Willard Richards: The Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith

IMPROVEMENT ERA Vol. X. JUNE. 1907. No. 8 WILLARD RICHARDS— THE MARTYRDOM OF JOSEPH AND HYRUM SMITH. BY HON. PRESTON D. RICHARDS, A GRANDSON. Willard Richards had an inherent love for freedom and relig- ious liberty, his ancestors belonged to the Plymouth Colony, and his father is now immortalized with the [patriots of *"76" who gained the world's greatest victory for political freedom. Broadened by such a lineage, he was a fit and powerful instrument in the hands of the Lord to assist in establishing hig work in the land and his people in these magnificent mountains. He was born in Hopkinton, Middlesex county, Massachusetts, one hundred three years ago on the 24th of this June, being the youngest of eleven children. He attended the common schools until he was fifteen, and then entered the Richmond high school; in fact, he lived the characteristic life of boyhood, there being nothing recorded of him to indicate that he was not a boy and not human. His parents were Presbyterians, so he was sprinkled, catechised, and educated according to the prescribed forms of that sect. He witnessed several sectarian "revivals")^ at Richmond, where the family had removed when he was ten years old, and offered him- se]f to the Congregational church when he was seventeen years old, but the total disregard of that church to his request for ad- mission led him to a more thorough investigation of the principles

562 IMPROVEMENT ERA. of religion, which convinced him that the sects were all wrong, and that the Lord had no church on the earth. From that time, he kept himself aloof from sectarian influences. In 1820, he commenced teaching school, and taught four years in New York and Massachusetts, and during his spare time he constantly devoted himself to the acquisition of knowledge. In 1827, he commenced lecturing on electricity and other scientific subjects, which he continued to do at intervals, for several years, throughout the New England states. There are numerous testimonials preserved in favor of his lectures from men of high standing in the literary and scientific world. Seven years later, he studied medicine, and while practicing at Southborough, near Boston, he observed on the table a Book of Mormon, * which Brig- ham Young had left with his cousin. He opened the book without regard to place, and totally ignorant of its contents, and before reading half a page declared, "God or the devil has had a hand in that book, for man never wrote it." In ten days he read the book through twice, and so strongly was he impressed with its truth that he began making preparations to go to Kirtland, Ohio, seven hundred fifty miles west, that he might give the work a thorough investigation. He arrived in Kirtland in October, 1836, where he was most cordially received by his cousin, Brigham Young, with whom he tarried and gave the work an unceasing and untiring investigation, untilDecember of the same year, when he was baptized by Brigham Young, the ice being cut from the river in order to perform the ordinance. He was ordained an Elder March 6, 1837, and a few days later set apart to accompany Brigham Young on a special business mission to the Eastern States, from which he returned June 11 of the same year. On the day following, he was set apart to ac- company Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde and others on a mission to England. These were the first missionaries to Europe. The gospel door was successfully opened to Europe, at Preston, after which Elder Richards was sent to Bedford and Fur- rounding country to inaugurate the work in that part, which he *Thi3 copy of the Book of Mormon is now in possession of President Joseph F. Smith.

WILLARD RICHARDS— THE MARTYRDOM. 563 did successfully, notwithstanding bitter opposition. He returned to Preston, mission headquarters, in February, 1838, and on April 1, attended a general conference, when he was ordained a High Priest and appointed First Counselor to Joseph Fielding, who was appointed to preside over the mission. April 14, 1840, after the arrival of the Apostles from America, Dr. Richards was ordained one of the Twelve Apostles, and, after the publication of the Millennial Star was commenced, he assisted Parley P. Pratt in its editorial department, and later performed the general duties of presiding over the European Mission. He assisted in indexing the Book of Mormon, and in publishing the first English edition of that book. Not long after the first missionaries arrived in England, a great friend was raised up to the Elders in the person of Rev. John Richards, Independent minister at Walkerfold, Lancashire, who opened his church to the elders. But when he discovered that the greater portion of his flock were becoming converted to, and about to be baptized into, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints, he became less favorable, and forbade the elders preaching in his church; but his daughter Jennetta* was baptized, with others of his congregation, by Heber C. Kimball. After the baptism. Elder Kimball said to Dr. Richards: "Well, Willard, I baptized your wife today, " and the true significance of the words was never understood by Dr. Richards until several months later, when he evidently discovered Jennetta entangled in the meshes of his affection, as shown by his doings of March 10, as recorded in his private journal: While walking home from meeting with Jennetta Richards, I remarked: "Richards is a good name — never want to change I it. do you, Jennetta?" "No, I do not," was her reply, and I think she never will. Then the following September 24, he records: Today I married Jennetta Richards, daughter of the Rev. John Richards. Most truly do I praise my Heavenly Father for his great kindness in providing me a partner to his promise. Many of the Saints complained bitterly because Elder Richards married, saying he should have remained as the Apostle Paul. * Jennetta Richards, born August 21 , 1817, in Lancashire, England, was the first person confirmed in Britain. —^isiory of the Church, vol. 2, page 504.

564 IMPROVEMENT ERA. And so, it seems, people complain if you do get married, and peo- ple complain if you don't. Dr. Richards, with his family and others of the Twelve, left England in April, 1841, returning to America. Soon after hif arrival home, he was elected a member of the city council of Nauvoo, and two days later he was appointed recorder for the Temple, private secretary to the Prophet Joseph, and General Church Clerk. From the time he entered Joseph Smith's office, with the exception of a short mission to the East after his family, he was with Joseph until his death, continually at work with his pen. He was recorder of the city council and clerk of the muni- cipal court, and kept the Prophet's private journal, making an entry only a few minutes previous to the awful tragedy at Carthage. From the time he became the Prophet's private secre- tary until the latter's death, he was perhaps as close to the Prophet as any living man. Indeed, their lives at this point became so interwoven that the history of Joseph becomes the history of Willard. Dr. Richards nominated Joseph Smith for the presidency of the United States, and writing to Gen. Bennett of New York he said: Your views about the nomination of Gen. Smith for the presidency are correct. We will gain popularity and extended influence. But this is not all; we mean to elect him, and nothing shall be wanting on our part to accomplish it; and why? Because we are satisfied, fully satisfied, this is the best or only method of saving our free institutions from a total overthrow. Dr. Richards was a member of the city council of Nauvoo at the time the council ordered the press and fixtures of the Nauvoo Expositor to be abated as a nuisance, which order was executed by the proper authorities without delay. This finally led to the mar- tyrdom. The Expositor was a vile sheet of slander published in Nauvoo for the purpose of defaming the characters of good men, inciting its readers to deeds of violence and murder, and carrying on all the hellish plans of the lawless publishers. The proceedings of the council in ordering the nuisance abated were perfectly reg- ular and legal, the same as if a foul leaki.ge in tlie sewer were ordered stopped. The night following, the proprietors of the press fired the buildings of their plant, just as they had done in Missouri, hoping

WILLARD RICHARDS— THE MARTYRDOM. 565 to raise the hue and cry that the "Mormons" had done it, and by that means raise a mob against the city and perhaps get the sympathy of the governor; but the vigilant police discovered the fire and abated that also. Chagrined at their disappointment, and drunken with madness, they next went to Carthage, the county seat, and headquarters of mobocracy, and swore that Joseph and about seventeen others had committed a riot, and sent a warrant for their arrest. Joseph and the others offered to go before any magistrate in the vicinity, but refused to go to Carthage, because they knew there was a mob there thirsting for their blood. The officer insisted on their going to Carthage and would not consent to their going before any other magistrate, so they obtained a writ of habeas corpus from the city court of Nauvoo, and were set free. This only enraged the mob more, and another writ was issued by a county magistrate in the vicinity, not a "Mormon," be- fore whom they were brought, and every exertion made to convict them; but the magistrate discharged them. The next day the ter- rible excitement that had been stirred up brought Gov. Ford to Carthage, where all manner of falsehoods were poured into his ear concerning the doings of people at Nauvoo. He addressed a com- munication to Joseph Smith asking him to send to Carthage "one or more well-informed and discreet persona who will be capable of laying before me your version of the matter." Accordingly Drs. Richards and Bernhisel and John Taylor were sent with a number of affidavits which proved that, at that very moment, there were men in Carthage who had declared that they would rush through a thousand people to wash their hands in Joseph Smith's blood, and that there were many there who had sworn that they would kill him and exterminate his people. Those appointed to go carried a letter from Joseph to the Governor stating that he would be pleased to answer to the Governor or any authority for the destruc- tion of the press, by order of the council, but he knew that if he went to Carthage to do it he would be butchered, and therefore he entreated the Governor to come to Nauvoo, in case the explanation of those sent was not satisfactory. Those sent to Carthage re- turned with a written communication "To the Mayor and Council of the City of Nauvoo," from Governor Ford, telling them that they must submit to arrest by the officer before sent, and under the same

566 IMPROVEMENT ERA. warrant, and be brought to Carthage for trial. The men sent to confer with the governor were many times insulted and threatened in his office by the mobocrats, who were permitted to remain there during the whole time the men from Nauvoo were in conference with the governor. Governor Ford promised protection to Joseph Smith and the council if they would come to Carthage, 'and all the while and subsequently, his conduct gave the lie to his word and promise. The same evening that they returned from Carthage with the letter from the governor, Joseph called Hyrum, Willard and some others together in his upper room and, after reading the governor's letter, he remarked "There is no mercy — no mercy here." Hyrum said, "No; just as sure as we fall into their hands, we are dead men." Joseph replied, "Yes; what shall we do. Brother Hyrum?" He replied, "I don't know." All at once Joseph's countenance brightened up, and he said, "The way is open; it is clear to my mind what to do. All they want is Hyrum and myself. There is no doubt they will come here and search for us. Let them search, they will not harm you in person or in property, and not even a hair of your head. We will cross the river tonight, and go away to the West." At midnight, the same night, Joseph, Hyrum, and Dr. Richards called for 0. P. Rockwell, and at 2 a. m. all four got into a boat and started to cross the Mississippi River. 0. P. Rockwell rowed the boat. The boat was very leaky, and it kept Joseph, Hyrum and the Doctor very busy bailing out the water with their boots and shoes, to prevent it from sinking. At daybreak Joseph, Hyrum and Willard landed on the Iowa side of the river, and 0. P. Rock- well^returned to Nauvoo for horses, that the start might be made at once to the Rocky Mountains. The same morning a posbe arrived in Nauvoo to arrest Joseph, but as he 'could not be found they returned to Carthage. They said that if Joseph and Hyrum were not given up that the governor would send his troops and guard the town until they were found. Messengers were sent at once across the river by Emma, en- treating Joseph to return and give himself up. Others also crossed the river to persuade them to return. They found Joseph, Hyrum and Willard in a room by themselves with provisions ready

WILLARD RICHARDS— THE MARTYRDOM. 567 for the start. They begged Joseph to return, and some accused him of deserting the flock when the wolves came, like the shepherd in the fable. To which Joseph replied, — "If my life is of no value to my friends, it is of none to myself." He then turned to Hyrum and said, "Brother Hyrum, you are the oldest, what shall we do?" Hyrum answered, "Let us go back and give ourselves up, and see the thing out. " After studying a few minutes, Joseph replied, "If you go back, I shall go with you, but we will be butchered." Joseph then wrote to Governor Ford saying he would come to Carthage the next day, and Dr. Richards wrote to legal counsel and witnesses requesting them to be at Carthage on the morrow. As they were walking back to the river, some one requested Joseph to hurry, but he answered, "It is of no use to hurry, for we are going back to be slaughtered." On previous occasions, while surrounded by murderers and assassins, Joseph had felt little alarm, saying, "They cannot kill me, my time has not yet come," but all of Joseph's words at this time indicate that he knew his time had now come. They arrived in Nauvoo late in the evening. Joseph tarried with his family all night, and next morning early Joseph, Hyrum, Willard and others started for Carthage and when within four miles of Carthage Joseph said, "I am going like a lamb to the slaughter, but I am calm as a summer's morning. I have a con- science void of offense toward God and toward all men. If they take my life, I shall die an innocent man, and my blood shall cry from the ground for vengeance, and it will yet be said of me, 'he was murdered in cold blood.' " When they arrived in Carthage the Carthage Greys called for "Joe Smith," and raised the cry that they now had him, and he would not leave Carthage alive. The next morning Joseph and Hyrum, and those who had de- stroyed the press of the Nauvoo Ixpositor, were arrested on the charge, and the two former were also arrested on the charge of treason. Before going before the justice, those who had sworn out the complaint said, "There is nothing against these men; the law cannot reach them, but powder and ball can, and they shall not go out of Carthage alive." They were all taken before the justice who released all on

568 IMPROVEMENT ERA. bail of $500 each, — all except Joseph and Hyrum who were ille- gally sent to jail, the others returned to Nauvoo. Joseph tried again to get an interview with the governor, but he was unable. Next day, however, he succeeded in obtaining the interview he had so long sought, and the governor promised him that if he went to Nauvoo the next day, as he intended, Joseph and Hyrum should go with him, with the troops to insure their per- sonal safety. Next morning Governor Ford went to Nauvoo but did not take the prisoners with him. Just before leaving, he sent this permit to the prisoners: Permit Dr. Richards, the private secretary of Joseph Smith, to be with him, if he desires it, and to pass and repass the guard. Thomas Fobd, June 27, 1844. Commander-in-Chief. They were to wait in jail, two days more, when they were to be tried for treason, but after the governor's departure, the mob without became very noisy and desperate. Dr. Richards was taken sick in the afternoon, and Brother Markham was sent out of the jail for medicine, but the Carthage Greys prevented his return; they put him on a horse, and forced him out of town at the point of the bayonet. Joseph, Hyrum, John Taylor and Dr. Richards were now the only ones left in Carthage, except the enemy. At 5 :20 o'clock in the afternoon, the jailor became alarmed at the conduct of the mob, and suggested to the prisoners that they go into the cell room for safety, which they agreed to do after supper. Joseph said to Dr. Richards, "If we go into the cell, will you go with us?" The doc- tor answered, "Brother Joseph, you did not ask me to cross the river with you; you did not ask me to come to Carthage; you did not ask me to come to' jail with you, and do yoti think I would forsake you now? Bat I tell you what I will do; if you are con- demned to be hung for treason, I will be hung in your stead, and you shall go free." Joseph answered, "You cannot." The doctor replied, "I will." The jailor's boy came in and said that the guard wanted some wine. Dr. Richards handed him two dollars, and he threw one back, he returned with the wine which was passed out to the

WILLARD RICHARDS— THE MARTYRDOM. 569 guard. Immediately there was a rustling at the outer door of the jail, and a cry of surrender, and also a discharge of three or four firearms. The doctor glanced an eye by the curtain of the win- dow, and saw about a hundred armed men around the door. What followed is vividly pictured by him — the only man who witnessed the whole of the dreadful scene, in an article from the Times and Seasons: TWO MINUTES IN JAII,. Possibly the following events occupied near three minutes, but I think only about two, and have penned them for the gratification of many friends: Carthage, June 27, 1844. A shower of musket balls were thrown up the stairway against the door of the prison in the second story, followed by many rapid footsteps. While Generals Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Mr. Taylor and myself, who were in the front chamber, closed the door of our room against the entry at the head of the stairs, and placed ourselves against it, there being no lock on the door, and no catch that was useable. The door is a common panel, and as soon as we heard the feet at the stairs head, a ball was sent through the door, which passed between us, and showed that our enemies were desperadoes, and we must change our position. General Joseph Smith, Mr. Taylor, and myself sprang back to the front part of the room and General Hyrum Smith retreated two-thirds across the chamber directly in front of and facing the door. A ball was sent through the door which hit Hyrum on the side of his nose, when he fell backwards, extended at length, without moving his feet. From the holes in his vest (the day was warm, and no one had their coats on but myself), pantaloons, drawers, and shirt, it appeared evident that a ball must have been thrown from without, through the window^, which entered his back on the right side, and passing through lodged against his watch, which was in his right vest pocket, completely pulverizing the crystal and face, tearing off the hands and mashing the whole body of the watch. At the same instant the ball from the door entered his nose. As he struck the Hoor he exclaimed emphatically, 'Tm a dead man." Joseph looked towards him and responded, "Oh dear! Brother Hyrum," and opening the door two or three inches with his left hand, discharged one barrel of a six- shooter (pistol) at random in the entry, from whence a ball grazed Hyrura's breast, and entering his throat passed into his head, while other muskets were aimed at him and some balls hit him. Joseph continued snapping his revolver round the casing of the door into the space as before, three barrels of which missed fire, while Mr. Taylor with a walk- ing stick stood by his side and knocked down the bayonets and muskets which were constantly discharging through the doorway, while I stood by him, ready to lend any assistance, with another stick, but could not come within striking dis- tance without going directly before the muzzles of the guns.

570 IMPROVEMENT ERA. When the revolver failed, we had no more firearms, and expected an immedi- ate rush of the mob, and the doorway full of muskets, half way in the room, and no hope but instant death from within. Mr. Taylor rushed into the window, which is some fifteen or twenty feet from the ground. When his body was nearly on a balance, a ball from the door within entered his leg, and a ball from without struck his watch, a patent lever, in his vest pocket near the left breast, and smashed it into pi, leaving the hands stand- ing at 5 o'clock, 16 minutes, and 26 seconds, the force of which ball threw him back on the floor, and he rolled under the bed which stood by his side, where he lay motionless, the mob from the door continuing to fire upon him, cutting away a piece of flesh from his left hip as large as a man's hand, and were hindered only by my knocking down their muzzles with a stick; while they continued to reach their guns into the room, probably left handed, and aimed their discharge so far round as almost to reach us in the corner of the room to where we retreated and dodged, and then I recommenced the attack with my stick. Joseph attempted, as the last resort, to leap the same window from whence Mr. Taylar fell, when two balls pierced him from the door, and one entered his right breast from without, and he fell outward, exclaiming, "0 Lord, my God." As his feet went out of the window my head went in, the balls whistling all around. He fell on his left side a dead man. At this instant the cry was raised, "ffe's leaped the window," and the mob on the stairs and in the entry ran out. T withdrew from the window, thinking it of no use to leap out on a hun- dred bayonets, then around General Smith's body. Not satisfied with this I again reached my head out of the windov/, and watched some seconds to see if there were any signs of life, regardless of my own, determined to see the end of him I loved. Being fully satisfied that he was dead, with a hundred men near the body and more coming round the corner of the jail, and expecting a return to our room, I rushed towards the prison door, at the head of the stairs, and through the entry from whence the firing had proceeded, to learn if the doors into the prison were open. When near the entry, Mr. Taylor cried out, ' ' Take me. ' ' I pressed my way until I found all doors unbarred, returning instantly, caught Mr. Taylor under my arm, and rushed by the stairs into the dungeon, or inner prison, stretched him on the floor and covered him with a bed in such a manner as not likely to be per- ceived, expecting an immediate return of the mob. I said to Mr. Taylor. "This is a hard case to lay you on the floor, but if your wounds are not fatal, I want you to live to tell the story." I expected to be shot the next moment, and stood before the door awaiting the onset. WiLLAkD Richards. The terrible news was carried to Nauvoo, and the people were overcome with excitement. The people at Carthage were stricken with terror at the thought that the "Mormons," enraged, might come upon them.

WILLARD RICHARDS— THE MARTYRDOM. 571 This was one of the most critical periods in the history of the Church, when the care of the dead and tne direction of the living rested upon one man, Apostle Willard Richards. Dr. Richards sent a letter to Nauvoo requesting the people to be calm, not to come to Carthage, and not to resort to violence. It was midnight before Dr. Richards could obtain any help or re- freshments for John Taylor, nearly all the inhabitants of Carthage having fled in terror. Next morning Dr. Richards started for Nauvoo with the bodies of Joseph and Hyrum, on two wagons, the bodies being covered with bushes to keep them from the sun. When the bodies arrived in Nauvoo the scene cannot be de- scribed. Between eight thousand and ten thousand people were addressed by Dr. Richards, who admonished them to keep the peace, stating that he had pledged his honor and his life for their good conduct. Next day the people were permitted to view the remains. The bodies were placed in coffins, and then in pine boxes. Afterward the coffins with the bodies were taken from the boxes, and sacks of sand placed in, instead, and a mock fun- eral held over the boxes which were taken to the graveyard and deposited in a grave with the usual ceremonies. At midnight, the bodies were interred in the basement of the Nauvoo House. All this was done in the fear that the enemy mighi dig up the bodies as they had threatened. In 1847, Dr. Richards came to Utah with the Pioneers, re- turning to Winter Quarters where he was ordained second coun- selor to Brigham Young. As a civil officer, he served as secretary to the government of the State of Deseret, secretary of the Territory of Utah, president of the council of the legislative assembly, and postmaster of Great Salt Lake City. He was the first editor of the Deseret News, general Church historian. Church recorder, and counselor to President Young, in which latter capacity he acted until the time of his death which occurred March 11, 1854. The number of offices which he held at the time of his death indicate the confidence which the Church and people reposed in his great integrity and varied abilities. May his descendants prove worthy of their lineage. Salt Lake City, Utah.