Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 1.djvu/347



mob numbering about two hundred men, disguised as Indians, attacked the guards at the jail, overpowered them, broke down the door, killing Joseph Smith and his brother Hiram, and severely wounding several others. From time to time conflicts arose between the citizens and the Mormons, some of whom had purchased claims and settled on the half-breed lands in Iowa. Although the Mormons had built a city of nearly 20,000 at Nauvoo and erected a temple for public worship and had become the owners of valuable farms in the vicinity, their lives and property were so continuously in jeopardy, that they finally determined to abandon all and seek safety by emigration. Their religion and peculiar social practices were so obnoxious to their neighbors, that they realized the necessity of colonizing their people in distant, unsettled regions, if they would secure religious freedom.

In the fall of 1845 they began to dispose of their property and prepared to emigrate westward into Iowa. Brigham Young, who had succeeded Joseph Smith, led the main body across the river, beginning the journey in February, 1846. A large number, including many sick, aged and poor, had to be left behind until a new home could be provided. The transfer of 16,000 into Iowa was finally completed. The line of 3,000 wagons, 30,000 head of cattle, horses and mules, large flocks of sheep and the thousands of men, women and children made up such a vast caravan as had never before been seen in America.

Heavy cold rains fell and the rich black soil was converted into deep mud. Some days but two or three miles’ progress could be made before the weaker gave out, and a camp had to be made on the water-soaked ground where death came often to end the suffering of the sick. The burials were pathetic. In place of a coffin the body was inclosed in bark stripped from green logs and buried in a shallow trench and the grave was marked by a post.

On the 27th of April, 1846, the first party stopped in what is now Decatur County and built rude log houses