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Show Halford: Nauvoo -- The City Beautiful 37. with the Indians, advocated abolition and were impossible to live with because they were murderous, villainous, and indigent. The Saints countercharqed that the Missourians were jealous of their growing economic wealth and population. The two groups were incompatible because the Missourians feared the ever-grow ing Mormon colony would soon gain control over the area and force their peculiar culture upon the original inhabitants, and the Saints consciously or unconsciously threatened to do so. Here again was reenacted the typical Mormon outside community re action pattern welcome of the Mormons as sufferers in the cause of religion. concentration of Saints in numbers, growth of political, economic, and sociaL power, and a forced exodus following a violent civil war. ........ Between Auqust 1838 and April 1839 ten to twelve thou sand desolate, desperate Mormons were starving along the banks of the Mississippi. At Quincy, Illinois and other nearby settle ments, individual and cooperative relief was immediately given. Political parties vied for-patronage. To capture a hearty welcome. Illinois needed population. Her. enterprising industrialists, farm owners, and statesmen saw here material for the development of the area. Because they were offered several large tracts of land on long terms and without interest, the Church leader on May 1, 1839 purchased several tracts of land at Commerce City from Dr. Galland, Horace R. Hotchkiss, and Hugh White. Commerce then became the destination of thousands of souls scattered over the prairie. They were bound for the "New Zion." In rude log huts, wagon boxes, reclaimed tent or dirt dugouts lived the ever growing gathering. Terror struck the few hun dreds of settlers in the late summer and early fall of 1839 when a malaria type of fever characterized by ache, chills and fever infected the area. It was particularly fatal to the under nourished people who lacked adequate clothing and shelter. Star vation. death, and dis pair characterized the long winter. Early in 1840 the post office was changed to Nauvoo, a symbol to the Saints of a beautiful situation and a heaven of rest. The new Zion prospered far beyond the expectation of her founders. The plan followed in laying out the city was the one devised by Joseph Smith and followed in the Missouri settlements. It was a square file plot with eight rod streets designed to accorno date ten to fifteen thousand people. However, settlement was irregular and more plots were added making the city four miles long and three miles wide. The flat along the River bend rose gently upward in a semi-circular hill, the site of the temple. The Mormon area of contact eventually covered two hundred thou sand square miles; two hundred east and west and two hundred |
