Montrose Lee County Iowa Terr.
My Dearest Willford
I have just sent a full sheet to
the office for you and think I will begin another now and
keep a kind of a journal or sketch of times and things with me
untill I hear from you again. Today we have had a good meet
ing at father Clark’s where I live and just as meeting closed
brother Smoot rode up to the door this is the first time. I have
seen him since his return from his mission— he has been
gone about 4 months and been into the states of Tennessee Alabama
&c. and has baptized in company with br. D. Webster about 26 and or
dained him an elder and given him charge over the church in
Ten. about 200 miles from where you traveled— br Smoot took
supper with me and I think you would have been a welcome guest
at the table he says that br. Webster has got to be a workman and
thinks of returning to Con. in march and settleing up his busines
and comeing west as soon as he can. 26th today I feel lonely but
comfort myselfe with thinking that W. will come home and sure
ly he will not get away so again without I go to— you speak
about Willford’s growing fast so as to go into the vinyard, I think
he will be large enough by the next time you want to go so you
can take him along at least I want you to. 27th today I have
had a tried day my babe has been verry sick he still has the chills
and fever verry hard and today I got quite alarmed about him
his fever ran so high but at night he is better I have broke his fever
4 times with Sappington’s pills but it will return. 28th today
I have felt quite comfortable my babe has been considerable smart.
I thought I would write you a little every night just before I
retired to rest and let you know a little of the occurrences of the
day with me. 29th today I am makeing a vest for brother Washburn
toward paying for a pair of shoes as I am much in want of them I
feel badly thried in mind, W. says I should like to know what it is
about well I will tell you when you come home, 30 today I feell some
better and finish my vest as I make slow progress in tayloring with
my babe and other chores 31st I feel quite well in mind today after
committing my case to my heavenly father he has taken it into his hands and
will do wright about it, I am makeing a cap for Ezra Clark, Willford continues
better
Nov. 1st. today we have had a good meetting at father Clarks where I live— there
is a branch of the church here of about 50 members my name with Sarah Emma
& Willford’s are enroled in this branch— brother Wm. Clark is the president of this
branch has gone to Nauvoo or Commerce today and says that I must preside over the
meeting today— there are a number of elders here and I would like to have some
of them take your place a while and let you be at home with me and Willford
Owen, O poor little is gone Sarah is gone how can I bear it— hard hard indeed, O
tell me Willford why she was taken from me when you was gone it seames some
times that I can hardly help murmering at it— she was the was the pride and
joy of my heart in my lonely moment and her sweet disposition rendered her lovely
to all around her— Willford Owen is not near as pretty as she was — just befor she
died she left a kiss with me for her pa, pa. I had like to have forgotten to tell you that
on the 29th I received a letter from sister Eunice Woodruff they were well then and men
tioned haveing received a communication from you dated july 10 they have received
3 letters from you— they have lately had news of uncle Joseph Harts death of Springfield
he died about the middle of Sept. I think with the billious fever— as Eunice said her
mother was writing to you I suppose she will give you the particulars of his death
Eunice is not diffident about her connexion with br. Webster she writes verry plain
to me on the subject— says she feels as though she was writing to a sister.
She says uncle Ozem will probably move west in the course of a year or two— she
appears strong in the faith.
2nd I have just this minute heard of an opportunity of sending
to you safely I therefore leave my breakfast partly eaten and
commence to write a little more in my letter thinking that
apart of a sheet will be better than none ^to you^ if your feelings are
like mine in regard to hearing from you— my health and
Willford Owen’s is good this morn. I dont know as you like
the addition of Owen to his name but sister Smoot much desired
it. I told you in my last letter which I mailed about
ten days since that I would send you the minutes of the
conference in it but as I have not got them and suppose that
brother Thompson will send them I defer it. I have not
received the papers from you should be much pleased to—
We have just received the Sept. paper it contains the most
of one of your letters and little Sarah death in it and I hope you
will get it by the bearer of this. I have received all the letters
from you that you spoke of and this is the 9th one that I have
sent you since you have been in Eng. I long want much
to hear from you again hopeing you will tell me something
about comeing home. I expect to hear by br. Turley as you
mentioned writing by him and I want to see those articles
much because they come from you. Brother Page & Hyde
left here last April on a mission, to the Jews they were exp
ecting to go first to the jews in N. Y. then to those in Eng
from thence to Constantinople — they are preaching
by the way to get means to carry them though they
dont think of leaveing America with 1000 dolls. each
we have not heard as they have got to NY yet I expect
sister Parly Pratt has got to Eng. before this time I should
like to be there myselfe well. I suppose that all
of the sisters in Commerce will write by the bearer of this
they are all well I believe I mentioned in 2 or
3 of my letters to you that if you could get me a black
lace wrought veil and a wrought lace cape and collar
I should be much pleased as they are much cheaper there
than here but if not convenient let it go. I really
hope you will get my letters for I took the utmost
pains to write to you I am comfortable here now
br. William Clark that wrote in one of my letters to
you says if want any thing to call on him which
I shall do but believe me when I say that the families
of those in Eng. mostly need them at home I th [damage]
but dont tell that I wrote any thing about it [damage]
it should cause uneasiness. I would tell you some
more things but I fear that some one will see it.
the bearer has been waiting sometime so I
must bid you good morn my dear Willford
pray for me and Willford
I know you do
Yours as ever
Phebe W. Woodruff
The church is prospering well here
never better— they have bought
a steam boat and gave 4000
dolls. for it and it is running
on the river
scribbling indeed
cant stop to read
what I have written
[stamp in red ink] 6 Ev 6
JA 7
1841
Mr Willford Woodruff
40 Ironmonger Road (149 Oldham Road
St Lukes (Manchester
London (Eng.)
[stamp in red ink] N
PAID
7 JA 7
1841
[stamped twice]
[stamp in black ink] PRESTO[N]
JA 6 1841
Mr Willford Woodruff
40 Ironmonger Road St Lukes
London
Phebe W. Woodruff
Montrose Nov 2d 1840
Answered London Jan 13th 1841