The Papers
Browse the PapersDocumentsJournalsAdministrative RecordsRevelations and TranslationsHistoriesLegal RecordsFinancial RecordsOther Contemporary Papers
Reference
PeoplePlacesEventsGlossaryLegal GlossaryFinancial GlossaryCalendar of DocumentsWorks CitedFeatured TopicsLesson PlansRelated Publications
Media
VideosPhotographsIllustrationsChartsMapsPodcasts
News
Current NewsArchiveNewsletterSubscribeJSP Conferences
About
About the ProjectJoseph Smith and His PapersFAQAwardsEndorsementsReviewsEditorial MethodNote on TranscriptionsNote on Images of People and PlacesReferencing the ProjectCiting This WebsiteProject TeamContact Us
Published Volumes
  1. Home > 
  2. The Papers > 

Letter to Horace Hotchkiss, 10 December 1841

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
Horace Hotchkiss

15 Apr. 1799–21 Apr. 1849. Merchant, land speculator. Born in East Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Heman Hotchkiss and Elizabeth Rowe. Moved to New Haven, New Haven Co., by 1815. Married Charlotte Austin Street, 22 Feb. 1824, in East Haven. Purchased...

View Full Bio
, [
Fair Haven

Village in south-central Connecticut, located on Quinnipiac River. Population in 1853 about 3,000.

More Info
, New Haven Co., CT], 10 Dec. 1841. Featured version copied [ca. 10 Dec. 1841], in JS Letterbook 2, p. 216; handwriting of
John S. Fullmer

21 July 1807–8 Oct. 1883. Farmer, newsman, postmaster, teacher, merchant. Born at Huntington, Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Fullmer and Susannah Zerfass. Moved to Nashville, Davidson Co., Tennessee, spring 1832. Married Mary Ann Price, 24 May 1837...

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

Historical Introduction

JS wrote a letter to
Horace Hotchkiss

15 Apr. 1799–21 Apr. 1849. Merchant, land speculator. Born in East Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Heman Hotchkiss and Elizabeth Rowe. Moved to New Haven, New Haven Co., by 1815. Married Charlotte Austin Street, 22 Feb. 1824, in East Haven. Purchased...

View Full Bio
on 10 December 1841, responding to two letters Hotchkiss wrote in October and November regarding ongoing land dealings.
1

Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 11 Oct. 1841; Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 9 Nov. 1841.


Two years earlier Hotchkiss, a land speculator from
Connecticut

Originally inhabited by native Algonquin tribes. Among first thirteen colonies that formed U.S., southernmost state in New England. First permanent European settlements established by members of Massachusetts Bay Colony, ca. 1635. Population in 1820 about...

More Info
, along with his partners
Smith Tuttle

12 Mar. 1795–7 Mar. 1865. Shipping merchant, land speculator. Born in East Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Christopher Tuttle and Abigail Luddington. Moved to Wallingford, New Haven Co., by 1810. Married first Rachel Gillett. Married second Amarilla...

View Full Bio
and
John Gillet

2 Aug. 1796–17 July 1848. Likely born in Connecticut. Son of Benoni Gillett and Phoebe Dean. Moved to Commerce (later Nauvoo), Hancock Co., Illinois, by May 1837. In Aug. 1839, with land-speculating partners Horace Hotchkiss and Smith Tuttle, sold land in...

View Full Bio
, sold to JS and the
church

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...

View Glossary
much of the land in the
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, area that became
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
.
2

See Bonds from Horace Hotchkiss, 12 Aug. 1839–A and B.


Hotchkiss wrote to JS on 11 October 1841, informing him that he had received from church
agent

A specific church office and, more generally, someone “entrusted with the business of another.” Agents in the church assisted other ecclesiastical officers, especially the bishop in his oversight of the church’s temporal affairs. A May 1831 revelation instructed...

View Glossary
James Ivins

22 Mar. 1797–3 Apr. 1877. Farmer. Born in Upper Freehold Township, Monmouth Co., New Jersey. Son of Israel Ivins and Margaret Woodward. Married Mary Schenk. Presumably baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co....

View Full Bio
some parcels of land in full payment of the smaller of two obligations the church owed Hotchkiss. In the same letter, and a subsequent one dated 9 November, Hotchkiss offered to credit $3,000 toward the larger debt in exchange for some additional church-owned properties in
New Jersey

Located in northeast region of U.S. First European settlements made by Dutch, Swedes, and English, early 1600s. Admitted to U.S. as state, Dec. 1787. Population in 1830 about 321,000. Population in 1840 about 373,000. First Latter-day Saint missionaries preached...

More Info
that Ivins proposed transferring to Hotchkiss.
3

Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 11 Oct. 1841; Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 9 Nov. 1841.


Though these two transactions with
Ivins

22 Mar. 1797–3 Apr. 1877. Farmer. Born in Upper Freehold Township, Monmouth Co., New Jersey. Son of Israel Ivins and Margaret Woodward. Married Mary Schenk. Presumably baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co....

View Full Bio
demonstrated the church’s efforts to pay
Hotchkiss

15 Apr. 1799–21 Apr. 1849. Merchant, land speculator. Born in East Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Heman Hotchkiss and Elizabeth Rowe. Moved to New Haven, New Haven Co., by 1815. Married Charlotte Austin Street, 22 Feb. 1824, in East Haven. Purchased...

View Full Bio
and his partners the money owed them, the church was already falling behind on the interest payments due on the larger of two land purchases from Hotchkiss.
Sidney Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

View Full Bio
, JS, and
Hyrum Smith

9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...

View Full Bio
had agreed on 12 August 1839 to purchase approximately four hundred acres from Hotchkiss,
Tuttle

12 Mar. 1795–7 Mar. 1865. Shipping merchant, land speculator. Born in East Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Christopher Tuttle and Abigail Luddington. Moved to Wallingford, New Haven Co., by 1810. Married first Rachel Gillett. Married second Amarilla...

View Full Bio
, and
Gillet

2 Aug. 1796–17 July 1848. Likely born in Connecticut. Son of Benoni Gillett and Phoebe Dean. Moved to Commerce (later Nauvoo), Hancock Co., Illinois, by May 1837. In Aug. 1839, with land-speculating partners Horace Hotchkiss and Smith Tuttle, sold land in...

View Full Bio
for $110,000. This amount included $50,000 in principal due in twenty years, along with forty interest payments of $1,500 each, two being due each year for twenty years. By the time JS wrote this letter to Hotchkiss in December 1841, the first four of the interest payments on this land, totaling $6,000, were due.
4

Bond from Horace Hotchkiss, 12 Aug. 1839–A; Promissory Note to John Gillet and Smith Tuttle, 12 Aug. 1839.


The poverty of many of the Latter-day Saints moving to
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
meant that much of the land the church sold to them was purchased on long terms, resulting in little immediately available money to pay
Hotchkiss

15 Apr. 1799–21 Apr. 1849. Merchant, land speculator. Born in East Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Heman Hotchkiss and Elizabeth Rowe. Moved to New Haven, New Haven Co., by 1815. Married Charlotte Austin Street, 22 Feb. 1824, in East Haven. Purchased...

View Full Bio
,
Tuttle

12 Mar. 1795–7 Mar. 1865. Shipping merchant, land speculator. Born in East Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Christopher Tuttle and Abigail Luddington. Moved to Wallingford, New Haven Co., by 1810. Married first Rachel Gillett. Married second Amarilla...

View Full Bio
, and
Gillet

2 Aug. 1796–17 July 1848. Likely born in Connecticut. Son of Benoni Gillett and Phoebe Dean. Moved to Commerce (later Nauvoo), Hancock Co., Illinois, by May 1837. In Aug. 1839, with land-speculating partners Horace Hotchkiss and Smith Tuttle, sold land in...

View Full Bio
. JS had raised the issue at the October 1841 general
conference

A meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...

View Glossary
of the church in Nauvoo, and a plan was devised by which Saints moving to Nauvoo would turn over property they were leaving for payment to Hotchkiss and his partners, whereupon the immigrating Saints would be given land of equal value in or around Nauvoo.
5

Minutes and Discourse, 1–5 Oct. 1841.


Notice of this arrangement was published in an open letter by the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...

View Glossary
, and JS wrote of the plan to Tuttle on 9 October.
6

“An Epistle of the Twelve,” Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1841, 2:568; Letter to Smith Tuttle, 9 Oct. 1841.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

Apparently after seeing the letter to Tuttle and a copy of the Times and Seasons issue reporting on the conference, Hotchkiss wrote to JS on 9 November, acknowledging that he was pleased with the report of the conference and discussing his proposal to purchase the additional land offered by
Ivins

22 Mar. 1797–3 Apr. 1877. Farmer. Born in Upper Freehold Township, Monmouth Co., New Jersey. Son of Israel Ivins and Margaret Woodward. Married Mary Schenk. Presumably baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co....

View Full Bio
.
7

Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 9 Nov. 1841.


JS apparently dictated his 10 December response to
John S. Fullmer

21 July 1807–8 Oct. 1883. Farmer, newsman, postmaster, teacher, merchant. Born at Huntington, Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Fullmer and Susannah Zerfass. Moved to Nashville, Davidson Co., Tennessee, spring 1832. Married Mary Ann Price, 24 May 1837...

View Full Bio
, who then copied it into JS Letterbook 2, probably around the time the original was written. Because the original letter is apparently not extant, the copy is featured here.
Hotchkiss

15 Apr. 1799–21 Apr. 1849. Merchant, land speculator. Born in East Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Heman Hotchkiss and Elizabeth Rowe. Moved to New Haven, New Haven Co., by 1815. Married Charlotte Austin Street, 22 Feb. 1824, in East Haven. Purchased...

View Full Bio
responded to JS’s letter on 30 December 1841.
8

Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 30 Dec. 1841.


Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 11 Oct. 1841; Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 9 Nov. 1841.

  2. [2]

    See Bonds from Horace Hotchkiss, 12 Aug. 1839–A and B.

  3. [3]

    Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 11 Oct. 1841; Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 9 Nov. 1841.

  4. [4]

    Bond from Horace Hotchkiss, 12 Aug. 1839–A; Promissory Note to John Gillet and Smith Tuttle, 12 Aug. 1839.

  5. [5]

    Minutes and Discourse, 1–5 Oct. 1841.

  6. [6]

    “An Epistle of the Twelve,” Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1841, 2:568; Letter to Smith Tuttle, 9 Oct. 1841.

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  7. [7]

    Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 9 Nov. 1841.

  8. [8]

    Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 30 Dec. 1841.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Letter to Horace Hotchkiss, 10 December 1841
Letterbook 2 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 216

Copy of a letter to
H[orace] R. Hotchkiss

15 Apr. 1799–21 Apr. 1849. Merchant, land speculator. Born in East Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Heman Hotchkiss and Elizabeth Rowe. Moved to New Haven, New Haven Co., by 1815. Married Charlotte Austin Street, 22 Feb. 1824, in East Haven. Purchased...

View Full Bio
Dated
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
, Decr. 10th 1841
H. R. Hotchkiss

15 Apr. 1799–21 Apr. 1849. Merchant, land speculator. Born in East Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Heman Hotchkiss and Elizabeth Rowe. Moved to New Haven, New Haven Co., by 1815. Married Charlotte Austin Street, 22 Feb. 1824, in East Haven. Purchased...

View Full Bio
Esqr.
Dear Sir,
Your two letters, dated Oct. 11th & Nov. 9th 1841 have both been recd, and that of the 9th Nov. is now before me.
1

Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 11 Oct. 1841; Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 9 Nov. 1841.


I am glad that you are pleased with the proceedings of our last
Conference

A meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...

View Glossary
, relative to the “
Hotchkiss purchase

One of three major land acquisitions by Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Nauvoo peninsula. Tract consisted of four to five hundred acres and included part of Commerce and all of planned Commerce City (now Nauvoo area). Property purchased for...

More Info
”;
2

In his letter of 9 November 1841, Hotchkiss stated he was “gratified in the perusal yesterday of the proceedings of your Conference relative to the ‘Hotchkiss purchase’ published in the Times and Seasons.” The conference minutes published in the 15 October issue of the Times and Seasons briefly mentioned the purchase by reporting JS’s instruction that the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles write a letter to the Saints about a plan to repay Hotchkiss. The resulting “Epistle of the Twelve, To the brethren scattered abroad on the Continent of America” recommended that Saints moving to Nauvoo from the eastern United States transfer their property to Hotchkiss, Tuttle, and Gillet to pay the church’s debts to these men. That letter was included in the same issue of the paper, and Hotchkiss likely read it as well. (Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 9 Nov. 1841; Minutes and Discourse, 1–5 Oct. 1841; “An Epistle of the Twelve,” Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1841, 2:568.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

Concerning which, together with some unpleasant feeling which had originated, partly from a misunderstanding between us, and partly through the inefficiency, neglect, or sickness of
Dr. [Isaac] Galland

15 May 1791–27 Sept. 1858. Merchant, postmaster, land speculator, doctor. Born at Somerset Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Matthew Galland and Hannah Fenno. Married first Nancy Harris, 22 Mar. 1811, in Madison Co., Ohio. Married second Margaret Knight, by 1816....

View Full Bio
, I wrote to yr. friend and partner
Esqr. [Smith] Tuttle

12 Mar. 1795–7 Mar. 1865. Shipping merchant, land speculator. Born in East Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Christopher Tuttle and Abigail Luddington. Moved to Wallingford, New Haven Co., by 1810. Married first Rachel Gillett. Married second Amarilla...

View Full Bio
, some time since, which no doubt you have seen before now, and with which I hope you are also satisfied.
3

JS wrote to Tuttle on 9 October 1841 regarding the four interest payments (for $1,500 each) then due but not yet paid to Hotchkiss, Tuttle, and John Gillet. JS informed Tuttle that Hyrum Smith and Isaac Galland had been sent to the eastern United States with power of attorney to sell or transfer church properties and thereby acquire the $6,000 due. Hyrum returned from the trip before making payment, leaving it to Galland to do so. JS informed Tuttle that Galland had means in his possession to pay the entire amount due but that for some unknown reason Galland had failed to pay Hotchkiss or to report his activities to church leaders. On 18 January 1842 JS signed a statement, published in the 15 January issue of the Times and Seasons, revoking Galland’s power of attorney. (Letter to Smith Tuttle, 9 Oct. 1841; Revocation of Power of Attorney, 18 January 1842; JS, “Special Notice,” Times and Seasons, 15 Jan. 1842, 3:667.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

I have handed your request to the
Editor

25 May 1816–11 Mar. 1891. Printer, editor, publisher. Born at Floyd (near Rome), Oneida Co., New York. Son of Nathan Robinson and Mary Brown. Moved to Utica, Oneida Co., ca. 1831, and learned printing trade at Utica Observer. Moved to Ravenna, Portage Co....

View Full Bio
of the “Times & Seasons”, who will forward you the papers desired,
4

In his 9 November 1841 letter, Hotchkiss requested “six or eight copies” of the 15 October 1841 issue of the Times and Seasons. Ebenezer Robinson was the editor of the Times and Seasons at the time. (Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 9 Nov. 1841.)


I am glad that
James Ivins

22 Mar. 1797–3 Apr. 1877. Farmer. Born in Upper Freehold Township, Monmouth Co., New Jersey. Son of Israel Ivins and Margaret Woodward. Married Mary Schenk. Presumably baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co....

View Full Bio
settled with you the $2500— note, but sorry that you suffered yourself to loss lose in the sale of the land you had of him,
5

The church bought 89½ acres of land in the Commerce, Illinois, area from Hotchkiss and William White on 12 August 1839. The $1,000 due William White was paid on 23 April 1840. The $2,500 mentioned here was the portion due Hotchkiss. According to Hotchkiss’s letters of October and November 1841, Ivins met with him in New Jersey and gave him two notes worth $721 each as well as $1,200 worth of land for payment in full. Hotchkiss informed JS that Riley Allen, the debtor on the two notes, had since died and that Hotchkiss had been able to sell the land for only $1,000. (Bond from Horace Hotchkiss, 12 Aug. 1839–B; Receipt from William White, 23 Apr. 1840; Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 11 Oct. 1841; Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 9 Nov. 1841.)


As regards the
Cook’s Mills Tavern Stand

Located in Cookstown, southwest of New Egypt, New Jersey. Tavern stand and associated mills owned by Charles and James Ivins until at least 1833, when Ivins brothers sold mills. Tavern stand sold to Horace Hotchkiss against debt from Nauvoo-area land purchase...

More Info
,
6

Cook’s Mills (later Cookstown) was a small town in Burlington County, New Jersey, located just a few miles away from Hornerstown, where Ivins lived. (Fort, “Account of the Capture and Death of the Refugee John Bacon,” 151; Fleming, “Early Mormonism in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey,” 78.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Fort, George F. “An Account of the Capture and Death of the Refugee John Bacon.” Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society 1, no. 4 (1846): 151–153.

Fleming, Stephen J. “‘Sweeping Everything Before It’: Early Mormonism in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey.” BYU Studies 40 (2001): 72–104.

and the one hundred and thirty seven acres of pine land, which you propose to allow the Church three thousand dollars for, I have to say in reply, that I have consulted, not only my own feelings as “Sole Trustee in trust” for the Church,
7

Illinois law allowed each religious organization incorporating in the state to elect up to ten trustees, who would be legally responsible for all physical property owned by the organization. Pursuant to this law, JS was elected on 30 January 1841 as the “sole Trustee in Trust” for the church. (An Act concerning Religious Societies [6 Feb. 1835], Laws of the State of Illinois [1834–1835], p. 147, sec. 1; Appointment as Trustee, 2 Feb. 1841.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Ninth General Assembly, at Their First Session, Commencing December 1, 1834, and Ending February 13, 1835. Vandalia, IL: J. Y. Sawyer, 1835.

but also the feelings of those of the Church whose opinions I can always rely upon in such matters, and the conclusion is that thirty two hundred dollars is the least the property ought to be sold for.
8

In addition to giving Hotchkiss payment for the $2,500 due on the 89½ acres, Ivins had offered to transfer to Hotchkiss 137 acres of pine land, as well as the “Tavern Stand at Cooks Mills belonging to the Church.” Hotchkiss and Tuttle had offered to take the land for $3,000—to be applied against two of the four $1,500 overdue interest payments on the church’s larger August 1839 land purchase. (Bond from Horace Hotchkiss, 12 Aug. 1839–B; Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 11 Oct. 1841; Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 9 Nov. 1841; Bond from Horace Hotchkiss, 12 Aug. 1839–A.)


You can therefore have it for three thousand two hundred, which is considerably less than it cost the church; we are willing to make a partial sacrifice in the property, but under the circumstances, think that you can afford to give us two hundred dollars more than you proposed.—
9

When Hotchkiss wrote to JS in October 1841 with his offer to buy the land for $3,000, he said that it had previously been valued at $2,500. (Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 11 Oct. 1841.)


The Health of our place is at this time pretty good, & we hope it may continue to improve with the improvement of the
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....

More Info
.—
10

The area in which Nauvoo was located was prone to malaria, particularly on the marshy flats in the lower part of the city along the Mississippi River. By winter 1839 plans were being made to begin draining the land—an improvement that significantly reduced the number of health issues in the area. (Crosby, Reminiscences, 11; see also Proclamation, 15 Jan. 1841.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Crosby, Caroline Barnes. Reminiscences, no date. In Jonathan Crosby and Caroline Barnes Crosby Papers, 1848–1882. CHL.

I remain Very Respectfully &c.
Joseph Smith
pr.
J[ohn] S. Fullmer

21 July 1807–8 Oct. 1883. Farmer, newsman, postmaster, teacher, merchant. Born at Huntington, Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Fullmer and Susannah Zerfass. Moved to Nashville, Davidson Co., Tennessee, spring 1832. Married Mary Ann Price, 24 May 1837...

View Full Bio
, Sec’y [p. 216]
View entire transcript

|

Cite this page

Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 216

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to Horace Hotchkiss, 10 December 1841
ID #
722
Total Pages
1
Print Volume Location
JSP, D9:20–23
Handwriting on This Page
  • John S. Fullmer

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 11 Oct. 1841; Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 9 Nov. 1841.

  2. [2]

    In his letter of 9 November 1841, Hotchkiss stated he was “gratified in the perusal yesterday of the proceedings of your Conference relative to the ‘Hotchkiss purchase’ published in the Times and Seasons.” The conference minutes published in the 15 October issue of the Times and Seasons briefly mentioned the purchase by reporting JS’s instruction that the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles write a letter to the Saints about a plan to repay Hotchkiss. The resulting “Epistle of the Twelve, To the brethren scattered abroad on the Continent of America” recommended that Saints moving to Nauvoo from the eastern United States transfer their property to Hotchkiss, Tuttle, and Gillet to pay the church’s debts to these men. That letter was included in the same issue of the paper, and Hotchkiss likely read it as well. (Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 9 Nov. 1841; Minutes and Discourse, 1–5 Oct. 1841; “An Epistle of the Twelve,” Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1841, 2:568.)

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  3. [3]

    JS wrote to Tuttle on 9 October 1841 regarding the four interest payments (for $1,500 each) then due but not yet paid to Hotchkiss, Tuttle, and John Gillet. JS informed Tuttle that Hyrum Smith and Isaac Galland had been sent to the eastern United States with power of attorney to sell or transfer church properties and thereby acquire the $6,000 due. Hyrum returned from the trip before making payment, leaving it to Galland to do so. JS informed Tuttle that Galland had means in his possession to pay the entire amount due but that for some unknown reason Galland had failed to pay Hotchkiss or to report his activities to church leaders. On 18 January 1842 JS signed a statement, published in the 15 January issue of the Times and Seasons, revoking Galland’s power of attorney. (Letter to Smith Tuttle, 9 Oct. 1841; Revocation of Power of Attorney, 18 January 1842; JS, “Special Notice,” Times and Seasons, 15 Jan. 1842, 3:667.)

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  4. [4]

    In his 9 November 1841 letter, Hotchkiss requested “six or eight copies” of the 15 October 1841 issue of the Times and Seasons. Ebenezer Robinson was the editor of the Times and Seasons at the time. (Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 9 Nov. 1841.)

  5. [5]

    The church bought 89½ acres of land in the Commerce, Illinois, area from Hotchkiss and William White on 12 August 1839. The $1,000 due William White was paid on 23 April 1840. The $2,500 mentioned here was the portion due Hotchkiss. According to Hotchkiss’s letters of October and November 1841, Ivins met with him in New Jersey and gave him two notes worth $721 each as well as $1,200 worth of land for payment in full. Hotchkiss informed JS that Riley Allen, the debtor on the two notes, had since died and that Hotchkiss had been able to sell the land for only $1,000. (Bond from Horace Hotchkiss, 12 Aug. 1839–B; Receipt from William White, 23 Apr. 1840; Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 11 Oct. 1841; Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 9 Nov. 1841.)

  6. [6]

    Cook’s Mills (later Cookstown) was a small town in Burlington County, New Jersey, located just a few miles away from Hornerstown, where Ivins lived. (Fort, “Account of the Capture and Death of the Refugee John Bacon,” 151; Fleming, “Early Mormonism in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey,” 78.)

    Fort, George F. “An Account of the Capture and Death of the Refugee John Bacon.” Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society 1, no. 4 (1846): 151–153.

    Fleming, Stephen J. “‘Sweeping Everything Before It’: Early Mormonism in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey.” BYU Studies 40 (2001): 72–104.

  7. [7]

    Illinois law allowed each religious organization incorporating in the state to elect up to ten trustees, who would be legally responsible for all physical property owned by the organization. Pursuant to this law, JS was elected on 30 January 1841 as the “sole Trustee in Trust” for the church. (An Act concerning Religious Societies [6 Feb. 1835], Laws of the State of Illinois [1834–1835], p. 147, sec. 1; Appointment as Trustee, 2 Feb. 1841.)

    Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Ninth General Assembly, at Their First Session, Commencing December 1, 1834, and Ending February 13, 1835. Vandalia, IL: J. Y. Sawyer, 1835.

  8. [8]

    In addition to giving Hotchkiss payment for the $2,500 due on the 89½ acres, Ivins had offered to transfer to Hotchkiss 137 acres of pine land, as well as the “Tavern Stand at Cooks Mills belonging to the Church.” Hotchkiss and Tuttle had offered to take the land for $3,000—to be applied against two of the four $1,500 overdue interest payments on the church’s larger August 1839 land purchase. (Bond from Horace Hotchkiss, 12 Aug. 1839–B; Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 11 Oct. 1841; Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 9 Nov. 1841; Bond from Horace Hotchkiss, 12 Aug. 1839–A.)

  9. [9]

    When Hotchkiss wrote to JS in October 1841 with his offer to buy the land for $3,000, he said that it had previously been valued at $2,500. (Letter from Horace Hotchkiss, 11 Oct. 1841.)

  10. [10]

    The area in which Nauvoo was located was prone to malaria, particularly on the marshy flats in the lower part of the city along the Mississippi River. By winter 1839 plans were being made to begin draining the land—an improvement that significantly reduced the number of health issues in the area. (Crosby, Reminiscences, 11; see also Proclamation, 15 Jan. 1841.)

    Crosby, Caroline Barnes. Reminiscences, no date. In Jonathan Crosby and Caroline Barnes Crosby Papers, 1848–1882. CHL.

© 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Terms of UseUpdated 2021-04-13Privacy NoticeUpdated 2021-04-06