Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate/Volume 3/Number 3/Interesting letter

The following from the "Medina Free Press," was written by elders Palmer and Gordon, with whom we are personally and intimately acquainted. Our friends abroad may not only place implicit confidence in their statements, but rely upon the fact, that notwithstanding our enemies have used their utmost exertion to vilify and slander our friends in the west as well as the church here, that prosperity and peace seem to be once more restored to that long abused and afflicted people. We repeat, what we have so often said, that were it not for uneasy religionists, who hatch up the greatest number of the lies floating about against us, we should long ere this have been at peace with the citizens of Missouri, and in fact, with all men. Yes, we may add, had it not been for them, no trouble would have occurred.

There has been some sickness, and several deaths among our brethren in the west this season. But when we consider the fatigues and distress occasioned by being driven from home, it is only a wonder that so many survive. We are aware of the fact, that many received the seeds of death while exposed to the colds of winter, and the wants of food, while fleeing from a merciless mob. And we only add, that at the day of God's vengeance, such as afflicted the innocent and persecuted the helpless without cause, will receive their reward. Elders Palmer and Gordon went from the New Portage church.—Editor Messenger.

INTERESTING LETTER.

[We have thought proper to publish the following Letter, from a belief that the contents thereof will prove more or less pleasing and interesting to the readers of this paper, as well as from the consideration that, from the well known candor and veracity of the gentlemen who have signed this communication, great confidence may be placed in its general correctness, especially in the neighborhoods in this, and other counties, in which they were acquainted. We ought, probably to add, that the authors of this letter belong to the religious body generally denominated Mormons.]—Editor Ohio Free Press.

Mr. Joseph W. White,

Sir,

Believing it will be a satisfaction to you, and many of our acquaintance in Medina county, to hear from us and know the situation of our people since we have arrived in Missouri, we will give you a short account of our journey and present situation, and some general description of the country so far as we have become acquainted.

We started on our journey from New Portage, five families in number, on the 14th day of June last, and after a pleasant and prosperous journey of nine weeks we arrived at our home in the state of Missouri on the 17th day of August, 1836. Length of road 800 miles. We took our journey by the way of Columbus. In passing through the state of Ohio we admired the richness of soil of the land about Mount Vernon on the branches of Owl creek, as also land on Walnut and Whetstone creeks near Columbus; and also the country about Dayton, which is of a richer quality of land than that with which we were acquainted in the northern counties. We must say that the,

Western Reserve far exceeds any other part of the State through which we passed, for the industry of the farmers, the convenience of roads, beauty of situation and buildings, and present flourishing situation and future prospects of improvements. The state of Indiana, on the road which we passed, is generally new and uncultivated, of a deep rich black soil, heavy timbered, rather level, more suitable for grass than grain; rather subject to intermittent fevers, particularly in a wet season; however when the country is improved, and proper sluices and drains opened for the water to pass off, it will be a rich and beautiful country. As we passed through Indianopolis [Indianapolis], the Capital of the State, the new State House attracted our attention, and we called to take a view of so elegant a structure, which exceeds any building we have ever seen for seize [size] and beauty. We were now nine families and 56 persons in number. We were politely waited upon by the keeper, and after viewing the assembly room and senate chamber, with the other parts of that elegant building, we sang a part of the following hymn:

"The spirit of God like a fire is burning,

The latter day glory begins to come forth;

The visions and blessings of old are returning,

The angels are coming to visit the earth.

We'll sing and we'll shout with the armies of heaven,

Hosannah, hosannah to God and the Lamb;

Let glory to them in the highest be given,

Hence forth and forever—Amen and amen."

The singing, with the echo which followed and repeated the sounds, produced the most pleasing sensations.

The state of Illinois is mostly a prairie country, consisting of open prairies from 10 to 15 miles wide, covered with grass. We would then pass ++++ strip of timbered land from ++++ miles wide, with scattering ++++ around the edge of the prairie. However, Sangamon and Morgan counties are excellent counties of land, the best, we presume, in the State. As we crossed the Mississippi, a large and beautiful river we arrived in the state of Missouri. We passed through a hilly rough country for a few miles; we then entered into a beautiful rich prairie country—the prairies smaller, and the groves of timber more suitably proportioned for the use and convenience of the farmer. These prairies extend, with clusters of timber, for some hundred miles to the north and west, and offer the greatest encouragement to the industrious farmer of any new country we have ever seen. This part of the state of Missouri, in which we have settled, is preferable to the state of Illinois, or any other country that we have ever seen, for richness of soil, good water, and a healthy climate. We have not seen a swamp or piece of marshy ground, within one hundred miles that we recollect.

We will give you a sample of what every industrious farmer may arrive to in a few years. We called upon a man by the name of Jones, in Sangamon county in the state of Illinois to buy a little corn to feed our teams: he had corn enough in his cribs for two thousand bushels: he had sold the day before 600 bushels: he said he raised 7,000 bushels last year, and he had then growing 200 acres of corn: he had great numbers of cattle, horses and hogs. We put up for the night near one Smith's, who also lives on the edge of a prairie. He had then growing 119 acres of corn, 300 head of cattle, and a great number of hogs and horses. After we passed through Jacksonville the county seat of Morgan county, we came into a prairie about 5 miles square, which was in the best state of cultivation of any prairie we had seen. We stood on the top of a hill, and viewed the beautiful prospect: about two-thirds of this 5 miles square was waving with growing corn, and the remainder with wheat and meadow. The place which we have selected for our settlement is a tract of country lying in the north part of the state of Missouri, between the Missouri and Grand rivers, and is now attached to Ray county, but is soon to be organized into a county by itself.—Our settlement is increasing very fast. There are now several hundred families here. We are now laying out a town one mile square, and several houses are already on the place, although the town is not yet surveyed and recorded. The most perfect friendship exists between us and the inhabitants of Missouri; and we have the most encouraging prospects before us.

Yours, with esteem.

AMBROSE PALMER,

THOMAS GORDON.

Ray county. (MO.) Oct. 1836.