Introduction to F. G. Williams & Co.

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Introduction to F. G. Williams & Co.
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In September 1833, members of the
United Firm
An organization that supervised the management of church enterprises and properties from 1832 to 1834. In March and April 1832, revelations directed that the church’s publishing and mercantile endeavors be organized. In accordance with this direction, the...
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established a printing firm in
Kirtland
Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...
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, Ohio, under the name of
F. G. Williams & Co
A firm established by the United Firm on 11 September 1833 to print newspapers in Kirtland, Ohio. In December 1833, F. G. Williams & Co. resumed the interrupted printing of the church newspaper The Evening and the Morning Star. After the United Firm was reorganized...
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.
1
Minutes, 11 Sept. 1833. The members involved were Frederick G. Williams, JS, Sidney Rigdon, Newel K. Whitney, and Oliver Cowdery.
This new firm assumed the responsibilities previously held by
W. W. Phelps & Co.
The corporate name of the church’s printing establishment in Independence, Missouri. The company included church printer William W. Phelps and likely John Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery, who were appointed by the Literary Firm to assist Phelps in reviewing and...
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in
Independence
Located twelve miles from western Missouri border. Permanently settled, platted, and designated county seat, 1827. Hub for steamboat travel on Missouri River. Point of departure for Santa Fe Trail. Population in 1831 about 300. Latter-day Saint population...
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, Missouri, including printing the
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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newspaper The Evening and the Morning Star, which had been interrupted by the destruction of the Missouri
printing office
JS revelations, dated 20 July and 1 Aug. 1831, directed establishment of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’s first printing office in Independence, Missouri. Dedicated by Bishop Edward Partridge, 29 May 1832. Located on Lot 76, on Liberty Street...
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.
2
Oliver Cowdery, “To the Patrons of the Evening and the Morning Star,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Dec. 1833, 113; Masthead, The Evening and the Morning Star, Dec. 1833, 120.
Comprehensive Works Cited
The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.
When the United Firm was reorganized in April 1834,
Frederick G. Williams
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...
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and
Oliver Cowdery
3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...
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received the printing firm as their
stewardship
One who managed property and goods under the law of consecration; also someone given a specific ecclesiastical responsibility. According to the “Laws of the Church of Christ,” members of the church were to make donations to the bishop, who would record the...
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and continued to oversee church printing efforts.
3
Revelation, 23 Apr. 1834 [D&C 104:1, 29–30].
In September 1834, F. G. Williams & Co. discontinued printing The Evening and the Morning Star and the following month began a new paper called Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate.
4
Oliver Cowdery, “Address to the Patrons of the Evening and the Morning Star,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Sept. 1834, 185; Oliver Cowdery, “Address,” Messenger and Advocate, Oct. 1834, 1:1; Masthead, Messenger and Advocate, Oct. 1834, 1:16. Oliver Cowdery, John Whitmer, and Warren A. Cowdery all served as editors of the papers at various times.
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.
In January 1835, the firm began reprinting all issues of The Evening and the Morning Star, with numerous editorial changes, under the shortened name Evening and Morning Star.
5
Masthead, Evening and Morning Star, June 1832 (Jan. 1835), 16; “Prospectus,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Sept. 1834, 192.
Evening and Morning Star. Edited reprint of The Evening and the Morning Star. Kirtland, OH. Jan. 1835–Oct. 1836.
In 1835 and 1836, the firm published the first edition of the Doctrine and Covenants and a collection of hymns.
6
Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 ed., title page; Collection of Sacred Hymns [1835], title page.
By fall 1835, the firm was experiencing serious financial difficulties.
7
F. G. Williams & Co. Account Book, Oct. 1833–Nov. 1835; JS History, 1834–1836, 108; JS History, vol. B-1, 658.
It was dissolved in June 1836, after which Oliver Cowdery purchased the printing establishment, assumed the firm’s assets and liabilities, and reorganized it as O. Cowdery & Co.
8
“Notice,” Messenger and Advocate, June 1836, 2:329; see also “Notice,” Messenger and Advocate, Aug. 1836, 2:364. JS and Sidney Rigdon appear to have partnered with Cowdery in this 1836 purchase. In early 1837, they bought him out as a partner when he moved to Michigan for a short time. (“Notice,” Messenger and Advocate, Feb. 1837, 3:458; “Monroe Bank,” Painesville [OH] Telegraph, 24 Feb. 1837, [3].)
Painesville Telegraph. Painesville, OH. 1822–1986.
Over the next year, the
printing office
Following destruction of church printing office in Independence, Missouri, July 1833, JS and other church leaders determined to set up new printing office in Kirtland under firm name F. G. Williams & Co. Oliver Cowdery purchased new printing press in New ...
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changed ownership twice.
9
“Notice,” Messenger and Advocate, Feb. 1837, 3:458; Masthead, Messenger and Advocate, Feb. 1837, 3:464; Masthead, Messenger and Advocate, Apr. 1837, 3:496.
Then in early 1838, its assets were seized and sold at public auction and the office was destroyed by fire shortly thereafter.
10
“Sheriff Sale,” Painesville (OH) Telegraph, 5 Jan. 1838, [3]; Vilate Murray Kimball, Kirtland, OH, to Heber C. Kimball, Preston, England, 19–24 Jan. 1838, Heber C. Kimball, Collection, CHL.
Kimball, Heber C. Collection, 1837–1898. CHL. MS 12476.

The firm of F. G. Williams & Co. has few surviving business records. The most significant of these is an account book that tracked receipts and expenditures from October 1833 to November 1835.

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Introduction to F. G. Williams & Co.
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Footnotes
[1]
Minutes, 11 Sept. 1833. The members involved were Frederick G. Williams, JS, Sidney Rigdon, Newel K. Whitney, and Oliver Cowdery.
[2]
Oliver Cowdery, “To the Patrons of the Evening and the Morning Star,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Dec. 1833, 113; Masthead, The Evening and the Morning Star, Dec. 1833, 120.
[3]
Revelation, 23 Apr. 1834 [D&C 104:1, 29–30].
[4]
Oliver Cowdery, “Address to the Patrons of the Evening and the Morning Star,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Sept. 1834, 185; Oliver Cowdery, “Address,” Messenger and Advocate, Oct. 1834, 1:1; Masthead, Messenger and Advocate, Oct. 1834, 1:16. Oliver Cowdery, John Whitmer, and Warren A. Cowdery all served as editors of the papers at various times.
[5]
Masthead, Evening and Morning Star, June 1832 (Jan. 1835), 16; “Prospectus,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Sept. 1834, 192.
Evening and Morning Star. Edited reprint of The Evening and the Morning Star. Kirtland, OH. Jan. 1835–Oct. 1836.
[6]
Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 ed., title page; Collection of Sacred Hymns [1835], title page.
[7]
F. G. Williams & Co. Account Book, Oct. 1833–Nov. 1835; JS History, 1834–1836, 108; JS History, vol. B-1, 658.
[8]
“Notice,” Messenger and Advocate, June 1836, 2:329; see also “Notice,” Messenger and Advocate, Aug. 1836, 2:364. JS and Sidney Rigdon appear to have partnered with Cowdery in this 1836 purchase. In early 1837, they bought him out as a partner when he moved to Michigan for a short time. (“Notice,” Messenger and Advocate, Feb. 1837, 3:458; “Monroe Bank,” Painesville [OH] Telegraph, 24 Feb. 1837, [3].)
[9]
“Notice,” Messenger and Advocate, Feb. 1837, 3:458; Masthead, Messenger and Advocate, Feb. 1837, 3:464; Masthead, Messenger and Advocate, Apr. 1837, 3:496.
[10]
“Sheriff Sale,” Painesville (OH) Telegraph, 5 Jan. 1838, [3]; Vilate Murray Kimball, Kirtland, OH, to Heber C. Kimball, Preston, England, 19–24 Jan. 1838, Heber C. Kimball, Collection, CHL.
Kimball, Heber C. Collection, 1837–1898. CHL. MS 12476.