Did you know?! Our ancestors in Richmond, Missouri

On this amazing journey that I have been on- finding out more about my ancestors, I have done a lot of study also about LDS Church History.  We decided to help my parents move back home from their mission in Nauvoo and to do the Mormon pioneer trail on our way home.  So we visited many interesting places.  In Richmond, Missouri we were able to visit the grave of David Whitmer and the grave of Oliver Cowdery.  In addition to that we were able to see where the old Richmond jail would have been (there is only a plaque there now).  This is where Joseph rebuked the guards.  What you might not know (or maybe you do) is that there were many of our ancestors who were with Joseph and imprisoned at this time.  I am going to post a little bit of info about Richmond, and the names of those on the plaque that are our ancestors.  Pretty awesome!

So, the names on this list that are our ancestors :) Here they are
* Isaac Allred 1788-1870 my 5th great-grand Uncle through the Ivie line
* James Allred 1784-1876 my 5th great-grand Uncle through the Ivie line
* Martin C. Allred 1806-1840 my 1st Cousin 6x Removed through the Ivie line
* William Allred 1790-1841 my 5th great-grand Uncle through the Ivie line
* Ezekiel Billington 1799-1857  husband of my 5th great-grand Aunt Mary "Polly" Ann Ivie
* Sylvester Hulet 1800-1883 my 4th great-grand Uncle through the Dalley/Hulet line
* Andrew Whitlock 1805-1865 husband of 1st cousin 6x removed through the Ivie line (Hannah    Caroline Allred)

Here is a little information about Richmond, Missouri in Ray County

Richmond

A most important place in Mormon Missouri history. Here, after their arrest at Far West, Joseph Smith and others were put on trial under Judge Austin King, who was no better than a mobster himself. The lawyer who defended Joseph was one of the truly great men in American history, Alexander Doniphan, whose statue is prominent in the town square. This same Doniphan, in an effort to stop the persecution of the Mormons, succeeded as a member of the Missouri legislature in having two counties created just for the Mormons. I.e. Caldwell (Far West area) and Davies (Adam-ondi-Aham). As a brigadier general in the Missouri Militia, he prevented the execution by firing squad of Joseph and Hyrum at Far West by refusing to carry out that order from the commanding general. He also represented Joseph Smith as his lawyer while he was in the Liberty Jail.
After their arrest at Far West, Joseph Smith and others were taken to Independence and put on display in a most humiliating manner. This was before being tried or convicted of anything. They were then taken to Richmond and incarcerated while awaiting trial with a number of others arrested at the same time. This lead to the rebuking of the guards incident recorded by Parley P. Pratt in his autobiography and presented in Richmond as a part of our Missouri tour.
The Richmond Old Mormon Cemetery has several important graves: Oliver Cowdery, Peter Whitmer Sr.; Mary Whitmer (only woman to see the plates), Jacob Whitmer (one of the eight witnesses).
Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer came here to live after they apostatized from the church. Oliver practiced law in Richmond and is buried in the old Mormon Cemetery. David Whitmer is buried in the large city cemetery on Highway 10

Statue of Alexander Doniphan at the Richmond county Courthouse

 

David Whitmer's grave

 

Site of David Whitmer's home