A Tragic Episode in American Religious History: Haun's Mill 

Story of Haun's Mill 
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Silent voices whisper enticingly of past events, voices of people with faces from the past. Picture children at play on Haun's Mill commons - youths racing to the mill, families catching fish in the millpond, hearing the slosh of the waterwheel emptying its contents into the stream. One hundred and sixty plus years later, their voices still speak to us; their legacy lives in our hearts; their stories urgently encourage and remind us of that past and call us to a transforming future. 


As Haun's Mill may have appeared.

Survey of Events Relating to the Mormon Settlement at Haun's Mill 

Anticipating a general gathering of members of the Church of the Latter Day Saints, Jacob Haun, formerly of Wisconsin, moved to northern Missouri in 1835. Haun purchased 40 acres containing a good mill seat along Shoal Creek in the eastern part of what became Caldwell County, Missouri [Township 56, Range 26, Section 17]. He may have begun by constructing a milldam where Shoal Creek ran through his property. As other church members gathered to the vicinity, a small farming settlement developed around the site. 

During this same period, (Mormon) church missionaries converted a successful millwright named Jacob Myers and his family in Richland County, Ohio, about 100 miles southwest of Kirtland. Heeding their leaders' call to come to Missouri, more than 50 wagons of Richland Saints set out in search of new homes in the fall of 1836 under Myers' direction. Many from this party settled along Shoal Creek, in Caldwell County. At the heart of this growing settlement, Myers and his sons constructed a sawmill and a very good grain/flour mill. [History of the RLDS Church, 2:236]. Myers' grist mill would have been a substantial structure, probably of frame construction. Mills were typically three stories in height, to permit grain storage in the upper level, grinding on the main floor, and machinery below. Myers sold the mill to Jacob Haun and Ellis Ames. Myers' son, Jacob Myers Jr., helped operate it. Life in the settlement was good.

Settlement children at play in Shoal Creek

Relations between church members and Missouri citizens began a downward spiral following the arrival of Joseph Smith and church leaders from Ohio in 1838. A clash of cultural attitudes and events set the stage for a horrific outcome at Haun's Mill: 

The Missourians and Mormons represented vastly dissimilar political, economic and religious cultures. Both sides were subject to predominant frontier cultural worldviews regarding the use of force in the resolution of conflict. Both saw themselves in economic competition for control of a significant portion of the upper Missouri region. From the beginning, they had different expectations over whether church settlement activities were to be confined to Caldwell County. 

Distorted reports and rumors circulated by both camps. As tensions grew, the church initiated actions to stem internal dissent as well as insulate itself from external influences. In ensuing months, both side initiated hostile actions directed at those perceived as holding differing cultural values- i.e., the first use of the term "exterminate" was in Rigdon's Salt Sermon. 

Unlawful assemblies of citizens formed on both sides to protect perceived local interests. Armed encounters between disputants escalated at De Witt in Carroll County, in church settlements in Daviess County, Crooked River in Ray County and in the early phases of the siege of the Mormon headquarters city of Far West. Both sides appropriated personal property to use in its own defense and to support its actions. The State eventually authorized the use of militia to quell this growing regional conflict. 

- See: Hostilities documented to have transpired against Daviess and Livingston County Citizens by the Mormons, October 1838, Alex Baugh, A Call to Arms: The 1838 Mormon Defense of Northern Missouri, Ph.D. dissertation, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, 1996, Appendix F. 

Even as Missourians purposed to drive the Mormons from the state, Church members from outlying settlements began gathering from throughout the region into the church's central community at Far West. Nearly all eventually fled to Far West but those who lived near Haun's Mill. Until mid-October, Mormons living along Shoal Creek had maintained relatively friendly relations with the non-member neighbors. Haun's Mill resident Ellis Eamut wrote, 

"Inhabitants behaved themselves very friendly and purchased goods from [us] and used [our] mill[s] for grinding and sawing. . . until the disturbances broke out up in Daviess county, when I observed from the conversation that they did not like the proceedings of our brethren." Eamut, "Reminiscence," 11. BYU Professor and researcher Alex Baugh proposes, "Fearful they might expect treatment similar to that received by their neighbors to the north, gentile settlers living in eastern Caldwell sought help from Livingston's vigilante forces, whose numbers were now strengthened with embittered Daviess refugees recently displaced from their homes." Baugh, A Call to Arms: The 1838 Mormon Defense of Northern Missouri, Ph.D. Dissertation, Brigham Young University, 1996, 265. 

In light of non-member threats to burn the mill, Jacob Haun apparently unwisely encouraged church members in Fairview Township to stay for the purpose of defending their homes and the mill. Isaac Leany wrote, "some of the neighbours [sic] wanted to leave their homes and run off but having only about seven waggons [sic] to twenty three or four families we had to stay and defend ourselves." Petition of Isaac Leany in Johnson, Missouri Petitions for Redress, BYU Studies 23 (1982): 101. 

On 28 October 1838 a group of Missouri regulators, led by Col. William Jennings of Livingston County, negotiated a peace pact with the Saints. Though church defenders hoped this would forestall local violence, it was anticipated they should be prepared to defend the hamlet. David Evans, leader of the defenders, planned to use James Huston's blacksmith shop as a blockhouse. Some weapons were cached there in readiness. 

The hamlet had increased from its normal size, when hostilities broke out. Members en route to Far West had camped near Haun's Mill for a few days in their wagons and tents. As a result of miscommunication and feelings of powerlessness to resolve what local Missourians perceived as offensive Mormon military actions in the region, at 4:00 p.m., 30 October 1838, about two hundred-forty Livingston County regulators and other volunteers caught the settlement by surprise. Attackers approached from all sides but the creek on the south. Nathan Knight was on his way to a nearby lake to shoot ducks. Comstock's men shot at Knight, cutting the string of his powder horn. Knight, and others ran to the community's blacksmith shop as planned. 

About thirty-five church men were on hand. They immediately called for quarters and urged their wives and children to flee for safety. Stunned women and children ran in every direction. Jenning's men approached from the west, north and east of the shop. The only direction for flight was to the south or southeast, with the millpond blocking part of that retreat. The shortest way to safety was across the milldam. Amanda Smith and her girls ran to the bank of the stream, down a few feet and onto the plank walkway. Bullets splattered all around them, splashing into the millpond. Upon the attacker's first advance, Mary Stedwell raised her hands pleading for peace. Instead, she was shot in the hand. Seeing no other recourse, she ran for cover on the opposite bank of the creek. Mary fell behind a log, but her attackers continued to fire at her exposed clothing. Afterward, over twenty bullets were found in the log. 

While women and children sought cover in streambed and distant forest, the blacksmith shop turned into a death trap for defenders. David Evans swung his hat and cried for peace. Nehemiah Comstock fired in return, then, as one, the attackers discharged their rifles into the blacksmith shop. Wide spaces between logs provided little protection as withering fire from the guns of more than 200 attackers concentrated on the men in the building. 

David Lewis wrote, "The first man that fell was Simon Cox, he was standing close by my side when he received the fatal blow, he was shot threw the kidneys, and all the pain and misery I ever witnessed a poor soul in him seemed to excell [sic]. Juanita Brooks, John Doyle Lee, Zealot - Pioneer Builder - Scapegoat (Glendale, CA: Arthur H. Clark, 1962), 36-37. 

Ellis Ames' wife, Olive, left her own detailed account of the tragedy, written in 1896, "... two of the brethren, Mr. Rial Ames (my husband's brother) and Hyrum Abbott were sitting just outside the door, one cutting the other's hair, they rose from the chair and remarked. . . It's the mob right on us... I rushed out of the house... soon found myself and little ones hidden away down under the bluff in a little nook by the creek." Olive Ames, History of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 2 (Lamoni, Iowa: Herald, 1897), 234-35.

David Evans made a second attempt to end the attack. He and Nathan Knight ran out of the building pleading for a truce. Knight was shot in the hand. When it was clear the attack would continue, Evans and Knight ran toward the creek for safety. Knight received two more wounds but escaped by running up a hill on the south side of the stream. Evans covered the same distance unharmed. Ellis Eamut, [Eames/Ames] "Reminiscence," Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 13. 

Attackers overwhelmed the defenders, closing into a tight half circle around the shop. Daniel Ashby, one of the regulators, moved in to secure the structure. He crawled over under one of the openings from which the Mormons were shooting and within a short time, "our men got possession of all the port house, cracks, &c... and kept up such a constant fire that the Mormons could not get their guns out to shoot. Daniel Ashby to John B. Clark, 29 November 1838, Document Containing the Correspondence, Orders, &c, in Relation to the Disturbances with the Mormons... (Fayette, Missouri: Boon's Lick Democrat, 1841), 82-83. 

Defender Ellis Eamut [Eames/Ames] wrote, " Seeing no prospect before us but death, the mob manifesting all malice possible and would not listen to our cries and seemed determined to murder us all, we thought it advisable for us to make our escape." Eamut [Eames/Ames], "Reminiscence," 14. 

Hiram Abbot, Tarlton Lewis & 2 others made a dash for the creek. Abbot received a fatal wound as he left the doorway. Lewis was wounded in the shoulder but survived. Lewis, "Autobiography," 14. 

Still inside the shop, George Myers raised his hat on a gun, drawing the fire of a nearby sharpshooter. Myers shot back and ran from the shop. He received a shot in the right shoulder, but made his way across the milldam to the safety of his house a mile from the mill. Warren Foote, "Autobiography of Warren Foote," Special Collections, BYU Library, Provo, Utah, 27. 

Inside the shop John Walker was hit with a ball in his right arm. Unable to reload he and another defender took out for the field. They ran down the bank of the creek. On the way up on the other side, his companion was hit. Walker hid under some lumber standing along side the creek bank. Jane Walker Smith, "Jane Walker Smith Story, in Kate B. Carter, ed., Our Pioneer Heritage 19 (1976): 205. 

Thomas McBride was shot as he made his escape from the shop.

Olive [Eames] Ames

Olive Ames recalled, "No sooner had I concealed myself... than my husband, Mr. Ames, and old Father McBride ran past hunting a place of concealment... Isaac Laney crossed the creek above me. The mob saw him and began firing. I saw him fall, then rise and climb the hill. He escaped death...." Olive Ames, History of the RLDS Church, 2: 235. 

McBride tried to surrender to Jacob Rogers of Daviess County, but Rogers shot him in the chest and slashed McBride's head, face and shoulders with a corn knife, leaving him lying in the creek. James McBride, "Autobiography of James McBride, Special Collections, BYU Library, Provo, Utah," 13. 

While running for his life, Jacob Myers, Jr., fell when shot through the shoulder. Rogers proceeded to also attack Myers, but a Missourian stopped him saying, Myers had "ground many a grist for him." Rogers left Myers alone and two of the attackers carried him to his home nearby and threw him onto his bed. Artemisia Sydney Myers, Haun's Mill, Subject Folder Collection, P86, f30, Community of Christ Archives. 

About this time, David Lewis also fled from the shop. Lewis planned to surrender, but being in the line of fire, he went down the creek bed and waded over to Haun's house. From there he headed south to his own house one-quarter mile away. David Lewis, "Autobiography," LDS Church Family and Historical Department, Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah, 15-16. 

Isaac Leany, Jacob Potts, William Yokum and Benjamin Lewis were the last four to leave the shop. They left the shop under fire at close range. Though wounded, Leany ran to the mill, climbed down the timbers and waded the creek to Haun's house. Women gathered at Haun's hid him under the floorboards. Isaac Leany petitions, in Clark Johnson, Mormon Redress Petitions (Provo, Utah: Religious Studies Center Brigham Young University, 1992), 267, 487 and William Leany, "Autobiography of William Leany," Special Collections, BYU Library, Provo, Utah, 8. 

Jacob Potts was shot twice in his right leg, but made it to David Lewis' house, borrowed a horse and rode home. William Yokum fell wounded just past the milldam. Meanwhile, Benjamin Lewis made it across the creek, up a hill and, thinking himself safe from the action on the field, climbed upon a rock fence to watch. A sharpshooter named Rockholt picked him off from 300 yards. Women later found Benjamin Lewis in the woods. He was taken to David Lewis' home where he died. David Lewis buried him near his house. Benjamin was later reburied, perhaps in what is today known as White Cemetery. David Lewis, "Autobiography," 16. 

The Missourians stopped firing after the last group of Mormons left the shop. Inside regulators stripped the wounded and dead of their clothing and boots. Three boys were found hiding and were shot. While some succeeded in escaping with their lives, seventeen defenders were killed outright or mortally wounded. 

Of the nineteen who fled the building, only four escaped uninjured - Rial Ames, Ellis Eamut, David Evans and David Lewis. Fifteen were wounded - Jacob Foutz, Isaac Leany, Charles Jimison, Tarlton Lewis, Nathan Knight, Gilmon Merrill, George Myers, Jacob Myers Jr., Jacob Potts, John Walker and William Yokum. Four of the wounded died - Hiram Abbot, Benjamin Lewis, Thomas McBride, and John York. 

Fourteen in the shop were mortally wounded or killed- Elias Benner, John Byers, Alexander Campbell, Simon Cox, Joseph Fuller, Austin Hammer, John Lee, Levi Merrick, William Napier, George Richards, Sardius Smith and Warren Smith. Charles Merrick was wounded as he ran outside after being found hiding in the shop and died weeks later. Alma Smith was severely wounded in the shop but recovered. William Chaplin remained in the shop but was uninjured by playing possum. 

Three Missourians were injured in the affray - John Hart, from Livingston County was wounded in the arm, John Renfrow had a thumb shot off, and Alan England, of Daviess, was severely wounded in the thigh. 

See - Missouri Participants in Haun's Mill, Alex Baugh, A Call to Arms, Appendix J. 

Before withdrawing, the regulators looted the settlement. Because of the cold, and fearing another attack, fourteen of the dead were hastily interred in an unfinished well near the blacksmith shop. Within days, remaining survivors of the "Haun's Mill Massacre" and church disciples were driven from the state. Upon departure, Haun sold the mill. It continued to operate until 1845 then it was torn down. Charles Ross moved into the former Jacob Myer, Jr., house near the well and helped fill it in. 

In 1887, Josiah Fuller's son came to hunt up his father's resting-place. With Ross' assistance, he moved a red millstone fragment from the old mill onto the well to commemorate those who died. The stone was partially buried edgeways. In 1888, LDS members Andrew Jenson, Edward Stevenson and Joseph Smith Black visited the site from Utah. They readily located the well my means of the red stone. They also observed that the old milldam originally rested upon a solid ledge of rock immediately above a bank of yellow clay on the south shore of the creek. They determined the well site to be ninety-four yards north of west of the old milldam. 

The red stone apparently remained in place at the well site until 1941 when area resident Glen E. Setzer cast a concrete marker near the entry road. Perhaps unaware of the meaning of the red sandstone standing over the wellsite, Setzer moved it to the new marker site. The location of the well has been uncertain every since. 

Millstone, G. E. Anderson, 1907, courtesy LDS F&CHD, Archives.
Haun's Millstone at Breckenridge, MO 

In 1907, George Edward Anderson came to photograph the site. Observing what he interpreted as exposed wooden beams attached to the bottom of the stream, Anderson concluded the mill site had been located a bit further downstream, where Shoal Creek turns to the north. Anderson's party found a partially exposed millstone in the bank of the creek and moved it to the mill site for a photograph. 

The stone apparently remained on the edge of the bank until local residents moved it to Breckenridge Park around 1914 in memory of the massacre. A local myth suggests the Breckenridge millstone actually came from Marshall's Mill, formerly about a mile east of Haun's Mill. However, Anderson's photograph confirms the Breckenridge stone was at the mill site in 1907. For many years a companion millstone supported Mr. Karner's front porch, on a later house, built across the present road directly north of the mill site. Half of this second stone may now be seen in the LDS Visitors Center in Independence, Missouri. 

Because of its significance to the movement, the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, now known as Community of Christ, acquired the Haun's Mill property in 1960. The site has been improved through the years and marked. Because of differing interpretations about the meaning of this site, it has proven difficult to maintain adequate directional and interpretive signage through the years. 

The RLDS Church conducted an archaeological survey in the 1970s when a proposed dam downstream threatened to flood the area. Around this same time an iron wheel, sometimes identified as a mill face wheel, was uncovered from the stream bank. This artifact may now be seen at the LDS Museum of Church History and Art in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Hopefully, in coming years further research can uncover the actual contours of the settlement, allowing placement of appropriate markers. 

Once the symbol of the cultural tensions of the 1838 Missouri "Mormon War," history now understands all parties as equal contributors to this horrific event. Haun's Mill now may be seen as a potent reminder of the perpetual need for greater understanding and tolerance between all peoples. 

Recommended Reading: Alexander L. Baugh, A Call to Arms: The 1838 Mormon Defense of Northern Missouri, Ph.D. dissertation, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, 1996. 

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