Description:

Only days before the Mormon's winter exodus from Navuoo began, two church members write of the impending escape : "a company of 2500 ... to start in 2 weeks the 12 are going," while also describing how one of Brigham Young's rivals for the L.D.S. leadership, James Strang, had come across another set of gold plates: "he says Br Josep[h] Smith appointed him a prophet a few days before his Death since that an Angel assended [sic] from the Heavens & Ordained Him & Give him the Urim & Thummin the same that Joseph had ..."

(MORMONS) Important Autograph Letter Signed, "Newton Russell," 3 pages, 7.5" x 12.25", Walnut Grove, [Illinois], February 1, 1846, together with an additional Autograph Letter Signed, "L C Fuller," 1 page [Walnut Grove, February 1, 1846] accomplished on the same bifolium as Russell's, and addressed in Russell's hand on the integral transmittal leaf to "William Rhoades East Hamilton Madison Co NY," discussing a variety of topics, including the impending Mormon exodus from Nauvoo and the dissident movement led by James Strang who claimed that he had been appointed leader of the Latter Day Saints by Joseph Smith only days before his death. Expected folds, some light soling and toning, minor hole at one fold intersection, else very good.

A remarkable set of letters written at a pivotal juncture in L.D.S. history, the departure of the Mormons from Nauvoo, Illinois two years following the death of their founder Joseph Smith. The longer of the two letters, composed by Newton Russell, reads in part [with original spellings retained with minimal comment]: "..we received both of your letters in due tie & should have answered the first before now but we expected Lucetta here every day & we thought She would know more about the folks at Nauvoo than we did so we delayed writing... we will tell you what we have heard... our acquaintances at Nauvoo are usually well Sally & family are getting ready to move west Alphonzo & Betsy calculate to go... there are many in Nauvoo that would moove west if they could but they have expended all their Subsistence for houses and lands in Nauvoo & now they cannot get any thing for their possessions a company of 2500 callculate[d] to start in 2 weeks the 12 are going. We live here at the Grove & Shall for aught we know we like the place & neighbors and we raise enough to live upon... You ask in your letter why the Mormons will not be good citizens & stay where they are the persecution against them is on account of their religion not their unlawful deeds. You say the laws of the United States are good enough for you, what are laws good for unless they are put in force look at the murders & house burnings in Hancock the Philadelphia riots the anti rent troubles in your own State, a gang of men associated together in the capacity of a mob will commit crimes with impunity & go unpunished while one man for the same offence will be hung by the neck until he was dead dead dead. A sad picture of republicanism we have reason to blush & exclaim the laws are good but the government has not energy to enforce them. You say the good old bible is good enough for you... & good enough for anyone who had rather have the history of gifts & blessings that People enjoyed 1800 years ago, than to have the blessings & gifts themselves... Mother Fuller wants to write some & she will tell you what I have forgotten..."

On the outside leaf, "Mother Fuller," a.k.a "L C Fuller," the mother of Russel's deceased first wife, Mary Ann Fuller (d. 1842), writes on the claims of James Strang: "...Strange things thes[e] last days there is a Man by the name of James J. Strang he lives in west consin Burlington he says Br Josep[h] Smith appointed him a prophet a few days before his Death since that an Angel assended from the Heavens & Ordained Him & Give him the Urim & Thummin the same that Joseph had told him to go to white River which was clost by under and Oak Tree he would find sum Plaits he went to the spot & lookt throw the Urim & Thummin & see them as plain as he could see a stone in clear water there was four went and dug as deepe as their waist & found the Plaits which were in a Casement of clay there is a good many falls in with him which was going west. I have seen a number of them if you was hear I could tell you all about it..."

James Strang (1813-1856) was a recent convert to the Latter Day Saints, joining in 1844. He rapidly found favor with Joseph Smith, who charged Strang to establish a "stake" in Wisconsin, which he established at Voree. After Smith died in June 1844, Strang was one of several claimants to the church presidency, producing what he purported was a letter from Joseph Smith appointing him as his successor. In addition, Strang testified that an angel ordained him as Smith's successor and that he been led to yet another set of gold plates. Approximately 12,000 adhered to Strang and many moved to a new settlement he established at Beaver Island in Lake Michigan. In 1856, Strang was murdered by two dissidents and soon afterwards vigilantes raided the island and removed the inhabitants. The two events nearly destroyed this branch of the church, but several small congregations of Strangites remained loyal and remain in existence today.

Newton Russell (1813-1890) was born in Madison, New York, then relocated to Knox, Illinois where he married his first wife, Mary Ann Fuller (d. 1842) in 1835. He married his second wife, Calista Phoebe Green, in Nauvoo in 1844, and his third wife, Susan Laurilla Powell, in 1850 in Stark, Illinois. In 1853, Russell assumed ownership of a land grant and became a pioneer of Sweet Home, Oregon, and the family relocated there, followed by a stream of relatives and in-laws who also settled in Linn County, Oregon.

Provenance: Charles Hamilton.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 20% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000