CHAPTER XXV.
Commerce—The Prophet's History—Doctrinal Development.
Wednesday, June 5.—I returned to Commerce and spent the remainder of the week at home.
Sunday, 9.—I attended meeting with my wife and family at Brother Bosiers. Elder John E. Page preached.
Monday, 10.—Elder Page baptized one woman. I was engaged in study preparatory to writing my history.
First House Built by the Saints at Commerce.
Tuesday, 11.—I commenced dictating my history for my clerk, James Mulholland, to write. About this time Elder Theodore Turley raised the first house built by the Saints in this place [Commerce]; it was built of logs, about twenty-five or thirty rods north north-east of my dwelling, on the northeast corner of lot 4, block 147, of the White purchase.
Description of Commerce.
When I made the purchase of White and Galland, there were one stone house, three frame houses, and two block houses, which constituted the whole city of Commerce. Between Commerce and Mr. Davidson Hibbard's, there was one stone house and three log houses, including the one that I live in, and these were all the houses in this vicinity, and the place was literally a wilderness. The land was mostly covered with trees and bushes, and much of it so wet that it was with the utmost difficulty a footman could get through, and totally impossible for teams. Commerce was so unhealthful, very few could live there; but believing that it might become a healthful place by the blessing of heaven to the Saints, and no more eligible place presenting itself, I considered it wisdom to make an attempt to build up a city.