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Letter from John C. Bennett, 27 July 1840

 
Quartermaster-General’s Office,
Fairfield, Illinois July 27th. 1840
To the
Rev Sidney Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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 &
" Joseph Smith Jr
Respected Friends:—
I wrote you a few days  ago from this place but my great desire to be with  you and your people prompts me to write me again  at this time; and I hope it will not be considered obtr usive by friends whom I have always so highly esteemed  as yourselves. At the last district and circuit Court  of the United States, holden at Springfield

Settled by 1819. Incorporated as town, 1832. Became state capital, 1837. Incorporated as city, 1840. Sangamon Co. seat. Population in 1840 about 2,600. Stake of LDS church organized in Springfield, Nov. 1840; discontinued May 1841; branch organized, Jan. ...

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 in June  last I had the honor of being on the grand Inquest  of the United States for the District of Illinois

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

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, and  hoped to have seen you there; but was quite disappoi nted. I attended the meeting of your people oppos ite Mr Lowry’s Hotel but did not make myself known  as I had no personal acquaintance in the Congregation.
It would be my deliberate advice to you to con centrate all of your Church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

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 at one point— If Hancock  County

Formed from Pike Co., 1825. Described in 1837 as predominantly prairie and “deficient in timber.” Early settlers came mainly from mid-Atlantic and southern states. Population in 1835 about 3,200; in 1840 about 9,900; and in 1844 at least 15,000. Carthage ...

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 with Commerce

Located near middle of western boundary of state, bordering Mississippi River. European Americans settled area, 1820s. From bank of river, several feet above high-water mark, ground described as nearly level for six or seven blocks before gradually sloping...

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 for its commercial emporium is to  be that point, well,— fix upon it and let us co-operate  with a general concerted action. You can rely upon me  in any event. I am with you in Spirit, and will be  in person as soon as circumstances permit, and imme diately if it is your desire. Wealth is no material  object with me; I desire to be happy and am fully  satisfied that I can enjoy myself better with your people [p. 170]

Facts

Editorial Title
Letter from John C. Bennett, 27 July 1840
ID #
558