By 1836, residents of Clay County began to grow weary of the increasing numbers of church members gathering to their county. Edward Stevenson explains, Joseph Smith taught that the churches should continue gathering to Missouri, "and situate themselves to be in readiness to move into Jackson in two years from 11 Sep next [1834] which is the appointed time for the redemption of Zion." [Edward Stevenson, autobiography, cited in Backman, "Writings of Early Latter-day Saints. . . A Database Collection."]
As 11 September 1836 approached, it became obvious that the political/cultural problems that has prompted the disciples expulsion from Jackson County, Missouri in 1833, had not been solved. The State Legislature began to consider the possibility of creating a separate county for the Mormons providing a sort of asylum. As this political solution began to look more and more probable, the individual church members began to plan for another exodus, this time from Clay County.
Morris Phelps
Morris Phelps was a member of a committee church members sent to upper Ray County [became Caldwell County] to select situations for the families of the Fishing River Branch.
"For the Branch located on the east branch of Fishing River, Clay Co., John Clayton, Wheeler Baldwin and myself were chosen as a committee to explore this new country that was a loted to the Mormons to settle on. By request of our brethren we started the last of July we found a beautiful rich and fertile country though mostly prairie it lay high and was beautifully situated for farming, also with groves of timber beautifully shading the small streams and many springs of water that gently made their way into North Grand River Equally dividing the prairie leaving them sufficiently large to permit farms on each side of the timber.
We made our location on long creek and bought out three of the Missourians the only settlers in that grove of timber... Mormons commenced building, fencing and plowing the uncultivated rich soil. The winter following the Legislature set off this territory into different counties, Viz Livingston Davis and Caldwell... emigration rapidly increased... all the land fit for cultivation was purchased. Large farms was in clutivation the first summer. Some had grain to share. A city was laid off on a high commanding eminence on the prairie which could be seen for several miles disant. They commenced building in the fall of 1836. And in the August 1837 there was seven stores in the city and about one hundered and twenty dwelling houses, and thickly settled around and the prairies were beautiful with eligant farms everything apeared to flourish Peace and plenty tranquility appeared to flow from he houses of every citizen of the county."
[Morris Phelps, MSd 271, LDS Family and Church Historical Department, Archives].
In addition, Missouri church leaders began to plan for the relocation of the body.
W. W. Phelps' remembrance of this time period places him in a decision making role. "There were four men appointed in a private meeting in the Temple at Kirtland as "wise men" to purchase all the land in Jackson County and in the regions round a bout for money &c I was ordained president of this new quorum, with Edward Partridge, John Whitmer and John Corril for my assistant wise men. We did the best we could, and I have the documents to claim some thousands of acres of this purchase from Uncle Sam... I was... A printer and president in Jackson: a sojourner? and solicitor in Clay, and a "wise man" and wonderful judge in Cadwell. [sic]" [W.W. Phelps, A Short History of W.W. Phelps' Stay in Missouri, Salt Lake City, April 21, 1864, LDS Family and Church Historical Department, Archives, MS 6019/7.]
Reed Peck provided an alternative view of the process of land acquisition, "While the Society were making arrangements to remove from Clay county, Joseph Smith H. Smith and O. Cowdery borrowed some thousands of dollars of the church in Ohio giving the lenders orders on their agents in Missouri for land in payment, a part of which money was sent to Caldwell County and invested in land which was immediately sold at a small advance per acre to those holding the orders spoken of, but it was soon made apparent that the money sent to Missouri fell far short of the amount of Orders prescribed consequently many persons arriving in Caldwell county destitute of means were unable to purchase the homes they anticipated finding having as they supposed sent their money in advance to secure them one." [Reed Peck Manuscript, 14-15].
Edward Partridge wrote, "After my arrival at home [after my journey from Ohio] I spent a few days in attending to my own affairs; then in company with Bro. W. W. Phelps, I took a tour in looking at the country north. We found a mill site on Shoal Creek about 35 miles N.E. of Liberty that suited us very well. We went out again in company with Brother Morley and Corrill, looked out some corners and Brother Corrill went and entered seven 80-acre lots. Brothers Phelps and Corrill soon after looked out and entered thirteen more. In the meantime I visited the church, and brethren, that were coming in, or had just arrived." Scott H. Partridge, The Life of Edward Partridge, n.d., 196;
Friday the 6th passed Cambden about 7 A.M., arrived at Clay Co. Liberty landing about 3 P.M. Arrived at my family about 5 P.M. and found them well. I think I felt as thankful as ever I did in being permitted to again rejoin with my family.
After my arrival at home I spent a few days in attending to my own affairs; then, in company with Bro. W.W. Phelps, I took a tour in looking at the country north. We found a mill seat on Shoal Creek about 35 miles N.E. of Liberty that suited us very well.
We went out again in Co. with Bro. Morley and Corrill, looked out some corners, and Bro. Corrill went and entered 7 - 80 acre lots. Bro. Phelps and Corrill soon after looked out and entered 13 more.
In the meantime I visited the church, and brethren that were coming in or had just arrived. We now made preparations to begin a settlement upon the new purchase; about this time a mob began to appear, and our suits were coming on, at Richmond on the 6th of July, which both together made us delay moving to the North.
On the 29th of June the people of Liberty held a meeting, and stepped, as they say, between the mob and us, they drew up a preamble and resolutions amounting to this: that we had taken refuge with them in our distress when driven from Jackson Co, that they treated us kindly at that time. That of late some had become hostile to us in consequence of the emigration to this Co., and the many stories that were afloat about us as a people, none of which did they pretend were true, but from the great excitement that prevailed, to escape a civil war, they proposed to us to stop the emigration to the Co. Immediately to have the late emigrants leave soon, those who had crops, and owned not 40 acres of land, to gather their crops and make preparations to leave as soon as consistent, and those who possessed 40 acres or more should be permitted to stay till they could dispose of their lands to good advantage if it should take years.
On the 30th, Brothers Morley, Corrill, Marsh, E. Higby {higbee], myself and a few others, met the committee appointed at the Liberty meeting.
We gave them to understand that we wanted peace and were willing to make sacrifices to keep it, if it were necessary.
July 1st – We, the elders of the church, a goodly number met and made out a preamble and resolutions amounting to this: that we would endeavor to comply with what they had said was the only this to save the Co from a civil war, that is we would leave the Co. agreeably to their advise.
Our proceedings were the next day laid before the adjourned meeting at liberty and appeared to be received with satisfaction.
The mob gradually died away and we had a measure of peace again. On the 8th the militia of Clay Co. were called to Liberty for the purpose of raising 200 men, either volunteers, or by draft, to reconnoiter along the wester line of the [county]...
[The Journal of Edward Partridge, LDS Church Historical Department Archives, MS 536 Box 5, folder 8, 30, 48-49.]
Mormons were also asked to leave Ray County.
On Saturday, 30 July 1836, the following report was written by some for the brethren in Richmond, Ray County, Missouri:
"Report of the Committee on the part of the "Mormons" to the Committee on the part of Ray county.
1st. It is the desire of the "Mormons" to hold and enjoy equal rights with the citizens in purchasing land, etc, but
2nd. If Ray county requires the "Mormons "to leave it entirely, we feel disposed to do so, on our part, and urge and advise our brethren to do the same, and in that case, we desire Ray county to grant a reasonable time to accomplish it in, so that those who have property in the county may dispose of it without sacrifice; and if the county requires it, we will also use our endeavors to stop Mormon immigration into the country.
3rd In consequence of the excitement and feelings of the people of Clay county, the "Mormons" have come to the conclusion (and it is now their intention) to settle the territory north of Ray county, and we desire the consent of the people to let them do so.
4th. In the event of petitioning for a county on Shoal creek (which we will do so soon as is practicable) we are willing that the settlement on Crooked River, say six or eight miles north of the Ray line, should be attached to Ray county, if they desire it, and that we will abstain from making any settlements in the above stated territory of Crooked river until the matter is decided, Richmond, July 30, 1836, John Corrrill, John Murdock, Committee, Journal of History July 30, 1836
Alexander Doniphan wrote to W. W. Phelps, at Shoal Creek, Caldwell County, Missouri, 8 January 1837, detailing legislative efforts to establish Caldwell County for a gathering place for the Mormons: I was forced to report a bill making two counties north of Ray, instead of one. This I did, making our county commence at the ray line and run 24 miles north and the other county to run 24 miles further north.… I made a compromise by which I left that 6 miles just as it had heretofore been attached to Ray for civil and military purposed only. This was better by far than adding it to Ray…. I know the present limits of your county are contracted and I regret it much… In time I hope you may add its limits, when prejudices have subsided and reason and common sense have again assumed the helm."
[Manuscript History of Missouri, Andrew Jenson, MS 4029, Reel 5, LDS Family and Church Historical Department, Archives]
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