OCR Text |
Show "At first the Mormons in .Jackson County sincerely relieved they would get along with their new neighbors." Polly explained, somewhat of a sidebar to the Rockwell narrative. We were finishing finish-ing up the last of the rabbit. The half-naked half-naked Indian. Turtle Kunner was sleeping soundly on the bare ground. Outside the cave, the snow was still falling. The horses were standing silent, their backs to the storm, patiently waiting for the night to pass. Melted snow ran in long, straight rivulets down their sides and legs. "Alter all, the Mormon church was only three years old," she continued. "There was no history or precedent of persecutions, other I ban some of the resistance Joseph Smith had met in founding the Church and getting the Book of Mormon published. Many thought that initial opposition was a result of the church being so new. It would be different in Jackson County, they thought. The hard working, family-centered family-centered Mormons would be good citizens, respected and loved by their neighbors. "Such was the feeling until W: W. Phelps published an article in the new Mormon paper, The Evening and Morning Star, about 'free people of color.' The direction of the article was clear. The Mormons were opposed op-posed to slavery, not a popular stand in a slave state like Missouri. "Many Mormons wanted to believe they were being persecuted for their religious beliefs. That was not the case, at least not at first. Taking away a man's slaves was diking away his useful, productive property that enabled him to make money. The Missourians didn't want anybody messing with their slaves, particularly not an idealistic religious group that controlled lots of votes. If the number of Mormons continued to grow, soon they would outnumber the old citizens. Mormons Mor-mons would control the elections. They could vote out slavery and anything else Joe Smith decided to do away with. "The old citizens were concerned, and the more they got together and talked about the Mormon situation, the more serious it seemed. "The Mormons were getting large blocks of good land, sparking a real estate boom. Land was already approaching ilie out raucous price of $:i per acre. Tin- old cilicns could no longer allord to increase their holdings. What good was it it the land you already owned was worth more it you didn't want to sell'.' "The Mormons were clearing the land and shooting the game. The deer, elk and wild pigeons were becoming more scarce. At the rale things were going Missouri would soon be as crowded as a big city with Mormons elbow to elbow, and no space left lor a man to hunt and fish. II the Mormons voted away the slaves, there wouldn't be much time for hunting and fishing anyway, some moaned. "During the summer and fall of 18.'i2 there was a growing feeling among the Missourians of Jackson County that the Mormons must go. That's how the anti Mormon feeling began. "Rockwell was more aware of this feeling than most Mormons, being in constant contact with the old citizens as he ferried them across the river. He could sense the unrest, the distrust, even the growing hate for his people. But the young ferryman naively thought that if he charged fair prices and was friendly and helpful, he would help win over the old citizens to the Mormon cause. At least they would leave him alone. "Cyrus Ward, the prominent horse breeder from Independence, brought horses to Rockwell on a regular basis, for training. He said no one else in the state could start a green horse as well as the young ferryman. Rockwell would, work with the horses during the lulls when no one was wanting to cross the river. "When not ferrying or working with horses, he was usually with Luana in their increasingly comfortable com-fortable cabin. By fall she was heavy with child. "In addition to sensing the pulse of the Missourians, Porter's ferry also became a focal point for the Mormons, Mor-mons, a place to meet, to gossip, to take a natural break on their journeys. Sometimes in good weather meetings were held on the ferry; in less desirable weather in Port's cabin. Everyone in the vicinity, Mormons and non-Mormons, non-Mormons, not only knew the Rockwells, but spent time at the ferry landing on the Big Blue." (To be continued) |