Few of Missouri governor Thomas Reynolds’ papers have survived, but among these is a series of letters from two Iowa postmasters in May and July 1842 informing him about the circumstances surrounding the assassination of former governor Lilburn W. Boggs. These give some impression of the influences operating upon Reynolds—and thus some insight into the forces shaping the decision-making process of all public officials. They also disclose some of the personal motives of two prominent anti-Mormon agitators. Many statements in the letters are likely rumor, but they do indicate something of the extent of malevolence and prejudice that the Mormons faced in the areas surrounding Nauvoo.
