TO REUBEN MCBRIDE
1844 JANUARY 18

FC. Joseph Smith, Nauvoo, Illinois, to Reuben McBride, Kirtland, Ohio, 18 January 1844, 1 p., in hand of Thomas Bullock, Joseph Smith Collection, LDS Church Archives.

Following the untimely death of Oliver Granger in 1841, Reuben McBride was appointed in his place as agent to regulate business affairs of the Church in Kirtland, Ohio. McBride's grasp of the local situation proved invaluable when a claim was made against Joseph Smith's Kirtland farm by Joseph Coe who was renting the place in January 1844. Coe, a charter member of the Kirtland high council in 1834 had helped purchase the Egyptian mummies in 1835. Two years later he allied himself with dissenters and left the Church. In a January 1844 letter to Joseph Smith, Coe claimed that his part in the purchase of the mummies had never been repaid and that an agreement to do so with Joseph's father through a gift of land had been ignored. "Cannot you make arrangements with your brother William for his house and lot, or with Hyram for his, or let me have the use of this farm over which you are sole trustee in trust," he queried. He added that he would be glad to occupy the Prophet's Kirtland farm "for several years to come" provided he could "dictate the policy in relation to its management."664

Having learned that Coe had written to Joseph Smith, Reuben McBride notified the Prophet of the situation respecting him. Reuben stated that he had allowed Joseph Coe to rent the Prophet's farm at a reasonable fee of $90 per year plus taxes, but that Coe had failed to pay the tax and half the rent in 1842, and although promising to settle the account, had paid nothing in 1843. Reuben added that the property tax was now due and that it would be difficult to raise enough money to keep the farm from being sold. He further noted that Joseph Coe did not intend to pay the rent or the tax because of his claims against the Church. "I give it as my belief that if he had the place and no one were here to see to it he would let it be sold for tax and bid it off himself and get a sheriff's deed of it, for he certainly would have let it be sold this year if I were not here," he concluded.665

On 18 January Joseph responded to both men, first to Reuben McBride and then to Joseph Coe.

Nauvoo January 18. 1844

Dear Brother

Your letter of the 1st instant was received last evening, its contents have been duly considered and I now proceed to reply.

I have also received a letter from Joseph Coe requesting me to let him have the place &c I shall answer his letter this morning. At the same time I want you to take measures to remove him from the farm forthwith, for I am tired of hearing the report of its liability to be sold for taxes &c I consider that he has treated me mean, and I am under no obligations to let him have the place on any terms, and do not intend he shall have it. I also want you to use all necessary means to collect that portion of the rent which is due from him, although I have little hopes of your being able to do much with him, but collect it if you can.

You had better rent the place to some responsible person who will give sufficient securities for the rent, at the same time binding them to keep all the Taxes regularly paid, and also to keep the place in sufficient repair. For if you do not put the person under sufficient bonds who rents the place, to pay the Taxes regularly you will be for ever harassed with arrearages and the land will be sold and consequently adding cost to cost until it use up the principal.

There is a straight way to do all things and it is invariably the safest and the best, and when good security is given, for a sufficient amount, there is no further trouble, or anxiety about the danger of losing either rent, or having it sold for Taxes.

As to the idea of suffering a part of it to be sold for Taxes, it is very far from meeting with my approbation. I do not want it to be sold on any pretext whatever, and lest there is a possibility that some part of it may have already been sold I wish you to make every necessary enquiry and see that it is all right and safe.

As to the choice of a person for a tenant I leave that to your own judgment, only be careful to have writings sufficiently strong to keep the premises safe and free from further trouble if possible. It matters little to me who occupies the premises so that the property is not wasted or destroyed, and the rent is duly paid.

We are doing well in Nauvoo, the city is in a flourishing condition, and it is a time of general good health, with some few exceptions.

Our enemies occasionally boil over, and vent their foam and rage; but it all blows over easy and we are now enjoying a pleasant calm.

The work prospers as ever, and the kindness of the God whom we serve, in preserving us and blessing us with good things causes our hearts to rejoice from day to day.

Praying that God may bless you and give you wisdom to do all things for the best I close for the present, in the mean time I remain as ever your undeviating friend and brother in the new and Everlasting Covenant.

Joseph Smith

Mr. R. McBride