Refined by
- Home
- The Papers
- Reference
- 1of20Show Results
- The Papers
- DocumentsInterim Content
30478
“Explanation of the Plat of the City of Zion,” circa 25 June 1833
Image and Text
Image Only
Text Only
An explination of the plot of the City of Zion sent to the brethren in Zion the 25 of June 1833——
This plot contains one mile squ[a]re all the squ[a]res in the plot contains ten acres each being 40 rods squ[a]re you will observe that the lots are laid off alternate in the squ[a]re, in one squ[a]re running from the south and north to the line through the middle of the squ[a]re, and the next, the lots run from the east and west [p. 38]
In summer 1831, Jackson County, in western Missouri, was identified as the site of Zion. By mid-1833, more than a thousand church members had relocated to Jackson County. In late June the presidency of the high priesthood in Kirtland, Ohio, sent church leaders in Missouri a city plat for Zion, drawn by Frederick G. Williams. A written explanation in the margins described the configuration of the plat or pattern. The plat was revised in August.
Settled at Fort Osage, 1808. County created, 16 Feb. 1825; organized 1826. Named after U.S. President Andrew Jackson. Featured fertile lands along Missouri River and was Santa Fe Trail departure point, which attracted immigrants to area. Area of county reduced...
More InfoArea acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Mormon missionaries...
More InfoLocated ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...
More Info28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...
View Full BioBefore mailing the original plat, Williams transcribed the explanatory text into Letterbook 1. In the process he made several textual changes and corrections. The original drawing is now incomplete, with edges missing that included text. This transcription is drawn from the text in Letterbook 1, which is more complete. JS and Williams began the letterbook to record JS’s history and also as a letter registry.
28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...
View Full Bio“Explanation of the Plat of the City of Zion,” ca. 25 June 1833; handwriting of Frederick G. Williams; in JS Letterbook 1, pp. 38–41; JS Collection, CHL.
28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...
View Full Bio