Note to Hiram Kimball, circa 23 October 1841

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Note to Hiram Kimball, circa 23 October 1841
Source Note

JS, Note,
Nauvoo
Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....
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, Hancock Co., IL, to [
Hiram Kimball
31 May 1806–27 Apr. 1863. Merchant, iron foundry operator, mail carrier. Born in West Fairlee, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Phineas Kimball and Abigail. Moved to Commerce (later Nauvoo), Hancock Co., Illinois, 1833, and established several stores. Married ...
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],
Nauvoo
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, Hancock Co., IL, ca. 23 Oct. 1841; handwriting of JS; one page; JS Collection (Supplement), CHL. Includes notation.

Leaf measuring 6¾ × 2½ inches (17 × 6 cm). A torn top edge indicates that the existing document was separated from an original, larger leaf of paper. A notation on the verso was inscribed in graphite by an unidentified scribe: “Bottom of letter signed Major Hyrum | Kimball Oct 23. 1841.” The document contains four folds. A significant ink splotch on the verso bled through to the recto.

The provenance of this document is unknown. Sometime between 1974 and 1984, the document was added to the JS Collection (Supplement) at the Church Historical Department (now CHL).
1
See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection (Supplement), 1833–1844, in the CHL catalog.
Footnotes
[1]
See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection (Supplement), 1833–1844, in the CHL catalog.
Historical Introduction
On 23 October 1841 in
Nauvoo
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, Illinois, JS penned a note in response to a letter from
Hiram Kimball
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, a major in the second regiment of the first cohort of the
Nauvoo Legion
A contingent of the Illinois state militia provided for in the Nauvoo city charter. The Nauvoo Legion was organized into two cohorts: one infantry and one cavalry. Each cohort could potentially comprise several thousand men and was overseen by a brigadier...
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.
1
Stout, “History of the Nauvoo Legion,” [2].
Comprehensive Works Cited
Stout, Hosea. “History of the Nauvoo Legion,” May–Aug. 1845. Draft. Nauvoo Legion Records, 1841–1845. CHL.
His note ordered Kimball to work with Colonel George Coulson, another officer in the legion, to hold an unspecified election—likely related to the Nauvoo Legion.
2
Officers were elected to the Nauvoo Legion’s multilevel leadership structure after nomination from the court-martial, in accordance with section 7 of the Nauvoo Legion charter. A nomination and election took place whenever vacancies opened in the legion. For example, on 4 September 1841, Charles C. Rich was elected to the position of brigadier general to fill the vacancy left by the death of Don Carlos Smith, while another election was held to fill Rich’s former position of colonel. Since most of the proceedings of courts-martial held in 1841 are no longer extant, it is not known whether an election in the legion took place around the time of JS’s October 1841 note to Hiram Kimball. (Nauvoo Legion Minute Book, 3, 9; Stout, “History of the Nauvoo Legion,” [3].)
Nauvoo Legion Minute Book, 1843–1844. Nauvoo Legion, Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 3430, fd. 1.
It is also possible, however, that the note had to do with an upcoming city council election; Kimball was appointed an alderman for the Nauvoo City Council one week later.
3
Minutes, 30 Oct. 1841; for more on the election of aldermen in Nauvoo, see Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840; and “Municipal Election,” Times and Seasons, 15 Jan. 1841, 2:287.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

The note is not dated. A clerical notation on the document indicates that
Kimball
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gave JS a letter on 23 October 1841 and that JS wrote his response on the bottom portion of Kimball’s letter, which was then torn from the original letter. The original letter from Kimball has not been located. The note was likely delivered to Kimball, but how and when is not known.
Footnotes
[1]
Stout, “History of the Nauvoo Legion,” [2].
[2]
Officers were elected to the Nauvoo Legion’s multilevel leadership structure after nomination from the court-martial, in accordance with section 7 of the Nauvoo Legion charter. A nomination and election took place whenever vacancies opened in the legion. For example, on 4 September 1841, Charles C. Rich was elected to the position of brigadier general to fill the vacancy left by the death of Don Carlos Smith, while another election was held to fill Rich’s former position of colonel. Since most of the proceedings of courts-martial held in 1841 are no longer extant, it is not known whether an election in the legion took place around the time of JS’s October 1841 note to Hiram Kimball. (Nauvoo Legion Minute Book, 3, 9; Stout, “History of the Nauvoo Legion,” [3].)
Nauvoo Legion Minute Book, 1843–1844. Nauvoo Legion, Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 3430, fd. 1.
[3]
Minutes, 30 Oct. 1841; for more on the election of aldermen in Nauvoo, see Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840; and “Municipal Election,” Times and Seasons, 15 Jan. 1841, 2:287.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
Page [1]
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Dear Sir I have sent the order to Colonel George Co[u]lson
1
Coulson was elected colonel of the Nauvoo Legion, second regiment, first cohort, on 3 July 1841. (Stout, “History of the Nauvoo Legion,” [2].)
to order the Election I wish you would see him and agree on the day for holding and place your &c

Joseph Smith [p. [1]]
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Document Information
Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Note to Hiram Kimball, circa 23 October 1841
ID #
4106
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D8:324–325
Handwriting on This Page
Joseph Smith Jr.
Footnotes
[1]
Coulson was elected colonel of the Nauvoo Legion, second regiment, first cohort, on 3 July 1841. (Stout, “History of the Nauvoo Legion,” [2].)