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Philo Dibble recalled, "a conference was held in Liberty, Clay County at which I was ordained a Teacher under the hands of David Whitmer."
Part of Zion's Camp went back to Kirtland, and also Brother Joseph... We then commenced settling Caldwell County, to which I removed, built a house, entered seven hundred and twenty acres of land and bought a lot in town. I also entered land for many of the brethren, and for this purpose had to go the distance of eighty miles, where the land office was located.
On my return home, when I got to Liberty, midway between Lexington and Far West, I concluded I would travel from there home by night, as it was very warm during the day. The road led through a strip of timber for four miles, and after that across a prairie for twenty miles. [Philo Dibble, 1806-1895. Autobiography (1806-c. 1843) Early Scenes in Church History, FOUR FAITH PROMOTING CLASSICS (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1968), pp. 74-96].
While living in the Far West area, "Philo Dibble requested a hearing in a certain case wherein he had been disfellowshiped before a council of Elders; Charles Hewlet being complainant—dismissed from the council by recommending to the parties to choose two brethren to assist in settling the difficulty. Without troubling the Council." [FW Record, 127, at the High Council meeting held Dec. 6, 1837].
Dibble also explains how problems in Kirtland effected the Missouri church. "... in consequence of the mobs and apostates the Church organization in Kirtland was broken up. Some of the apostates left Kirtland and came up to Far West. They called meetings and told the people that Joseph was a fallen prophet, and they were determined to put David Whitmer in his place. Some of the brethren, including the president of the branch I lived in, fell in with the views of the apostates. I being a Teacher in the branch, took up a labor with them, first going to our president and taking with me a Deacon. Our president said if he had got to become an enemy to David to be a friend to Joseph, he could not be a friend to Joseph. He then called the branch together in order to put me out of office as a Teacher, but the branch sustained me. He afterwards cited me to appear for trial before Bishop Partridge, who gave me two weeks to make satisfaction and I appealed my case to the High Council, who decided there was no cause of action."
 Philo Dibble in Later Years
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Joseph and family soon arrived at Far West. Soon after, a regiment was organized by W. [William] W. Phelps, Geo. [George] M. Hinkle, Lyman Wight and Reed Peck, they having received their commissions from the governor. An election of officers was called and George W. Robinson was elected colonel, I lieutenant colonel and Seymour Brunson major.
While celebrating the 4th of July at Far West, there came up a thunder shower, and the lightning struck our liberty pole and shivered it to pieces. Joseph walked around on the splinters and said: "As that pole was splintered, so shall the nations of the earth be!"   Far West Liberty Pole
When the trouble with the mob commenced, Colonel Robinson took about one-half of the force to Adam-ondi-Ahman to defend that place. Joseph, Hyrum and Sidney also went with them, leaving me in command at Far West. The detachment returned in about four days.
A few days afterwards Joseph Smith and I took a walk out upon the prairie, and in the course of our conversation I suggested to him to send for General [David R.] Atchison to defend him in the suit then brought against him, as he was in command of the third division of the militia of the State of Missouri, and was a lawyer and a friend to law. Joseph made no reply, but turned back immediately to Far West, and a man was selected, with the best horse to be found, to go to Liberty for General Atchison.
The next day General Atchison came to Far West with a hundred men and camped a little north of the town. On consulting with Joseph Smith, Atchison told him that he did not want anyone to go with them to his trial, which was to take place midway between Far West and Adam-ondi-Ahman. Joseph at first hesitated about agreeing to this, but Atchison reassured him by saying: "My life for yours!"
When they arrived at the place of trial quite a number of the mob had gathered, and on seeing Joseph commenced to curse and swear. Atchison, however, checked them by saying: "Hold on boys, if you fire the first gun there will not be one of you left!"  Trial at Littlefield's Half Way House
Joseph was cleared and came away unmolested. Soon afterwards the governor, thinking Atchison was too friendly towards the Saints, took his command from him and placed General [John B.] Clark in command of the militia.
Shortly before Far West was besieged, I was taken sick, and Colonel [George M.] Hinkle came into military command under his old commission. I gave up my horse, saddle and bridle, and also my rifle and sword for Brother Lysander Gee to use in defense of our city. When General Clark's army came up against Far West, Colonel Hinkle betrayed the First Presidency of the Church into their hands for seven hundred and fifty dollars. Then Joseph and Hyrum [Smith], Sidney [Rigdon], and Lyman Wight were taken by the mob, who held a court-martial over them and sentenced them to be shot the next morning at eight o'clock on the public square. Lyman Wight told them to "shoot and be damned." Generals Atchison and [Alexander W.] Doniphan immediately rebelled against the decision, and Doniphan said, if men were to be murdered in cold blood, he would withdraw his troops, which he did. General Atchison then went to Liberty and gave a public dinner, and delivered a speech, in which he said, "If the governor does not restore my commission to me, I will kill him, so help me God!" On hearing this the audience became so enthusiastic that they took him upon their shoulders and carried him around the public square.
After the surrender of Far West, the mob sent officers to get me, but finding that I was sick they went back and so reported. They came the second time and went back and reported the same. The third time they came they swore they would have me if they had to take me on a bed. I lived one-and-a-half miles west of the town, and told my folks if they could dress me and help me on my horse I would undertake to leave for Quincy. A young man named Joel Miles was to go with me to help me off and on my horse. Leaving Far West on my left, I arrived at Quincy [Illinois] unmolested...
Before I left Far West, I made arrangements with a man to bring my family through to Quincy, for which I paid him sixty dollars in gold on their arrival... On my arrival in Quincy [Illinois], knowing that our people would soon be flocking there in great numbers to cross the river, I rented the ferry at nine dollars per day for thirty days. I ran the boat about ten days and ferried the Saints across on their own terms, and still made money at it. Some of the brethren, however, on arriving, assumed the right to dictate me, and wanted that I should give up the ferry into their hands. The man who owned it said if I would give it up he would release me from paying that day's rent which I agreed to do, supposing it would go into the hands of the brethren. But when I gave up the papers to him, he informed the brethren that they must pay him full fare or else make boats and ferry themselves at half price. This caused a great deal of extra and unnecessary expense to our people.
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I will here digress from my narrative, and state that while I was at Far West the battle of Crooked River occurred, in which David W. Patten was killed, also the massacre at Haun's Mill. Brother Joseph had sent word by [Jacob] Haun, who owned the mill, to inform the brethren who were living there to leave and come to Far West, but Mr. Haun did not deliver the message. I should also have mentioned that while at Far West an election was held to elect an assessor. Isaac Higbee, myself and a Missourian were the candidates. The brethren held a caucus meeting and advised one of us to withdraw our name lest the Missourian might gain the election, and proposed that Higbee and I cast lots for it. Two tickets were put into a hat for us to draw from. There was a large crowd gathered around and Joseph Smith among them. He said, "I am going to prophesy that Philo will get it." Sure enough I drew it.
[Philo Dibble, 1806-1895 autobiography, Early Scenes in Church History,
FOUR FAITH PROMOTING CLASSICS
(Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1968), pp. 74-96; http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/PDibble.html].
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Notes on Land Holdings
Dibble states in his redress petition (Johnson p. 187) he “entered nine Eightees of land and built two houses.” This would be a total of 720 acres of land. The original land entries for Caldwell Co. show a total of 520 acres in Dibble's name. The 720 acre figure matches what he later wrote in his autobiography (see above). Philo also owned 160 acres of land in Colfax, the only non-pre-emption situated township, in Daviess County that was entered at the land office in Lexington. The combined total of Daviess and Caldwell County property owned according to land entries would be 680 leaving 40 acres of his claimed total currently unaccounted for.
Philo's first purchases in Caldwell County were for 120 acres of land a mile and a half west of Far West. Several weeks later, he adds 160 acres near the Caldwell/Daviess County line northwest of Far West and about three miles from his Colfax township properties. It isn't clear when the Dibble's purchased their Daviess County property in Colfax township, but we do know they sold it in August of 1837. The next month, Dibble added 240 more acres to his holdings. 80 acres of which were located by the 160 he already had on the county line. The other 160 were in an area not associated with any known LDS settlements (southeast of the current town of Kidder). He mentions having built two houses in this period. [Dibble's residence was one and a half miles west of town, so his city lot was probably empty, see: “Philo Dibble's Narrative,” Early Scenes in Church History (SLC, UT: Juvenile Instructor's Office, Faith Promoting Series, Book 8, 1882), 89].
So where was the second house? In the Marrowbone settlement in Daviess County?
--Mike Riggs
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After fleeding from Missouri, Dibble lost some of his land holdings as a result of a law suit and Sheriff's Sale.
This Indenture made and entered into by and between John Skidmore, Sheriff of Caldwell County and State of Missouri of the first part Hiram Rich of the County of Clay and State afore- of the second part Witnesseth that whereas on the twentieth day of November eighteen hundred and thirty nine there issued from the Clerks Office of the Caldwell Circuit an Execution in the following words to wit State of Missouri Co of Caldwell (Sct). The State of Missouri to the Sheriff of Caldwell County greeting whereas Hiram Rich on the Twelfth day of Nov. eighteen hundred and thirty nine at our Circuit Court hath recovered Judgement by default against Philo Dibble on a mortgage for the sum of eighty eight dollars- sixty five cents debt two dollars-ninety five cents interest and also his costs and which to the said Hiram Rich were adjudged for his debt interest and costs. These command you that the real estate as mentioned in the order to wit the interest of the defendant in and to the North East qr of S.E. qr of Sct eight Township fifty six Range twenty nine containing forty acres also Lot No eight Block No nineteen in the town of Far West containing 69 rods of ground more or less. You cause to be made the debt interest and costs and that you have the money before the Court at the return of the writ. Witness John Clemenson Clerk. And on the tenth day of February eighteen hundred & forty the following notice with five others were stuck up in the most public places as the law requires and twenty days before the day of sale which said notice is in the following words to wit: Sheriff Sale. By virtue of an Execution issued out of the Clerks Office of the Caldwell Circuit in favor of Hiram Rich and against Philo Dibble I will offer for ready money at the Court house door in the Town of Far West between the hours of 9 of the clock A.M. and 5 of the clock P.M. of said day while the Circuit Court is in session all the right title interest and claim of the said Philo Dibble aforesaid to the following described land to wit: the NE qr of the SE qr Sct eight, Township fifty six Range twenty nine Lot No eight on Block No nineteen in the town of Far West to satisfy said Execution. Given under my hand this tenth day of Feb eighteen hundred and forty. John Skidmore, Sheriff of Caldwell County. And the aforesaid land were accordingly while the Circuit Court of Caldwell County was in session and at the Court house door put up at public sale and thereupon Hiram Rich became the highest and best bidder for the sum of thirty two dollars and said land were struck off to him accordingly. Now therefore by virtue of the authority in me vested I do hereby convey and transfer unto the said Hiram Rich his heirs and assigns all the right title claim & interest of the said Philo Dibble had in and to the above described land. To have and to hold unto the said Hiram Rich his heirs and assigns forever. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the twentieth day of April eighteen hundred and forty. John Skidmore {Seal} Sheriff of Caldwell County. . . . Filed for re-record Oct 7th 1863, Lemuel Dunn, Clerk & Recorder.
[Claim of Philo Dibble, Caldwell County Deed Record Book, C 207, Lot No 8, Block No 19, town of Far West, Missouri].
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