1: Where do you live Mrs Eaton?
Where do I live now?
2: Yes madam?
Well on the corner of Temple and Walnut streets in Independence, Missouri.
3: How long have you lived here in Independence?
Fifteen years about.
4: Where did you live prior to coming to Independence to live?
In Illinois, in DeKalb County.
5: Did you ever live in Caldwell County, Missouri?
Well I believe it was Caldwell County. It was in DeWitt and I think that is in Caldwell County I stayed there for a while and then I was in Far West, Caldwell County?
6: Just state what time you lived in Far West, Caldwell County?
In 1838 I believe it was. I don’t know that I can state the exact time that they left there but I lived there in ’38.
7: You went up to Far West?
Yes sir.
8: Well, what was the occasion of your going up to Far West?
Well it was designed to settle there. We went there with the design of settling and residing there permanently.
9: Did you not in 1838 live at Far West, and right in the place?
No sir, not right in the town. We did not live right in the city at that time. I might say that I did not live in the place at all, for we lived about five miles from there I think. South of that place about five miles was the place I lived.
10: What time was that that you lived there?
That was the same year. We were only there one winter.
11: In what part of the year was it that you lived five miles south of Far West?
Well that was, – I believe we came there in April and located the place, but we moved there in November I think.
12: How old were you at that time Mrs. Eaton?
Twenty one I think.
13: Ar that time you were twenty-one years of age?
I think so.
14: Now at that time that you lived five miles south of Far West, just state what occasioned your leaving that place and going up to Far West, if any thing?
Well it was because a part of about forty men came to our house on horse back, – they came alongside of our yard, and came up barking like dogs, as near as they could imitate a dogs’ bark, and they told us we must leave there, or we would smell thunder and lightning, – that was what they said; and then they asked for a drink of water and my mother got them the drink, and they said they were going to drive us into Far West. Neal Gillen was going into Far West, but he was going into it from the other side where they were going to drive us and they said they would give us hell, and we waited until it was a little dark and then we started for Far West.
15: Did they attempt anything else while they were there at your premises?
No sir, only they inquired if we had any arms in the house, and we said we had not and they made some remark that Mormons were liars, or something like that, – I don’t just remember the remark that they made, – that is, the exact words they used, but it was to the effect that Mormons were liars and not be be believed, at any rate my mother said for them to come into the house, – not it was my father said for them to go in and search the house and see if there were any arms there, and they would not go in.
16: How were these men dressed, – was it in a white blanket coat that they were dressed?
Yes sir, some of them seemed to be dressed in what seemed to be a coat made from a white blanket or something of that kind. It was the style of the country at that time to have coats made out of white blankets, for the country was a new country, and that kind of material was the easiest obtained and so for that reason most of the men wore it. They were in the white blankets, and don’t know but what it was customary at that time to wear a leather belt, and if you would observe a man in those days the chanced were that you would see his bowie knife stick in it, as they went hunting considerable in those days. This knife would be attached to the leather belt with a scabbard, but I did not notice it particularly to say if they had that on that time, but I think at least some of them did.
17: What was their behaviour at that time?
Nothing further than to say about what I have stated, and to tell us to leave there as I have stated, and giving us that reason that we should leave or we would have to leave.
18: Did they go away peacably?
No sir, they went away as they came imitating the barking of a dog as nearly as they could, and making all the noise they could in that way.
19: They barked like dogs?
Yes sir, as nearly as men could do so.
20: That occurred out at the place you lived about five miles south of Far West?
Yes sir.
21: And from there you went to Far West?
Yes sir, we west as they ordered us to do.
22: They ordered you to go to Far West, and in accordance with that order you went?
Yes sir.
23: Well what happened up there at Far West?
Well, they surrounded us, – the prairies were black around Far West, you might say, and you could see men riding
to and fro over the prairies all around Far West, and the prairies were literally black with them.
24: Well what was done then?
Well they demanded that the Latter Day Saints surrender, and that they stack their arms, and they did it I think, – anyway that was the statement that I heard of it, for although I was there in Far West I did not see it. I can’t tell much about what happened there at the time, for it was a time of such peril and confusion that I don’t hardly know what was done.
25: Well did you leave Far West after that?
Yes sir.
26: Where did you go then?
We went back to the place again about five miles south of Far West.
27: You went out in the country again?
Yes sir we went to our place in the country.
28: How long was it before you could go back?
Well I could not tell, but it must have been three or four days. I am not certain whether it was a week or less than a week. I hardly think though that it was a week that we were there before we went back again.
29: That was after the treaty had been made?
Yes sir and they had taken of what they termed “the author- ities” of the church. They took them away from the city, and then they gave us permission to go back to our homes again.
30: Was there any conditions attached to that permission to return to your homes again?
Yes sir, they told us to leave the country in the spring, or before the spring if we saw fit, and to never attempt to put a plow in the ground again, but to leave in the spring, and that is what we agreed to do, and that is what we did do.
31: That was the orders, that you were to leave the coun- try in the spring?
Yes sir.
32: And not return to it any more?
Yes sir. That was the orders and general talk as I understood it. I did not hear these orders given but I don’t think th there is any doubt but that is the order that was given, for we did all leave in the spring, and some went in the winter.
33: Do you know whether that was the order of General Clarke at that time, or the generals that were there?
I think so.
34: Do you remember any of them that were there? That is, any of the generals?
No sir, I did not see any of them, for I had retired in my tent, and only know what I heard from the general conversation that was going on there at the time. I did not see ahy of the generals that were in command there at the time that I know of, but I saw the men that were there all around the city on every side. I saw them frequently on horse-back in every direction, moving around to dif- ferent places.
35: Were there people there that were given any permis- sion to stay to your knowledge? I mean those termed Mormons?
No I think not. I think they were all ordered to leave in the spring. The common conver- sation was that they all had to leave and none should put a plow in the ground in the spring. They were not to cultivate their farms or think of staying there.
36: Then they all did prepare themselves and leave the county, so far as your knowledge goes?
Yes sir, and the state, – I think they were to leave the state.
37: What time did you leave?
Well I don’t know what day in April it was that we left, but it was some time in the month of April after the grass was up about as it is now when we started. We waited until the grass was up pretty well so that we could feed our teams. I know my father owned a farm there and we had to leave that.
38: Were you acquainted afterwards with a man by the name of Granville Hedrick?
Yes sir.
39: Where did you make his acquaintance?
Well I first became acquainted with him in Illinois when he came to DeKalb.
40: Did you know him here in Independence?
Yes sir, I heard him speak frequently here.
41: You heard him preach several times you say?
Yes sir.
42: Did he ever preach in your house?
Yes sir, several times he preached there.
43: About how many times?
I could not tell you now how many times he did preach there.
44: Look at this book marked Exhibit “W” snd state if you ever saw that book before.
Yes sir.
45: You have seen that book before?
Yes sir, I have seen it frequently.
46: What is it?
It is one of Hedrick’s productions.
47: Is that the same Granville Hedrick that used to speak or preach in your house?
Yes sir, I presume so. I never heard of any other Granville Hedrick. There was no dispute amongst his people there but that he was the author of this book.
48: You have seen this book or a book like it before have you not?
Yes sir.
49: Where did you see it, – that is, where did you see that book or one like it before?
Well my husband owned one like it at my house and of course we had that one there.
50: Is that husband you refer to, Mr. Eaton?
Yes sir.
51: What church did he belong to?
He belonged to the Hedrickite church.
52: He belonged to the Hedrickite church?
Yes sir.
53: And he had one of these books?
Yes sir.
54: Did he have more than one?
Yes sir.
55: He had a number of them did he not?
Yes sir.
56: Was this Granville Hedrick that preached there at your house on these occasions, the founder of what is known as the Hedrickite church, or the leader of it at that time?
Yes sir, and it was so understood in all the papers and books published.
57: That is all I care to ask the witness at this time.
58: Explain what you mean Mrs. Eaton by the Hedrickite church, – explain what you mean by that term as a applied to a church?
Well I mean the church that Granville Hedrick was the leader of.
59: That was the church?
Yes sir, and it was called Hedrickite, because he was its leader and the President of it.
60: He was the President of the Hedrickite church, – is that what you say?
Yes sir, he was at that time.
61: Well give any further explanation of what the Hedrickite church was, if you know of any?
Well according to the book that was written they did not have very much time, –
62: Well I am asking you as to the people of the Hedrickite church?
Well they were good moral people as far as I know.
63: Well I am not asking you about that, – well let that pass, – he was the leader of that church, was he not?
Yes sir.
64: Well did they have any name besides Hedrickite?
Well there was, – they were commonly understood by that name, – that is the name they commonly went by.
65: Did they belong to the re-organized church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?
No sir.
66: They did not?
No sir, never to my knowledge.
67: Where did they worship?
Well they worshipped first at one place and then another. They worshipped there frequently, and they have held their conference there.
68: Held conference there?
Yes sir.
69: Where?
At my house.
70: And worshipped there also?
Yes sir, and they had worship in other places also. They did not always worship at my house, but they also worshipped in other private houses belonging to other people,- but as I said they worshipped oftener at my house than at any one else’s house.
71: Did they afterwards have a place of worship besides your house and the houses of these other people?
Not any excepting the little church they have lately built.
72: At what time was this that you know Granville Hedrick?
The time I first knew him,-the time I first made his acquaintance?
73: Yes, madam,-when did you first make the acquaintance of Granville Hedrick?
I first knew him in Illinois, I stated.-
74: Wait a moment, madam I desire to amend my question by saying or asking you when you first knew him as a leader in the church, -or I should say, as a leader of that church?
Well it was not until 1867.
75: About 1867 you first knew Granville Hedrick a leader in the church, – as a leader of that church?
Yes sir, I think so. Yes it was 1867, -but let me see, – no I am mistaken in that, -no sir, it was not 1867, -it was the Centennial year, -in ’76, that is what I meant to get at.
76: It was in the Centennial year/
Yes isr.
77: And that is when you first knew him as a leader of that chruch?
Yes sir, but he was not an elder in the church when we first went to Illinois. I saw him there then and he was not a leader in the church then that I know of, but when I came to live in Independence here, why then I became acquainted with him.
78: When did you come to Independence first?
in 1876.
79: To live?
Yes sir.
80: Has there been a church here on that kind ever since you came here?
Yes sir, there has been people here called the “Hedrickite church”, but they did not meet, -they did not have meetings when I first came here regularly, -I think when i first came here they had meetings but once a month, and at first after I came here they met once in every two weeks.
81: Can you mention any more parties who were members of that organization?
At that time?
82: Yes, madam, -can you mention any mover parties that were members of that organization at that time and now?
I cannot tell now because I have not been in their church for some time, but then there was Adna Haldeman and his family.
83: How many were in his family?
Well there was his wife, and I don’t know but there was his two sons too I think they belonged to that organization also, and there, -well the two sons did not belong to it when I first came here, but they joined afterwards, -and there was Richard Hill.
84: Richard Hill who lives here in Independence now?
Yes sir, I suppose so.
85: he is the black-smith here?
Yes sir, the waggoner here. He belonged to it with his wife.
86: Is that all? Did not your husband William Eaton also belong to it?
Yes sir, my husband belonged to it too when I first came here. I do not know whether he joined it or not when the church was first organized but he belonged to it anyway when I first came here in ’76.
87: did you marry him here?
No sir.
88: Where were you and Mr. Eaton married?
I married him in DeKalb County, Illinois, and came here with him soon afterwards.
89: Did George Frisbee belong to it also?
Yes sir, George Frisbee belonged to it too. I can’t remember these names unless I am reminded of them, but when you mention them I recognize them.
90: Was there any body else of that name, – his wife, – for instance, that also belonged to the church?
Yes sir, his wife belonged to it also.
91: You recollect that they belonged to it?
Yes sir.
92: Did Daniel Border belong to it also?
Yes sir. Daniel Border belonged to it, and there was orders, – I think that Elder Montgomery belonged to it also.
93: You speak of people who were members away back of that time?
Yes sir.
94: And have continued members sincs that time?
No sir.
95: They have not?
No sir.
96: I don’t understand that answer, – what do you mean?
Well several of them have left, so I have heard.
97: Well those you have spoken of here, – you have spoken of Mr. Hill and Mr. Frisbey and Daniel Border?
Yes sir.
98: And others?
Yes sir.
99: They have not left have they?
I think Daniel Border still belongs to it, but his wife has left the church.
100: Now your husband is not now living, – he is not living at the present time?
No sir, he is dead.
101: He died a member of that church didn’t he?
Yes sir, he died a member of that church. He died four hears after that, and was a member at the time he died.
102: He died four years after you came here?
Yes sir.
103: And then as a matter of necessity since, you, – you are not so well acquainted with the people who joined the church in the latter years, are you?
No sir, – do not know them. I have heard that a great number of them have left the church, but I do not know it of my own knowledge.
104: You don’t know how many are now in the church, or how many are out of it?
No sir, I know some that are out of it and some that are in it yet, but I do not know the number of each decidedly.
105: Were you at, – you said you were at Far West, I believe?
Yes sir.
106: In 1838 that was?
Yes sir.
107: And you said you left there in that year?
I left there in the spring of ’39 I think.
108: You left Caldwell County in the spring of 1839 you say?
Yes sir.
109: What year was it that you were surrounded there at Far West?
Well that must have been in ’38, – I think it was in November in the year 1838 if I am
not greatly mistaken in my dates, and I do not think I am.
110: I believe you stated that they took off some people at that time as prisoners?
Yes sir.
111: That is, the people that surrounded you took them off as prisoners?
Yes sir, after the surrender they were taken away and put in jail, I understood.
112: Do you know who these parties were?
That took them off?
113: No, the ones that were taken away and put in jail?
Well one was Joseph Smith and another was Ebenezer Page, and Alexander McRae, – and, – I cannot tell all their names. There was Sydney Rigdon, and I do not know whether Lyman Wight was among the number or not. I can’t tell the names of all of them, but that was some of them anyway.
114: Did you know all these parties?
Yes sir.
115: Did you know a party by the name of Gates there?
Not there I don’t think.
116: You did not know him there?
No sir.
117: That is at Far West?
No sir, I did not know him there, I think.
118: Where did you know a party by the name of Gates?
Yates?
119: No, G a t e s?
No sir, I did not know any party by the name of Gates, for I was retired and not acquainted much with what was going on, – my chief acquaintance with things was through the medium of conversation.
120: Did you know Elias Higbee?
There at Far West?
121: Yes, madam?
No sir, I did not know him there. I did not know him until we were in Nauvoo. I don’t think I knew Elias Higbee there at Far West, but I remember it, but I did get acquainted with him at Nauvoo. Well now I cannot say that I knew him at Nauvoo, for all that I knew of him was by common public observation of the man and his doings, for I didn’t know him personally.
122: You never knew him personally?
No sir.
123: When did you live at Nauvoo?
Well it would be in 1839 that we went there first, I believe.
124: What is that answer?
In ’39, I believe, – yes, and in ’40 too. I lived there a part of the time in 1840. I taught school that season six miles out in the country at Golden Point, which is, I believe, six miles west of Nauvoo, but I was partially acquainted with the people at Nauvoo and went to meeting frequently at Nauvoo, but I did not live there.
125: Did you belong to the church there?
Yes sir.
126: Were you married while you lived there?
At Nauvoo?
127: Yes madam?
Yes sir.
128: To whom were you married?
To John E. Page.
129: How long were you at Nauvoo and in that neighborhood?
In the neighborhood?
130: Yes ma’am?
Well I taught school six months at Golden Point, for I was there six months.
131: How far was that from Nauvoo?
Well it was about six miles west, I think.
132: You did not live in Nauvoo during that time?
No sir, but I was there frequently attending meetings and such things.
133: Well how long did you live in Nauvoo altogether?
Well in all I did not live there but about two months.
134: Well I asked you about how long you were in the neighborhood of Nauvoo, before you left there finally?
Well I was there in the country six months teaching school at Golden Point, but during that time I was frequently in Nauvoo, as I went there to meetings. I lived there twice, – at two different times, but I can’t ell just the number of weeks or months I was there, I can’t tell that for it has been a great many years ago, and it is utterly impossible for me to do so.
135: You say you were there twice, – on two different occasions, to live?
Yes sir.
136: And the first time you were there was the time you taught school at this place?
It was just before that. I went from Nauvoo to Golden Point to teach school.
137: Well when were you there the second time?
It was in 1845, – 1845 or 1846, in 1845 or 1846 was the second time I was there.
138: Was your membership there in the church all the time?
Yes sir.
139: All the time from ’39, when you first went there to Nauvoo, I believu you stated it, – was your membership there in the church all the time from that time until 1846?
Yes sir.
140: Well when did you leave there the second time?
It was in 1846.
141: That is when you left Nauvoo?
Yes sir.
142: And in ’76 I believe you said it was you stated you left Illinois?
Yes sir.
143: Do you recollect the time that Joseph Smith was killed?
Yes sir.
144: Well, where were you at that time?
I was in the city of Pittsburg.
145: In the state of Pennsylvania?
Yes sir.
146: Did you know Joseph Smith?
Yes sir.
147: You did?
Yes sir, and I conversed with him frequently in his life-time.
148: Did you know his wife?
Yes sir.
149: Were you ever at their place?
Yes sir, I knew him and his wife and have been at that their house.
150: When was the last time you saw Joseph Smith?
I can’t tell for of course I did not keep track of that.
151: In about what time, – what year?
Well it was in, – I think in 1840 if I am not mistaken.
152: What time in the year was it?
Well if I am not greatly mistaken it was in the spring of the year for I left for Pittsburg in the spring of the year and it was just before I left that I saw him. I remember being at this house before we left for Pittsburg, but I can’t state any time positively as the time that I was there.
153: Did you become a member of the church at Nauvoo?
No sir, it was not necessary for me to become a member of the church there, as I was a member of the church when I went there. I had been a member of the church all the time from 1836.
154: When did you first become a member of the church and where?
I joined the church in Octoder 1836 in Canada, in what was then called “upper Canada, near the city of Brockville, and I always have belonged to the church since that time.
155: What church did you join there?
The church of Christ of Latter Day Saints, – I think it was called, – no it was the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, – I think that is what it was termed then.
156: What year was that?
What year?
157: In what year was that, – that is the question I asked you?
That I was baptized?
158: Yes ma’am?
It was in 1836 on the 8th day of October. No, yes it was in 1836 too.
159: When were you baptized?
That was the date I was baptized. It was on the 8th day of October 1836.
160: Now did you know any of the twelve in Nauvoo?
Yes sir.
161: You did?
Yes sir, I believe I knew them all there, – every one of them. I think I knew them all, but I was only slightly acquainted with Parley Pratt for he was gone preaching then, but I saw him when he was there, and became acquainted with him after I went to Nauvoo, but I seen the others frequently.
162: Where were they at that time?
They were preaching in different parts of the country at that time, but they would be there at Nauvoo sometimes, and when they were in Pittsburg when we were there they would call on us frequently. They called on us several times when we were there. They did not all call on us there, but a number of them did.
163: A number of whom called on you?
Tat is of the twelve.
164: Was your husband a member of any of the quorums of the church?
Yes sir.
165: Of what quorum was he a member?
He was one of the twelve at that time.
166: AT what time was that?
He was a member of the twelve in the old church before it was rejected and went to Salt Lake.
167: Now as I understand you the church moved form Far West to Nauvoo, and it was necessary for you to rejoin the church there at Nauvoo?
No sir?
168: Because the church moved from Far West to Nauvoo, – because the church moved as a body?
Yes sir, the church moved as a body, but I don’t know, – there may have been a few remained there at Far West, but the church as a body was ordered to leave there.
169: Yes madam, we have no question about that, – that is admitted, but what I wanted to bring out Mrs. Eaton, was that the reason there was no re-joining of the church at Nauvoo by yourself and others, was because the church and removed the Nauvoo?
No sir, it is not the reason.
170: That is not the reason?
No sir.
171: Why is it not the reason?
No sir, that is not the reason, for after we joined the church in the first instance and were baptized, there was no, – we always belonged to the true church, no matter where it was, and do to this day. That is the way it is and if we rejected the authority of some of the assumed leaders and chose to go by ourselves that did not make any difference, for we would still belong to the church.
172: This church that was at Nauvoo was the same church that was at Far West was it not?
Yes sir. That is the way I understand it sir, – it was the same church and the fact of its removal didn’t make any difference.
173: That is the way you regard it then?
Yes sir, that is the way I look at it.
174: You will understand, madam, that by these questions I do not mean any dis-respect or impertinance, for I am just simply a lawyer representing one side of the case, and I undertake to examine them respectfully always. I want to assere this lady that these questions are not asked from any spirit of curiosity
or impertinence, but simply from a regard of what I consider the best interests of my clients and I want to be understood on that point beyond the possibility of being misunderstood. Now after the church went to Nauvoo from Far West, it remained there at Nauvoo for several years did it not?
Yes sir.
175: Then where did it go?
Where did it go?
176: Yes madam, I understood you to say it went somewhere, and I want to know now where it went after it left Nauvoo?
177: Very well, – I will ask you then where the church went from Nauvoo?
Par of them went off to Salt Lake, and a very great many of them did not go there.
178: Who went to Salt Lake of the twelve, – if any?
179: Do you know? If you do not know I will not press the question. You said you knew all the members of the twelve, you thought, and I thought in all probability you might know who of them went to Salt Lake City with the faction that went there?
Well one was killed in St. Louis, and I knew some others that did not go to Salt Lake City with the party that went under the leadership of Brigham Young. My husband did not go for one.
180: Well who else of the twelve did not go?
Well there was William Smith. He didn’t go either.
181: You think William Smith did not go?
I don’t think anytging about it. I know he did not go.
182: Well who else do you call to mind that did not go?
Well there was Lyman Wight. He did not go.
183: Can you call to mind any one else that did not go?
Well I do not think of any one else now.
184: Who was the head of the church at that time, if you know?
It did not have any head.
185: Do you say it did not have any head at that time?
No sir, no more than they called themselves the head.
186: They called themselves the head, – whom do you refer to by “they”?
The twelve, or what was left of them. 187 (Mistakenly listed as second 186)
186: Well you say there was a portion of the twelve and some of the members did not go with them to Salt Lake?
Yes sir, there was quite a number of the members of the church that did not go. They were not ordered to go, and they stayed in this country all that chose to do so.
188: Well have you any idea of the proportion of the membership of the church that went to Salt Lake?
No sir, I can’t state that. I only know what I head, and I cannot speak as a person having knowledge for I was not there at the time, and so I do not know how many went or how many remained.
189: Well afterwards I understand you to say that you went out into another part of Illinois, into DeKalb County.
Yes sir.
190: You and your husband?
Yes sir.
191: You went with your husband?
Yes sir, we left there.
192: Well what year did you go there, – or about what year? I do not wish to worry you madam, but I believe it is important that these facts should be elicited or I would not ask the questions?
I do not know
that I can tell you what year it was.
193: You can’t state the year that you went there?
That we tent to DeKalb County?
194: Yes madam?
No sir I can’t state the year.
195: Well you say, – first I will ask you did you have an organization, – did you belong to an organization, or did you have a meeting place and church organization out there in DeKalb County?
No sir, there was no church there. There was a few members there but there was no meeting place or church organization there.
196: Then when was the first time that you had membership with a number of the members of the church meeting together after you left Nauvoo?
Well then we went to Wisconsin and there was some members of the church there, but I was not identified with them that I know of, only I met with them some times.
197: It was in Illinois I believe you stated that you first met with Granville Hedrick?
Yes sir.
198: Well where was the first place you met with Granville Hedrick?
In DeKalb County, – or I should say in DeKalb township. The town was called DeKalb for it was the center of the county.
199: Did you meet with him there in the capacity of a minister or preacher or teacher, or what was his purpose there?
What was your question, please?
200: The question was in that capacity did you meet with Granville Hedrick there, – what was his business? What was he doing in other words?
Why he came there to get my husband, Mr. Page to come to Bloomington, and he persuaded him to go and preach there.
201: At Bloomington?
Yes sir, and about Bloomington.
202: Did they have a church organization there?
At Bloomington?
203: Yes, and about Bloomington, or anywhere there in that neighborhood?
I do not know, for I did not go there. Mr. Page went there and stayed some time, but I did not go with him.
204: Well where did you first know the church called the “Hedrickites”?
I knew them in Independence, Missouri.
205: Here in Independence was the firs time you knew them?
Yes sir, and I never saw but two of them until I came there, and that was Granville Hedrick and Jedediah Owens.
206: Did or did not Mr. Page belong to the “Hedrickites”?
I think he did, but I was not present though when he joined them, if he ever did.
207: Where did he join them, if you know?
I say that I don’t know that he ever joined them I don’t know anything of their organization, that is, I was not present, and I don’t know anything about it only from common talk.
208: Well, that is all.
209: Are you a member of any church now, Mrs. Eaton?
Yes sir.
210: Of what church are you now a member?
Of the re-organized church of Latter Day Saints.
211: Is it the same church organization in faith and doctrine as you originally united with in 1836?
Yes sir. I do not know of any difference.
212: When you speak of the “Hedrickites” do you mean those people here in the city of Independence that call themselves the “Church of Christ”?
I guess so. Yes, I suppose that is the name they call themselves. They don’t call themselves any particular name that I know of.
213: Mrs. Eaton, is the Hedrickite church, which we call the “Church of Christ” the same church as the re-organized Church of Latter Day Saints?
No sir.
214: It is not?
No sir, it is not the same church?
215: You belonged, however, to that Hedrickite church?
I belonged to it, – is that what you asked me?
216: Yes madam, that is the question?
No sir, I never belonged to it.
217: You never did?
No sir, and I never had any leaning that way at all. I never had any leaning that way and I never had any desire to belong to it.
218: Well I thought you did, but I see that I was mistaken about that?
Yes sir, you certainly are mistaken, for I never belongeb to it or had any leaning towards it, or desire to belong to it.
219: But your husband Mr. Page did belong to it?
Yes sir, as I understood it he did. They came there to where we were living in DeKalb and persuaded him to go theer to Bloomington where I heard they had an organization, but I do not know anything about it only what I heard.
220: Your husband Mr. Page, died in about what year?
Mr. Page died in 1848 I think it is recorded, but I cannot state it exactly from memory.
221: And when were you married to Mr. Eaton?
I was married to Mr. Eaton in “76.
222: And Mr. Eaton also belonged to the Hedrickite church?
Yes sir, he did. That was the first acquaintance I had with that church you might say, when I married or after I married him.
223: Did you undertake to state a while ago in your direct examination who was the leader of the Hedrickite church?
Why the general understanding was that it was Granville Hedrick. He was the one that used to come to my house to meeting. I never knew an other Granville Hedrick but the one that used to come there to meeting.
224: Did you know any other Hedrick at that time connected with the church affairs?
Well no, I believe not. I was not acquainted with John Hedrick.
225: You were not acquainted with John H. Hedrick?
No sir. There was a man I believe, by the name of George Hedrick also, but I was not acquainted with him.
226: Do you know what was meant by endowments in the church Mrs. Eaton?
Endowments?
227: Yes madam?
What is the question?
228: Do you know what was meant or what is meant by endowments in the church?
Endowments in the bible is spoken of as endowments by the Holy Spirit.
229: Do you know what was meant by it in the church?
Oh, in the church we have twelve heads. The church had twelve heads and I suppose they had an endowment.
230: Well I am not going to try and run you into these learned matters about doctrine, but I ask you if you knw anything about endowments personally – anything personally about endowments in the church?
231: Do you know anything personally about endowments in the church wile at Nauvoo, or in the church at any other place?
I never heard of any any where else except what the bible skeaks of.
232: Well do you know of endowments practiced anywhere else, – practiced as the bible speaks of them? Do you know of them being practiced anywhere else, – or any where at all?
Well no, not altogether the same. It is not altogether similar to the bible endowments.
233: Well what were the endowments? In what respect did they differ from the endowments of which you speak, – in what respect did they differ from the bible endowments?
Well I don’t know of any church that had such a great number at a time. While the Spirit rested on them they spoke in tongues and prophesied, for I have heard them individually speak in tongues and prophesy, but I never knew of as many at one time being endowed with the Holy Spirit as at these times.
234: Well do you know these things Mrs. Eaton, personally and practically?
Yes sir.
235: Where?
Well I have known of these things in Canada and elsewhere. Always where the church was there was more or less of that only perhaps in not so great a degree. One hundred and twenty is the number of the apostolic church, –
236: Do you know of any endowments had at Nauvoo?
I don’t know of any. I never knew of any there. I never knew of any endowments there. There might have been some, but I never knew of any real endowments there, –
237: At any time? You were there from 1839 to ’40 and in 1847, I believe you stated?
No sir, I was not there. You asked me if I returned there again, and I did, but I was not there in 1847 nor in 1846.
238: Did you ever receive anything like what they called endowments in Nauvoo?
I never received the proper endowment there, – what you would call the proper endowment I never received there.
239: Have you any objection to stating whst the endowments received at Nauvoo were? Counsel for plaintiff objects to question asked the wit- on the ground and for the reason that it is incompetent irrelevant and immaterial, and not proper cross examination.
I don’t know as it is anything that belongs to the church at the present time. I don’t know that it belongs to the church at the present time in any way, and I never went through all their endowments there. My husband from what little he saw of it said it was the devil and so we rejected it.
240: Then you never went through all of it?
no sir, not all of it, for my husband from what he saw of it did not believe in it, but said it was of the devil. That was after Joseph died.
241: I am not doubting anything you saw regarding it madam?
Well personally I do not know much about it.
242: Well you never went through all of it?
No sir.
243: now have you ever seen anything in the re-organized church like the endowments you saw at Nauvoo?
No sir – never anything like it. I never saw anything other than the endowments spoken of in the bible when it says they spoke with tongues and prophesied. We do not pretend to anything different from that and don’t permit or countenance anything else in any shape or manner. That is all the endowment I know of in the re-organized church and we do not permit anything else either.
244: When did you, if at all, know of the practice of plurality of wives, – or the preaching of the doctrine of plurality of wives?
I never heard it preached while Joseph lived.
245: You never did?
No sir, not while he lived.
246: Well that is not an answer to my question, for my question was when did you first hear the doctrine of plurality of wives preached or taught, if at all?
Oh I heard some talk like that, – some talk like that after Joseph died, among the people, but I never did hear anything about it while Joseph lived. At the time I was away with my husband at Pittsburg for he was a minister or preacher in the church and that was where he was atationed, – at the city of Pittsburg.
247: I believe you stated madam that you never left Nauvoo until at the time of the breaking up of the church there?
Well I left there in 1846 and that was about the time of the breaking up of the church. I don’t know either that I can say that it was the time of the breaking up of the church for they had not all left there at that time, – there was only a few of them had gone from there when I left there.
248: Were you at any of their conferences at Nauvoo?
Oh yes, I have been at several conferences.
249: Were you ever present when William Smith preached?
Yes sir.
250: Where did you ever hear him preach?
I have heard him preach there in Nauvoo. They met out doors there in the warm weather and I have heard him preach there.
251: I do not understand that the old church as you term it, stopped at that time, as I assume you claim it did and which claim we did not admit, and so our questions go to a time after that, so there is a difference in
theory between us you see on that question? Now did you hear that doctrine preached by William Smith?
No sir.
250: You did not?
No sir I never did at any time.
251: Do you know anything personally about it madam, do you call to mind anything at all that you may know about it?
No sir, I never heard anything of the kid preached by William Smith. Of that I am positive. William Smith preached the prophesies of the bible when I heard him, and din’t say anything about plural marriage.
252: Do you know anything about baptism for the dead as practiced at Nauvoo?
Oh I heard some such talk as that when I was there.
253: Well do you now anything about it personally madam? Do you call to mind anything you know about it? If you can please do so and state what it is.
Yes sir, I know something about it. I have seen some baptized there.
254: At Nauvoo?
Yes sir.
255: You have seen some baptized for the dead there?
Yes sir.
256: You same “some”. Now I would be glad if you would give me some estimate of the probable number that you have seen so baptized for the dead?
I do not remember the number.
257: Do you remember whom you saw perform the baptism for the dead?
I remember one minister.
258: Who was he?
His name was Giles Savage. He is dead now.
259: About what year was that, Mrs. Eaton?
I don’t know that I can tell the year, but it was probably about 1840. I am not sure as to the year, and cannot tell when it was.
260: Well did you see as many as a dozen baptisms for the dead?
I never took pains to count them.
261: Well it was at Nauvoo was it not, where you saw this?
Yes sir.
262: Well now Mrs. Eaton, I will enquirer of you if you have ever seen any baptisms for the dead practiced in the re-organized church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, of which you say you are a member?
No sir.
263: You have never seen that?
No sir.
264: How long is it since you became a member of the Re-Organized church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?
I do not think that I can state now withing looking at the record at home.
265: Where did you first become a member of that church?
I became a member of the church in 1836.
266: I mean when did you become a member of the re-organized church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Oh I united with them to become a member, I sent my name in to them, believing they were the church and united with them.
267: Well when was that?
I do not think I can tell.
268: Was it here at this place?
In Independence?
269: Yes Madam?
No sir.
270: It was before you came here?
Yes sir. I can’t tell now just when it was, but at home I have some memorandum and letters concerning it, but I can’t remember the date I joined the re-organized church from memory.
271: Do you know anything about what is called the “patriarchal blessing”?
No sir only it was the same as they had in the days of Moses, as I understand it.
272: Did you ever receive that Mrs. Eaton?
Oh yes, I received a blessing from old Father Smith He laid his hands on my head and prophesied regarding the future.
273: Whese was that?
That he did that?
274: Yes ma’am?
That was at Nauvoo.
275: Was the same blessing conferred upon others?
Yes sir.
276: What is that?
yes sir.
277: At Nauvoo?
Yes sir.
278: And you have seen it conferred?
Yes sir.
279: Have you ever seen that same blessing conferred in the re-organized church?
What was the question?
280: Have you ever seen that same blessing conferred in the re-organized church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, -have you ever seen that same blessing conferred by any one in the same way, since you have been a member of it?
I don’t know that I have seen it since i have been a member of it.
281: Do you know really whether they have any patriarch or not?
All men are patriarchs over their own families, so the bible states.
282: Well please answer the question, -is there any patriarch in the re-organized church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?
I don’t know of any.
283: Is it a fact then that they are the same as the old church without that?
284: I understood you to say that you never heard of or knew of any one holding that position,-that is, the position of patriarch, in the re-organized church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?
No sir, only the bible authorized any man to be a patriarch over his own family according to the old custom.
285: In your cross examination on Mrs. Eaton, you were asked about endowments at Nauvoo?
yes sir.
286: In what way did you know of any endowments at Nauvoo, or pretended endowments?
In what way.
287: In what year I should say?
It was in 1846. I think it was in 1846.
288: Did you ever know anything of the kind in 1844? Counsel foe the defendants objects to the question on the ground that it is leading.
I never knew anything of it anywhere, or heard of it until I saw it practiced there.
288: And that was in 1846?
289: Well, in what year was it that you first saw it, or knew of it?
In 1846. It was never practiced in the church before that.
290: Did you not in your examination a while ago say that you knew of the endowments, and received yours in 1840 at Nauvoo,- that you witnessed them and received them partially?
I said I had never been through all the endowments in 1846,- I did not say any thing about 1840, for there was nothing of the kind in 1840.
291: So you do not remember to have testified here at any time today, that you received your endowments partially in 1840?
That I did not receive all the endowments I told you. That is what I told you.
292: In 1840?
Yes sir, I told you that I never received them all. I did not receive them all at that time, for there was nothing of the kind in 1840.
293: Is that what you mean to say,- that you did not know anything about all the endowments in 1840? Is that what I understand you to say?
Yes sir, there was nothing of the kind in the church in 1840, but in 1846 there was a kind of a sham curiosity of an endowment there, but I said that I did not go through it all.
294: Well I want you to be distinct and definite in your answer as to whether or not you knew anying about endowments of any kind being in the church there in 1840, 1842 or along about that time?
No sir, I never saw it or heard of it in the church at any time at Nauvoo or anywhere else until after the time that Joeseph died and the twelve were ruling there. I told you that my husband said that all that endowment business was nonsense and of the devil, and so we never talked about or cared about it, and did not believe in it at all.
285: Well I might ask you another question, and that is why you and your husband left Nauvoo? Now will you please state that if these gentlemen do not object?
296: Was there any trouble detween your husband, Mr, Page, and the church?
No sir, on the contrary they disliked him to leave them, and they would have liked to have him went west with them.
297: Was there not some trouble between him and the church?
Well he publicly denounced them for teaching falsehoods.
298: Do you know whether he was excommunicated by them or not?
I do not know whether he was or not.
299: You do not know anything about that?
No sir.