Notes on Where David Patten Died

1. Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, page 155, just mentions that Patten and the other wounded were taken into “a house,” and doesn't say who owned it. Incorrectly says that it was Patten and “Obanyon” who were buried together “under military honors.” In The Late Persecution, page 19, P.P. Pratt says that following the battle, having secured the wounded, “…we moved slowly towards Far West. When we came within five miles of the city, our express had reached there with the news of the battle, and we were met by a surgeon [Avard] and others for our relief, and among others the wife of the pale and dying Patten. Our wounded were now taken into a house, and their wounds dressed…” see also for P.P. Pratt account, Times and Seasons, June 1840, vol. 1, page 114.

2. LeSueur, page 142 says it was at Winchester's house footnoting Heber C. Kimball. The earliest published Kimball account seems to be Times and Seasons, June 15, 1841 vol. 2, pages 443-444.

3. Correspondence and Orders, testimony of Maurice Phelps on page 110 said that “On our return from the battle-ground, near Log Creek timber, in Caldwell county, we met Joseph Smith, Jr., Lyman Wight and others, who went to the wounded and pronounced blessings on them…”

4. Correspondence and Orders, testimony of Wyatt Cravens (a member of Bogart's militia company at the battle of Crooked River) stated that he was taken prisoner by the Mormons. He then added, “I saw Joseph Smith, Jr., come up to the Mormons [the wounded] at a house in Log Creek timber, a few miles from the battle-ground. The wounded were taken out of the wagon there, and we started on towards Far West. J. Smith jr., passed on by me to the head of the company, where Pratt and Wight were riding. After getting into the prairie, Wight halted the company. He, Pratt, and four others, rode off a piece, and conferred together, and then returned to the company…” goes on to tell of being set up to be shot after being told he could leave.

5. Correspondence and Orders testimony of Sampon Avard, “In reference to Bogart's battle, I know but little, personally as to the start of the troops to fight Bogart. I was called upon to go along with the company (which was commanded by Patten) as surgeon. This was about midnight; but as I thought a little sleep would do me more good than fighting, I remained at home. In the morning of the fight, about 6 o'clock, I was called upon by a Mr. Emmett, who informed me that Captain Fearnaught was wounded mortally. I went to Patten, about three miles from the battle-ground, where I found Joseph Smith, jr., present, laying hands on the wounds, and blessing them to heal them.” Note that on page 214 of the Life of Heber C. Kimball, he is quoted as saying after he left Patten's death bed, “I took Dr. Avard with me to Far West, a distance of three miles, to Elder Rigdon's house, where we found Brother Patrick O'Banyon…”

6. Correspondence and Orders, testimony of Thorit Parsons (for the defendants) “I was living in Caldwell county at the time of the battle with Captain Bogart, on the head of the east fork of Log creek [SE ¼ of SW ¼ Section 24 TS 55 R 29 Rockford TS, Caldwell Co. entered Mar. 27, 1837], about five or six miles from the battleground.”

7. From Women's Voices, pages 90-95 excerpts of account by Drusilla Hendricks: “…Bro. C C. Rich called at the door for him [James Hendricks] and told him what he wanted. They had word that the mob was on Crooked River ten miles south of us and was a strong band. He said they had two of our brethren as prisoners and were doing all the damage that lay in their power.”

“Finally I saw Brother Emit [Emmet] coming through the timber. I watched and saw that he did not stop at home but he hollered something about Bro. Hendricks. I could not tell what it was, but he was on express to Far West.” “The [Emmet] children soon came over and told me that their father said that Brother Hendricks was shot.” “…I saw a Mr. Snider (he did not belong to the Church, but a good man) get off his horse at the gate…He came to the door and said, Mr. Hendricks wishes you to come to him. I asked where. He said to the Widow Medcalf's and that had come for me…I mounted the horse behind Mr. Snider. We had four miles to ride, and on reaching there we met nine of the brethren that were wounded and they were pale as death. They were just going to get into the wagon to be taken to their homes. I went into the house. Sister [Ann] Patten had just reached the bed where her husband [David Patten] lay…My husband lay within three feet of Brother Patten,…” “There were three beds in the room where my husband lay- he in one, Brother David Patten in one, and Brother Hodge was the one shot in the hip. Brother Obanyon [Patrick O'Banion] was on the floor begging for a bed, and some of the sisters ran and got him one.” “We stayed here until amost night when one of our neighbors, Brother [Stephen?] Winchester and wife came with a wagon and bed in it and took us to Far West. The brethren told me if I took him home the mob would kill him before my eyes.” “We were compelled to stay at Far West until after the surrender, when we went home. The mob had robbed the house of bedding and, in fact, everything but my beds.”
Brother Laney helped them leave the state.
Note: A Henry Snyder owned 160 acres of land in Rockford TS, i.e., 80's in Sections 2 and 11.

8. Ironically, according to the testimony of Addison F. Green, a Danite spy company member who was taken a prisoner by Bogart's militia force, had been released by them the night before the battle of Crooked River, but he had decided to stay and camp with them overnight before leaving. See page 114 of Correspondence and Orders.

9. According to Freeburn H. Gardner, (see pages 133-134 C&O) he went as far as “Bragg's place,” with Patten's company, but decided to turn back and didn't participate in the raid on Bogart. Benjamin Bragg's place was located in the SW ¼ of the SW ¼ of Section 11 TS 55 R 29 Rockford TS. This provides an important benchmark to establish the route that Patten's company took on their way to Crooked River.

14. Excerpts of Bathsheba W. Bigler, Smith's coming to Caldwell County in 1838.
When I was in my sixteenth year, some Latter-day Saint elders visited our neighborhood. I heard them preach and believed what they taught.
On the 21st of August 1837, I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Elder Samuel James, in Jones' Run on the farm and near the residence of Augustus Burgess, and was confirmed by Elder Francis G. Bishop…My mother was baptized this same day. My sister Sarah, next older than me, was baptized three days previously. My father, and my two oldest sisters, Matilda and Nancy, together with their husbands, Col. John S. Martin and Josiah W. Fleming, were baptized into the same church soon afterwards. My uncle, Jacob Bigler, and his family had been baptized a few weeks before.
The Spirit of gathering with the saints in Missouri came upon me, and I became very anxious indeed to go there that fall with my sister Nancy and family, as they had sold out and were getting ready to go.
My brother, Jacob G. Bigler, having gone to Far West, Mo., joined the church there and bought a farm for my father, and then returned. About this time my father sold his farm in West Virginia, and fitted out my mother, my brother, and my sister Sarah, Melissa and myself, and we started for Far West, in the company with my two brothers-in-law and my uncle and their families. Father stayed to settle up his business, intending to join us at Far West in the spring, bringing with him, by water, farming implements, house furniture, etc.
On arriving in Missouri we found the State preparing to wage war against the Latter-day Saints. The nearer we got to our destination, the more hostile the people were. As we were traveling along, numbers of men would sometimes gather around our wagons and stop us. They would inquire who we were, where we were from, and where we were going to. On receiving answers to their questions, they would debate among themselves whether to let us go or not; their debate would result generally in a statement ot the effect of, 'As you are Virginians, we will let you go on, but we believe you will soon return, for you will quickly become convinced of your folly.' Just before we crossed Grand River, we camped over night with a company of Eastern saints. We had a meeting, and rejoiced together. In the morning it was thought best for the companies to separate and cross the river by two different ferries, as this arrangement would enable all to cross in less time. Our company arrived at Far West in safety. But not so with the other company; they were overtaken at Haun's Mill by an armed mob—nineteen were killed, many others were wounded, and some of them maimed for life.
Three nights after we had arrived at the farm which my brother had bought, and which was four miles south of the city of Far West, word came that a mob was gathering on Crooked River, and a call was made for men to go out in command of Captain David W. Patten, for the purpose of trying to stop the depredations of the men, who were whipping and otherwise maltreating our brethren, and who were destroying and burning property. Captain Patten's company went, and a battle ensued. Some of the Latter-day Saints were killed, and several were wounded. I saw Brother James Hendrix, one of the wounded, as he was being carried home; he was entirely helpless and nearly speechless. Soon afterwards Captain David W. Patten, who was one of the twelve apostles, was brought wounded into the house where we were. I heard him bear testimony to the truth of Mormonism. He exhorted his wife and all present to abide in the faith. His wife asked him if he had anything against any one. He answered, 'No.' Elder Heber C. Kimball asked him if he would remember him when he got home. He said he would. Soon after his he died, without a struggle.
My father had to lose what he had paid on his farm; and in February, 1839, in the depth of winter, our family, and thousands of the saints, were on the way to the State of Illinois. [Taken from Edward W. Tullidge, The Women of Mormondom (New York: n.p., 1877), pp. 150-155].

David Patten in Northwestern Missouri.