Response to Amateur Mormon Historian: The Cane Creek Massacre

This blog is as a response to Amateur Mormon Historian: The Cane Creek Massacre. A link to their blog is located on the side bar. Another View Point is intended not to stir up Anit-Mormon feelings, but to tell the other side of the story as to the events at Cane Creek, and the wider scope of events which were molding and shaping our country at the time.

The good people of Hickman County, were not savages, or heathens; for the most part they were God fearing people, who loved, protected their families, worked their farms and worshiped God as taught in the Bible. They also were not people who were exposed to the various religious experimental groups which would flourish in the North, and soon fade away. The Northern areas were experiencing the start of many experimental religious groups, of various living arrangements, during the time Mormonism was founded.

Many of the people in Hickman County were the children’s, children of the Protestant Reformation, and worship God as taught by their ancestors.

Hickman County, Cane Creek Massacre

Source: http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Alt/alt.politics.bush/2008−01/msg00260.html

This article was reproduced from an article in an early local and
state newspaper. Believing that the matter possesses more than
ordinary historic value, and that the real details have to some extent
been neglected; and especially in view of the fact that ere long, the
only living witnesses will have passed away; it seems but a plain
duty, that the statements of these witnesses who were actually present
and saw the deed, with their eyes should be collected and published,
so as to preserve a true story, of which will one day be an
interesting subject in the annals of Tennessee history.

There is also one other reason why the real facts leading up to this
killing should be published. (editors note; the real facts may or may
not be real. The real facts would have been known by first hand
account) Numerous accounts have been published in the state of Utah
purporting to give the exact facts of this unfortunate episode but
invariably these accounts have been given from a Mormon viewpoint, and
reflect upon the good name of Tennessee.

By an examination of the Mormon literature on this subject,
one would infer that a band of ruffians had disguised themselves
and united for the purpose of ruthlessly murdering the "Mormon Elders.
" The mobbers, as they are termed, are spoken of as a set of cowards, who without any just cause murdered a couple of the real and genuine "apostles." This is not true.

There are at least two sides to the question, and the purpose of this article will be to give a correct statement of the entire matter as nearly as possible. Had they not undertaken to teach
polygamy, all would have passed along smoothly, and no innocent blood would ever have been shed.

Doubtless as early as 1875, or ten years after the close of the civil
war, the Mormon church in Utah conceived the important idea of
shouldering the responsibility of Christianizing the imaginary
heathens of Tennessee. With this object in view, ten or fifteen
Mormon preachers well educated and fashionably dressed, were sent into
this state to do Missionary work to teach way fearing man the way of
salvation.



And this was done by incidentally explaining to him that
it was alright to have a dozen or so wives, and many other things too
repulsive to mention in a real civilized neighborhood. And for this
reason, it seems, that these preachers sought remote places for their
exploitations, such as the head waters of Cane Creek in Lewis County
at that time.

It is claimed by the Mormons that at this place "they found people willing to receive their preaching where upon they at once set about the work of establishing a permanent church.
Cane Creek is a pretty clear stream which rises in Lewis county, and flows westward through a portion of Hickman county, and into Buffalo river near Beardstown.

The people had cleared away the woods, converting a wilderness into fields,
and building for themselves homes on this small creek, were a hardy, yet honest folk.

While unsophisticated, still they were good at heart, and before the dawn of this new religion, nothing had come to distrub their contentmetn or in any way to mar the happiness of their rural being. They were the children of nature, accustomed to the hardships of backwoods life. Their knowlege was limited, living remote, as they did from the centers of education.


They knew little of the great world and its polish and refinement. Still they were honest at heart. Here they had erected for themselves homes, and were endeavoring to worship God in that first way, characteristic of frontier life. At this time there were
different religious congregations on the creek such as Methodist,
Baptist, Presbyterian, Christian, Etc.

In none of these had they been taught anything which possessed even a resemblance of polygamy much less had any one attempted to practice any thing of the kind. On theother hand those sturdy settlers, as a rule had been reared to despise the very thought of adultery in any form. Until then they had
regarded the home as sacred. As yet no one in the guise of religion
had come to defile it.

Did the Mormon Preachers, or Elders, as they were called, disturb the
quietude of this settlement?

Let us see as early as 1880, elders Joseph Aagyle, Edward Stephenson
and Martin Garn, of the Mormon faith began the holding of preaching's,
and found here a few of the simpler people who yielded to their influence.

They continued their preaching at intervals, and finally some of the settlers
showed a willingness to unite with the Mormon Church. Thus a small branch
of the Mormon Church was established. Afterwards others united, and before any
particular notice had been taken of the matter, or any objection
interposed on the part of citizens, opposed to such evil influences,
others had joined seemingly permanent church was planted.

In two or three years the Mormon Church became more firmly
established. The members were deeply filled with a seeming devotion
for what they, to all intents and purposes, regarded as a righteous
cause.

The Church now had a membership of thirty−five or forty. Big meetings
were held, and baptizings were conducted the followers becoming imbued
with the new religion in their zeal.

The "Mormon Massacre" as it is spoken of in Utah, occurred on Sunday
morning August 10, 1844. On the night previous four Mormon preachers
came into the Cane Creek neighborhood, spending the night with Tom
Garrett. The names of these preachers were W. H. Jones, J. H. Gibbs,
W. S. Berry and Henry Thompson. It was generally understood that
services would be held on the Sunday following at the home of James
Conder, a member of the Mormon Church. Hence the citizens who were
determined in their purpose to for ever put a stop to the Mormon
preaching's, at least so far as they affected this particular vicinity
made ready and on the next morning were fully prepared.

No one believes that the disguised citizens meant any special violence toward
the preachers further than to give them a sound threshing, and to ask that they leave the neighborhood immediately

In the very outset Jones was given to understand that no harm was
intended him, furthers than he must leave the community and that
certain practices charged against him and the other preachers would
have to cease. When the shots and the screams of the women and
children were heard Jones guard is said to have exclaimed; "My God
they are shooting among the people there". He then explained to
Jones that he would give him a chance for his life, and giving him
direction to shady Grove, Hickman county this preacher was told to
make a hasty exit, which he did not hesitate to take advantage of.

The mischief did not end altogether with the loss of these five
lives. There was no further bloodshed, but feelings ran high. and as
the news of the killing spread, good people became incensed and soon
the entire neighborhood was in a stir.

Brave men, who loved their wives and daughters, avowed their readiness
to shed their life's last blood for their protection against the evil
teaching of polygamy. As it were, an "unwritten law", was enacted in
the hearts of those who opposed the new religion and it was declared
that no further Mormon Churches would be established nor preaching's
held. It was indeed a trying time. A sad epoch in the history of
Lewis County.

Folks who were still inclined to remain loyal to the Mormon faith through fear absconded.
Not only members of the Mormon Church, but many good people who had been
friendly to the "Elders" entertaining them in their homes, immediately
left for other parts, because of the unpleasantness of the situation; in many instances
leaving their near relatives behind. Families were separated. Breaches were created
that could never again be reconciled.

There was not the slightest intention of murdering these elders when
the mob went to the Conder home. There has always been more than one
theory as to who fired the first shot. Be that as it may, five
persons were killed and a sixth crippled for life.

Mrs. Conder who was shot and never recovered, drew a pension from the
Mormon Church as long as she lived. She and Mr. Conder have long
since passed thence.





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"It's about Truth and the Truth Will stand"