FarWestHistory 
MMFF
The tracks of members of the early Restoration Movement in Richland County, Ohio, are faint today, yet traces of their experiences may still be found.
In the fall of 1830, four missionary elders of the newly formed Church of Christ (Mormons) stopped at Kirtland, Ohio. A man who was very familiar with Richland County, Ohio, believed their testimony and was converted to the new church. This man was Sidney Rigdon, a well-known and popular orator and evangelist in the Ohio Region. One of the places where Rigdon had labored and enjoyed much success has today practically passed from the map. This little Richland County village of Newville was four to five days walking distance from Kirtland where Rigdon led a regular congregation.
For a while, Newville appeared to be the religious center of that area. During the late 1820's revivalists seemed to congregate there to conduct their meetings. The Regular Baptist Church of Newville was organized in 1835 and through the following years Sidney Rigdon and other ecclesiastical figures preached from its pulpit.2 A history of the county mentions Sidney in association with Alexander Campbell and Thomas Rigdon (an early settler near present day Lucas) in the establishment of a "Cambellite" or Disciples of Christ Church in that same vicinity a few years later.
After Sidney's conversion, he traveled to New York to meet Joseph Smith Jr. Soon after, the Church was given a revelation directing their removal to Ohio. Thus by circumstance and perhaps by divine design, Ohio was to become the state on which much of the growth of the Restoration of Christ's Church, as we have it today, would unfold. After cultivating the gospel among his many Kirtland followers Sidney soon returned to share his testimony with friends in Richland County. Preaching in homes and barns in the neighborhood, Rigdon swayed his audiences with his great conviction and persuasive eloquence. Therefore, it is not surprising that he gained converts to this new doctrine. James McBride wrote in his journal, "The first Mormon sermon preached on the Red Haw of the forks of the Mohican River, was preached in father's house..."
NOTES:
1. Vergil A. Stanfield, "Mansfield That Was," Mansfield News Journal (April 5, 1970), 5E.
2. "Pioneer Settler in Newville Served in Revolutionary War," Mansfield News Journal (July 26, 1953).
3. J. A. Baughman, History of Richland County, 1808-1908, 1 (Chicago: S. J. Clark Publishing Co., 1908), 196.
4. Section 32:2a, Doctrine and Covenants (Independence, Missouri: Herald Publishing Co., 1962), 86.
5. J. A. Baughman, History of Richland County, 1808-1908, 1 (Chicago, S. J. Clark Publishing Co., 1908):197.
6. Dwight W. Garber, "Mormons From Richland County Died at Hands of Missouri Mob, Tales of the Mohican Country," Mansfield News Journal (March 4, 1962):12.
7. Ibid., (June 11, 1961).
8. Richland County Land Records, Recorded June 12, 1834.
9. History of the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints, Lamoni, Iowa, Herald Publishing House, 1905, 1:454, 455; Hereafter cited as: History of the RLDS Church.
10. Dwight W. Garber, "Prophet in the County, Tales of the Mohican Country," Mansfield News Journal (June 11, 1961).
11. Minutes of Conference held at New Portage [Ohio], June 6 (1835)," in Joseph Smith Jr., History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2 (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 2nd edition revised, 1978), 2. 12. Messenger and Advocate, Letters to the Editor, Kirtland, Ohio, 1, No. 7 (April 1835):103.
13. Ibid., 2, No. 9 (June 1836):331.
14. Ibid., 2, No. 10 (July 1836):350-351.
15. Dwight W. Garber, "Mormons From Richland County Died at Hands of Missouri Mob, Tales of Mohican County," Mansfield News Journal (March 4, 1962).
16. History of the RLDS Church, 2:236.
17. Dwight W. Garber, "Mormons From Richland County Died at Hands of Missouri Mob, Tales of Mohican Country," Mansfield News Journal (March 4, 1962).
18. History of the RLDS Church, 2:178-184.
Troubles began for the new converts after it became known that they had accepted the new religion. Some became desirous of gathering with other Ohio Saints who were moving to Zion. The McBride family sold their lease and started to Missouri in August 1833. "The season was too far advanced and the party remained for the winter with the James McMillen family west of Newville in Worthington Township. In the spring of 1834, accompanied by the Amos McBride family, the McMillens and the James Dayley family, they started again for Missouri."6
Like the McBrides, many new converts hoped to leave persecution behind as they journeyed to Missouri. But the year 1834 found the Saints in Independence, Missouri, forced from their homes. At Kirtland, Smith and Rigdon began collecting money, provisions and volunteers to march to the relief of the scattered brethren in Zion. In need of contributions for such a project, the presidency of the church, the bishop and the high council met on April 23, 1834. After consideration of their circumstances they united in asking of the Lord to give elder Zebedee Coltrin power to persuade another Richland County convert, Jacob Myers to loan the church the money. Coltrin had gone to borrow the money or to persuade Myers to come and bring it himself to Kirtland. Myers was a miller and millwright who had built a mill on five quarter sections of land he owned along the Clear fork of the Mohican River. Coltrin received a generous response for the needy Saints from Myers. Richland County land records show that Myers contracted at that very time to sell his mill and water rights to Joseph Kanaga, another miller, for $10,250.00.8 Although the exact amount he gave is not recorded, volunteers and supplies started out in just a few days. On May 5th, twenty baggage wagons, accompanied by about 150 men began gathering at New Portage, near present day Barberton where they were fully organized into companies. Joseph Smith led this group that was known as Zion's Camp.9 Passing through Wooster, the group traveled daily. On Saturday, May 10, 1834 they passed safely through Mansfield though there had been some threats that the expedition would be attacked. They continued on a little way and encamped, spending the Sabbath at Richfield, (Springfield?) township. Here Communion was observed as Sylvester Smith preached and the sacrament was served. The camp was joined by two high priest missionaries, Orson Hyde and Luke S. Johnson who had been active in seeking new members and strengthening the three branches of the church in Southern Richland County.10
After Zion's Camp, Jacob Myers and other Richland County Saints gathered together for a conference held at New Portage. Sunday morning, June 7, 1835, Oliver Cowdery preached and in the evening the council again organized and ordained Jacob Myers an elder. Myers received his Patriarchal Blessing at Kirtland from Joseph Smith Sr., September 13, 1835. Soon after the Kirtland Temple was completed, Myers was ordained a high priest under the hands of Joseph Smith in the new building."
With the excitement over Zion's Camp and the needs of the Missouri brethren, the work in Richland County was somewhat forgotten. David Evans wrote to the Messenger and Advocate about progress of the church at Perry township:
Perry, Ohio, April 19th, 1835
Dear Brother:
As many reports have gone out about the downfall of this church, and that it is decreasing instead of increasing, I have thought it would be encouraging to our brethren to hear from us; therefore, I write to you these few lines; the church where I reside, in the township of Perry, Richland co (sic) numbers at this time 36 members, in good standing; five of whom have been baptized within seven days, and 4 about two months before, and some others that appear to be believing, which we trust and pray may come in ...
- David Evans12
Early in 1836, elders Granger and Millet traveled as far south as Richland County and held 11 public meetings, 20 new members were baptized.13 In June, Elder Hinkle in company with elder Groves baptized 10 in the County. Elder Groves traveled on when eider Hinkle was taken sick but the remaining elder soon recovered enough to preach and baptize 12 more. Under the date of July 2nd, elder Hinkle wrote to the Messenger and Advocate that Richland County is producing the greatest call for preaching that he has ever witnessed. A lively controversy was urged upon him by some of the reverend gentlemen in the county who had thought proper to oppose him. His ministry resulted in 44 baptisms in the area.11
In the fall of 1836 elder Myers led the Saints as they gathered their possessions and prepared a wagon train of more than 50 wagons for a trip to new homes in Missouri." Most of Myers' Ohio relatives never understood his involvement with the church nor forgave him for what they considered this "foolishness". Nor were his persecutions or those of the Saints who followed him to Missouri, over. Myers and his wife, Sarah, and two boys, settled along Shoal Creek, in Caldwell County, where they built another mill which he later sold to Jacob Haun and Mr. Ames."' The settlement of Saints included Thomas McBride's family and other Richland County Saints. Though full of hope in their new lands the little settlement at Haun's Mill was soon threatened by a Missouri mob. The members of the community formed a loose guard for their own protection, with David Evans as their Captain. On October 30, 1838 at 3:30 p.m. the mob attacked. Perhaps not more than six minutes passed from the firing of the first gun until the massacre was accomplished and the bloody deed was done.
Thomas McBride, always a mild and now a harmless old man, and 17 others, some children, were murdered because of their religious belief. More victims of the massacre came from Richland County, Ohio, than from any other place, three of those killed and eleven of the wounded - including two of Jacob Myers' sons."
Things were not going so well, either, for the Saints still back in Ohio. Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were forced to flee with their families by yet another angry mob, some of whom followed them most of the way to Far West, Missouri. Soon afterward, on July 6, 1838, one last large group of Saints numbering 525 started west. This group was made up of the Quorum of Seventies and others who had agreed to abide by the constitution drawn' up to govern their journey. After several days of travel, they entered Richland County (which was then larger than at present), on Saturday, July 15th. They camped on a hill near the farm of Solomon Braden, resting there from their journey on Sunday the 15th. On Monday, July 16, they resumed travel and when they were 3 to 4 miles out of Mansfield they were met by the Richland County Sheriff, a Deputy, and a Mr. Stringer who had procured warrants relating to charges connected with the Kirtland Safety Society Bank failure. Josiah Butterfield, Jonathan Dunham, and Jonathan H. Hale were arrested and taken to the county jail on the Mansfield square.
As the group of Saints entered Mansfield, about 4:00 p.m., they were "honored" by the discharge of artillery. They were not molested nor enjoined by any of the large crowd of persons thronged in the streets, save than by insulting language intended to discourage any thoughts of staying.
The group continued on traveling west, and encamped a few miles past Mansfield at the little settlement of Newcastle, in Springfield township, on the farm of Fredrick Cassel. Those arrested were detained in the jail until the next day, when the jury failed to find bills against them. They soon over took the main group which passed on through Sandusky township and on into Crawford County where they camped six miles east of Bucyrus. They finally arrived at their destination, Adam-ondi-ahman, near Far West, Missouri, on October 4th, 1838.18 Once there, they were soon forced from the state by the events that led to the gathering at Nauvoo and the eventual death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. [Restoration Trail Forum, Vol. 7, No. 1 (February, 1981), 1, 10]
- Ron Romig, 1981
