out the church. Lest you may not get my letters I would just say that brother Ilus
is married and sister Shuah expects to be soon. sister Rhoda Scammans has a young daughter 13 days older than my babe. brother Luther wants to come to the west but sister R
does not. Did you know of the correspondence between brother Webster and sister Eunice I
knew nothing of it untill he came here Mother Woodruff hinted someting of the kind in
her letter and Eunice sent me word to receive him as a particular friend of her's. and
then brother Webster told me of it himselfe he expects to take on himselfe the yoke of matrim
ony with sister Eunice a soon after his return from this mission. I think that he
will make an agreeable companion. he is a pleasant man and has an enquiring mind and
seames to gain much faith and strength by converseing and becomeing acquainted with
the brethren I think after he gets some more experience he will make a verry useful man. Sidney has not yet retirned from Washington. suppose he is on his way. has been verry sick
on the way. The brethren are about trying to redeem Kirtland those who hold claim on
it will take land in canada and the church here will give them land here for their
possessions in canada I have lately heard that one brother Stodard formerly from there
was going back to see them about it. I often think that I should like to be with you a
while and see how are getting along. If you could look over here in a rolling prairie near the
timber into a little small house with one door in it you might see me verry often
[paper torn]ing my little boy in my armes and Sarah clinging on to the rocker of my chair so that
[paper torn]may rock a little with us singing pa-pa ma-ma and bilo [paper torn]boy or Willo as
she calls him.— I find my little ones are much company fo[paper torn] I had almost
forgotten to tell you that we heard that the Indan’s had been into two counties in Missourie and made them pay them taxes on the land. it is said that the Misso
urians fear the Indians much. Mr. Bogart the capt. of the Missourie mob shot a man their election day and he lived but a few hours. has had his trial and is to be
hung the 4th of next july. thus I suppose his career will be ended for this life.
Many of the brother are fearful of the Indian’s comeing on Montrose side of the
river and killing them but I feal verry easey about it myselfe although I have no
Willford to look out for me. I believe my trust is in the Lord and I think that he
will protect me. 24th Saturday eve. our family are in comfortable health and tomorrow
I expect to go to Commerce to hear brother Joseph preach on the resurrection Sister Taylor has recently received a letter from brother Taylor wherein he says that you
baptize 32 persons one week and 13 of them were methodist preachers. glad to hear of
your success. Just heard that there was a letter in the office for me. hope it is so. write
often. dreamed last night of seeing and asking you when you was comeing home thought
you said, you did not know. hope you will tell me in your next when you think of come
ing home. Please give my respects to all the brother there with whome I am acquainted and all
those who love our Lord Jesus Christ. must give way for brother Webster. May grace mercy and
peace rest upon you forever in is the prayr of your companion
Willford Woodruff. P.W. Woodruff
[Brother Webster’s writing]
Dear Brother in the Lord
Mrs Woodruff has presented me this sheet with the
privilege of communicating a few lines therein to you, which I thankfully embrace. by this
you will conclude that I am at the west, which is the case. I left Con the 19 of April
and after a journey of 21 dayays I arived at Montrose from thence to this place. I
expect to remain here with the Church a short time, & than take a Mission to the east. I
am glad to find the Church in a prosperous situation which I think is the case. the news the
particulars I suppoase your Wife will communicate to you. there are many convinceing proofs o that Israel will soon return and Zion be redeemed. I still remain a believer in the worck
although not exempt from temptation. yet throug faith in Christ I expect to conquer and gain
a Crown of life may the worck of God roal forward untill the kingdom and the greatness therof shall
be given to the Saints. pray for me. may the Love of God be with you. With the respects
of Dwight Webster, Your Brother in the Lord.
out the church. Lest you may not get my letters I would just say that brother Ilus
is married and sister Shuah expects to be soon. sister Rhoda Scammans has a young
daughter 13 days older than my babe. brother Luther wants to come to the west but sister R
does not. Did you know of the correspondence between brother Webster and sister Eunice I
knew nothing of it untill he came here Mother Woodruff hinted someting of the kind in
her letter and Eunice sent me word to receive him as a particular friend of her's. and
then brother Webster told me of it himselfe he expects to take on himselfe the yoke of matrim
ony with sister Eunice soon after his return from this mission. I think that he
will make an agreeable companion. he is a pleasant man and has an enquiring mind and
seames to gain much faith and strength by converseing and becomeing acquainted with
the brethren I think after he gets some more experience he will make a verry useful man.
Sidney has not yet retirned from Washington. suppose he is on his way. has been verry sick
on the way. The brethren are about trying to redeem Kirtland those who hold claim on
it will take land in canada and the church will give them land here for their
possessions in canada I have lately heard that one brother Stodard formerly from there
was going back to see them about it. I often think that I should like to be with you a
while and see how are getting along. If you could look over here in a rolling prairie near the
timber into a little small house with one door in it you might see me verry often
paper torning my little boy in my armes and Sarah clinging on to the rocker of my chair so that
paper tornmay rock a little with us singing pa-pa ma-ma and bilo paper tornboy or Willo as
she calls him.— I find my little ones are much company fopaper torn I had almost
forgotten to tell you that we heard that the Indan’s had been into two counties in
Missourie and made them pay them taxes on the land. it is said that the Misso
urians fear the Indians much. Mr. Bogart the capt. of the Missourie mob shot
a man their election day and he lived but a few hours. has had his trial and is to be
hung the 4th of next july. thus I suppose his career will be ended for this life.
Many of the brother are fearful of the Indian’s comeing on Montrose side of the
river and killing them but I feal verry easey about it myselfe although I have no
Willford to look out for me. I believe my trust is in the Lord and I think that he
will protect me. 24th Saturday eve. our family are in comfortable health and tomorrow
I expect to go to Commerce to hear brother Joseph preach on the resurrection
Sister Taylor has recently received a letter from brother Taylor wherein he says that you
baptize 32 persons one week and 13 of them were methodist preachers. glad to hear of
your success. Just heard that there was a letter in the office for me. hope it is so. write
often. dreamed last night of seeing and asking you when you was comeing home thought
you said, you did not know. hope you will tell me in your next when you think of come
ing home. Please give my respects to all the brother there with whome I am acquainted and all
those who love our Lord Jesus Christ. must give way for brother Webster. May grace mercy and
peace rest upon you forever is the prayr of your companion
Willford Woodruff. P.W. Woodruff
Brother Webster’s writing
Dear Brother in the Lord
Mrs Woodruff has presented me this sheet with the
privilege of communicating a few lines therein to you, which I thankfully embrace. by this
you will conclude that I am at the west, which is the case. I left Con the 19 of April
and after a journey of 21 dayays I arived at Montrose from thence to this place. I
expect to remain here with the Church a short time, & than take a Mission to the east. I
am glad to find the Church in a prosperous situation which I think is the case. the
particulars I suppoase your Wife will communicate to you. there are many convinceing proofs
that Israel will soon return and Zion be redeemed. I still remain a believer in the worck
although not exempt from temptation. yet throug faith in Christ I expect to conquer and gain
a Crown of life may the worck of God roal forward untill the kingdom and the greatness therof shall
be given to the Saints. pray for me. may the Love of God be with you. With the respects
of Dwight Webster, Your Brother in the Lord.
"Letter from Phebe Whittemore Carter Woodruff, 9 May 1840," p. 3, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed April 23, 2024, https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/p/GlQ