Source: Lyman Omer Littlefield, Reminiscences of Latter-day Saints

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.51

As time passed on he seemed to appreciate more than ever his wives and growing children. His last words to me were that he had been agreeably disappointed in my course of life, had appreciated my example as a wife and as a mother, that none had excelled me in the home life. Wherever my lot had been cast, there he had found a place of peace and rest. "Let me now thank you kindly," he said, "for every kind word, for every kind act of your life, and when I am gone, which will not be but a short time, you shall be blessed and find friends." He went on to say that if he never spoke to me again, I might rest assured that I had his most sanguine good feelings, his unbounded love and esteem. "What can you tell Joseph when you meet him? Cannot you say that I have been kind to you as it was possible to be under the circumstances? I know you can, and am confident you will be as a mediator between me and Joseph, and never enjoy any blessing you would not wish Heber to share."

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.51 - p.52

These words were more precious to me than gold, as they were his last, with the addition of "I leave my peace and blessing with you. May the peace of Heber ever abide in your habitation."

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.52

I do not pen these facts thinking that others did not share equally in his esteem, as every woman carves her own niche in her husband's affections.

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.52

Heber C. Kimball was a noble whole-souled son of God, and was as capable of loving more than one woman as God Himself is capable of loving all his creations.

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.52

Sister Vilate Murrey Kimball, first wife of Heber Chase Kimball, was one of the noble women of earth. She was dearly beloved by his wives and children, as well as by all who intimately knew her. Too little has been said of her exemplary life. She was as a ministering angel to those in distress, ever ready to aid those who had not been so fortunate as herself in regard to the comforts of life. She never seemed so happy as while seeking to make others happy. Every year it was her custom to invite all the family to dine at her table, and insisted that it was her privilege to wait upon and make them happy and comfortable. In her last sickness, she expressed her regret that she could no longer have the pleasure of seeing the family together as she had been in the habit of doing. On one occasion when one of her old time associates was urging her to come often, as she had done in her former years, she answered, "You must excuse me, as our own family has grown so large that by the time I visit them all, I want to begin the rounds again." This shows the good feelings she cherished towards her husband's many wives and children. Too much cannot be said in praise of her example. In her demise, Zion lost one of her noblest daughters.

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.52

Very sincerely, your sister in the gospel,

Lucy W. Kimball.

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.52 - p.53 - p.54

The above from the pen of Mrs. Kimball is written in an entertaining style. Her statements are all unequivocally straightforward and will convey to the reader the impression that she speaks of circumstances and facts wherein she was an actor. The writer was well and familiarly acquainted with her in the Nauvoo days, when she was Miss Lucy Walker, a blooming and vivacious young lady of fifteen or sixteen summers. She possessed a character above reproach and has ever been universally esteemed as an upright person, whose veracity has never been questioned upon any matter. With the relationship concerning which she speaks, between herself and President Joseph Smith, deceased, the writer became familiar during the residence of the Saints at Nauvoo and of course previous to the death of the Prophet. He then knew that a marriage existed between them, by a variety of circumstances not necessary to be enumerated here. If it were possible for a doubt ever to have existed, Mrs. Kimball's statement herein made, after the lapse of so many years--during which time the Prophet's mortal remains have reposed in the grave--would most effectually remove such doubts. We give it here to establish a fact--persistently controverted by some--in the history of the remarkable man who brought forth a faith which has indelibly marked the nineteenth century with a new religious era destined to revolutionize the opinions of the moral world, before mankind can be made to see the gospel eye to eye and travel together the straight and narrow path which alone leads to eternal life hereafter. It is true that the restoration of the fullness of the gospel, through the agency of this remarkable man, has already engrafted upon the theories of many renowned theologians numberless ideas and views which they have gleaned from the doctrines given through him and from the sermons and writings of the various elders who have been prominent in advocating his doctrines. And there is one marked feature in all this. These theologians, as much as possible, reproduce these doctrines as being new with them, to make the world believe they possess a genius of mind fruitful in the origination of new ideas, far in advance of the age, which no brain but theirs has been powerful enough to grasp. Also, it would be too great a bending of the dignity of those learned divines to confess they found such grand ideas among the doctrines of a people which the combined efforts of the world cannot vanquish with argument, and hence persecution and defamatory subterfuges become the prolific missiles hurled against them by a union of the religious brotherhoods.

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.54

Chapter IV

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.54 - p.55

That the reader may understand more clearly the character of the troubles that existed in Daviess and Caldwell Counties, we will insert the following extract from the journal of Brother David Osborn, Senior, who is now residing in Hyrum, Cache County, Utah. Brother Osborn was born in Greenbrier County, Virginia, March 31, 1807, making him now about eighty years old. He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, July, 1835, and has shared in the persecutions which the Saints have suffered up to the present day. He moved with his family to Caldwell County in the fall of 1836, in good time to share in the troubles soon to be inaugurated there:

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.55

About the 15th of October, 1838, I concluded to go to Fort Leavenworth in company with Charles Stoddard to chop cord wood. Times had been rather squally but at that time the excitement was laid. The night previous to starting I had a dream warning me of trouble, and also showing me that I would be delivered out of it. I related it to my wife who persuaded me not to go, but I shouldered my knapsack and axe and went on with Brother Charles. We got employment with a Mr. Grover, chopped about three weeks, and began to hear awful reports of war and bloodshed in the vicinity of Far West. We had not told that we were Mormons. I told Charles I must go home and see to my family and he consented to stay a little longer and bring the money for our services. I told Grover I was tired of chopping and thought I could make more to go home and bring my team and haul.

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.55 - p.56

I set out 60 miles to Far West, got about half way and the road was filled with mob-militia. The rumor was that the Mormons were burning houses, taking stock and driving the old inhabitants out of their borders, and on Thursday night next, Plattsburg was to be burned. I joined in with them, having to pass through Plattsburg, told them I had a family near where the Mormons lived, if they had not been burnt out, and inquired where they intended to rendezvous. They replied, "near Hunter's mill." They told me to go on and get my rifle and meet them there, which I promised to do. I had not proceeded far through Plattsburg till I was overtaken by three gentlemen officers, who, having had a dram, were talking very fluently. They halted, eyed me closely and commenced asking me questions. I told them I lived a few miles from the Mormon settlements, had been to Fort Leavenworth at work and was on my way home and if my folks had not been burnt out or driven away, I would soon meet them at Hunter's with my rifle. One of them swore I was a spy. I showed them my axe, clothes, etc., but all would not do; I must go with them. So I got on behind one of them and, after traveling a few miles, met a man that told them he knew I was a Mormon. I then acknowledged it, telling them that when they first accosted me, I was afraid they were a set of ruffians and would abuse me, but since I found them to be gentlemen I could tell them the truth.

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.56

We arrived in the camp of the mobocrats late in the evening. It was soon noised abroad that they had taken a Mormon prisoner. They came from all parts of the encampment to see and ask me questions. Among others, William Hunter and some others with whom I had had dealings came up. They spoke in my favor, said they believed if there was an honest Mormon that Osborn was one. To me such information at that particular time was very welcome. After this, their colonel, Cornelius Gillum, told them the prisoner should not be abused nor insulted, and told them to quit asking so many fool questions. This was a great relief to me, for they soon scattered, though they had two men to guard me while they stayed in that place which was but two or three days, in which time they got together all their forces from the Platt country.

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.56 - p.57

In their counseling they talked much of sending me to Far West with an express, giving them [the Mormons] the privilege of taking their women and children out of the city, as they felt loath to kill them with the men, but all the men must be shot and the city burnt and Joe Smith [Joseph Smith], it seemed, they all wanted the privilege of shooting, and several swore they would skin him and make razor straps, tugs, etc., of his hide. In the morning, before starting, they painted themselves with red and black stripes all over their faces, Gillum calling himself the Delaware Chief.

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.57

After marching out onto the prairie, Gillum called a halt and made a speech to them, telling them that he expected to march into Far West that day, and he expected to prove to them that he was not a coward, but that he was willing to fight in defense of his rights and to rid himself of a people whom he considered to be the enemies of the country, reminding them of the blood and treasure spent by our revolutionary sires to purchase the liberty which we were now called upon to defend, urged them to be valiant and true to each other and also to American institutions, though he said he wished, and intended to propose, to decide the contest in a single combat between Lyman Wight and himself. There they brought in another prisoner, Asa Barton, whom they captured with his horses and wagon loaded with corn. They gave Asa and me the privilege of riding on horseback--without saddles.

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.57 - p.58

We moved on and joined the main army on Goose Creek, in fair view of Far West, three-fourths of a mile distant. Here they had forty or fifty prisoners whom they had picked up in different places, suspicioned to be Mormons, but some were not. These were kept under guard. One man named McRary lay in a wagon almost dead, having had his skull broken by some of the gentlemen soldiers. I saw quite a body of soldiers move on towards the city. I looked and waited in great suspense to learn the issue, expecting to hear the report of firearms, but nothing could we hear. Finally we saw them returning and when they got near, we saw Joseph and Sidney, Parley and others of our brethren, marching in front, and about the time they crossed the creek the soldiers commenced shouting and screaming as if the woods were filled with panthers. These prisoners they took to another place and put them under a much stronger guard. I, with my fellow prisoners, were liberated next day, went and saw Joseph and his comrades put into a wagon to go to visit their families and thence to prison. Such a spirit as was manifested on this occasion, could not, I think, be equalled on this side of the lower regions. I now started to go home, but could not pass the guards around the city, so I had to go back to the gentlemen officers and get a pass by which I was enabled to pass the guards and proceed homewards.

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.58

When I arrived I found all vacated; my family had gone with the rest to Adam-ondi-Ahman, twelve miles distant. Two or three hundred of the militia camped the same night at my house. I stayed all night at Brother Amos Stoddard's--he and his brother Franklin being prisoners at Far West at this time. The mob helped themselves to corn, fodder, potatoes, chickens, honey and hogs, without any ceremony. I started next morning for Adam-ondi-Ahman, got half a mile and was hailed by a gentleman soldier. I showed him my pass. He took it, but could not read it; so I read it for him. He said, "Leave this place d--d quick," with a spirit that savored strongly of fire and brimstone. I got to Adam-ondi-Ahman, and, by virtue of my pass, got through the guards there.

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.58

I found my family camped out in the snow and frost by the side of a big log. My wife seemed considerably cast down in spirits. Our child was quite sick, having been so much exposed to cold. Hundreds of brethren were there, camped out in the cold, which was truly a melancholy sight. They kept us guarded there near a week before we could get to go home. Finally our case was decided. We must all go into Caldwell County within ten or twelve days, stay there during the winter and then leave the state. We all received a pass to that effect.

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.58 - p.59

We returned home, got things together a little and went across the prairie into Caldwell to look out a place to camp through the winter. The snow was six or eight inches deep. We found a little grove of timber in a low place with a small stream of water running through it. Seven families of our neighborhood pitched their tents there for the winter. Judge Smith and two or three other men came round and told us to be gone against the next Tuesday or we would be driven by force.

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.59

Our little William died November 12, 1838, two or three days before the time set for us to go. We had set up and watched him night after night and he died in my arms when we were all alone. We went over to Brush Creek, made a half-faced camp at first and afterwards made a log shanty. My horses stood out in the cold all winter, when I had good stables at home.

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.59

One cause of the war was the difficulty that took place at our August election, which was held at Gallatin, the county seat of Daviess County. I lived eight or ten miles from that place, was not at the election, but some of my neighbors were, who took an active part in the fight, for such it terminated in. Some of the old Jackson mobocrats, having removed to, and settled in that new country, had exercised their influence of hostility against the Mormons, and when the time to vote came on, they forbid the Mormons voting, which they (the Mormons) were determined to do. One of our men walked up with his ticket. A Missourian drew back to strike him, but a Mormon, standing close by, was too quick for him. He knocked him over, and then commenced a general fight with clubs, brickbats and knives. John Butler, one of my neighbors, a large man of over 200 pounds, got hold of a piece of timber with which he defended the rights of our friends.

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.59 - p.60

Riley Stuart, another Mormon, cut away with a knife or dirk, wounding one man very badly. So the report was that the Mormons came off victorious. The other party left the ground and there was but little voting done. Butler and Stuart had to abscond for a long time. The mobocrats went off and told what the Mormons had been doing and raised a mob of some 300 in number, who collected at Millport, a little town some three or four miles below Adam-ondi-Ahman, the latter commenced and presided over by Uncle John Smith and Lyman Wight, twelve miles north of my residence, on Grand River. Joseph said this was the identical place where Adam called his children together and blessed them previous to his death.

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.60

Our brethren at this place, hearing of the mobs gathering together at Millport, sent a spy into their camp to ascertain their movements and designs. He acted his part well and obtained all the information he wished, came back and reported that some 300 were painting themselves and preparing to go up next night and wipe out the Mormons and set fire to their houses. Well, there was no time to waste. The number of men in the village, I suppose, was not half that of the mob. Lyman Wight commenced immediately to prepare for action and defend themselves to the last extremity. Runners were sent all over the country to gather in our brethren to help defend the place. I remember well of James Robeson coming to my house about 11 o'clock at night. He woke me up and said I was wanted immediately to go and meet my brethren at James Bingham's two-and-a-half miles distant on the road to Adam-ondi-Ahman, as that was the place of rendezvous. This was news indeed. I had not come up to Zion with the special object of fighting and had no shooting tools whatever. Robeson was off in a few minutes to go and notify others. We were in a new country, thinly settled--about a mile to the nearest neighbor.

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.60

"Well, mother," said I, "what do you think of the case? Can you take care of the children and manage affairs till I get back?"

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.60

"Why," says she, "don't be foolish or go crazy. What can you do without a gun? Or if you had one you don't know how to use it. You had better lay down and go to sleep. You've had no hand in causing the difficulty and I would let them settle it themselves."

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.60

This reasoning did not satisfy me. I looked upon it as a religious persecution and a test of our faith, and in a few moments, bridled my gray mare, left my folks to do the best they could, saying, "I hope I may get a gun on the way, but if I can't I can use a club."

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.61

About twenty men in all met at the place appointed. I borrowed a gun of Brother Waldo Littlefield. We appointed J. Bingham, an old Missouri hunter, to be our captain. He then saw that all were as well prepared as possible for any emergency and told us to ride in single file, not to speak and make no more noise than we could help. He thought about the crossing of Grand River we would come in contact with a party of the mob, but we went on and met no mob and had no hindrance till we came to the picket guard. They were wide awake and thought we were an enemy, but, knowing one of our company, let us pass. Before we got to town we had another guard to pass. It was about daylight, and all were in arms, prepared for defense.

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.61

Lyman Wight received us gladly and made a small stump speech telling us "Not to be excited or afraid, but be cool and remember that we are called upon to defend our religion, our wives and children and our homes, and while we are here in self defense, we are not going to suffer for food. Now you that have horses, take them down to my field of corn. I have twenty acres of it and just help yourselves. Yes, boys, eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we--fight."

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.61

That day was spent in training and preparing to receive our visitors the following night, but no mob appeared. They found out we were expecting and preparing to receive them, and, believing caution to be the parent of safety, scattered to their homes. Still they kept up a howling and threatening attitude against the Mormons, till the authorities of Missouri stationed a company of 1500 or 2000 men at Gallatin, I think under the charge of General Atchison of Liberty, Clay County, Missouri.

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.61 - p.62

This account of the imprisonment and exposures to which Brother Osborn and family were subjected in Missouri, during the perilous days of mob rule in Caldwell and Daviess, not only tells the sufferings endured in their case, but it serves to illustrate, in some degree, the hardships and cruelties endured by hundreds of the Saints whose lot was cast in that region of country.

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.62

What was it all for? Were they in the wrong? Had they--the Saints--merited imprisonment and was it just that they should be thus dispossessed of homes and comforts to endure the rigor of winter blasts and the peltings of the driving snow? According to the enactments of Congress, they had availed themselves of the rights granted to all good citizens to pre-empt and build themselves homes on the public domain. In doing so, they had improved and fertilized that before unsettled region and extended the area of civilization. They had caused seed time and harvest to produce their beneficial results there, for the seeds that were cast into that rich soil sprang forth and yielded abundantly, insuring prosperity to the husbandman. Houses and barns, neighborhoods and towns, sprang up, dotting the prairies and groves in all directions. Thrift and the evidences of much comfort were visible to all visitors from the neighboring counties, and envy soon began to find place in their hearts.

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.62 - p.63

They could not well be reconciled to the fact that these counties, so recently settled, should outstrip the older ones laying adjacent. They grew jealous of this prosperity and soon began to covet these homes of comfort and pleasant surroundings. They could find no pretext against them justified by civil law. The only chance was to renew the old tactics that had so successfully cast out hundreds of loyal citizens from Jackson County, because they belonged to a sect which they called Mormons, whose religious ideas were so susceptible of proof that the ablest men among all the sects were not able to disprove them by any rule of argument. For this cause they were induced to unite against and devise plans by which to persecute, and drive them, and thus gain possession of their improvements. Because they were prosperous they were envied and because they believed in the gospel which Christ commanded to be preached to "every nation, kindred, tongue and people under the whole heavens," they must be persecuted, hunted and cast out.

Lyman Littlefield Reminiscences (1888), p.63

Herein lies the secret of all the conflicts by mobs and litigation of lawyers and courts that have followed up this people from the time the Father and the Son visited Joseph Smith and the angel of the Lord delivered into his possession the records of the Book of Mormon. Because the Saints believe these things to be true and declare also that the Almighty has again spoken from the heavens to a Prophet on the earth, as He did to Moses and many of the ancient prophets and apostles, they are looked upon by many of the children of men as being deluded; they are denounced as impostors and as unworthy of citizenship. They declare, without blushing, that they, like the ancients, should have no abiding place, are not entitled to equal rights with other citizens and should be followed up with the relentless lash of persecution so long as they persist in preaching doctrines of this kind which all the old religious sects denounce as heresies.