Violence at Wolf Creek

On September 17^th & 18^th, 1887, a conference was held at the Stutts schoolhouse in Wolf Creek, Lawrence Co., Tenn. About mid day on the 18^th, John Morgan got up to speak. During his talk a young man named Wep Gilbert “jumped from a side desk upon which he was sitting, seized a crutch nearby, raised it above his head and rushed forward to strike the speaker exclaiming ‘G-d d--m your old heart, that’s what you said when you were here before. I have had enough of your trying to induce my relatives to go to that country. Now they are there and want to come back but cannot get money to return. Just as if you knew what was coming to pass in the future.’”

One missionary (Elias S. Wright) intercepted the assailant and was able to get the crutch away from him. He then pulled out a knife, but he was prevented from getting close to President Morgan by other missionaries in what would best be described as a stand off. For several minutes he brandished the knife yelling threats, but being able to reach his target.  Friends of his tried to reason with him, but he was inconsolable. When the husband of one woman was nearly cut while trying to talk him down, the woman fainted. Quickly other women at the service began to “wail” which so disconcerted the young man that he ran from the schoolhouse. A mob began to gather outside and President Morgan thought it best to disperse quietly, and ended the meeting.

Wep Gilbert did indeed have relatives that had joined the Church. Wep was, of course, a nickname, in this case for Webster Gilbert (1863-1938). He was a nephew of the previous branch president Thomas Jefferson Gilbert (1840-1907). A story handed down in the Thomas Gilbert family was that Thomas had given "refuge to two Mormon missionaries that were being pursued by a mob. When the mob asked Gilbert to hand over the missionaries, at shotgun point he told them they would have to kill him first and that some of them would be dead in the road before they armed the missionaries." The family story isn't clear whether this was before of after his baptism.

Thomas joined the Church on February 9th, 1884, baptized and confirmed by E. R. Miles. The family story doesn't say who the missionaries were whose lives he saved, but it might have been Miles, and one of his companions J. J. Fuller, James A Taylor, or George A. Woodbury. Or perhaps two of the missionaries who replaced them after his baptism; Leo A. Bean, John Linton, James A. Ross, A. J. McCuistion, John W. Hart, Elias S. Wright, or Andrew Peterson. If anyone descended from these missionaries knows about theis story, I'm all ears. 

Not long after baptism (on May 31st, 1884) a branch was formed at Wolf Creek just a couple miles north of the border with Alabama. Members came from both sides of the state line. Thomas was ordained a Priest and set apart as Branch President. 

A note on his Church record indicates he emigrated to Utah in March 1887. Uncle Thomas wasn't the only one. Aunt Martha Jane Gilbert, Cousin Ada M. Gilbert, and Francis Adeline McMurtry went with him.  A group also emigrated on August 25th 1886 which included Cousin Mary Catherine Gilbert, Cousin David Samuel Chambers, Cousin Julie Isabel Chambers, Aunt Martha Ann Barnett, and Cousin Leander Jackson Gilbert. And that doesn't include unbaptized children who went along. Nearly all of them were related to Wep. In a little over a year close to a dozen of his relatives had left for Utah.

But did they want to return and were lacking the funds to do so. Hearsay is poor evidence, it is unlikely Wep knew first hand how his relatives felt, since he wasn't in Utah. Without something back it up it would be difficult to draw a conclusion. Besides with so many relatives who went west, it would be easy for some of them to be unhappy with the move while others were perfectly satisfied. The Gilberts who went to Utah stayed there and stayed in the Church. Other branches of the family went to Idaho and Washington. One family from Wolf Creek which went to Colorado eventually returned to Tennessee and left the Church, though I have not yet been able to connect them to the Gilberts. Regardless of whether the specifics of Wep's concerns were true, they were real to him. His opposition wasn't about doctrine or avarice. It was fear of change; of losing the people he knew and loved. And although I would never condone what he tried to do I can certainly understand it.

Wolf Creek Branch Organization

Wolf Creek is a small community southwest of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee about a mile north of the Alabama State line. The first baptism there was Virginia E. Grimes (nee Philips) on July 8 1883. Others were baptised soon after at Wolf Creek and in nearby Lauderdale, Alabama. By 1884 Elder J. J. Fuller, President of the South West Tennessee Conference organized the saints at Wolf Creek into a branch.

Minutes

of the organization of the Wolf Creek Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints. Organized may 31st 1884.

The Elders and Saints met at the residence of Thomas Gilberts at 2:30 PM


Present of the Elders. Elder J. J. Fuller President of the Conference Elders John S. Linton, Leo A. Bean and James A. Ross of the travelling Elders of the South West Tennessee Conference.

Of the Saints, Thomas Gilbert, Charley O. Brown, John McMurtrey, David S. Chambers, Martha Ann Barnett. Lucinda O. Brown and 12 others not belonging to the Church.

Meeting called to order by President J. J. Fuller Hymn 47 “Come, come ye saints,” was sung. Opening prayer was offered by Elder J. A. Ross, Hymn 234 Come all ye sons of Zion. Pres Fuller the addressed the meeting for one hour on authority explaining the nature of the Aaronic and Melchisedec Priesthoods quoting passages from Heb 7 chapter and Doctrine and Covenants.
Elder Ross then followed in a few additional remarks.

Thomas Gilbert was ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood and to the office of priest and set apart to preside in the Wolf Creek Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by Pres J. J. Fuller.

L. A. Bean addressed the meeting quoting 1 Cor 12 12-21

Elder John S. Linton was appointed clerk of the Branch

Sang hymn on page 268 “The spirit of God like a fire is burning”

Benediction by Elder John S. Linton

John S. Linton - Clerk

Branch baptismal records continue until 1888.