AUSTIN AND NANCY JANE ELSTON HAMMER G-­‐G-­‐G-­‐G-­‐Grandparents to the Colvin Boys Austin Hammer son of John and Nancy York Hammer, was born
6 May 1804, in South Carolina. He married Nancy Jane Elston.
She was born, 2 February 1806, in Lexington (now Fayette)
County, Kentucky, a daughter of Josiah Elston and Rebecca Lewis.
At the time of their births Andrew Jackson was President of the
United States and Lewis and Clark were beginning their
exploration of the Northwest. Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned
Emperor of France and Joseph Smith was a contemporary.
Austin and Nancy embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints and were baptized in 1835, in Henry County, Indiana.
Austin, and sixteen other men were killed 30 October 1838,
while guarding Haun’s grist mill from the mob.
The following account of the Haun’s Mill Massacre, in the fall of
1838, is told by John Hammer, son of Austin Hammer. He was
eight years old when his father was killed.
“The mob had repeatedly threatened to burn the grist mill because
it supplied ground corn for the Mormons. The mobs were hoping
to starve the Mormons out. In consequence of their threats, a few
of the brethren assisted in guarding the mill. The mob kept
repeating their threats of violence. Finally some of the leading men
interviewed the mob leaders who agreed upon a day when they
would send a committee to the mill to confer with the brethren to
reach an agreement. No violence from the mob was anticipated and
the brethren packed no arms.
“The mob party did not show up at the appointed time. As the day
was drawing to a close, however, a company of some two to three
hundred strong appeared. The brethren immediately hoisted a
white flag. One of the mobsters without saying a word to the
Mormons, gave orders for their men to fire; which order was
obeyed. Their leader then said, “All who desire to save their lives
and make peace, run into the Blacksmith Shop.” The mob
immediately surrounded the shop and commenced firing between
the logs, as there was no chinking between them. They also fired
through an opening where a log had been sawed out for light.
Several were killed in the shop, my father, Austin Hammer, being
one of them.
“When the mob had finished their murderous deed and robbed
them of their clothing, they retreated. All of our men who were
found and still alive, were taken into Haun’s house as soon as
possible to protect them from wild hogs, of which the woods were
full of.
“There was no opportunity of affording the dead a decent burial.
There was an old dry well nearby and the only burial clothes that
they had were just what the murderous vampires had left them. In
this manner, seventeen bodies found their resting place.
“After the death of Austin Hammer, his wife, Nancy and her
family of six small children, made the journey to Illinois to live.
Their outfit consisted of one blind horse and a light wagon. The
baby, Julia,(your g-g-g grandmother) and little Austin, who was
sick, were the only ones able to ride in the wagon. Only two of the
family had shoes, the others tied their feet with rags and made the
trek of two hundred miles in the latter part of November and early
December of 1838.
“The death of my father left our family in a very helpless
condition. It would have been an event sufficiently melancholy had
he died at home of sickness where his family could have
administered to his needs. But to have him cut down in his prime,
33 years of age, and be torn from his family ruthlessly and cruelly,
so intensified the gloom which rested down upon our bereaved
circle. For a time it seemed that no ray of joy would ever be able to
penetrate our bosoms again.
“About three weeks after the massacre, the mob sent word to our
people that we were all to leave the country within ten days, or we
would be killed. Doubtlessly, they were stimulated to make this
announcement because of the order of expulsion which was issued
by Governor Boggs of Missouri. The burden of all this preparation
and removal on our part, rested on Mother. A less healthy and
resolute woman could not have had the courage and endurance to
grapple successfully with the obstacles that lie in her path.
“A family of six children upon her hands to be made ready in ten
days would have been a wondrous undertaking in time of peace
and abundant means. Our father left us 120 acres of excellent land
with a government title, a good crop of corn already matured, and
fifteen acres of good fall wheat. All this we had to leave for the
enemy to appropriate to their own use. In fact, all the comforts of
home had to be sacrificed, and with the Saints of God, we had to
flee, destitute and hunted because of our religion.
“My mother, at this time, was about thirty two years old. Well do I
remember the suffering of those days. We knew when the ten days
were up we would have to be on our way, or our lives would be
sacrificed. The Saints had no opportunity to dispose of their
property; except in a few cases. This is what the mob wanted;
knowing they could take possession, after they had compelled our
removal.
“Our family had one wagon and one blind horse, and that blind
horse had to transport our effects to the state of Illinois. Into this
wagon we placed our clothing, bedding, some cornmeal and what
scanty provisions we could muster, and started out into the cold on
foot, to eat and sleep by the wayside, with the canopy of heaven
for a covering. The bitter frost and biting winds were less
barbarous and pitiless than the demons in human form from whose
fury we fled.
“The stars looked down upon us from the vaults of Heaven,
reminding us that God ruled the Heavens, and took cognizance of
the conditions of those who people the earth. When night
approached we would hunt for a log or fallen tree, and if lucky
enough to find one, would build fires of it. Those who had blankets
or bedding would camp down near enough to enjoy the fire; which
nearly barefoot. Some wrapped their feet in rags to keep from
freezing, and protect them from the frozen ground.
“Mother and sisters were the only ones who had shoes, and they
were almost useless before we reached our destination, the
hospitable shores of Illinois. We all walked the entire distance,
except Austin and Julia, for our horse could not carry a greater
load. Everything heavy or bulky, such as Father’s cooperage tools,
plow and farm implements, we buried in the ground before starting
on our journey to keep them away from the mobs.
“There was scarcely a day while we were on the road, that it did
not either snow or rain. The nights and mornings were very cold
for our unsheltered and exposed condition. It is a marvel to me, to
this day, how we endured such fatigue without being disabled by
sickness, if not death. But that merciful Being who sheltered us
and gave us courage, took us to our destination.
“My mother seemed to be endowed with fortitude and resolution
and appeared to be inspired to devise ways and means whereby she
could administer comforts to her suffering children, and keep them
in good spirits. Her faith and confidence had ever been great in the
Lord, but now when all this weight and responsibility had fallen
upon her, with no husband to lean upon, she felt indeed that God
was her greatest and best friend. She realized that He, and He
alone, must be the deliverer of herself and her family and conduct
them to a people possessing the sympathies of humanity.
“At last, we reached the Mississippi River and we were happy
indeed. We gazed upon the opposite side of the river, with hearts
overflowing with Thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father, for that
indeed was our land of refuge and asylum. We hoped there to find
a home where mobs would not lie in wait to shed our blood, or set
a torch to our houses and barns.
“We crossed the river at Quincy, where not only our family, but
the entire host of exiled Saints found protection, and friends whose
hearts and hands were open to administer to our relief.
“In Nauvoo, the Saints were driven out again, and we with them,
were again compelled to seek an asylum in the wilderness region
of the Rocky Mountains.
“Mother died 10 October 1871, in Smithfield, Cache County, Utah.
She died full of faith in the doctrines revealed through the Prophet
Joseph Smith. She rests from her suffering; which will make her
resurrection glorious. During the last years of her life, her mind
was much occupied in reviewing her long and useful life. In
conversing with her children and friends, she expressed much
satisfaction that she had acted her part well. The Lord had been
merciful in giving her the light of His Holy Spirit; which had been
a lamp at her feet to direct her course safely through the darkest
perils of life. She has gone to a glorious reward where the turmoil
of the wicked cannot afflict her, or drive the children of the
righteous from their eternal dwelling, prepared for them before the
foundations of the world.”
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