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Kirtland Safety Society Daybook, circa 4–16 January 1837

Source Note

Kirtland Safety Society, Daybook,
Kirtland Township

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
, Geauga Co., OH, ca. 4–16 Jan. 1837; handwriting of
Newel K. Whitney

3/5 Feb. 1795–23 Sept. 1850. Trader, merchant. Born at Marlborough, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of Samuel Whitney and Susanna Kimball. Moved to Fairfield, Herkimer Co., New York, 1803. Merchant at Plattsburg, Clinton Co., New York, 1814. Mercantile clerk for...

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,
Oliver Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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,
Warren Parrish

10 Jan. 1803–3 Jan. 1877. Clergyman, gardener. Born in New York. Son of John Parrish and Ruth Farr. Married first Elizabeth (Betsey) Patten of Westmoreland Co., New Hampshire, ca. 1822. Lived at Alexandria, Jefferson Co., New York, 1830. Purchased land at...

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, and Marcellus Cowdery; seven pages; JS Office Papers, CHL.

Historical Introduction

The
Kirtland Safety Society Bank

A financial institution formed to raise money and provide credit in Kirtland, Ohio. On 2 November 1836, JS, Sidney Rigdon, and others officially organized the Kirtland Safety Society as a community bank by ratifying its constitution. Sidney Rigdon served ...

View Glossary
was formed in November 1836; however, the institution did not open for business or operate a banking house until January 1837.
1

Documents, Volume 5, Part 5 Introduction: 5 Oct. 1836–10 Apr. 1837.


When the bank opened, individuals acting as clerks kept a record of daily transactions in an ad hoc daybook composed of four loose, folded sheets of paper.
2

The handwriting of Newel K. Whitney is most prevalent in the daybook. Although he did not serve in an official capacity, Whitney appears to have helped at least in the first weeks of the Safety Society’s operation. Several other individuals also helped keep this record, including Warren Parrish, who became the official clerk of the Kirtland Safety Society between November 1836 and January 1837.


This daybook contains entries for loans as well as for the issuing of Kirtland Safety Society notes in exchange for banknotes from other financial institutions. It was through these loans and exchanges that the Safety Society notes were put into circulation in
Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
, Ohio, and surrounding communities.
3

Although most of these transactions involved Kirtland residents, some individuals were from nearby Willoughby or Cleveland, Ohio. Nearly all were Latter-day Saints.


Several of the entries in the daybook were marked with an "x", which has not been captured in the transcript but appears to correlate with payments received. Unfortunately, the daybook captures only a brief period of operation, from about 4 to 16 January 1837. After this time there are no extant records for the daily transactions of the bank.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Documents, Volume 5, Part 5 Introduction: 5 Oct. 1836–10 Apr. 1837.

  2. [2]

    The handwriting of Newel K. Whitney is most prevalent in the daybook. Although he did not serve in an official capacity, Whitney appears to have helped at least in the first weeks of the Safety Society’s operation. Several other individuals also helped keep this record, including Warren Parrish, who became the official clerk of the Kirtland Safety Society between November 1836 and January 1837.

  3. [3]

    Although most of these transactions involved Kirtland residents, some individuals were from nearby Willoughby or Cleveland, Ohio. Nearly all were Latter-day Saints.

Page [7]

J. Withey [Joel McWithey] 100.00
Wm. Smith

13 Mar. 1811–13 Nov. 1893. Farmer, newspaper editor. Born at Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Lebanon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, 1811; to Norwich, Windsor Co., 1813; and to Palmyra, Ontario Co., New York, 1816...

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100.00
S[amuel] Phelps 150.00
O[liver] Granger

7 Feb. 1794–23/25 Aug. 1841. Sheriff, church agent. Born at Phelps, Ontario Co., New York. Son of Pierce Granger and Clarissa Trumble. Married Lydia Dibble, 8 Sept. 1813, at Phelps. Member of Methodist church and licensed exhorter. Sheriff of Ontario Co. ...

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500.00
J. Boynton

20 Sept. 1811–20 Oct. 1890. Merchant, lecturer, scientist, inventor, dentist. Born at East Bradford (later Groveland), Essex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Eliphalet Boynton and Susanna Nichols. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by JS,...

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500.00
H. Redfield 500.00
J[oshua] S. Holman

12 Apr. 1794–1 Nov. 1846. Mechanic. Born in Templeton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. Son of Jonathan Holman and Zilpha Sawyer. Moved to Genesee Co., New York, by 1829; to Byron, Genesee Co., by June 1830; and to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1836. Baptized ...

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50.00
J. Carter

14 June 1801–6 July 1849. Born at Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. Son of Gideon Carter and Johanna Sims. Moved to Benson, Rutland Co., Vermont, by 1810. Married Lydia Ames, 20 Sept. 1823, at Benson. Moved to Chenango, Broome Co., New York, by Jan...

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600.00
G. Carter

1798–25 Oct. 1838. Born at Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. Son of Gideon Carter and Johanna Sims. Moved to Benson, Rutland Co., Vermont, by 1810. Married first Hilah (Hilda) Burwell, 1822. Moved to Amherst, Lorain Co., Ohio, 1831. Baptized into ...

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350.00
S. Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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2000.00
S[amuel] Parker 1000.00
Tho. J Butterfield

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600.00
Ed[ward] Webb 600.00
V[inson] Knight

14 Mar. 1804–31 July 1842. Farmer, druggist, school warden. Born at Norwich, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Rudolphus Knight and Rispah (Rizpah) Lee. Married Martha McBride, July 1826. Moved to Perrysburg, Cattaraugus Co., New York, by 1830. Owned farm...

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200.00
R Lord
E[dson] Barney

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500.00
P[arley] P. Pratt

12 Apr. 1807–13 May 1857. Farmer, editor, publisher, teacher, school administrator, legislator, explorer, author. Born at Burlington, Otsego Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Traveled west with brother William to acquire land, 1823....

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100.00
Solon Foster

8 Jan. 1811–17 Mar. 1896. Farmer. Born at Danby, Tompkins Co., New York. Son of Luther Foster and Ruth Hedges. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1833. Participated in Camp of Israel expedition to Missouri, 1834. Ordained an elder,...

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500.00
Jno Smith

16 July 1781–23 May 1854. Farmer. Born at Derryfield (later Manchester), Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. Son of Asael Smith and Mary Duty. Member of Congregational church. Appointed overseer of highways at Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., New York, 1810. Married...

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3000.00
A. Daton 600.00
R. Field 50.00
R Cahoon

30 Apr. 1790–29 Apr. 1861. Farmer, tanner, builder. Born at Cambridge, Washington Co., New York. Son of William Cahoon Jr. and Mehitable Hodges. Married Thirza Stiles, 11 Dec. 1810. Moved to northeastern Ohio, 1811. Located at Harpersfield, Ashtabula Co.,...

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1000.00
[
R Cahoon

30 Apr. 1790–29 Apr. 1861. Farmer, tanner, builder. Born at Cambridge, Washington Co., New York. Son of William Cahoon Jr. and Mehitable Hodges. Married Thirza Stiles, 11 Dec. 1810. Moved to northeastern Ohio, 1811. Located at Harpersfield, Ashtabula Co.,...

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]
300.00
R. Patten for Joseph 1500.00
J. McWithey 150.00
O. Hyde

8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...

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300.00
J. Young

7 Apr. 1797–16 July 1881. Farmer, painter, glazier. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Moved to Auburn, Cayuga Co., New York, before 1830. Joined Methodist church, before Apr. 1832. Baptized into Church...

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1000.00
J. Kellog [James Kellogg] 2000.00
W. Parrish

10 Jan. 1803–3 Jan. 1877. Clergyman, gardener. Born in New York. Son of John Parrish and Ruth Farr. Married first Elizabeth (Betsey) Patten of Westmoreland Co., New Hampshire, ca. 1822. Lived at Alexandria, Jefferson Co., New York, 1830. Purchased land at...

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500.00
A. Miner 50.00
Cyrus Dunbar of
Cleaveland

Cuyahoga Co. seat of justice, 1833. Situated on south shore of Lake Erie, just east of mouth of Cuyahoga River. First settled, 1797. Incorporated as village, 1815; incorporated as city, 1836. Became center of business and trade at opening of Ohio and Erie...

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McBride

16 June 1803–26 Feb. 1891. Farmer. Born at Chester, Washington Co., New York. Son of Daniel McBride and Abigail Mead. Married Mary Ann Anderson, 16 June 1833. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4 Mar. 1834, at Villanova, Chautauque...

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600.00
S. Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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178.00
S. B. Stodord [Sylvester B. Stoddard]

7 Feb. 1801–18 Aug. 1867. Tinsmith, shoemaker. Born in Perrysburg, Ontario Co., New York. Son of Sylvester Stoddard. Married first Charity. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, before 8 Sept. 1833. Served mission to Maine, 1833–1836....

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500.00
D Claugh [David Clough]

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100.00
Carying of
Cleaveland

Cuyahoga Co. seat of justice, 1833. Situated on south shore of Lake Erie, just east of mouth of Cuyahoga River. First settled, 1797. Incorporated as village, 1815; incorporated as city, 1836. Became center of business and trade at opening of Ohio and Erie...

More Info
work for mondy 16 Jany.
$2500.00
14 43 Gos
6

TEXT: Written upside down at the bottom of the page.


7

TEXT: The verso of this page was used to make a wrapper for Kirtland Safety Society Discounted Notes, ca. Jan. 1837.


[p. [7]]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page [7]

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Kirtland Safety Society Daybook, circa 4–16 January 1837
ID #
8043
Total Pages
7
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • Marcellus F. Cowdery

Footnotes

  1. [6]

    TEXT: Written upside down at the bottom of the page.

  2. [7]

    TEXT: The verso of this page was used to make a wrapper for Kirtland Safety Society Discounted Notes, ca. Jan. 1837.

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