TO LUCIEN ADAMS
1843 OCTOBER 2

ALS. Joseph Smith, Nauvoo, Illinois, to Lucien Adams, 2 October 1843, 1 p., location of the original not known. The text here is from a photocopy in the Joseph Smith Collection, LDS Church Archives.

In October 1842, the Maid of Iowa, a small stern-wheeler steamboat, made its appearance on the Mississippi River. Built by Levi Moffit, an Augusta, Illinois, businessman, and by Dan Jones, an experienced riverboat captain, the boat was purchased by Joseph Smith and James Adams the following year and began plying the rivers of the Mississippi Valley as a Mormon-owned freight-passenger-ferry-excursion boat.656 When James Adams suddenly died of cholera in August 1843, his affairs, at least so far as the boat was concerned, were handled by his son Lucien,657 who was the recipient of this Joseph Smith holograph note dated 2 October 1843. The bearer of the note, to whom Lucien was to pay the $75, was one George Stuart.

Nauvoo City Oct 2d 1843

Mr. Lucian Adams

Dear Sir

I have furnished the Steam boat the one hundred dollers you agreed to Send me as well as in every thing else and Set her a runing and She is like to do well She is now at St. Louis I am owing the bearer of this line Seventy five dollers in cash which I want you to pay him for me and I will apply it on you[r] Share of the boat I am most respect[f]uly you[r] Obedient Servent

Joseph Smith