This image shows the Russell Stoddard home during a period of remodeling. Alvin Smith, the Prophet's oldest brother, had commenced building a new frame home on the Smith Manchester, N.Y., farm, also pictured, and worked on it until his untimely passing in 1823. There is evidence that Alvin had been employed by Russell Stoddard and that both of them worked on the Smith frame home as well.
It has been suggested that Stoddard wanted the Smith frame home for his own use. He may have subsequently helped to work out the terms given to the Smiths in which they had to come up with their final payment on the home and farms within a very short time. They were unable to do so and eventually lost the home and property.
Stoddard was a 12th cousin of Calvin Stoddard, who married Joseph Smith's sister Sophronia.