In the early 1830s the Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith reportedly had a revelation in which God revealed that Jackson County was the location for Christ's return to earth. Consequently, the area realized a large migration of members of the Church of Jesus Christ Later Day Saints.
The people who had already settled in the area were afraid they would be pushed off their lands. In 1836, the citizens of Clay County requested the Mormons be removed from the area. Conflicts broke out between the Mormons and the settlers.
Gov. Lilburn Boggs, a War of 1812 veteran and a former attorney in Union, issued an executive order that the Mormons should be treated as enemies and must be exterminated for the public peace. As the conflict progressed the Mormons signed away their holdings and moved to Illinois.This was at best an improper conflict but the veterans that served did so at their state's call to service.
During my research I found one unit that had been formed in Franklin County who served only a short time and was sent home. More discussion and research is needed on other possible veterans. Gov. Boggs, record shows, was married to Panthea Boone, Daniel Boone's daughter. After an attempt on his life, he moved to Napa Valley, California, where he died in 1860.
In the "Centennial Biographical Directory of Franklin County Missouri" by H.G. Kiel published in 1925 had little mention regarding the Mormon War with the exception of Achillies Whitehead Jefferies. Mr. Jefferies lived in the Jefferiesburg area and was a brigadier general commanding the Second Brigade, 6th Division. His name also is mentioned during the Mexican War recruiting soldiers for that war.
Below are the names listed as having served in the Mormon War:
Complete:
Armstrong, John
Armstrong, Robert
Baily, William
Bay, Minion
Blair, John L.
Boyd, G Washington
Boyd, Thomas
Brown, James
Brown, Thomas
Caldwell, W.J.
Callaway, Daniel B.
Callaway, F.H.
Calloaway, J.B.
Campbell, Smith
Cheek, James
Childers, Henry
Childers, J. Milton
Childers, Johnson
Childers, Thomas G.
Childers, William P.
Davis, George
Davis, William
Dent, Henry
Duncan, J.L.
Duncan, John
Duncan, M.A.
Frazier, A.
Glenn, William
Harden, J.R.
Heatherly, James
Heatherly, Oslas
Henton, Daniel R.
Hinton, Jobe
Hutton, J.M.
Hyatt, Eley
Jefferies, Achillies Whitehead
Johns, John E.
Johnson, Preston B.
Jones, Benjamin B.
Jones, J. Washington
Jones, William B.
Larimore, Levy
Larimore, Pinkney
Link, A.
Masey, Thomas
Masey, Yerby
Massie, William
Maupin, Amos
Maupin, Wilkerson
McDonnold, F.G.
McWilliams, Jackson
Miller, George W.
Miller, Perry
Moore, Isah
Murphey, E.W.
Musick, M.M.
Musick, William M.
Napper, Patrick
Painter, William
Phillips, John J.
Phillips, William
Reed, James
Renfro, Thomas
Richardson, Aaron
Richardson, Daniel
Richardson, Green C.
Richarson, Scott
Roberts, Asa
Shelton, Miller
Shelton, Samuel
Stiles, Isaac
Stiles, James
Taylor, Felix
Taylor, Hiram
Taylor, William
Todd, John A.
Truesdell, John
Walker, E.L.
Walker, T.F.
Ware, John
West, Parker
Woodland, William
Incomplete or Residency:
Aubuckle, Robert
Baily, James
Bales, L.J.
Brown, Silas
Choteau, Augustus
Clark, Alexander D.
Cooper, Charles L.
Dace, Harmon
Daughtery, John
Doris, E.
Evans, John
Frigwater, J.W.
Hamilton, Jackson
Hamilton, John L.
Hamilton, Zeno T.
Hance, James
Manel, E.
McCholester, John
Momam, Hiram
Myers, M.
Odgen, John I.S.
Ownes, Samuel C.
Park, Dudley
Penrod, Daniel
Rodgers, Isaac
Romins, Thomas
Smith, Asa
Spain, James
Stocklin, J.
VanLiiur, George
Weathers, J.S.
Whitmore, Christopher F.
Whitmore, Isaac C.
The Veterans Hall of Honor Committee was created to honor the Veterans who were associated with Franklin County. Criteria for inclusion in the Hall of Honor include: be a veteran having an honorable discharge, born or raised in Franklin County or lived in Franklin County for at least ten years or buried in Franklin County.
Anyone willing to donate pictures, military histories, military uniforms or insignias that you would like to have included and displayed in the Hall of Honor or if any one has service information on the above names or veterans that were inadvertently not on the list please contact us.
The County's internet site is Franklinmo.org. Go to Veterans Hall of Honor and complete the information sheet found there. Other contact information istowilson@franklinmo.net
Phone numbers to call are 636-583-6360 (office) or 636-239-0317 (home). The mailing address is: Terry O. Wilson, 400 East Main Street, Room 206, Union, MO 63084.
