.Morgan Pioneer History Binds Us Together out for Independence. Those who have been in Illinois will know something of the hardships to be met traveling on this journey in the dead of winter. The first night out we camped on ice which was eight to ten inches thick. There was difficulty experienced by the teams slipping; so quantities of dry grass was cut and spread on the ice. When water was poured over it, it made it soon freeze, thereby making the crossing easier for the teams. The Spoon River, sixty miles further on, we crossed in the same way. Here we rested a few days, at a Brother Unstead's who had joined the church a short time before. About eighty miles further on, we came to the Mississippi River, called "Great Father of Rivers." Owing to a south wind which had been blowing for several days, the ice was softened, so it was considered unsafe to cross even for the horsemen, and we thought to wait for the ice to melt and pass down the river so the boat would meet us. We reasoned in this way that we were making this trip in obedience to the requirements of the presiding authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ, in whom we had placed out faith; let us ask for help in time of need. So I and James Emmett went to a secluded place, and in humble prayer inquired of God of Heaven what was best to do; and by inspiration these were the words that were given us: "Be of good cheer; for behold I will prepare the way before you. Get up early in the morning and cross this river with your teams and wagons. Use wisdom and no harm will befall you, but you shall cross in safety." This gave us a peaceful assurance, and all night long Brother Emmett and I were awake, thinking the wind would surely change to the north and freeze the ice harder. But in this we were mistaken. The south wind continued to blow, but the ice was a little harder and according to the inspiration of the previous day, we made ready to cross. Chauncy W. Porter, my eldest son, was sent ahead with the first wagon, with two yoke of oxen hitched to it. He was told to stop at a certain sand bar more than half way across the stream, and there wait until the main body of the company drove across; but he disobeyed instructions and drove across. After journeying a number of days in the state of Missouri, a halt was made to give the teams a much needed rest. While here an almost fatal accident occurred. My son, Sanford, was kicked by a newly shod horse with such force that the toe penetrated his skull. To all appearances, he was dead when carried into the tent. We anointed his head with oil, and laying our hands on his head, we invoked the life-giving power of the God of Israel; and soon after taking our hands from his head, his muscles began to show signs of life. In a short time consciousness returned. He opened his eyes and seemed to recognize those about him, and in a short time walked around. The next day we resumed our journey. After crossing the river and being divinely guided and helped through many trying experiences, we reached our destination. We were so happy to be with people of our own faith that we soon forgot our hardships. We found the Saints were required to live by the law of consecration or stewardship as in the days of Enoch. We expected to reside in peace until the coming of the Saviour and were to build a magnificent temple to his Most Holy Name. The majority of the people voted to sustain the Prophet Joseph in his plans. The temple block was then covered with a thick growth of timber, but the brethren went to work with a will, clearing it. Four branches of the church had been organized to the west of Independence, extending out to a distance of twelve or fourteen miles - namely Big Blue, Timber, Coalville and Prairie. I and my family located at the last named place, being assigned about twenty acres to the family. The law of consecration was believed to be a divine requirement from Heaven, so all who voted to sustain it did so with a feeling of devotion. Those who did not vote for it were those who were pretty well-to-do financially and were in the minority. But our people seemed divided and trouble arose; so the law was not lived successfully and the order was dissolved. Strife ran to such a degree that we were driven from our homes without court or council, and that at the point of bayonet and muzzle of the gun. In 1833 we were driven in a body from our nearly made home. We then went into Caldwell and other counties to make homes, but not for long were we allowed to enjoy them. The Church of Jesus Christ soon found there was no place in the United States where it could dwell in peace. On November 12,1833, while the body of Saints who had been driven hurriedly from their homes were camped on the south bank of the Missouri River with no way of making an immediate crossing, the mob who had driven us were stilt in pursuit, and as they said, they were under pledge to kill men, women and children as soon as overtaken. A heavy storm came up just as the guards said the mob were upon us. But before they began their attack, the storm broke in meteoric violence, the worst that any of us had ever before seen; and in seeming fear, the mob fled from their intended victims, and we looked upon the storm as a miraculous deliverance by the hand of God. To describe the storm, it looked as if the whole were falling thickly for a while, then only a few would fall, then it would renew its violence and fall thickly again so it kept up until nearly dawn before it ceased.