I sometimes feel like these ancestors who suffered through
the Missouri persecutions are still very involved in the work in this Sacred land
even though they are on the other side of the vail.
Biography of Eliphaz
Marsh Written by a descendant -- Gary D. Young Eliphaz Marsh, born 6 Sep 1791
in Montague, Franklin Co Massachusetts, son of Ephraim Marsh and Esther Smith,
married Hannah Houston or Husted about 1825 in Louisville Kentucky. They had
three children: Mary Jane, born 1 Sep 1829; Louisa, born abt 1830; George, born
abt 1832. The family moved to Ohio, where they were contacted by Mormon missionaries
and became converts. They believed the doctrine of the new church with all
their heart, but everywhere they went, the members were persecuted by angry
mobs and driven out of their homes. After a difficult journey from Kirtland
Ohio, the prophet of the church, Joseph Smith, arrived in Far West Missouri in
March 1838 and established the Church headquarters there. In May he went north
into Daviess County and, while visiting the Grand River, prophetically
identified the area as the Valley of
Adam-ondi-Ahman, the "place where Adam shall come to visit his
people" (D&C 116: 1). Adam-ondi-Ahman became the primary community of
the members, who began to feel that they had at last found a respite from their
enemies. Eliphaz purchased 80 acres
of land and built a home for his family. He began to till the ground and during
the spring of 1838, they were happy. Persecution soon began again, however and
on 6 Aug 1838 a mob of 100 people at the election polls in Gallatin, Daviess Co
would not let the Mormons cast their ballots. This led to a brawl in which
several people were injured. Eliphaz
Marsh was involved in the frey. He was either an unusually large man or
else well able to fight, because Joseph
Smith employed him as a body guard. Two years later, Eliphaz joined with
others to write a redress petition concerning the incident to the U. S.
Government (FHL book 977.81K29j, page 728): 10 Jan 1840. Sworn to before D.H.
Wells, Justice of the Peace, Hancock Co Illinois. Hereby certify that I live in
Davies County Missouri in the March of 1837 and was entitled to a preemption
right for 80 acres of land on the 4th day of Aug 1838 near as I can tell was
driven from the board at election and was not permitted to vote on or about the
eight day of November was commanded of R. Wilson and compelled to give up my _
two _ and ordered to leave the county in ten days in the spring to leave the
state of Missouri. (signed) Eliphaz Marsh The mob came when Eliphaz was away from home, guarding the
Prophet, and his family had to flee along with others in the settlement.
Hannah and some of the smaller children rode on one horse, while a neighbor
lady with a young baby who was ill, rode with others on another horse. There
was no room for Mary Jane, so she held to the horse's tail and tried to keep up
with them but stumbled and fell in the dark and became lost. Hannah and the
children returned later when they discovered her missing. They were separated
from the others and hurried through the dark woods until they came to a barn
where they hid, crawling into the straw and chaff, afraid every moment that
they would be found by the angry men. They heard a moan or peculiar noise and
Hannah decided to find out what it was. She crawled along feeling around in the
straw and finally found a setting hen, which was as frightened as they were.
The next morning, they went into a nearby empty house where they found meal on
the hearth that was cooked and ready to eat. Hannah was afraid it was poisoned,
so she found some uncooked food which she prepared for them and they had a good
breakfast. Later in the day, they returned to their homes. Eliphaz became worried about his family and mentioned it to the
Prophet, who told him his family was "all right yet, don't worry."
But a few days later, Joseph said "Your family is in danger now and needs
you, so go to them." Indeed, they had been driven again from their homes
by the mob and the timely arrival of Eliphaz saved their lives, but their homes
were destroyed. Eliphaz and his family loved the Prophet whom they believed
they were related to, although this has never been verified by documentation.
The growing disorder fostered by the mob in Caldwell and Daviess Counties
caused Governor Lilburn W. Boggs to bring in the state militia to keep the
peace. Captain Samuel W. Bogart, one of the militia officers, was in reality
closely allied with the mob. He decided to begin a conflict by kidnapping three
Mormons and holding them in his camp on the Crooked River in northwestern Ray
County. A company of Mormon militia was dispatched to rescue these men, and a
fierce battle was waged between these two militia groups on 25 Oct 1838.
Captain David W. Patten, one of the church leaders, led the company and was
among those mortally wounded in the fray. The reports of the battle were employed
by Governor Boggs in formulating his infamous "extermination order."
That decree, dated 27 Oct 1838 stated in part, "The Mormons must be
treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the State if
necessary, for the public peace -- their outrages are beyond all
description." A militia officer was appointed to carry out the governor's
order. On 30 Oct 1838, three days after the extermination order was issued,
some 200 men mounted a surprise attack against the small Mormon community at Haun's
Mill on Shoal Creek, Caldwell County. They stormed into the town on horses,
shooting every Mormon in sight. Several Mormon men and boys hid in a blacksmith
shop while the assailants fired into it until they thought all inside were
dead. Others were shot as they tried to make their escape. In all, 17 men and
boys were killed and 15 wounded. Instead of arresting the murderers at Haun's
Mill Massacre as they should have, the state militia took the Prophet Joseph
Smith and other leaders of the church prisoner. A court-martial was held and
the Prophet and his fellows were condemned to be shot to death by a firing
squad the following morning in the town square at Far West. However the officer
commanded to perform the execution, Gen. Alexander W. Doniphan of the militia,
refused to carry out the shooting, calling the decision "cold- blooded
murder." He warned the general who commanded the state militia that if he
continued his efforts to kill these men, "I will hold you responsible
before an earthy tribunal, so help me God." The Prophet and the others
were first taken to Independence and then sent to Richmond, Ray Co where they
were jailed awaiting trial. After a court of inquiry, they were sent to Liberty
Jail in Clay Co, arriving on 1 Dee 1838. Joseph Smith described their
situation: We are kept under a strong guard, night and day, in a prison of
double walls and doors, proscribed in our liberty of conscience, our food is
scant.... We have been compelled to sleep on the floor with straw, and not
blankets sufficient to keep us warm.... The Judges have gravely told us from
time to time that they knew we were innocent, and ought to be liberated, but
they dare not administer the law unto us, for fear of the mob. While their
beloved Prophet remained imprisoned, Eliphaz and his family, along with 8,000
other Mormons crossed the Missouri east into Illinois to escape the
extermination order. They were forced to leave in the cold of winter, and
although Brigham Young, the leader in charge, directed them and gave them every
possible assistance, they suffered greatly. It is believed that Eliphaz and
Hanna's young son George, died during this time. They surrendered to the
Missouri State Militia and were told to leave the state. However, they were
apparently under the duress of obtaining permission from the leaders of the
militia to travel. (FHL book 977.81K29j, page 494,9 Nov 1838: 1 permit Eliphaz
Marsh to remove from Daviess to Caldwell County there to remain during the
winter or to pass out of the state. (signed) R. Wilson, Brig. Gen. CMP The
Prophet had to wait helplessly in prison while his people were driven from the
state. But in April 1839, after six months of illegal imprisonment, a person or
persons in high places determined that the prisoners would be allowed to
escape, perhaps to avoid the public embarrassment of bringing them to trial
when there was no evidence to convict them. Joseph and his brother Hyrum were
given the opportunity to purchase horses and elude their guards. Meanwhile, the
Marsh family and other members of the church who made their way to Illinois
received a warm welcome from generous citizens in the town of Quincy. Following
the return of the Prophet Joseph Smith, they moved north up the Mississippi
River about 35 miles where they drained some large swamps and began to build
the city of Nauvoo beside a bend in the river. The city was soon a bustle of
activity and commerce as new converts gathered from all parts of the United
States, Canada, and England. Within four years, Nauvoo had become one of the largest
cities in Illinois. For nearly six years, the Marsh family were happy until
their daughter Louisa died at the age of 14. Soon after, Eliphaz died at age
52, on 19 Feb 1844. Then the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were
murdered on 27 Jun 1844. Before his death in Nauvoo, Eliphaz and his wife
Hannah performed many baptisms for their dead ancestors: FHL film 183376, pages
3-238, Baptisms of Dead at Nauvoo 1842-46. Eliphaz Marsh for his mother Esther
(Smith) Marsh, Grandfather Ephraim Marsh, Grandmother (Sarah Matoon) Marsh,
Great-grandfather (Ebenezer) Marsh, Great-grandmother (Elizabeth Gillett)
Marsh, Grandfather (Nathan) Smith, Grandmother (Experience Gunn) Smith,
Great-grandfather (Samuel) Smith, Great- grandmother (Esther Warner) Smith, Sister-in-law
Polly Marsh, Cousin Ann Marsh, Great Aunts (3 wives of Enos Marsh), Uncle
Philip Marsh, Great Uncle Enos Marsh, Sister-in-law's father Paulk, Father's
Aunt Smith, Great Uncle Moses Smith, 2nd cousin Lydia Smith, Cousin Alexander
Sidney, Uncle Alexander Amos, 2nd cousin Laura Clary, 2nd cousin _ Carver,
Uncle Dodge, Aunt Thankful Dodge, Great Aunt Dolly Gunn, Great Uncle Lieut
Gunn, Moses Gunn's five wives (mother's cousin), Mother's Uncle Gunn, Sister-in
law's father Zachariah Hawley, Father's Aunt Mattoon, Great Uncle Mattoon.
Hannah Marsh was baptized for her Grandfather Varney, Grandmother Varney,
Great-grandfather Varney, Great-grandmother Varney, Uncle Noah Varney, Aunt
Lamira Marsh, Grandfather John Husten, Grandmother Hannah Husten, Aunt Lydia
Husten, Great-grandfather Houstin, Great- grandmother Houstin, Sister Esther
Housted.
