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Letter to Benjamin F. Johnson, 18 April 1843

Source Note

JS, Letter,
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....

More Info
, Hancock Co., IL, to
Benjamin F. Johnson

28 July 1818–18 Nov. 1905. Brickmaker, merchant, tavern keeper, leatherworker, farmer, nurseryman, beekeeper. Born at Pomfret, Chautauque Co., New York. Son of Ezekiel Johnson and Julia Hills. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1833. Baptized into Church...

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,
Macedonia

Area settled, 1826. Founded by Latter-day Saints, 1839–1840, following exodus from Missouri. Town platted, Aug. 1840. Post office established, Sept. 1840. Incorporated as Macedonia, Mar. 1843. Renamed Webster, 23 July 1847. Population in 1845 about 380. Crooked...

More Info
, Hancock Co., IL, 18 Apr. 1843; handwriting of
William Clayton

17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...

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; signature of JS by
William Clayton

17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...

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; one page; private possession, photocopy at CHL. Includes address. Transcription from photocopy.
Bifolium, measurements unknown. The letter, which was a reply to the 16 April 1843 letter
Johnson

28 July 1818–18 Nov. 1905. Brickmaker, merchant, tavern keeper, leatherworker, farmer, nurseryman, beekeeper. Born at Pomfret, Chautauque Co., New York. Son of Ezekiel Johnson and Julia Hills. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1833. Baptized into Church...

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wrote to JS, was inscribed on the blank recto of the second leaf of Johnson’s original letter. The letter was trifolded twice in letter style and addressed. The document has experienced marked separation and tearing along some of the folds, resulting in the loss of some text.
The letter was presumably received by
Johnson

28 July 1818–18 Nov. 1905. Brickmaker, merchant, tavern keeper, leatherworker, farmer, nurseryman, beekeeper. Born at Pomfret, Chautauque Co., New York. Son of Ezekiel Johnson and Julia Hills. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1833. Baptized into Church...

View Full Bio
, kept by him, and passed down in his family, apparently remaining in the continuous possession of his descendants. In 1999, the Church Historical Department (now CHL) obtained a photocopy of the document.
1

See the full bibliographic entry for JS, Nauvoo, IL, to Benjamin F. Johnson, Macedonia, IL, 18 Apr. 1843, photocopy, in the CHL catalog.


Multiple hole punches at the left and top edges indicate that the photocopy is generations removed from what appears to be a photograph of the two letters together.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See the full bibliographic entry for JS, Nauvoo, IL, to Benjamin F. Johnson, Macedonia, IL, 18 Apr. 1843, photocopy, in the CHL catalog.

Historical Introduction

On 18 April 1843, JS answered a letter
Benjamin F. Johnson

28 July 1818–18 Nov. 1905. Brickmaker, merchant, tavern keeper, leatherworker, farmer, nurseryman, beekeeper. Born at Pomfret, Chautauque Co., New York. Son of Ezekiel Johnson and Julia Hills. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1833. Baptized into Church...

View Full Bio
wrote to him on 16 April about renting property in
Macedonia

Area settled, 1826. Founded by Latter-day Saints, 1839–1840, following exodus from Missouri. Town platted, Aug. 1840. Post office established, Sept. 1840. Incorporated as Macedonia, Mar. 1843. Renamed Webster, 23 July 1847. Population in 1845 about 380. Crooked...

More Info
, Illinois.
1

Letter from Benjamin F. Johnson, 16 Apr. 1843.


Johnson desired to rent a house presumably owned by JS, though its location is unclear.
Lorenzo Young

19 Oct. 1807–21 Nov. 1895. Farmer, plasterer, gardener, blacksmith, nurseryman. Born at Smyrna, Chenango Co., New York. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Married Persis Goodall, 6 June 1826, at Watertown, Jefferson Co., New York. Baptized into Church...

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was living in the house when the letter was written.
2

Although Johnson was a church agent in Macedonia, it appears this was a personal transaction. (See Historical Introduction to Letter from Benjamin F. Johnson, 16 Apr. 1843; and Minutes, 13 Mar. 1843.)


In his reply, JS granted Johnson’s request and asked him to care for and improve the property as though it were his own.
William Clayton

17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...

View Full Bio
wrote JS’s reply on the same piece of paper that contained the letter
Johnson

28 July 1818–18 Nov. 1905. Brickmaker, merchant, tavern keeper, leatherworker, farmer, nurseryman, beekeeper. Born at Pomfret, Chautauque Co., New York. Son of Ezekiel Johnson and Julia Hills. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1833. Baptized into Church...

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sent to JS. Johnson had asked that JS send a reply by the same unnamed “bearer” with whom Johnson had sent the request.
3

Letter from Benjamin F. Johnson, 16 Apr. 1843.


This request and the absence of any postal markings indicate that the letter was transmitted to Johnson by courier. Johnson likely received it either later in the day on 18 April or on 19 April. Nothing further is known regarding the rental arrangement.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Letter from Benjamin F. Johnson, 16 Apr. 1843.

  2. [2]

    Although Johnson was a church agent in Macedonia, it appears this was a personal transaction. (See Historical Introduction to Letter from Benjamin F. Johnson, 16 Apr. 1843; and Minutes, 13 Mar. 1843.)

  3. [3]

    Letter from Benjamin F. Johnson, 16 Apr. 1843.

Page [1]

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....

More Info
April 18th. 1843
Dr Sir:/—
In answer to the within I have only to say that you can have the premi[se]s
1

TEXT: “premi[page torn]s”. Text missing because of damage here and in the rest of the document has been supplied from context.


referred to according to your request. No one is m[or]e
2

TEXT: “m[page torn]e”.


welcome and especially as there is a [pro]spect
3

TEXT: “[page torn]spect”.


of such arrangement advancing my own in[te]rest.
4

TEXT: “in[page torn]rest”. Johnson told JS in his 16 April letter that his purpose in renting the house “may adva[n]ce your inters [interest] with my own.” (Letter from Benjamin F. Johnson, 16 Apr. 1843.)


I desire you to put the fence &c in good repair and take the best care of the premises as though they were your own and by so doing confer a favor on me and secure a blessing to yourself.
5

Johnson informed JS that “the premices are i[n] a very b[a]d condition & very much need repair[s] the fences are torn to pieces & every thing is at Loose ends.” (Letter from Benjamin F. Johnson, 16 Apr. 1843.)


Yours very respectfully Joseph Smith
Mr
B[enjamin] F. Johnson

28 July 1818–18 Nov. 1905. Brickmaker, merchant, tavern keeper, leatherworker, farmer, nurseryman, beekeeper. Born at Pomfret, Chautauque Co., New York. Son of Ezekiel Johnson and Julia Hills. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1833. Baptized into Church...

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[p. [1]]
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Source Note

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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to Benjamin F. Johnson, 18 April 1843
ID #
1642
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D12:215–216
Handwriting on This Page
  • William Clayton

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    TEXT: “premi[page torn]s”. Text missing because of damage here and in the rest of the document has been supplied from context.

  2. [2]

    TEXT: “m[page torn]e”.

  3. [3]

    TEXT: “[page torn]spect”.

  4. [4]

    TEXT: “in[page torn]rest”. Johnson told JS in his 16 April letter that his purpose in renting the house “may adva[n]ce your inters [interest] with my own.” (Letter from Benjamin F. Johnson, 16 Apr. 1843.)

  5. [5]

    Johnson informed JS that “the premices are i[n] a very b[a]d condition & very much need repair[s] the fences are torn to pieces & every thing is at Loose ends.” (Letter from Benjamin F. Johnson, 16 Apr. 1843.)

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