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Letter to George W. Harris, 24 May 1839

Source Note

JS, Letter,
Commerce

Located near middle of western boundary of state, bordering Mississippi River. European Americans settled area, 1820s. From bank of river, several feet above high-water mark, ground described as nearly level for six or seven blocks before gradually sloping...

More Info
, Hancock Co., IL, to
George W. Harris

1 Apr. 1780–1857. Jeweler. Born at Lanesboro, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of James Harris and Diana (Margaret) Burton. Married first Elizabeth, ca. 1800. Married second Margaret, who died in 1828. Moved to Batavia, Genesee Co., New York, by 1830. Married...

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,
Quincy

Located on high limestone bluffs east of Mississippi River, about forty-five miles south of Nauvoo. Settled 1821. Adams Co. seat, 1825. Incorporated as town, 1834. Received city charter, 1840. Population in 1835 about 800; in 1840 about 2,300; and in 1845...

More Info
, Adams Co., IL, 24 May 1839. Featured version copied [between 25 May and 30 Oct. 1839] in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 11–12; handwriting of
James Mulholland

1804–3 Nov. 1839. Born in Ireland. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Married Sarah Scott, 8 Feb. 1838/1839, at Far West, Caldwell Co., Missouri. Engaged in clerical work for JS, 1838, at Far West. Ordained a seventy, 28 Dec. 1838....

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; JS Collection, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS Letterbook 2.

Historical Introduction

On 24 May 1839, JS addressed three letters to close associates, requesting that they move to
Commerce

Located near middle of western boundary of state, bordering Mississippi River. European Americans settled area, 1820s. From bank of river, several feet above high-water mark, ground described as nearly level for six or seven blocks before gradually sloping...

More Info
, Illinois. One of these letters was directed to
Latter-day Saint

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

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George W. Harris

1 Apr. 1780–1857. Jeweler. Born at Lanesboro, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of James Harris and Diana (Margaret) Burton. Married first Elizabeth, ca. 1800. Married second Margaret, who died in 1828. Moved to Batavia, Genesee Co., New York, by 1830. Married...

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, whose family provided lodging to JS, his wife
Emma Smith

10 July 1804–30 Apr. 1879. Scribe, editor, boardinghouse operator, clothier. Born at Willingborough Township (later in Harmony), Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania. Daughter of Isaac Hale and Elizabeth Lewis. Member of Methodist church at Harmony (later in Oakland...

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, and their children when they arrived in
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

More Info
on 14 March 1838.
1

The length of time the Smiths stayed with the Harris family is unknown, but the Smiths may have left the home by 3 May. (JS, Journal, Mar.–Sept. 1838, p. 16; Historical Introduction to Receipt from Samuel Musick, 14 July 1838.)


By the time this letter was written, the church had purchased land in the Commerce area and JS had relocated there, moving into a house formerly owned by
Hugh White

Ca. Jan. 1810–30 Mar. 1891. Steamboat captain. Born in St. Charles, St. Charles Co., Missouri Territory. Son of James White and Lurana Barber. Moved to Hancock Co., Illinois, by 1828. Family among first settlers of what became Commerce, Hancock Co. Married...

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.
2

JS, Journal, 10 May 1839; Woodruff, Journal, 18 May 1839; Alanson Ripley, Statements, ca. Jan. 1845, Historian’s Office, JS History Documents, 1839–1860, CHL. As an agent for the church, Alanson Ripley purchased land from White in the Commerce area on 30 April 1839. (See Introduction to Part 4: 24 Apr.–12 Aug. 1839.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

Historian’s Office. Joseph Smith History Documents, 1839–1860. CHL. CR 100 396.

In the letter, JS discussed Harris’s potential move from
Quincy

Located on high limestone bluffs east of Mississippi River, about forty-five miles south of Nauvoo. Settled 1821. Adams Co. seat, 1825. Incorporated as town, 1834. Received city charter, 1840. Population in 1835 about 800; in 1840 about 2,300; and in 1845...

More Info
, Illinois, to Commerce. JS also noted he was reserving a piece of land for Harris; his wife,
Lucinda Pendleton Harris

27 Sept. 1807–1856. Born in Washington Co., Vermont. Daughter of Joseph Pendleton and Betsey Riley. Married first William Morgan, 7 Oct. 1819, in Washington Co., Virginia. Moved to Canada, 1821. Moved to Rochester, Monroe Co., New York. Husband was allegedly...

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; and their children. This lot was located across the street from a lot for JS and adjacent to a lot JS was reserving for
John

21 May 1790–24 Nov. 1860. Farmer, wagon maker, carpenter, builder. Born in Duanesburg, Schenectady Co., New York. Son of Gardner Cleveland and Annis Durkee. Moved to Cincinnati, before 1826. Married Sarah Marietta Kingsley Howe, 1826, in Cincinnati. Moved...

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and
Sarah Kingsley Cleveland

20 Oct. 1788–21 Apr. 1856. Born in Becket, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Daughter of Ebenezer Kingsley and Sarah Chaplin. Moved to New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, by 1807. Married first John Howe, 7 Dec. 1807, in New Haven. Moved to Cincinnati, by ...

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.
3

The Clevelands eventually owned a lot in block 147, located diagonally across the street from JS. (Trustees Land Book A, White Purchase Index, block [147], lot 2; Trustees Land Book B, 250.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Trustees Land Books / Trustee-in-Trust, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Land Books, 1839–1845. 2 vols. CHL. MS 3437.

It is not known when the Harris family moved to
Commerce

Located near middle of western boundary of state, bordering Mississippi River. European Americans settled area, 1820s. From bank of river, several feet above high-water mark, ground described as nearly level for six or seven blocks before gradually sloping...

More Info
, but
George W. Harris

1 Apr. 1780–1857. Jeweler. Born at Lanesboro, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of James Harris and Diana (Margaret) Burton. Married first Elizabeth, ca. 1800. Married second Margaret, who died in 1828. Moved to Batavia, Genesee Co., New York, by 1830. Married...

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was appointed to the
high council

A governing body of twelve high priests. The first high council was organized in Kirtland, Ohio, on 17 February 1834 “for the purpose of settling important difficulties which might arise in the church, which could not be settled by the church, or the bishop...

View Glossary
there in October.
4

Minutes, 5–7 Oct. 1839, Times and Seasons, Dec. 1839, 1:30. Harris eventually owned property four blocks northeast of JS’s lot. (Trustees Land Book B, 250, 252.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Trustees Land Books / Trustee-in-Trust, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Land Books, 1839–1845. 2 vols. CHL. MS 3437.

Although the original letter is apparently not extant, it was likely dictated to
James Mulholland

1804–3 Nov. 1839. Born in Ireland. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Married Sarah Scott, 8 Feb. 1838/1839, at Far West, Caldwell Co., Missouri. Engaged in clerical work for JS, 1838, at Far West. Ordained a seventy, 28 Dec. 1838....

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, who was the scribe for another letter JS dictated that day.
5

Letter to Newel K. Whitney, 24 May 1839.


Mulholland inscribed a copy of the letter to Harris in JS Letterbook 2 sometime between 25 May and 30 October 1839.
6

Mulholland copied this letter into JS Letterbook 2 after a letter dated 25 May 1839, making that the earliest likely copying date for this letter to Harris.


Footnotes

  1. [1]

    The length of time the Smiths stayed with the Harris family is unknown, but the Smiths may have left the home by 3 May. (JS, Journal, Mar.–Sept. 1838, p. 16; Historical Introduction to Receipt from Samuel Musick, 14 July 1838.)

  2. [2]

    JS, Journal, 10 May 1839; Woodruff, Journal, 18 May 1839; Alanson Ripley, Statements, ca. Jan. 1845, Historian’s Office, JS History Documents, 1839–1860, CHL. As an agent for the church, Alanson Ripley purchased land from White in the Commerce area on 30 April 1839. (See Introduction to Part 4: 24 Apr.–12 Aug. 1839.)

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

    Historian’s Office. Joseph Smith History Documents, 1839–1860. CHL. CR 100 396.

  3. [3]

    The Clevelands eventually owned a lot in block 147, located diagonally across the street from JS. (Trustees Land Book A, White Purchase Index, block [147], lot 2; Trustees Land Book B, 250.)

    Trustees Land Books / Trustee-in-Trust, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Land Books, 1839–1845. 2 vols. CHL. MS 3437.

  4. [4]

    Minutes, 5–7 Oct. 1839, Times and Seasons, Dec. 1839, 1:30. Harris eventually owned property four blocks northeast of JS’s lot. (Trustees Land Book B, 250, 252.)

    Trustees Land Books / Trustee-in-Trust, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Land Books, 1839–1845. 2 vols. CHL. MS 3437.

  5. [5]

    Letter to Newel K. Whitney, 24 May 1839.

  6. [6]

    Mulholland copied this letter into JS Letterbook 2 after a letter dated 25 May 1839, making that the earliest likely copying date for this letter to Harris.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Letter to George W. Harris, 24 May 1839
Letterbook 2 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 11

Commerce

Located near middle of western boundary of state, bordering Mississippi River. European Americans settled area, 1820s. From bank of river, several feet above high-water mark, ground described as nearly level for six or seven blocks before gradually sloping...

More Info
Ill, May 24th 1839
Dear Sir
I write you to say that I have selected a Town lot for you just across the street from my own,
1

The lot JS referenced here was in block 155 in Commerce. (Trustees Land Book B, 263.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Trustees Land Books / Trustee-in-Trust, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Land Books, 1839–1845. 2 vols. CHL. MS 3437.

and immediately beside yours one for
Mr [John] Cleveland

21 May 1790–24 Nov. 1860. Farmer, wagon maker, carpenter, builder. Born in Duanesburg, Schenectady Co., New York. Son of Gardner Cleveland and Annis Durkee. Moved to Cincinnati, before 1826. Married Sarah Marietta Kingsley Howe, 1826, in Cincinnati. Moved...

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[p. 11]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 11

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to George W. Harris, 24 May 1839
ID #
451
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D6:469–470
Handwriting on This Page
  • James Mulholland

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    The lot JS referenced here was in block 155 in Commerce. (Trustees Land Book B, 263.)

    Trustees Land Books / Trustee-in-Trust, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Land Books, 1839–1845. 2 vols. CHL. MS 3437.

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