--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Jesse N. Smith collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 6 number: 11 published: 1903-09 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Jesse N. Smith, "Incidents of the “Mormon” Exodus from Nauvoo", *Improvement Era* 6, no. 11 (September 1903): 823–828.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0611unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera0611unse start_page: 823 end_page: 828 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1903-09) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0611unse publication_year: 1903 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1903, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Incidents of the “Mormon” Exodus from Nauvoo SCENERY AND CUSTOMS OF JAPAN. 821 arated by a wire net in the rear, are the gods and their sur- roundings. Each god is placed in a sort of room with curtains hanging all around him. It is difficult for me to place the god, for, try as I may, I cannot see anything but a highly decorated cabinet. Moving on around, we next come in contact with an image whose head, face, arms, hands and lower limbs are as smooth as glass, and partly rubbed away by the constant crowds of people who visit it. This god is supposed to have the ability to heal sick people, consequently, when a Japanese has a sore eye, lame arm, or any other ailment, he visits this god, and after giving him perhaps a few sens, he first rubs this image where his own ailment is affecting him, and then in turn rubs himself. The old god in this way has waxed smooth, and, were he in America, he would be called a "smooth fellow." All this time, we have been noticing only the objects of interest along the walls in the temple, so now we will pay some attention to the center stand. You look once, you look twice, and on the third look you see just as much as you did the previous two looks, for it is only a hole, with here and there a table or chair, while at one end is a raised stand where there are two large drums which are used during a ceremony. After taking a general look of the whole affair once more, we step out on the porch which surrounds the temple. In two corners are two large bells, which are tolled very often to drive away evil spirits, their sad, melancholy tone being enough, I am sure, to frighten Satan himself. Time has told on the temple, and the poles and floor are being now repaired and restored to for- mer strength. It is a very large temple, even larger than the ones at Nikko, but not nearly so pretty. seem very busy with silk worms^ All the people, now-a-days, and they hardly have time to our talks. Doors close listen to on us, people refuse to listen to us, and slander from passers by has been our lot of late. Were it not for the knowledge I have of the message of life and salvation that I bear, I would want to come home immediately, but as it is, I am happy and glad to be here, for I know our message can better these people. Nagano appears to be in a thriving condition, and every- body is busy. Nearly every country home has many silk worms, 822 IMPROVEMENT ERA. and, besides, the wheat is now being harvested. The Japanese- have three ways of cleaning a wheat field after the grain is ripe. One way, and the most common one, is to cut it with a small sickle. But there are many people who pluck off the grain, leaving the stalk in the ground, while others pull the whole plant, root and all, and leave the field perfectly bare. After the grain is thus taken from the field, preparations are made to get the ground into condition to plant the rice. Each field that perhaps last week was waving with large, ripe grain, is this week a dirty, muddy hole. The "Armstrong" machinery, used by all the Japanese, is of a nature that causes arm-aches, back-aches, and all sorts of aches, even to the observer. Agreeable to the American customs, the grain is cut, then threshed and sacked in the field from which itwas cut, but in such an entirely different manner that I must make a few passing remarks. You know how it is taken from the ground, so I will proceed ' to the next stage of action, even the threshing. Instead of the hum and buzz of the wheels, and the noise that accompanies our immense threshers, all that is heard here is a slash, slash; a noise similar to that caused by taking the limb of a tree and striking it against a wooden object. A small, wooden stand is made, having two poles running parallel and joined together every two inches by a small, iron stave. The iron staves are somewhat sharp, and it is over these that the grain is beaten. It takes perhaps over ten strokes to cleanse the stalk of wheat of all its grain. The grain falls to the ground, and after all the kernels are beaten out, it is gathered up and carried home. At the farm house, it is taken through many courses, for it is full of chaff and other stuff. The wheat stalks go to make up the roof of the house. And thus it is very interesting to follow the wheat from the field to the mill, for you see many strange sights. The mills are made entirely of wood, and the pounding machines are of the "Armstrong" brand. There are a few that are operated by water, but the majority are run by hand. Of course, it takes a great deal of time and labor before the wheat, as flour, makes its appearance on the market. In my letters to follow, I will endeavor to interest you in other of the queer industries. INCIDENTS OFTHE "MORMON" EXODUS FROM NAUVOO. BY JESSE N. SMITH, PRESIDENT OF THE SNOWFLAKE, ARIZONA, STAKE OF ZION. [Jesse Nathaniel Smith, one of the staunch pillars of the Church, was born Decsmber 1, 1834, in Stockholm, New York. He is the son of Silas Smith and Mary Aikens, and has been associated with the Church practically from the beginning. In the early settlement of Utah, he figured as one of the active breakers of the soil, and founders of settle- ments. In the mission field, his labors have been extensive, arduous and important. He was the successor of President Van Cott in the Scandinavian mission, and again presided over that mission in 1868- 70. As a pioneer in Mexico and Arizona, his name will ever be associ- ated with the achievements of the Saints in those lands. A shorttime ago, he was asked by an army officer to write an outline of the journey of the "Mormons" to Great Salt Lake, and the Era takes pleasure in print- ing his reply, for no person living is more competent, by spirit and ex- perience, to speak on this subject than President Jesse Nathaniel Smith. Editors.] When the "Mormons" were expelled from the State of Mis- souri, in 1838, they, in a condition of utter destitution, sought shelter in the neighboring state of Illinois. They were homeless, helpless wanderers, having been deprived of all their earthly possessions; their houses burned, their stock shot down or driven off,their property confiscated or destroyed, and they themselves compelled to abandon the lands they had purchased from the government. The people of Quinc/, 111., received the fugitives with great kindness, and helped them to situations in the neighborhood where employment could be obtained, and farms rented; for they had 824 IMPROVEMENT ERA. never been accused of laziness or unthriftiness by their enemies. A few months thereafter, the "Mormon" leaders purchased the town of Commerce, in Hancock county, which, being renamed Nauvoo, afforded a home for the exiles. There were at that time but few houses in the village, and the atmosphere was sickly; but the swamps were soon drained, and houses and cabins arose as by magic, so that in four or five years it became the home of some fifteen thousand industrious citizens. Instigated by priests and politicians, animosities were en- couraged against the "Mormons" among the surrounding settlers, which culminated in the tragedy at Carthage, where Joseph Smith and his saintly brother were murdered while confined in jail on a trumped-up charge of treason against the government. This murder was committed in open day by a disguised and painted mob. The murder was condoned and winked at by the civil authorities of the state, as only sham efforts were ever made to bring the offenders to justice. It was supposed that the death of these leading men would have appeased the ferocity of the opposition; that the magnitude of the crime would have appalled the perpetrators; but not so; like the wolf of the plains, this taste of blood only whetted their appetite. About one year thereafter, the scenes of Missouri be- gan to be reenacted in Illinois. The "Mormon" settlements on Bear Creek, at Green Plains, and Morley were broken up by mobs. The houses and stacks of newly harvested wheat were burned. The families without food or shelter were driven out of their homes and fled panic-stricken to Nauvoo. Some of the owners re- turned to their fields furtively by night, to gather the ears of corn which ripened later. It became apparent to the "Mormon" leaders that neither peace nor protection could be had in Illinois, so they looked around them for a place of safety. An appeal was sent to the governor of each state and territory in the Union, excepting Missouri and for a peaceful asylum within their borders for an innocent Illinois, though much maligned people. No reply was received, except from the State of Arkansas whose executive extended a sort of half-hearted welcome. A number of public men were consulted without result, except in the case of Henry Clay, who coldly said, INCIDENTS OF THE "MORMON" EXODUS. 825 '"You would better go to Oregon." Easily said, but how could it be carried out by twenty thousand people in very moderate circum- stances, owning nothing beyond their dwellings and a few culti- vated acres. Desperate as was the prospect, it was decided by the "Mormon" leaders to turn their backs upon civilization, and face the terrors of the western wildernes3, seeking peace, white-winged peace, and the liberty to worship God unmolested. The mob leaders were notified that the "Mormons" would commence their move westward in the early spring of 1846. Then commenced a season of great activity. Cattle were bought in great numbers, and trained to the yoke, timber was procured and seasoned, wagon-shops multiplied on every hand, expert black- smiths were in great demand, experiments were made with food- stuffs, to be packed in limited space and preserved for long periods of time. Those who were unable to get off, freely assisted others more fortunate who were prepared to take the fore. The memorable march was commenced in February, when President Young crossed the Mississippi river on the ice, followed by people of every age, all ranks and conditions; though the aged, the invalid, the young and helpless appeared to predominate. The writer, then but twelve years of age, with his mother, and brother, left the doomed city of Nauvoo the following May, but 'remained during the summer only a few miles away, in Lee county, Iowa. He distinctly remembers hearing the reports of the cannon when the Illinois mob fell upon the remnant of his co- religionists who remained in Nauvoo. This occurred in September, the sounds of strife continued for three days, when the heroic defenders were driven across the river, with their sick and wounded, leaving their homes in the hands of the victors. The casualties on the "Mormon" side were three dead and about twenty wounded. Here they lay on the river bottom entirely without shelter, exposed to the fierce rays of the sun by day, and the chilling damp of the river bottom by night— small wonder that they contracted malaria in its various forms. The leading camps had reached Council Bluffs on the Missouri river, when the govern- ment sent them a call for five hundred volunteers for the war with Mexico. The required number of men volunteered, and were mustered into service, organized, and, on the 16th of July, 826 IMPROVEMENT ERA. marched away. Before leaving Nauvoo, the whole people entered into a public covenant, in their splendid temple, to stand by and assist each other in the mighty exodus. The leading companies had broken land and planted fields for the good of the on-coming stragglers, at Garden Grove, and Mount Pisgah. When they heard of the disaster at Nauvoo, true to their covenant, the leading camps sent relief parties to gather up the broken remnants; one of which parties picked up the writer's mother and her little family, reaching the Bluffs in November. The writer made a trip with a friend, during the winter, to the northern counties of Missouri, like Jacob's sons of old to Egypt, to buy corn. We had feather beds to trade, also coverlets and clothing. Corn was cheap, and wheat was dear; we there- fore took the cheaper breadstuffs. Our people built huts and cabins in which they wintered on the western bank of the Missouri river at the where Florence now stands. Many died of place scurvy during the winter. One permanent improvement, a grist mill, was built. A great amount of hay had been cut, but with the approach of spring, the writer with others engaged in felling the elm trees for the cattle to brouse on their swelling buds; the cattle would come lowing, when they heard the trees fall. In April, 1847, President Young, with one hundred and forty- three picked men, left for the front, to locate the road and select a place for settlement. The main body would follow more slowly, waiting for the grass. A rendevous was appointed on the Elkhorn, a deep and rapid stream which was ferried. While here, a young man, Jacob Weatherby, was killed by Indians. Ten wagons were taken as the unit for the organization, a captain of ten being chosen. If anything happened to detain one of the ten, the remaining nine waited also. Five tens chose a captain of fifty, which nunber formed a company for the march. There were also captains of hundreds, but practically each fifty acted independently. As we journeyed up the north side of the Piatt river, two fifties, often, and sometimes four fifties,marched abreast. The hunters, provided with Hawkins rifles, would leave camp early in the morning, others with horses would go out and bring in the game, in answer to signals during the day. The hunters were instructed to kill nothiug not actually needed, and let