. In the mean time, Cornelius Gilliam, was busily engaged in raising a mob, in Platt, and Clinton counties; to aid Woods in his effort, to drive peaceable citizens. from their homes, and take their properly. After the mob had left Corrill county, there was ordered out, a part of two brigades of militia, to check their movements. Generals Doniphan and Parks, were in command of them, as it was part of their brigades that were ordered out. The first knowledge that the people of Caldwell or Daviess, bad of the mob, coming against them, was the arrival of a body of troops under the command of Col. Dunn, of Clay county, in Far West. As the people of Caldwell, had no knowledge of any troops, designed to come into the place, their appearance caused some excitement. Both the military and civil officers, immediately met them, and enquired into the cause of their sudden appearance in the place without giving previous notice. Their commander gave for answer, that "they had been ordered out, by General Doniphan; to repair to Daviess county, to operate against a mob, which was on its march from Corrill county, to Daviess." [Times and Seasons, Vol.1, No. 7, 97-98].
Hinkle, George M. (1802-1861), merchant, born in Kentucky. Appointed to the Missouri high council in January 1836 to replace Orson Pratt. Moved to DeWitt, Carroll County, Missouri, June 1838, to help oversee the colonization attempt and control trade along the Grand River region on behalf of the Mormons. During the Missouri conflict in 1838, he commanded the Mormon militia defending Far West, Caldwell County. Under the guise of a truce, he surrendered Church leaders to opposing forces, which resulted in the imprisonment of Joseph Smith and others. Hinkle testified for the state against his former associates at the November 1838 hearing in Richmond, Ray County. He was excommunicated in 1839. In later years he practised medicine, kept a drug store, and farmed. He died in Iowa. [PJSv1] Murdock, John. Son of John Murdock and Eleanor Riggs. Born 15 July 1792 in Kortright, Delaware County, New York. Moved to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, about 1820. Joined with Sidney Rigdon in Campbellite movement about 1827. Married Julia Clapp 14 December 1823. Five children: Orrice, John Riggs, Phebe, Joseph, and Julia. Baptized by Parley P. Pratt 5 November 1830. Ordained elder November 1830. Preached numerous times in Western Reserve. Wife, Julia, died 30 April 1831. Appointed by revelation to travel to Jackson County, Missouri, with Hyrum Smith June 1831. Ordained high priest 6 June 1831. Returned to Ohio from Missouri June 1832. Appointed to preach in "eastern countries" August 1832. Preached in Kirtland area September 1832-April 1833. Attended School of Prophets 1833. Left for New York on mission with Zebedee Coltrin 3 April 1833. Returned to Kirtland 28 April 1834. Member of Zion’s Camp 1834. Appointed member of Clay County high council 7July 1834. Left for Ohio 24 September 1834. Arrived in Kirtland January 1835. Received patriarchal blessing 20 February 1835 from Joseph Smith, Sr. Left on mission to Delaware County, New York, 5 March 1835. Left Delaware County, New York, to preach in Vermont 10 November 1835. Married Amoranda Turner 4 February 1836 in New York. No children. Returned to Kirtland 24 February 1836. Left for Missouri 3 June 1836. Arrived in Ray County, Missouri, 14 July 1836. Assisted in settling Far West, Missouri, 1836. Member of Far West high council. Wife, Amoranda, died 16 August 1837. Married Electa Allen 3 May 1838. Three children: Gideon, Rachel, and Hyrum Smith. Appointed to settle DeWitt, Carroll County, Missouri, June 1838, to oversee the colonization attempt and to help control the Grand River region for Mormon trade. Expelled from Missouri February 1839. Settled near Lima, Illinois; resided until 1841. Moved to Nauvoo in spring of 1841. Ordained bishop of Nauvoo Ward 20 August 1842; served until 29 November 1844. Mission to East November 1844. Wife, Electa, died 16 October 1845. Married Sarah Zuflet 13 March 1846 in Fulton County, Illinois. Two children: George Weire (adopted) and Brigham Young. Left Illinois for West May 1846. Arrived in Salt Lake Valley 24 September 1847. Member of Salt Lake high council. Appointed bishop of Salt Lake Fourteenth Ward 14 February 1849. Left on mission to Australia 12 March 1851. Arrived in Sydney 30 October 1851. Left for Utah 4 June 1852. Arrived in Salt Lake City 23 January 1853. Ordained patriarch 9 April 1854 by Heber C. Kimball. Resided in Lehi, Utah, 1854-67. Moved to Beaver, Utah, 1867. Died 23 December 1871. [Cook]
Thomas, David (?-1845), landowner at DeWitt, Carroll County, Missouri, who along with Henry Root, solicited Latter-day Saints to settle there in 1838. [PJSv2] Root, Henry (1813-1895), banker; born at Clinton, Ontario, Canada. Moved to Missouri about 1837. Through his influence Mormons bought land at DeWitt, Carroll County, Missouri. Left DeWitt with them when they were driven out. Settled at Quincy, Adams County, Illinois. Married Sarah Ann Miller, 1844. Sutler with the American army during the Mexican war. Furnished horses to the government during the Civil War. Prominent banker in Quincy when he died. [PJSv2]
(Click on map for larger view).
DeWitt, Mormon Hill, Wakenda Chute [former channel of Missouri River]. Map of Dewitt, courtesy, Kieth Perkins, "DeWitt -- Prelude to Expulsion," Regional Studies in Latter-day Saint CHurch History: Missouri, (Provo, UT: Department of Church History and Doctrine, 1994)].