NAUVOO
On June 27, 1844, the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were
martyred while being held in Carthage Jail. John Taylor was seriously
wounded but lived to later become President of the Church. Only
Willard Richards survived the ordeal without injury. Following
the shootings, the grieving Saints remained in Nauvoo for almost
two years before their final exodus to the Salt Lake Valley.
Today, Carthage is a small rural city located about 24 miles southeast
of Nauvoo. The drive along the Mississippi River is picturesque
and a visit to the room where Joseph and Hyrum were slain leaves
a powerful impression.
CARTHAGE JAIL
Joseph, Hyrum, and sixteen others hugged their families goodbye and rode
to Carthage on June 24, 1844. City Council members, including
the Prophet, were traveling to the county seat to face charges
that had been brought against them. Some of the charges concerned
the destruction of the printing press of the Nauvoo Expositor, an
anti-Mormon paper that had published accusations against Church
leaders. The Governor of Illinois, Thomas Ford, had promised
the Prophet protection and an impartial trial. Concerned about
the Saints’ welfare if he did not appear, Joseph consented. He
knew he was seeing his beloved Nauvoo for the last time. As he
passed the temple and looked out over the city, he called it “the
loveliest place and the best people under the heavens.” He further
remarked, “I am going like a lamb to the slaughter, but I am
calm as a summer’s morning” (See HC 6:554 & 555).
The group spent the first night at the Hamilton House Hotel, and on the
following morning they were released on bail. Soon after, Joseph
and Hyrum were re-arrested and falsely charged with treason.
Though they were the only two charged, others chose to stay with
them that night in the Carthage Jail. The governor’s promised
protection came in the form of the state troops called the “Carthage
Greys,” some of whom had privately stated that Joseph would never
leave Carthage alive.
On the evening of June 26, only Hyrum, Willard Richards, John Fullmer,
Stephen Markham, John Taylor, and Dan Jones remained in the jail
with the Prophet. After the others had fallen asleep, the Prophet
asked Brother Jones if he was afraid to die, to which Dan replied
that “engaged in such a cause I do not think that death would
have many terrors.” To this Joseph prophesied, “You will yet
see Wales, and fulfill the mission appointed you before you die.” (HC
6:601)
The following morning, June 27, 1844, Joseph asked Dan Jones to go to
Governor Ford to ask for the promised protection. John Fullmer
returned to Nauvoo also on assignment by Joseph, and Stephen
Markham was sent to get medicine for Willard Richard’s upset
stomach. As Brother Markham was returning to the jail, the Carthage
Greys forced him onto a horse and out of town at the point of
a bayonet. Dan Jones was also not allowed to re-enter the jail.
(His life was thus spared, and as the Prophet had promised, he
later served a very successful mission in Wales and was instrumental
in bringing thousands of new converts into the Church.)
During the day, Joseph wrote a letter to his wife: “Dear Emma, I am very
much resigned to my lot, knowing I am justified, and have done
the best that could be done. Give my love to the children and
all my friends…” (HC 6:605). A few hours later, Joseph dictated
an additional postscript to Emma: “I just learn(ed) that the
Governor is about to disband his troops, all but a guard to protect
us and the peace…” (HC 6:610).
By mid-afternoon, the weather was hot and humid, and the four remaining
prisoners confined in the jail’s upper bedroom were uncomfortable.
Around 3 o’clock, John Taylor began to sing “A Poor Wayfaring
Man of Grief.” When he had finished singing, Joseph asked him
to sing it again.
Around 5 o’clock, a mob of over one hundred armed men with blackened faces
converged on the jail. “The mob encircled the building, and some
of them rushed by the guard up the flight of stairs, burst open
the door, and began the work of death, while others fired in
through the open windows” (HC 6:617). The four men tried to hold
the door against the force of the mob. A bullet fired through
the door struck Hyrum and he fell mortally wounded to the floor.
As he fell to the floor he exclaimed, “I am a dead man!” Joseph
saw his beloved brother fall and exclaimed, “Oh dear, brother
Hyrum!”
John Taylor tried to jump out of the window and was hit by a bullet in
his left thigh. He fell onto the window sill when another bullet
hit his pocket watch, stopping the time at 5:16. The force of
the bullet threw him back into the room. He was hit several more
times, with one of the bullets entering just below his left knee,
and another hitting his left wrist. After crawling under the
bed for protection, he was struck in the left hip.
“Joseph, seeing there was no safety in the room, and no doubt thinking
that it would save the lives of his brethren in the room if he
could get out, turned calmly from the door, dropped his pistol
on the floor, and sprang into the window when two balls pierced
him from the door, and one entered his right breast from without,
and he fell outward into the hands of his murderers, exclaiming, “O
Lord, my God!’” (HC 6:618)
Willard Richards, who was unharmed, rushed to the window, and looked down
at his revered Prophet lying on the ground below. Willard’s escape
without any serious injuries was truly miraculous. “His escape
fulfilled literally a prophecy which Joseph made over a year
previously, that the time would come that the balls would fly
around him like hail, and he should see his friends fall on the
right and on the left, but that there should not be a hole in
his garment.” (HC 6:619)
As Brother Richards rushed to the door, he heard John Taylor call out, “Take
me.” Willard took the seriously wounded John Taylor into the
cell next door and hid him under bedding, fearing that the mob
would come upstairs to finish their work. But hearing shouts
that the Mormons were coming, the mob quickly fled.
John Taylor survived the ordeal and would later become the third President
of the Church. His words recorded in D&C 135 reflect the
greatness of the beloved Prophet: “Joseph Smith, the Prophet
and seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the
salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever
lived in it.”
Members of the mob also attacked Samuel Smith, the younger brother of
Hyrum and Joseph, as he hurried to Carthage to help his brothers.
He arrived shortly after the tragedy and helped take his brothers’ bodies
back to Nauvoo on the following day. Soon after, Samuel became
very ill partly because of physical exhaustion from his lengthy
ride while being chased by the attackers, and partly because
of the emotional stress from the martyrdom. Lucy Smith recorded
that “In a short time Samuel, who continued unwell, was confined
to his bed, and lingering until the thirtieth of July, his spirit
forsook its earthly tabernacle and went to join his brothers,
and the ancient martyrs, in the Paradise of God” (HJS p. 326).
Lucy Smith had now lost three sons within a month’s time.
SITES TO SEE
- Carthage
Jail Visitors’ Center and Memorial Garden – The
jail was constructed of yellow limestone in 1839 and sometime
after the martyrdom was converted into a private home. The
Church purchased the building in 1903 and later restored
it to the original 1844 condition. Notice the beautiful gardens
and life-size statue of Hyrum and Joseph. Inside, you will
see an eighteen-minute video giving a brief overview of the
Prophet’s life. The four-minute audio presentation inside
the upper bedroom in the jail is very powerful and sobering.
It is easy to imagine what occurred in 1844 as you hear the
presentation, see the bullet hole in the door, and look out
the window at the well below. While at the visitors’ center,
be sure to pick up a free copy of the statements written
on the plaques that line the walkway. The
visitors’ center in located at 319 Walnut Street. Open Monday
thru Saturday 8:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. (9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. in
winter) and Sunday 11:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m. (12:30 p.m.–5:00
p.m. in winter). 217-357-2989.
- Kibbe
Museum – Directly across the street from the front
door of the jail is the small Kibbe Museum which is worth
visiting. See early photographs of the jail, enjoy the extensive
displays, or purchase a copy of an issue of the Times
and Seasons for $1.00. Admission is free. The museum
is located at 306 Walnut Street.
- World
Of Wonder Park and Playground – I mention this because
some may have little children who, after driving and viewing
the presentation, need to use up some energy before heading
back to Nauvoo. This little park has picnic tables and a
large wooden playground set with slides, mazes, swings, and
even a small wooden pirate ship. The park is located south
of Carthage Square at the intersection of Adams and Locust
Streets.
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LDS Family Travels. All Rights Reserved.