and Black River Falls36 in Wisconsin were in operation, manufacturing lumber for building purposes. A steam flour mill, a tool factory, a foundry and a factory for chinaware were in busy operation, bearing testimony of Mormon industry.37 The city also owned a steamboat.38

It is hard to fix the population exactly at this or any other date during the colony's stay in Illinois, for the various writers seldom, if ever, agree. Estimates of the population of Nauvoo during 1841 vary from 3,00039 given by the Prophet himself to 10,000 given by a later writer.10 Probably the former is nearer the correct number. Estimates of the Mormon population in Nauvoo the next year show similar discrepancies. Agreeing upon one point alone, that the growth of the community was wonderfully rapid, the authors proceed to place the numbers at anywhere from 5,000 to 30,000.42 Here again, fortunately, we have an estimate made by a Mormon and published in the Nauvoo Times and Seasons, which places the population of the city itself at 10,000.48 Allowing for others scattered through the towns around Nauvoo, 16,000** may be said to cover the entire number.

In the latter half of 1842, Nauvoo had its greatest population. Not only had the Saints from Missouri occupied the new city, but hundreds from all over the country, complying with the summons of the Prophet to assemble at Nauvoo and aid in the construction of the Temple and the University, turned their faces toward the home of the church and hastened to take up their abodes either within the city or its immediate neighborhood.45

36 Brunson, A Western Pioneer, 2, 168.

37 Kennedy, Early Days of Mormonism, 199.

28 Ibid.

39 Smith and Smith, The Latter Day Saints, 2, 501.

40 Caswell, The Prophet of the Nineteenth Century, 212.

41 Gregg, The Prophet of Palmyra, 223.

42 The New York Herald, June 17, 1843.

43 The New York Weekly Herald, Jan. 15, 1842-copied from The Nauvoo Times and Seasons.

"Davidson and Stuvé, History of Illinois, 498; New York Weekly Tribune, July 15, 1843, estimates 15,000-17,000; Madison City Express, July 27, 1843, copies from the Burlington Iowa Gazette and estimates 15,000 to 17,000. 45 Gregg, The Prophet of Palmyra, 162.

46

The plans of Joseph Smith were far-reaching and he determined that the sinners of other lands should be called to repentance. Elders were appointed to go to England, Scotland, Ireland and Nova Scotia, besides others who were to spread the new doctrine in the eastern states, Wisconsin Territory and Galena.47 Handsome young women were chosen also to aid in the missionary work.48

The work prospered, especially in England, from which place many came to swell the congregation at Nauvoo. On June 6, 1840, a colony of forty emigrants sailed from England, under the leadership of Elder Moore. Three months later the Liverpool Chronicle mentions the sailing of a packet from that port having on board two hundred steerage passengers belonging "to a sect called Latter Day Saints and bound for Quincy in the state of Michigan, on the borders of the Mississippi, where a settlement has been provided for them by one of their sect, who has purchased a large tract of land in Michigan. ''50

Occasionally newspapers recorded the movement of these colonies to Nauvoo. The Cincinnati Chronicle, evidently meaning the first colony mentioned, speaks of thirty Mormons arriving in that city by keel-boat.51 They had split into two parties at Pittsburg and the route of the second party does not seem to have been known by the writer. He, however, states that another party of the same sect, (probably the larger party which left in September) is on the way from England destined for Nauvoo. In all there were two hundred and forty who came in 1840.52

The years 1841, 1842, 1843, 1844 and 1845 saw additional converts from foreign lands come to dwell under the direct guidance of the Prophet.53 The immigrants generally came in

40 Beadle, Life in Utah, 59.

47 Niles' Register, 64, 336.

49 Ibid., 63, 400.

49 Smith and Smith, The Latter Day Saints, 2, 450; Kennedy, Early Days of Mormonism, 219, states the colony was under the leadership of Brigham Young. 50 Niles' Register, 59, 144.

51 Cincinnati Chronicle, Aug. 26, 1840.

62 Kennedy, Early Days of Mormonism, 219.

63 Smith and Smith, The Latter Day Saints (3, 1) give the following figures: 1841 (769); 1842 (1991); 1843 (769); 1844 (501); Kennedy, Early Days of Mormonism (219), gives: 1840 (240); 1841 (1135); 1842 (1614); 1843 (769); no statistics for 1844 and 1845.

large colonies numbering sometimes two, three55 or even five hundred 56 souls. They landed at various ports from Quebec57 to New Orleans's and came to Nauvoo either by way of the Ohio or Mississippi river. The unanimous opinion of people coming in contact with these emigrants on their way to the West was that they were respectable looking59 farmers or mechanics and by no means from the lowest classes in England, people "who would make good settlers if they were free from the infatuation of Mormonism.''61

60

This constant stream of immigration, it will be seen, did much towards aiding the rapid growth of Nauvoo and the peculiarity worthy of most attention seems to be that by far the greatest number of foreign converts were English. One writer who visited Nauvoo during 1844 says that "of the 16,000 followers assembled at Nauvoo, 10,000 are said to be from England. ''62 The other foreigners were from Germany and Scotland.

With increase of numbers, an increase of prosperity came and with increased prosperity, more effort was made towards beautifying the city. In the construction of houses taste was shown and often evidences of wealth.63 The work on the temple progressed steadily, additional manufactures were added to the number already in operation, evincing industry and economic success.64 New farms were enclosed, the land was put under cultivation and a general air of success pervaded the whole neighborhood.65

Nauvoo impressed visitors in various ways. One visitor in speaking of the city says, "Such a collection of miserable

New York Weekly Herald, Apr. 9, 1842.

53 Museum of Foreign Literature, 45, 9.

56 Niles' Register, 64, 96.

57 Ibid., 60, 304.

58 New York Weekly Herald, Apr. 9, 1842; Madison City Express, Apr. 25, 1844. (From St. Louis Era.)

59 New York Weekly Herald, Apr. 9, 1842; Cincinnati Chronicle, Aug. 26, 1840. 60 Museum of Foreign Literature, 45, 9.

61 Madison City Express, Apr. 25, 1844.

(From The St. Louis Era.)

62 Lewis, Impressions of America and the American Churches, 265.

63 Madison City Express, July 27, 1843.

Smucker, History of the Mormons, 159.

o Ibid.

houses and hovels I could not have believed existed in one place."66

Other writers who have visited the place speak more highly of it and some with marked enthusiasm. Among these a certain Mr. Newhall, who visited Nauvoo in the autumn of 1843, published his impressions in a New England newspaper, giving a description which is both vivid and interesting. He says, "Instead of seeing a few miserable log cabins and mud hovels which I had expected to find, I was surprised to see one of the most romantic places that I had visited in the West. The buildings, though many of them were small, and of wood, yet bore marks of neatness which I have not seen equalled in this country. The far-spread plain at the bottom of the hill was dotted over with the habitations of men, with such majestic profusion that I was almost willing to believe myself mistaken, and instead of being in Nauvoo of Illinois among Mormons, that I was in Italy at the city of Leghorn which the location of Nauvoo resembles very much. I gazed for sometime with fond admiration on the plain below. Here and there rose a tall majestic brick house, speaking loudly of genius and the untiring labor of the inhabitants. I passed on into the more active parts of the city looking into every street and lane to observe all that was passing. I found all the people engaged in some useful and healthy employment. The place was alive with business-much more than any place I have visited since the hard times commenced. I sought in vain for anything that bore marks of immorality but was both astonished and highly pleased at my ill success. I could see no loungers around the streets nor any drunkards about the taverns. I did not meet with those distorted features of ruffianism or with the illbred and impudent. I heard not an oath in the place. I saw not a gloomy countenance, all were cheerful, polite and industrious. From this description we may conclude that there was something to commend in Nauvoo and its inhabitants, for the writer had visited many places in his trip through the

1967

66 Overland Monthly, 16, N. S. 617.

67 Smucker, History of the Mormons, 152. (Extract from the Salem (Mass.) Advertiser.)

West and had had abundant opportunities offered for comparisons.

The newly built dwellings of the rural districts around Nauvoo did not present the same uniform prosperity. This can be explained by the fact that these farms were just being opened up and the habitations erected upon them were in keeping with the general character of pioneer dwellings.

69

Such was Nauvoo, the city of the Latter Day Saints, when the storm broke over them. The city itself was the largest one in Illinois, having in 1845 some 15,00068 inhabitants. Next to St. Louis, it was the most important central point and supply depot of the western territory. Some families had left by 1844, already anticipating a visitation similar to the one experienced in Missouri, but others had been added in greater numbers to take their places70 until by the end of 1844, 30,000 Mormons resided in Nauvoo and its vicinity."1

In order to understand the expulsion of the Mormons, it is necessary to return to the early history of the settlement. Scarcely had the Mormons settled in Hancock county when trouble arose. Several inhabitants of Shelby county became converts, whereupon a mob attacked them. The Mormons in retaliation secured warrants from Judge Breese calling for the arrest of fifteen of the leaders, but the militia, when called upon to assist in serving the warrants, flatly refused.72

Little by little the opposition grew, quietly at first, but turned by later events into an open and bitter hostility. The extraordinary privileges granted by the charter73 to Nauvoo were instrumental at first in exciting the envy and distrust of the citizens of the surrounding country. An independent military force devoted to the Prophet and the right claimed by him to disregard warrants for the arrest of any person in Nauvoo, if issued from other places, seemed more than the people could bear. Moreover, the political party which had not re

68 Beadle, Life in Utah, 134.

Chicago Tribune, Mar. 6, 1886.

To Nauvoo Times and Seasons, 5, 743.

Smith and Smith, Latter Day Saints, 3, 1.

Niles' Register, 56, 336.

73 Amberley, The Latter Day Saints, in Fortnightly Review, 12, 527.