Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1895-10-24

prevailed in the country to greater
or lesser degree since the Mormons set
tied in Nauvoo in 1S39-40. OF course,
the Mormon war, which occurred In
1845, and which resulted in one or two
deaths only, was also historic incident
of these troubles, but the murder OF
Smith, the leader and king of the Nor
mons, forever immortalized him In the
eyes Of all Mormons and made Mormon
ism peculiar, yet unwritten history.
The writer, who has studied the sub
ject for years, claims that no true his
tory of Mormonism in Illinois has ever
been written, and never will be, from
the fart that those who were once COM
petent to perform the work are dead,
and while they lived they made no eff
fort to gather the data necessary for a
true and impartial history.
l. Joseph Smith came with his hun
| ireds, aye, thousands Of people, to llli-
nois in 1S39-40 They had been driven
| out Of Missouri and Ohio, and were in
/ a demoralized and almost starving con-
dition. But the pioneers of Hancock
county received the outcasts kindly,
and the Mormons located city on the
bank of the Mississippi river and called
the spot Nauvoo--"pleasantl land" Here
city grew to the unusual size, In
those days, of $4,000 inhabitants in a
/ year or two. Smith had little trouble
in getting several illegal charters grant
ed him by the state legislature. and 1t
was through the rascally acts Of this
body largely that led to most Of the
troubles in Hancock county with the
Mormons. Whenever Smith or any of
his followers would evade or break the
law and were threatened with arrest,
or were arrested, they would resort to
the protection of the habeas corpus act.
and by this method escaped the clutches
of the law.
The late Judge Hibee and his brother
Francis were living in Nauvoo during
the reign Of Joseph and became very
weary Of the methods employed by
Smith and his followers. So, about
June 20, they issued the first number of
the Nauvoo Expositer, which fairly
screamed with denunciations Of Nor
mon methods. This was the first and
last issue of that paper. BY order OF
Joseph Smith, mayor and president OF
Nauvoo. the Expositor Office was de-
molished. and the press and type
thrown into the Mississippi river
Joseph Smith, his brother Hyrum and
DR.. Taylor. who was the late head oil
the Utah church, were arrested for this
act. and were placed in jail at Carthage
in the debtors room. Gov. Ford and the
local authorities of Carthage had
promised Smith protection from moi
violence. as the feeling in the county
against Smith was very strong. Bu
the local militia placed around the
Jail to guard it played into the hands
, of the mob. which came out of thu
timber near Carthage on the afternoon
of June q. 1874, and shot Joseph ant
Hyrum Smith to death and badl,
wounded DR.. Taylor.
The citizens of Carthage fed aftel
the murder was committed. fearin,
vengeance from the Mormons, but tn
Mormons did not attempt any retalia
ton. After Smiths death Brigham
Young tried to run affairs at Nauvo'
and trouble ensued. PolNgamy wa
: then, as alleged, introduced into tn
! church. At any rate. Hancock count.
people resolved to drive the Mormon
5 out Of the state. The Mormon war oc
3 CURED in 1845, and in the spring o
1886 the Mormons left Nauvoo. In 1874
the beautiful temple. costing abou
81. 100000. was burned by vandals.
There are few Mormons in Hancocl
= county now. Mrs Catharine Salisbury
residing at Fountain Green. east Of Car
thage, is sister of Joseph Smith. Sh