Only a few words in regard to the Prophet Joseph. He was tried
twenty-one times for different offenses, and acquitted each time.
Once when he was visiting in Peoria he was captured by four men
from Missouri, who started with him in a wagon to take him to
that State. Two sat beside him with cocked pistols, punching him
in the side occasionally, and telling him that if he opened his
mouth they would blow his brains out. He was not arrested by any
process of law, but they were trying to kidnap him. Brother
Markham, an old friend of Joseph, ran ahead to the town of
Peoria, employed a lawyer, got out a writ of habeas corpus, and
had him set at liberty.
When the news reached Nauvoo the Saints were in the wildest state
of excitement. The Mormon steamer was crowded with Danites, and
sent full steam ahead to Peoria to rescue the Prophet. When the
Danites arrived they found him at liberty. This was in 1843.
The same winter Joseph organized what was called the "Council of
Fifty." This was a confidential organition. A man by the name of
Jackson belonged to it, though he did not belong to the Church.
This Council was designated as a law-making department, but no
records were kept of its doings, or if kept, were burned at the
close of each meeting. Whenever anything of importance was on
foot this Council was called to deliberate upon it. The Council
was named the "Living Constitution." Joseph said that no
legislature could enact laws that would meet every case or attain
the ends of justice in all respects.
As a man, Joseph tried to be a law-abiding citizen, but he had to
manage those who were constantly doing something to bring trouble
upon themselves. He often reproved them and some he dis-
fellowshipped. But being of a forgiving disposition, when they
came back to him and begged forgiveness his humane heart could
not refuse them. He was often basely imposed upon.
Joseph's sympathies were quick. Once I was standing with him,
watching a couple of men who were crossing the river in a canoe.
The river was full of ice, running swiftly. As they neared the
shore the canoe upset, throwing them into the river. One of them
got on a cake of ice, but the other made several attempts before
he could do so. Joseph sent a runner to them with a bottle of
whisky, saying:
"Those poor boys must be nearly frozen."
Joseph also had a sharp tongue. On one occasion, the 4th of July,
1843, at a celebration, a number of toasts had been offered when
someone said:
"Brother Joseph, suppose you give us a toast."
Raising his glass, with water in it in the place of spirits, he
said:
"Here is wishing that all the mobocrats of the nineteenth century
were in the middle of the sea, in a stone canoe, with an iron
paddle; that a shark might swallow the canoe, and the shark be
thrust into the nethermost pit of hell, the door locked, the key
lost, and a blind man hunting for it."
To return to our expedition across the plains. The snow lay about
eight inches deep when the first company crossed the river. The
plan was this: We must leave Nauvoo, whether ready or not. All
covenanted to help each other, until every one was away that
wanted to go. The teams and wagons sent to help others away were
to return as soon as a suitable place was found at which to make
a settlement, and leave the poor, or rather those who had no
teams to go on with. I was unwilling to start with a part of my
family, leaving the rest behind, and thought that now was the
time to get them out before worse trouble commenced. I went into
Brigham's tent and told him what I thought of the matter, and
that I could fit up teams in a few days and bring them all away.
He replied that he had been thinking of the same thing. Said he:
"Go; I will give you five days in which to sell out and cross the
river again, and bring me one hundred dollars in gold."
My first wife was still at Nauvoo. I had the confidence of my
family, as I never undertook anything that I did not carry out. I
started back on foot and crossed the river on the ice. I fell in
with acquaintances about La Harpe, who were in trouble over a
number of wagons and teams which they had purchased in the State.
The devil was to pay generally. Some of the Gentiles who had lost
cattle laid it to the Mormons in Nauvoo, and were determined to
take cattle from the Mormons until they got even. I had a brick
house and lot on Parley street that I sold for three hundred
dollars in teams. I told the purchaser that I would take seven
wagons and teams, and before I went to sleep that night I had my
entire outfit of teams.
For my large house, costing eight thousand dollars (in Salt Lake
City it would have been worth fifty thousand dollars), I was
offered eight hundred dollars. My fanaticism would not allow me
to take so meager a sum for it. I locked it up, selling only one
stove out of it, for which I received eight yards of cloth. The
building, with its twenty-seven rooms, I turned over to the
committee, to be sold to help the poor away. The committee
afterwards parted with the house for twelve dollars and fifty
cents.
One day I was sitting with my family, telling them that I ought
to get five hundred dollars in some way, but the Lord had opened
no way by which I could get it, and I had but five days to get
out of Nauvoo. In an adjoining room was an old gentleman and his
daughter who rented the room of me. They were from Pennsylvania,
and the old gentleman was wealthy. The daughter stepped into her
father's room, and soon returned, saying that he wished to see
me. I went into his room. He gave me a seat and said:
"You did me a kindness that I have not repaid. Do you remember
meeting me, when coming from the Temple? I had been there with my
wife and only child to get my washings and anointings. I was not
admitted, because I was a stranger, and no one to vouch for me. I
was returning with a heavy heart, when I met you. You returned
with me and used your influence, vouched for us and procured our
admittance. I obtained our endowments. I had a cancer on my
breast at that time that was considered incurable. From the hour
I received my endowments it has never pained me and is healing
up. I am thankful I have it in my power to do you a little favor
in return."
So saying, he lifted the lid of a box and counted out five
hundred dollars in gold coin, saying that if it would help me I
was welcome to it. I offered him a team, but he said he had money
enough to buy his outfit and support him while he lived, and that
he felt grateful for an opportunity of returning my favor. This
was to me an unexpected blessing from an honest heart. I wept
with joyful gratitude; I had the means that I desired in my
hands.
The next morning I received my teams and wagons. All had to be
fitted up for the journey. My family went to work making tents
and articles needful for the journey. I sent my wagons to the
Mormon wagonshop and told the men to work night and day, and put
them in order within three days, and I would give them fifty
dollars in gold, which was five dollars for a day and night's
work, quite a difference from fifty cents, the usual price. They
went to work in earnest, and as fast as a wagon was rolled out
finished I had it loaded.
In the meantime Brother Babbitt was urging me to cross the river,
as there was an officer in town looking for me. On the third day
I started one of my ox teams across the river on the ice, and
came near losing the whole outfit, by its breaking through. I
crossed no more teams that way. I got a large wood boat, with
twenty-five men to help me, and cut through the ice across the
river, so that the boat could be towed over. On the fourth day I
had all of my effects at the riverside.
The day before, when I crossed the team that broke through the
ice, I met the officer, to whom I was unknown, at the riverside
looking for me. He purposed to arrest me on the charge of having
more wives than one. I told him I had seen Mr. Lee crossing the
river the day before, and that one of his oxen broke through; I
added that it was a pity Mr. Lee had not broken through also. I
stepped into a saloon with the officer and we took a drink
together. I then went with him into the wagonshop, and, stepping
ahead of him and tipping the wink to the men there, said:
"Have any of you seen Mr. Lee to-day? Here is an officer looking
for him."
They replied that he had crossed the river the day before. This
satisfied the officer, and he went away. I bought oils and paints
for my wagons, and five gallons of whisky with which to treat the
boys who had helped me over the river.
As we left the river a heavy storm came up. It was so dark I
could see nothing. I had four mule teams, and let them follow the
road. We halted about a mile beyond the town of Montrose, and a
man who lived there, named Hickenlooper, took us in and attended
to the animals. I went to sleep and did not wake until ten
o'clock the next morning. This man had all the supplies we
needed, - flour, bacon, etc., - and I purchased my store of
supplies from him. I learned that the company had moved on, and
was camped at a place called Richardson Point, forty-five miles
from Montrose.
Before reaching the encampment I was met by Brigham, H. C.
Kimball, and Dr. William Richards in their carriages, who bade me
welcome. After we reached camp a council was held, and I reported
my success, and gave ah account of my mission. When I had
finished Brigham asked me if I had brought him the hundred
dollars. I replied that I had, and handed it to him. He counted
it, and then said:
"What shall I do with it?"
"Feed and help the poor," I replied.
Brigham then prophesied, saying I should be blessed, and means
come unto me from an unexpected source; that in time of need
friends would be sent to my assistance.
The roads were in bad condition, and we lay quiet a few days,
during which time I painted and numbered my wagons. Myself, Geo.
S. Clark, Levi Stewart, and another man were appointed hunters,
as there was much game in the country we had to pass through -
turkey, deer, and some elk.
From here we traveled to the Raccoon Fork of Grand River, about
seventy-five miles. At the three forks of the Grand River we came
to a halt. In fact, the rain had made the country impassable, and
our provisions were running short. Here we found some wild hogs,
and the men killed several. Brigham said they were some of our
hogs that had become scattered when we were driven out of
Missouri. This was license for us to kill anything we could find.
While we lay here two men came to our camp, named Allen Miller
and Mr. Clancy. They were traders to the Potowatomie Indians.
Allen Miller later married one of my wives. They informed me that
we could get everything we needed fifty miles from there, near
Grand River. We unloaded seventeen wagons and selected such
articles as we could spare. I was appointed Commissary, to do the
purchasing for the companies. This was in April, 1846.
We started with the seventeen wagons, and drove to Miller's and
made that place headquarters, as he had provisions in abundance.
The grass was like a meadow. I had some horses and harness to
exchange for oxen and cows. When we had turned out our stock for
the day at Miller's Mr. Clancy invited me home with him.
On entering his house I found his partner, Patrick Dorsey, an
Irishman, sick. Mr. Dorsey had been tormented with a pain in his
eyes, insomuch that he had rested neither day nor night, and was
losing his sight. I asked him if he was a Catholic. He answered
that he was. I knew their faith, as I was raised a Catholic and
once believed in their doctrines. I asked him if he wished me to
pray for him. He inquired if I was a minister, to which I replied
that I was.
"Do pray with me, for I am in great distress," he then said.
With that I laid my hands upon his head, and asked the Father, in
the name of the Son, and by virtue of the holy Priesthood in me
vested, to stay his sufferings and heal him. The pain left him
instantly. He took his hat and walked with me to Miller's house.
They were astonished to see him without pain, and asked him what
I had done for him. He answered:
"I was in distress; a stranger laid hands upon my head and prayed
and made me whole; but who he is, or whence he came, I know not.
But this I know, that I was almost blind, and now I see; I was
sick, but am well."
This occurrence created an excitement in the settlement, and
nothing would do but I must preach the next evening.
During the day I made several trades. Evening came, and I
preached at my friend Miller's. When I had closed my sermon they
made me up a purse of five dollars, and offered to load one of
our wagons with provisions.
We remained about a week and did finely in trading. On Sunday a
large attendance, for a new country, turned out to hear me
preach. I was weary and did not feel like preaching. However, I
talked about an hour and a half. At the close of the service they
made up ten dollars for me, and Mr. Scott, a wealthy farmer, said
that if I would drive my wagons to his establishment he would
fill them with flour, bacon, and potatoes. I had the use of my
friend Miller's store to warehouse our traps, as I had more than
we could take away. The people were anxious for me to remain and
take up a farm, make my home with them, and preach and build up a
church. I told them I was bound for the Rocky Mountains.
As for Mr. Dorsey, he offered me all he had, and wanted to know
what to do to be saved. He gave me a history of his life. He told
me that he led a company of men from Carroll County, Missouri,
when we were driven from the State. I reflected a little, and
gave him a list of city property at Nauvoo that I would turn over
to him at one-fourth its value for what property he would turn
out to me. He said he had twelve yoke of oxen and twenty-five
cows, besides other stock; four bee stands, three wagons, six to
eight hundred dollars' worth of bacon, flour, meal, soap, powder,
lead, blankets, thirty rifles, guns, knives, tobacco, calicos,
spades, hoes, plows, and harrows; also twelve feather beds, and
all of his improvements. He said he only wanted his carriage and
a span of black horses to take himself, wife, and partner to
Nauvoo. And all the above property he would turn over to me, and
I might give him deeds to property in Nauvoo.
Brigham commenced making a settlement at the place where he was
camped. He called the place Garden Grove. We returned to camp,
laden with all that our teams could haul, besides the three
wagons I had from Dorsey. There was a deal that we could not move
away. I took a forty-gallon cask of honey and a quantity of
whisky and brandy from Dorsey. The bee stands, improvements, and
farming utensils I turned over for the use of what settlers
remained behind at Garden Grove. I also made arrangements for the
labor needed by the company that was left, so that they might be
planting crops and raising supplies while building houses to live
in.
All the borrowed teams were returned to Nauvoo to bring others
forward, while those who had teams of their own pushed on and
made another settlement called Pisgah, and then went forward to
Council Bluffs - afterwards called Kanesville, in honor of Col.
Thomas L. Kane. From this point I took a cargo of traps,
consisting of feather beds, fine counterpanes, quilts, and such
goods, and went down to Missouri, with a number of wagons, to
obtain supplies, together with beef cattle and cows.
During my absence a call was made on the Mormons for five hundred
men to go to Mexico and defend the American flag. Col. Ethan
Allen and Thos. L. Kane began to raise the required number of
men. An express was sent to Pisgah and Garden Grove asking them
to furnish their number. The ranks were nearly full before I
reached camp. Upon my arrival Dr. Richards said to me:
"I am glad you have returned. We want you for one of the
captains."
"All right," I answered.
Brigham called me and said he could not spare me; that there were
men enough to fill the bill without me. The battalion was filled,
and Col. Allen, a United States officer, marched with them to
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
From Council Bluffs I returned to Missouri, to buy a drove of
cattle for Brigham, Dr. Richards, and others, they having
received money from England. I loaded twenty wagons with
provisions and articles for trade and exchange. I exchanged
horses for oxen, as the latter were low and the former high in
price. About the middle of August I returned with over five
hundred head of cattle.
While I was gone the camp moved across the Missouri River, to a
place called Cutler's Park. The cattle swam the river, but the
provision train was still on the Iowa side. Grant and some of
Brigham's men, teamsters and waiters, crossed back for a couple
of loads of provisions for Brigham. Without saying a word to me
they took from my train their supply of provisions.
When I heard of it I was ruffled, as this train was in my charge
and I was responsible for it. I went to Grant, who seemed to be
the leader, and told him he had not acted the gentleman in
interfering with what did not belong to him. We had warm words,
and had not others interfered would have come to blows. He
justified himself by saying that Brigham sent him. I told him I
did not care who sent him - there was a right way and a wrong way
of doing things. The feeling grew bitter between us, and he
accused me of doing wrongful acts in my office.
Finally Brigham called us together in the presence of the twelve
apostles, and we made our statements. My accusers said what they
had to say, and then I replied. When Brigham had heard our
statements he scolded my accusers sharply, and approved of what I
had done. He then said that we must not have ill-feeling, and
directed us to shake hands and be friends. I was the first that
arose to comply. We shook hands; still, though we agreed to drop
the matter, the old spirit lingered, even after we had crossed
the plains.