Joseph Standing Monument
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Photo courtesy of Eddie Douthitt
Photo courtesy of Eddie Douthitt
Rudger Clawson and Joseph Standing, 1879
Rudger Clawson and Joseph Standing were proselyting Mormons who were in the Northern Georgia area. Several people were converted and according to an article in the Atlanta Constitution about 150 to 200 people total moved to Utah via train from North Georgia. Joseph Standing, a young man of 23 years of age, was the Presiding Elder of the Georgia Conference, which covered several congregations of that area. Apparently they were well received in most areas except for Varnell Station. On June 12, 1879, Joseph Standing wrote to the Governor of Georgia saying armed mobs numbering 40 or 50 were known to descend upon people who had converted to Mormonism in Varnell and suggested that nothing had been done about it by the local officers. He asked the Governor to write so the Ministers and converts would not have fear of being stoned or shot. He had a reply on 21 June 1879 from the Secretary of the Executive Dept, saying that the courts and jurors were there to decide if someone had committed a crime and the Governor was going to instruct the State Prosecuting Attorney for that district to inquire and prosecute if true. According to an article in the NY Times, some of the local people felt Mr. Standing had endangered the peace and integrity of the homes in the Varnell area. Joseph Standing and Rudger Clawson were on their way to a conference meeting in Rome when Mr. Standing was killed in Varnell, Whitfield Co, GA by a group of men on Sunday, July 21, 1879. Those who were accused, were put on trial and were acquited October 1879.
Sources: NY Times, Aug 8, 1879. “The Martyrdom of Joseph Standing”, by John Nicholson, 1886. Photo, wikipedia.
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