On June 27, 1844, the prophet Joseph Smith was assassinated in the Carthage Jail. James and his son, William, were working in the field hoeing the corn in the late afternoon of that day.
William later testified:
"It was quite warm, and we were about to quit for the day when father straightened up and looked around, and then he looked at me. The solemn stillness of the surrounding area was almost frightening.
"The leaves on the corn suddenly drooped, as if they had been blasted with extreme heat. The leaves of the trees wilted and hung as though in deepest sorrow.
"Father looked at me and said, 'Will, something has happened to the Prophet.'
"As soon as the men from the surrounding county could be notified from Carthage, we were told that at that identical time of which I spoke, the prophet had been killed. That was proof enough for me.
"If the leaves of the trees and on the corn could be near enough to the Prophet to mourn passing of his spirit, I could not ask for anything more faith-promoting or convincing."