Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-04-06
The Prophet of PolYgamY.

ct" as a speaker in an anti-polygamy
meeting at Chicago has served to re-
vive interest in the Smith family and
its connection with the Utah abomina-
ton. young Joe," as he is called in
Illinois, is the eldest of the four sons
of the prophet" and is now about
forty-three years of age. He lived at
Nauvoo, the old Mormon stronghold in
Illinois, for many years after his faith
er's death, and there studied and prac-
ticed law, and was at one time police
magistrate Of the town. At length,
however, he removed to Plano, Illinois,
not far from Chicago, where he found
ed Mormon society, established
Mormon newspaper, and began preach
ing. He is a man Of average ability
and good character, and has steadily
resisted all overtures from the "saints"
in Utah to join and accept the doctrine
of polygamy-preferring to remain in
Illinois and to be satisfied with one
wife, formerly Miss Griswold, whom
he married at Nauvoo.
The next brother, Frederick, was a
farmer near NauvOo, and died there
many years ago, leaving a widow and
one child, the former of whom turned
out bad" and went into a house of
ill-fame at Quincy, Illinois, but subse-
quently reformed and married fellow
named Krene, and at last accounts was
still living with him. Alexander, the
third son, is in Utah, we believe, but
does not seem to be making any par
ticular stir, and has never attracted
any particular attention except as the
seducer of a girl who was raised in
the Smith family, and whom he after
wards married. The younger son,
David, was educated at one of the
eastern colleges, and is now engaged
in religious work with his brother
Joseph. Besides the boys, &here was
an adopted daughter, Julia, a hand
some and accomplished lady, who be-
came the wife of one Moffett, banker
in st. Louis. The widow of the
prophet" now Mrs. Bidamon, still
resides at Nauvoo, and keeps hotel in
the old Smith mansion" when the
writer saw her two years ago-a we'll
preserved and interesting old lady, of
considerable culture and familiarity
with books, and very much respected
by everybody. She used to write the
Mormon church hymns when the
prophet" was living, and is yet an
ardent believer in the faith, though
bitterly hostile to the ruling powers in
Utah.
The widow and children of cold Jo'
stOutly insist that he ded not proclaim
or practice the doctrine of plural
wifeism," but that it was instituted
by Brigham Young after the exouds to
Salt Lake, without shadow of author.
ity and contrary to the express com
mar of the Mormon Bible. Unfortu.
nately, however, this claim cannot be
substantiated by the facts of history
The truth is that an attempt on the
part of the prophet" to persuade Ger.
tain attractive feminine members of
his flock that he had received "revel.
alton" setting them apart for polyga-
nous uses, was the thing that directly
led to his overthrow and death. In
the spring of 1874, formidable dis.
sension arose in the Mormon fold at
Nauvoo solely because Smith had
undertaken to practically establish this
pernicious system. The wives and
sweethearts of several prominent
churchmen made a6idavits to that eff
feet; seceders' organization was eff
fected; and a newspaper with the sig.
nitcant title of Expositor made its ap.
pearance and fully detailed the whole
miserable story. This paper never
reached its second issue. Smiths mu.
nicipal court declared it a nuisance
and the press was promptly destroyed
and the types scattered to the four
winds. Then came a warrant from
the co1nty authorities for Smiths ar
rest; the militia companies were called
out; intense excitement rapidly ensued
and finally, Smith, alarmed at the stu
alton, gave himself up and sought
refuge in the jail at Carthage, where
mob soon attacked and killed him anC
his brother Hyrum, who was his fel
, low prisoner.
Such were the circumstances unde
which polygamy was first promulgated
and attempted to be enforced as a par
of the Mormon creed; and it rests to
Gay In Utah upon the revelation" tina
cost Smith his life and drove Mormon
ism out of Illinois. The man who de
scribed Smith as "a Yankee who want
ed harem and invented religion t,
get one" did not miss the truth yer,
= far. Brigham Young was correc
when he said at Salt Lake City, a few
years before his death, 1--WE brough
our polygamy with US from Nauvoo.'
1t would be pleasant to believe tina
the founder of the church did no
: authorize this beastly travesty upol
, virtue and decency, and that his sue
3 cessors have prostituted the faith t,
ends he never contemplated; but tn
! facts forbid any such lenient judgment
} Polygamy is not an off-shoot or an af
] terthought; it is an integral part O
3 the Mormon system, and when polyg
, amy ceases, there will not long be an,
, Mormonism, save a weak and dwind
c ling, scattered and harmless sentiment
e which the country can afford to trea
-