Alexander Doniphan, 19th century Mo. lawmaker, honored

Friday, July 11, 2008 | 6:50 p.m. CDT; updated 11:05 a.m. CDT, Tuesday, July 22, 2008
BY The Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY — A former state lawmaker who helped broker the purchase of the northwest corner of the state and refused to execute Mormon leader Joseph Smith has been honored.

House Speaker Rod Jetton recently inducted Alexander Doniphan into the Hall of Famous Missourians at a ceremony in Liberty. Bronze busts of the several dozen famous Missourians are displayed in the Capitol.

Doniphan was born in 1808 in Kentucky and opened a law office in western Missouri in 1836. That year, he organized two northwest Missouri counties as a home for Mormons in the state. In 1838, he refused an order to kill Smith, the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In 1837, Doniphan helped buy much of Missouri’s northwest corner, which had originally been set aside for American Indians.

Show Me the Errors (What's this?)

Report corrections or additions here. Leave comments below here.

You must be logged in to participate in the Show Me the Errors contest.

Comments

Leave a comment

Speak up and join the conversation! Make sure to follow the guidelines outlined below and register with our site. You must be logged in to comment. (Our full comment policy is here.)

  • Don't use obscene, profane or vulgar language.
  • Don't use language that makes personal attacks on fellow commenters or discriminates based on race, religion, gender or ethnicity.
  • Use your real first and last name when registering on the website. It will be published with every comment. (Read why we ask for that here.)
  • Don’t solicit or promote businesses.

We are not able to monitor every comment that comes through. If you see something objectionable, please click the "Report comment" link.

You must be logged in to comment.

Forget your password?

Don't have an account? Register here.

Like the Missourian?
Support us with Kachingle!

advertisements