In 1830, Missouri was chosen as the Mormon's "Center Place," a place to live and worship in tranquility for all church members. However, their presence created conflict between themselves and the non-Mormon citizens, and harassment and fighting between the two groups led to the Mormons' expulsion by the state's government in 1838. Dissatisfaction with the Mormons and their religious practices occurred because: (1) Mormons did not patronize local merchants, preferring to deal among themselves; (2) they voted as a bloc which allowed them to control local politics; (3) they had sympathetic views towards Indians and Blacks; and (4) they believed in group welfare instead of the individualism of the frontier society. Harassment by non-Mormons caused the religious group to move from Jackson County to Clay County to Caldwell and Daviess County by 1838. Rumors continued to spread rapidly about their religious practices and their relationship with the Indians. The indication of violence between Mormons and non-Mormons, plus the fear of an Indian uprising, prompted Governor Lilburn W. Boggs to call out the state militia to maintain order. On October 25, 1838, fighting broke out with the state militia and two days later, Boggs issued the document known as the "Extermination Order," directing that the Mormons be treated as "enemies" to be either exterminated or driven from the state. The state militia occupied Mormon communities, and the people ordered to leave the state. By 1839, most Mormons had left Missouri for Illinois. (DJC)