New York City, Sept. 17, 1878. President John Taylor and Council of the Twelve:
On Monday, Sept. 9th, we visited Far West. To Convey a proper idea of our visit here, we think we cannont do much better than to give a few extracts from Bro. Smith's Journal: “We halted at the late residence of Mr. John Whitmer, deceased. I got out of the carriage and went to the house, where I met a man of whom I enquired if Mrs. Johnson was at home, and was informed that she was. I again asked if I could see here, when this individual stepped to the stair door, and called - “Sarah, there is a gentleman here who wants to see you.” While waiting for her I said to the person before mentioned, “Is your name Whitmer?” “Yes sir, my name is [Jacob] Whitmer” [son of John Whitmer].”
Joseph F. Smith I replied, “and my name is Smith [Joseph F.]: I am a native of this place as I suppose, and I have come here with a friend to take a look at the place of my birth, as I never saw it before to the best of my recollection. Can you provide lodgings for us over night?” Mr. W. – “I don't know; my sister can tell you when she comes downstairs.” Just then Mrs. Johnson came down. Mr. Whitmer introduced me as Mr. Smith. I asked her about the same as above written. She seemed to hesitate a little, and then said, “Yes sir, I think we can.” Noting her hesitancy, I remarked, “We will go on to Illinois in the morning.” Mrs. J. – “Do you live in Illinois?” I answered, “No ma'am, I live in Utah.” At this, she and her brother looked strangely at each other, and then at me. I continued, “The gentleman that is with me, is Mr. Orson Pratt.” Some more bewildered looks back and forth, but nothing was said for a moment; but presently Mr. Whitmer said to his sister, “You have heard of Mr. Pratt?” “Yes,” she replied, “I heard father speak of him.” Another pause – then she continued, addressing her brother, “I do not know whether we can keep them or not; if those other gentlemen come, we shall be rather crowded.” Here I remarked, “We should not like to discommode you too much, but we would be pleased to stop with you, if you have room.” To this she paid no attention, but suggested to her brother, that “Mr. Edwards and Mr. Somebody else always kept strangers when they came along.” Whereupon Mr. Whitmer said, “Yes,” then turning to me, said, “You can get lodgings at Mr. Edwards' about a mile back on the road.” I made some further enquiry about directions to Mr. Edwards, to which he rather gruffly replied. Said I, “I was in hopes, Mr. Whitmer, you could have shown us about the place a little, as we are strangers.” To which he replied, “Well I haven't time.” Said I, “Will you go to the carriage and see Mr. Pratt?” Without answering he started toward the carriage and I followed. On reaching which, I introduced him to Bro. Pratt, who tried to get in to conversation with him; but he was insolently gruff and abrupt. Said Bro. Pratt kindly, “[Jacob Whitmer,] I was well acquainted with your father [John].” [Jacob said, ] “I suppose you was.” [Previous two sentences were edited for clarity]. |
1878 Visit (Continued) 
Orson Pratt O.P. – Mr. Smith was born here, and would like you to point out the site of the old town, and if you know his father's house, or the spot where it stood. J.W. – I don't know anything about it; that is, I know where the town was, and where the Temple site is; but I don't know where any person lived. He then pointed down in the field, northward, and continued, “There was a place over there that some said was the Smith place; there was another place over there, (a little further west), that some said was the Smith place, but Joe Smith lived over there, beyond that locust grove, just this side of where you see the tops of those tall cottonwoods, near them stacks, there's where Joe Smith lived, and the Temple site is just at the corner of that orchard, just over the fence.”
I pleasantly remarked, “Have you not enough respect for Joseph Smith to call him by his proper name?” J.W. – I have no particular respect or disrespect for him; Joe Smith is the name he goes by here. I retorted, “I generally respect all men enough, to call them by their proper names.” O.P. – We were in hopes you could show us around a little, and point out those places to us. J.W. – Well, I have not time; anybody here can tell you as much as I can. O.P. – Your father was once the historian of the Church, and I am the present historian; we are anxious to preserve all the items of history we can, we would therefore like to see the MS. your father kept, and if possible, to make satisfactory arrangements with you, to purchase the same, provided there is anything in the MS. which we have not already published. I suppose you are aware that the history of the Church has already been published. J.W. – We've got no history here, all father's papers have gone to Richmond long ago. O.P. – We had a very pleasant interview with your uncle David, at Richmond. We arrived there last Friday, and remained two days, he showed us the MS. of the Book of Mormon, but said nothing about having any other papers. J.W. – We have got no papers here.
Convinced that there was no use of making any further efforts where the spirit of bigotry and opposition was so intense, we turned away, satisfied that all will come out right. After viewing the Temple ground at Far West, we concluded, as it was not yet very late in the evening, to drive on ten miles further to the town of Cameron, the nearest point to the railroad, where we arrived before dark, making the day's journey of about 48 miles by team.
-[The Latter-Day Saints Millennial Star, 40 (16 December 1878), 785-86].
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