In his letter to Ford, Young had suggested that the Latter-day Saints might “organize a town, according to the statutes, and increase the number of precincts” so that the citizens of Nauvoo could again have a “common Magistracy.” These measures had previously been discussed by the Council of Fifty, and on 25 March, Almon Babbitt, John M. Bernhisel, and Orson Pratt were appointed to make the necessary arrangements to incorporate a town within the area of Nauvoo bounded by Hibbard, Bain, Lumber, and Rich streets. An election was held on 5 April and citizens voted 254 to 0 in favor of incorporation. Alpheus Cutler, Orson Spencer, Charles C. Rich, David Fullmer, and Theodore Turley—all members of the Council of Fifty—were then elected to serve as the board of trustees for the newly incorporated town of Nauvoo. According to William Clayton, the trustees were officially sworn in the same day as this council meeting; their first recorded meeting occurred the next day. On that occasion the trustees reinstated the old Nauvoo police force under Hosea Stout and appointed assessors and collectors. (Brigham Young, Nauvoo, IL, to Thomas Ford, Springfield, IL, 31 Mar. 1845, draft, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL; Council of Fifty, “Record,” 25 Mar. 1845; “Notice,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 26 Mar. 1845, [3]; Richards, Journal, 5 Apr. 1845; Hancock Co., IL, Commissioners’ Court, Court Records, 1838–1840, 1843–1847, vol. 4, p. 299, microfilm 955,147, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; Clayton, Journal, 15 Apr. 1845; Stout, Journal, 16 Apr. 1845; Rich, Journal, 16 Apr. 1845.)

Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1.

Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.

Richards, Willard. Journals, 1836–1853. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, boxes 1–2.

U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

Stout, Hosea. Journal, Oct. 1844–May 1845. CHL. MS 1910.

Rich, Charles C. Journals, 1833–1862. Charles C. Rich Collection, 1832–1908. CHL. MS 889, box 1.