The Church was two Organizations in Lamoni

One organization was financial and one was religious.

The first was formed by rich farmers in Northern Illinois, who had been members of the LDS church, They reorganized and called themselves the RLDS church. 

The second were the sons of Joseph Smith, mainly Joseph Smith III. Who were hired by the RLDS to manage the church for them, and serve as its religious leaders. 

In 1870, the first group bought farmland in South Central Iowa and moved there. The second group hand no choice but to follow them. 

The first group, the owners of the church, decided to build a city on their land, and they called it Lamoni, a Book of Mormon name.

The history of Railroads during that time is complicated (and this is what made Abraham Lincoln a successful Railroad Lawyer). Evidently, the Lamoni railroad was abandoned in 1872. 

Meanwhile, Joseph Smith III was growing what he considered to be his church, These two churches coexisted in Lamoni, without much conflict. 

But gradually, the move was made (by the second group) to Independence, Missouri, And the first group were forgotten.

A large group of rich people ceased to exist!