On the 6th of April, 1861, five persons were baptized into
the new church in the Weber River. On the same day of the same month, thirty-one years previous, the Mormon Church had been instituted by the baptism of six persons. Encouraged by this augury, a church was organized, and the work commenced in earnest. Converts flocked to them from all parts of the Territory.
In three months the new church numbered about three hundred persons. Its highest number did not exceed five hundred.
In the mean time difficulties arose between them and the surrounding Mormons. The Morrisites refused to train as militia. Heavy fines were imposed in consequence, and much property sold on execution for their payment.
These fines and exactions were increased until the Morrisites refused longer to submit to them. A number of fines of $60 each had been imposed. When the sheriff appeared and proposed to arrest those who would not or could not pay, he was resisted. Further proceedings were then suspended for the present.
In the spring of 1862 a team, consisting of two yoke of cattle, which had been sent to mill from the Morrisite settlement, was, together with a load of flour, seized and retained by one William Jones, who threatened in like manner to retain all that should be sent until some difficulties between him and them should be settled to his satisfaction. The Morrisites, standing in immediate need of the flour, sent a posse of men, and took not only the flour, but Jones and two associates prisoners.
Application was now made to Chief Justice Kinney, who immediately issued writs for the arrest of the leading Morrisites, and writs of habeas corpus for the Mormons held in custody.
These writs being disregarded, a posse of several hundred men, headed by Robert T. Burton, sheriff of Salt Lake County, well armed and equipped, and having several pieces of cannon, were sent to execute the writs, and enforce
obedience. This force was augmented on the way by volunteers, and additional arms, until they approached the settlement of the Morrisites, with a force of about a thousand well-armed men, and five pieces of artillery.
Early on the morning of the 13th of June, some of the posse appeared on the heights above South Weber settlement, and took possession of the Morrisites' cow-herd, killing such as they desired for beef. During the morning, Sheriff Burton sent a proclamation to the leaders within the Morrisite "fort,"—for such they had constructed,—calling upon them to come out and deliver themselves up, according to the requirements of the writs in his hands, and warning them of the consequences, if they refused.