Leaving Nauvoo: Courtesy of the Iowa Mormon Trails Association

I'd like to thank the Iowa Mormon Trails Association for allowing me to repost this story here. The Mormon spiritual experience is a poignant biblical story and emphasizes the strength and spirit of traditionally devout Mormons, who drove their wagons on a famed trek through Iowa and entered the promised land of the American west.

-The Editor 

Leaving Nauvoo Was Not As Simple as It Sounds

The Knights in the Spring Exodous from Nauvoo: was complicated as explained in “The Iowa Mormon Trail”, most Latter Day Saints, 10,000 to 12,000, left the Nauvoo area in the spring of 1846, not in the winter with Brigham Youn’s group of 2,000 to 2,500. Once the Nauvoo Temple was dedicated April 30 and May 1, they began pouring across Iowa. When ready, they left on their own, traveling in small groups of 2 to 25 wagons. Newel Knight’s diary (LDS Archives, Salt Lake City) contains one of the best accounts of  someone in the Spring Exodus, and Lydia in her Lydia Knight’s History supplements it. Their records show that the act of leaving town was not as simple as it sounds.

Departure Difficulties

Newel and Lydia Knight had 2 sons and 4 daughters plus an extended family of some 20 couples with children. Most of them lacked sufficient cash to buy wagons, animals, and supplies they needed because they could not sell or trade their property and belongings or could get only a fraction of actual value. Before they could leave, the Knight’s had to pay off obligations. Newel, a miller, had business debts. To pay back Elijah Fordham $250, he traded his gristmill, house, and barn, in total worth $1,000, in return for oxen, cows, a wagon and cash. Lydia, meanwhile, “got our tent, wagon covers, sacks, etc, all in readiness, provisions and goods packed, and all things about ready for the journey.” But then a creditor with a $200 note demanded payment in cash. So, Newel sold the items he had just traded for. By early April he managed to round up an outfit of 3 yoke of oxen, 2 wagons, and 3 cows for the  the trek west.

Go With or Without Relatives?

 In April Newel recorded that “some of my cousins called upon me, this evening, and said they knew no way that they could move, they could not bear the idea of my going and leaving them.” He wanted to help. “I asked God to give us wisdom, to devise a plan for their good.” He came up with an idea-a shuttle method of transport whereby the most able men and teams would travel about 200 miles west, taking farming tools and equipment and as many families as possible. They would stop, plant a crop and leave some men there to tend things, while other men and teams go back and retrieve those left behind. At first, some relatives liked the plan. Lydia, disappointed to be slowed down by it, nevertheless “cheerfully consented.” Most , however, backed out, except for two families, brother-in-law Freeman DeMille, somewhat crippled, and Newel’s elderly father, Joseph Knight Sr. Newel agreed to help the DeMilles move to central Iowa, then go back to help his father move.

Ten Days to Cross a River

 On April  13, Newel and Lydia visited the temple (2 weeks before its dedication) “ to take our last view.” The next day he laid out covers on his wagons and “got ready for to load them.” But then the DeMilles slowed their departure by more than a week. Freeborn had but one yoke of oxen and a “very light wagon.” To make room for DeMille’s belongings, Newel unloaded items from their wagon and Lydia “left some things by the road.” He gave Freeborn lumber and irons for a wagon box, and money to buy nails. He traded a new saddle, rifle, a pair of blankets, and bedding for a horse “to help us along.” By then, Lydia wrote later, the Knights had given up “mills, house, barn, and all their possessions.”  On April 15, Newel finished loading their wagons and drove to the river ferry. But, high winds prevented a crossing. So, they went back and helped the DeMilles load. On the 17th, Newel arose before sunrise , fed and yoked his cattle , “bade farewell to our comfortable home, “ and started again to the ferry. So Newel “went to see my father and bade him farewell, and also left him sufficient means for his support, until I could return for him.” Finally, on April 18, at sunrise, the Newel Knight family ferried across the Mississippi. Near Montrose, they drive back from the landing and waited for the DeMilles. But, once more winds made waters to treacherous. I remained the balance of the day with my family,  “ Newel wrote, “pitched a tent, felt to offer thanks.” The next day, Sunday,  he recrossed the river “and once more had the satisfaction of walking through the streets of the City of Joseph, and beholding the great works, he had so nobly reared before his martyrdom.” Newel helped the DeMilles , then returned to his family. Three days later on Wednesday April 22, Elder Wilford Woodruff, still in Nauvoo, recorded that there was “much excitement “ about threats being made by the mob. Perhaps this excitement convinced Freeborn it was time to get out of town, for that evening the DeMilles finally crossed the river , with Newel’s help. They camped near the Knight’s tent. After another day and night encamped , the Newel Knight family started from Montrose on their journey across Iowa on April 24th, six days after they left Nauvoo. 

This article was written By Bill Hartley for the IMTA Newsletter the “Wheel Writes” Volume 9 Issue 2 Spring 2002 edition