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Letter to Edward Hunter, 9 and 11 March 1842

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Letter to Edward Hunter, 9 and 11 March 1842

Source Note

JS, Letter with postscript by , , Hancock Co., IL, to , , Chester Co., PA, 9 and 11 Mar. 1842; handwriting of , , and ; signatures of JS and ; four pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes address, docket, and use marks.
Bifolium measuring 9¾ × 7¾ inches (25 × 20 cm). The letter was inscribed on the first three pages and on the bottom of the fourth page, leaving space on the fourth page that was used for addressing. The bifolium was trifolded twice in letter style and addressed. The letter was later refolded for filing.
The document was docketed by , who served as JS’s scribe from 1843 to 1844 and as clerk to the church historian and recorder from 1845 to 1865. It was listed in an inventory produced by the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) circa 1904. By 1973 the document had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL). The document’s early docket as well as its inclusion in the circa 1904 inventory and in the JS Collection by 1973 indicate continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 456, 458; Woodruff, Journal, 22 Jan. 1865.

    Jessee, Dean C. “The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 439–473.

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

  2. [2]

    “Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, [2], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

    Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.

  3. [3]

    See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.

Historical Introduction

On 9 and 11 March 1842, JS wrote a letter from , Illinois, to in , Pennsylvania. Hunter had been in his native since the previous fall, settling his own financial affairs, purchasing goods on behalf of JS, and conducting business on behalf of Margaret Smith, a recent convert from the area who had relocated to . This letter was one in a series of letters exchanged between JS and Hunter while the latter was in Pennsylvania. JS received a 10 February 1842 letter from Hunter on 8 March and began his reply the next day. In his reply he responded to Hunter’s inquiries about contacting Jacob Weiler, whom Hunter had hired to build a house in Nauvoo, and about the condition of the State Bank of Illinois and the Bank of St. Louis. Hunter intended to donate financially to the and and wondered which bank would be more secure. JS encouraged Hunter to avoid the banks altogether and instead to bring additional goods to outfit his new general store in Nauvoo.
JS also responded to ’s concerns about the power of attorney that allowed Hunter to settle Margaret Smith’s financial affairs. On 15 December 1841, after Hunter notified him that the initial document was not properly certified, JS arranged for a new power of attorney for Hunter. In his 10 February 1842 letter, Hunter informed JS that the new power of attorney was deficient because it did not include the presiding judge’s signature. In a continuation of the 9 March 1842 letter, written on 11 March 1842, JS promised to obtain the proper paperwork once the judge returned to the area in May.
, JS’s counselor in the , acted as scribe for the original portion of the letter, which JS signed, and acted as scribe for the 11 March addition, signing on JS’s behalf. Law also added his own note to this letter sometime on 11 March or shortly thereafter. Because he and his brother were planning to construct a steam mill in , Law suggested the possibility of purchasing a steam engine that intended to bring to Nauvoo. He also wanted Hunter to determine whether the bank in was in danger of failing and if so to remove a $1,100 payment Hunter had placed there for Law.
The absence of postal markings suggests that the letter was hand carried to . received the letter before 10 May 1842, when he replied.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Letter from Edward Hunter, 10 Feb. 1842.

  2. [2]

    Margaret Smith, Power of Attorney, to Edward Hunter, 15 Dec. 1841, Edward Hunter, Collection, 1816–1884, CHL; Letter from Edward Hunter, 27 Oct. 1841.

    Hunter, Edward. Collection, ca. 1798–1965. Photocopy and typescript. CHL.

  3. [3]

    Letter from Edward Hunter, 10 Feb. 1842.

  4. [4]

    Editorial, Times and Seasons, 15 Jan. 1842, 3:663–664.

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

  5. [5]

    Edward Hunter to JS, 10 May 1842, International Society Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Pioneer Memorial Museum, Salt Lake City.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Letter to Edward Hunter, 9 and 11 March 1842 Letterbook 2 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 Addenda “History of Joseph Smith”
March 11. After diligent enquiry I have learned that the presiding of this circuit is a great distance from this. & it will not. be possible according to present appearances. to get an acknowled[g]ement of the Letter of Atto[r]ney until the former part of May.— If you Sir. & the parties concerned will proce[e]d with the business Just as though you had the Letter. for the purpose of expediting the business. I pledge my honor that a duly authenticatd letter of attorney shall be forth coming at the earliest date possible.— & by so doing you will confer a favor on your fri[e]nd. &c.
Joseph Smith
. Scribe
Dear Sir
I am happy to inform you that we are enjoying general good health in , and are greatly blest, &c.—
If you bring out an engine perhaps we would buy it of you as we are building a steam mill and may not be suited before you Come the most suitable kind would be 9 inch cilindar, about 4½ to 5 ft. Stroke, a double flue boiler 20 to 22 ft. long & 40 to 44 In. diametor, if it has been in use a year or two it is none the worse, and would Come Cheaper, large engines are not profitable, about a 12 horse power is best— If you could bring Bro. Joseph a Lot of goods it were well, as they would help him do the place good, and be no loss to you.—
Yours ever , [p. [3]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter to Edward Hunter, 9 and 11 March 1842
ID #
783
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D9:229–233
Handwriting on This Page
  • Willard Richards
  • William Law

Footnotes

  1. new scribe logo

    William Law handwriting ends; Willard Richards begins.

  2. [10]

    Stephen A. Douglas served as the presiding judge of Illinois’s fifth judicial circuit from May 1841 to October 1843. (Gregg, History of Hancock County, Illinois, 240.)

    Gregg, Thomas. History of Hancock County, Illinois, Together with an Outline History of the State, and a Digest of State Laws. Chicago: Charles C. Chapman, 1880.

  3. new scribe logo

    Willard Richards handwriting ends; William Law begins.

  4. [11]

    On 10 February 1842 Hunter expressed his intention to bring one or two steam engines to Nauvoo. (Letter from Edward Hunter, 10 Feb. 1842.)

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