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Letter from Oliver Cowdery, 28 January 1832

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Letter from Oliver Cowdery, 28 January 1832

Source Note

, Letter, , Jackson Co., MO, to JS, , Kirtland Township, OH, 28 Jan. 1832; handwriting of ; three pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes postal markings and redactions.
Bifolium measuring 15⅝ × 10¼ inches (40 × 26 cm). The letter was tri-folded twice in letter style for mailing, addressed, and sealed. The front and back of the second leaf, which was used as the wrapper for mailing the letter, bear residue from morsels of an adhesive wafer that were removed. The bottom half of the front of the second leaf originally contained a printing bill for , but it was excised from the document and is no longer extant. Half the address block and postmarks are now missing from the wrapper because of the excision of the bill. The inscriptions “Bad” and “◊◊” appear at the top of the back of the second leaf in unidentified handwriting. A mark in red pencil follows ’s signature. The letter was later folded in half and tri-folded for filing purposes. All folds are partially broken, and there is a slight loss of inscription from the separations and holes in the filing folds. The letter has undergone conservation.
The custodial history of this document is uncertain. The letter was initially sent to JS and is listed in the 1973 register of the JS Collection—which suggests continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Part of one illegible character remains.

  2. [2]

    Johnson, Register of the Joseph Smith Collection, 11.

    Johnson, Jeffery O. Register of the Joseph Smith Collection in the Church Archives, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake City: Historical Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1973.

Historical Introduction

This 28 January 1832 letter from provided JS with important information about the welfare of the Mormon community in . Cowdery and were directed in a November 1831 revelation to travel to , Jackson County, Missouri, carrying copies of JS’s revelations, which the church planned to publish. They were also instructed to take with them money donated by church members to aid in purchasing land in the Independence area. Departing on 20 November 1831, Cowdery and Whitmer arrived in Independence on 5 January 1832. On 23–24 January, they held a two-day in the home of in , Missouri; they supplemented it with a special conference on 27 January at ’s residence in Independence. As clerk of the conferences, Cowdery kept the minutes and shortly thereafter copied them into this 28 January letter to JS.
The minutes highlight the continued development of in northwestern and the role of leaders such as and in that development. As , Partridge was responsible for overseeing the purchase of land in Jackson County in concert with Gilbert, who was an agent to the church in . Partridge also had the task of providing Saints with their “,” and Gilbert was directed by revelation to operate a in to generate revenues with which to purchase more land and to provision the church members who settled it. The minutes contain accountings from both Partridge and Gilbert of the moneys expended by them and a report from Partridge on land purchases. The minutes also record discussions concerning plans for schools for the Saints, the need for more skilled craftsmen to come to Missouri, and other subjects. In addition to the minutes, ’s letter includes a transcript of a note from Partridge to JS, a few words of general correspondence from Cowdery himself, and a list of projected costs of printing the revelations, which was to be conveyed to .
’s letter was written to JS, who was living in , Ohio, but it was sent to in , Ohio, even though there was a post office in Hiram. Cowdery had directed previous correspondence from to Whitney, who served as the postmaster of Kirtland, in part because he believed Whitney’s position allowed Whitney franking privileges, which gave him “the benefits of free postage.” JS may have obtained the letter when he made a short visit to Kirtland from 29 February to 4 March 1832, or someone from Kirtland could have brought the letter to JS in Hiram before then. Regardless of the method of delivery, it is clear the letter reached Kirtland because in March, several leaders issued charges of misconduct against the Missouri conference based on their reading of Cowdery’s minutes. Also, the list of printing costs intended for Harris was cut from the letter, as Cowdery suggested, and presumably given to him.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Revelation, 11 Nov. 1831–A [D&C 69:1–2].

  2. [2]

    An August 1831 revelation instructed Sidney Rigdon to write “an Epistle & subscription to be presented unto all the Churches to obtain money to be put into the hands of the Bishop to purchase lands for an inheritance for the children of God.” (Revelation, 1 Aug. 1831 [D&C 58:50–51].)

  3. [3]

    Whitmer, History, 38; Minute Book 2, 23 Jan. 1832.

  4. [4]

    Cowdery’s minutes in this letter are more expansive than those Ebenezer Robinson later copied into Minute Book 2. It is possible that Whitmer, who kept minutes of several Missouri conferences in 1832, kept his own record of the 23 January meeting. If so, Robinson may have copied Whitmer’s minutes. (See Minute Book 2, 23 Jan. 1832.)

  5. [5]

    Revelation, 20 May 1831 [D&C 51:3–4]; Revelation, 8 June 1831 [D&C 53:4]; Revelation, 20 July 1831 [D&C 57:4–8].

  6. [6]

    Register of Officers and Agents [1830], 49 (second numbering).

    A Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth Day of September, 1817; Together with the Names, Force, and Condition, of all the Ships and Vessels Belonging to the United States, and When and Where Built. Prepared at the Department of State, In Pursuance of a Resolution of Congress, of the 27th of April, 1816. Washington DC: E. De Krafft, 1818.A Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the 30th of September, 1829; together with the Names, Force, and Condition, of All the Ships and Vessels Belonging to the United States, and When and Where Built. Washington DC: William A. Davis, 1830.A Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the 30th of September, 1831; together with the Names, Force, and Condition, of All the Ships and Vessels Belonging to the United States, and When and Where Built. Washington DC: William A. Davis, 1831.

  7. [7]

    Letter from Oliver Cowdery, 8 Apr. 1831. According to the statute governing franking, postmasters could use the privilege for both incoming and outgoing correspondence that was business related and weighed no more than half an ounce. It is unclear, however, whether Whitney ever invoked his franking privilege for letters to or from Cowdery. (An Act to Reduce into One the Several Acts Establishing and Regulating the Post-Office Department [3 Mar. 1825], in Post-Office Laws, Instructions and Forms, 15–16, sec. 27.)

    Post-Office Laws, Instructions and Forms, Published for the Regulation of the Post-Office. Washington DC: Way and Gideon, 1828.

  8. [8]

    Note, 8 Mar. 1832. Mail between Independence and Kirtland generally required three to four weeks of travel time. (Hartley, “Letters and Mail between Kirtland and Independence,” 176.)

    Hartley, William G. “Letters and Mail between Kirtland and Independence: A Mormon Postal History, 1831–33.” Journal of Mormon History 35, no. 3 (Summer 2009): 163–189.

  9. [9]

    Charges against Missouri Conference Preferred to JS, ca. Mar. 1832.

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January [2]8th 1832Bro. Joseph
According to promise I transmit to you the proceedings of the held 23–24. and 27.th. which are as follows.
Minuets [Minutes] of a General Confrence held in the land of ( Jackson County Mo—.) at the dwelling house of bro. <​23​> First month (Jan.). AD. 1832. 3 oclock P.M.
Names of presant who were to the Names of Elders who were not ordained to the H.P.H.
Joshua Fairchild
Priest
Teacher
Isaac Bebee [Beebe]
appointed moderator and Clerk.——
Prayer by bro. .——
By joint resolution read relative to various subjects. Resolution offered by bro. to take into consideration the circumstances of two brethren present. (Isaac & George Bebee [Beebe]) who desired to preach the Gospel.——
39. Commandment read by the certain remarks made by him and bro. relative to the subject 30. Commandment read and remarks made by bro. concerning the duties of and their duties read by bro. from the Articles and Covenants. remarks by bro. stating the office of a Priest Teacher or Deacon to be as important as that of a . Resolved therefore that there be no person ordained in the in this the land of to the office of Elder Priest Teacher or Deacon without the united voice of the church in writing in which such individual resides.——
The above Resolution adopted by unanimous vote.— Records of the church which came from Geauga Co. Ohio. received and laid on the Table. Presented by their Teacher Isaac Bebee
The brought forward a statement of the lands purchased for for the saints amounting to nearly twelve hundred acres.— After a long discussion upon the expenditures expediency of mechanics immediately moving to this land for the be[n]efit of the church. the following resolution was proposed. Resolved that the be instructed to request the churches in the east to send to this land o[n]e blacksmith, two shoemakers one carpenter and joiner one mason one waggon and plow maker o[n]e tanner and currier one millwright one hatter one chair & cabinet maker, one silver Sm[it]h and one wheel wright. The abo[v]e Resolution adopted by unanimous vote Upon motion of the Confrence adjourned until half past 8. Oclock A.M. Closed.——
Prayer by brother . Clerk of Confrence 9. OClok eve.
[24 January 1832]
Confrence convened according to adjournment names called and prayer by the .——
Minuets of yesterdays proceedings read. The brought forward his account of moneys received from the church and also a statement of the expenditures of the same. The made certain remarks relative to the subject now before the confrence stating that in consequence of not making minuets at the time of paying out moneys last summer while traveling to this land and after arriving he could not account for nearly sixty dollars and after presenting the account bro. arose and said that he was knowing to the s paying at one time more than thirty dollars last summer for passage to this land which was not on the account presented. By unanimous vote the above sum allowed the . The following is a list of the s account.——
Amount of funds paid over to the up to Jan 24. 1832. including moneys of his own $4508.24
Amount of disbursments for lands and other necessaries for the church up to Jan 24. 1832. $3449.90
Total amount of funds now remaining in the s hands at this date Jan 24. 1832. $1058.34
By unanimous vote the above account accepted
Resolved that the lay before each General Con[ference] held by the Elders in this land a regular account of moneys and properties received and expended for the use and benefit of this church The above carried by unanimous vote
The Con. then proceeded to take into consideration the subject of Schools. After deliberate discussion the following Resolution passed by unanimous vote. Resolved that this Confrence appoint Brs, and to superintend Schools in this land. the Churches in this land.— The Records of the Church which came from N.Y. received and laid on the Table. presented by their Priest . Upon motion of bro. bro. appointed by unanimous vote to keep the General Church Record of <​the​> names of the in this land. according to the church Covenants.—— Resolved that the be instructed to establish a house of entertainment i[n] the Town of to accommodate the traveling Elders of this Church and other brethren whose circumstances may require. Also inquirers from a distance &c. to be supported out of the General Church fund a regular return of its expenditures and income to be made to each [p. [1]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Letter from Oliver Cowdery, 28 January 1832
ID #
110
Total Pages
4
Print Volume Location
JSP, D2:163–179
Handwriting on This Page
  • Oliver Cowdery

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    TEXT: “[Hole in paper]8th”.

  2. [2]

    Extant records of general conferences held in 1831 and 1832 indicate that all other general conferences during that time period were held in Ohio. (Minutes, ca. 3–4 June 1831; Minutes, 25–26 Oct. 1831; Revelation, 25 Jan. 1832–A [D&C 75:1–22].)

  3. [3]

    Knight lived twelve miles southwest of Independence, two miles east of the state border. His stewardship was in the northwestern quarter of Section 33 of Township 49 North, Range 33 West, in Jackson County. (Jackson Co., MO, Land and Property Records, 1832–1857, “Record of Original Entries to Lands in Jackson County Missouri,” 20 Dec. 1898, Township 49 North, Range 33 West, p. [16], microfilm 1,019,781, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; Berrett, Sacred Places, 4:84, 109–112.)

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

    Berrett, LaMar C., ed. Sacred Places: A Comprehensive Guide to Early LDS Historical Sites. 6 vols. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1999–2007.

  4. [4]

    “H.P.H.” refers to the high priesthood (in this instance, the office of high priest). Minutes from a 25–26 October 1831 conference at Orange, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, similarly begin with a list of “those ordained to the Highpriesthood.” All but three of those on this list (William W. Phelps, Newel Knight, and Oliver Cowdery) received the high priesthood at an early June 1831 conference held in Kirtland, Ohio. (Minutes, 25–26 Oct. 1831; Minutes, ca. 3–4 June 1831.)

  5. [5]

    Cowdery and Whitmer had recently brought Revelation Book 1, a manuscript book of JS’s revelations, to Missouri.

  6. [6]

    Isaac Beebe Sr. is listed in the 1820 census as living in Chardon, Ohio, and Isaac Beebe Jr. and George Beebe are listed in the 1830 federal census as living in Chardon. The Beebes apparently relocated to Missouri in 1831. Which Isaac is referred to here is not clear. (1820 U.S. Census, Chardon, Geauga Co., OH, 101A; 1830 U.S. Census, Chardon, Geauga Co., OH, 253A; “Deaths,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Aug. 1834, 182.)

    Census (U.S.) / U.S. Bureau of the Census. Population Schedules. Microfilm. FHL.

    The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.

  7. [7]

    This number and the number “30” on the following line apparently refer to corresponding numbers that appear on revelations in Revelation Book 1. In that book, the revelation numbered “39” concerns Partridge’s call to preach. The revelation numbered “30” states that only JS can receive revelation for the church as a whole and gives Cowdery the responsibility to lead the mission to the Lamanites. (Revelation, 9 Dec. 1830, in Revelation Book 1, p. 48 [D&C 36]; Revelation, Sept. 1830–B, in Revelation Book 1, p. 40 [D&C 28].)

  8. [8]

    Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:46–59]. In November 1831, a revelation called for the organization of the various offices in the church into bodies of designated sizes and for the appointment of presidents for each to “set in council with them & to teach them their duty.” (Revelation, 11 Nov. 1831–B [D&C 107:85].)

  9. [9]

    A November 1831 revelation outlined a hierarchy of offices in the church, ascending “from Deacon to Teacher & from Teacher to Priest & from Priest to Elder,” after which came “the high Priest hood which is the greatest of all.” (Revelation, 11 Nov. 1831–B [D&C 107:63–64].)

  10. [10]

    The “Articles and Covenants” of the church merely instructed that “every elder, priest, teacher, or deacon, is to be ordained according to the gifts and calling of God unto them by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is in the one who ordains them.” However, at a November 1831 conference in Hiram, Ohio, where two individuals from Nelson, Ohio, wanted to know whether they could preach the gospel, the conference decided that the two should “be ordained according to the voice of the church in which they live.” That decision was similar to the action taken at this Missouri conference. (Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:60]; Minutes, 9 Nov. 1831.)

  11. [11]

    The Articles and Covenants directed that congregations “send one of their priests or teachers to attend the several conferences held by the elders of the church with a list of the names the several persons uniting themselves to the church since the last conference.” Presenting Ohio records in Zion was in harmony with a November 1831 revelation that stated that the “Saints which are abroad in the Earth should send forth their accounts to the Land of Zion for the Land of Zion shall be a seat & a place to receive & do all these things.” (Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:81–82]; Revelation, 11 Nov. 1831–A [D&C 69:5–6].)

  12. [12]

    Partridge purchased these lands in several different transactions, all in his own name. They included a sixty-three-acre plot purchased in December 1831, which the Saints dedicated for the building of a temple. (Jones H. Flournoy and Clara Hickman Flournoy to Edward Partridge, Deed, Jackson Co., MO, 19 Dec. 1831, CHL; Edward Partridge, Petition for Redress, 15 May 1839, Edward Partridge, Papers, CHL; Land Patents for Edward Partridge, Jackson Co., MO, nos. 14, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1961, 1962, General Land Office Records, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior.)

    Flournoy, Jones H., and Clara Hickman Flournoy. Deed to Edward Partridge, Jackson Co., MO, 19 Dec. 1831. CHL. MS 14294.

    Edward Partridge, Papers, 1818–1839. CHL. MS 892.

    General Land Office Records. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior. Digital images of the land patents cited herein are available at http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/.

  13. [13]

    “Pertaining to artisans or mechanics.” As evidenced by the request later in the letter for specific individuals skilled in blacksmithing, shoemaking, and masonry to come to Jackson County, “mechanics” as used here apparently meant craftsmen of various kinds. (“Mechanic,” in American Dictionary [1845], 523.)

    An American Dictionary of the English Language; Exhibiting the Origin, Orthography, Pronunciation, and Definitions of Words. Edited by Noah Webster. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1845.

  14. [14]

    TEXT: “be[hole in paper]efit”.

  15. [15]

    TEXT: “o[hole in paper]e”.

  16. [16]

    TEXT: “o[hole in paper]e”.

  17. [17]

    TEXT: “Sm[hole in paper]h”.

  18. [18]

    Because the Santa Fe Trail began at Independence, Jackson County, Missouri, the town probably already had some craftsmen. This resolution indicates that the elders were committed to building a self-sustaining Mormon community. (See History of Jackson County, Missouri, 170.)

    The History of Jackson County, Missouri, Containing A History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, Etc. . . . Cape Girardeau, MO: Cape Ramfre Press, 1966.

  19. [19]

    TEXT: “abo[hole in paper]e”.

  20. [20]

    The conference report in Minute Book 2 records that John Corrill offered the closing prayer. Corrill offered the opening prayer at the conference held at Sidney Gilbert’s home on 27 January 1832, which may have confused the recorder of the minutes in Minute Book 2. (Minute Book 2, 23 Jan. 1832.)

  21. [21]

    See Revelation, 9 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:34–36]; and Revelation, 20 May 1831 [D&C 51:8].

  22. [22]

    Partridge distributed funds to elders who were required by a 6 June 1831 revelation to travel to Zion. An 8 August 1831 revelation instructed Partridge to aid these elders on their return journey as well. (Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52]; Revelation, 8 Aug. 1831 [D&C 60:10].)

  23. [23]

    It is unclear how much Partridge had expended on land to this point. He purchased much of the land for $1.25 an acre. This would mean that he had paid approximately $1,500 for the nearly 1,200 acres he had purchased. Records indicate that he had spent at least $875 for nearly 660 acres by the end of 1831. (Land Patents for Edward Partridge, Jackson Co., MO, nos. 14, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1961, 1962, General Land Office Records, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior; Jones H. Flournoy and Clara Hickman Flournoy to Edward Partridge, Deed, Jackson Co., MO, 19 Dec. 1831, CHL.)

    General Land Office Records. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior. Digital images of the land patents cited herein are available at http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/.

    Flournoy, Jones H., and Clara Hickman Flournoy. Deed to Edward Partridge, Jackson Co., MO, 19 Dec. 1831. CHL. MS 14294.

  24. [24]

    A June 1831 revelation assigned Cowdery and Phelps the task of publishing schoolbooks. Some leaders in Kirtland objected to the appointment of Corrill to superintend schools, believing that his work as an assistant to Partridge required his full attention. (Revelation, 14 June 1831 [D&C 55:4]; Charges against Missouri Conference Preferred to JS, ca. Mar. 1832.)

  25. [25]

    About sixty church members from Colesville, New York, relocated together to Kaw Township after a sojourn in Thompson, Ohio, arriving in late July 1831. They settled on an eighty-acre tract of land in the northwest corner of Section 33 of Township 49 North, Range 33 West. (Knight, Reminiscences, 9; Jackson Co., MO, Land and Property Records, 1832–1857, “Record of Original Entries to Lands in Jackson County Missouri,” 20 Dec. 1898, Township 49 North, Range 33 West, p. [16], microfilm, 1,019,781, U. S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; Berrett, Sacred Places, 4:110n12.)

    Knight, Joseph, Sr. Reminiscences, no date. CHL. MS 3470.

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

  26. [26]

    That is, the Articles and Covenants. These stated that a “regular list of all the names of the members of the whole church” were to be kept in a book “by one of the elders whomesoever the other elders shall appoint from time to time.” That list was called “the general church record of names.” Although a March 1831 revelation gave John Whitmer the responsibility to “keep the Church Record & History continually,” Corrill was here appointed to keep the record for Zion—an assignment to which some Ohio leaders objected. (Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:82–83]; Revelation, ca. 8 Mar. 1831–B [D&C 47:3]; Charges against Missouri Conference Preferred to JS, ca. Mar. 1832.)

  27. [27]

    TEXT: “i[hole in paper]”.

  28. [28]

    There is no extant record that a “house of entertainment” was ever built or begun. By 1838, Smallwood Noland, who was not a member of the church, was operating a log hotel and tavern in Independence that Parley P. Pratt called a “respectable hotel.” Whether that hotel was in operation in January 1832 is unclear. (Berrett, Sacred Places, 4:49–50; Pratt, History of the Late Persecution, 46.)

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

    Pratt, Parley P. History of the Late Persecution Inflicted by the State of Missouri Upon the Mormons, In Which Ten Thousand American Citizens were Robbed, Plundered, and Driven From the State, and Many Others Imprisoned, Martyred, &c. For Their Religion, and All This by Military Force, by Order of the Executive. By P. P. Pratt, Minister of the Gospel. Written During Eight Months Imprisonment in that State. Detroit: Dawson and Bates, 1839.

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