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Letter to Editor, 15 April 1843, Initial Draft

Source Note

[
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

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, (Viator, pseud.)], 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....

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, Hancock Co., IL, to the Editor of Boston Daily Bee,
Boston

Capital city of Massachusetts, located on eastern seaboard at mouth of Charles River. Founded by Puritans, 1630. Received city charter, 1822. Population in 1820 about 43,000; in 1830 about 61,000; and in 1840 about 93,000. JS’s ancestor Robert Smith emigrated...

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, Suffolk Co., MA, 8 Apr. 1843, draft; handwriting of
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

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; two pages; “Truthiana No. 5,” Truthiana, 1843, drafts, CHL.

Historical Introduction

See Historical Introduction to Letter to Editor, 22–ca. 27 Apr. 1843.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
Letter to Editor, 15 April 1843, Initial Draft
Letter to Editor, 15 April 1843, Second Draft Letter to Editor, 15 April 1843

Page [1]

For the Bee
Truthiana, No, 5.
To the Editor
Sir. these Mormons are determnd to be the fir[s]t in every thing. Last wednesday the Steamers “Maid of Iowa” and “Amaranth” arrived at the
Golden City

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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, direct f[r]om
St Louis

Located on west side of Mississippi River about fifteen miles south of confluence with Missouri River. Founded as fur-trading post by French settlers, 1764. Incorporated as town, 1809. First Mississippi steamboat docked by town, 1817. Incorporated as city...

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, These are were the first boats that have been up this spring; one was four & the other Eleven days coming f[r]om
St Louis

Located on west side of Mississippi River about fifteen miles south of confluence with Missouri River. Founded as fur-trading post by French settlers, 1764. Incorporated as town, 1809. First Mississippi steamboat docked by town, 1817. Incorporated as city...

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. buffetting the ice all the way, but their arrival was little consolation to any one but the Mormons. there <​of whom​> theres 200 on one & 250, on the other to the exclusion of almost every other passenger, The Amarnth after discharging her freight, proceded up the
river

Principal U.S. river running southward from Itasca Lake, Minnesota, to Gulf of Mexico. Covered 3,160-mile course, 1839 (now about 2,350 miles). Drains about 1,100,000 square miles. Steamboat travel on Mississippi very important in 1830s and 1840s for shipping...

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, & the & Maid of Iowa returnd direct to
St Louis

Located on west side of Mississippi River about fifteen miles south of confluence with Missouri River. Founded as fur-trading post by French settlers, 1764. Incorporated as town, 1809. First Mississippi steamboat docked by town, 1817. Incorporated as city...

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after more Saints, for the
river

Principal U.S. river running southward from Itasca Lake, Minnesota, to Gulf of Mexico. Covered 3,160-mile course, 1839 (now about 2,350 miles). Drains about 1,100,000 square miles. Steamboat travel on Mississippi very important in 1830s and 1840s for shipping...

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is lined with them & vessels ship loads are continly coming in from the old world. Two or three ships have already arrived at
New Orleans

Settled by French, 1717. Acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803. City, port of entry, and parish seat of justice. Population in 1840 about 100,000. Important trade center on Mississippi River. Branch of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints established...

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this spring, beside. the thousnd emgrnts [emigrants] that were caught in the ice bound heere who, to s[e]cure their safe arrvail, & do good as they had the opportunity
baptizd

An ordinance in which an individual is immersed in water for the remission of sins. The Book of Mormon explained that those with necessary authority were to baptize individuals who had repented of their sins. Baptized individuals also received the gift of...

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the “Maid of Iowa <​
Captain

4 Aug. 1811–6 Jan. 1862. Steamboat owner and captain, farmer, mayor. Born in Flintshire, Wales. Son of Thomas Jones and Ruth. Married Jane Melling, 3 Jan. 1837, in Denbigh, Denbighshire, Wales. Immigrated to U.S., ca. 1840. Moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois...

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of the​> “Maid of Iowa.” who apperd well while here, & is shewing himself off— as a diligent in their service,
As these emigra[n]ts were the first to break the Ice, so the prophet “Jo” was the first to meet them at the landing & greet his “old fri[e]nds” who had been absent for years, & had returned with thire flocks, like as the prpht <​he​>said, “like doves coming to their windows;”— Yes. Jo leaped on the boat, <​by​> the first plank that was thown out more like a boy who was hunting his mate,— than a “great Prophet” So familar is he in his deprtmnt [deportment]; and, sir, I am sure it would have warmed your heart, (for it did mine as much of an infidel as I am,) to have seen the 1000s who collected on the beach to ready to greet <​the arrival of​> their friends Expected fr[i]ends whom they <​had​> left in the old world.—
But I must repeat a<​n​> little anecdote related me yestrday by one of these emigra[n]ts who stopped a few days at
St Louis

Located on west side of Mississippi River about fifteen miles south of confluence with Missouri River. Founded as fur-trading post by French settlers, 1764. Incorporated as town, 1809. First Mississippi steamboat docked by town, 1817. Incorporated as city...

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. “As
John Cook Bennett

3 Aug. 1804–5 Aug. 1867. Physician, minister, poultry breeder. Born at Fairhaven, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. Son of John Bennett and Abigail Cook. Moved to Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, 1808; to Massachusetts, 1812; and back to Marietta, 1822. Married ...

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<​of Antie Mormon Anti notority, I hardly dare write his name, it is such as stink here.—​> had collected round him some 12 or 15 Missoirians in a bar room in grog shop, trying to persuade them to go with him & Kidnap Jo Smith. one of Joe’s apostates told them that Jo was more than a match for 30 of the best missourans they could pick, This made them look daggrs at each other, & broke up the meeting,— their castle of air in a mom[en]t,”
Thursday many— all the <​new​> Emigrats & some thousand of othe[r]s,— assembled at the
Temple

Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...

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,— & the prophet— that the prophet might be the first in evry thing, & give them [p. [1]]
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Editorial Title
Letter to Editor, 15 April 1843, Initial Draft
ID #
12049
Total Pages
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  • Willard Richards

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