Montrose Township, Iowa Territory

Summary

Located in southern part of county on western shore of Mississippi River.1 Area settled by Captain James White, 1832, following Black Hawk War.2 Federal government purchased land from White to create Fort Des Moines, 1834.3 Fort abandoned; remaining settlement unofficially named Montrose, 1837.4 Township created by dividing Ambrosia Township, 1841.5 Important port on Mississippi River.6 Following expulsion from Missouri, some Saints (including Brigham Young family) settled in township because of available shelter at abandoned fort.7 Church membership in area grew rapidly from immigration.8 Iowa stake created, Oct. 1839, and centered at Montrose.9 Name changed to Zarahemla stake, 1841.10 Population of stake in 1841 about 700.11 As Saints gathered to Nauvoo, population dwindled and stake was reduced to a branch, Jan. 1842.12 In Montrose Masonic ceremony, 6 Aug. 1842, JS prophesied that Saints “would become a mighty people in the Rocky Mountains.”13 On at least two occasions, JS took refuge in Montrose to avoid legal action from Missouri and Illinois.14 He and brother Hyrum left town, 23 June 1844, to return to Nauvoo just prior to going to Carthage.15

Links

• papers
• places

• History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842]
• Agreement with Daniel C. Davis, 21 October 1839
• Deed from George W. Robinson, 5 August 1841
• Discourse, 2 July 1839, as Reported by Willard Richards
• Discourse, 2 July 1839, as Reported by Unknown Scribe
• Discourse, 2 July 1839, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff
• Discourse, 6 March 1840, as Reported by Elias Smith
• Discourse, 6 March 1840, as Reported by John Smith
• Discourse, 7 July 1839, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff
• History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 Addenda
• History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843]
• History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844]
• History, 1838–1856, volume F-1 [1 May 1844–8 August 1844]
• Journal, 1839
• Journal, December 1842–June 1844; Book 1, 21 December 1842–10 March 1843
• Journal, December 1841–December 1842
• Journal, December 1842–June 1844; Book 2, 10 March 1843–14 July 1843
• Letter from Edwin Guthrie, between 1 February and 4 November 1841
• Letter from John Cleminson, between 1 and 15 May 1842
• Letter from Oliver Granger, 5 July 1841
• Letter to Elias Higbee with JS Postscript, 7 March 1840
• Letter to Newel K. Whitney, 24 May 1839
• Letter, J. White to Jesse Hunter, 10 December 1843
• Letterbook 2
• Minutes, 17 August 1840

• Lee County, Iowa Territory