43990381

Letter to Emma Smith, 9 November 1839

 
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Springfi[e]ld

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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Ill November 9th 1839
My Dear Wife

10 July 1804–30 Apr. 1879. Scribe, editor, boardinghouse operator, clothier. Born at Willingborough Township (later in Harmony), Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania. Daughter of Isaac Hale and Elizabeth Lewis. Member of Methodist church at Harmony (later in Oakland...

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perhaps you may thing [think] strange  That we are not further on our jouny [journey] at this  date but I will say that we have done all  that we could for the safty of Elder [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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 on account of his week state of hea[l]th and  this morning we are under the nesesity  of leaveing him at Brother Snyders and pesueing  our Journy without him we think he will soon  recover his health as he is not dangerously sick  we regret that he cannot go on with us very much  much but cannot help ourselves but must comm it him into the hands of God and go on  being fil[le]d with constant anxiety for our  Families and friends behind I shall be filled <with>  constant anxiety about you and the children  until I hear from you and in a perticular  maner litle Frederick

20 June 1836–13 Apr. 1862. Farmer, merchant. Born at Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio. Son of JS and Emma Hale. Married Anna Marie Jones, 13 Sept. 1857, in Hancock Co., Illinois. Died in Nauvoo, Hancock Co.

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it was so painful to  leave him sick I hope you will wa[t]ch over  those tender ofsprings in a maner that <is> <is> bec oming a mother and <a> saint and try to cutive te [cultivate] their minds and learn <them> to read and be sober  do not let <them> be exposed to the wether to take  cold and try to git all the rest you can  it will be a long and lonesome time and  dureing my absence from you and nothing  but a sense of humanity could have  urged me on to a so great a sacrafice  but shall I see so many perish and <not> seek  redress no I will try this once in the <name> of the  Lord therefore be patient untill I come and  do the best you can I cannot write what I  want but believe me <my> feelings are of the best  kind towards you all my hand cramps so I  must close I am
[signature cut out] [Joseph Smith Jr.]
To Emma Smith

10 July 1804–30 Apr. 1879. Scribe, editor, boardinghouse operator, clothier. Born at Willingborough Township (later in Harmony), Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania. Daughter of Isaac Hale and Elizabeth Lewis. Member of Methodist church at Harmony (later in Oakland...

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