27 – Robert Weston

1: What is your name?
Robert Weston.

2: What is your age Mr. Weston?
My age?

3: Yes sir?
I was seventy-five the first day of last November.

4: You say you are past seventy five?
Yes sir.

5: Where do you reside now Mr. Weston?
Here in Independence, Missouri.

6: How long have you resided here in Independence, Missouri?
I am not certain, but I think my father moved here when I was about eleven or twelve years of age. I am not certain about the time for I was a boy and didn’t notice particularly the time that we came here, but I think I was a boy of about twelve years or age when we first came here, and that would make it sixty three years since we came here, – and that is the length of time that I have lived here.

7: You have lived here sixty-three years then?
Yes sir, about that.

8: Where did you live from 1830 to 1854?
I lived here.

9: In the town of Independence do you mean?
Yes sir.

10: Do you remember when the “Latter Day Saints” first came to Independence?
Yes sir. I remember about that time. I remember of their coming here, but I don’t know that I knew the exact day that they first landed here. I do not know that they all came at one time, – I rather think they came off and on from time to time. I remember their coming, but I can’t say that I remember the time of their coming.

11: But the fact that they did come and go away again, you remember?
Yes sir, but I don’t remember the years exactly. I remember they came here and went away.

12: You remember their coming here, and their going away again?
Yes sir.

13: Now you are acquainted with the location of what is known as and what has been spoken of as the Temple property?
Yes sir pretty well. I may say I am pretty well acquainted with it and where it is, – and where it is, – and that is to say I know it by passing and repassing it and looking at it, for I had no other interest in it than that, but I have seen it a thousand times I guess.

14: Do you know where the present church edifice is located, – the stone church that has been recently built down there, is the one I refer to?
Yes sir.

15: Now with reference to that church, where did this Temple property lie?
Well we always considered, – we always though it was couth of the road there.

16: On the south side of the road there?
Yes sir, right across the road from where the church is there now, – that is on the south side of the Westport road there.

17: That road is the street that runs in a south-westerly direction out here, it is not?
Well I think it runs pretty near west.

18: Well it runs in a westerly direction?
Yes sir.

19: This road that you speak of the “Westport Road” runs out here in a westerly direction past the Temple property?
Yes sir. That was what we called it in the early days, – the “Westport road” and in fact it is called that yet by some of the old-timers, – The road that was called the “Lexington road” led up to it I believe.

20: Where did the Lexington street terminate?
At the boundary of the city.

21: At that time you mean?
Yes sir.

22: Where was the boundary of the city at that time?
Well at that time it was a good deal further east than it is now.

23: Then if I understand you correctly the street or road to the city, going east, was known as the “Lexington street, after you passed the boundries of the city is was known as the “Westport road”?
Yes sir.

24: That is how it was designated?
Yes sir, that is what we always called it. That is the way it was known here at that time.

25: Now please discribe it s best you can, the present location of what you understand to be the “temple property”? Describe the location of what you under stand to be what property?
Well that is something that is rather hard to do. What I understand now as being the “Temple Lot” is that piece of vacant ground across from the present Latter Day Stone church building down there, but at that time I am talking about that whole piece of ground south of the Westport there was called the Temple property. I did not know it was laid off in any particular lot to build the temple on, but I had a general idea that all that ground down south of Westport road there was Temple ground, not that any particular part of it was laid off to build the Temple on but that the whole of it was Temple ground.

26: Well now when you say all that property south of the road, you do not mean just what you say, but you mean to confine it to some particular piece of property there?
Yes sir. It was down there some where about where Pacific street runs there by Wagoner’s Mill. It was down in the direction, –

27: Do you know any thing about a street called “Temple Street”?
No sir.

28: You don’t know any thing about that?
No sir.

29: How long has it been since you have seen this property?
Not long ago, – I saw it last Sunday.

30: How is that?
I went by it last Sunday and saw it. That was the last time I believe I saw it, but I have seen it more than a thousand times I suppose altogether.

31: Now where did you say it laid with reference to the stone church down there?
Well it lies south of it.

32: The Temple property, as you understand it, lies south of the church?
Yes sir.

33: And across what, from the church?
Yes sir.

34: And across what road did you say?
This Westport road or Lexington Avenue.

35: That road then runs between the church and the property known as the Temple Lot?
Yes sir.

36: That is where it lies?
Yes sir. I am not certain too, but what the highest point on it is very near there.

37: Is it enclosed now?
It is now. The ground is enclosed now but it had not been enclosed for a long time during the war, and after the war for a great many years it was not enclosed.

38: Is there any buildings on it at the present time?
Yes sir they have a little meeting house there, – just a small little plain meeting house.

39: Do you know what denomination has the little meeting house there?
No sir, not particularly, – they are called Mormons but what branch of the Mormons I do not know.

40: Do you know any of the parties that are identified with it?
No sir I don’t know that I am acquainted with them, – not one of them I do not think I use to know Hedricks that got killed out here, – the man that talked so much about it, and he lived out here on the Lexington road.

41: That is east of Independence?
Yes sir.

42: You said you were here at that time the Mormons, or the Latter Day Saints lived here?
Yes sir.

43: Now do you remember any of the circumstances attending the leaving of the Mormons from this section of the country?
The leaving of the Mormons?

44: Yes sir.
Well yes sir, some of them I do.

45: Well then if you remember. I wish you would tell some of the circumstances surrounding them at the time they left?
Well just when they left I don’t know so much about it for a while before they left for I had been sick a good while then, and was just coming out of a spell of sickness, and was just able to be up and about. I know that the people of the town here gathered up their guns and pistols and weapons of this kind, and went out of the city, for the news had some that the Mormons were gathering our west of the city here to take the town. There was a great seal of excitement about it, and after a while they said the Mormons had concluded not to fight, and they were going away, and after that they went away. I don’t remember the time. I don’t remember the exact time of that but while there was a lot of excitement and trouble about it at that time there was no killing or blood shed or any thing of that kind. I remember that I went out a piece for I was getting so I could walk, and so I went out a piece west of town to see what could be seen for they said the Mormons were coming out from Westport, and from up above the Blue to take the town, but I could not see anything, and I think there was nothing to the report.

46: You said “they”, now whom did you mean by “they”?
The citizens of Independence.

47: The citizens of Independence who were not Mormons?
Yes sir.

48: Do you remember anything about the destruction of property that belonged to the Mormons or the people that were called Mormons by the citizens?
Yes sir. Well all I know about that is that it was done and they said it was them did it. I know that property was destroyed, for there was a house right up above where my father lived that was torn down. I mean it was burned up one night, and it was said that it was the anti Mormon element, or the citizens that did it. That belonged to my uncle.

49: Did you know any thing about the destruction of the printing press?
Yes sir.

50: Well what do you know about that?
I know a good deal about it for I saw them go in there. I saw them go in and knock the door in and take these little things, the type, and throw them out on the street, and they were there in the street for years.

51: What time of the day was that?
I do not know for certain. But I think it was in the afternoon.

52: That was in the afternoon you say?
Yes sir, I think so.

53: How many people were engaged in that enterprise?
I can’t say how many there was in the work, but the street was full of people. It was pretty full there was lots of people there.

54: Can you now recall the name of any man that was engaged in that work?
Yes sir.

55: Who was it?
Well John King was the man who knocked the door in.

56: Did you see these things yourself?
Yes sir. I saw him knock the door in. There was a man named Franklin there too, and the way I know Franklin was there was because there was an old fellow there by the name of Warner, and old Franklin struck him and knocked him in the street. I saw that and that is how I know these two men were there. I did not know the men at the time, but they said it was him, at any rate I saw this man knock Warner down and afterwards I was told it was Franklin.

57: Where were you when you saw this?
I was only a boy, but I was there on top of a shed and in a good place to see about all that was going on. I was there on the shed taking it all in, and I saw them fighting there. The way it was they were fighting there, and this old man Franklin took a hand into it and knocked this man Warner down, and I heard Franklin say afterwards that he thought it was time to stop it. That was Bill Franklin’s father who did that.

58: What did they knock the door in with?
Well I forget just what it was, but I think it was some stuff that they had hauled up there to make boards of. I think it was some of that stuff that they had hauled up for that purpose, for you know in the early days in this country they use to make a good many boards out of stuff that would be cur for that purpose out of timber, and he took up one of these pieces, and went up the stairway and knocked the door in with it.

59: What was it you said he took up the stairs and knocked the door in with?
It was one of these pieces of woof that they made boards out of, or did make boards out of in those days, for of course there is no boards made in that way now, at least not in this part of the country. I don’t know now what it was called. I can’t remember, but I used to know what they called these things, but I forget what they did call it. What was the name of the pieces of wood they used to make board out of?

60: Well it was a chunk of wood, a stick?
Yes sir a piece of timber.

61: Well what other property was destroyed at that time that you know anything about personally?
Well there was lots of property destroyed that they destroyed. I am satisfied the mob did it but I did not see it personally. I am satisfied of that although I did not see it, and I do not know exactly what it was.

62: What do you know Mr. Weston about any stores being broken into?
Well I know Algernon Gilbert had a store up there, but I don’t think it was destroyed, at that time I don’t think it was destroyed any way. I don’t know, but I don’t think it was.

63: Do you remember seeing any goods in the street?
No sir. I did not. They may have been there, but I did not see them if they were, at any rate I have not any recollection of it now. Gilbert was a very nice fellow and I don’t think anybody troubled him at all, but it might possibly have been done, and I not know it.

64: It might have been done, and you not know it you say?
Yes sir. It might have been done and I not know it. This man Gilbert was a nice smooth fellow, and I do not think anybody troubled him but still they might have done so, and I not know it.

65: Do you remember seeing Edward Partridge at any time?
I do not remember the name.

66: Well Mr. Partridge?
I remember a Bishop Partridge they all called him.

67: Well what do you know about him?
I remember seeing some fellows have the old man out one day and putting tar and feathers.

68: Where was that,-was that here in Independence that you saw that being done?
Yes sir,-right up here in the Court house lot they did that.

69: He was tarred and feathered?
Yes sir. 70 How many were tarred and feathered besides him at that time?
There was another man,-I think a fellow by the name of Allen is all I can recollect.

71: How many of the good citizens had any thing to do with it?
Well if any of the good citizens had any thing to do with it I don’t recollect seeing them there. I don’t think that any good citizen had any thing to do with it, or with any of these troubles but at that time we had a lot of bad citizens there. I remember the fellow that was putting the tar on him was named Jonathan Shepherd, and he was a rough customer,-not a good citizen by any means. I don’t think that any first class citizens were engaged in it at that time,- at least I would not consider then so. This man Johnathan Shepherd was a good for nothing, no account fellow, who never did any thing,- never did any good for himself or any body else, and there was another old fellow there named Bill Connor that was of no earthly account nohow,-he was living down here a the time, and he was a regular wild old fellow, and was never happy unless he was in trouble or getting other people in it. (Handwritten in right side margin: He took a very active part in this tar and feather business and then he wanted to cowhide Bishop Partridge and they stopped him and would not let him do it.)

72: How many people were about at the time?
Well there was a lot of them there. I don’t know how many, but there was good many there. I was a boy at the time and was running around kind of wild like looking for any thing that might turn up, but I remember that at the time I thought what they were doing was not right and I felt right sorry for the old man.

73: You remember that you were?
Well yes sir I was there but I was on a roof,- I was one of the audience.

74: Well I am talking about the “audience”?
Well I was there but did not have any thing to do with it, and I did not think it was right either. I remember right well that I was there, but if there was any other man there good, bad or indifferent, toher that these I have named, for the life of me I could not tell you who they were.

75: Well I am talking about the lookers on?
Well I was one of the lookers on, and there was plenty of people there, but I can’t say who they were. I was a boy and I wanted to see the sights and I saw them on that occasion too. The incident made a very vivid impression on my mind, or I remember seeing the old fellow going our of town west, and he had his hot on to keep the sun out of his eyes. He helt it up to keep the sun out of his eyes but he could not put it on account of the tar. I remember that I felt right sorry for the old fellow and felt that it was a great outrage.

76: How long prior to that occurrence had these disturbances been going on?
Well I don’t know but I suppose it must have been a year that they were talking and fussing around about before that.

77: Well how long subsequent to that transaction was it before the Mormons left the city?
Well I can’t say as to that either, but I think that was about the time they went away.

78: About that time they went away?
Yes sir, about that time.

79: Well were any of them permitted to stay after that time?
What is that question?

80: I asked you if any of them were permitted to remain after that time?
I do not know that any of them were.

81: You do not know that any of them were permitted to remain after that time?
No sir, and I do not think they did remain, though I do not know about that, but I do not think they did.

82: How long was it subsequent to the tarring and feathering of Bishop Partridge, that this sentiment against the Mormons obtained?
How long afterwards?

83: Yes sir?
Well I don’t know.

84: Was it a long or short period of time that this feeling or sentiment against the Mormons, as they were termed prevailed here?
Well I can’t say how long it was, but it was a good long while, – a good many years any way. I couldn’t say exactly how long it was but I know for a good many years there was a bitter feeling here against them.

85: It prevailed for several years then.
Yes sir.

86: I will ask you from that time down until in very recent years, that the same sentiment has prevailed generally amongst the people?
Well I don’t know. As far as my knowledge extends I must say that I do not know. I think though as a people they were not very well thought of in this section of country an din the minds of some people there was doubtless a very bitter feeling against the, – It was about like it is now, – for there is a great many people living here yet who don’t think much of Mormons any way.

87: Why of course?
Yes sir, here is people living here now that have not much use for Mormons and don’t think very much of them now, but of course it is nothing like what it was at that time.

88: Well that is what I thought?
Well in that respect it was about the same then as it is now, and there was several years I don’t know how many, but a good many years, that they did not feel that they were safe here, and so they did not come around unless they did it secretly. I know a brother-in-law of mine who was a blacksmith shop and a man by the name of Cornack came from out in the country here eight or nine miles and ordered him off.

89: When was that?
I do not know the year.

90: Well was it afterwards?
Yes sir.

91: Several years afterwards?
Yes sir. I don’t know how many years afterwards.

92: A year or two afterwards was it not?
Two or three years after afterwards or something like that. He was suspected of being a Mormon and so he was ordered off. I mention that simply to show what feeling prevailed at the time in the country regarding the Mormons, and none of them were permitted to stay if it were known or suspected they were Mormons.

93: Well then I understand you to say that the sentiment about the time of the tarring and feathering of Bishop Partridge here, in opposition to what you have called the Mormons, has continued down to the present time, and the opinion of the people, –
Well now I want to say that I don’t think the sentiment of the people generally at that time was in the favor of doing that thing. It was a thing that was done by some rough characters in the community, and I don’t think it represented the sentiment of the people generally at all at that time. I do not believe the people of Independence the best people of Independence approved of what was done, but then they did not rise and try to prevent it when it was done. They let these rough characters work their will on them I don’t believe the best people of the country wanted to do that sort of thing, but as far as driving them off is concerned. I expect there was a great many good men wanted them to go away, but as far as doing them personal damage either to their business houses or persons is concerned, I do not believe they would have done it, or did do any thing of the kind. Now that is the best people, but there is question that on the other hand the unruly turbulent element that was amongst the people here in the early days, and down until after the war, did do then a great deal of damage, and made it unsafe for them to stay here. I know I would have felt that way if I had been in their place. It was a case of where the mob got the upper hand, that is the way I look at it.

94: Well now what efforts were made by the citizens to prevent it?
To prevent what?

95: To prevent these outrages from being perpetrated on the Mormons?
Well I was out in the country just about where this man Warneke lives now, and there was a little shanty there, and a lot of fellows came along there, and one of them jumped upon top of that, and went to tear it down, and they were stopped and not permitted to do so. They would not let them do it, and that was the nearest I ever saw them come to doing damage and not do it.

96: When was that?
That was in the neighborhood of the time they went off from here.

97: Well now I thought you said in the first place there was a good deal of property destroyed here?
Well I saw so still, but I did not see it all done. I know they did not teat that little old shanty down then, but they may have done so afterwards.

98: What was the reason they did not tear it down?
Warneke hollered to them to let it alone, and they did let it alone. The way I come to see so much as I did was because I did not have much to do and I was knocking around seeing what I could see, that was the reason I came to see as much as I did.

99: Do you remember two gentlemen by the name of Potter and Gerber who came here about the year 1855?
Who?

100: Two Mormon Gentlemen by the name of Potter and Gerber who came here about the year 1855?
I do not recollect about it. I might have known about it at the time, but it I did I have forgotten it.

101: Do you remember anything about anybody being driven away from here about 1853?
Well no, I do not. Well now I remember something about fellows going backwards and forwards, but I can’t remember their names or who they were.

102: Well in 1855 I mean?
Well the border war was not very far off then, it was not far off, and I remember that at that time they used to drive one another off now and then, but I don’t know or remember of any Mormons being driven off in 1855, but there might have been so far all I know to the contrary.

103: You don’t remember, then, about two men being driven across the river for preaching down here?
Oh we did a fellow named, “Potter Christ”.

104: Well perhaps that was the man?
Yes sir, I remember that, and it was about 1855.

105: What did they call him?
He called himself Potter Christ, but I don’t know what he preached for I did not hear him preach, but I saw him once out here. He was driven out of the country.

106: Well what do you remember about that man?
well I only say him out there.

107: Out where?
Out this side of Warsaw. I had been sick and was out there, and on coming back we stopped at an old fellows by the name of Carpenter and this old fellow was there, and they called him “Potter Christ”, and a few days after that, I think it was Sunday, they said he was going to preach there,-or was going to preach down there some where, but I think they stopped him, and would not let him preach as he had intended. I think they did , but I don’t know anything about it only what I heard, for I was not here when they stopped him, if they did stop him.

108: Was he one of the Latter Day Saint?
I don’t know where he was or not. He may have been.

109: Was not he called a “Mormon” then?
I don’t recollect. He was another Christ I think he said. That is what he called himself, -another Christ, and that was all I know about it. I know that at the time I looked upon him as a kind of crazy fellow who was not responsible, hardly, for what he said and did.

110: What was it he was called, -what was the name he went by?
They said he called himself “Jesus Potter Christ”. but I know at the time I did not couple him with the Mormons and never thought about it in that way, but he may have been.

111: Gerber, you say you do not remember at all?
No sir, I don not remember him at all.

112: Were you ever at Far West?
Yes sir, I was there.

113: You were at Far Went then?
Yes sir.

114: When did you go there?
I went there I believe it was in 1838. I think that was the time I went there- it might not have been just at that time, but it was about that time I went there.

115: Under what circumstances did you go to Far West?
Well i went with the militia men, for by that time I had got old enough to bear arms.

116: Well, what was the occasion of your bearing arms?
Well there was a lot of troops or militia called out by order of Governor Boggs they said, and Captain Tom Wilson got up a company here as they said we had to go we went. That was the way I came to be at Far West. If it had not been for that I don’t suppose I would have ever been there.

117: What did you go there for?
Well I hardly know what we went for at that time, but it was to surprise the Mormons I think.

118: Now we will go back once more to this Temple Lot business. What was the character of that lot, -was it timbered or prairied land?
I am not certain about that but i think it was timbered. I am rather inclined to think that it was all timbered, or the greater part of it , but I think there was a clearing put on it at that time. I think it was timbered for the whole country around here was timbered at that time.

119: Primarily the country in this vicinity was timbered?
Yes sir.

120: The prairie land at that time did not come any nearer the river than that?
No sir. It did not come any nearer the river than out about a mile and a half or two miles from here, and that was the closest prairie there was.

121: Do you remember anything about the Mormon people congregating on that tract of land on Sundays and at other times?
well I always understood they did, but I did not see much of them, I never saw much of them there.

106: Well what do you remember about that man?
Well I only saw him out there.

107: Out where?
Out this side of Warsaw. I had been sick and was out there, and on coming back we stopped at an old fellows by the name of carpenter and this old fellow was there, and they called him “Potter Christ”, and a few days after that, I think it was Sunday, they said he was going to preach there, – or was going to preach down there some where, but I think they stopped him, and would not let him preach as he had intended. I think they did, but I don’t know anything about it only what I heard, for I was not there when they stopped him, if they did stop him.

108: Was he one of the Latter Day Saints?
I don’t know whether he was or not. He may have been.

109: Was not he called a “Mormon” then?
I don’t recollect. He was another Christ I think he said. That is what he called himself, – another Christ, and that was all I knew about it. I know that at the time I looked upon him as a kind of crazy fellow who was not responsible, hardly, for what he said and did.

110: What was it he was called, – what was the name he went by?
They said he called himself “Jesus Potter Christ”, but I know at the time I did not couple him with the Mormons never thought about it in that way, but he may have been.

111: Gerber, you say you did not remember at all?
No sir, I do not remember him at all.

112: Were you ever at Far West?
Yes sir, I was there.

113: You were at Far West then?
Yes sir.

114: When did you go there?
I went there I believe it was in 1838. I think that was the time I went there, – It might not have been just at that time, but it was about that time I went there.

115: Under what circumstances did you go to Far West?
Well I went with the militia men, for by that time I had got old enough to bear arms.

116: Well, what was the occasion of your bearing arms?
Well there was a lot of troops or militia called out by order of Govener Boggs they said, and Captain Tom Wilson got up a company here as they said we had to go we went. That was the way I came to be at Far West. If it had not been for that I don’t suppose I would have ever been there.

117: What did you go there for?
Well I hardly know what we went for at that time, but it was to surprise the Mormons I think.

118: Now we will go back once more to this Temple Lot business. What was the character of that lot, – was it timbered or prairie land?
I am not certain about that but I think it was timbered. I am rathed inclined to think that it was all timbered, or the greater part of it, but I think there was a clearing put on it at that time. I think it was timbered for the whole country around here was timbered at that time.

119: Primarily the country in this vicinity was timbered?
Yes sir.

120: The prairie land at that time did not come any nearer the river than that?
No sir. It did not come any nearer the river than out about a mile and a half or two miles from here, and that was the closest prairie there was.

121: Do you remember anything about the Mormon people congregating on that tract of land on Sundays and at other times?
Well I always under stood they did, but I did not see much of them, – I never saw much of them there.

122: Do you remember seeing them there on that land at any time?
I cannot say.

123: Well what is your best recollection about that?
Well the fact is that I don’t know that I did any more than other citizens. I don’t know that I saw any body there. I know that we have run over it us boys did at that time, and hunted rabbits there. I know I have been over it often, time and again, that is the piece of ground you are talking about, and they always called it the Temple Lot. I remember that.

124: When according to the best of your recollection was the time that that lot was called the “Temple Lot”?
Well it has been over since they had it, but I don’t remember the year, or the time so as to speak definitely as to the year. I know it was soon after we came here, and that is about all I do remember about it.

125: Has there ever been any time since that time, that you know any thing about that it has not been called the Temple Lot, and known as such?
Well it has been called the Temple Lot and also Maxwell & Woodson’s addition, for they cut it up into lots and made an addition of it, but that was a part of what was called the Temple Lot. I remember that it was made an addition of and was called Maxwell & Woodson’s Addition, and they cut it up into town lots and sold them off. That did not take all of the old Temple Lot in, but the addition was a part of it I think.

126: Is it not true that whenever this property was spoken of, at all times from 1830 or 1831, down to the present time, it was spoken of as the Temple property, or Temple Lot?
Well from the time they first got it till I think in 1830 or 1832, that was the time they got it I think in 1830 or 1832, or some where right about that time it was known that way.

127: How, in what way was it known or designated?
That was the way they designated it, for every body who lived here at that time knew where the Temple Lot was.

128: And was it known as the “Temple Lot”?
Yes sir.

129: If a stranger should at any time during all these years, had come to you, and asked you to point out to him, what was known as the “Temple Lot”, to what spot would you have taken him?
To that same spot.

130: When you say the “same spot” what, what spot do you mean?
The spot we are talking about, the Temple lot where that little building now is.

131: That is where you would have taken him?
Yes sir.

132: Have you also heard other citizens speak of this property from time to time, and describe it as the Temple lot?
I do not know that I can call such an occurrence to my mind at the present time.

133: I guess you do not understand me clearly, I want to know whether other people besides yourself in Independence know of it as the Temple lot or property?
I suppose they do, but I do not know. I do not know what they say.

134: Well Mr. Weston I will ask you what was called the Temple Lot?
What is that?

135: What piece of ground was called the temple lot in 1830, 1831, 1832
 

122: Do you remember seeing them there on that land at any time?
I cannot say.

123: Well what is your best recollection about that?
Well the fact is that I don’t know that I did any more than other citizens I don’t know that I saw any body there. I know that we have run over it us boys did at that time, and hunted rabbit there, I know I have been over it often, time and again, that is the piece of ground you are talking about, and they always called it the Temple Lot. I remember that.

124: When according to the best of your recollection was the time that that lot was called the “Temple Lot”?
Well it has been ever since they had it, but I don’t remember the year, or the time so as to speak definately as to the year. I know it was soon after we came here, and that is about all I do remember about it.

125: Has there been any time since that time, that you know any thing about that it has not been called the Temple Lot, and known as such?
Well it has been called the Temple Lot and also Maxwell & Woodson’s addition, for they cut it up into lots and made an addition of it, but that was a part of what was called the Temple Lot. I remember that it was made an addition of and was called Maxwell & Woodson’s Addition, and they cut it up into town lots and sold them off. That did not take all of the old Temple Lot in, but the addition was a part of it I think.

126: Is it not true that whenever this property was spoken of, at all times from 1830 or ’31 down to the present time, it was spoken of as the Temple property, or Temple Lot?
Well from the time they first got it till I think in ’30 or ’32, – that was the time they got it I think in ’30 or ’32, or some where right about that time it was known that way.

127: How, – in what way was it known or designated?
That was the way they designated it, for every body who lived here at that time knew where the Temple Lot was.

128: And was it known as the “Temple Lot”?
Yes sir.

129: If a stranger should at any time during all these years, – had come to you, and asked you to point out to him, what was known as the “Temple lot,” to what spot would you have taken him?
To that same spot.

130: When you say the “same spot” what, what spot do you mean?
The spot we are talking about, – the Temple lot where that little building now is.

131: That is where you would have taken him?
Yes sir.

132: Have you also heard other citizens speak of this property from time to time, and describe it as the Temple lot?
I do not know that I can call such an occurence to my mind at the present time.

133: I guess you do not under stand me clearly, – I want to know whether other people besides your self in Independence know of it as the Temple lot or property?
I suppose they do, but I do not know. I do not know what they say.

134: Well Mr. Weston I will ask you you what was called the Temple Lot?
What is that?

135: What piece of ground was called the temple lot in 1830, ’31, ’32 ’33 and ’34?
Well after they bought it some where along in the early part of the ’30’s it was the piece of ground that is called the Temple let now. I mean to say it was a tract of land of which that is a part.

136: That is it was a tract of ground, I believe you stated, that laid south of the Westport read, and pretty near south of the stone church that is built there now?
Yes sir.

137: That is the piece of ground?
Yes sir.

138: How many acres was there in it?
I don’t know how many acres there was in it, or whether it was laid off in a lot at all or not.

139: But they called it a lot then?
I think they called it the Temple lot. I can’t say though how many acres there was in it or whether it was laid off in a lot at all or not.

140: Well, did they call it a lot then?
I think they called it the Temple lot, but I always understood that the whole tract of land from away down there towards Chrismans or that factory there or up to the Westport road, and away down there, was called the Temple lot of ground. I remember at one time we went down there to view it, or to view some of it at one time. Mr. Max well and Woodson got old John Parker and me and Richard Pigall to do it.

141: To do what?
They got us to view the ground.

142: Where?
Well from that old blacksmith shop up there, – I do not know what they called it, – well all that south of it we viewed and appraised it at fifty dollars an acre, and the balance of it next to the Westport road I understood they were going to sell it for lots.

143: Then what you refer to was called the Temple lot, or Temple property, – or rather Mormon property was it not?
We always called it the Temple lot.

144: Do you know that it went by that name generally?
That is what I always called it, – I cannot say what other people called it I understood that all that piece of ground was called the Temple lot or property.

145: Well now are you sure that the whole of that property was ever called that, or was known by that appelation so to speak?
I know what I always considered was the Temple property. I can speak for myself only, and don’t know what other people considered was the temple property. I know in my own mind I always thought so, but I don’t know what other people thought.

146: Now you spoke of a large body of land south of the Westport road?
Yes sir.

147: What was that?
Well that was all embraced in this same temple lot. It was all embraced in this same piece of ground that the Mormons had at one time when they were here. It was all Temple ground according to my under standing of it.

148: Do you know how many acres there was in that piece of ground?
No sir.

149: Was it sixty or seventy acres or one hundred and sixty?
I can’t say, but there was quite a big piece of it. It run from the Westport road as I have said down to, or pretty near to to where Pacific Avenue is now. I think it did but I am not sure of that, but from the blacksmith shop that street run east and west, and on the south of that at the time we were viewing the land for Maxwell & Woodson we viewed that at fifty dollars an acre. We did that at the instance of Woodson & Maxwell, – and the balance of it south of that blacksmith shop, and up to the Westport road was to be laid off in town lots, and they did do that.

150: You have seen Mormons on it have you not?
On this land?

151: Yes sir?
Well I have seen some shanties on it, and they were going to pull them done, but they would not let it be done.

152: Who would not let that be done?
Some of the crowd that was along would not let the ones that wanted to do that, do it.

153: Do you know whether the citizens of the town generally ever held picnics out there on that ground, or other gatherings on that ground?
I do not know.

154: Aside form the Mormons I mean?
If they did I do not know it.

155: You do not know, you say, anything about that?
No sir, I am not a picnic man myself and if that was done I don’t know anything about it. I did not notice that if it was done.

156: You were a boy at that time?
Yes sir, and at that time picnics had not come in yet.

157: Do you know of any general gatherings out there of any kind or discription about that time?
Well they hung a fellow for murder there once, and that was the most general gathering I ever saw there.

158: Where was that?
I can’t say just the exact spot it was, but it was there pretty close to the Temple lot. It seems to me that it was not very far from the street running down there from pleasant Place. I think it was near that street there some where, but I said I could not point out the exact place but it was right there near the temple lot some place. It was a little west of that I think.

159: Well was it on the temple ground?
I am not certain that it was but it was thereabouts.

160: Well how far was that from the Westport road?
Where this fellow was hung do you mean?

161: Yes sir?
Well it was about two-hundred yards I suppose from the road to the place where they hung the man. I know they were there preaching and praying with him all day nearly.

162: Was that before the war?
Yes sir, it was before the war.

163: How long before the war was it?
Well it was some where about ’38 I think. It was long about that time that that man was hung there. It might have been a little before that time. I was working for myself at that time, and I knew the man that was killed for which this fellow was hung. I knew the man that was killed very well, and it was a fellow named Hawkins, – the fellow that built the Hawkins mill, and the man that killed him was the fellow they hung out there.

164: And you say this occurance of the execution of this man out there was about 1838?
Yes sir, I think about that time, but it may have been later than that, – I might have been not far from ’40 I think. I am not at all sure of the date, but it was some where along there.

165: Do you remember whether at any time, any of that ground out there that you speak of as being temple ground, was ever in cultivation?
Well I don’t know. If you call putting it in meadow cultivation I don’t know about that. I think some of it was in meadow at one time, but I would not call that cultivation hardly. Woodson Took in some of it, and built a stone fence around it, and I think it was a meadow it was used for.

166: At what time was that?
Well it was about 1845 or some time along there. I remember at the time old John Parker was living and he and me valued it, and that was the time that Woodson had it

167: Did you ever remember seeing a fence running along the south side of the Westport road, enclosing this lot in controversy?
I do not recollect anything about that until of recent years. I know they have a fence there now, but I don’t recollect of a fence being there until this fence was put there, still there may have been, — If there was I do not recollect it though.

168: Do you not recollect that at one time there was what was known as a worn fence all along the Westport road, embracing the whole distance of that lot on the south side of the road?
I don’t remember that but there might have been.

169: Did you ever see that land there in corn and pumpkins?
Well I may have seen it, but if I did I have forgotten it.

170: I refer to a time along prior to the war?
It might have been there all the time before that, but if it was I say I don’t recollect it.

171: This is with reference as to whether it was bare ground or not?
Well it is nice, pretty ground, —the finest piece of ground in the country I think.

172: Yes sir, I agree with you, Now you do not as I understand you state postively here, that all that piece of ground was timbered ground.
What is that?

173: You do not as I understand you you, I say, state postively here, that all that ground was timbered ground, —that is had timber on it?
Well I could not say what it was, but my impression is that it was timbered land. I know though that that was the the general nature of the ground, —it had timber on it at one time but how much of it was timbered when they got it I do not know.

174: In ’31 and ’32 and ’33, there was timber had been on the ground where what is called the Temple lot is now fenced, —there was timber then on that ground?
There was, —there had been or was at that time, but I do not know about that either postively, for about that time I think they had cut it off or were cutting it off.

175: Where did they cut the fuel then, what sort of fuel was used in this town at that time?
Every body used wood for fuel in this country at that time, and the people in town got there fuel off this ground and the country round here, —for the country all round here at that time was timbered, and a person could go out almost any where and out what wood he wanted.

176: Do you call to mind, or can you call to mind any Mormons who were here in 1834 engaged in some suit against citizens of this place for what occured on the street here in the way of outrages against those men?
No I do not remember anything about that.

177: Do you say they were not here?
No sir, they may have been here I say I don’t remember anything about it if they were. I think at one time there came over a lot of them from Clay County, or Liberty, to have some law suits here, but I did not pay much attention to it, but I recollect seeing them here.

178: About what date was that about ’34 or ’35?
It was about ’34 or ’35, —some where along there.

179: Well that is what I referred to, —Now was there some litigation about those times with reference to the abuse which these men had received?
They came over here to a have a suit on account of these outrages. They brought suit against the citizens here I think, and they came here to have a trial in the court, and there came some soldiers to protect them, and I recollect seeing them come in but further than that I did not care anything about it and I did not go to see anything about it, for I did not care anything about it, at all.

180: You say there was soldiers came with them?
Yes sir, to protect them as I understood it.

181: Were these soldiers militia?
No sir, they were United States soldiers. Now that is my impression, – and I am not sure about that either, but that is what I think they were.

182: There was not very many of the soldiers?
No sir.

183: Now was there any disturbance at that time with reference to the Mormons?
No sir. Not at all, – not at that time. None that I know of.

184: Well that was in 1834 we will say?
Yes sir, about that time 1834 or ’35.

185: Now from that time on up for twenty years, up to 1854, was there ever any disturbances with references to the Mormons that might come in here or not?
Not that I ever know of.

186: Can you call to mind of any of the Mormons coming in here during these years?
No sir, I don’t remember of any of them coming in.

187: You do not all to mind anything of the kind?
No sir.

188: Now you said there were certain outrages perpertrated upon the Mormons here in this city in 1833?
Yes sir.

189: And you went on and described at length these outrages as you saw them?
Yes sir, to the best of my ability I did.

190: Now do you know anything about what was the cause of these outrages you spoke of?
What is that?

191: Do you know anything about what was the cause of these outrages or disturbances?
Well I know what was said to be the cause of the disturbances, – In buying property they would go to a fellow it is said, – I know of one particular case, – a fellow by the name of Baker he said so, – Baker said you might as well sell, for if you don’t sell it you will have to leave the country”. Now that is the way it was, and it was these kind of things that brought up the trouble. Now I don’t know anything about this of my own knowledge, – it is just hearsay, – what was told me.

192: Was there, or was there not some current reasons given at the time of the attacks upon the Mormons?
What is that?

193: Answer the question, – you need not pay any attention to what these gentlemen say, for they are only availing themselves of their legal right to interpose their formal objection?
Well state the question again.

194: Well the question, I asked you was, was there, or was there, not some common understanding, which accounted for the outrages you speak of as having been committed against the Mormons at this time?
Well just what I told you was the first cause, – they said it was reported that the people would have to go and give their property up if they would not sell it. That seemed to be the chief reason for the expression of feeling made by the citizens.

195: What was that?
Well because they said if the people did not sell their property they would have to leave anyhow. I don’t know that they said that mind you, for I did not hear any of them so state the fact to be, —that is I did not hear any of the Mormons make that statement or any thing like it, but it was said to be the case that they did talk that way, and that was one of the chief reasons for the feeling that sprang up here against them.
I don’t believe there was anything in it myself, but that was the common talk about it.

196: Now Mr.Weston do you say that the citizens of this town generally and the citizens of this vicinity, generally, were engaged in that tarring and feathering that was done there as has been testified to here?
Well there was a good many around here at the time, —that is they were around where it was going on, but whether they were engaged in it or not I do not know. These rough characters that I told you about did the actual work, but these other people were around there and did not interfere with them in their work, and whether they were aiding and abetting them in their work I don’t know about that.

197: Is it not a fact that a great many citizens were there simply as spectators?
I know I was there simply as a spectator and there was a good many other citizens there looking around, but these men seemed to be the active ones in the performance, —I can’t say whether the others were there as spectators or not, but I assume that some of them were.

198: Do you know of any reason why Mormons would not have been safe here in 1840 or 1850 or 1860, or at any other inter—mediate time?
 

199: Do you know whether or not they would have been safe here at any of those times?
What times.

200: In 1840 or 1850 or 1860, or any inter—mediate time?
Well I do not know as a general thing whether they would or not. There was some people in the community at that time you speak of that I have no doubt would have done them harm if they could, but I do not believe that the people of the community at those times would have countenanced any outrages on them, —as far back as 1840 I do not think they would.

201: How about as far back as 1860?
Well some of them I believe would, —I believe candidly that some of the hot headed ones would have been disposed to annoy them and persecuted them at that time, for the feeling had not subsided at that time. I think so because a fellow by the name of Rockland I think it was. At any rate some one attempted to assassinate Gov. Boggs, and it was said to be a fellow by the name of Rockland He was said to be the fellow that did it, and that got up another enmity against the Mormons.

202: When was that?
I don’t remember the date.

203: Well about when was it?
I don’t remember the date but it was some where along about 1841, and Govener Boggs lived here at the time.

204: Well was there such a disposition in 1855 or 1860?
Well I don’t know about that. I don’t think there would have been anything done to the Mormons at that time if they had come here but as I said before there were people here who did not have any love for the Mormons, and are to this day, but I don’t think the sense of the community would have tolerated any violence’s to them at that time, still it may be that if they had come back there would have been violence offered them. It is just this way that the people generally did not like them, but I don’t think they would have hurt them if they had come back at that time.

205: Have there not been more or less of the people that are called Mormons here since 1865?
I could not tell you, but I think they have been here more or less for a good many years. I do not pay much attention to these things, but I am under the impression that there has been some of them here since that time. I know that old Dr. McClellen and a good many others have been here for years, but how long they have been here, or when they came I don’t know. I think, –

206: Well about when did they come first, – when did they begin to return again?
That is what I was going to tell you. I think it was after the war that they began to come back here again.

207: Well do you think there was a quite a number here in 1870?
Yes sir.

208: Have they been increasing in number since that time?
Yes sir, I think so. 208 1/2

208: They were incresing in numbers you say?
Yes sir.

209: Have they been disturbed by rowdyism as a special class of people or have any outrages been perpertrated upon them because of their religious belief, or from any other reason?
If they have, I don’t know it. I don’t know of any thing of the kind. 209 (Second number 209 listed)

209: I believe you said there was a house, – that some one attempted or or was about to attempt to tear down a house back in 1834?
Yes sir.

210: Where was that that that occured?
That was not very far from where Mr. Warneke lives.

211: Where is that?
It is up near this Westport road on the south side of this temple lot or Mormon ground, – It is over at the south east corner like.

212: it is east of the enclosure, or where the enclosure now is of what is called the Temple lot now?
Yes sir.

213: How much east of that is it?
I don’t know.

214: Is it two hundred or three hundred yards east of that?
Yes sir.

215: Was that house that was attempted to be torn down on the temple grounds?
I think it was.

216: Well what was it they wanted to do?
They wanted to tear it down and Mr. Warneke would not let them.

217: And what kind of a building was it?
it was a little log building.

218: Well now really in ’31, or ’32, or ’33 I should say, when these outrages occured that you speak of, – I believe you stated there were some persons here that were Mormons that were not disturbed?
You spoke of a amn by the name of Gilbert who had a store here?
Well I don’t know anything about him. If this store was disturbed I did not know of anything about it, but there might have been a good deal done to it and I not know it.

219: Where was the store?
He had a store right over on the corner there about where that jewelry store is now.

220: What kind of a store did he have?
It was a dry goods store he had, I remember though that the Mormons had to get away at as I said before there were people here who did not have any love for the Mormons, and are to this day, but I don’t think the sense of the community would have tolerated any violence to them at that time, still it may be that if they had come back there would have been violence offered them. It is just this way that the people generally did not like them, but I don’t think they would have hurt them if they had come back at that time.

205: Have there not been more or less of the people that are called Mormons here since 1865?
I could not tell you, but I think they have been here more or less for a good many years. I do not pay much attention to these things, but I am under the impression that there has been some of them here since that time. I know that old Dr. McClellen and a good many others have been here for years, but how long they have been here, or when they came I don’t know. I think.

206: Well about when did they come first, when did they begin to return again?
That is what I was going to tell you. I think it was after the war that they began to come back here again.

207: Well do you think there was quite a number here in 1970?
Yes sir.

208: Have they been increasing in number since that time?
Yes sir, I think so. I do.

208: They were increasing in numbers you say?
Yes sir.

209: I believe you said there was a house, that someone attempted or was about to attempt to tear down a house back in 1834?
Yes sir.

210: Where was that that that occured?
That was not very far from where Mr. Warneke lives.

211: Where is that?
It is up near this Westport road on the south side of this temple lot or Mormon ground. It is over at the south east corner like.

212: It is east of the enclosure, or where the enclosure now is of what is called the Temple lot now?
Yes sir.

213: How much east of that is it?
I don’t know.

214: Is it two hundred or three hundred years east of that?
Yes sir.

215: Was that house that was attempted to be torn down on the temple grounds?
I think it was.

216: Well what was it they wanted to do?
They wanted to tear it down and Mr. Warneke would not let them.

217: And what kind of a building was it?
It was a little log building.

218: Well now really in 1831 or 1832, or 1833 I should say, when these outrages occurred that you speak of. I believe you stated there were some persons here that were Mormons that were not disturbed? You spoke of a man by the name of Gilbert who had a store here?
Well I don’t know anything about him. If this store was disturbed I did not know of anything about it, but there might have been a good deal done to it and I not know it.

219: Where was the store?
He had a store right over on the corner there about where that jewelry store is now.

220: What kind of a store did he have?
It was a dry goods store he had, I remember though that the Mormons had to get away at that time, and get away pretty smatr too, and I know that if I had been one of them I would have thought a good amny times over it before I would have come back again if I had had the experience they had. Now that is my recollection about it.

221: About what?
About them having to get away in the way they did.

222: Who had to get away?
The Mormons had to.