Iowa History Project
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Making of Iowa
Chapter XXVI
The March of the Mormons
In February, 1839, Governor Lucas, of Iowa Territory, received a communication from Elder Isaac Galland, of the Mormon Church, asking whether, if Mormons purchased land in Iowa, they would be permitted to stay there.
Governor Lucas replied that he knew of no authority which would deprive them of their rights to reside in the Territory; that they were citizens of the United States, and Iowa would see that they were given the privileges enjoyed by other citizens.
The leader of the Mormons in this day was Joseph Smith. He claimed that in a vision he had been told to dig in the ground at a certain spot. Following the instructions, he had unearthed a book of stone. He translated the characters contained int he book, and said he had found the Book of the Mormon, which presented a new religion.
Joseph Smith was living in Western New York. He began to preach. His followers increased, and in 1831 the sect established headquarters at Kirkland, Ohio. From there this Church of Mormon, or Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, removed to New Jerusalem, in Missouri. The Missouri people, like the Ohio people, opposed the settlement, and in 1838 the members of the faith were driven out of the State. A number were killed, and others were roughly treated. It was necessary to seek a refuge among a more friendly people, and the eyes of many Mormons turned to Iowa Territory.
Having received this courteous response from Governor Lucas, Elder Galland and a number of others in the church settled in the southeastern corner of the new Territory. Part of the town site of Keokuk was bought by the Mormons, and at Nashville, later Galland, Montrose and other points in Lee County property was acquired. By January, 1840, about 100 families were residents of Lee County.
The condition of some of these Mormons was pitiable. It is related that in December, 1839, a crowd of men, returning from a visit to Pennsylvania, was obliged to leave the steamboat at the foot of the Des Moines Rapids, and walk around the rapids, because the river was so low. Where Galland is the travelers saw a little cabin. They thought they might get some refreshment here, so they looked in.
On the floor lay a white-headed, old man, his wife, and several children. The weather was quite cold, yet the family had only straw as covering.
The wife said that once her husband had been prosperous, but that because they were Mormons they had been driven out of Missouri, and their cabin there, with all its contents, had been burned.
A Missourian in the party said:
"Served you right. I wish we had caught you and fixed you before you got out of Missouri."
Daniel Miller, one of his companions, spoke up, and strongly rebuked the Missourian, using such emphatic language that the two men nearly had a fight.
In 1840 Miller was running for the Legislature. While campaigning he revisited the spot, and found a lively settlement. Here he was stricken with fever and ague, and, strangely enough, was taken care of by the very family who had been so destitute not a year before. When Miller was well, and about to start out again, the Mormon husband said:
"You're running for the Legislature, aren't you?"
"Yes," said Miller, "I am."
"Well," continued the other, "you just go home and stay there, and don't worry over election. We Mormons hold the balance of power in this section, and I'll see to it that you're elected."
Miller knew that the man spoke the truth. He went home, and waited. When the ballots were counted it was found he had a splendid majority.
The bulk of the Mormons, after their flight from Missouri, gathered at Quincy, Illinois. But they did not stay here long.
They wanted a permanent home. Across the Mississippi from Montrose was the village of Commerce, formerly a trading post. This site the Mormons purchased, built a city, and called it Nauvoo. The community flourished, large numbers of converts flocking into it.
Even the Indians were curious. The Mormons tried to enlist them in the cause, and one day Keokuk, with fifty braves, their squaws and pappooses, visited Nauvoo, to smoke the pipe of peace at a conference with his "brother," Joseph Smith.
But Keokuk was unconvinced. Said he:
"As for the New Jerusalem, to which we are all going to emigrate, so far as he was concerned, it depended very much on whether there would be any government annuities (yearly payments), and as for 'the milk and honey' which was to flow over the land, he was not particular - he much preferred whisky."
The Mormons carried things with too high a hand. Illinois set about to expel them. Rumors bearing the gravest charges against the Saints were in circulation. There were reports of an organization among them termed the Sons of Danites, for the purpose of driving out dissenters, and killing enemies, and even inoffensive persons. The murder of Colonel Davenport, on Rock Island, was laid at the door of the Danites. During Iowa Territorial days portions of Iowa and Illinois contiguous to the Mississippi were infested with desperate thieves and robbers, and the Sons of Danites were supposed to have a hand in the doings of these bands. The doctrine of plurality of wives also was detested by the Gentiles, or anti-Mormons.
In June, 1845, Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were killed by a mob at Carthage, Illinois. In October the Mormon leaders signed a paper, by which they promised to leave the State as fast as their affairs could be settled up.
At this time there were in Nauvoo and suburbs 2,500 houses, some frame shanties, others very handsome structures of brick or stone. A great temple was under way. It was to be two full stories, built from white stone, and carved with mystic figures of the moon and sun. Over the wide entrance arch was to be in letters of gold "Holiness to the Lord." The spire was to soar one hundred and fifty feet into the sky, and on the point was to be an angel holding a golden trumpet.
The Gentiles asserted that this temple was a fortification to be used to withstand attack. Hatred of the Mormons grew so, that while the workman labored on the building he kept weapons close at hand.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints now prepared for another change of abiding place. Driven out of Ohio, Missouri and Illinois, the Mormons decided this time to go so far that they would not again be molested. In January, 1846, a circular announced that early in March a party of pioneers would be sent to the Rocky Mountains, to seek a site for another city.
In February the Mormons began to leave Illinois. They crossed from Nauvoo into Iowa. At first they rowed over in river crafts, but intense cold soon froze the water in the channel, so that the ice was safe. By the end of the month 1,200 wagons had made the passage. The transfer continued, until by the middle of May 16,000 Mormons were on Iowa soil. This was the first detachment, and now began the long pilgrimage westward.
The first camp was at Sugar Creek. Snow covered the ground, for the spring was backward. But, although wet, cold and exiled, the Saints set out in a long line, with 3,000 wagons, 30,000 head of cattle, many horses, mules and sheep, for a new home they knew not where.
As the march progressed, Mormon stations were established. The second camp was at Richardson's point, Lee County. April 27, the site of Garden Grove, Decatur County, was reached. The bugle sounded a halt, and a company was told off to form a settlement. The site of Mt. Pisgah, Union County, was attained June 17, and here also sprang up a Mormon community.
These stations were resting places, and bases of supplies, for the Mormon emigrants who followed.
The Mormons who tried to remain in Nauvoo after the first body left were harshly used. In September they were attacked by Gentiles, and after brief resistance capitulated. They were compelled to hasty flight, and those overtaken on the Illinois shore were ducked, and sent, dripping, over the river on flatboats. The place in Iowa where they huddled, miserable and poor, was termed "Poor Camp." Their plight was so wretched that Illinois people sent them provisions.
"Poor Camp" was two miles above Montrose. From Garden Grove and Mt. Pisgah the Mormons in advance dispatched wagons to the relief of their suffering brethren. Before these arrived, a multitude of quail fell in "Poor Camp," and all along the river for forty miles. This was thought to be an act of divine favor.
In October "Poor Camp" was deserted. In the meantime the other Mormons were traversing Iowa. All summer long this pilgrimage was in progress. The Mormons were not dismayed by their trials, but were a merry throng. Stringed instruments were in every party, and around the evening campfires story telling, singing and dancing were indulged in. Prayers were offered every night, and at every halt.
At first northwest winds blew in the faces of the travelers. As spring advanced the prairie became muddy and soft, and rains were frequent. Sometimes a mile a day was all that could be accomplished. Many of the vehicles were hand carts, with canvas tops. The women as well as the men stood between the shafts, and pulled.
As the weather grew warmer pasturage was abundant, provisions were plenty, and fuel was easily procured. No enemies were present to molest the Saints. Iowa treated the stangers kindly, and they loudly sang hymns of thankfulness as they marched.
But there were many deaths. Bodies were placed between two half cylinders formed by stripping bark from a log, and were buried in a shallow grave. The aged and the ill rode in the wagons.
The Mormons were objects of much curiosity to the settlers. Ignorant people spread the report that the pilgrims were going about in imitation of John the Baptist, clad in buffalo robes. Others insisted that the Saints were in the pay of the British, and were taking to the Pottawattamies gifts of scarlet uniforms, and twelve brass field pieces.
July 1, 1846, the first wagons reached the Missouri River, where Council Bluffs now is. Temporary camp was made here until it was ascertained that the Pawnees, Omahas and Sioux would permit them to cross the Missouri. In August the Mormons entered Nebraska. "Winter Quarters" was established on the west side of the Missouri. Here the mormons stayed until the summer of 1848. Then a portion of them went on to Salt Lake; the rest returned to the site of Council Bluffs, and made headquarters within the present limits of the city.
Soon they occupied a large part of Pottawattamie and Mills Counties, guided public sentiment and controlled elections.
They were very fond of dancing. The balls opened with prayer. As the women outnumbered the men, two women were assigned each man, as partners. The march of the Mormons across Iowa still continued. Even as late as 1860 parties stopped off at Council Bluffs, formerly known as Kanesville, to outfit ere attempting the plains westward. In 1855 several hundred men, women and children came in on foot, hauling hand carts procured at Iowa City.
The Mormons were the pioneers who settled Western Iowa. After their arrival in 1846, the vicinity of Council Bluffs rapidly increased in population. Every party of Saints passing through left behind a few persons to swell the number. The Mormon Trail was a favorite highway for the emigrants. The Mormon pilgrims of the spring and summer of 1846 opened the first road through Iowa.
Many Mormons who did not believe in the whole doctrine taught by their leaders, particularly the section authorizing a man to have more than one wife, remained in this State. They are styled the Reformed Church of the Latter Day Saints. The headquarters of this branch is to-day Lamoni, in Decatur County. The membership is large and the people are orderly and law abiding.