Excerpt from the Journal of Alexander Scoby Standley

from Leslie Mikesell Wood:
I have not found any more parts of Alexander's journal, if there are any. I have in my possession two typed versions of the following journal, having minor differences. Both received from May Christensen, age 93, on 15 Sep. 1990. Contained in pages compiled by George Burton Standley, Nov 8, 1931. One titled "Exercise by O.D. Merrill From Alexander Scoby Standley Journal" I have only made a few typing and spelling corrections [hopefully I made no typo's]. Not having seen the original, I do not know if he wrote his name as Standley or Stanley in his Journal or if any mistakes in spelling were made by Alexander or the transcriber or typist. Alexander was a teacher so I think he would not have made many spelling or punctuation mistakes. I would like to see a photocopy of the original handwritten journal. LMW]




Journal: 
"I, Alexander S. Stanley, born in New Brunswick, Middlesex county, New Jersey, being the eldest son of Richard and Elizabeth Stanley. My Grandfather Alexander Scoby Standley, whose name I bear, was slain in the war of the American Revolution in 1778. 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 occurrece, 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 interest in religious matters, it was some time before it engages my attention. I however, discovered his propositions were well sustained by scripture evidence, while my 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 baptized 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 instruction, I was 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, in 1838, we left Portage county, Ohio, for Colwell [Caldwell Co. Mo.], and arrived at Far West on the 23rd of October. There we found our brothers under arms, having been driven from Carrol county and collected from different parts of Colwell [Caldwell] county for mutual defense and safety. 
Every house was crowded to the extent that I was unable to find shelter for my family, and having spent almost 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 numbers 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 troups, under the command of Colonel 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 a 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. We were soon after informed that Brother Joseph, with some others, had been treacherously surrendered into their hands and that they were taken as prisoners by the troops who had orders from the Governor to exterminate the whole mormon community. Whereupon we determined to prepare ourselves in the best possible manner for their reception. We accordingly built a sort of a fortification or breastwork of house logs, wagons, and other such things as we could most easily procure, and held ourselves in readiness for immediate action until the next day, which was Oct. 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 officers 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 any skirmish or in any way violated the laws of the State, whereby they had become liable to be held to a trial."