Journal of William Huntington (1784-1846)
Typescript, HBLL. This version edited for standard grammar.
[p.1] (On flyleaf) October 11, 1845, [I] received my appointment as a captain to lead a company of 100 families up into the wilderness.
A brief sketch of the life of William Huntington, Sr.
My parents were born in Tolland, TollandCounty, state of Connecticut. [They] moved into New Grantham, CheshireCounty, state of New Hampshire soon after the close of the war with Great Britain [the Revolution]. I was born March 28, 1784, in New Grantham, CheshireCounty, state of New Hampshire. [I] lived there with my parents until February 1804. My father then moved with his family to Watertown, JeffersonCounty, state of New York, in the fall of 1806.
I returned to my native land and was married to Zina Baker who was born May 2, 1786, in the town [?] of PlainfieldCounty and state aforesaid [New Hampshire]. I was married December 28, 1806 [and] moved to Watertown, [Jefferson] County and state aforesaid [New York]. [I] was prospered in the things of this world until 1811. I sold my farm, had possession of it for one year [when] war was declared in 1812, which was unfavorable to me. Sickness and death came into my family. One scene of misfortune after another rolled upon me until I was reduced low as to property. In 1816, Providence smiled on me again. I continued to be prospered until 1835.
In 1816, I experienced religion, as was called in those days, united with the Presbyterians [and] walked with them some fourteen years in good standing. In said time, the spirit of the Lord called my mind into action in various respects. First: to abstain from all intoxicating liquors, hot drinks and tobacco. When I had accomplished this great object, my mind was then in a situation to look into the situation of the churches which were extant upon the face of the earth. I found the Prophet is or had seen what should come in the last days. That darkness should cover the Earth and gross darkness, the minds of the people.
About 1832, I was moved upon by the spirit of God to look into the situation of the churches. I found the ordinances changed [and] the covenants broken. The fear of [p.2] God was taught by [the] precepts of men. They had a form of godliness, but denied the power thereof. From such things, I felt my duty to turn away. I withdrew from the church [Presbyterians][and] stood alone. I searched the scriptures daily. [I] found the faith once delivered to the saints was not among men. The power of the priesthood was lost. In searching the scriptures and history, I found where it [the priesthood] was gone or, in other words, John the Revelator said it had gone into the wilderness. I found in searching the scriptures, that the Church should return, bringing with her the gifts and graces as it formerly had in the Apostle's day. I boldly advocated the gospel as our Savior taught it in his days or as the Apostles taught.
I told the people I believed I should see a church in my day based on the gospel plan as was in the Apostle's days. In this frame of mind I stood for some two or three yearsÑanxiously contending for the faith once delivered to the saints. In 1833, I found the Book of Mormon. I read the book, believed in the book [and felt] that it was what it was represented to be. My mind thus being prepared to receive the gospel accordingly, in the month of April 1835, myself and my wife both united with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Here I will note something relative to my temporal concerns. I owned a good farm of nearly two hundred acres of land; one hundred and thirty acres under good improvement, in high state of cultivation; one good stone house; two good barns and other buildings; a large stock of cattle, horses, carriages [and] farming utensils. Nearly out of debt, in comfortable situation as I could ask for, to make us comfortable in life. In short, I never saw the time that I was in as great prosperity as I was when I united with the Saints.
In August 1836, I sold my farm for $3,500, which was one thousand less than value. In two months time, I disposed of my stock, produce, farming utensils, closed all my business and on the first of October 1836, I left my home [and] arrived at [p.3] Sackets Harbor [the] same day. The next day a severe storm took place which detained us in the harborÑuntil the 7th of October. We then went on board a steamer, sailed to GeneseeRiver [and] went to Rochester [New York]. [We] took a canal boat to Buffalo [New York]. There we took another steamer for Fairport [Ohio], from thence by land to Kirtland, which place we arrived 11th of October 1836. We arrived in Kirtland at the time of great prosperity with the Church, as it was called.
[I] witnessed the rise of the bank [Kirtland Safety Society]. At the same time I purchased 40 acres of land with a good two story house nearly finished, one mile south of the [Kirtland] Temple. [I] witnessed the fall of the bank [Kirtland Safety Society] [and] the downfall of Kirtland in every sense of [the] word. The spirit of dissension took place with many of the first elders in the Church. A spirit of persecution took place which broke up the Church. All the heads of the Church were driven from the place by the dissenters to the state of Missouri.
While I remained in Kirtland, I endeavored to sustain the Presidency, the bank and all the ordinances of the Lord's house. In the fall of 1837, I received an appointment in the High Council. [I] served as a councilor until the Church was broken up in September 1837. Myself and wife returned to Watertown, [New York], to visit our friends together for the last time. [We] found them generally much opposed [to] the Gospel. [We] returned to Kirtland finally, [During] the breaking down of Kirtland. In consequence of a mortgage which was on the farm, I bought of Jacob Bump, who failed in property or in consequence of his [Bump's] becoming a dissipated, dishonest dissenter, I lost my land which cost me three thousand dollars. In this situation I was suddenly reduced to a state of poverty. In this situation it became necessary for me to remove with the rest of the Church to the state of Missouri.
I had neither team, nor money. Consequently, Brother Oliver Snow loaned me the use of a pair of oxen to put onto my wagon, as I had a double and single wagon left with a poor old mare 20 years old. In the single wagon, [p.4] after having sold most of our household furniture, bedding and clothing exempted, I boxed up most of our bedding and clothing with my iron tools [and] sent them by water and [I] never have seen or heard of them since. Sister Ives loaned me $32 and in this situation I left Kirtland on the 21st of May 1838.
We were eight weeks and three days on our journey to Far West. [We] arrived there the 18th of July 1838. During our journey, I drove an ox team and traveled on foot the whole distance, except when we forded streams of water. We were blessed with good health and no misfortune on our journey which was nearly one thousand miles. To my great joy, I found my son, Dimick [Huntington], and family in Far West who went from Watertown, Jefferson County, New York, in the season of 1836. When we arrived in Far West, I had not one cent to help myself with, but went to work by days to get something to subsist on. I labored in Far West about one month, procured some provision for my family and as there was a settlement commenced by the Brethren in Adam-ondi-Ahman, DaviessCounty, [Missouri], it was thought advisable for me to settle there.
I went myself to Diahman [Adam-ondi-Ahman] to build me a house. Soon after I commenced laboring the place, the difficulty took place with the mob which caused us much trouble. I was nearly one month trying to build me a house for my family who were at Far West. I slept in my clothes with my rifle in my arms nearly one month. Day times we labored what we could with our arms and ammunition by our sides, while others were on scouts ranging timber and prairies, watching the movements of the mob who were expected on us every hour. Thus we labored day and night.
On the 1st of October 1838, I removed my family to Adam-ondi-Ahman. The war became more severe. We were under the necessity of calling on the brethren at Far West for help until they were under the necessity of calling on us at Diahman for all the forces to be sent to Far West. So the state [Missouri] called all the militia out and concentrated [p.5] their forces against Far West. Their forces consisted of about seven thousand strong.
The Church was under the necessity of laying down their arms and of giving up the First Presidency and others as may be seen in the history of the persecution which took place about the first of November.
About the time I removed my family from Far West [October 1838], the Church purchased a grist mill of Judge Morin of DaviessCounty. We removed the mill to Diahman, repaired the mill, got it in operation and did first rate business. About the time the war became severe, the mill was just in operation. I was appointed to take charge of the mill. [I] also was appointed commissary of the army [and] had the charge of distributing all the provision to the Church. Such as meal and meat tallow and c [etc?] during the stay of the Church in Diahman.
After the surrender of the Church in Far West, troops were sent from Far West to Diahman for the purpose of completing the destruction of Diahman. Accordingly on the 8th of November 1838, we were ordered, as our flourishing little town had the day before been filled with [Missouri] troops, to march out and leave our wives and children behind and go down into the bottom prairie. [We] were ordered to form a hollow square. There we stood until the army had formed all around us. Some behaved decently, others scoffed, made derision [and] some were painted making a horrid and frightful appearance.
I had with me in the ranks, three of my sons; William, Oliver and John. After this military display, we were ordered to lay down our arms, swords and pistols not exempt, and marched off from the ground leaving all our arms behind. We were escorted back to our village, were ordered to form a line by [the] side of a fence and there in a defenseless state, stand and receive their abuse by cocking their pieces and threatening our lives with instant death for the term of two hours. We were then dismissed with orders to appear at eight o'clock the next morning before General [Robert] Wilson's tent for further orders.
We appeared in the morning before [p.6] the General's quarters. We there received our orders to leave our homes and lands in ten days, go to CaldwellCounty or Far West. This was on the ninth of November. Cold weather there. We were permitted to stay and leave the state of Missouri in the spring before [the] time to put in crops. We accordingly set about this work which was very difficult, as many of our brethren were prisoners at Far West or were at Richmond, [Missouri] for sham trials. We accomplished the work in the time, with the exception of three or four families, one blind man, some widows and c [etc?].
I left Diahman the 18th of November 1838, arrived in Far West [on the] 26th of November. Before we left Diahman, General Wilson appointed a committee of twenty-four men, 12 Mormons and 12 citizens of DaviessCounty, to sell all our business ware, to have three winter months to collect our stock and grain and get out of the county. No other Mormon was to come into the county upon penalty of death, myself one of the committee.
After my arrival in Far West with my family, I was notified there was diligent inquiry and search for me to take me to Richmond. I accordingly left my family immediately and went to King Follett's [to] stay three days. [I] had not left my family but a few minutes, when three men arrived at the door, inquired for me under arms [and] searched the house for me. [I] was not found by them.
After my absence from my family three days, I received my permit to go to DaviessCounty. I will insert my individual pass out of the county and state.
I permit Wm. [William] Huntington to remove from Daviess to CaldwellCounty, there to remain during the winter or to pass out of the state.
November 9, 1838 R. Wilson Brg. Gen.
By F.G. Cockner, Aide
I will now insert [another] permit.
I permit the following persons as a committee on the part of the Mormons to pass and repass in and through the county of Daviess during the winter to wit Wm. Huntington, John Reed, Benjamin S. Wilbur, Mayhew Hillman, Z. Wilson, Elijah B. Gaylord, Henry Herriman, [p.7] Daniel Stanton, Oliver Snow, Wm. Earl, Wm. Hayle and Henry Humphrey upon all careful business.
November 18, 1838 R. Wilson Brg. Gen.
Commanding
By F.G. Cockner, Aide
We immediately organized, myself acting as foreman. We labored in the county four weeks, collected many of our cattle, horses, sheep, wagons and other property. Ascertained where the fields of corn were belonging to the brethren, the number of acres and the amount of bushels of corn, as near as we could calculate, which amounted to 29,465 bushels, we lost. We hauled some out in the four weeks we were permitted to do business in the county. Though we were by our permit allowed the privilege of doing business during the winter, at the expiration of one month, we were ordered out of the county as our lives would not be safe. Accordingly, we close[d] up all business and left at the expiration of the time. I saw the last Mormon out of Diahman the morning I left the county.
It became necessary [that] Brother Hale and myself should go from Diahman to Horns [Haun's] Mill. [We] called out Esq. Folle to see a man who it was said was there. It was, as is termed, their Law day. His office was crowded with mob characters. Here I met with a man who threatened my life on inquiring the way to Horns [Haun's Mill]. [I] was told it was three miles beyond hell and if I would go on, I should get into hell before night. [I] was threatened to be tied to a tree on Chaw Bank, as the mob were in the habit of tying the brethren up to trees and whip[ping] them even to death.
We were advised by a female to leave the county immediately, as she knew their [the mob's] intentions were to kill all Mormons who were not out of the county that day. Accordingly, we gave up the idea of going to Horns [Haun's] Mill and turned for Far West. Sun two hours up at night. As cold a day as there was that winter. This was the night before Christmas. We were 18 miles from Far West [and] we were in Far West a little after dark. The same evening we suffered severely with the cold. [p.8] This closed all business in DaviessCounty. What was not got from there was lost.
I remained in Far West, had the care of the provision[s] we got from Daviess [County] and dealt it out to the brethren. The mob in the meanwhile, were taking every opportunity of availing themselves of the brethren's property by telling [that on] such a day, that the mob would be in to kill and burn, which induced many to sell property at its value to get means to remove out of the state.
About this time, the Legislature of the state made a small appropriation of provisions and clothing for the relief of [the] distressed, which was an imposition on the people. This distribution took place on the 25th [of] January [1839].
Our case now became alarming. It appeared the inhabitants were determined to strip us of all means of getting out of the state. The Church then took into consideration the situation of the brethren. A committee was then appointed on the 2nd day of February 1839, for the purpose of adopting such measures as was best calculated to affect this great object. Accordingly, I was appointed on said committee and acted as foreman. We organized, drew a covenant or article of agreement in which most of the people of the Church signed, binding ourselves to the extent of all our available property over and above what was necessary for the removal of our families to be put into the hands of the committee for the purpose of the removal of [the] poor.
The Church therefore put into the hands of the committee, all their best furniture [and] farming utensils. Many sold their farms, put in the avails in part; others put in money and in consequence of the sale of lands in JacksonCounty, we were enable to remove all the poor who had a desire to leave the state of Missouri into the state of Illinois.
I continued in business in Far West until the thirteenth day of April 1839, when in council it was thought advisable for me to leave. Accordingly, on the thirteenth day of April 1839, I left Far West with my family. We had a prosperous journey. We crossed the Mississippi River into [p.9] the state of Illinois on the 25th of April 1839. [We] went four miles east of the city of Quincy to my son Dimick's [Dimick Huntington], who at that time was living with his family in a house belonging to Judge [Rufus] Cleveland.