WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE | MORMON HISTORY | LIBERTY LANDING
CIVIL WAR | AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY | CORBIN THEATER

Mormon History in Liberty

David Rice Atchison was born in Kentucky on August 11, 1807. He graduated from Transylvania University at Lexington in 1825 at the age of 18, studied law with several prominent Kentuckians and was admitted to the Kentucky bar in 1829. In 1830 Atchison moved to Liberty and was soon joined by Alexander W. Doniphan who moved to Liberty to share his office.

The Mormons encountered difficulties with their neighbors in Jackson County in 1833. At meeting in Independence on July 20, 1833, a speech by Robert Johnon summarized their concerns:

"Little more than two years ago, some two or three of this people (Mormons) made their appearance on the Upper Missouri, and they now number some twelve hundred souls in this county. Each successive autumn and spring pours forth its swarms among us ... They have become a subject of much anxiety .... Serious and well grounded complaints having been already made of their corrupting influence on our slaves. Also "the day is not far distant when the civil government of the country will be in their hands."

The following resolutions were passed:

1. That no Mormon shall in future move and settle in this county.
2. That those now here, who shall give a definite pledge of their intention within a reasonable time to remove out of the county, shall be allowed to remain unmolested until they have sufficient time to sell their property and close their business without any material sacrifice.
3. That the editor of the Star (a Mormon newspaper) be required forthwith to close his office, and discontinue the business of printing in this county; and as to all other stores and shops belonging to the sect, their owners must in every case strictly comply with the terms of the second article of this declaration, and upon failure, prompt and efficient measures will be taken to close the same.
4. That the Mormon leaders here, are required to use their influence in preventing any further emigration of their distant brethren to this county, and to counsel and advise their brethren here to comply with the above requisition.

Violence broke out in the summer and fall of 1833. Orson Hyde's account is as follows:

"On Thursday night, Oct. 31, some forty or fifty of the citizens of Jackson county, Mo assembled above the Blue river and, in part, demolished twelve of the dwelling houses of our people. The inmates were obliged to escape to the woods. They took two of our men and beat them with stones and clubs, leaving only a breath of life in them. After this the mob dispersed, it being about three o'clock in the morning."

"Friday night, Nov. 1st, the mob broke open the store of Gilbert & Whitney, and scattered their goods through the streets. They demolished Gilbert's brick dwelling house, and broke in the doors and windows of all the dwellings in Independence belonging to our people."

"Saturday our people left their dwellings, and took their most valuable articles of furniture, clothing, &c. Night came on, and the mob came along with it, and commenced their ravages again above the Blue."

"On Monday the mob collected again. They were met by a party of our people who poured a deadly fire upon them. Two or three of their number fell dead on the ground, and a number were mortally wounded."

"On Tuesday & Wednesday [nights] the 5th and 6th of November, women and children fled in every direction before the mob. One party of about 150 women and children fled to the prairie. Others fled towards the Missouri river. Most, if not all, have left their houses and are now in Clay County, encamped on the bank of the Missouri river."

Due to the efforts of Atchison and Doniphan, the Mormons settled peacefully in several counties north of the Missouri river following their expulsion from Jackson County.

"The main body of the church is now in Clay County, where the people are as kind and accomodating as could reasonably be expected. The continued threats of death to individuals of this church if they make their appearance in Jackson county, prevent the most of them from returning to that county, to secure personal property, which they were obliged to leave in their flight."

In the fall of 1833, the Mormons of Clay County helped elect Atchison as one of the county's two representatives to the Missouri General Assembly. In 1836, the General Assembly organized Caldwell County for exclusive occupation by the Mormons.

Joseph Smith came to Missouri in early 1838. By that time Mormons had moved into other counties where they came into conflict with the Gentiles who feared their combined political power. When violence broke out again, Atchison served again as their lawyer. In his capacity as a major general of the Missouri militia, Atchison also used his military authority against both sides to stop the violence.

In October 1838, Governor Boggs issued his "Exterminating Order" which demanded that that the Mormons "be exterminated or driven from the state if necessary for public peace." Atchison refused to carry out this order and resigned from the army.

On December 1, 1838, Joseph Smith, his brother Hyrum, and other leaders were jailed at Liberty, to await trial on the charge of treason. Their "treason" was the result of trying to defend themselves against mobs who resented the Saints' growing political and economic power. Smith and the other prisoners were confined for four and a half months. In early April 1839, Joseph and the other prisoners were allowed to escape, and they fled to safety in Illinois.