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Report of Committee, 5 February 1841

Source Note

Committee (including JS) on Vacating the Town Plats of
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...

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and
Commerce City

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
, Report, to the Nauvoo City Council,
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, 5 Feb. 1841; handwriting of
Robert B. Thompson

1 Oct. 1811–27 Aug. 1841. Clerk, editor. Born in Great Driffield, Yorkshire, England. Methodist. Immigrated to Upper Canada, 1834. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Parley P. Pratt, May 1836, in Upper Canada. Ordained an elder by...

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and JS; signature of JS; Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL. Includes docket, mathematical equations, and archival markings.
Single leaf measuring 8¾ × 7¾ inches (22 × 20 cm). Fragments of a signature at the top of the recto show that the document was cut from a larger leaf. The document is ruled with twenty-six horizontal lines and one vertical line, all in blue ink (now faded). The document was inscribed in blue and brown ink and has four horizontal filing folds.
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
city records were kept in the Church Historian’s Office as early as the 1840s. This report appears to have been in institutional custody since its creation.

Historical Introduction

On 5 February 1841, JS,
Wilson Law

26 Feb. 1806–15 Oct. 1876. Merchant, millwright, land speculator, farmer. Born in Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co....

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, and
Charles C. Rich

21 Aug. 1809–17 Nov. 1883. Schoolteacher, farmer, cooper. Born in Campbell Co., Kentucky. Son of Joseph Rich and Nancy O’Neal. Moved to Posey Township, Dearborn Co., Indiana, ca. 1810. Moved to Tazewell Co., Illinois, 1829. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ...

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oversaw the creation of a report to the city council 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....

More Info
, Illinois, regarding the town plats of
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
and
Commerce City

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
. Two days earlier at the first meeting of the Nauvoo City Council, they were tasked with considering Mayor
John C. 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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’s recommendation to eliminate the plats of Commerce and Commerce City, which had been subsumed by the new city of Nauvoo.
1

See Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.


As chair of the committee, JS signed the report, which recommended that the town plats of Commerce and Commerce City be vacated and merged with the plat of Nauvoo through a new survey of the lands.
Town plats were legal documents required for the incorporation of any city in
Illinois

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

More Info
.
2

See An Act providing for the Recording of Town Plats [27 Feb. 1833], Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois, pp. 676–678.


Comprehensive Works Cited

The Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois: Containing All the Laws . . . Passed by the Ninth General Assembly, at Their First Session, Commencing December 1, 1834, and Ending February 13, 1835; and at Their Second Session, Commencing December 7, 1835, and Ending January 18, 1836; and Those Passed by the Tenth General Assembly, at Their Session Commencing December 5, 1836, and Ending March 6, 1837; and at Their Special Session, Commencing July 10, and Ending July 22, 1837. . . . Compiled by Jonathan Young Scammon. Chicago: Stephen F. Gale, 1839.

The plats of
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
,
Commerce City

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
, and
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
had previously been surveyed in 1834, 1837, and 1839, respectively, and were recorded with
Hancock County

Formed from Pike Co., 1825. Described in 1837 as predominantly prairie and “deficient in timber.” Early settlers came mainly from mid-Atlantic and southern states. Population in 1835 about 3,200; in 1840 about 9,900; and in 1844 at least 15,000. Carthage ...

More Info
.
3

Commerce was surveyed and platted by Hancock County surveyor John Johnston in May 1834. Hancock County surveyor James W. Brattle certified that he completed the survey of Commerce City on 28 April 1837. The Nauvoo plat was also surveyed by Brattle and attested by him on 30 August 1839. The plat was drawn in the Hancock County plat book by John C. Mather on 3 September 1839. (Hancock Co., IL, Plat Books, 1836–1938, vol. 1, pp. 10–11, 26–27, 37–39, microfilm 954,774, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

While acts of municipal incorporation in Illinois contained language specifying that new towns or cities could not rearrange or tamper with previously adopted plats,
4

See, for example, An Act to Incorporate the Town of Danville [3 Feb. 1839], Incorporation Laws of the State of Illinois, p. 10, sec. 10.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Incorporation Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Eleventh General Assembly, Their Session Began and Held at Vandalia, the Third Day of December, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty-Eight. Vandalia, IL: William Walters, 1839.

the 1839 purchase of Commerce City and the Nauvoo act of incorporation brought the plats of Commerce and Nauvoo both under the jurisdiction of the Nauvoo City Council.
5

The total purchase of nearly five hundred acres on the Commerce peninsula, including the city plat, cost $113,500. (Bond from Horace Hotchkiss, 12 Aug. 1839–A; Bond from Horace Hotchkiss, 12 Aug. 1839–B.)


In fact, the description of the physical lands of Nauvoo as put forth in section 1 of the Nauvoo charter specifically included “the town plats of Commerce and Nauvoo.”
6

Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840.


Though later Illinois state legislation shows that town plats were typically vacated through an act of the state legislature, the Nauvoo City Council apparently deemed the alteration or
vacation

“Period of time between the end of one term [of court] and beginning of another.”

View Glossary
of the earlier Commerce and Nauvoo town plats to be within its authority.
7

See An Act to Vacate a Part of the Town Plat of Wesley City, in the County of Tazewell [3 Mar. 1843], Laws of the State of Illinois [1842–1843], pp. 294–295; and An Act to Vacate the Town of Rock Island City [20 Feb. 1843], Laws of the State of Illinois [1842–1843], p. 299.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Thirteenth General Assembly, at Their Regular Session, Began and Held at Springfield, on the Fifth of December, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty-Two. Springfield, IL: Walters and Weber, 1843.

The committee report of 5 February demonstrated the efforts of the city council to streamline urban planning and management by unifying the lands 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....

More Info
in one plat.
8

A later newspaper article noted the extension of Nauvoo over the old Commerce City. (“Sketches of Hancock County,” Western World [Warsaw, IL], 17 Apr. 1841, [1].)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Western World. Warsaw, IL. 1840–1841.

JS presented the committee’s report orally to the city council on 8 February. After further discussion, the report was withdrawn “with liberty to amend.”
9

Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 8 Feb. 1841, 6.


JS brought the report and resolution, apparently unchanged, before the city council again on 1 March, which resulted in the passage of a city ordinance titled “An Ordinance in relation to Roads and Town Plots.”
10

Minutes, 1 Mar. 1841.


Two versions of the 5 February committee report exist. The version featured here is the earliest and perhaps original version of the report. It appears that JS dictated the contents of the report to
Robert B. Thompson

1 Oct. 1811–27 Aug. 1841. Clerk, editor. Born in Great Driffield, Yorkshire, England. Methodist. Immigrated to Upper Canada, 1834. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Parley P. Pratt, May 1836, in Upper Canada. Ordained an elder by...

View Full Bio
, who served as his scribe. After Thompson completed the draft, JS signed his name and penned the names of the other committee members on the verso. A fair copy inscribed by Jonathan Grimshaw in the mid-1850s appears in the addenda to the manuscript for the later published “History of Joseph Smith.”
11

JS History, vol. C-1 Addenda Book, 24.


Grimshaw’s copy, which contains no substantive additions, may have been copied from the Thompson draft. Because the version in Thompson’s handwriting is the earliest version and includes JS’s handwriting, it has been selected as the featured version.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.

  2. [2]

    See An Act providing for the Recording of Town Plats [27 Feb. 1833], Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois, pp. 676–678.

    The Public and General Statute Laws of the State of Illinois: Containing All the Laws . . . Passed by the Ninth General Assembly, at Their First Session, Commencing December 1, 1834, and Ending February 13, 1835; and at Their Second Session, Commencing December 7, 1835, and Ending January 18, 1836; and Those Passed by the Tenth General Assembly, at Their Session Commencing December 5, 1836, and Ending March 6, 1837; and at Their Special Session, Commencing July 10, and Ending July 22, 1837. . . . Compiled by Jonathan Young Scammon. Chicago: Stephen F. Gale, 1839.

  3. [3]

    Commerce was surveyed and platted by Hancock County surveyor John Johnston in May 1834. Hancock County surveyor James W. Brattle certified that he completed the survey of Commerce City on 28 April 1837. The Nauvoo plat was also surveyed by Brattle and attested by him on 30 August 1839. The plat was drawn in the Hancock County plat book by John C. Mather on 3 September 1839. (Hancock Co., IL, Plat Books, 1836–1938, vol. 1, pp. 10–11, 26–27, 37–39, microfilm 954,774, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

  4. [4]

    See, for example, An Act to Incorporate the Town of Danville [3 Feb. 1839], Incorporation Laws of the State of Illinois, p. 10, sec. 10.

    Incorporation Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Eleventh General Assembly, Their Session Began and Held at Vandalia, the Third Day of December, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty-Eight. Vandalia, IL: William Walters, 1839.

  5. [5]

    The total purchase of nearly five hundred acres on the Commerce peninsula, including the city plat, cost $113,500. (Bond from Horace Hotchkiss, 12 Aug. 1839–A; Bond from Horace Hotchkiss, 12 Aug. 1839–B.)

  6. [6]

    Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 Dec. 1840.

  7. [7]

    See An Act to Vacate a Part of the Town Plat of Wesley City, in the County of Tazewell [3 Mar. 1843], Laws of the State of Illinois [1842–1843], pp. 294–295; and An Act to Vacate the Town of Rock Island City [20 Feb. 1843], Laws of the State of Illinois [1842–1843], p. 299.

    Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Thirteenth General Assembly, at Their Regular Session, Began and Held at Springfield, on the Fifth of December, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty-Two. Springfield, IL: Walters and Weber, 1843.

  8. [8]

    A later newspaper article noted the extension of Nauvoo over the old Commerce City. (“Sketches of Hancock County,” Western World [Warsaw, IL], 17 Apr. 1841, [1].)

    Western World. Warsaw, IL. 1840–1841.

  9. [9]

    Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 8 Feb. 1841, 6.

  10. [10]

    Minutes, 1 Mar. 1841.

  11. [11]

    JS History, vol. C-1 Addenda Book, 24.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
Report of Committee, 5 February 1841
History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 Addenda “History of Joseph Smith”

Page [1]

Robert B. Thompson handwriting begins.


Your committee to whom was reffered that portion of the address of his honor the
mayor

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 ...

View Full Bio
, which he recommended the propriety of vacating the Towns plats
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
and the city of
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
, in and incorporating them with the city plot 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....

More Info
1

Though he apparently made such a recommendation, no extant versions of Mayor John C. Bennett’s 3 February address contain any recommendation for or otherwise note the propriety of vacating the Commerce and Commerce City plats. (See John C. Bennett, “Inaugural Address,” Times and Seasons, 15 Feb. 1841, 2:316–318.)


would respectfully report: That they consider the reccommendation contained in the address as one of great importance to the future welfare and prosperity of this
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
, and if carried into effect would make the streets regular and uniform and materially tend to beautify this city. We would therefore respectfully reccommend that the survey 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....

More Info
be carried through the town plots of
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
and the City of
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
as soon as it may be practible.
All of which is respectfully submitted
We would therefore reccommend to the council the passage of the following Resolution
That the Town plots 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....

More Info
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
and
Commerce City

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
be vacated and that the same stand vacated from this time forth. and for ever and that the same be incorporated with 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....

More Info
from this time henceforth and for ever.
All of which is respectfully [p. [1]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Report of Committee, 5 February 1841
ID #
12339
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D8:27–29
Handwriting on This Page
  • Robert B. Thompson

Footnotes

  1. new scribe logo

    Robert B. Thompson handwriting begins.

  2. [1]

    Though he apparently made such a recommendation, no extant versions of Mayor John C. Bennett’s 3 February address contain any recommendation for or otherwise note the propriety of vacating the Commerce and Commerce City plats. (See John C. Bennett, “Inaugural Address,” Times and Seasons, 15 Feb. 1841, 2:316–318.)

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