One tidbit of Randolph County history that most do not know about are the journeys of Mormons through Huntsville, Missouri in the 1830s to Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri, and earlier, and then back again on their exodus from western Missouri. The histories of the county do not cover the migrations in any detail. Usually, there is a brief mention if any at all. Members of the Church of the Latter Day Saints have however preserved the stories of the Mormons passing through the county giving us a window into the county at the time, and the people that lived here.
Two camps of Mormons came through Randolph County during this period. Members of the 1834 Zion’s Camp (sometimes called the Camp of Israel) and the 1838 Kirtland Camp. Smaller numbers of Mormons also traveled through Huntsville during this time especially on the exodus from western Missouri in 1838 and 1839. Records were kept by members of the Church of the Latter Day Saints detailing events that occurred during their visits here, as well as preserving little details about the county.
Before getting into details about the Mormon travels through Randolph County a little background is needed. In the 1820s, Joseph Smith started a Christian primitivist movement in New York State. Preaching about his ideas, he gained a sizable following, and in 1830, Joseph Smith organized the Church of Christ (as the The Church of the Latter Day Saints was known then) and published the Book of Mormon. At that time, Joseph Smith revealed that he thought the Second Coming of Christ would take place at the City of Zion near the town of Independence, Missouri. According to Smith, it was destiny that the lands of settlers there be inherited by members of the church. In 1831 Smith gathered his follows at Kirtland, Ohio to prepare for the journey west, and established an outpost near Independence.
Despite tensions between those living in and around Independence and Jackson County Mormons continued to flock there. A sizeable community arose there of about 1200 Mormons. To give you an idea of how sizeable a number that is, in 1830 Jackson County only had a population of 2,800. In November they were driven from Jackson County by the other residents. Most fled to Clay County where they thought they would live until they could regain their lands in Jackson County they had bought and homesteaded. Apprised of their plight early in 1834 Joseph Smith formed a group known as Zion’s Camp whose intention was to travel to the area of Independence, Missouri and if needed take the land owned by the Mormons back by force Later, as Zion’s Camp travelled west through Missouri, men were sent to speak with the governor of Missouri about the situation while legal proceedings were held in Jackson County. In the meantime Mormons settled in Clay County, and other counties around Jackson County. At the urging of influential attorney and soldier Alexander William Doniphan the state legislature formed Caldwell County out of Clay County for Mormon settlement. Shortly before this the town of Far West in what would become Caldwell County was founded by Mormon settlers, W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer.
Tensions continued to rise, and despite the new county for Mormon settlement, what is known as the Mormon War would break out. Alexander William Doniphan tried to avoid the conflict, but despite this was put in command of the anti-Mormon state forces. Prior to that, John Ferguson Ryland formerly of Howard County, then the circuit judge for the region tried to create a compromise between the Mormons and anti-Mormon population. Negotiations broke down and violence erupted. The conflicts lasted from August 6 to November 1, 1838, and in the end, the Mormons left that part of Missouri. Until then in the period from 1830 to 1838 many, many members of the Mormon Church pushed westward. As many in America at the time did not care for Mormons, viewing them as heretics, many groups of Mormons used less travelled areas to go west. Thus the stage roads passing through Randolph County known by Mormons as part of the Lower Route became one of those paths west. On their way west some Mormon’s kept detailed journals and diaries. In some cases, they even recorded the distances they travelled, which going by modern maps and known landmarks were fairly accurate within a mile or so.
The first of the groups of Mormons to pass through Huntsville and Randolph County were members of Zion’s Camp in 1834. The passage through Randolph County of this group is not as well documented as those that passed through later, but there is some information. George A. Smith and Elijah Fordham kept journals as did others. Most only give the barest of information on Randolph County. Zion’s Camp left Kirtland, Ohio May 1, 1831with Joseph Smith in the lead of one group and his brother Hyrum in lead of another coming from Michigan. At that time Joseph Smith was urging Mormons to take up arms in the fight for Jackson County, Missouri, and join the quasi-military force Zion’s Camp. There was a lack of nearly everything for the group. They lacked everything from bread to horses. They suffered diseases such as cholera. People were generally hostile to the Mormons and as such outsiders were referred to as the Mobs. Joseph and Hyrum Smith’s groups merged to travel together west.at the Allred Settlement in Monroe County, Mo. on the Salt River, on June 8, 1834 and remained there until June 11, 1834.
It was only a few days later they reached Randolph County. The first place the group arrived at in the county was close by what is now Old Milton not far off what is now Highway 24. The group passed by the 320 acre farm of William Hickman, eleven miles east of Huntsville. Though wary of the large group of people, Hickman and his wife Bernetta were hospitable to the group. Not everyone was so welcoming. Bernetta’s brother, Greenlief Burchardt, was hostile to the group, and this lead to a disagreement between him and his brother in law William Hickman. William challenged his brother-in-law to a fistfight. It is not said if the fight took place, but as a result of Hickmans’s defense of the Mormons, the Hickman’s became a regular stopping point for them. William and Berrnetta eventually went to live with the Mormons in Illinois, and were baptized. Eventually, they travelled west to Utah. There, William became known as “Wild Bill” Hickman, and served as bodyguard of Joseph Smith Jr. and Brigham Young. He became quite influential becoming a sheriff, and held other county offices as well. He was elected as a representative in the Utah Territorial Legislature for the area of Green River in 1854. As a side note Greenlief Burchardt and Brenetta Hickman were son and daughter of George F. Burckhartt who at this point was Justice of the Peace for Prairie Township and a former State Legislator. He is credited with designing the Missouri State Seal
Zion’s Camp reached Huntsville on June 14, 1834 and passed through the town choosing not to camp there. Nothing of real note is said about the town, and Zion’s Camp went on to camp at Dark Creek six miles to the west. The route the Mormons probably took was north up what is now Route C outside Huntsville, and then west on what is Route O, and on west down Randolph County Road 1105, and then on what is now Randolph County Road 1015. This is the route Mormon scholars feel was taken, and it is believed to have been the old stage road to Brunswick. The Tail of Death followed by the Potawatomi may have followed the same route several years later. According the journals, Dark Creek was felt an unsafe place to camp as two members of the group had been pursued by a group of men unhappy about Zion’s Camp not far from there. It was also in a ravine difficult to protect. However, it was a site with fresh water which was much needed. This campsite was used again by the Kirtland Camp four years later.
In the four years between Zion’s Camp and the Kirtland Camp smaller groups of Mormons passed through Huntsville. Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon held two meetings in Huntsville in November of 1837. According to the Mormon paper, “Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate, “ these meetings were thought successful in that they allayed some of the prejudice felt towards those of the Mormon faith. Nothing more is said about these meetings. Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon this time with Rigdon’s family were in Huntsville again in February of 1838. Sidney Rigdon’s wife was ill so it became a bit of an extended stay. During that time Joseph Smith wrote letters to the Church leadership, and while here a party was sent to meet him, and help the group get to Far West. Edward Partridge, George W. Harris, and Isaac Morley came to Huntsville with money and supplies for Smith and Rigdon.
The account of the Kirtland Camp’s passage through Randolph County is better documented than that of the Zion’s Camp. The leader of the Church of the Latter Day Saints, Joseph Smith along with other church leaders had relocated the headquarters of the church to Far West, Caldwell County Missouri in January of 1838. At that time hopes for settlement in Missouri ran high, and Mormons were settling in Caldwell County and surrounding counties in great numbers. On March 6, 1838, plans were begun for the Mormon families in Kirtland, Ohio to move to Missouri in a group. Unlike the Zion’s Camp of four years earlier this group was not to be a quasi-military group, but band of peaceful settlers.
The Kirtland Camp left Kirtland, Ohio in July 6, 1838. The group numbered more than 500 people, far larger than the Zion’s Camp, and is considered the first large migration of Latter Day Saints. As the group travelled west some fell behind so that there was a regular stream of Mormons passing through Huntsville. Two of the travelers were Joseph Smith’s parents, Lucy Mack Smith and, Joseph Smith Sr.. The Smiths travelled with their daughters Sophronia McCleary, and Catharine Salisbury and their husbands. Not long before reaching Huntsville Catharine gave birth, and Lucy became very ill with a cold. Catharine was left to recuperate from birth while Lucy and other members travelled onto Huntsville. While in Huntsville, Lucy decided she should pray. In her biography of Joseph Smith she had this to say about it.
“The next morning after our arrival, the family being absent, I seized the opportunity to make an effort to get far enough from the house to pray without interruption. Accordingly, I took a staff in each hand, and, by the assistance which they afforded me, I was enabled to reach a dense thicket, which lay some distance from the house. As soon as I was sufficiently rested to speak with ease, I commenced calling upon the Lord, beseeching him to restore me to health, as well as my daughter Catharine. I urged every claim which is afforded us by the Scriptures, and continued praying faithfully for three hours, at the end of which time I was relieved of every kind of pain, my cough left me, and I was well.”
Catharine rejoined the party in Huntsville. They spent another couple of days in Huntsville, and then travelled onto Far West. William Draper who was travelling to Far West also stayed a while in Huntsville. A few years later he had this to say:
“I started from Kirtland 16 April 1838, with my wife (Elizabeth) and five children. I traveled on toward Far West until sometime in June when I was taken with a severe fit of sickness, so that I was obliged to camp by the way. Under a large oak tree on a nice plot of grass I took up abode for a little season. This was at Huntsville, Randolph, Missouri. After lying there for several days I was taken up by a good Samaritan and lodged in the house of a brother by the name of Edward Weaver, where my wants were amply provided for and I soon began to revive and get better”.
The main body of the Kirtland Camp arrived in Paris, Missouri on September 24, 1838. Its constitution dictated that it move no more than 15 miles a day, whereas the Zion’s Camp sometimes travelled up to 40 miles a day. The group arrived in Huntsville, Missouri on September 25, 1838. Samuel D. Tyler, a member of the Kirtland Camp recorded in his journal entry of September 25, 1838:
“We passed through Huntsville, Co. Seat of Randolph Co. Pop. 450, and three miles further we bought 32 bu. of corn off one of the brethren who resides in this place. There are several of the brethren round about here and this is the ancient site of the City of Manti, which is spoken of in the Book of Mormon and this is appointed one of the Stakes of Zion, and it is in Randolph County, Missouri, three miles west of the county seat.”
Elias Smith, a cousin of Joseph Smith also kept a diary, and had this to say:
“We came through Huntsville the county seat of Randolph where we were told before we arrived there we should be stopped but saw nothing of the kind when we came through the town and heard no threats whatever, but all appeared friendly. 1 ½ miles west of Huntsville we crossed the east branch of Chariton and 1 ½ miles west of the river we found Ira Ames and some other brethren near the place where the city of Manti is to built and encamped for the night on Dark creek 6 miles from Huntsville.”
The issue of the City of Manti mentioned in the journal entries has caused a bit of controversy in the The Church of the Latter Day Saints. Some Mormons feel that the Tyler entry indicates that the ancient city of Manti mentioned in the Book of Mormon was three miles west of Huntsville, while others feel that the second entry by Elias Smith was the more accurate, and that a city named Manti was to be built there. They feel this plan was abandoned due to the persecution of Mormons in the State of Missouri. The main body of the Kirtland Camp arrived in Far West on October 4, 1938. Stragglers continued to arrive in the days and weeks that followed.
However, no sooner than they had arrived than they had to leave. On October 27, 1828 Missouri’s Governor Lilburn W. Boggs gave an order to General John B, Clark of the Missouri State Militia to drive out the Mormons. This began what is known as the Mormon War in earnest. The next day at Hawn’s Mill, Missouri Mormons including Brigham Young were attacked, several killed, and many wounded. Other battles were fought in the weeks to come. This began the exodus of Mormons out of Missouri, and again more travelers through Randolph County. There are some interesting stories in regards to these passages through the county.
Among those that passed through was Newell Knight and his family. They were stranded in Huntsville for a week when the man and his team of horses they had hired said his horses could go no farther. Brigham Young was also stranded in Huntsville while the Knights were there as he had too many goods for his wagon to haul. Knight was finally able to get underway again when a man asked his son to serve as teamster for them. Knight had some of Young’s possessions placed on his wagon, and together they headed east.
Others wound up staying at Huntsville, which seemed a bit of a refuge from mob violence. Julia Ives Pack who had been to Huntsville earlier to take care of her sick sister said this in her autobiography. Her and other Mormons had just escaped a mob:
“They started out, got past the guard and went to Huntsville. My husband was gone two weeks. During his absence we got out of flour. We had a log set on end with a mortar in the top to hold the grain, a spring pole with a wedge in the end to grind the corn. Of this we made bread. During these two weeks, Rufus' wife was taken sick. I went to Parley Pratt's home, a small room he had put up for his stable in which his family was living, and asked permission of his wife who was in her bed sick with one of her children by her side, to bring our sister there for her confinement. There was a small place at the foot of her bed where I made a bed for our sister.”
The newspaper, the Columbia Patriot, published from 1835 to 1842 also reported this:
“Bands of men are said to be ranging through that part of the country inhabited by Mormons, and killing, without regard to age or sex, every one of these unfortunate creatures that they meet. A mangled victim has succeeded in making his way to Huntsville, where were the first Samaritans that could be found to take compassion on his wounds.”
It was not always thus though. Mobs did operate in Randolph County. On January 7th, 1840 in Adams County, Illinois Amos Herrick stated in a petition he had owned land in Randolph County, Missouri and was driven from it in 1838:
“…that he had peaceable possession of the two said forties & lived on them three years, & that in november & December 1837 & 1838 being threatened by Mobbers led on by Daniel Davis & Archibald Rutherford, he sold said lands for less than half their value & left them: & further this deponent saith not.”
Herrick’s land was off of what is now Route O west of Huntsville, near the intersection of what is now Route O and Randolph County Road 1140. Daniel Davis and Archibald Rutherford lived just to the east of Herrick’s farm towards Huntsville.
The Mormon exodus from western Missouri sent Mormon travelers through Randolph County throughout the winter of 1838-139. At one point Brigham Young and a group of Mormon Elders attempted to return to Far West and again passed through the county, but by then all was lost.
The two Mormon camps, the Zion’s Camp and Kirtland Camp were not the only large group of people to pass through the county during the 1830s. The Potawatomi on the Trail of Death passed through the county in October of 1838 as well. The Native Americans who were being relocated numbered about 850. They too had to endure no end of hardship. One has to wonder what Randolph County whose population was about 7,198 in 1840 thought about so many large numbers of people passing through? Most stories seem to show that Randolph County residents of the time were kind and generous to the strangers. Regardless of this, the histories of Randolph County written in the 1880s make no mention of the mass migrations though the county, and thus these migrations are often overlooked.