| Joseph III's Recollection of Cornelius P. Lott |
| Manages Joseph's farm | I have
referred previously to Father's acquirement of a quarter section of land
two miles and a half east of Nauvoo. It was on what was called the Carthage
road, leading out of the city from Parley Street. He installed on this farm
an American-born man by the name of Cornelius
P. Lott. Soon after the organization of the Nauvoo Legion Father
announced that the first man who would provide himself with a pair of epaulets
should be appointed captain of his personal body guard. |
The Nauvoo Legion was authorized by a special act of the Illinois Legislature in December 1940 and the election of officers occurred February 4, 1841. Encyclopedic History, 562 | ||
| Offers
Joseph his epaulets Cornelius doesn not want to be captain Joseph insists Gives them to Joseph III |
On
the morning when the guard of sixty men reported for drill, this old man
Lott came in and, in a very quiet, unostentatious manner, called Father
to one side and showed him a pair of epaulets, which had been his to wear
in some company elsewhere. They were made of fine material and had tinsel
tassels springing out of a base shaped like a segment of a circle, which,
fastened to the shoulder allowed them to fall over the edge. He seemed rather
shamefaced about them, declaring he did not wish to be captain and was not
qualified to act in that capacity. Father insisted that he should take the
office and retain it for a time at least. This he did, but did not wear
the epaulets very long and kindly gave the gaudy trifles to me. I kept them
for many years until at last, through the ravages of time, they became tarnished
and frayed, the silk separated from the metal, and they were not interesting
or even respectable relics and went the usual way of such things. |
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| Cornelius sturdy, high-pitched voice | This
Cornelius P. Lott and family occupied the farm east of town until the break-up
occurred. I became well acquainted with them all—his older son John,
the daughters Melissa, Mary, Martha and Alzina, and the little son, Peter.
It was always pleasant to visit their place where everything was interesting
to me and everybody busy and kind. The old gentleman was a very strong man
of sturdy build and medium height. He had a fine, very high-pitched voice
which my memory connects with the following circumstance. |
Alzina: probably Almira | ||
| Cornelius comes to the store | I
was in the store where Father and a number of brethren were chatting in
a friendly way, and was listening with boyish attention to what was going
on. I was standing not far from the front door when Farmer Lott came in
carrying in his hand his blacksnake whip. Hardly had he entered when Father
said in a jolly tone: |
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| Joseph's challenge | "Here!
I have thrown down pretty nearly everybody about the place except Brother
Lott, and I believe I can throw him down, too!" |
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| The
old man stopped, swung his whip under his left arm and said, in his high,
piping voice, "Well, my boy, if you'll take it catch-as-catch-can you
can't throw old man Lott!" |
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| Unable to throw Cornelius | So
they all immediately piled out of the house into the open place west of
the store where there was space to wrestle. They ran together several times,
but the best Father could do was to get the old man down to his knees. I
remember just how Father was dressed that day. He had on a white flannel
coat and vest, and some soft gray trousers. |
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| He
gave up his efforts to throw the sturdy old fellow and much good-natured
banter at his expense was indulged in as he gave up the struggle. In the
midst of the jibes I heard the old man pipe out again, "I told you,
my boy, that you couldn't throw old man Lott!" |
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| Melissa | Elder
Lott's daughter, Melissa, was a tall, fine-looking woman with dark complexion,
dark hair and eyes. She was a good singer, quite celebrated in a local way.
I have heard her sing at parties and receptions in private homes, on the
stage where theatrical performances were given, and on the political rostrum
when William Henry Harrison was running for president. |
Melissa married Joseph Smith Jr. September 20, 1843, a fact she reported to Joseph III when he called on her in Lehi, Utah, October 20, 1885. Sacred Loneliness, 597, 593 | ||