Richmond—Chained Like Animals in the Jail
by Becky Cardon Smith
print version

Richmond, Missouri, with a population of 6,100, lies 40 miles northeast of Independence and almost due east of Liberty. There are several points of interest here, including some associated with stories of persecution endured by the Saints. Richmond became the gathering spot for the mobs trying to drive Church members out of Missouri. In 1838, the Prophet Joseph Smith was arrested while living in Far West; he was taken first to Independence and then brought to Richmond for a hearing. Joseph and the other prisoners were mistreated and chained as animals in the Richmond jail. Here too, the Prophet rebuked the guards because of their foul mouths. Upon completion of the hearing, the Prophet, his brother Hyrum, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, Alexander McRae and Caleb Baldwin were moved to Liberty Jail.


Dignity and Majesty

Rose Datoc Dall
Oil on canvas, 2002

This image depicts the account given by Parley P. Pratt of Joseph Smith's rebuke of the prison guards while he was incarcerated with other Church leaders in November 1838 in Richmond, Missouri. In addition to Joseph, Sydney Rigdon, Hyrum Smith, Parley P. Pratt, and Amasa Lyman are all portrayed. The guards boasted of their evil deeds, including robbery and murder of Latter–day Saints. This painting represents the artist's love and admiration for the Prophet Joseph. Nothing can be said or done that can undo what he accomplished or change the fact that he was a prophet of God.

 

SITES TO SEE

• David Whitmer’s Grave – David Whitmer was one of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon. The events that led to his first meeting with the Prophet Joseph were by his own words “miraculous.” David suffered from persecution as did the other Church members in Jackson County and he moved with the Saints to Far West. Unfortunately, David later left the Church. Unlike Martin Harris and Oliver Cowdery, who left but later returned, David never did. However, he never denied his testimony as a witness of the Book of Mormon. In later years, while speaking to reporters, and even at his deathbed, his words were of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. David lived in Richmond for 40 years, serving twice as mayor. He died in 1888, at the age of 83, and was the last of the Three Witnesses to pass away. To locate his grave, go .4 miles west of the courthouse on West Main. Turn right into the cemetery and go straight north. David Whitmer’s headstone is found near a bench just before the road curves to the right.

• Statue of General Alexander W. Doniphan – An inscription says, Alexander William Doniphan, born July 9th, 1808 at Mason County, Kentucky. Died 1887 at Richmond. Buried at Liberty, Missouri. General Doniphan was esteemed to be a hero by his peers. He was instrumental in the Platte purchase, which added land to the state of Missouri. He was also commander of the Missouri Mounted Volunteers in the war with Mexico. He was inducted into Fort Leavenworth’s Hall of Fame for his military exploits. After the Civil War, General Doniphan went to live in Richmond. For the next two decades, he was involved in business ventures and he continued to practice law. He died at his home in Richmond. To the Missouri citizens, he was a great soldier and lawyer. To Church members, he was a true friend. Doniphan had represented the Mormons in court on several occasions. He had spoken out against the unfair treatment the Saints had received. On November 1, 1838, he chose to defy an order rather than commit murder. General Doniphan was given the order by General Samuel D. Lucas to take Joseph Smith and the other prisoners to the Far West public square and shoot them. Doniphan refused to obey, saying that it would be cold-blooded murder. Instead, Joseph and the other prisoners were taken to Independence and later to Richmond for a preliminary hearing. General Doniphan’s numerous acts of kindness were never forgotten. In 1873, he went to Salt Lake City and was received with great love and affection by Brigham Young and the Saints. The statue of General Doniphan stands on the west side of the courthouse.

• Site of Richmond Jail – Records indicate and Bill Curtis (cofounder of Missouri Mormon Frontier Foundation) agrees that the Richmond jail was once located in the parking lot of the currently standing Harold’s Super Market. After seeing Liberty jail, you can better visualize the Richmond jail. They were constructed very similarly. The supermarket is located just north of the courthouse. (The account of the Prophet rebuking the guards while in this jail is included at the end of the article.)

• Pioneer Cemetery – In this small cemetery, which the Church has maintained since 1949, are buried some well-known individuals in Church history. The large “Monument to the Three Witnesses” is four-sided, with each of the names etched at the bottom on three of the sides. Joseph Smith’s name is etched on the fourth. Take time to read all of the inscriptions. Though this is a monument, it also marks the grave of Oliver Cowdery. Oliver was born October 3, 1806, in Wells, Vermont. He served as scribe to Joseph Smith in the translation of the Book of Mormon. He was present when the Church was officially organized on April 6, 1830. Though he left the Church for a time, as did the other two witnesses, he was rebaptized. His plans were to go west and join the Saints. But on March 3, 1850, while in Richmond visiting his brother-in-law David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery became ill and passed away. Also buried here are Peter Whitmer Sr. and his wife Mary, in whose home the Church was organized on April 6, 1830. One of their sons, Jacob Whitmer, is also buried here. As one of the Eight Witnesses, his signed testimony is found in the introduction of the Book of Mormon. Sadly, the Whitmers apostatized from the Church and remained in Richmond when the Saints were forced to leave Missouri. Martin Harris, also mentioned on the monument, lived to the age of 93 and is buried in Clarkston, Utah. Though he left the Church for a time, he too returned and continued to testify of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon to his death. The cemetery is located just .4 miles north of the eastern corner of the courthouse.


EXCELSIOR SPRINGS

• Hiram Page Grave – While in this area, some may want to visit the recently discovered grave of Hiram Page located near Excelsior Springs. Hiram Page married Catherine Whitmer and was also one of the Eight Witnesses to the Book of Mormon. He remained close to David Whitmer, and though he left the Church, he never denied the divinity of the Book of Mormon. He lived on a farm north of Excelsior Springs with his wife and nine children. Hiram died on August 12, 1852 and was buried on his property. To locate his grave, take Highway 10 to Excelsior Springs. Proceed north on Prentiss Avenue to a gravel road running northeast and marked 146th Street. When you reach a fork in the road, stay on the right side and continue east on 146th. Just after passing a yellow house on the left side of the road, you will see the grave marker on the right side of the road. For more information on Hiram Page, go to the MMFF web site: click here .

THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH REBUKES THE GUARDS

As previously mentioned, the Prophet Joseph Smith was brought to Independence and then to Richmond for a preliminary hearing. The following event occurred in the Richmond Jail and is recorded in the Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt on pages 210-211.

“It was a very severe time of snow and winter weather, and we suffered much. During this time Elder Rigdon was taken very sick, still he was kept in a miserable, noisy and cold room and compelled to sleep on the floor with a chain and padlock round his ankle, and fastened to six others. Here he endured the constant noise and confusion of an unruly guard, the officer of which was Colonel Sterling Price, since Governor of the State.

“These guards were composed generally of the most noisy, foul-mouthed, vulgar, disgraceful rabble that ever defiled the earth. While he lay in this situation his son-in-law, George W. Robinson, the only male member of his family, was chained by his side. Thus Mrs. Rigdon and her daughters were left entirely destitute and unprotected. One of his daughters, Mrs. Robinson, a young and delicate female, with her little infant, came down to see her husband, and to comfort and take care of her father in his sickness. When she first entered the room, amid the clank of chains and the rattle of weapons, and cast her eyes on her sick and dejected parent and sorrow worn husband, she was speechless, and only gave vent to her feelings in a flood of tears. This faithful lady, with her little infant, continued by the side of her father till he recovered from his sickness, and till his fevered and disordered mind resumed its wonted powers.

“In one of those tedious nights we had lain as if in sleep till the hour of midnight had passed, and our ears and hearts had been pained, while we had listened for hours to the obscene jests, the horrid oaths, the dreadful blasphemies and filthy language of our guards, Colonel Price at their head, as they recounted to each other their deeds of rapine, murder, robbery, etc., which they had committed among the “Mormons” while at Far West and vicinity. They even boasted of defiling by force wives, daughters, and virgins, and of shooting or dashing out the brains of men, women and children.

“I had listened till I became so disgusted, shocked, horrified, and so filled with the spirit of indignant justice that I could scarcely refrain from rising upon my feet and rebuking the guards; but had said nothing to Joseph, or any one else, although I lay next to him and knew he was awake. On a sudden he arose to his feet, and spoke in a voice of thunder, or as the roaring lion, uttering, as near as I can recollect, the following words:

‘SILENCE, ye fiends of the infernal pit. In the name of Jesus Christ I rebuke you, and command you to be still; I will not live another minute and hear such language. Cease such talk, or you or I die THIS INSTANT!’

“He ceased to speak. He stood erect in terrible majesty. Chained, and without a weapon; calm, unruffled and dignified as an angel, he looked upon the quailing guards, whose weapons were lowered or dropped to the ground; whose knees smote together, and who, shrinking into a corner, or crouching at his feet, begged his pardon, and remained quiet till a change of guards.

“I have seen the ministers of justice, clothed in magisterial robes, and criminals arraigned before them, while life was suspended on a breath, in the Courts of England; I have witnessed a Congress in solemn session to give laws to nations; I have tried to conceive of kings, of royal courts, of thrones and crowns; and of emperors assembled to decide the fate of kingdoms; but dignity and majesty have I seen but once, as it stood in chains, at midnight, in a dungeon in an obscure village of Missouri.”

Editor’s Note:
For additional information on these church historical sites see The LDS Family Travel Guide, Independence to Nauvoo by Becky Cardon Smith

© 2003 LDS Family Travels. All Rights Reserved.