Mormons of Hancock County
Mormons of Hancock County
The Mormons in Hancock County
About 1839, the Mormons came to the town of Commerce. The settlement was renamed Nauvoo (Beautiful Place). From 1839-1846, Nauvoo was Illinois' largest (population 20,000) and most politically powerful town. In June of 1844, the Mormon prophet and leader, Joseph Smith, and his brother Hyrum Smith were killed by a mob while detained in the jail at Carthage. The Mormon exodus from Nauvoo began in early 1846 as they traveled across the Great Plains to their new headquarters in Utah.
French Icarians - Utopia in Nauvoo
The Icarians came to Nauvoo in 1849. They established a utopian society. Emile Baxter, an Icarian, planted Baxter's Vineyards, now the oldest winery in Illinois.
At a meeting of the citizens of Hancock county, held at Carthage, Illinois, on the 6th inst. it was resolved to call on the citizens of the surrounding counties and States, to assist them in delivering up Jo (sic) Smith, if the Governor of Illinois refused to comply with the requisition of the Governor of Missouri. The meeting also determined to avenge with blood, any assaults made upon the citizens by the Mormons. It was also resolved to refute to obey the officers elected by the Mormons, who have complete control of the county, being a numerical majority. [Berkshire County Whig (Massachusetts), 28 Sep 1843 - submitted by K. Torp]
Joe Smith, the Mormon, has come out and declared himself a whig, we learn from the N. Y. Express and avowed his determination to "swear his children never to vote the democratic ticket again, in all their generations."
At a meeting of the citizens of Hancock Co. held at Carthage, Illinois, on the 6th inst. it was resolved to call in the citizens of the surrounding counties and States to assist them in delivering up Joe Smith, if the Governor of Illinois refused to comply with the requisition of the Governor of Missouri. The meeting also determined to avenge with blood any assaults made upon the citizens by the Mormons. It was also resolved to refuse to obey the officers elected by the Mormons, who have complete control of the county, being a numerical majority.— Boston Post
[28 Sep 1843; The Sun (Massachusetts) Submitted by K. Torp]
The Western papers still give out mutterings of war against the Mormons. A large meeting was recently held at Carthage, Illinois, growing out of numerous difficulties, of late occurrance, between the citizens of Carthage and their neighbors of Nauvoo, at which resolutions were passed, strongly denunciatory of the Mormons and their leader, Smith. The Warsaw Message, in the vicinity of these troubles, does not wish to disguise the fact that a total extinction of said people is contemplated, that the thousands of defenceless women and children, aged and infirm, congregated at Nauvoo are to be driven away, [Berkshire County Whig (Massachusetts), 21 Mar 1844 - submitted by K. Torp]
The Trials of Joe and Hiram Smith's murderers are in progress at Carthage, Illinois. It is stated that the testimony on the part of the State has been very la?e, and that of the witnesses so very contradictory, and the fact that improper influences have been brought to bear upon them, so very apparent, that it is not within the bounds of probability that the jury will hesitate in acquitting the prisoners. One of the witnesses, Daniels, and the most important on the part of the State, has been proven to have acknowledged that he was to get $500 from the Mormons and $360 from Governor Ford for testifying in the case; another acknowledged from the stand that he told his acquaintances that he did not think he got as well paid as Daniels. A number of charges for perjury have been preferred against Mormons as witnesses in this case. Everybody almost attending court comes armed to the teeth, and frequently muskets and rifles will be seen taken out of wagons with as much deliberation as if they were attending a militia muster instead of attending a court of justice. The Mormons are said to have expressed a determination to take revenge in case the defendants should not be convicted. [11 June 1845; The Public Ledger (Pennsylvania) - Submitted by K. Torp]
Carthage Illinois, Sept 12.
GENTLEMEN: I sent you yesterday, via Warsaw, a brief account of the proceedings yesterday at the seat of war.
At 12 o'clock, the Anti-Mormon army took up its line of march towards Nauvoo. There were 52 platoons of footmen averaging nine in each platoon, 100 horsemen, and 75 artillery-men, besides from 150 to 200 in wagons, making, including officers, upwards of 800 men. From an eminence which I occupied in the prairie, the display was quite military and imposing. They approached to within two miles of the Temple: they were fired upon at their advance and flank guards by the Mormons, from a cornfield. The fire was returned by the Anties, first with small arms, and afterwards with a cannon, charged with grape shot, was discharged into the field. Squads of Mormons were afterwards seen at various points, and were successfully driven by the fire of the cannon, until the Anties halted within a mile of the Temple. The Mormons occasionally fired a cannon, but without effect. The only artillery of the Mormons are some cannons they manufactured themselves out of the shafts of steam boats, which poorly answer the purpose they were intended for, and will give the Anties great advantages over them, as they have five first rate six-pounders. I do not know certainly whether any blood was spilled yesterday or not. The Anties claim to have killed several. They fired six pounders into some houses where the Mormons were stationed; one went entirely through a brick house. On the side of the Anties none were killed or wounded. The cannonading lasted three hours, during which time 56 guns were fired, about 16 of which were fired by the Mormons.
I was on a commanding elevation, at a respectful distance, where I could witness the whole manoeurvering, see the flash and hear the report of the cannon -- to one not used to such scenes, i assure you it is quite exciting. It is said that the Mormons make a fortress of the Temple,and today the Anties will probably try to batter it down with their six pounders. They tried a shot upon it yesterday, but the distance was too great for any effect. The Mormons will undoubtedly have to surrender. The success of the Anties yesterday in forcing the Mormons to retreat form every position they were found in, has given them new strength and vigor, and they are rapidly reinforcing. What the consequences will be, I cannot tell. As the Mormons have shown resistance, I fear the temple will be destroyed.
After the firing of cannon ceased the Anties pitched their tents one mile west of the Temple, near the LaHarpe Road, within the suburbs of Nauvoo. Today I expect there will be fun, and if the Mormons come out and give the Anties a fair fight, there will be much blood spilled. Both parties will doubtless fight hard.
Yesterday morning the Anties proposed to compromise on terms very similar to those agreed upon with Gen. Singleton, only that the Mormons were to leave within 30 days, instead of 60. This time the Mormons refused to accept.
It was reported yesterday, by persons direct from Nauvoo, that the Mormons had been reinforced and were 800 strong. It was also reported that they had imprisoned al the new citizens, who refused to fight for them, in the Temple. Neither of these stories were credited. [30 Sep 1846; The Milwaukee Sentinel - Submitted by K. Torp]
The Chicago Democrat says: It has been circulated all through Hancock county that Joe Smith, Jr., lately made head of the Mormon church, has summoned the faithful to return to Nauvoo, Hancock county, and reconstruct their society there. This has greatly aroused the people of that county, and calls for precinct meetings throughout the county are published in the Warsaw Bulletin, of this week, to take “immediate and decided measures” to counteract the Mormon movement, and the excitement among the people in that region is represented as increasing daily, the public peace being threatened, and another Mormon war, like that of several years ago in the same locality, being almost certain, if the proposed movement of young Joe Smith is carried out. [Illinois State Democrat, Aug. 29, 1860 - submitted by C. Horton]
A telegram from Carthage, Illinois, says: While County Treasurer John W. Bertsche was overhauling his office yesterday he found a number of papers, old and musty with age, which, upon examination proved to be a number of official writs, summonses and executions issued out of the office of John Banks, a justice of the peace of Rocky Run township. The papers have dates varying from 1843 to 1850 most of them are writs for the "Boddies" of certain Mormons who are charged with stealing corn, oats cabbages, etc. One William McAuley swears he has been robbed of certain spring-guns, and verily believes that said guns are concealed in the town of Nauvoo. Fravers M. Higbee swears that certain men did feloniously and with force of arms take from him an old musket or shot-gun. Higbee, together with his brother, the late Judge Higbee, issued one number of the Nauvoo Expositor, at Nauvoo, which was declared a nuisance by Smith, and the press and type were destroyed. This act led to the murder of Joe Smith and his brother Hyrum. Francis Higbee subsequently moved to Carthage, and was active in his opposition to Mormons. [Weekly Journal Miner (Arizona), 7 October 1891; - submitted by K. Torp]
CARTHAGE. Ill.. March 29.—Because of historical associations, the members of the Mormon church have purchased for $4000 the old jail here where the first prophet and the founder of the faith met a tragic death at the hands of a mob. The old structure was not worth over $1500. It is proposed to establish a mission church in the building. In this connection announcement that the Mormons are coming back to Illinois after the lapse of half a century and are to establish three new churches has caused comment. The fact that the church is to make Carthage a headquarters in Illinois may be followed by public action in opposition. [29 March 1905; "Salt Lake Telegram" - submitted by K. Torp]
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