Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer left Kirtland, Ohio, following dissolution of the Literary Firm at Kirtland, Ohio, and transfer of the church's printing facility in Kirtland to Joseph Smith in January 1837. They returned to their families and homes in northern Missouri.
Since the destruction of The Evening and the Morning Star printing operation in Independence, Missouri, in 1833, Missouri church members looked forward to the resumption of their own printing operation. John Whitmer and Phelps controlled church printing interests in northern Missouri through the Missouri Literary Firm. Envisioning a Missouri church periodical, church leaders arranged to transport a printing press from Ohio to Missouri. [Cowdery initially sold his share in the Kirtland printing office to Joseph and Sidney. Subsequently, Cowdery reacquired a press and type from the Kirtland printing office by agreeing to return Smith's and Rigdon's notes. FWR, 168].
In 1837, Elisha Hurd Groves was sent to Kirtland, Ohio, to procure the press. [Groves, MS 2050, 11, 13, #1, LDS Church Historical Department Archives].
Meanwhile, David and John Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery prepared a facility to house a printing office at Far West. [Whitmer Account Book, 18 September 1837, MS 1159, LDS Family and Church History Department, Archives]. Groves returned to Missouri with the press in November 1837. [See John Whitmer Account Book]. Freightage expenses initially kept the press in storage.
Fragile relationships between key church leaders in Ohio and those in Missouri became further strained. The influx of church members into Caldwell County prompted Missouri church leaders to once again look to the north for more gathering space. In this process Cowdery and committee members began to view northern lands as "far more than a mere means of locating gathering sites." [John E. Thompson, "The Initial Survey Committee Selected to Appoint Lands for Gathering in Daviess County, Missouri (1837-38)," Restoration Studies III (Independence, MO: Herald Publishing House, 1986), 309].
Aware that their relationship with Joseph was deteriorating, they started looking north for a place of refuge. It become increasingly clear that the Whitmer family and the others must break with Joseph. The extended clan began in good conscience to examine their alternatives. Part of an emerging group of Missouri dissenters, the Missouri Presidency planned to use the press to issue an opposition paper. Oliver wrote to his brother Warren about their activities. Excerpts from Oliver's letters reflect their concerns:
"A meeting of the following members of the Church of Latter Day Saints, viz, F. G. Williams, D. Whitmer, W. W. Phelps, J. Whitmer, Jacob Whitmer, Lyman E. Johnson, and Oliver Cowdery. . . to take into consideration the state of said church and the manner in which some of the Authorities of the same have for a time past, and are still endeavoring to unite ecclesiastical without authority and force men under a pretence of incurring the displeasure of heaven to use their earthly substance contrary to their own interest and privilege, and also how said authorities are endeavoring to make it a rule of faith for said church to uphold a certain man or men right or wrong. . . . David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery, F. G. Williams were appointed a committee to draft a declaration and resolutions. . . . As soon as our declarations etc., are adopted we shall proclaim them publickly [sic], and send you a copy. . . . Judge Phelps say we shall have a printing press started before long . . . W. W. Phelps, John Whitmer and Luke E. Johnson were appointed a committee to look for a place for the above named individuals in which to settle where they may live in peace. . . We believe in enjoying equal rights and privileges and we believe it to be our duty to separate ourselves from all who are disposed to fulminate pretend revelation and uphold corruption by lying. . . . We do not expect the great body of the church here to unite in our views. We do not ask- we want none but independent men- not for the rag-muffins who believe in man more than God." [Cowdery to Warren Cowdery, January and February 1838].
Far West Printing (Continued)
The permanent removal of Joseph Smith and other Ohio church leaders to Far West in early 1838 ended dissenting plans. Out of time, they were unable to effect an alternative organization or publish their intended declaration. About three weeks after the arrival of the Prophet, the Missouri presidents were removed from office and expelled from the church. Thomas B. Marsh was appointed president of the Church in Missouri, with David W. Patten and Brigham Young as counselors or assistant presidents. [Jenson, Historical Record, 7 & 8: 436]. “Even before they [the dissenters] left town, George Robinson swore out writs of attachment against them and took possession of 'all their personal property, clothing & furniture,'” [Richard S. Van Wagoner, Sidney Rigdon: A Portrait of Religious Excess (Salt Lake City, Utah: Signature Books, 1994), 230].
Publication of the Elder's Journal was also transferred to Missouri. Apparently, Bishop Partridge acquired Whitmer's printing interests and assets on behalf of the church. [Partridge arranged payment to John Whitmer for the printing press, type, and all the furniture pertaining to the establishment, from city lot sales or donations, FWR, 181-82].
As part of a complicated arrangement, Whitmer transferred the press to Thomas B. Marsh on 17 April 1838, in exchange for payment of several outstanding notes to the amount of about $500 that John, William and Oliver owed to various parties. [See John Whitmer Account Book].
With the press under church control, Brigham Young asked Newel Knight for the use of his home to house the operation. Newel gladly made his house available and moved his family into a new home. [William G. Hartley, "They Are My Friends," 121]. Two issues of the church periodical Elders Journal were published in Far West during the summer. Joseph served as editor and Thomas B. Marsh was the proprietor and set the type. Ebenezer Robinson worked at the printing office. [Robinson, "Items of Personal History," The Return, 1 (November 1889):170]. And, for a short time Lyman Littlefield also worked in the printing office. A variety of printed materials were produced. [An extant property deed form was printed at Far West, Thomas B. Marsh, printed warranty deed form, MS 13776, LDS Family and Church Historical Department, Archives, "Printed by T. S. Marsh, Far West, MO." Rigdon's fourth of July oration was printed in pamphlet form]. Reed Peck indicates tickets, listing church supported candidates, were prepared at the printing office for use the general election, Monday, 11 August 1838. [Reed Peck Manuscript, 18 September 1839, MSS SC 530, L. Tom Perry Special Collections Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 60].
In late 1838, there was some discussion of Sidney Rigdon functioning as editor of a weekly newspaper. ["August 6th 1838 This afternoon the Citizens of Far West assembled in the school house in the S[outh] W[est] gr[ove?] [quarter] of the Town. The meeting was opened by Calling Judge Elias Higbee to the Chair and appointing Geo[rge] W. Robinson Secretary.
1st Whereupon it was unanimously agreed that the [201] Citizens of the counties of Caldwell and Davis [page 64] ought and [s]hould have a Weekly News paper published for their information upon the news of the day. Pres[iden]t Smith said the time had come when it was necessary that we should have som[e] thing of this nature to unite the people and aid in giving us the News of the day &c. Whereupon it was unanimously agreed that Pres[iden]t S[idney] Rigdon should Edit the same. 2nd That a petition be drawn up to remove the County seat to this place. Some remarks were made by Pres[iden]t Rigdon upon the subject showing the great necessity of so doing." Scott H. Faulring, An American Prophet's Record, 200-201].
The normal printing routine was suspended pending resolution of mounting hostilities with neighbors. As winter approached, the church's printing "press was taken down and the type hastily boxed and buried, in the night, and a haystack put over it" to protect it.” [Robinson, The Return, 1 (November 1889):170].
Following the church's exodus from Missouri, when conditions permitted, the press was retrieved and placed into use at Nauvoo, Illinois, where the premier issue of the Times and Seasons, was printed under the editorship of Don Carlos Smith.
that Minutes of 12 April 1838. . . He [Cowdery] has taken a printing press and type from Kirtland, for which he was to give up some notes which he had against Joseph Smith jr and Sidney Rigdon, which he did not do, nor had to this day.
Sidney: Joseph and I gave Oliver notes for his share in the printing office, traded for press and type After a one-hour adjournment, the council reconvenes and hears Sidney testify that in January 1837 he and Joseph agreed to buy Oliver's share in the Kirtland printing office and gave him notes for it. In the spring of 1837 they agreed to let him have a press and some of the type "on conditions that he should give up the notes." Oliver didn't return notes, cleaned out the office But Oliver did not return Joseph's and Oliver's notes, and "completely stripped the office," leaving hardly enough to print one issue of the Elders' Journal, where there had been enough to print several books. Far West Record, 162–169.
PROSPECTUS
FOR THE ELDERS' JOURNAL.
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST, OF LATTER DAY SAINTS.
It is, we presume, generally known, that this paper was commenced in Kirtland, Ohio, in October last; but by reason of the great persecution against the Saints in that place, the paper had to be stopped; and through the craft of wicked men they got possession of the printing office, and knowing they could not hold it, it was burned.
The paper is now about to be resuscitated in this place, to be conducted as set forth in the former prospectus. It will be issued in a few weeks, and sent to the former subscribers, as previously stated.
We send this prospectus to arouse the Saints to energy in obtaining subscribers. -- We hope the Elders abroad, will not fail to use their influence to give as general a circulation as possible.
The JOURNAL will be Edited by Joseph Smith jr., and Published by Thomas B. Marsh, at Far West, Caldwell County Missouri.
Terms -- One dollar, per annum, paid in advance. All letters must be Post Paid, and directed to the Publisher.
Far West, Mo. April 26, 1838. [Elder's Journal]
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