Haun's Mill Narrative

Haun's Mill Massacre

     It was a dreadfully hot summer day as we all pounded our feet against the dry Earth beneath us. At least we weren't forced to leave, Christoper thought while dragging his feet along the dirt path. Joseph Smith had told us that God commanded us to leave our homes and move Westward to preach His gospel, I'm kind of excited! I hope it won't be as hot out there and the people there should be great! And when the Lord commands us to do something, through Him there is a way. He kept reassuring himself as he held his younger sister's sweaty palm in his hand. His father was helping guide the oxen along the path as his mother sat in the covered wagon sewing clothes and preparing food for the family. Christoper had 6 other sisters; four younger and two older than him, while he was the only boy in his family.

     He decided to walk outside of the covered wagon to keep track of what was coming ahead for them to endure. His younger sister Julietta wanted to be just like her older brother and insisted on not leaving his side. So his other five sisters stayed behind in the wagon taking turns doing hair and helping their mother with sewing and preparing food. His siblings in oldest to youngest were: Lissa (19), Kati (17), Christoper (15), Chrysta (12), Ethelyn (11), Kai (8), and Julietta (6). While they all, of course, had the same last name: Teague. "Do you see any more waters ahead?" Julietta asked glaring up at her older brother who fixed his eyes up ahead. "No, I don't think so...do you want to see if you can find any?"

     "Yeah!" she exclaimed with delight and happiness.

     "Okay, then...hop up!" Christoper had bent down and she hopped on his back and he stood straight up allowing her to see through hills and valleys.

     "Hey! There is waters up there silly!" she exclaimed pointing ahead.

     "You got me! I thought I didn't see any 'waters' up there, you must have great eyesight!"

     After walking for about 8 hours his family had decided to take a break and rest for the night after a long journey from Kirtland, Ohio. Luckily they had enough food and clean water to last them for the week or two without getting cholera or starve to death. His family had already traveled for 3 days by now and were already making it into Indiana. After making a small campfire before going to sleep they fed and gave the oxen water. Then they had boiled some salt water that there was an abundance of so that they could have some clean water for the night and make some for tomorrow's journey.

     Six more days had passed and the Teague family had traveled over 660 miles by foot and covered wagon, while one ox out of two died along the way. They had finally arrived in Missouri, their land of promise. Some missionaries were already sent along the journey with the families to preach the gospel on the way there to others that haven't received the message. When the Teagues had made it to Missouri, they began building their homes and settlements so that they could begin teaching their gospel and religion to others there and practice their religion freely.

     Not so long after the Mormons had already settled in and built their homes and cottages out of wood nearby, the Missourians have already grown a strong hatred towards them and they wanted them gone. The Missourians have tried many different tactics to try to get the Mormons out of their land because they wanted their land to themselves. The Missourians felt that the Mormons don't deserve their rights in their land so instead of ignoring them they're trying to get rid of them so they won't have to deal with them any longer.

     The Mormons had settled in Missouri around the first week of October in 1838, the Missourians already hated them. Since the Mormons were commanded to travel to Missouri and preach the gospel, they went and did as they were told. After weeks of frustration, the governor of Missouri, Lilburn Boggs had signed and passed an executive law known as the Extermination Order 44 on October 27th, 1838. When this order was commenced it meant that any Mormon living in Missouri should be killed and put to death if they didn't leave. The Mormon families and youth held strong to their beliefs and continued to do the Lord's work and only wanted to live in peace.