I arrived in safety in Kirtland, in the Spring of 1835, and commenced labor on the temple, where I continued to work until it was finished, and ready for the endowments.
On the 24th of November I was united in the holy bonds matrimony with Lydia Goldthwait by the Prophet Joseph, this being the first marriage ceremony that he ever performed.
I remained in Kirtland until the temple was finished and dedicated. I then received my anointings, and was also a witness to the great manifestations of God's power in that sacred edifice.
On Thursday, April 7th, 1836, all things being ready, Lydia and I started for Clay county. Brother Hyrum Smith let me have his horses to go to Liverpool, on the Ohio river, where we were intending to take passage on a steamer for our destination; the roads were very muddy. On the 9th in the afternoon it rained very hard, and we stopped, before night, at a sectarian priest's, who treated us with great politeness until in the evening while we were sitting with the family in the parlor, in the course of conversation it was mentioned that we were "Mormons." The family immediately left the room, and the reverend gentleman politely informed us, that if it had not been raining so very heavily, he would have at once put us out of the house. As it was we were introduced into the kitchen, where we spent the night, and early the next morning I got my horses in readiness, paid my bill, and bade this sectarian host adieu. We traveled several miles, when we came to a house, were we got breakfast, and were kindly treated. Soon after resuming our journey we found ourselves in deep water, for the road was flooded for a long distance, and it was with difficulty that I could pick out the way; as I attempted to cross a bridge the logs rolled from under the horses, and I was barely able to rescue them by detaching them from the wagon. I then got Lydia on one of the horses and took her across to dry land, but had to leave the wagon for the night.
The water had abated by the 11th, and we continued our journey to Liverpool, Ohio, where we were compelled to remain a few days. We finally arrived in Clay Co. on the 6th of May.
CHAPTER XI.
SAINTS MOVE TO CALDWELL COUNTY—PERSECUTIONS BEGIN ANEW—CAPTAIN BOGART AND HIS MOB—THE BATTLE—HAWN'S MILL MASSACRE—COLONEL HINKLE'S TREACHERY—THE BRETHREN IMPRISONED.
When the Saints were driven from Jackson county, the people of Clay county kindly permitted us an asylum in their midst and many individual acts of kindness might be recorded in their favor; but the more turbulent spirits among them began to stir up anger against us, and the smouldering embers of persecution began to show signs of blazing forth again. However, there were many gentlemen who were desirous of peace, and who tried to sooth and quell the spirit of mobocracy.
During June and July, 1836, meetings were held by our people as well as by those who desired our removal to some other locality, and it was finally decided, after due deliberation, that the Saints should again move. This time the place of refuge chosen was Caldwell Co., and immediately the exodus began.