Footnotes
JS, Journal, 29 June 1842; “Clayton, William,” in Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:718.
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.
Richards, Journal, 9 Aug. 1844; “Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 1 Nov. 1844, 5:693; see also Minutes, Times and Seasons, Dec. 1839, 1:30.
Richards, Willard. Journals, 1836–1853. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, boxes 1–2.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
Andrus and Fuller, Register of the Newel Kimball Whitney Papers, 24.
Andrus, Hyrum L., and Chris Fuller, comp. Register of the Newel Kimball Whitney Papers. Provo, UT: Division of Archives and Manuscripts, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, 1978.
Footnotes
Abernethy was running for school commissioner on the Anti-Mormon ticket. Duncan had publicly voiced his opposition to the Latter-day Saints’ involvement in politics. (“August Election,” Warsaw [IL] Signal, 23 July 1842, [3]; “From the Alton Telegraph and Review,” Times and Seasons, 1 June 1842, 3:806; “Governor Duncan,” Sangamo Journal [Springfield, IL], 10 June 1842, [3]; Editorial, Wasp, 2 July 1842, [4]; see also Ford, History of Illinois, 269.)
Warsaw Signal. Warsaw, IL. 1841–1853.
Sangamo Journal. Springfield, IL. 1831–1847.
The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.
Ford, Thomas. A History of Illinois, from Its Commencement as a State in 1818 to 1847. Containing a Full Account of the Black Hawk War, the Rise, Progress, and Fall of Mormonism, the Alton and Lovejoy Riots, and Other Important and Interesting Events. Chicago: S. C. Griggs; New York: Ivison and Phinney, 1854.
Letter from William S. Wright, 21 July 1842. A William Wright was living in McDonough County, Illinois, in the early 1840s. This Wright was apparently not a church member and does not appear to have had prior contact with JS, although it is possible that he authored the featured letter. (1840 U.S. Census, McDonough Co., IL, 206; Land Patents for William S. Wright, McDonough Co., IL, nos. 12588, 16378, General Land Office Records, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior.)
Census (U.S.) / U.S. Bureau of the Census. Population Schedules. Microfilm. FHL.
General Land Office Records. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior. Digital images of the land patents cited herein are available at http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/.
See Historical Introduction to Letter from William S. Wright, 21 July 1842.
In late June 1842, after John C. Bennett’s disaffection and amid spreading rumors of JS’s potential extradition to Missouri, JS became concerned about a mob attack and wrote Illinois governor Thomas Carlin for advice. Carlin believed the Saints had little to fear but suggested that they take a defensive stance if such an attack occurred. The next week, JS said the Nauvoo Legion’s mission was “to defend ourselves and families from mobs.” In light of these events, JS and the Saints hoped to elect a governor who would authorize their use of the legion if needed. On 25 July, JS wrote to Carlin again, seeking orders to call out the legion in the event of an attack. JS’s 25 July 1842 letter to Carlin has not been located. (Letter to Thomas Carlin, 24 June 1842; Letter from Thomas Carlin, 30 June 1842; JS, Journal, 4 July 1842; Letter from Thomas Carlin, 27 July 1842.)
William D. Abernethy had previously served as Hancock County sheriff but was running for school commissioner in 1842. Abernethy did not win the election and received very few votes from Nauvoo citizens. (Gregg, History of Hancock County, Illinois, 272, 449; “Official Returns,” Warsaw [IL] Signal, 13 Aug. 1842, [3].)
Gregg, Thomas. History of Hancock County, Illinois, Together with an Outline History of the State, and a Digest of State Laws. Chicago: Charles C. Chapman, 1880.
Warsaw Signal. Warsaw, IL. 1841–1853.
Joseph Duncan, the Whig candidate for governor, had served a prior term as Illinois governor. Democratic candidate Thomas Ford beat Duncan, who received only a handful of votes from Nauvoo citizens. (Gregg, History of Hancock County, Illinois, 447, 449; Pease, Illinois Election Returns, 127; “Official Returns,” Warsaw [IL] Signal, 13 Aug. 1842, [3].)
Gregg, Thomas. History of Hancock County, Illinois, Together with an Outline History of the State, and a Digest of State Laws. Chicago: Charles C. Chapman, 1880.
Pease, Theodore Calvin, ed. Illinois Election Returns, 1818–1848. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois State Historical Library, 1923.
Warsaw Signal. Warsaw, IL. 1841–1853.
In an early May 1842 address, Duncan warned about Latter-day Saint military prowess, which drew a response from the editors of the Times and Seasons, who defended the existence of the Nauvoo Legion. (See Times and Seasons, 1 June 1842.)
The Latter-day Saints’ political allegiance had shifted from the Democrats to the Whigs after Martin Van Buren rebuffed JS when he sought help in obtaining redress for Latter-day Saint losses in Missouri in 1839. The Saints shifted back to the Democrats when Stephen A. Douglas freed JS from an extradition attempt in the summer of 1841. In a late May 1842 meeting, JS stated he would not support either party. On 2 July, in the lead-up to the 1842 state election, JS called for independent candidates who opposed the principles of the Anti-Mormon Party. Despite such statements, the Saints overwhelmingly supported Democratic candidates in the 1842 election. (Minutes, 26 May 1842; Letter to the Citizens of Hancock County, ca. 2 July 1842; “Election Returns,” Warsaw [IL] Signal, 6 Aug. 1842, [2]; “Official Returns,” Warsaw [IL] Signal, 13 Aug. 1842, [3].)
Warsaw Signal. Warsaw, IL. 1841–1853.
Jacksonville is located in Morgan County, Illinois. An individual named William Wright was living in Morgan County in 1840. (1840 U.S. Census, Morgan Co., IL, 414.)
Census (U.S.) / U.S. Bureau of the Census. Population Schedules. Microfilm. FHL.