TO HENRY G. SHERWOOD
1839 NOVEMBER 7

LS. Joseph Smith, Springfield, Illinois, to Henry G. Sherwood, Nauvoo, Illinois, 7 November 1839, 1 p., Illinois State Historical Library, Springfield, Illinois. The non-holograph part of this letter was written by Elias Higbee.

After repeated efforts to obtain redress for their lost lands and property in Missouri had failed on the local and state level, the Latter-day Saints decided to approach the nation's highest authority. At a Church conference held in Nauvoo on 7-8 October 1839, Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and Elias Higbee were selected as a committee to lay the Mormon cause before the federal government.594 The committee left Nauvoo on 29 October in a two-horse carriage, accompanied by Orrin Porter Rockwell, but they were forced to stop at Springfield when sudden illness prevented Sidney Rigdon from continuing the trip. While there, the Prophet wrote two letters, one, dated 7 November to the Nauvoo land agent, Henry Sherwood, and the second, two days later, to his wife:

Springfield November 7th 1839

Mr. Henry. G. Sherwood

you will please to pay John. A. Hicks fifty Dollars and charge the same to me yours &c

Joseph Smith Jr

The Above order is for mony to bear our expences on the road he will take a lot or land if you have any to please him if not you can sell the lot that Br Jonathan Hampton was to have I have seen him hes paid me the damage &c &c

Joseph Smith Jr