Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate/Volume 2/Number 10/Letter to Oliver Cowdery from W. W. Phelps (June 2, 1836)

2d. SERIES—LETTER No. I.

Liberty, (Mo.) June 2, 1836.

DEAR BROTHER:—Since I returned home to Missouri, I have been so constantly engaged in viewing the country, or employed at business of importance, that I could not spare time to write. I have been out on two expeditions examining the regions of the "far west"—and notwithstanding my letters, heretofore published, contain almost all that need be said for or against a prairie country, yet, permit me to add a little more as a kind of appendix, for such as wish information from this quarter.

Soon after our return, bishop Partridge and myself started on a tour of land looking. We passed from Liberty to the northwest corner of Clay county, and examined the mills and streams, and country around Mr. Smith's—generally denominated "yankee Smith." It is customary, you know, for the sake of provincialism among nations, kindreds, and people, to nick-name by their religion, or provision, or ancestry—so that one can be distinguished, by being an Israelite, a Canaanite, a Christian, a Mormon, a Methodist, &c. or a corn-cracker, or a mighty hunter, &c. according to fancy or favor. From Mr. Smith's we proceeded northeasterly through some timber and some prairie to "Plattsburg" the county seat for Clinton county; and although this place may not come nearer in resemblance to Plattsburg the capital of Clinton county (N. Y.) on Lake Champlain, than a cabin does to Congress hall, yet it seems to be quite "a smart little town,"—containing from 15 to 20 hewed log cabins, and brick body of a two story court house, 32 feet square. This town is located on the west side of Horse and Smith's fork on the Little Platt, contiguous to the timber on these streams, 25 miles north of Liberty. The timber and mill and water privileges may answer a very small population, but for a large it would be nothing. There are now three stores and will soon be four.—Clinton county is mostly prairie with here and there a few fringes or spots of timber on the creeks that run into the Little Platt and Grand River.

From this town we made the best course we could to the waters of Grand river. We had a "sort of a road for a little bit" towards Brushy fork, then we had to be content with naked prairie, patches of scrubby timber, deep banked creeks and branches, together with a rainy morning and no compass; but, with the blessing of the Lord, we came to "some house" in the afternoon, passed into Ray county. On Shoal creek, when there is water, there are some tolerable mill seats, but the prairies,—those "old clearings"—peering one over another, as far as the eye can glance, flatten all common calculation as to timber for boards, rails, or future wants, for a thick population, according to the natural reasoning of men.

What the design of our heavenly Father was or is, as to these vast prairies of the far west, I know no farther than we have revelation. The book of Mormon terms them the land of desolation, and when I get into a prairie so large that I am out of sight of timber, just as a seaman is "out of sight of land in the ocean," I have to exclaim, what is man and his works, compared to the Almighty and his creations? Who hath viewed his everlasting fields? Who hath counted his buffaloes;—who hath seen all his deer, on a thousand prairies? Well may his sacred word declare:—The cattle upon a thousand hills are mine. All are God's.

The pinks variegate these widespread lawns without the hand of man to aid them, and the bees of a thousand groves, banquet on the flowers unobserved, and sip the honey dews of heaven, far beyond the busy bustling scenes of aspiring man. O what a scene for contemplation! What a good God all living have, to provide for them in all capacities in all conditions—and in all ages against a day of trouble, and for a day of righteousness!

Nearly every skirt of timber to the State line, on the north, I am informed, has some one in it, if it has range and wood enough for their common custom. Some people require more than others. It is astonishing to witness how eager thousands are to be pioneers into a new country; to be frontiers; to be on the outside; yea, to be, as one man said, in speaking of head men, "what he was a mind to;" or, every man carry his own head. The back settlers are generally very honorable; and more hospitable than any people I ever saw. You are, in most instances, welcome to the best they have.

As ever.

W. W. PHELPS.

To O. COWDERY, Esq.