Individual Book Details: A0030
Record Date |
03/24/2023 |
Collection Name |
1830 Palmyra |
Ownership Type |
Special Collections |
Owner |
University of Redlands, San Francisco Theological Seminary |
Location |
San Anselmo, CA |
Description |
1830 Book of Mormon, Mary Cahoon |
Provenance |
Gift of Melvin Sutley, Philadelphia on Feb. 10, 1955 to the University, held since then. Inscription stating ownership of Mary Cahoon by her son Reynolds Cahoon |
Unique Features |
Spine: In tact, Vertical Wear lines Spine Lettering and Label: Present, all gold lettering on title ribbon, 3 sets of gold lines existing, gold lines present on top and bottom Cover: In tact, various wear and scratch marks, significant discoloration (repair?) on lower right Binding: page separation between front pastedown and first end paper, Title Page: Present, circular embossment near lower right corner, stain mark lower part of page through the word “BY”. small dark spot top of the page near the word “THE” Text: Full text, considerable darker pages and foxing, but text still visible Inscription: Front end paper in ink: “Property of of(sic) Mary Cahoon given to her by her son Reynolds Cahoun, High Priest and Council for the Bishop of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints in Kirtland” signed Mary Cahoon Notes: Severe ink mark on end paper verso, back of inscription page and opposite of title page. Front pastedown page stamped with “Library of the San Francisco Theological Seminary San Anselmo California”. Front pastedown page contains bookplate sticker listing “Gift of Melvin Sutley, Philadelphia Feb 10, 1955”. Additional Details About This Book Reynolds Cahoon Reynolds was born on April 30, 1790 to William Cahoon and Mehitabel Hodge Cahoon in Cambridge, New York. His mother died in February 1809 where his father married Mary Smith in October 1809 in Kirtland Ohio. He joined the Mormon movement in 1830 in Kirtland, Ohio where he was involved in building the Kirtland Temple, and active with the Kirtland Safety Society. On February 10, 1832, Cahoon was made first counselor to Bishop Newel K. Whitney. He was also a member of the Kirtland High Council. He relocated to Missouri in 1838, Nauvoo Ill in the 1840 and moved with the Mormon Pioneers to Utah and died in Utah in 1861. Mary Smith Cahoon Smith Mary was the 2nd wife of William Cahoon (widowed) when they married in 1809. She help raise several step children and was influential in Reynold’s life as Reynolds was in Kirtland Ohio, also. She and William had one daughter together. William died in 1828 and she married Elijah Smith in 1836, where they stayed in Kirtland for the rest of their days. Elijah died in 1855 and Mary in 1863, both buried in Kirtland. It is unclear if Mary joined the Church, as they were in Kirtland, headquarters for the church in the church in the 1830’s, but stayed in Kirtland when most of the members moved to Nauvoo, Illinois by the 1840’s and onward into Utah. Timeline for this copy The inscription for this book reads: “Property of of(sic) Mary Cahoon given to her by her son Reynolds Cahoon, High Priest and Council for the Bishop of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints in Kirtland” signed Mary Calhoon. The copy also has a book plate sticker from 1955 in Philadelphia and rests in Special Collections in San Francisco since 1955. - Reynolds was in Kirtland, Ohio from before 1830 through 1838 - Reynolds was made “Council for the Bishop” in late 1832 - Mary Cahoon was widowed in 1829 and remarried to Elijah Smith in 1836 - The use of the words “Church of the Latter-Day Saints” was used between 1834 to 1838 Assumptions: It’s probable that Reynolds gave this book to Mary (or that Mary inscribed this) between 1834 and 1836. It’s probable that Mary kept this in the family in Kirtland Ohio It’s probable that this copy did not follow the Utah Pioneers or Reynolds’ movement Westward. It’s probable that this copy was kept in private hands until 1955 when transferred to University Archives. |
