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Letter from John M. Bernhisel, 11 April 1842

Source Note

, Letter, , New York Co., NY, to JS, , Hancock Co., IL, 11 Apr. 1842; handwriting of ; one page; JS Materials, CCLA. Includes address and dockets.
Bifolium measuring 9⅞ × 7⅝ inches (25 × 19 cm). The first three pages are ruled with twenty-seven horizontal lines; the fourth page is unlined. An illegible embossment, probably that of a paper mill, appears on the upper left corner of each recto page. The letter was inscribed on the first page. The document was trifolded twice in letter style, sealed with a red adhesive wafer, and addressed. The left edge of the second leaf was torn when the letter was opened, and remnants of the adhesive wafer appear on the recto of the second leaf. The letter was later refolded for filing and at some point stapled in the upper left corner; the staple has been removed.
The document was docketed by , who served as scribe to JS from 1842 to 1844 and as Nauvoo temple recorder from 1842 to 1846, and an unidentified scribe. Clayton’s docket suggests that the document was in institutional custody for some time after its reception. The letter likely remained in the Smith family’s possession until it was transferred, on an unknown date, to the custody of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (now Community of Christ).

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    An embossment similar in size and shape appears on a 1 October 1842 letter from Bernhisel. It reads “SOUTHWORTH CO. | W SPRINGFIELD.” (John M. Bernhisel, New York City, NY, to JS, Nauvoo, IL, 1 Oct. 1842, JS Materials, CCLA.)

  2. [2]

    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.

Historical Introduction

On 11 April 1842 wrote a letter from to JS in , Illinois, concerning JS’s recent purchase of land in Nauvoo on Bernhisel’s behalf and donations for the construction of the in Nauvoo. Bernhisel began corresponding with JS in March 1841, seeking to obtain property in the Nauvoo area before relocating. In July 1841 he sent JS a certificate of deposit for $425, and in August he conveyed an additional $40. On 4 January 1842 JS informed him that he had purchased sixty acres on his behalf for $480. JS asked for $15 to complete payment on the land. On 29 March, Bernhisel sent the remaining payment to JS. On 5 April, Bernhisel mailed JS a certificate of deposit for donations he had collected, as a local leader in , for the construction of the temple in Nauvoo. In the 11 April letter featured below, Bernhisel wrote to inform JS that he had sent the payment and the certificate.
The absence of postal markings suggests this letter was hand carried to , likely by Bush Reynolds, who wrote would deliver to JS an additional donation for the . The 2 May 1842 issue of the Times and Seasons acknowledged the donation from the Saints in . If JS personally replied to this letter, the document has not been located.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    The initial 6 March 1841 letter is not extant. Surviving letters include Letter to John M. Bernhisel, 13 Apr. 1841; Letter from John M. Bernhisel, 12 July 1841; Letter to John M. Bernhisel, 3 Aug. 1841; Letter from John M. Bernhisel, 18 Aug. 1841; Letter from John M. Bernhisel, 8 Sept. 1841; Letter to John M. Bernhisel, 16 Nov. 1841; and Letter to John M. Bernhisel, 4 Jan. 1842.

  2. [2]

    Letter from John M. Bernhisel, 12 July 1841; Letter from John M. Bernhisel, 8 Sept. 1841; Woodruff, Journal, 24 Aug. 1841.

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

  3. [3]

    Letter to John M. Bernhisel, 4 Jan. 1842.

  4. [4]

    “Temple Funds,” Times and Seasons, 2 May 1842, 3:782.

Page [1]

April 11th 1842.
Dear Brother,
On the 29th ultimo, I forwarded to you by a private conveyance fifteen dollars, being the amount due on the land which you had the goodness to purchase for me, and on the 5th instant, I deposited in the post office a certificate of deposite, payable to your order, on the Butchers & D[r]overs’ Bank in this for one hundred and eighty one dollars and seventy five cents, contributed by members of this and that of New Rochelle, in aid of the funds for the erection of the of the Most High, since which time I have received five dollars from brother for the same object, which I send you by Bush Reynolds who is about to take his departure for .
I am with great respect Yours in the
176 Hudson St.
P.S. If any tax shall be imposed on my land the current year, will you have the kindness to let me know the amount of it. [p. [1]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from John M. Bernhisel, 11 April 1842
ID #
2788
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D9:352–354
Handwriting on This Page
  • John M. Bernhisel

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Letter to John M. Bernhisel, 4 Jan. 1842.

  2. [2]

    The Butchers’ and Drovers’ Bank was incorporated in 1830. In 1842 it was located at 124 Bowery Street on the northwest corner of Bowery and Grand streets in New York City. (Longworth’s American Almanac [1842], 32.)

    Longworth’s American Almanac, New-York Register, and City Directory, for the Sixty-Seventh Year of American Independence. . . . New York: T. Longworth and Son, 1842.

  3. [3]

    The New York City branch was founded in 1837. John M. Bernhisel was ordained bishop of the branch on 15 April 1841. He likely considered collecting and forwarding these donations part of his assignment as a bishop. (Foster, History of the New York City Branch, [1]; Minutes, Times and Seasons, 2 Aug. 1841, 2:499.)

    Foster, Lucian R. History of the New York City Branch, 1837–1840. High Priests Quorum Record, 1841–1845. CHL.

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

  4. [4]

    The branch in New Rochelle, a village located about twenty-five miles northeast of New York City, numbered thirty-five by 29 November 1841. (“Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1842, 3:764.)

  5. [5]

    JS dictated a revelation in January 1841 that commanded the Saints to build a temple in Nauvoo, Illinois. In December 1841 the apostles published a request for donations. (Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:55]; Brigham Young et al., “Baptism for the Dead,” Times and Seasons, 15 Dec. 1841, 3:625–627.)

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

  6. [6]

    Oakley was a local businessman and farmer who was baptized on 7 February 1841. (Fontano, “Ezra Oakley and Elizabeth DeGroot,” 10.)

    Fontano, Mildred P. M. “Ezra Oakley and Elizabeth DeGroot.” In Oakley Family History, edited by Arthur D. Oakley, 9–13. Springville, UT: No publisher, 1955.

  7. [7]

    Reynolds was a local member of the church who had been ordained a deacon. (“Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1842, 3:765.)

  8. [8]

    Other letters exchanged between JS and Bernhisel used similar valedictions. (See, for example, Letter to John M. Bernhisel, 3 Aug. 1841; and Letter from John M. Bernhisel, 8 Sept. 1841.)

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