Footnotes
JS, Journal, 29 June 1842; “Clayton, William,” in Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:718.
Jenson, Andrew. Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia: A Compilation of Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 4 vols. Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History Co., 1901–1936.
“Obituary of Leo Hawkins,” Millennial Star, 30 July 1859, 21:496–497.
Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.
Bitton and Arrington, Mormons and Their Historians, 48–52, 55.
Bitton, David, and Leonard J. Arrington. Mormons and Their Historians. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1988.
“Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, [3], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.
Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.
See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.
Footnotes
In the weeks before writing this letter, JS began his campaign for president of the United States. He held political meetings, presided over sessions of court, and, as mayor, met with the Nauvoo City Council. (See JS, Journal, 29–30 Jan. 1844; 5, 7–10, and 12 Feb. 1844.)
At the time JS wrote this letter, overland travel was the only available route to Quincy. The Mississippi River sometimes froze over, and ice was typically a danger. In winter 1843–1844, it was not until the end of February that the river was free of ice and steamboats again began to operate. The most direct land route from Nauvoo to Quincy involved traveling through the southwestern part of Hancock County, Illinois, which was a center of hostility toward JS and the Latter-day Saints. Moreover, church member Daniel Avery and his son Philander were kidnapped in the area between Quincy and Nauvoo in November and December 1843. Both men were taken to Missouri and imprisoned. (See JS, Journal, 18, 20–22, and 27–28 Feb. 1844; “Nauvoo,” Burlington [VT] Sentinel, 26 Jan. 1844, [2]; “Nauvoo Ferry,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 18 Oct. 1843, [4]; News Item, Nauvoo Neighbor, 7 Feb. 1844, [2]; News Item, Nauvoo Neighbor, 28 Feb. 1844, [2]; “Kidnapping,” Times and Seasons, 1 Nov. 1843, 4:375; Affidavit from Dellmore Chapman and Letter to Thomas Ford, 6 Dec. 1843; Philander Avery, Affidavit, Nauvoo, IL, 20 Dec. 1843, copy, JS Office Papers, CHL; Affidavit from Daniel Avery, 28 Dec. 1843; and Andrew Hamilton and James Hamilton, Affidavit, Hancock Co., IL, 20 Dec. 1843, copy, JS Office Papers, CHL.)
Burlington Sentinel. Burlington, VT. 1830–1844.
Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
Missouri officials made three attempts to extradite JS between 1840 and 1843. In each instance, JS’s attorneys argued that he should be released because of deficiencies in legal documents. (See “The Late Proceedings,” Times and Seasons, 15 June 1841, 2:448; “The Release of Gen. Joseph Smith,” Times and Seasons, 2 Jan. 1843, 4:60; “Missouri vs Joseph Smith,” Times and Seasons, 1 July 1843, 4:243; and “Part 4: June–July 1843.”)
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
The most recent extradition attempt, in June 1843, cost JS $1,750 in attorney fees and $1,308.76 in other expenses for a total of $3,058.76. (Statement of Account, June 1843, copy, Emma Hale Smith Bidamon Financial Papers, 1843–1852, Bidamon Family Papers, CHL.)