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Ordinance, 8 December 1843–B, as Published in Nauvoo Neighbor–A

Source Note

Nauvoo City Council, Ordinance,
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, 8 Dec. 1843. Version published in “An Ordinance to Erect a Dam in the Mississippi River, and for Other Purposes,” Nauvoo Neighbor, Extra, 9 Dec. 1843, [1].
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. Ordinance, 8 December 1843–B Ordinance, 8 December 1843–B, Copy Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 1841–1845
Ordinance, 8 December 1843–B, as Published in Nauvoo Neighbor –A
Ordinance, 8 December 1843–B, as Published in Nauvoo Neighbor –B History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844] “History of Joseph Smith”

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An Ordinance to erect a Dam in the
Mississippi 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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, and for other purposes.
Sec. 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of the city of
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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, that Joseph Smith and his successors for the term of perpetual succession, are hereby authorized and empowered to erect a dam, of suitable height to propel mills and machinery, from any point within the limits of said
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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and below the
Nauvoo House

Located in lower portion of Nauvoo (the flats) along bank of Mississippi River. JS revelation, dated 19 Jan. 1841, instructed Saints to build boardinghouse for travelers and immigrants. Construction of planned three-story building to be funded by fifty-dollar...

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and in a proper direction to reach the
Island

Two tree-covered islands located in Mississippi River between Nauvoo, Illinois, and Montrose, Iowa Territory. Important source of wood for Saints. JS hid on islands, Aug. 1842, while Missouri authorities sought to extradite him. Emma Smith, accompanied by...

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this side of
Montrose

Located in southern part of county on western shore of Mississippi River. Area settled by Captain James White, 1832, following Black Hawk War. Federal government purchased land from White to create Fort Des Moines, 1834. Fort abandoned; remaining settlement...

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, but not to interfere with the main channel of the
Mississippi 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...

More Info
.
Sec. 2. And be it further ordained that the said Joseph Smith and his successors are further authorized to erect north of the aforesaid
Island

Two tree-covered islands located in Mississippi River between Nauvoo, Illinois, and Montrose, Iowa Territory. Important source of wood for Saints. JS hid on islands, Aug. 1842, while Missouri authorities sought to extradite him. Emma Smith, accompanied by...

More Info
, a dam, pier, or break water, to intersect the sand bar above.
Sec. 3. Be it further ordained that the said Joseph Smith and his successors are also auth[o]rized and have full liberty to use the said dam and water for the purpose of propelling mills and machinery, and shall be governed in their rates of toll, and rules of manufactory by ordinance of said
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
.
Sec 4. And be it further ordained that the said Joseph Smith and his successors, are further authorized and empowered, to use the space within the limits of the said dam as a Harbor or Basin for Steam Boats, and other water crafts, and for which purpose they may construct docks, wharves and landings, and receive such fees for wharfage as may be regulated by ordinance of said
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
.
Sec. 5 And be it further ordained that said Joseph Smith and his successors, are further authorized to build an embankment on the East side of the aforesaid
Island

Two tree-covered islands located in Mississippi River between Nauvoo, Illinois, and Montrose, Iowa Territory. Important source of wood for Saints. JS hid on islands, Aug. 1842, while Missouri authorities sought to extradite him. Emma Smith, accompanied by...

More Info
, to connect the said dam with the Pier on the north, and to use the top of said dam for a public road or highway, receiving for compensation from those who cross upon it, such rates as may be allowed by ordinance of said
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
.
Passed December 8, 1843.
JOSEPH SMITH, Mayor.
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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Editorial Title
Ordinance, 8 December 1843–B, as Published in Nauvoo Neighbor–A
ID #
7988
Total Pages
1
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