Lilburn Wycliffe Boggs (1797-1861) was the governor of Missouri from 1836 to 1840. He is now most widely remembered for his interactions with Joseph Smith and Porter Rockwell, and his so called "Extermination Order" in response to the ongoing conflict between Mormon settlers and others in Missouri.

Born in Lexington, Fayette Co, Kentucky in 1797 to John McKinley Boggs and Martha Oliver. At Greenup Co, KY, in 1817, Boggs married his first wife Julia Ann Bent (1801-20), a sister of the Bent brothers of "Bent's Fort" fame. She died 21 Sep 1820 in St Louis, Missouri. They had two children Angus and Henry.

He was then married in 1823 in Callaway Co, Missouri to Panthea Grant Boone (1801-80), and had several children in Missouri. The oldest Thomas was b in 1824 in Bates Co, all the rest save one where born in Jackson Co. The exception was George who was born in Cole Co.

On the rainy evening of May 6, 1842, someone shot Boggs in his home by firing at him through a window as he read a newspaper in his study. Boggs was hit by large buckshot in four places: Two balls were lodged in his skull, another lodged in his neck, and a fourth entered his throat, whereupon Boggs swallowed it. Boggs was severely injured. Sheriff J.H. Reynolds discovered a revolver at the scene, still loaded with buckshot. He surmised that the suspect had fired upon Boggs, and lost his firearm in the dark rainy night when the weapon recoiled due to its unusually large shot. Reynolds' efforts to locate the revolver's owner were unsuccessful.

Some Mormons saw the assassination attept positively: An anonymous contributor to The Wasp, a Mormon newspaper in Nauvoo wrote on May 28 that "Boggs is undoubtedly killed according to report; but who did the noble deed remains to be found out."

Several doctors--Boggs' brother among them--pronounced Boggs as good as dead; at least one newspaper ran an obituary. To everyone's great surprise, Boggs not only survived, but gradually improved. The popular press—and popular rumor—was quick to blame Smith's friend and sometime bodyguard Porter Rockwell. Smith had reportedly prophesied that Boggs would die a violent death within the year, leading to speculation that he was somehow involved in the assassination attempt. Rockwell denied involvement, stating that he would not have left the governor alive if he had indeed tried to kill him.

Also at about this time, John C. Bennett, a disaffected Mormon, began publicizing Smith's practice of "Spiritual Wifery". He stepped down as Nauvoo mayor in protest of what he considered Smith's abuses, and also reported that Smith had offered a cash reward to anyone who would assassinate Boggs, and that Smith had admitted to him that Rockwell had done the deed, then that Rockwell had made a veiled threat against Bennet's life if he publicised the story. Smith vehemently denied Bennet's account, speculating that Boggs--no longer governor, but campaigning for state senate--was attacked by an election opponent.

Boggs came to California in 1846, among the overland immigrants, starting West in May. He served as wagonmaster on the trail. He brought with him his second wife Panthea, son William, as well as William's new bride Sonora Hicklin, the daughter of a wealthy Missouri family. He arrived in Sonoma, California in November and was provided refuge by M G Vallejo at his Petaluma ranch house. There on 4 Jan 1847, Mrs William Boggs gave birth to a son. (Their second child was Angus Maupin Boggs b 1851 at Sonoma.) He became alcalde of Sonoma replacing John Nash, who was driven out of office in July 1847. At the time of the gold rush he owned a store. And later 8 Nov 1849 he resigned as alcalde and became the town's postmaster.

He accepted an appointment as state assemblyman from the Sonoma District in 1852. In 1855 he retired to live on a ranch in Napa Co, California where he died 19 Mar 1861. His widow Panthea died in Napa Co, California 23 Sep 1880.