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Letter to Edward Hunter, 21 December 1841

Source Note

JS, Letter, , Hancock Co., IL, to , , Chester Co., PA, 21 Dec. [1841]; handwriting of ; three pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes address, postal notations, docket, redactions, and archival marking.
Bifolium measuring 9¾ × 7¾ inches (25 × 20 cm). The bifolium was trifolded twice in letter style, addressed, sealed with an adhesive wafer, and postmarked. The residue of a wafer seal and a tear from opening the letter appear on the recto and verso of the second leaf. The letter was later refolded for filing. The document has undergone some conservation.
The document was docketed by , who served as JS’s scribe from 1843 to 1844 and as clerk to the church historian and recorder from 1845 to 1865. The document was listed in an inventory that was produced by the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) circa 1904. By 1973 the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL). The document’s early docket as well as its inclusion in the circa 1904 inventory and in the JS Collection by 1973 indicate continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 456, 458; Woodruff, Journal, 22 Jan. 1865.

    Jessee, Dean C. “The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 439–473.

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

  2. [2]

    “Index to Papers in the Historian’s Office,” ca. 1904, [6], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

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

  3. [3]

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

Historical Introduction

On 21 December 1841 JS wrote from , Illinois, to respond to in , Pennsylvania, concerning property and business matters in Nauvoo and . In late summer or early fall, Hunter had returned from Nauvoo to his native Pennsylvania to settle his own financial affairs, purchase goods for JS, and conduct business on behalf of Margaret Smith, a recent convert from Pennsylvania who had relocated to Nauvoo. While there, Hunter sent a letter to JS dated 27 October 1841. In his response, featured below, JS addressed concerns about a power of attorney Margaret Smith had supplied to Hunter in order to settle her affairs in Pennsylvania, acknowledged the receipt of goods that he had sent to Nauvoo, informed him about land he had purchased on his behalf near Nauvoo, and advised him on the prospect of building mills in Nauvoo.
JS dictated his letter of reply to on 21 December, and the letter was sent by the post office, postmarked 25 December. JS was concerned this letter would not reach , so on 5 January he wrote another letter to Hunter with very similar details. The 21 December letter, featured here, was returned to the church’s custody, so it is likely Hunter received it and at some point returned it to JS or the church. However, it is uncertain when he received it. He wrote to JS on 10 February 1842, but it is unclear whether he was responding to both letters or solely to JS’s 5 January letter at that time.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Letter from Edward Hunter, 27 Oct. 1841.

  2. [2]

    Letter to Edward Hunter, 5 Jan. 1842.

  3. [3]

    Letter from Edward Hunter, 10 Feb. 1842. Hunter mentions receiving JS’s 5 January 1842 letter, but not this one.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter to Edward Hunter, 21 December 1841 Letterbook 2 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 Addenda “History of Joseph Smith”

Page [2]

another Season. We have no good grain or board mill in this place. & most of our flour & lumber has to be brought 20 miles. which Subjects us to great inconvenience.
The is rapidly advancing. many new buildings have been erected since you left us, & many more would have arisen if Brick & lumber could have been obtained. There is scarce any limits which can be imagined to the mills & machinery & manafatering [manufacturing] of all kinds, which might be put into proffitable operatin in this , and <​even​> if others should raise a mill before you get here, it need be no discouragement either to you or to . for it will be difficult for the mills to keep pace with the growth of the place. & you will do well to bring the Engine, If you can persuade any of the brethren who are manafaters of woolens or cottons to come on and establish their business, do so.
I have not ascertaind definitely as yet, how far the goods will go toward liquidating s Note or Finishing your house. but this I can say I will make the most of it. & benefit you eve[r]y possible way.
Your message is delivrd to Mrs [Margaret] Smith & she will be glad to have returns on her letter of attorney as speedily as circumstances will permit according to the understanding thereof.— [p. [2]]
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Source Note

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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to Edward Hunter, 21 December 1841
ID #
1960
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D9:38–41
Handwriting on This Page
  • Willard Richards

Footnotes

  1. [8]

    The 15 December 1841 issue of the Times and Seasons included a plea for businessmen to erect mills in the city. (“Steam Mills,” Times and Seasons, 15 Dec. 1841, 3:630.)

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

  2. [9]

    JS seems to be referring to the flour and lumber mills in Warsaw, Illinois. On 13 May 1840 the Warsaw newspaper Western World noted that Warsaw had “two steam saw mills” and “one steam merchant flouring mill of the first order.” On 13 December 1841 JS learned that the mills in Warsaw had raised their prices. (“Our Town and Country,” Western World [Warsaw, IL], 13 May 1840, [2]; JS, Journal, 13 Dec. 1841.)

    Western World. Warsaw, IL. 1840–1841.

  3. [10]

    Growth in Nauvoo’s population led to a scarcity of building supplies. In 1841 the church established a lumber operation in Wisconsin Territory to provide lumber for the temple, Nauvoo House, and other construction projects. The 15 January 1842 issue of the Times and Seasons announced negotiations between a skilled brickmaker and William and Wilson Law and suggested that “emigrants need not fear of being retarded in their operations of building &c. for want of materials.” (Rowley, “Mormon Experience in the Wisconsin Pineries,” 119–148; Editorial, Times and Seasons, 15 Jan. 1842, 3:664.)

    Rowley, Dennis. “The Mormon Experience in the Wisconsin Pineries, 1841–1845.” BYU Studies 32, nos. 1 and 2 (1992): 119–148.

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

  4. [11]

    On 15 December 1840 JS similarly wrote to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, then in England, to encourage those who could establish cotton factories, foundries, potteries, and other businesses to migrate to Nauvoo. (Letter to Quorum of the Twelve, 15 Dec. 1840.)

  5. [12]

    Hunter and Foster entered into a land deal on 18 September 1841. On 25 September, Foster deeded Hunter the southwest quarter of Section 3 in Township 6 North, Range 8 West, and four Nauvoo city lots: lot 2 in block 82, lot 1 in block 83, and lots 1 and 2 in block 91. The details of payment are not known. (Chauncey Robison, Recorder’s Certificate, 25 Sept. 1841, Edward Hunter, Collection, 1816–1884, CHL.)

    Hunter, Edward. Collection, ca. 1798–1965. Photocopy and typescript. CHL.

  6. [13]

    See Letter from Edward Hunter, 27 Oct. 1841.

  7. [14]

    On 12 November 1841 Margaret Smith stated in a letter to Hunter that she felt “very anxious to know how they act with you about paying in the money at the present time and whither there is or will be difficulty.” Smith had supplied Hunter with a power of attorney so he could settle her affairs with John Guest, her cousin. Guest had refused to acknowledge this power of attorney because it lacked proper certification and a seal but indicated that if Hunter could supply one that had been properly certified he would “trye to pay part of it as soon as he could collect it.” On 15 December 1841 JS arranged for a new power of attorney to be properly certified and sent to Hunter. (Margaret Smith, Nauvoo, IL, to Edward Hunter, Chester Co., PA, 12 Nov. 1841; Edward Hunter to Margaret Smith, Bond, 25 Sept. 1841; Margaret Smith to Edward Hunter, Power of Attorney, 15 Dec. 1841, Edward Hunter, Collection, 1816–1884, CHL; Letter from Edward Hunter, 27 Oct. 1841.)

    Hunter, Edward. Collection, ca. 1798–1965. Photocopy and typescript. CHL.

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