THE PERSECUTION REVIVES--DON CARLOS AND HIS FATHER FLY FROM THEIR
ENEMIES--JOSEPH MOVES TO MISSOURI.
Soon after the apostasy that took place in Kirtland our enemies began
again to trouble us. Having seen our prosperity in everything to which
we had set our hands previous to this, they became discouraged, and
ceased their operations; but, suddenly discovering that there was a
division in our midst, their fruitful imaginations were aroused to the
utmost, to invent new schemes to accomplish our destruction.
Their first movement was to sue Joseph for debt, and, with this
pretense, seize upon every piece of property belonging to any of the
family. Joseph then had in his possession four Egyptian mummies, with
some ancient records that accompanied them. These the mob swore they
would take, and then burn every one of them. Accordingly, they obtained
an execution upon them for an unjust debt of fifty dollars; but, by
various stratagems, we succeeded in keeping them out of their hands.
The persecution finally became so violent, that Joseph regarded it as
unsafe to remain any longer in Kirtland, and began to make arrangements
to move to Missouri. One evening, before finishing his preparations
for the contemplated journey, he sat in council with the brethren at
our house. After giving them directions as to what he desired them to
do, while he was absent from them, and, as he was about leaving the
room, he said, "Well, brethren, I do not recollect anything more, but
one thing, brethren, is certain, I shall see you again, let what will
happen, for I have a promise of life for five years, and they cannot
kill me until that time is expired."
That night he was warned by the Spirit to make his escape, with his
family, as speedily as possible; he therefore arose from his bed, and
took his family, with barely beds and clothing sufficient for them,
and left Kirtland in the dead hour of the night. The day following,
the constable, Luke Johnson, an apostate, served a summons upon my
husband, telling him that no harm was intended, and desired him to go
immediately to the office.
I begged Johnson not to drag my husband away among our enemies, for
I knew, by sad experience, the direful consequences of these civil
suits. Johnson paid no attention to what I said, but hurried my
husband away to the office. He was taken for marrying a couple without
being licensed. Luke Johnson bustled about, pretending to be very
much engaged in drawing the bonds and in making arrangements, such
as were required of him by the party to which he belonged. The first
opportunity that offered itself, he went to Hyrum, and told him he
would take his father into a room, which he pointed out and, said
Johnson, "I will manage so that he can get out, which will set him at
liberty to go where he pleases." In this way he escaped, by the help of
Hyrum and John Boynton, from the window.
My husband, after traveling about two miles, stopped with Brother
Oliver Snow, who was father to Eliza Snow, the poetess. The old man
told Mr. Smith that he would secrete him, and, calling his family
together, he forbade them telling any one of his being there.
Johnson came to me and inquired if Mr. Smith had returned home. This
frightened me very much, and I exclaimed, "Luke, you have killed my
husband." He denied it, but gave no further explanation. In a short
time I found out where he was, and sent him both money and clothes
to travel with, so that in a few days he started with Don Carlos and
Brother Wilber. By this time hand-bills were stuck up on every public
as well as private road, offering a reward for him, and describing his
person, in order, if possible, to prevent his escape. Runners were
also sent throughout the country to watch for him, with authority
to bring him back, in case he should be found; but, in spite of all
their diligence, he succeeded in making his escape, and getting to
New Portage, where he stopped with Brother Taylor. Don Carlos, having
accompanied his father to the above-named place, returned home again
to his family: but, immediately discovering that the mob contemplated
taking him for the same offense, he moved with his family to New
Portage, and was there with his father, until the rest of the family
were ready to remove to Missouri. Hyrum had already moved there with
his family.
Shortly after they left, a man by the name of Edwin Woolley came to
Kirtland to see Mr. Smith; not finding him there, he went to New
Portage, and persuaded my husband to accompany him to Rochester,
Columbia Co.
After Mr. Smith had been at this gentleman's residence about two weeks,
we became very uneasy about him; and, as we did not know at that time
whither he had gone, William set out in pursuit of him, in order to
learn, if possible, whether he had met with friends, and was well
provided for, or had fallen into the hands of his enemies, and been
murdered, for we had as much reason to apprehend the latter calamity,
as to hope for the former good fortune.
It was some time after William arrived at New Portage, before he could
ascertain where my husband had gone. But as soon as he did receive the
desired information he proceeded to Mr. Woolley's, where he found his
father in good health, but extremely anxious about the family.
Immediately after this, William returned home, and his father went
again to New Portage. Here he remained with Don Carlos, until we were
ready to start to Missouri.