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Letter from Isaac Galland, 18 January 1842

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Letter from Isaac Galland, 18 January 1842

Source Note

, Letter, , Lee Co., Iowa Territory, to JS, [, Hancock Co., IL], 18 Jan. 1842; handwriting of ; one page; JS Collection, CHL. Includes dockets.
Single leaf measuring 13⅛ × 8½ inches (33 × 22 cm). The top, left, and bottom edges of the recto have the square cut of manufactured paper, whereas the right edge is unevenly cut, suggesting the leaf was removed from a book or a larger sheet. The text is inscribed on the bottom half of the recto; the top half contains an earlier letter from JS to . The letter was trifolded twice in letter style. The document was refolded for filing.
The document was docketed by , who served as JS’s scribe from December 1841 until JS’s death in June 1844 and served as church historian from December 1842 until his own death in March 1854. Another docket was inscribed by , who served as a clerk in the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) from 1853 to 1859. The document was inscribed on the same leaf as JS’s 17 January 1842 letter to , which is listed in an inventory produced by the Church Historian’s Office circa 1904. By 1973 the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL). The document’s early dockets as well as its inclusion in the circa 1904 inventory and in the JS Collection by 1973 indicate continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. JS, Journal, 13 Dec. 1841 and 21 Dec. 1842; Orson Spencer, “Death of Our Beloved Brother Willard Richards,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 16 Mar. 1854, [2].

    Deseret News. Salt Lake City. 1850–.

  2. “Obituary of Leo Hawkins,” Millennial Star, 30 July 1859, 21:496–497.

    Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.

  3. “Index to Papers in the Historian’s Office,” ca. 1904, 7, Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

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

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

Historical Introduction

On 18 January 1842, while in , Iowa Territory, responded to JS’s letter of the previous day, in which JS asked him to visit , Illinois, or to provide him with financial assistance. This letter continued the correspondence between the two men regarding Galland’s aborted efforts to pay the church’s land purchase debts. JS sent a letter to Galland on 10 December 1841 requesting that he visit Nauvoo as soon as possible. Galland responded the following day, explaining he would visit Nauvoo after conducting personal business, which he expected to complete the following week. By 17 January 1842 he had still not arrived in Nauvoo, and JS wrote him once again, this time requesting that he visit Nauvoo or send funds if he was unable to come.
On 18 January, replied to JS on the same leaf that contained JS’s 17 January letter. He stated that he did not have any money to send and that he would visit when able. His letter was hand carried to Nauvoo, likely by the same courier who delivered JS’s letter to Galland. JS filed paperwork to revoke Galland’s power of attorney later that same day, likely after receiving Galland’s response.

Footnotes

  1. This letter has not been located, but Galland referred to it in his response the following day. (Letter from Isaac Galland, 11 Dec. 1841.)

  2. Letter from Isaac Galland, 11 Dec. 1841.

  3. Letter to Isaac Galland, 17 Jan. 1842.

  4. Revocation of Power of Attorney, 18 Jan. 1842.

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. Jan 18th 1842
Joseph Smith—
Dr Sir—
On the receipt of the above note I am at a loss to determine whether you intend it as an absolute dun or as an appeal to my liberality to advance funds for your relief— but Let it be either case, I assure you sir, it is not in my power to advance at this time 5 Dollars. untill I obtain it from some of my creditors or in some other way— As to coming to , I have long desired to come there, and shall certainly do so, as soon as I can so arrange the matters which I am now engaged in, as to be able consistantly to leave here, in the meanwhile believe me very respectfully yours
— [p. [1]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from Isaac Galland, 18 January 1842
ID #
748
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D9:100–102
Handwriting on This Page
  • Isaac Galland

Footnotes

  1. In this case, “dun” means “an urgent request or demand of payment in writing.” (“Dun,” in American Dictionary [1841], 554.)

    An American Dictionary of the English Language; First Edition in Octavo, Containing the Whole Vocabulary of the Quarto, with Corrections, Improvements and Several Thousand Additional Words. . . . Edited by Noah Webster. 2nd ed. 2 vols. New Haven: By the author, 1841.

  2. Galland’s business in Keokuk is unknown; in his letter to JS on 11 December 1841, he stated he was awaiting the arrival of “a Gentleman from St Louis whom I have promised to meet at this place on very important business.” (Letter from Isaac Galland, 11 Dec. 1841.)

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