Lewis C. Bidamon Papers: Finding Aid mssBidamon
Processed by The Huntington Library staff in March 1972; supplementary encoding and revision supplied by Xiuzhi Zhou and Diann
Benti. Brooke M. Black updated the finding aid in October 2022.
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Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Lewis C. Bidamon Papers
Identifier/Call Number: mssBidamon
Physical Description:
4 Linear Feet
(2 boxes and 2 oversize folders)
Date (inclusive): 1837-1962
Abstract: This collection contains letters and documents related to the business and legal activities of Lewis C. Bidamon (1801-1891)
of Nauvoo, Illinois, and his family. Notably, the collection contains papers of Bidamon's wife, Emma Hale Smith (1804-1879),
the widow of Mormon prophet Joseph Smith, and her son, Joseph Smith III.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader
Services.
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material,
nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and
obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
[Identification of item]. Lewis C. Bidamon papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Purchased from Stanley B. Kimball, July 1966.
Related Materials in the Huntington Library
Related to the Mormon file, approximately 1805-1995.
Lewis Crum Bidamon (1801-1891) was a Virginia-born settler of Canton, Illinois, who served as Lieutenant colonel of the 32nd
Regiment of Illinois Infantry. In 1846, just as the Mormons were being driven out, Bidamon moved to Nauvoo, Illinois. He married
Emma Hale Smith, widow of the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith (1804-1844). Bidamon engaged in various business practices in Nauvoo,
including selling stock for the Warsaw and Rockford Railroad Company and operating the Nauvoo House, a hotel whose construction
was begun by Joseph Smith and completed by Bidamon and his wife. Bidamon was also greatly involved in acquiring land in Nauvoo.
The majority of the collection is made up of the business and legal papers of Lewis Crum Bidamon (125 pieces, 1837-1889),
his brother John C. Bidamon (26 pieces, 1840-1850), and his son Charles E. Bidamon (32 pieces, 1892-1941). Of interest in
the collection are the papers of Emma Hale Smith Bidamon and her son Joseph Smith (1832-1914). Joseph Smith was the founder
and lifelong President of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The correspondence of Charles E. Bidamon
contains a series of letters regarding his attempts to sell the Nauvoo House during the period 1905-1909. In this connection
he corresponded with Heman Conoman Smith (Historian of the Reorganized Church) and Joseph Fielding Smith (President of the
Utah Mormon Church).
- Bidamon, Emma (Hale) Smith. Letter to Lewis Crum Bidamon, following letter to Bidamon from David Titus (?). 1871, June 24
- Hale, David. Letter to Emma (Hale) Smith Bidamon. 1873, Feb. 12-15
- Illinois. Courts. Hancock County Circuit Court. Agreement in case Phineas Kimball vs. Joseph Smith, et al in favor of Emma (Hale) Smith Bidamon and her children. 1851, July 23
- Illinois. Courts. Hancock County Circuit Court. To Melgar Couchman: Order to sommon Nathan Prentice, Emma (Hale) Smith Bidamon, Lewis Crum Bidamon, Joseph Smith, et al. 1849, Aug. 28
- McCallum, Josepha (Smith)? (daughter of Joseph Smith III). Letter to Emma (Hale) Smith Bidamon. 1871, Dec. 12
- Middleton, Julia (Murdock) Dixon (adopted daughter of Emma and Joseph Smith). 4 letters to Emma (Hale) Smith Bidamon. 1853-1873
- Spencer, Daniel and others. To Emma (Hale) Smith Bidamon: Request that debt of $1000 due John Robinson by Joseph Smith (1805-1844) be fulfilled. 1844, Aug. 22
Arranged chronologically.
Call numbers included in this collection: mssHM 35603-35793.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Mormon women -- History -- Sources
Mormons -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
Mormons -- History -- 20th century -- Sources
Mormons -- Illinois -- Nauvoo -- History -- Sources
Nauvoo (Ill.) -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
Letters (correspondence) United States
Box 1
1837-1857
Box 2
1859-1944
Folder Oversize Folder
Illinois. Hancock County. Collector. To Emma Smith : receipt for taxes [with tax account for state and county, 1844-1845. HM 35706 1845 December 23
Folder Oversize Folder
Walworth, Reuben H. To Chauncy Robison : warranty deed for land in Military Tract, Illinois. HM 35782 1840 April 29