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Much dissatisfaction was expressed when the news of Lincoln’s election was received. This will be well understood when the official returns showed that the "railsplitter" had received but twenty votes in the county, while Bell received 578, Breckenridge, 470 and Douglas, 401. One of the twenty votes for Lincoln was cast by Rev. J. E. Gardner, a minister of the M. E. church who had been sent into the county by a previous church conference of that denomination and had located at Utica. The "Northern" Methodists, as they were termed in those days, were considered by a majority of the residents at that time as "undesirable citizens." Utica was then a town of considerable importance with a population of six hundred or over. The Baptists had the only church edifice in the town and here all religious denominations were permitted to worship except those of the Gardner faith. Occasionally, however, services were held in the schoolhouse. Rev. Gardner did not deny having voted for Lincoln and for this reason he was denounced, in the most bitter terms, as a "Black Abolitionist" and a "Northern Methodist." He was also accused of an attempt to influence the slaves at revolt and also of treating the blacks as his own equal. Some weeks after the election of Lincoln Rev. Gardner was presented with the following order to move out:

UTICA, MO., December 20, 1860.

Mr. Gardner.

SIR: - At a meeting of the citizens of Livingston county, Missouri, it was unanimously resolved that notice be given you that your longer residence in our county is not desired by our citizens, and that you be required to leave this county within three days from this date.

(Signed.)

A few days later another meeting was held to consider Mr. Gardner's case, he having protested against being driven away. The meeting was held in the schoolhouse and addressed by Mr. Black and Hon. A. J. Austin. A committee brought Mr. Gardner before the meeting, where the following written charges were presented against him:

"Charge 1. You are a preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church, North, sent among us without our consent and supported by northern money, sent out by a religious denomination, whose doctrine is to war upon the domestic institutions of the South.

"Charge 2. You are the only man in our community who voted for Lincoln, and you have publicly declared that you would glory in making yourself a martyr in the cause of abolitionism.

"Charge 3. You have had frequent interviews with the slaves of this county, and you invited a number of them to the country and gave them a dinner, after preaching, as your equals."

To these charges Mr. Gardner replied:

"1. I am not a preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, North, as there is no such church in existence. Neither am I supported by northern money, but by the people to whom I am sent to preach. Our doctrine is not to war upon the domestic institutions of the state, for in our book of discipline we acknowledge ourselves obedient to the laws of the land.

"2. I did vote for Mr. Lincoln, but did not, either publicly or privately, declare that I would glory in making myself a martyr to the cause of abolitionism.

"3. I never had an interview with slaves, or gave them a dinner, making them my equals. I therefore challenge the proof, as the onus probandi rests on you; and until you bring that I stand with the law to defend me.

Gardner then retired and in a short time a committee of two waited on him and presented him the following, in writing, as the action of the meeting:

"The committee, on due deliberation, passed the following resolution unanimously: That Mr. Gardner be notified, for the welfare of this community, to leave the county three days from and after Monday next, which time will expire on Wednesday next at 6 o'clock P. M.

According to previous history on this unfortunate affair, many of the citizens wholly disapproved the action of the lawless element. The same night a meeting of the conservative men of the town was held. The proceedings of the would-be regulators were denounced, and even Mr. Austin, the representative-elect was censured for having countenanced and advised them. An organization of "law and order" was effected. A constitution was drawn up, signed by many, declaring a determination to "discountenance and put down mob violence, and persist in the maintenance of the laws of the state, as the only hope for the protection of the civil citizens." This organization took Mr. Gardner's case in hand, and a compromise was at last effected, whereby he was given ten days in which to leave.

Meantime the minister's wife, Mrs. Amanda Gardner, was furnishing the organ of the Methodist Episcopal church, the Central Christian Advocate, with communications descriptive of the situation at Utica. Her letters were published and copied into other journals, and, of course, commented on throughout the north. Of the mobbing of Mr. Gardner, after the compromise referred to, and of the preceding circumstances she gives the following account:

"The settlement had been made on condition that we were to leave in ten days; but this compromise was not made known to us, and therefore we were unprepared to meet it. We had just returned from holding watch meeting, where we entered upon the year 1861 with new resolutions to live for God and the interests of the church.

"Thursday, January 3d, we were preparing to start on the next day to another protracted meeting, which was to be held seven miles from Utica. Mr. Gardner was butchering, and I was engaged with my housework, when one of our friends hastened to inform us that the mob was then collected and would be upon us in five minutes. We could scarcely credit the report; but he had hardly got out of our sight when from my window I saw the rabble coming. They were armed with rifles, shotguns, revolvers and knives. I called to Mr. Gardner; he hastened into the house, bolted the door and chose a position where he could defend himself and family.

"They surrounded the house, some rushing to the doors and others to the windows. Jack Stone (constable) rapped at the door. I asked 'Who is there?' He answered, ‘A friend,’ and said that he wished to speak with Mr. Gardner. I told him they could not see him until they came in a different manner, and asked, as a favor, that they would withdraw and not disturb our peace. At this they shouted like demons. Some cried, 'Burst the door!' Others, 'Break in the windows. One Cooper gave ten minutes by his watch for Mr. Gardner to promise to leave the country within twenty-f our hours, or have the house burned down over our heads, and ordered a bunch of hay brought to kindle the fire.

"They declared they had given us ten days to leave the county, and the time was up, and now they were determined that Mr. Gardner should give them a pledge to that effect, or they would hang him. I endeavored to reason with them from my window, and told them that according to their own arrangement they were one day before their time, which would not expire until Friday, January 4th, at 6 o'clock P. M. and that we intended going to the country at that time, as Mr. Gardner had an appointment and the friends would be in for us; but I only received curses in reply. They appeared, however, to be somewhat confused, some declaring that they were before their time, while others thought not. At length they agreed to leave, and gave us until noon the next day for our exit, declaring that if we were not gone at that time they would accept no compromise. I

"When they had gone Mr. Gardner proceeded to finish his work and we thought we would get out of the place as soon as possible, as it was anything but desirable to live in such a state of things.

"In the afternoon Mr. Gardner had business in town which he could not well put off. On stepping into a store he was asked in reference to the truth of the matter, when a conversation arose respecting the unlawfulness of such a course. There was present a Mr. Austin, who slipped out unnoticed by Mr. Gardner, and informed the rabble where he was. Ere he was aware, he was surrounded by the mob, insulted and abused, and preparations immediately made to take him.

"Mr. Gardner, seeing no chance to defend himself, endeavored to get home by going out of the store through the back way, but no sooner was he out than he was surrounded on all sides by the mob, who came upon him with drawn revolvers. He was violently seized, a 'Lincoln rail' was ordered, upon which they forced him, and proceeded to rail-ride him. Tumultuous shouts of 'North Preacher,' 'Lincolnite,' 'Nigger Thief,’ etc., were raised. While some were clamorous for ‘tar and feathers,’ others shouted for a rope!

"Thus was a minister of the gospel insulted and abused in a land of bibles and Christian institutions! Mr. Gardner let no opportunity slip, but as they carried, him through the streets he exhorted the rabble and those who thronged about him to flee the wrath to come. Above the clamor of the mob was heard his voice as he held up the cross of Christ and his sufferings for a world of sinners, and that his servants should not be ashamed to suffer reproach for his name's sake. After he had finished his exortation he sang:

(A strange spectacle, truly. A minister of the gospel being ridden on a rail and exclaiming, 'As we journey, let us sing!')

"Some tried to mock. One by the name of Schaffer swore he would 'make him shut his mouth,' at the same time striking him on the shoulder-blade with a large ball of ice, crippling him for the time being. They shortly called a halt and let Mr. Gardner down to consider what further measures to take.

"By this time I had got our little Allie (who was taken sick that morning) in the care of a lady friend, and made my way through the snow, which was eight inches deep, to where they had him in custody. I walked into their midst and demanded the deliverance of my husband, informing them that I would die with him or have him released. Through the interposition of Mr. John Harper and Mr. Wm. Wells, Mr. Gardner was permitted to go home, accompanied by them, who advised us to leave as soon as possible, as we would not be safe, We assured them we would go if possible - not because it was just, but as the only hope of saving our lives. They told us that unless they could take a pledge to that effect to the mob we would not be safe until morning; we gave it and were then left to ourselves.

"Friday, January 4th, we were taken to the county by Brother P. Rudolph, where we were kindly treated. We have been received into the house of Brother and Sister Dalton, and have once more got through with the labors of another move. While I write for the Central, under the excitement of the occasion, I have also a sick child on my hands. Mr. Gardner commenced suit in Chillicothe against the leaders of the mob, but a mob was raised there and compelled 'Squire Hughes, before whom the case was to be tried, to burn the papers, So, it is evident that there is no law, either in Utica or Chillicothe, to protect persons belonging to the M. E. church.

UTICA, MO., January 15, 1861."

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