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Authorization for Stephen Markham, 27 May 1839

Source Note

JS, Authorization, for , , Hancock Co., IL, 27 May 1839. Featured version copied [between 29 May and 30 Oct. 1839] in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 46–47; handwriting of ; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 2.

Historical Introduction

On 27 May 1839, JS signed an authorization for to act as a . In this role, Markham was to solicit funds from Latter-day Saints in order to pay for the church’s recent land purchases. Because the church was not incorporated in , these purchases were made by individual church leaders and designated church agents. Acting for the church, bought 130 acres near , Illinois, from on 30 April. Also on that day, made an agreement on behalf of the church to purchase around 59 acres in Illinois from . Additionally, JS’s journal and the minutes of the general conference on 4–5 May indicate that land had been purchased in ; however, what the journal entry and meeting minutes call a purchase apparently consisted of making arrangements to later purchase land from Galland when it was sold at public auction. The church’s earliest deeds for land in Iowa Territory were signed on 29 May when church agent purchased land from Galland. The authorization featured here indicates that Markham was assigned to visit church members in and around , Illinois, to obtain funds for the church.
Because the original document is not extant, it is not known who inscribed the original; however, JS likely signed it. presumably took the authorization with him during his fund-raising endeavors. copied the authorization into JS Letterbook 2 sometime between 29 May and 30 October 1839.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Hancock Co., IL, Bonds and Mortgages, 1840–1904, vol. 1, pp. 31–32, 30 Apr. 1839, microfilm 954,776, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

  2. [2]

    Hancock Co., IL, Deed Records, 1817–1917, vol. 12 G, p. 247, 30 Apr. 1839, microfilm 954,195, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; see also Agreement with George W. Robinson, 30 Apr. 1839.

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

  3. [3]

    Kilbourne, Strictures, on Dr. I. Galland’s Pamphlet, 9; see also JS, Journal, 24 Apr.–3 May 1839. Knight purchased a substantial amount of land from Galland a month later, on 26 June 1839. (Lee Co., IA, Land Records, 1836–1961, vol. 2, pp. 3–6, 13–16, 26 June 1839, microfilm 959,239, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)

    Kilbourne, David W. Strictures, on Dr. I. Galland’s Pamphlet, Entitled, “Villainy Exposed,” with Some Account of His Transactions in Lands of the Sac and Fox Reservation, etc., in Lee County, Iowa. Fort Madison, IA: Statesman Office, 1850.

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

  4. [4]

    Minutes, 4–5 May 1839; Isaac Galland, Deed to Oliver Granger, 29 May 1839, Hiram Kimball Collection, CHL; Lee Co., IA, Land Records, 1836–1961, vol. 1, pp. 507–510, 29 May 1839, microfilm 959,238, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.

    Kimball, Hiram. Collection, 1830–1910. CHL.

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

  5. [5]

    One of these Saints was a “Father Biggler.” (See Letter to Father Bigler, 27 May 1839.)

  6. [6]

    Mulholland copied his own 29 May 1839 letter to Edward Partridge on page 15 of JS Letterbook 2, making that the earliest likely copying date for documents he subsequently copied but that had dates preceding 29 May.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Authorization for Stephen Markham, 27 May 1839 Letterbook 2 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 47

his own aggrandizement, but rather that of the Community: We feel warranted in commissioning him to go forth Amongst the faithful, as our to gather up And receive such means in money or otherwise as shall enable him us to meet our engagements which are now about to devolve upon us, in consequence of our purchases here for the Church, and we humbly trust that our brethren generally will enable him to come to our assistance before our credit shall suffer on this account.
Joseph Smith Jr
P. E. [p. 47]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 47

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Authorization for Stephen Markham, 27 May 1839
ID #
457
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D6:479–481
Handwriting on This Page
  • James Mulholland

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    In previous months, Markham served on a committee to oversee the safe removal of the Saints from Missouri, and he personally escorted JS’s family to Quincy. He also was responsible for obtaining powers of attorney and selling the land of Saints who left Missouri during the exodus. (Far West Committee, Minutes, 29 Jan. 1839; 1 and 21 Feb. 1839; Historian’s Office, JS History, Draft Notes, 6–7 and 15 Feb. 1839.)

    Far West Committee. Minutes, Jan.–Apr. 1839. CHL. MS 2564.

  2. [2]

    JS was likely referencing the 30 April land transactions the church made in Illinois with Hugh White and Isaac Galland, as well as planned purchases in Iowa Territory. The land purchases on 30 April left the church with large financial obligations, but the due dates for paying these debts are unknown. Alanson Ripley provided White with promissory notes amounting to $5,000, but the bond for the purchase does not indicate when the notes were due. George W. Robinson’s agreement with Galland stipulated a payment of $18,000. When the deed for the land was recorded in the Hancock County deed book on 29 June, the payment for the land was listed as $9,000. No schedule of promissory notes was outlined in the 30 April agreement or the 29 June deed. (Hancock Co., IL, Bonds and Mortgages, 1840–1904, vol. 1, pp. 31–32, 30 Apr. 1839, microfilm 954,776; Hancock Co., IL, Deed Records, 1817–1917, vol. 12 G, pp. 247–248, 30 Apr. and 29 June 1839, microfilm 954,195, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

  3. [3]

    Likely an abbreviation for “Presiding Elder.” (See Note, ca. 24 May 1839.)

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