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MISSOURI MORMON FRONTIER Richmond MISSOURI MORMON FRONTIER Missouri Mormon Frontier Foundation Number 39 Jackson County, Missouri June 2006 - Dec 2006 Richmond, Mo. - New Discovery Since printing that booklet, information has Richmond, Missouri come to light giving the site the Ray County log courthouse. It is the same location given for the Some Historic Sites in Mormon History and Mormon Prisoners in Richmond, Missouri 1838 The 43 page booklet title above is included as a supplement to this issue. It combines and revises the information previously printed in this publication as explained below. The “vacant log house” where Joseph Smith and the rest of Richmond, Missouri sites were the main subject the first six prisoners were held one stood in the center of the in the two previous issues numbered 36 and 37. above view. Bill is taking the picture from the north side of The articles included David Whitmer’s home and the alley in the block north of the Square, with his back to Buchana Street. The present courthouse is visible above the livery stable and the three sites in which the buildings facing the north side of the square. It was the Mormon prisoners from Caldwell and Daviess temporary Ray county log courthouse and unused by counties were kept in 1838. Since then we have November 1838 when they were using the unfinished brick discovered more information, and photographs, courthouse. which I put together into a booklet for the marker dedications in Richmond in October. Rather than “vacant log house.” When the county business was try to publish just the new information and photos in moved to the still unfinished brick courthouse on the this publication, we will send the Richmond booklet Square, the temporary log courthouse was no longer to all members as a bonus to this ‘newsletter’ issue needed, vacant and available to house the six most number 39. Additional copies are available for $5 important Mormon prisoners in November of 1838. postpaid. Page 2 Number 39 June 2006 - Dec 2006 MISSOURI MORMON FRONTIER FOUNDATION John Whitmer Historical Association Conference The John Whitmer Historical Association and her family reside in Illinois. Even if you (JWHA) 2006 Conference presentations were missed her in person, don’t miss the book. exceptional (September 28 - October 1). The Present were Paul Benyola and Paul Liberto conference was held in the recently renovated both Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ (with Harry S Truman Memorial Building in headquarters in Monongaheia, Pennsylvania). Independence, Missouri, using both floors of the Paul Savage, Apostle in the Church of Christ “The facility. The auditorium was used for the catered Church with the Elijah Message” was present. banquet, lunches and large lectures. Many of the The Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day major schisms of the Mormon church were Saints was represented by Fred Larsen, covered well. Prophet/President and Lee Kilpack, Apostle. The James Strang was the subject of excellent Community of Christ was well represented as well presentations. God Made Us a Kingdom: James as several other smaller groups. Strang and the Midwest Mormons (376 pages) by MMFF participated in the display and sale of Vickie Cleverly Speek does not rehash previous books in the room devoted to a book store. We research but delves into family and church sold some of our publications and received good connections. It updates the record and corrects exposure. previous errors. Vickie Speek is the recipient of 4 Tours of the Church of Christ (Temple Lot); first place awards from the Illinois Press Community of Christ Archives; Remnant Church; Association and has received other awards. She and Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite) were given. The Church of Jesus Christ (Culterite) is on South Cottage, Independence, Missouri. Stanley Whiting, President. It is notable that the “Cutlerite Church” maintains temple Bill Sheldon told the group about the Church of rites which are performed on the second floor. Christ (Temple Lot). He regularly gives talks to anyone who comes in and requests information. MISSOURI MORMON FRONTIER FOUNDATION Number 39 June 2006 - Dec 2006 Page 3 Whitmer Family Celebration 2006 200th Anniversary of Oliver Cowdery’s birth 175th Anniversary of the Whitmer Family’s travel to Missouri. Friday, October 6, 2006, 5:30 pm Whitmer Home Plaque Placement Missouri Mormon Frontier Foundation Historic Farris Theatre, 301 W. Main Street, Richmond, Missouri 6:30 - 8:00 pm Special Program and Commemoration Saturday, 7 October 2006 Missouri National Guard Armory, Family Luncheon. (Saturday was devoted to family gatherings.) The unveiling of a bronze marker which marks the site of David Whitmer’s home was on held on Friday. The bronze marker is illustrated here. The building on the left is the Second Baptist Church. The taller one story building in the center stands on the David Whitmer house lot. The plaque is affixed above the left window. Here people gathered to mark the site of the David Whitmer home on East South Main in Richmond, Missouri on October 6, 2006. Participants: Ron Romig, Lawrence Oliphant, Annette That event was followed by a Curtis, Harold Barchers, Richmond Mayor Tom Morman, program in the Historic Farris Bill Curtis, Sean Foley, President of Richmond LDS Branch. Theatre in Richmond, Missouri. Photo by Alex Baugh The beautifully restored theater and musical numbers by The Celebration Choir from northwest Missouri were a bonus. (By the way, this is the place where the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang at the dedication of the Three Witnesses monument in 1911.) Lorene Pollard represented descendants of John Whitmer. She shared some reminiscences concerning his family. Gloria Simpson was scheduled to speak but had been in a traffic accident. Her genealogical work is on Ancestry.com. Sean Foley spoke in her absence. Harold Barchers represented the descendants of Jacob Whitmer, the family with the most descendants. Bonnie Page Damon is a Whitmer descendant through Catherine Lorene Pollard speaking Whitmer Page, wife of Hiram Page. Bonnie’s father, Norman Page, was born at Richmond in on the Farris Theatre 1938 in an “old Negro school house.” Philander’s brother Peter Page was allergic to tobacco stage. Page 4 Number 39 June 2006 - Dec 2006 MISSOURI MORMON FRONTIER FOUNDATION smoke. People put out pipes, cigars and cigarettes for Peter when they met on sidewalks. She described some keepsakes. By the back door there was a wash stand with a slab of marble on top, which she has. David Whitmer carved a butter paddle which was given to Julia and came down through the Page line. An oak chair that David Whitmer used in the livery stable appears to have been made by him. Norman used David’s cane when he needed one. It got lost while Norman used it so then he used his mother’s cane and lost it; but he never lost the cane he bought at WalMart. The keynote speaker, Larry Porter, had just returned from a mission (52 weeks) in the New Harold Barchers and Bonnie Page Damon York - Rochester Mission. In 1968 he participated in a project to find the exact site of the Whitmer home in New York. Frederick Schott lived on adjoining land in New York. He left an account and gave their route. Christian Whitmer, whose wife was Anna Schott, died of a leg infection in Clay County. She married Sylvester Hewlett/Hulet but left him and went back to her family in New York. Jacob Whitmer married Elizabeth Schott. David Whitmer married a daughter of Wm. Jolly at 6 am. Larry Porter spoke of the religious contributions of the Whitmer family in the Church of Christ. David Whitmer owned a livery business, was Councilman and Mayor of Richmand. He left us his 1887 “An Address to All Believers in Christ” as further testimony to his belief. Alex Baugh presented a portrait of Oliver Cowdery by Ken Corbett from the Mormon Historic Sites Foundation to be hung in the Ray County courthouse or the Ray County Museum. Sean Foley wrapped up the evening in a very fitting manner. Frank Outersky, Executive Director/House Manager, was the able Master of Ceremonies. For more about the Farris check out the web site at www.farristheatre.com. The Farris Theatre is owned by a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization founded in 1995 with an active Friends group. The members of the Planning Committee for the Whitmer Family Celebration were Harold Barchers, Marty Blackburn, Shelia Bridges, Sean Foley, Brenda Jensen, Len Lacy, Judy McIntosh, Lawrence Oliphant, Frank Outersky, Lorene Pollard, Gloria Simpson, and Derek Tangren. Catherine Whitmer Page The question about where Catherine Whitmer Page, wife of Hiram Page, is buried remains. She died after the 1880 census at which time she was living with her son Peter Christian Page (1837-1924) who is buried in the Richmond City Cemetery. She was also living with Peter in 1870. In 1870 they were in Grape Grove township and in 1880 in Richmond township, Ray County, Missouri. Catherine (Whitmer) Page may be the “C. Page, no dates” buried in the old Richmond City Cemetery. MEMORIAL DEDICATION Elizabeth Ann Whitmer Cowdery Maria Louise Cowdery Johnson Charles Johnson Southwest City, Missouri Cemetery Sunday, October 8, 2006 The travel time to Southwest City from families remained in that area through the Mormon Independence was not wasted by Ron Romig, Bill and Period in Missouri. They went about as far south as Annette Curtis as they observed the area through which Haley’s Bluff. some of the Saints fled in 1833 from Kaw Township. The occasion was a Memorial Dedication for Ron Romig’s research has found that about five (5) Elizabeth Ann Whitmer Cowdery, Maria Louise MISSOURI MORMON FRONTIER FOUNDATION Number 39 June 2006 - Dec 2006 Page 5 Cowdery Johnson, and Dr.
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