Our Family History

The Genealogy of the Thompson Family

John Rockhold

1815 -

Emigration of family to Missouri in 1823

Emigration of family to Missouri in 1823
Mentioning Loyd and three sons, Loyd, Alfred and John.

?Emigration of family to Missouri in 1823
Clay county has very interesting, even disappointing history. Governor of Missouri, John Miller, feared that Foxes and Winnebago Indians would invade Missouri soil in the year 1832, the Black Hawk War year.
ordered Major-General Richard Gentry to raise one thousand volunteers for the defense of the frontier. Five companies were at once raised in Boone County, and in Callaway, Montgomery, St. Charles, Lincoln, Pike, Marion, Ralls, Clay and Monroe other companies were raised
Two of these companies, commanded respectively by Captain John Jamison, of Callaway, and Captain David M. Hickman, of Boone County, were mustered into service in July for thirty days, and put under command of Major Thomas W. Conyers. This detachment, accompanied by General Gentry, arrived at Fort Pike on the first of July, 1832. Finding that the Indians had not crossed the Mississippi into Missouri, General Gentry returned to Columbia, leaving the fort in charge of Major Conyers. Thirty days having expired, the command under Major Conyers was relieved by two other companies under Captains Sinclair Kirtley, of Boone, and Patrick Ewing, of Callaway. This detachment was marched to Fort Pike by Col. Austin A. King, who conducted the two companies under Major Conyers home. Major Conyers was left in charge of the fort, where he remained until September following, at which time the Indian troubles, so far as Missouri was concerned, having all subsided, the frontier forces were mustered out of service.
Black Hawk continued the war in Iowa and Illinois, and was finally defeated and captured in 1833.
At the same time Joseph Smith, leader of the Mormons--members of the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter-day Saints, chosen prophet came to Jackson county, Missouri 
The object of his coming so far west ? upon the very outskirts of civilization at that time ? was to more securely establish his church, and the more effectively to instruct his followers in its peculiar tenets and practices. Upon the present town site of Independence the Mormons located their "Zion" and gave it the name of "The New Jerusalem." They published here the Evening Star, and made themselves generally obnoxious to the Gentiles, who were then in the minority, by their denunciatory articles through their paper, their clannishness and their polygamous practices. Dreading the demoralizing influence of a paper which seemed to be inspired only with hatred and malice toward them, the Gentiles threw the press and type into the Missouri river, tarred and feathered one of their bishops, and otherwise gave the Mormons and their leaders to understand that they must conduct themselves in an entirely different manner if they wished to be let alone. After the destruction of their paper and press, they became furiously incensed, and sought many opportunities for retaliation. Matters continued in an uncertain condition until the 31st of October, 1833, when a deadly conflict occurred near Westport, in which two Gentiles and one Mormon were killed. On the 2nd of November following the Mormons were overpowered, and compelled to lay down their arms and agree to leave the country with their families by January 1st, on the condition that the owner would be paid for his printing press. Leaving Jackson County, they crossed the Missouri and located in Clay, Carroll, Caldwell and other counties, and selected in Caldwell County a town site, which they called "Far West," and where they entered more land for their future homes. Through the influence of their missionaries, who were exerting themselves in the East and in different portions of Europe, converts had constantly flocked to their standard, and "Far West" and other Mormon settlements rapidly prospered. In 1837 they commenced the erection of a magnificent temple, but never finished it. As their settlements increased in numbers they became bolder in their practices and deeds of lawlessness. During the summer of 1838 two of their leaders settled in the town of DeWitt, on the Missouri River.
We learn from HIstory of Caldwell and Livingston counties that Col William O Jennings first attempted a treaty with the Mormons in his command in the Mormon War.
Loyd and three sons, Loyd, Alfred and John are named in Alex Baugh's book; father Loyd is named as having shot Benjamin Lewis upon his escape from the blacksmith shop.

Owner of original	Found on Ancestry.com
File name	Loyd Rockhold Born 1776 .txt
File Size	4.3k
Linked to	Alfred Rockhold; John Rockhold; Lloyd Rockhold, II; Loyd Rockhold