Content preview - You need a premium account to view this content.

"And a Place Shall be Prepared"

THE FIRST DAY of the year 1885 seems to be an appropriate moment to begin this account and the place St. David, Arizona. There Moses Thatcher, apostle in the Mormon Church, had called a regional conference of his people for the purpose of considering moves that would relieve these harassed Mormon frontiersmen of what by them was regarded as religious persecution. The relentless zeal of United States marshals in seeking out violators of the Edmunds-Tucker Law had put nearly all of them in danger of prison sentences. Something had to be done. The president of the Church had comfortingly promised that a place of refuge would be prepared and in fulfillment of this promise Alexander F. MacDonald, president of the Maricopa stake of Zion in Arizona, and other official scouts, had already made several exploration trips into northern Sonora, Mexico. MacDonald was now appointed to continue exploring in northern Chihuahua where, through negotiation by Elder Thatcher, valid prospects had been opened to them.

The meeting dispersed and the word was passed to all who were in need of its comforting tidings. By mail or by messenger, it was grapevined to remotest hamlets in the Rocky Mountain region. In St. Johns, Snowflake, Sunset, Luna, Smithville in Arizona, in Savoy, Socorro and other localities in New Mexico and even in many towns in southern Utah troubled men heard the message and were moved to go in search of the promised place. A migration began that was to last for many years and as a result of which eight colonies were established in Mexico.

First to reach the international boundary was William C. McClellan, Mormon Battalion veteran. Choosing those who were to accompany him, he equipped his wagon for desert travel of indefinite duration and undertermined destination. He meticulously followed route directions, circling north and west into the San Simon valley and then south through country criss-crossed by Geronimo's trails. He thus spent twelve anxious days in transit whereas, by passing south through Silver City and Deming, he might have reached the same destination in half the time. Even so he reached the designated port of entry a full ten days ahead of those who were to follow. Except for one small party which had preceded him, McClellan was the first of the Mormon colonists to undergo the ordeal of crossing the border, the first to feel the bewilderment of endless inspections, and the first to submit to what seemed needless formalities which continued to irritate through the years no matter how often endured.

Mesquite Springs, the port of entry, was but a camp and the guards protecting it mere line riders with instructions to escort immigrants to the custom house at La Ascension farther inland. This they did with McClellan, thus establishing precedent that was adhered to until the official port of entry, from necessity, was changed to Deming.