So it was that on September 10th, having traveled 494 miles from Kirtland, our Draper relatives, plus others, left the group (*the main group leaving from Kirtland) and stopped at Edgar County, Illinois. Only the men were listed. They were Phebe’s father; her brothers Zemira, Alfred, and Marvin, her Uncle Thomas, and son-in-law Henry Munro (Lovina’s husband.) 25
By referring to the map of Illinois, we find Edgar County on the eastern border of the state of Illinois. They didn’t remain there any length of time but went on to Sangamon County which is near the western side of Illinois, where Lovina gave birth to a daughter, Ester in August of 1839. Then they moved on to Pleasantvale, a precinct of Pike County. (Refer to Map 4)
One incident recorded October 1839 by the Prophet Joseph, is of interest, and indicates the location of Zemira’s grandfather’s residence: “Friday, 11—This evening, Elders Young, Kimball, George A. Smith, Hedlock, and Turley started from Springfield, traveled eight miles on their journey, and stayed with Father Draper. Saturday, 12—The Elders of the British Mission left Father Draper’s and pursued their journey toward Terre Haute.”26 Pleasantvale is eight miles from Springfield. William Draper Sr. living there would undoubtedly be the Father Draper referred to.
It is interesting to note the following census 1840 information: Zemira, age 9 is shown in the household of his uncle Zemira Draper and grandparents, William Sr. and Lydia. In the next house were his mother, his brother William George 19, and sisters Lydia 13, and Rhoda 8, and in the next house was his uncle William Draper. Next was the house of his uncle Alfred R. Draper, then his uncle Marvin Draper and great uncle Thomas Draper Jr.’s family, in Rose Township, Pike County. 27
It is not known why, but for several years instead of living with his mother, young Zemira lived with his grandparents and his uncle Zemira Draper. It is evident that thus far the Drapers kept close together and even after migrating to Utah years later, several family members settled in the town appropriately called Draper, and some of them continued to keep track of each other somehow.
According to a history written by Estella Draper Magnus, the reason the group dropped out of Kirtland Camp on its way to Far West was because of lack of means and weariness, and they had stopped to recuperate. Then she added: “William with his family and those who were with him went south to Pleasantvale where they joined William Draper Jr. Here, William Sr. assisted in building up a large branch of the Church.”28
25- History of the Church, vol. 3, p. 138 - Drapers leave Kirtland Camp at Edgar Co., Illinois
26- Ibid, vol. 4, p. 14 - Father Draper, Terre Haute
27- Film 007,645, Pike County, IL; Zemira Palmer Notes, LPA p. l – Pleasantvale census
28- Estella Draper (Burt/Magnus) “Hist. of Wm Draper, Sr.”, DUP Libr, subm. by Janael Hendricks
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