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Letter from George Fidler, 23 March 1842

Source Note

, Letter, , Hancock Co., IL, to JS, , Hancock Co., IL, 23 Mar. 1842; handwriting presumably of ; four pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes address, dockets, and notation.
Bifolium measuring 12½ × 7½ inches (32 × 19 cm). Fidler inscribed the letter on all four pages; on the last page, he left space in the middle for an address panel. The bifolium was trifolded twice in letter style, addressed, and sealed with a red adhesive wafer. When the letter was opened, the wafer tore two holes in the second leaf; wafer residue appears on both sides of the leaf. The letter was refolded for filing.
The document was docketed by , who served as scribe to JS from 1842 to 1844 and as temple recorder from 1842 to 1846. Another docket was inscribed by , who served as a clerk in the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) from 1853 to 1859. The document was listed in an inventory produced by the Church Historian’s Office circa 1904. A graphite notation of unknown significance and in unidentified handwriting appears above the address block: “Clarrissa Marvel”. By 1973 the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL). The document’s early dockets as well as its inclusion in the circa 1904 inventory and in the JS Collection by 1973 indicate continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS, Journal, 29 June 1842; “Clayton, William,” in Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:718; Clayton, History of the Nauvoo Temple, 18, 30–31.

    Jenson, Andrew. Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia: A Compilation of Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 4 vols. Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History Co., 1901–1936.

    Clayton, William. History of the Nauvoo Temple, ca. 1845. CHL. MS 3365.

  2. [2]

    “Obituary of Leo Hawkins,” Millennial Star, 30 July 1859, 21:496–497.

    Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

  3. [3]

    “Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, [2], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

    Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.

  4. [4]

    See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.

Historical Introduction

On 23 March 1842 member wrote a letter to JS from , Illinois, about concerns that he had lost JS’s confidence because he had failed to repay a debt. JS had hired Fidler, a recent immigrant from , as a clerk. Although Fidler’s specific assignment is unknown, JS apparently dismissed him before he finished his work. Fidler suspected that , a in Nauvoo, had encouraged JS to take that action.
left JS’s employ believing that JS was satisfied with his work. Sometime later JS made comments to Fidler’s mother suggesting he no longer held him in high esteem, and Fidler became troubled. Fidler believed he had upset JS because he had taken out a debt that exceeded his salary. He wrote JS a private letter to explain why he was unable to repay the debt, stating that all of his money had gone toward providing his family with necessities.
The lack of postal markings, together with the fact that wrote the letter in , indicates that the letter was hand carried rather than mailed. JS evidently received this letter, as indicated by a docket by . If JS responded, the response is no longer extant.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Maughan, Autobiography, [41].

    Maughan, Mary Ann Weston. Autobiography, 1894–1898. CHL. MS 6402.

Page [2]

and family to protect us from the burning rays of the sun but what where [were] then my anticipations I thought we should receive funds from to repay what was due to you and not only you but others. how have I been disapointed and through that what [h]as been my fortune. Exposed to the greatest hardships I ever felt or trust ever to. To see my beloved Parent the being that gave me Birth that nourished my inf me in my infant years. That <​soothed​> my sick pillow that in every way Contributed to my Wants. for years, wanting. the common nourishment of Life. this I have seen this I have felt and more then this, to see the. Partner of my Bosom with a face wherein grief was imprinted from the knowledge that her parents were enduring the same dreadfull calamity this too I have felt and only those who have felt such can know the pangs such Scene’s can cost a Son, a Husband, then under these circumstances can you. “Sir” wonder why I have not employed my. scanty— earnings (since I left you) to discharge the debt justly due to you or to others, you are a Son, you are a Husband, you are a Father and as such. I now make the appeal to you— whether you can condemn me for acting as I did, I know the affectionate and generous feelings which is a[n] inmate of your breast. “Cannot,” therefore I. bannished the thought of contributing to those (who I was justly oweing,) my. earnings and assisted them that was near and dear to me by ties of Nature, to prevent them from absolutely perishing from Want. If I have acted wrong may I be forgiven is my ardent prayer the man was never born without his Foes I have mine in the bitterest point, Mr. informed me sometime since, that HE was informed by “good Authority” that I was about to remove from this place, I oweing him $17— for Brick, unable to pay then or since, he demanded security for his debt flushed from hearing such “infamous” Lies though no author was given and wishing to show him [p. [2]]
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Source Note

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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from George Fidler, 23 March 1842
ID #
800
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D9:298–302
Handwriting on This Page
  • George Fidler

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Fidler resided in Nauvoo Second Ward. His home was located on the north half of block 81 in Kimball’s first addition. (“List of Property in the City of Nauvoo,” 1841, Hiram Kimball’s Addition, block 81, lot 1; “Collectors Tax List for A. D. 1842. for the 2nd Ward in the City of Nauvoo,” 6, Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL; “Nauvoo Ecclesiastical Wards, 1843–1844,” and “Nauvoo Plats, Blocks, and Lots, 27 June 1844.”.)

    Nauvoo, IL, Records, 1841–1845. CHL.

  2. [2]

    Fidler was married to Alivia (or Eliza) Fidler. (Platt, Nauvoo, 41; Maughan, Autobiography, [41].)

    Platt, Lyman De. Nauvoo: Early Mormon Records Series, 1839–1846. Vol. 1. Highland, UT, 1980.

    Maughan, Mary Ann Weston. Autobiography, 1894–1898. CHL. MS 6402.

  3. [3]

    William and Wilson Law ran a general store in Nauvoo. A notice in the 15 January 1842 issue of the Times and Seasons stated that they had recently “entered into negociations with Mr. Isaac Hill, a gentleman of experience and skill, for the making of bricks.” (Editorial, Times and Seasons, 15 Jan. 1842, 3:664.)

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

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