Orson Spencer

Orson Spencer, one of the great missionaries of the Church, was born in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts on March 14, 1802. At age 12 he contracted a life threatening fever sore that left him with a limp. He entered the Lenox Academy at age of 15, then studied at Union College, graduating with honors in 1824. He taught school, joined the Baptist church, and entered the Theological College, graduating in 1829 as valedictorian. He served as pastor of three Baptist churches. During this time he married Catharine Curtis on April 13, 1830. They had eight children. Spencer was baptized into the Church in 1841. He served as an alderman on the city Council and was elected Mayor of Nauvoo in 1845 serving until the Saints were driven from Nauvoo. His wife died on the way to Winter Quarters, leaving him with six children under age 13. In the fall of 1846, he was called to serve a mission in Great Britain and left his children in the care of his oldest daughter. He presided over the British Mission and was editor of the Millennial Star. Meanwhile, his children traveled' across the plains and lived in a dugout in Salt Lake Valley. While in Great Britain, Spencer married Martha Knight with whom he had four children. He later married Margaret Miller, Jane T. Davis, and Mary Hill. After being reunited with his children in the Salt Lake Valley, Spencer was appointed the first chancellor of the University of Deseret, a lifelong position, and served in the first legislative council of Utah. He served a mission in Prussia, then another in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1853. After Cincinnati, he was transferred to St. Louis, and served as editor of the “St. Louis Luminary”. He then served a mission to the Cherokee Nation, where he became ill. He returned to St. Louis, Missouri, and his condition deteriorated. He died there on 15 October 1855. Biography from the Joseph Smith Papers 14 March 1802–15 Oct. 1855. Teacher, minister, university professor and chancellor. Born in West Stockbridge, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Daniel Spencer and Chloe Wilson. Moved to Lenox, Berkshire Co., 1817; to Schenectady, Schenectady Co., New York, 1819; to Washington, Wilkes Co., Georgia, 1825; and to Hamilton, Madison Co., New York, 1827. Baptist minister in Massachusetts and Connecticut, ca. 1829–ca. 1841. Married Catherine Curtis, 13 Apr. 1830. Soon after, moved to Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. Moved to Middlefield, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts, by 1840. Returned to West Stockbridge, 1841. Baptized into LDS church by Daniel Spencer, May 1841, in West Stockbridge. Moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, 1841. Nauvoo city alderman, 1841–1845. Appointed professor at University of Nauvoo, 1841. Ordained an elder, before 6 Apr. 1843. Served mission to New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, 1843. Admitted to Council of Fifty, 19 Mar. 1844. Ordained a high priest by George Miller, 6 Oct. 1844, in Nauvoo. Elected mayor of Nauvoo, Feb. 1845. Elected trustee of town of Nauvoo, Apr. 1845. Served in the Nauvoo Temple, Dec. 1845 to Feb. 1846. Wife died, 1846, in Iowa Territory. Presided over British mission, 1847–1849. Migrated to Salt Lake City as captain of emigrant company, 1849. Member of Utah territorial legislature, 1851. Died in St. Louis. http://www.josephsmithpapers.org/person/orson-spencer