Hero honored on 200th birthday
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LIBERTY, MO.
Missouri hero Alexander W. Doniphan, a friend and advocate of Latter-day Saints during a turbulent time in Church history, was lauded by civic, government, religious and education leaders on the 200th anniversary of his birth.
The commemoration ceremony was held July 9 at William Jewell College, which Doniphan helped establish, in Liberty. The event featured the unveiling of a bronze bust of Doniphan, which will be displayed in the Hall of Famous Missourians in the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City.
Doniphan is well-known by Church members for saving the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1838 by refusing an order to execute him. (Please see related article on p. 11.) In the state of Missouri, Doniphan's legacy also includes three terms as a member of the Missouri House of Representatives and his role as a bank founder, trial lawyer, military leader and an advocate for education.
John A. Dillingham, chairman of the Clay County Millennium Historical Board, who initiated the efforts to induct Doniphan into the Hall of Famous Missourians, raised money for the bust and helped organize the bicentennial celebration, shared the importance of Alexander Doniphan to the state and the nation. Doniphan was counted among Gen. Sterling Price, Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, Gen. George Pershing and Gen. Omar Bradley. "I hope this is only the beginning in recognizing and honoring those giants preceding us who called Clay County home," he said.
As part of the commemoration, the fifth annual Alexander W. Doniphan Community Service Award was presented to Raymond R. Brock, a Liberty businessman, community volunteer and grandfather.
The award is co-sponsored by the Clay County Millennium Historical Board, chaired by John A. Dillingham, and the Liberty Missouri Stake of the Church.
Mr. Brock and his wife, Linnea, were recognized by Detlef G. Lehnardt, Liberty stake president, as exemplifying Alexander Doniphan's character.
"The legacy of Alexander Doniphan, bequeathed to us in this community, the state of Missouri and to the nation keeps growing," he said. "It inspires and influences many like Ray and Linnea, who met while students at William Jewell College. Their example of generosity, service, vision and leadership in turn continues to influence many others. Such virtues strengthen communities, strengthen the foundation of our essential institutions and weave the enduring fabric of our nation."
About 350 people attended the commemoration in the college's John Gano Memorial Chapel. Doniphan was a founding trustee of the college, and it was largely due to his active lobbying and fund-raising that the Baptist college was located in Liberty in 1849.
In making tribute to Doniphan, Christian Sizemore, a past president of the college, compared Doniphan to Thomas Jefferson, "a truly Renaissance man." He noted that, "Doniphan, who lived and worked right here in Liberty, became the Renaissance man of the western frontier."
"Doniphan possessed one of the greatest characteristics of leadership," said Dr. Sizemore. "He never stopped learning. He was a voracious reader. Enlisting as a private in the Mexican-American War, Doniphan was elected Colonel of the First Missouri Mounted Volunteer Regiment. On that long march down into Mexico, Doniphan continued to read. He studied classical military tactics. Today, West Point cadets study Doniphan's tactics."
Dr. Sizemore also quoted D.C. Allen, a contemporary of Doniphan's, who said, "I never knew of anyone whose perception of right and wrong was so strong."
Indeed, Doniphan's willingness to take a strong stand "is evidenced by his refusal to execute Joseph Smith and his passionate voice on behalf of the preservation of the Union," said Dr. Sizemore.
Elder Maury Schooff, Area Seventy, pointed out that "the courage that General Doniphan showed in refusing the order of Gen. Lucas to execute the Prophet has been a great blessing to the Church. In the six years from the time Gen. Doniphan refused that order until Joseph Smith's martyrdom, many things happened under Joseph's leadership. A great city was established — Nauvoo, Ill.; the fundamental doctrines of the Church were established and documented; and, of course, leadership was developed and strengthened and prepared for those times when they would move to the West."
The commemoration included the "Alexander Doniphan March," performed by Calvin C. Permenter, pianist and professor of music at William Jewell College. The march was originally written and performed for Doniphan and his Missouri regiment in 1847 at a celebration in St. Louis following their return from the Mexican-American War.
Doniphan was also recognized by Rep. Rod Jetton, speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives, who unveiled the bronze bust which will be displayed in the Hall of Famous Missourians. Because of the contributions Doniphan had made to not only the state of Missouri but to the nation, naming him to the Hall of Famous Missourians was "an easy choice," Jetton said.
The evening's final event took place at Doniphan's grave site in Liberty's Fairview Cemetery, where the Missouri hero was honored with a ceremonial 21-gun salute. As the sun set in the west, Lt. Gen. (ret.) Robert Arter told the gathering that Doniphan "had such a vision of this nation. He understood soldiers had to fight so this nation would not be devoured and others die in darkness. Let us be worthy of his last full measure of devotion."
Alexander and Elizabeth Jane (Thornton) Doniphan had two children; however, neither lived to adulthood. The Doniphan family was represented at the commemoration by Peggy Sands, third-great-niece of Doniphan, of Lexington, Mo.; and Jimmy Carter and Jean Hamacher (descendants of family members of Doniphan's wife) of Richmond, Mo., who laid a wreath at the grave site.
