Quincy Illinois

Ann by marker in Clat Adams Park
marking the place Saints crossed river

One week ago on Saturday, November 23rd, we drove to Quincy on our preparation day. We've been there several times, mostly to do some shopping, get groceries or to go to SAM'S Club which is the nearest one to Nauvoo. While there we thought that we would take some time to see some of the places related to the history of Quincy. We didn't have too much time so we had to be some what selective, knowing that we may be able to spend more time on another occasion.

Our first stop was to find the park with the monument erected to mark the approximate place where the Saints were forced to cross the river from Missouri into Quincy. The residents of Quincy, Illinois took them in and found them shelter. At that time, there were about 1500 residents of Quincy and about 5000 saints who crossed the river. The marker reads, "In 1839 the latter-day saints crossed the Mississippi River at this approximate site and were befriended by the citizens of Quincy."

John Wood Mansion built in 1835

We then drove around the historic district for a few minutes. We decided to visit the John Wood Mansion. It is the home of the founder of Quincy who eventually became governor of the state of Illinois. It was lucky for us that we got there just before closing time and a kind gentleman said that he would be happy to stay late to take us "missionaries from Nauvoo" on a tour of the mansion.

John Wood

It is there at the mansion where the Quincy Historical Society is housed. This organization was the keeper of the Sunstone for over 50 years. The Sunstone is now in our Nauvoo Visitors Center. Also on display are original keys to the original Nauvoo Temple. The keys were given to Artois Hamilton of the Hamilton House in Carthage for his kindness in providing the wood coffins to transport the bodies of Joseph and Hyrum back to Nauvoo following the martyrdom.

Plaque reads, "Original keys from the Mormon Temple,
Nauvoo, Illinois. Commenced 1841- Completed 1846
Construction Cost $1,000,000.

While touring the mansion, I took some pictures of just a few of the many things that I thought would be of interest in the home. I wish I could remember more of the things we were told. The painting of John Wood show an interesting beard. It is said that he wore the beard as shown because he didn't like to wear ties.

Organ in John Wood Mansion

Wife of John Wood

Quilt that belonged to John Wood Family

There are several other sites and places in Quincy related to Mormon history which we would like to hopefully visit at some future date.

Plaque on Quincy Town Square