Carthage Jail

Joseph and Hyrum Smith were brought here to the jail at Carthage, Illinois
in the protective custody of the governor.

The jailor, his wife and seven children lived on the ground floor of the building. In the evening of the martyrdom, the wife and children were preparing dinner when an armed mob burst in and stormed the house, firing guns. The mob pushed their way upstairs, shooting through the door of the jailor’s bedroom, where the prisoners had been placed for their comfort. Hyrum and Joseph were killed and John Taylor seriously wounded. The mob, having accomplished their evil design retreated.

My great… great grandfather, Christopher Layton went with others to Carthage to retreive the bodies and bring them back to Nauvoo for burial.