Rockford Township [now Mirabile Township], Caldwell County, Missouri
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RLDS (Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints - now known as the Community of Christ] missionaries began working in the Far West area in the early 1870s.
Mirabile, Missouri, April 8th, 1871.
Bro. Joseph:
I am happy to inform you of the good work that is being done in this part of God's moral vineyard. It has been about eight months since we first heard the gospel preached here, and I am happy to say that there has been much good done since that time. I went to hear the first elder that came here to preach, not expecting to believe a word he should say; but I went to hear him, and I did hear and believe. It was but a short time after that that (page 309) I and one of my brother Campbellites went to the water, and were baptized by a Latter Day Saint elder. Since then nine more have obeyed the gospel; and the result was the organization of a branch here, at Old Far West, in Cadwell county, Missouri; therefore it is called the "Far West Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." You may believe that I am proud of the name of our branch, and I thank God for what he has done for us, and to him I give all the praise, and pray that he may continue his good work with us. In all, we have twelve members in our branch, and a good prospect for more. I think there are two or three ready for the water now. May they put their trust in God, and look to him for aid; and that the time may soon come when all the honest in heart will come out from among men, and put their trust in God, and serve him who made the heavens and the earth, and all things therein, is my prayer.
Since I began to write this letter, we have had a meeting in our branch, and the Spirit of God was with us, and we had the gift of tongues. The branch thanks God that the signs do follow the believer; for I have seen and heard them myself.
Yours in Christ, M.M. Ballinger.
Saints' Herald, 18 (May 15th, 1871): 308-09.
Turney Station, Mo., March 22, 1871.
Br. Mark:
Would you like to know what the "Mormon preacher" has been doing? If so, then read carefully the following. Our district conference was held in the Starfield branch, Clinton Co., on the 25th, 26th, and 27th of February, 1871. We had a good time, and in our sacrament and testimony meeting, the Spirit was poured out upon the saints in power, and we had a time of rejoicing. In this meeting, the Lord promised his servants that if they would go forth and proclaim his word, that he would go before them to prepare the hearts of the people to receive them--this the "Mormon preacher" believed. So after conference closed, he made his way to Turney, where he preached on the evening of the 28th. He was assisted by Br. T.J. Franklin. On the 3rd of March he preached in a school-house four miles north of Turney, and this was by request of the people in that neighborhood. On the 9th he preached again in this place, and on the 10th took up the line of march for Kingstown, in Caldwell Co. It was raining when he started, which made it bad walking. He stopped for the evening at Br. Strope's, where there had been an appointment given for preaching; but there was but one that could face the storm and come out. This one said that "the preacher would be there;" but others said, "No, it rains too hard, he will not come."
Saturday, 11th, Br. Marcus let the Mormon have a horse, and he again took up the line of march, accompanied by Br. William T. Bozarth. He arrived in Kingstown at eleven o'clock. Soon after he was joined by Br. Frost. They found the trustees and got permission to preach in the school-house. Circuit court being in session, notice was given in the court-room, that there would be preaching that evening. Here prejudice was high, and to hear some talk, a person would think there was a tar-factory close by, as also plenty of surplus feathers; and as for eatables, eggs were freely mentioned also. But the "Mormon," said "If they had a surplus of things, and wished to make him a donation, just box them up carefully, and send them to Turney, and he would thank them very much. Evening came, and with it a respectable congregation also came to hear what the "Mormon" had to say, and by all appearances there were some "reporters" there too. All appeared to listen attentively; some thought the Mormon made Scripture to suit his own fancy; but on referring to their Testament, they found that the apostles had saved him that trouble. After the discourse was ended, permission was given for question; but all kept silent. Notice was given that there would be preaching at eleven o'clock on Sunday.
Sunday, twelth.-- Again we met at the school-house, for the purpose of hearing the Mormon, when the civil authorities requested him to preach in the court-house, as the school-house was too small for the congregation. This the Mormon accepted, with thanks. So we took a short walk to the court-house, which was prepared for us, and Br. Wm. T. Bozarth and the "Mormon" took the stand for the purpose of bearing testimony in the cause of truth before judge and jury, learned and unlearned, rich and poor, male and female; and there was a large congregation, with some four judges at their head. All paid good attention to the preaching; the presiding judge gave permission for evening meeting to be held in the court-house. The house was made comfortable for the evening by the warmth sent forth by two good heaters, was well lighted and well filled with attentive listeners.
The preacher spoke on the primitive church, or body of Christ, its members (page 343) and power, its growth and decay, the cause of the withdrawing of the Spirit; the division and sub-division of the body down to the present day; the restoration of the gospel, and through the preaching thereof, the establishing of the church body with the same Spirit or life-giving power of the primitive body, its workings, members, gifts and blessings. This took him some two and a half hours. This may seem a long time, but I assure you that the congregation sat as if they were in a trance, for God was with his servant, and he spoke as he was moved by the Holy Ghost. After he was done speaking, the judge requested him to explain to the congregation the difference between the Reorganized church and that under B. Young. This he did to the satisfaction of all. You may think it strange that the "Mormon" did not show this difference in the start, but recollect, the "Mormon" first attends to his Master's business, which is to preach the gospel, then if he has time, he clears up those things which may hurt his character. As for the fear of persecution because of these things, he cares nothing about it. When meeting closed, many came to the stand to shake hands with the "Mormon," and invite him to come and preach to them again; and instead of tar, feathers, and eggs, greenbacks were offered. One man said he had seen a miracle. And when asked what it was, he said he had seen one "preacher" refuse money.
Monday, thirteenth.-- Preached near Mirabile, in Mr. Front's house.
Fourteenth.-- In Mr. Ballinger's house. Fifteenth,--Baptized five in Goose Creek; held confirmation meeting at Mr. Ballinger's, and after confirmation, organized a branch of ten members. Ruel Frost, President; Marcus M. Ballinger, Priest; George Strope, Teacher; and M.M. Ballinger, Clerk, to be known as the "Far West Branch." This is coming pretty close home. In the evening he preached in the Plum Creek school-house.
Sixteenth.-- Baptized two more in Goose Creek. Confirmed at night.
Seventeenth.-- Went to Cameron, met with the saints of Cameron in prayer and testimony meeting, and had a good time.
Eighteenth.-- Baptized two, confirmed them in the afternoon. Preached in the Shutt's school-house, in the evening.
Nineteenth.-- Preached again at Shutt's, at eleven o'clock, also in the evening.
Twentieth.-- Obtained permission to preach in the school-house in the town of Cameron; in the evening preached to a large and attentive congregation; assisted by Br. A.J. Cato. After meeting, was requested to preach again the next night, promised to do so.
Twenty-first.-- Preached again. Good attention was paid by the congregation. This was the first preaching by a Latter Day Saint in this place; and as a consequence many came to see the "Mormon preacher," and to hear what he had to say about "polygamy."
We left the saints at Cameron in good condition; yes, good; willing to serve their Master to the best of their knowledge. We took train for Turney on the 22nd, where we arrived safely; but did not find that box of eggs we ordered to be sent here, though we found others just as good for our purpose, that is they satisfied not others' revenge, but our hunger.
But you will ask, Br. Lee, what have you been doing all this time while the "Mormon preacher" was laboring? Well, Br. Mark, I will tell you the truth. I have been clerking for the Mormon preacher and watching him; and it is about all I can do to keep track of him. Give my love to Br. Joseph, and the saints. May God bless you, and all those who labor in the cause of truth, is the prayer of
J. S. Lee. Saints' Herald, 18 (1 June 1871): 342
A New Town is Formed
"The site of the village, a town of Mirabile (the SE ¼ of the SW. ¼ of Sec. 34), (Mirabile) Township 56, Range 29, was entered by John Gregg, Nov. 9, 1836. Gregg was a Mormon, and left the State with his brethren for Nauvoo in the spring of 1839. History of Caldwell and Livingston Counties,1886. Friday, August 25.-- Rode by cars to Turney, where I met Dr. Jesse Longfield, who has taken him a wife, and settled down here to the practice of his profession Combatting prejudice, he is on the way to prosperity. A skillful physician, and an earnest man, may he never be less useful. Br. Franklin resides here, and keeps the "Franklin House." He is a devoted and fearless advocated of the truth; but very much bound by external circumstances. His wife's willingness and ability to defend the gospel made me think of a certain brother's views that we ought to ordain our competent sisters to be deaconesses. Br. Bevins, (page 682) Thomas, and others coming along shortly after my arrival, forming two loads of conference bound saints, I rode with them to Far West. We "put up" at Father Strope's, and I am pleased to say that it did me good to meet this old veteran and his faithful wife. I used to hear about people being "Latter Day Saints to the backbone;" if there are any of that stamp now, they certainly deserve to be enrolled in their number. They went to Far West shortly before the saints were driven from there, and in consequence of the shortness of their residence, the mob allowed them to remain. He is now seventy-eight and his wife is seventy-six years of age; but both active, earnest and true. Sister Strope will do more work now, both for her home and the cause, than almost any one of two-thirds of our young women who have distorted their figures, and damaged their health at the bidding of that deceitful of goddess, Dame Fashion. They are proud of the spot of ground in their garden where once stood a meeting-house in which the Prophet Joseph and other early Latter Day Saints preached the word of life.
In the 1870s, RLDS missionaries were successful converting many old time Saints who stayed in Northern Missouri resulting in a number of RLDS Branches being established throughout Caldwell County.
as Mormons were being expelled from Caldwell County and the State of Missouri, during the winter of 1838-1839, non-Mormons were attracted by the opportunities their departure afforded. At the time of the Mormon exodus, William E. Marquam (pronounced Marcam), visited the locality from Indiana, and purchased Gregg's land. History of Caldwell and Livingston Counties,1886.
New citizens, like Marquam, took over vacant Mormon farms and improvements. Buildings in Far West were dismantled and moved to new emerging farmsteads. Some buildings were transported to what later became the Kingston area. But, a number of Far West structures were hauled a few miles south to the former Rich Branch area. A new community began to develop there on the S.E. 1/4 of the SW. 1/4 of Section 34, Township 55 N., Range 29 W. Here, William Marquand [Marquam] obtained a log building at Far West in 1848 or 1849 [1838-39?] and removed it to his land. He procured a stock of goods and began keeping store. At first, the locality was called "Marquam's Store," but after some years, a second store was opened by Joseph Hoard. Marquam's success encouraged him to lay out and plat a town or a village. He named the new community Mirabile, from a Latin word signifying wonderful. About this same time, Marquam established a blacksmith shop in the southeastern part of the town and then an ox-mill, to grind both corn and wheat that was then bolted into good flour. Some years afterward he started a successful carding mill. Isaac Stout came to the area and built the brick hotel, or tavern. There was also a fine community church.
During the Civil War, Mirabile served as the headquarters of the Union troops in this section of the country.
(--Caldwell Co., 318, 319; Campbell, 91.)
As RLDS missionaries returned to the Far West area in the 1870s looking for old time Saints, Mark Forscutt visited the area:
At night, I had the pleasure of meeting old friends, Brs. Blodgett, Craven and others, besides Br. Summerfield and a host of new ones, and of attending council.
Saturday 26.--Attended conference, part of the time in a school-house, and part in the woods. With the exception of two or three who seemed to have fallen into an error very common among the brethren, those who took part in the deliberations did so kindly, firmly, and with a business-like air. . . .
Sunday, 27th.--I had the privilege of preaching in the morning on Spiritual Manifestations, and in the afternoon on the Future State, this subject covering a funeral discourse on the death of a son of Br. Ballinger. The meetings were held in a grove, and very largely attended. Some of the wealthiest, and some of the poorest in the vicinity were present, and thanks be to God, good seemed to be accomplished. One desired baptism. At night, a lengthy fellowship meeting was held, and several were administered to.
Monday, August 28th.-- Accompanied Brs. Bishop and Aspey of St. Joseph to the house of Br. John Whitmer, one of the eight witnesses to the Book of Mormon. Br. Whitmer was absent at court; but his family, some of whom were out to meeting the day previous, treated us very kindly. The site of the temple is in view of the house, and the stone that was placed there to mark the spot is still preserved. Two only of the house of the former flourishing city of Far West remain, one used still as a residence, the others have mostly been removed to Mirabile. Sister Whitmer pointed out the spot of the (page 683) Prophet's former residence. She spoke in kind terms of Sister Emma, and of other saints of other times now with us. We drove to Cameron, and staid at Br. Cazier's, another old-time saint in the Reorganized Church. The country through which we passed is exceedingly fine, and land can be bought at from ten to twenty-five dollars per acre. Cameron is a new and thriving place, well located, and ornamented with some very handsome buildings. Four railroads centre here--the South Western and Chicago; the Kansas City and Cameron; the St. Joseph and Hannibal; and the north-west branch of the Tebo and Neosho. The country is rolling; land and water good; but timber a little scarce, though not high. Cameron will likely become a large place. . . . M. H. Forscutt
Saints' Herald, 18 (15 November 1871): 681-82.
Mirable, Caldwell Co., Mo., February 22, 1872.
Br. Mark:
I am now living in Caldwell county, near the town of Mirable, and about two miles from Far West.
Shortly after your visit to Independence, I was taken sick. Not long after this, my family, one by one, were taken down, until we were all sick; they with the ague, I with inflammatory rheumatism. After lying two and a half days so low that I could not rise without fainting, I told my wife that this would not do for me, I must work, or we would starve. Through the blessing of God, I was enabled the day following, to go to town for provisions. Two days after this, my wife was taken down with the same disease, and for three weeks, she was not able to raise her head from the pillow. I had then six sick persons to attend to, and one of those a child that had to be weaned because of the sickness of its mother, not one dollar in money to buy nourishment for them; and not a living soul to assist me, but the Master; and it seemed like he had forgotten me in this my hour of trial. I did not feel to complain, nor communicate my condition to the saints. After remaining in this condition about a month, I began to struggle with the Lord for assistance, which assistance he caused to be sent to me from the Far West branch. They sent me a load of provisions, and an invitation to come and live with them, and they would maintain my family, and let me travel and preach constantly, as the Spirit might direct me. This offer I accepted, as being from the hands of the Lord. Two weeks after, they sent two teams and moved us up to Caldwell. One of the brethren gave me land to build on, and for a garden; also the privilege of timber for building purposes. The brethren turned in and put me up a house, small but comfortable. I am happy in the possession of this my first home in Missouri, and for this cause, I believe it to be a gift from the Lord.
I arrived in Caldwell county on the 9th day of December last; since that time, I have preached twenty-one times. I have been assisted in my labors by Bros. Paul Frost, Wm. T. Bozarth, of Far West, and A.N. Caudle, of Illinois. These brethren are active, and full of love for the truth. My labors, as yet, have been confined to Caldwell county. We have great prospects of a good harvest, and we expect to begin to gather sheaves soon.
Your brother, J.S. LEE.
Saints' Herald, 19 (15 April 1872): 248.
Mirabile, Caldwell Co., Mo., May 6th, 1872.
Br. Joseph.
Since our last conference, Br. W.L. Bozarth and myself have labored in the cause of truth. We have held meetings for preaching the word. We have very little opposition now, it seems as though prejudice has given way to that better spirit, which influences men to investigate, before passing their opinion. How long this calm will last I do not pretend to say.
There were three baptized last Sunday (page 409) Br. W.T. Bozarth, others are expected to follow soon. We calculate to labor all that we can, while we have peace, for there appears now a willingness among the people to investigate the doctrine which we teach, and calls are more than we can fill.
Our labors have mostly been in Caldwell County, and if the desire to hear preaching increases as much in the next year as it has the last five months, there will be little opportunity for us to leave the county.
You must not suppose that I have given up the work in Jackson County, for as soon as the Lord will permit me, I will visit there again.
May the Lord prosper the labors of his servants, is the prayer of Your Brother in Christ.
Joseph S. Lee.
Saints' Herald, 19 (1 July 1872): 408-09.
Rich Branch