During the last five years of the life of Joseph Smith, a number of LDS settlements were established in the region of Hancock County, Illinois. About 20 miles southeast of Nauvoo was the little settlement of Ramus.
Converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who lived along Crooked Creek had been formed into a little branch they named Ramus (a Latin term meaning “branch”). Joel H. Johnson later served as stake president, and a small meetinghouse was constructed. This was rare during the Nauvoo period of LDS Church history; most church meetings were held in private homes or outdoors. That building stood from 1840 until it was torn down in 1897.
The images seen here identify the original foundation. The white structure was a replacement building and postdates the Latter-day Saint period.
While visiting Ramus, the Prophet Joseph Smith delivered talks from which the texts that now comprise sections 130 and 131 of the Doctrine and Covenants were taken. Those words were recorded in April and May 1843, respectively. Joseph’s sister Katherine Smith Salisbury is buried in Ramus, which is now known as Webster.