A Guide to Mormon History in Historic Warsaw, Illinois

A Guide to Mormon History in Historic Warsaw, Illinois An 1848 painting showing Warsaw’s early waterfront Warsaw, Once Home To: In the 1840’s, tensions were high between the people of Warsaw and Nauvoo. Warsaw was a center of anti-Mormon feelings. Today, however, there is generally a feeling of peace Map of Warsaw, Illinois (From Google Maps) and goodwill between the communities and peoples. Warsaw has a very rich history A few “Non-Mormon” points of interest: spanning more than 200 years. For many, Fort Edwards Monument, (Map #7) located the brief “Mormon Troubles” period seems to on a bluff known as “The Point,” this 50 foot Willard Richards, LDS Apostle tower was dedicated in 1914. be just an unfortunate blip on history’s radar. Ralston Park, (Map #8) once the parade grounds for Fort Edwards, is now a city park. Most remember Warsaw as a bustling river Look for the model of the Statute of Liberty! city that peaked in the 1870’s with much Riverfront Park and Goose Landing (Map #9). Be sure to take time to see the river! trade and industry. Warsaw was a hub for Historic Warsaw Brewery is north of “The education, the arts, and social life. What Point.” Once home to Burgermeister Beer, the started as a temporary military fort in 1812, building has now been partially restored. Warsaw History Museum (Map #10), 401 Thomas Sharp, Editor of then a permanent fort in1814, Warsaw Main St., has many items from Warsaw’s past. “The Warsaw Signal” became a city that even once aspired to be Check sign in the front window for hours. the Capital of the United States! Geode Glen Park (Map #11) Go east to 7th Eliza Graham, star witness for and look for sign on the north side of the road. the prosecution of the 5 men who Today, Warsaw is mostly a bedroom Warsaw is a welcoming town that offers a stood trial for the murder of the community to the industries across the river variety of places to eat, shop, and stay. prophet Joseph Smith. at Keokuk. Farming, hunting, fishing, For more info visit: www.warsawillinois.org boating, and tourism are also important. Just 18 Miles South Sources Cited: (A) History of Church Volume 4, p. 471 (B) This guide was written and published privately by researcher Brian Stutzman and is not affiliated with any group, church, or of Nauvoo on the Quincy Whig 1899, 1900. government. It is part of a future book about Warsaw and the Mormons. For information email: [email protected]. Great River Road Map #2. It is believed the local paper The for a time and Isaac served a Mormon Western World was published at 204 Main St. mission. The Galland’s raised some of until mid-1841. At the time, Main St. ended by Wilcox’s children after Wilcox’s first wife the Warsaw House hotel due to the bluff being Mary Kinney died. Following her death steep, making 204 Main at the “Foot of Main” Wilcox married 17 year old Hannah Hardy which was on the masthead of the paper. In in 1838. Wilcox died in 1840 and Hannah then married Thomas Sharp on September 1841 the paper moved to an unknown location listed simply on “Main Street” and changed 6, 1842. Sharp lived at “the Stone House” 2. Map #1. (See map on back) 154 names to the Warsaw Signal with Thomas C. for a time. The building was later home to Main. In 1835 Warsaw’s first hotel, the Sharp as editor. Sharp was an intense critic of the Warsaw Boat Club and is now a private Warsaw House, was built here. It was the Mormons. Things escalated when William residence. Of note: Sharp’s first wife completely torn down in 1899 and in Smith, brother to the Mormon prophet, beat Hannah died in 1879. He then married 1900 the Piedrit family built the current Sharp for a seat in the state legislature in 1842. Thomas Gregg’s wife’s youngest sister, a home that’s shown here (B). Local legend Tensions continued to simmer. In June 1844, widow named Anna Lawton Hewitt. Gregg says the back brick portion was part of after the Nauvoo City Council ordered the earlier had been a partner with Sharp in the the original hotel, but it was most likely destruction of the Mormon-critical Nauvoo newspaper business. Gregg wrote a book built later. The original Warsaw House, Expositor paper, Sharp’s Warsaw Signal called critical of the Mormons called the “Prophet also known as the Fleming Tavern, was for citizens to make their feelings known with of Palmyra” and also authored an extensive where the mob met after they killed ”Powder and Ball”. A few days later the history of Hancock County. Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum at Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Map #5. 424 Main. The Thomas Sharp the Carthage Jail. Upon their return, Hyrum, the Patriarch, were murdered at Print Museum. In 1987, six local families some of the mob boasted they had “killed Carthage. ol’ Joe.” Of the 5 men to stand trial for started a museum at this site. It was short the murder of Joseph Smith, 2 of them Map #3. Great view of the Mississippi. lived. Sharp never published here. lived there. Eliza Graham, who worked Map #6. Oakland Cemetery (not shown) is and lived there, served the mob that located on Cemetery Rd. Several of those night. Being a Mormon, Eliza was the star who were in the mob that killed the Smiths witness for the prosecution at the trial. are buried here. It is said the secret of who Her aunt who was not a Mormon, Ann committed the murders probably lies buried Fleming, was the hotel owner and a in Block 6 which is on the far back right witness for the defense. Ann hand side behind the brown roofed shed. contradicted Eliza’s testimony. All 5 of Map #4. 710 Water Street- “The Stone the accused were acquitted. Eliza moved House.” Early settler Major John R. Wilcox built 1. Also of note: LDS Apostle Willard to Nauvoo, married John Pack, and then this home in about 1838 after living in a nearby Richards, a cousin of Brigham Young, th moved to Utah. John Pack became a log cabin for a few years before. Wilcox’s moved to Warsaw about September 8 , founder of the University of Utah. A few sister married Isaac Galland, a land speculator 1841 for several weeks to help immigrants years later the Flemings moved to central who sold much of what became Nauvoo to settle just south in an area called Warren. (A) California. Joseph Smith. The Gallands became Mormons Due to local hostilities, the settlement was abandoned in 1842. 3. .

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