The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-10-29
Mormonisn1 IN Illinois
lnterestingsstoryrof Struggle That Forced Them
From the State.

The following historical sketch is
taken from the Mississippi Valley
Magazine. published at Quincy:
Much interest has been displayed
in the serial history of MTmonism in
Illinois, and there have been many
calls for back Numbers of the Mis-
sissippi Valley Magazines, which have
contained many new facts and vari-
Gus authenticated documents throw
ing light on the subject, many OF
which never before come to the at
tention of the readers. During the
present week further interest on the
part of Quincy readers was occasion
ed because of lecture and sfereop-
tican views being given at q local
theatre touching Mormonism in Utah,
the lecturer stating that he was only
setting forth what he could personal
ly vouch for as existing in Utah ana
the farther western portion of the
country, and not touching on the his.
tory of the sect as far as Illinois or
the cast were concerned. The pre-
vious issue of the Mississippi Valley
Magazine told of the official explana-
ton of the Mormons relative to the
destruction of the Nauvoo Expcsitor, a
newspaper published in opposition to
the Mormon church organization as
1t then existed. Hancock county, just
north OF the county in which Quincy
is situated, was stirred to fever heat
by the destruction of the newspaper
plant, and the driving Of all who
sympathized with the Expositor from
Nauvoo This was the elimination of
a series of outrages against the anti
Mormons which led to the arrests Of
the Smiths and their destruction at
the Carthage Jail by indignant citi-
zens of that quarter of the county.
Mass Meeting Held,
From the recollections of Thomas
Gregg, who published book entitled
THE Prophet of Palmyra" many
years ago, interesting facts are
herewith given In various parts of
the disturbed regions public meetings
were held and the people were ad-
vised to arm for the impending
crisis. At Carthage and Warsaw,
two principal points in Hancock
county, mass meetings adopted the
following resolutions without dis
senting vote.
Resolved, That the time, in our
opinion, has arrived, when the adher-
ents of Smith as body, should be
driven from the surrounding settle
ments into Nauvoo; that the prophet
and miscreant adherents should then
be demanded at their hands. and If
not surrendered war of extermina-
ton should be waged to their entire
destruction, if necessary for our pro-
lection
Resolved, That every citizen arm
himself to be prepared to sustain the
resolutions herein contained.
Men Were Aiming.
These looked to extreme measures.
1t Is proper to here remark, that there
were at this time, and ever after
wards, while the Mormons remained.
fou: classes of citizens in the county:
First, the Mormons themselves: g. A
class called Jack-Mormons, who, not
members of the sect. adhered to and
sustained them for political gain; 8.
Old citizens who weres anti Mormon at
heart, but who refused to countenance
any but lawful measures for the re-
dress of grievances; and, 4 Anti-Mor.
mons, who now that the crisis was at
hand, advocated war and extermina.
ton Some of the third class were
denounced as Jacks" by the extrem-
lists; though the great body of them
acted usually with the fourth class in
all things but their extreme meas
ures
All over the county men were arm
Ing, organizing and drilling; having
been notified by the officer holding
the writs that posse compitatus
would be called for to aid in making
the arrests. A great want existed in
the absence of arms and ammunition
Agents to procure these were sent to
Quincy and st. Louis and other places
At st. Louis cannon and a lot of
ammunition were obtained and
brought up to Warsaw. The authori.
ties of the town voted a thousand
dollars for supplies. A deputation
having been sent to Governor Ford at
Springfield that functionary decided
to visit the county in person and
Judge for himself.
In much that follows regarding the
death of the Smiths, and the events
leading thereto and subsequently,. we