| 450 The General is well advanced in years, but is still tall and erect, speaks clearly and distinctly. His mind seems to be still vigorous; and we were told by one who studied law and is practicing with him, that there is no apparent diminution of his powers in his profession, except the failure, common to age, to recall events recently transpiring. He is modest and avoids saying anything of the part taken by him in the scene referred to above. And when we told him that we came, with Bro. Alexander, as sons of one of the men whose lives was spared by reason of his action that day, as we believed, to thank him in person, he deprecated our thanks, saying: "I deserve no thanks for doing what was my duty. I had a long time to live and could not afford to burden my conscience and life with the blood of my fellow men."
We referred to the prejudice existing against our father and his comrades, and the terrible excitement of the time, and the risk he ran in incurring the displeasure of the popular will, as expressed in the order to kill those men the next morning. To this he replied that what he did at the time he did without thinking of the consequences, as men frequently act in cases of extreme emergency. Our interview was pleasant. He has been a man of action and careful observation. Has not sought political honors, but has served the people when their desire for his services has been properly expressed.
He visited Salt Lake City some years ago, met Alexander McRae, whom he remembered; and was well treated by the authorities there. He is a Democrat, and talked freely of the present political aspect of the country, but without any partisan feeling. One remark was very striking. "It is a difficult thing to grow old and prevent becoming querulous, covetous, and weak, or suspicious and misanthropic. I recognize this difficulty and strive to avoid either extreme." He is quite a friend to Elder Whitmer, knew Oliver Cowdery well, as well as many others of the Saints in Ray, Caldwell, Jackson, and Daviess Counties; remembers Lyman Wight, whom he regarded as an especially brave and fearless man. He affirms that there was nothing like polygamy taught, or known among the Mormons during their stay in Missouri. He further states that so far as his knowledge went they were good citizens.
Oliver Cowdery died at Richmond, about 1850, and his body lies in the "old graveyard," just north of the town; as we are informed by both David Whitmer and family and by General Doniphan.
The following letter from General Doniphan will be valuable on points on which it treats:
RICHMOND, Missouri, July 13, 1884.
ELDER HEMAN C. SMITH,
Oenaville, Bell County, Texas.
Dear Sir: Your letter containing several inquiries has been at hand some days but the excessive heat has prevented me from replying. My acquaintance with Oliver Cowdery (dead) commenced in the winter of
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