Difference between revisions of "Carthage Jail"

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The Nauvoo city council authorized the destruction of a printing press that had been printing lies about the Mormon Church. This made non-Mormon neighbors very angry, and a riot followed. [[Joseph Smith]], Hyrum Smith and others were arrested for starting the riot. The governor promised the men that if they submitted to the arrest and went to [http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/daily/history/people/joseph_smith/Carthage_EOM.htm jail in Carthage], he would protect them. They agreed to go to jail, and undergo the trial. While in Carthage, Joseph was threatened numerous times.  
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In 1844, William Law, a disaffected member of [http://comeuntochrist.org The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints], published a paper full of slander aimed at the Prophet [[Joseph Smith]], even calling for Smith to be arrested and hung. The [[Nauvoo and the Martyrdom|Nauvoo]] city council authorized the destruction of the printing press. Non–Latter-day Saint neighbors were incensed and a riot followed. Joseph Smith, [[Hyrum Smith]] and others were arrested for inciting the riot. The governor promised the men that if they submitted to the arrest and went to [http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/daily/history/people/joseph_smith/Carthage_EOM.htm jail in Carthage], he would protect them. The men agreed to go to jail and undergo a trial. While in Carthage, Joseph was threatened numerous times.  
  
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On the morning of June 27, 1844 while at [http://www.delange.org/Carthage/Carthage.htm Carthage Jail], Joseph wrote a letter to his wife, Emma,
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On the morning of [[June 27]], [[1844]], while at [http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/people/joseph_smith/carthage_jail.html Carthage Jail], Joseph wrote a letter to his wife, [[Emma Hale Smith|Emma]], "I am very much resigned to my lot, knowing I am justified, and hove done the best that could be done. Give my love to the children and all my friends ... May God bless you all" (History of the Church 6:605).
  
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:I am very much resigned to my lot, knowing I am justified, and hove done the best that could be done. Give my love to the children and all my friends ... May God bless you all.
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During the afternoon the four men in the jail (Joseph, Hyrum, [[John Taylor]] and [[Willard Richards]]) were in considerably low spirits. John Taylor was asked to sing a hymn called “A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief.” One part of the hymn was especially fitting to their current situation:[[Image:Carthage_Jail.jpg|frame|Memorial to Church leaders Joseph and Hyrum Smith outside of Carthage Jail in Carthage, Illinois|350px]]
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During the afternoon the four men in the jail, Joseph, Hyrum, John Taylor and Willard Richards were feeling depressed. They asked John Taylor to sing a hymn called “A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief”. One part of the hymn was especially fitting to their condition:  
 
 
:In pris’n I saw him next—condemned
 
:In pris’n I saw him next—condemned
 
:To meet a traitor’s doom at morn;  
 
:To meet a traitor’s doom at morn;  
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:These deeds shall thy memorial be;  
 
:These deeds shall thy memorial be;  
 
:Fear not, thou didst them unto me.
 
:Fear not, thou didst them unto me.
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::("A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief," LDS Hymns, no. 29)
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::("A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief," Hymns, no. 29)
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Shortly after 5:00 in the afternoon, a mob of 100 men with blackened faces for disguise, headed for Carthage, stormed the jail, and began firing through the door. Hyrum was shot in the face. Joseph leaned over his brother and exclaimed, “Oh dear, brother Hyrum!” Joseph fired three shots through the door at the mob. John Taylor attempted to leave through the window, but was hit a number of times. One shot hit his pocket watch, another his wrist, another his left knee, and a final shot hit his left hip. Joseph Smith went to the window, knowing that there was no safety in staying in the room. He was shot from outside, and [[Martyrdom of Joseph Smith|killed]], his body falling through the window. Willard Richards, who had been told by the Prophet that he would be safe, luckily only had his ear slightly grazed.
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The mob ran outside to make sure Joseph was dead. Fearing the mob would return, Willard Richards hid John Taylor, who was still alive. The mob did not return. Joseph Smith’s brother [[Samuel Smith|Samuel]] had heard about the threats on Joseph’s life and was on his way to Carthage. He arrived that same evening and was the one who wrote the letter back to Nauvoo telling the Saints that their prophet and his brother Hyrum were dead.
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Carthage Jail was originally built in 1839 from red limestone quarried nearby. It was built to incarcerate petty thieves and debtors and as a temporary holding place for violent criminals. The first floor contained a debtor's room in the northwest corner, and a dungeon, or "criminal cell", was located on the north side of the second floor. The living area for the jailer's family included a kitchen and dining room on the first floor and a bedroom on the second floor. A small "summer kitchen" was added later. It was used as a jail until 1866 before being converted into a home. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bought the building and property in 1903 for $4,000. [[Joseph F. Smith]] (son of Hyrum Smith) was president at the time it was purchased. The Church did not start to restore it until 1935. It was fully restored to its 1844 appearance in 1989. It is now open for tours. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
  
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A little after 5:00 a mob of 100 men who had blackened their faces for disguise, headed for the jail. They stormed the jail and began firing through the door. Hyrum was shot in the face. Joseph leaned over his brother and said “Oh dear, brother Hyrum!” with a look of sorrow. Joseph fired three shots through the door at the mob. John Taylor attempted to leave through the window, but was hit. Another shot hit his pocket watch, another his wrist another in his left knee, and again in his left hip. Joseph Smith went to the window knowing that there was no safety in staying in the room. He was shot from outside the window, and killed. His body fell through the window. Willard Richards luckily only had his ear slightly grazed.
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<videoflash>3yZ9zsUHoog&feature=player&rel=0</videoflash>
  
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The mob ran outside to make sure Joseph was dead, while they were gone Willard Richards hid John Taylor who was still alive, because he was expecting the mob to return, but they did not. Joseph Smith’s brother Samuel had heard about the threats on Joseph’s life and was on his way to Carthage. He arrived that same evening and was the one who wrote the letter back to Nauvoo telling the Saints that their prophet and his brother Hyrum were dead.  
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==External Links==
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*[https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/landing/joseph-smith-prophet-of-god Joseph Smith Prophet of God]
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*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith Wikipedia - Joseph Smith, Jr. - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]
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*[http://comevisit.com/lds/js3photo.htm Joseph Smith Daguerreotype]
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*[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/js-h/1?lang=eng Joseph Smith history in JS-H 1]
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*[http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/FQ_prophecies.shtml Fufilled Prophecies of Joseph Smith]
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*[http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0845622.html Joseph Smith from Infoplease]
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*[http://www.answers.com/topic/joseph-smith Joseph Smith: Biography and Much More From Answers.com]
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*[http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith,_Jr. Joseph Smith Jr. - Wikiquote]
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*[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/topics/joseph-smith/testimony?lang=eng The Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith]
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*[http://www.beliefnet.com/story/181/story_18153_1.html Joseph Smith: Prophet, Revelator, Human; Interview with Richard Lyman Bushman]
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[[Category: Joseph Smith]][[Category: Places of Church Interest]]
  
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Carthage Jail was used as a jail for 25 years. Then converted into a home. The Church bought the building and property in 1903 for $4,000. Joseph F. Smith (son of Hyrum Smith) was President at the time it was bought. The Church did not start to restore it until 1938. It is now open for tours.
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[[de:Das Gefängnis in Carthage]]
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[[es:Carcel de Cartago]]
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[[it:Prigione di Carthage]]
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[[ru:Тюрьма в Картидже]]
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[[pt:Cadeia de Carthage]]
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[[tl:Kulungan ng Carthage]]

Revision as of 17:31, 23 January 2021

In 1844, William Law, a disaffected member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, published a paper full of slander aimed at the Prophet Joseph Smith, even calling for Smith to be arrested and hung. The Nauvoo city council authorized the destruction of the printing press. Non–Latter-day Saint neighbors were incensed and a riot followed. Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith and others were arrested for inciting the riot. The governor promised the men that if they submitted to the arrest and went to jail in Carthage, he would protect them. The men agreed to go to jail and undergo a trial. While in Carthage, Joseph was threatened numerous times.

On the morning of June 27, 1844, while at Carthage Jail, Joseph wrote a letter to his wife, Emma, "I am very much resigned to my lot, knowing I am justified, and hove done the best that could be done. Give my love to the children and all my friends ... May God bless you all" (History of the Church 6:605).

During the afternoon the four men in the jail (Joseph, Hyrum, John Taylor and Willard Richards) were in considerably low spirits. John Taylor was asked to sing a hymn called “A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief.” One part of the hymn was especially fitting to their current situation:
Memorial to Church leaders Joseph and Hyrum Smith outside of Carthage Jail in Carthage, Illinois
In pris’n I saw him next—condemned
To meet a traitor’s doom at morn;
The tide of lying tongues I stemmed,
And honored him ‘mid shame and scorn.
My friendship’s utmost zeal to try,
He asked, if I for him would die;
The flesh was weak, my blood ran chill,
But my free spirit cried, ‘I will!’
Then in a moment to my view
The stranger started from disguise.
The tokens in his hands I knew;
The Savior stood before my eyes.
He spake, and my poor name he named,
‘Of me thou hast not been ashamed.
These deeds shall thy memorial be;
Fear not, thou didst them unto me.
("A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief," Hymns, no. 29)

Shortly after 5:00 in the afternoon, a mob of 100 men with blackened faces for disguise, headed for Carthage, stormed the jail, and began firing through the door. Hyrum was shot in the face. Joseph leaned over his brother and exclaimed, “Oh dear, brother Hyrum!” Joseph fired three shots through the door at the mob. John Taylor attempted to leave through the window, but was hit a number of times. One shot hit his pocket watch, another his wrist, another his left knee, and a final shot hit his left hip. Joseph Smith went to the window, knowing that there was no safety in staying in the room. He was shot from outside, and killed, his body falling through the window. Willard Richards, who had been told by the Prophet that he would be safe, luckily only had his ear slightly grazed.

The mob ran outside to make sure Joseph was dead. Fearing the mob would return, Willard Richards hid John Taylor, who was still alive. The mob did not return. Joseph Smith’s brother Samuel had heard about the threats on Joseph’s life and was on his way to Carthage. He arrived that same evening and was the one who wrote the letter back to Nauvoo telling the Saints that their prophet and his brother Hyrum were dead.

Carthage Jail was originally built in 1839 from red limestone quarried nearby. It was built to incarcerate petty thieves and debtors and as a temporary holding place for violent criminals. The first floor contained a debtor's room in the northwest corner, and a dungeon, or "criminal cell", was located on the north side of the second floor. The living area for the jailer's family included a kitchen and dining room on the first floor and a bedroom on the second floor. A small "summer kitchen" was added later. It was used as a jail until 1866 before being converted into a home. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bought the building and property in 1903 for $4,000. Joseph F. Smith (son of Hyrum Smith) was president at the time it was purchased. The Church did not start to restore it until 1935. It was fully restored to its 1844 appearance in 1989. It is now open for tours. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

External Links

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