The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-09-14

-Ecu IIcStUts
Mormonism has again invaded the
state of Kansas
wow has been going on at ST. John.
Stafford county. with some of the big
gest guns in the Mormon church in at
tendance.
On that day Norman church was
dedicated at the county seat Of Stat
ford county, and ever since confer
ence has been held in which prayer.
preaching and prophecies are the main
features.
Among the distinguished men pres
ent are Elder Kimball. nephew of the
noted Mormon, Heber c. Kimball, and
Elder Williamson of the Indian terri
tory. who had numerous wives TO give
up when the EdmHnds anti-polygamy
law went into effect. There are also
great many other notables of the
Mormon church present
The newly dedicated church at st.
John is the only Mormon church in
the United States east of the Rocky
mountains. and it has somewhat of a
romantic history as told to a reporter
for the Eagle
Back in the early days when poly
gamy was first made a feature of Nor
moniSm a tall, stalwart patriarcial old
Virginian named Bickerton objected,
and finally seceeded from the church.
He was one of those odd characters
developed in American life. who felt
himself called upon to become pro-
phet and leader. He was command
ed OF the Lord TO bend his steps toward
the setting sun and carry the book of
Mormon with him He came to east
ern Kansas thirty-five or forty years
ago, and settled somewhere near Fort
Scott, but he Could not stay there.
Whether he was commanded by the
Lord or the citizens to leave is not
stated, but at any rate he pushed fur
Their west. All this time he was di-
rected by unseen hands. Arriving at the
big bend OF the Arkansas river he
thought about locating, but inspiration
directed him down the valley and over
the prairie until he arrived where ST.
John, Stafford county. now stands. All
western Kensas was then wilderness
Kit Carson and William Matthewson
might have been there, but they were
probably the only white men who had
at that time trodden tine soil of Staff
ord county. There Mr.. Bickerton was
ordered 10 locate and plant the stake of
Zion. The stake he used on this oc-
casion was one of the spokes of his
wagon wheel which he drove deep in
the ground, denoting firm establish
ment. Mr.. Bickerton then went east
to get his colony and when he return
ed the stake of Zion was gone. Some
Indian short of wood was supposed to
have pulled II up to build a fire in his
wigwam. At any rate Mr.. Bickler-
ton thought he remembered where he
drove the stake and he built a church
there dedicated TO Mormonism.
Gradually civilization extended west
ward, and in a short time the stake or
Zion was covered over by red hot
frontier town. The frisky cowboy
made it his paradise, the border out
law called it his headquarters. and
saloons and gambling houses flourish
ed. There was some doubt whether
the church had been built where the
stake of Zion was driven, and the Nor
mons fell out among themselves. A
house divided against itself could not
stand, and Mormonism in Kansas dis
appeared In a short time the Nor
mon church was turned into dance
hall. 1t is strange, but il is fact
nevertheless, that a frontier church
figures more in the develoment of
town than any other building. IL Is
usually USED Tor every tnlnS ana Is
moved about like rolling stone. This
was no exception. From church II
became a dance hall. then a saloon,
afterwards blacksmith shop. again a
feed store. and IL was finally and per-
manently located as ware house.
Last year while a man was digging
a cellar preparatory to re-erect a house
that had been burned down, he found
Brckertons original stake of Zion: the
wagon spoke that had been driven in
the ground over thirty years before.
The Mormons out at Salt Lake heard
of it, and regarding il as providential
discovery bought the lot and erected
n church and that is the church that
was dedicated last Sunday and in
which solemn Mormon services and 4
conference have been held in ever
since.
II is said that in the re-oryanizej co.,
ony there are twenty-five families and
more coming.
J. D. Hutchings Is 50 sick tina he has
been compelled to take to his bed.