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Handwritten and signed letter, dated 18 Aug. 1841, composed in New York, and addressed to Joseph Smith, first president of the Mormon Church. Bernhisel writes concerning the purchase of land in Nauvoo, Illinois.

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Photocopy of a typescript of an autobiography. Bigler writes about his relationship with the first president of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith (1805-1844), his life in Nauvoo, Illinois, his migration to Utah, and his life in Nephi, Utah. Bigler served on a mission for the Mormon Church in Ireland and was active in Mormon Church activities in Nephi.

Scope and Contents Photographs of a handwritten and signed letters addressed to Lilburn W. Boggs and dated 22 and 24 July 1840. One of the items is from Chauncey Durkus denying reports that he has been involved in arresting Mormons in Illinois and taking them back to Missouri. The veracity of his statements was confirmed by the signatures of 37 residents of Lewis County, Missouri. The other item was signed by 11 residents of Lewis County claiming that persons; who went to Nauvoo, Illinois, to recover stolen...

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Photocopies of handwritten and signed bonds. Three of the items are signed by Smith, date form 1839 and 1841, and relate to purchases of property in Nauvoo, Illinois. The fourth item is dated 27 Sept. 1845 and deals with Nathaniel Whiting transferring property.

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Handwritten claims and bills submitted against the estates of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. The items request payments on charges made by the two men between 1841 and 1844. Joseph and Hyrum were brothers and leaders of the Mormon Church. They were murdered in 1844.

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Handwritten deed verifying that Granger will purchase a lot in Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith, first president of the Mormon Church, signed as "accredited agent of Oliver Granger."

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Photocopy of a handwritten and signed letter dated 8 Sept. 1842, composed in St. Louis, Missouri, and addressed to "His Exelency," probably governor Thomas Reynolds of Missouri. Ford describes an attempt to arrest the first president of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith, and his friend, Orrin Porter Rockwell.

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Journal kept by Barzillai Frost during his travels in the West in 1843. Includes an account of his visit to Nauvoo, Ill., and his meeting with Joseph Smith and other prominent Mormons. A photocopy and transcript of the diary are also included in the collection, as well as articles and biographical information on Frost.

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Photocopy of a typed biography of George Cannon, English convert to the Mormon Church, who emigrated to the United States and settled in Nauvoo. He made coffins for the Mormon prophet, Joseph Smith (1805-1844), and his brother, Hyrum, and plaster casts of their heads.

Scope and Contents Typewritten carbon copy of an autobiography with pencilled corrections composed in Lawrence, Kansas in 1904. Gore participated in an overland journey to Jacksonville, Oregon in 1852 and presents many insights into frontier and pioneer life. Gore was familiar with the Mormons in Kirtland, Ohio and in Nauvoo, Illinois. After the Mormons arrived in Kirtland, "the chicken-roosts suffered ... and the herds of stock frequently became reduced." When confronted the Mormons "would acknowledge the...