Mormon History
Reaction of Carroll County Citizens - 1838
THE MORMONS IN CARROLL COUNTY. --
Notwithstanding the co-operation of Jo Smith and his followers with the
Loco Focos, they do not seem to [so obtain] a very good relationship
with the people of Carrol county. A meeting was held at Crrolline, in
Carroll county, on the 30th of July, at which James Standley presided,
and T. H. Freeman acted as secretary. A preamble and resolutions were
presented and accepted. They recite, that David Thomas and Henry Root
had encouraged some of the Mormons to settle in the western part of the
county, and had sold them lands, &c. Whereupon, a resolution was
passed, requesting the Mormons to leave county; and a committee was
appointed to wait upon Thomas and Root and communicate to them the
sense of the meeting. The meeting thus adjourned until the 7th inst.
On the 7th the meeting met pursuant to adjournment, Thomas Minnis
acting as chairman, and T. H. Freeman as secretary. The committee
appointed at the previous meeting made a report and the annxed
proceedings were had:
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
That on the second inst. we acquainted Henry Root (David Thomas being
absent) and the other Mormons who have located themselves at De Witt,
with the wishes of the citizens of this county, and that they received
for answer language of the most insulting character, and were also
informed that they (the Mormons) were determined not to leave Carroll
county; and that Root said, if the citizens of Carroll county attempted
to drive them out of the county, they would apply to the Far West for
assistance, and in such case we would have to abide by the consequences.
ABBOT HANCOCK.
SAMUEL H. WILLIAMS,
JOHN SMART.
August 7, 1838.
On notice of Doctor William W. Austin, the following named
persons were appointed a committee to draft resolutions expressive of
the sense of this meeting, to wit: A. C. Blackwell, Charles G, Merrill,
James Standley, Hiram Wilcoxen. John Phillips, L. W. Gilbreath, Stephen
Smart, George Hardwick, and E. I. Rea; who retired, and after due
consideration, reported the following preamble and resolutions:
WHEREAS the people called Mormons about eight years since, located
themselves in Jackson county, and for improper and dishonorable conduct
were driven from said county by the citizens thereof. And whereas the
citizens of Clay county received them as persons whom they believed
were persecuted and did, under such impression, aid and protect them
until they found by actual experience, that said Mormons were a class
of people amongst whom other denominations could not reside with any
degree of satisfaction. And whereas it was distinctly understood, and
expressly agreed upon by said Mormons and the other citizens of the
upper part of the State of Missouri, that they (the said Mormons) might
select a tract of country uninhabited, and locate themselves in peace,
but they should not intrude upon the citizens of any of the adjoining
counties, agreeably to which contract, the Mormons first settled that
tract of country now known as Caldwell county, which met with the
approbation of the counties adjoining. And whereas said Mormons have
broken the covenant so by them made, and are now settling in Carroll
county, contrary to the express wishes of the citizens thereof. And
whereas said Mormons and their abettors have threatened to assassinate
some of our most valuable citizens:
Therefore be it resolved by this meeting, That there be a committee of
safety appointed to consist of five persons, to wit: Doctor William W.
Austin. Edmund I. Rea, William Freeman, Hiram Wilcoxen, and Abbot
Hancock, whose duty it shall be to correspond with the adjoining
counties. and make known our distressed situation, and request aid to
remove Mormons and abolitionists, and other disorderly persons, out of
the limits of Carroll county.
Resolved That the committee of safety be authorized to adopt such
measures as to them shall seem most expedient for the safety of the
citizens of Carroll county.
Resolved That the committee of safety be, and they are hereby,
authorized to raise, by subscriptions or otherwise a sufficient sum of
money to defray any expense that may accure in carrying the foregoing
resolutions into effect.
Resolved That the citizens of the adjoining counties be, and they are
hereby requested to form corresponding committees, and hold themselves
in readiness to give assistance if the same should be required.
Resolved That the editors of the public papers within the State be, and
they are hereby requested to publish the proceedings of this meeting.
On motion of Hiram Wilcoxen, the foregoing preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted.
THOMAS MINNIS, President.
T. H. Freeman,
Secretary.