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Authorization for Stephen Markham, 27 May 1839

Source Note

JS, Authorization, for , , Hancock Co., IL, 27 May 1839. Featured version copied [between 29 May and 30 Oct. 1839] in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 46–47; handwriting of ; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 2.

Historical Introduction

On 27 May 1839, JS signed an authorization for to act as a . In this role, Markham was to solicit funds from Latter-day Saints in order to pay for the church’s recent land purchases. Because the church was not incorporated in , these purchases were made by individual church leaders and designated church agents. Acting for the church, bought 130 acres near , Illinois, from on 30 April. Also on that day, made an agreement on behalf of the church to purchase around 59 acres in Illinois from . Additionally, JS’s journal and the minutes of the general conference on 4–5 May indicate that land had been purchased in ; however, what the journal entry and meeting minutes call a purchase apparently consisted of making arrangements to later purchase land from Galland when it was sold at public auction. The church’s earliest deeds for land in Iowa Territory were signed on 29 May when church agent purchased land from Galland. The authorization featured here indicates that Markham was assigned to visit church members in and around , Illinois, to obtain funds for the church.
Because the original document is not extant, it is not known who inscribed the original; however, JS likely signed it. presumably took the authorization with him during his fund-raising endeavors. copied the authorization into JS Letterbook 2 sometime between 29 May and 30 October 1839.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Hancock Co., IL, Bonds and Mortgages, 1840–1904, vol. 1, pp. 31–32, 30 Apr. 1839, microfilm 954,776, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

  2. [2]

    Hancock Co., IL, Deed Records, 1817–1917, vol. 12 G, p. 247, 30 Apr. 1839, microfilm 954,195, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; see also Agreement with George W. Robinson, 30 Apr. 1839.

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

  3. [3]

    Kilbourne, Strictures, on Dr. I. Galland’s Pamphlet, 9; see also JS, Journal, 24 Apr.–3 May 1839. Knight purchased a substantial amount of land from Galland a month later, on 26 June 1839. (Lee Co., IA, Land Records, 1836–1961, vol. 2, pp. 3–6, 13–16, 26 June 1839, microfilm 959,239, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)

    Kilbourne, David W. Strictures, on Dr. I. Galland’s Pamphlet, Entitled, “Villainy Exposed,” with Some Account of His Transactions in Lands of the Sac and Fox Reservation, etc., in Lee County, Iowa. Fort Madison, IA: Statesman Office, 1850.

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

  4. [4]

    Minutes, 4–5 May 1839; Isaac Galland, Deed to Oliver Granger, 29 May 1839, Hiram Kimball Collection, CHL; Lee Co., IA, Land Records, 1836–1961, vol. 1, pp. 507–510, 29 May 1839, microfilm 959,238, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.

    Kimball, Hiram. Collection, 1830–1910. CHL.

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

  5. [5]

    One of these Saints was a “Father Biggler.” (See Letter to Father Bigler, 27 May 1839.)

  6. [6]

    Mulholland copied his own 29 May 1839 letter to Edward Partridge on page 15 of JS Letterbook 2, making that the earliest likely copying date for documents he subsequently copied but that had dates preceding 29 May.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Authorization for Stephen Markham, 27 May 1839
Letterbook 2 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 46

Hancock Co. Ill.
27th May 1839
To the
Greeting
From our knowledge of the great sacrifices made by the bearer Br in behalf of the welfare of us and the Church generally, And from the great trust which we have often times reposed in him, and as often found him trustworthy, not seeking [p. 46]
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Source Note

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Page 46

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Authorization for Stephen Markham, 27 May 1839
ID #
457
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D6:479–481
Handwriting on This Page
  • James Mulholland

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