Alexander Schoby Stanley

I, Alexander S. Stanley, born in New Brunswick, Middlesex County New Jersey, being the eldest son of Richard and Elizabeth Stanley. My grandfather, Alexander Schoby Stanley, whose name I bear, was slain in the war of the American Revolution in 1718. In 1818 I moved with my father's family to Portage County, Ohio, where on the 19th day of March, 1829 I married Philinda Upson, daughter of Freeman and Sally Upson. I obtained a small farm in the same county on which I lived without any extraordinary occurrence, except the death of one of our children, until February, 1837, when Brother James Emmett, an Elder of the Church of Latter-Day Saints, came to preach in the neighborhood and feeling but little interested in religious matters it was some time before it engaged my attention. I however discovered his propositions were well sustained by scripture evidence, while objections were generally unfounded, which had a tendency to enlighten my feeling in his behalf and engage my attention to the cause. At length becoming satisfied of the truth of the work, I, with my wife, was baptised on about the 19th day of March. Several others soon followed our example and in the beginning of April we were organized into a branch of the church. I was ordained an elder and appointed to preside. Having received but little instructions I was very illy prepared to teach the principles of the Gospel. But being assisted by the spirit of the Lord I was enabled to defend the cause and confound such as would oppose the truth. Several additions were afterwards made to our number among whom were most of my father's family. Becoming anxious to be located with the body of the church, in view of which, the entire branch, with but two or three exceptions, entered into an agreement to combine our efforts and means for the purpose of removing to Far West, Mo., which was then the principal place of gathering for the saints. On the 10th of September, 1838, we left Portage County, Ohio, for Colwell, Mo., and arrived at Far West on the 23rd of October, where we found our brethren under arms, having been driven from Carrol County and collected from different parts of Colwell County for mutual defense and safety. Every house was crowded to that extent that I was unable to find shelter for my family, and having spent nearly a week in fruitless search and energy, during which time the brethren having an affray with the mob at Crooked River, and being informed that they were still collecting in large bodies in the south part of the country, I determined to leave my family in the wagon and join my brethren in resisting the mob. I accordingly marched with a detachment of mounted troops, under command of Col. G.M. Hinkle, to Log Creek Timber, where, after remaining a short time, it was ascertained that a large body of the mob had been discovered between us and Far West, whereupon it was determined to attempt to retreat in a circuitous route to town to join our brethren there. This was accomplished in time to be in readiness for the mob. At their arrival, finding us prepared to receive them, they halted at a distance of about a half a mile; a party was soon dispatched, bearing a white flag to ascertain who they were and to learn their intentions, and on their return we were told that they were troops sent by the Governor for the purpose of restoring peace, and that the officers desired an interview with the principal men of the church, and we were soon after informed that Brother, with some others, had treacherously surrendered into their hands and that they were taken prisoners by the troops who had orders from the Governor to exterminate the whole Mormon community, where upon we determined to prepare ourselves in the best possible manner for their reception. We accordingly built a sort of a fortification or breast-work of house logs, wagons and other things such as we could most easily procure, and held ourselves in readiness for immediate action until the next day, which was October 31st, when terms of peace were agreed upon, by which we were required to sign a deed of trust of our property, real and personal, to a board of commissioners appointed for the purpose. We were also compelled, at the point of the bayonet, to make our acknowledgement to the proper officer that this was our free and voluntary act. We were then allowed the liberty of the town but were not suffered to disperse as they were determined to return as prisoners all who were known to have been engaged in an skirmish or in any way violated the laws of the state, whereby they had become liable to be held to a trial.   

Submitted by: Stuart & Kristi Olsen