| Reynolds Cahoon (1790–1862) |
| Born | April 30, 1790 in Cambridge, Washington county, New York. | |||
| Died | April 29, 1861 in South Cottonwood Ward, Salt Lake county, Utah. | |||
| Father | William Cahoon | |||
| Mother | Mehitabel Hodge | |||
| Baptized | October 11, 1830 by Parley P. Pratt. | |||
| Ordinations | Elder, soon after baptism by Sidney Rigdon. | |||
| June 3, 1831 ordained to the High Priesthood by Joseph Smith. | ¶ Minutes of June 3, 1831 | |||
| Positions | February 10, 1832 counselor to Bishop Newel K. Whitney, Kirtland. | |||
| June 28, 1838 first counselor to President John Smith of the new Adam-ondi-Ahman Stake. | Elders Journal vol. 1 no. 4 (August 1838), 61. | |||
| March 11, 1844 Council of Fifty. | ||||
| Missions | October 11, 1831. Called on a fund-raising mission with David Whitmer to raise funds so Joseph and Sidney can finish revising the Bible; leave Kirtland, November 9. | Minutes
of October 11, 1831 Reynolds Cahoon diary |
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| Ohio | 1811 moves to the Western Reserve, farms. | |||
| War | War of 1812. | |||
| Kirtland area | 1825 locates near Kirtland, Ohio. | |||
| Jackson county | June 6, 1831 called to travel to Jackson county with Samuel H. Smith, preaching as they go. In August they are are told not to part company until they reach their homes. | D&C
52:30, ¶ 61:35 History of the Church, 7:218 incorrectly states they met and converted William E. McLellin, McLellin's journal entry for July 18, 1831 states that he met and was converted by, Harvey Whitlock and David Whitmer. Journals of William E. McLellin, 29. |
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| August 4, 1831 arrives in Independence, Jackson county, Missouri. | Reynolds Cahoon diary | |||
| To Kirtland | August, 9, 1831 leaves Independence, travels 100 miles east on the Missouri River and meets Hyrum Smith, John Murdock, Harvey Whitlock, and David Whitmer at Chariton. They turn south to Fayette, Howard county, where Joseph, Sidney, and Oliver take the stage. Reynolds and his companions travel on foot, arriving in Kirtland on September 28, 1831. | |||
| Fund-raising mission | October 11, 1831 appointed to set branches in order and raise funds for Joseph and Sidney so they can complete their work on the Bible. | Minutes of October 11, 1831 | ||
| November [9], 1831 leaves Kirtland on fund-raising tour. | Reynolds Cahoon diary | |||
| November 1, 1831 attends a conference in Hiram where he is told he is "not at liberty to go to the land of Zion yet." D&C 31 is read, to the effect that he should go on his mission and not worry about his family. | Minutes of November 11, 1831 | |||
| Joseph ordained President | January 25, 1832 attends a conference in Amherst, Ohio, where the elders "ordained the President of the high Preashood and others." | Reynolds Cahoon diary This is the only contemporary account of Joseph's new office. Mormon Hierarchy: Origins, 40. | ||
| Beginnings of Kirtland temple | May 4 or 6, 1833 at a conference of high priests, moderator Jared Carter proposes construction of a "school house for the purpose of accomodating the Elders who should come into receive their education for the ministry according to a revelation given on that subject March 8, 1833." Reynolds, Jared, and Hyrum are appointed "to take the oversight of the building of the House of the Lord." They are instructed to "proceed immediately to commence building the House or obtaining materials, stone Brick Lumber &c." This becomes the "House of the Lord," or Kirtland Temple. | D&C
94 KCMB , May 4, 1833. The revelation of March 8 is D&C 90, which organizes the First Presidency and refers to a school of the prophets. ¶ D&C 90:7–9 |
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| June 5, 1833 digs the trench for the walls of the House of the Lord with Hyrum. | HC, 1:353. | |||
| Building committee | June 6, 1833 Kirtland conference of high priests instructs the building oversight committee (Reynolds, Jared Carter, and Hyrum Smith) " to commence building the house; or to obtaining materials, stone, brick, lumber, etc., for the same." | HC 1:353–354. | ||
| Council on Joseph's behavior | August 23, 1834 serves as moderator at the conference that approves the article to be published clearing Joseph of misbehavior during Zion's Camp. | |||
| Fails to teach children properly | August 10, 1835 Joseph lodges a complaint against Reynolds. He has failed to teach his children "in the way of truth & righteousness" and agrees to make public confession. | Minutes of August 10, 1835 | ||
| Admonished | November 1, 1835 Reproved for his "iniquities." | Revelation of November 1, 1835 | ||
| Must support the Twelve | December 17, 1835 Joseph: "I told Elder Cahoon, of the Temple committee, that we must sustain the Twelve, and not let them go down; if we do not, they must go down, for the burden is on them, and is coming on them heavier and heavier. If the Twelve go down, we must go down, and we must sustain them." | Millennial Star, vol. 15 no. 32, 521. | ||
| Safety Society stock | Buys 2,000 of Kirtland Safety Society bank stock for $802.61, paying $.40/share. (Joseph buys 3,000 shares for $1,360.18, or $.45/share. Hyrum and Oliver each buy 2,000 shares for $169.90, or $.09/share). | Kirtland Economy Revisited, 76, 77 79. | ||
| John Johnson Jr. committee | October 23, 1837 appointed to committee with Luke S. Johnson and John Gould a "to visit John Johnson, Jun., and see if he would desist from selling spirituous liquors to those who were in the habit of getting intoxicated, and report to the authorities of the Church those members who might drink spirits at his house." |
John Johnson Jr.
was a member of the mob that tarred Joseph and Sidney. ¶
1832 Tarring |
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| Arrives in Missouri | June 7, 1838 arrives in Missouri. | HC 3:7. | ||
| Adam-Ondi-Ahman stake presidency | June 28, 1838 appointed first counselor to President John Smith (brother of Joseph Smith Sr.) at organization of the Adam-Ondi-Ahman stake, Lyman Wight (swh) second counselor. |
Elders Journal vol. 1 no. 4 (August 1838), 60–61; HC 3:38. |
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| 4th of July | July 4, 1838 marshal of the day in Far West. | Order of the Day, July 4, 1838 | ||
| Temple construction | October 6, 1840 appointed to committee with Alpheus Cutler and Elias Higbe to oversee construction of a "House of the Lord" in Nauvoo. (The following September, Alpheus goes to Wisconsin for timber.) | HC, 4:341; William Clayton, An Intimate Chronicle, 537–538; Times and Seasons, vol. 1 no. 12 (December 1840), 186. | ||
| Denies polygamy | September or October 1840 though by now he may be a polygamist himself, Reynolds signs statement published in the Times and Seasons that he knows "no other rule or system of marriage than the one published from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and we give this certificate to show that Dr. J. C. Bennett's 'secret wife system' [940] is a creature of his own make as we know of no such society in this place nor never did." | Times and Seasons, vol. 3 no. 23 (October 1, 1840), 939–940. Other signers are: S. Bennett, George Miller, Alpheus Cutler, Wilson Law, W. Woodruff, N. K. Whitney, Albert Pettey, Elias Higbee, John Tayor, E. Robinson, Aaron Johnson | ||
| Release | April 24, 1841 released as counselor to President John Smith of the Iowa stake. | HC, 4:352. | ||
| Baptism for the dead | December 28, 1841 Joseph baptizes Sidney, Reynolds, and others for the dead. | HC, 4:352. | ||
| Accusations of stone masons | Fall 1842 accused with Elias Higbee by Nauvoo temple rock cutters of "oppressive and unchristian conduct … an unequal distribution of provisions, iron, steel, tools, etc.; also alleging that favors were shown by the committee to the sons of its members." Joseph settles the conflict with "judgment and wisdom." | William Clayton, An Intimate Chronicle, 537–538. | ||
| Testifies for Joseph | December 9, 1842 goes with Hyrum, Willard Richards (h), William Clayton, Henry G. Sherwood, Peter Haws, Heber C. Kimball, and Alpheus Cutler to Springfield to testify Joseph was in Illinois when Governor Boggs was shot and therefore cannot be a fugitive from Missouri. | HC
5:200–201. |
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| Endowed | October 12, 1843 receives Nauvoo endowment. | |||
| Second anointings | November 12, 1843 receives
second anointings. |
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| Resolutions for governor | December 7, 1843 with W. W. Phelps and Hosea Stout drafts "resolutions expressive of the sentiments of the people of the city of Nauvoo relative to the repeated unlawful demands by the State of Missouri for the body of General Joseph Smith, as well as the common, cruel practice of kidnapping citizens of Illinois, and forcing them across the Mississippi river, and then incarcerating them in the dungeons or prisons of Missouri." Document is approved and sent to the governor. | HC 6:101. | ||
| Rocky Mountain committee | March 11, 1844. Appointed to committee to find "the best policy for this people to adopt to obtain their rights from the nation and insure protection for themselves and children; and to secure a resting place in the mountains, or some uninhabited region." | HC 6:261. | ||
| Nauvoo excommunications | April 18, 1844. Member of council that excommunicates Robert D. Foster, Wilson Law, Howard Smith, William Law and Jane Law. | HC 6:341. | ||
| Joseph's messenger | June 22–27, 1844. Acts as messenger for Joseph and Emma shortly before the martyrdom. > | |||
| Good, but ... | June 27, 1844. Going over the names of witnesses to call for the defense, Hyrum observes Alpheus Cutler and Reynolds Cahoon shouldn't be called becuase "they may be very good men, but they don't know enough to answer a question properly." Joseph replies, "That is sufficient reason." | HC 6:609. | ||
| Greedy? | Alpheus Cutler and Reynolds Cahoon are so anxious to get property, they will all flat out as soon as the Temple is completed and the faith of the Saints ceases from them, &c. | HC 6:427. | ||
| Trustee-in-trust issue | July 4, 1844. "In Council" with stake president William Marks, Alpheus Cutler, and William Clayton, decide Marks should be "appointed president and Trustee in Trust and this accords with Emma's feelings." | William Clayton, An Intimate Chronicle, 137. | ||
| Joseph turned keys to Twelve | August 25, 1844. Testifies at a Sunday meeting after the Twelve return to Nauvoo that Joseph said to the Twelve, "upon you must rest the responsibility of bearing off the kingdom of God in all the world, therefore round up your shoulders and bear it." W. W. Phelps testifies to the same effect. | HC 7:264. | ||
| Patriarchal blessing | January 24, 1845. Patriarchal blessing by John Smith. | |||
| Exodus captain | October 25, 1845. Appointed a captain of 100 for the pending exodous from Nauvoo. In all, 25 captains were appointed. | HC 7:481. | ||
| Temple endowments | December 11, 1845. Reynolds and Thirza are endowed in Nauvoo temple attic, Brigham Young officiating. Others in group include Isaac Morley, Orson Spencer, Alpheus Cutler, William Clayton, Cornelius P. Lott, Mother Lucy Smith, and Mercy R. Thompson. | HC 7:543–544. | ||
| Winter Quarters | 1846–1847. Winter Quarters. | |||
| 1848 trek | June 1, 1848. At the Elkhorn river (the Mormon staging ground for crossing the Plains), Brigham is named General Superintendent of the Emigrating Companies and Isaac Morley president of the company with Reynolds Cahoon and Williiam W. Major as his counselors. | HC 7:626. | ||
| September 23 , 1848. Arrives, Salt Lake valley. | ||||
| Predator hunt judge | Winter of 1848–1849. With Isaac Morley judges the predator hunt in the Salt Lake valley. | |||
| Families | Thirza Stiles md. December 11, 1810. | |||
| William F. Leroni Eliza Pulaski Daniel Andrew Julia |
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| Mahonri Moriancumer | ¶ Oliver's History of the Church (3) | |||
| Lucina Roberts Johnson (b. 1806), md. 1842, sealed January 16, 1846. | Marriage year in "Nauvoo Roots," 14. | |||
| Lucina Rais Truman |
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| Mary Hildrath sealed January 16, 1846. | ||||
| Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum | ||||
| June
22, 1844 Ford orders Joseph to surrender Joseph declines |
Saturday morning Joseph receives a letter from Governor Ford in Carthage, directing him to surrender to the constable on charges arising from the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor. Joseph responds at noon, insisting the governor does not have all the facts and asserting the matter has already been handled by the Nauvoo court. Further, "We dare not come, though your Excellency promises protection. Yet, at the same time, you have expressed fears that you could not control the mob, in which case we are left to the mercy of the merciless. Sir, we dare not come, for our lives would be in danger, and we are guilty of no crime." | HC 6:521, 540. | ||
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Reynolds on guard |
Reynolds and Alpheus Cutler stand guard at the Mansion House that night. About 9:00 p.m. Hyrum exits the Mansion and greets Reynolds: "A company of men are seeking to kill my brother Joseph, and the Lord has warned him to flee to the Rocky Mountains to save his life. Good-by, Brother Cahoon, we shall see you again." In a few minutes Joseph comes out with his family, tears streaming down his face. He follows Hyrum without speaking. | HC
6:547–550. Beginning at this point, B. H. Roberts says, this following
account was "compiled" by Church Historian George A. Smith. However,
as some of the information could have come only from Willard Richards, George
A.'s predecessor in the historian's office, Richards is most likely the
primary, if not sole source of this account. Orrin Porter Rockwell (1813–1878), Smith family friend in Manchester, New York. Present at organization of the church, April 6, 1830, and baptized if not that day, soon thereafter. Lived in Missouri, 1831–1839. Married Luana Beebe, 1832. Member, committee seeking redress in Washington of Missouri losses, 1839–1840. Acquitted of attempted assassination of Lilburn Boggs, 1842. Bodyguard for Joseph, then Brigham, 1847 pioneer company. Deputy marshal,Utah, 1849–1878. Joseph F. Smith eulogized the controversial lawman at his funeral: "Porter's life on earth, taken altogether, was one worthy of example and reflected honor upon the Church. … They say he was a murderer; if he was, he was the friend of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, and he was faithful to them, and to his covenants, and he has gone to heaven and Apostates will go to hell." Salt Lake Tribune, June 14, 18, 1878. It is interesting that HC gives precedence to Porter, whom Emma sends "to entreat of Joseph to come back" and Reynolds only "accompanied him" with a letter "to the same effect." Lorenzo D. Wasson (ca 1818–1857), son of Emma's sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth and Benjamin Wasson. Baptized in 1836, shortly after his family moved from New York to Illinois. Member, Council of Fifty. Helped secretly inter martyrs' bodies after viewing. Remained in Illinois, died in Amboy. Hiram S. Kimball (1806-1863), cousin of Heber C. Kimball, living in Commerce prior to Mormon im-migration in 1839. Became wealthy land owner and merchant. City alderman, 1841, associate justice of the municipal court. Baptized, 1843. Battle of Nauvoo, 1846. Arrived Salt Lake valley, 1852. Las Vegas colonizer, 1856. |
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| Waiting for a skiff to take them across the river, between 9 and10 p.m., Joseph, Hyrum, and Willard Richards instruct W. W. Phelps to take their families to Cincinnati by the second steamboat that arrives in Nauvoo. At midnight the three get Orrin "Porter" Rockwell to row them across the river, starting at 2:00 a.m. | ||||
| June 23 |
The fugitives reach Iowa at daybreak and find refuge at the home of William Jordan. Porter returns to Nauvoo. At 9 a.m., Reynolds Cahoon and John Bernhisel arrive and Reynolds delivers "some explanations respecting Governor Ford's letter." In the next paragraph, Smith says, "Early in the morning a posse arrived in Nauvoo to arrest Joseph." Unable to find the Prophet, they leave one behind who says that the governor will send troops to the city until Joseph is found. It is probably this news/rumor that prompts Reynolds' early morning trip across the river. |
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| Reynolds returns to Nauvoo in time to get Emma's 1:00 letter to Joseph requesting (the history says she "insisted") that he "come back and give himself up." He and Orrin Porter Rockwell cross the river again to deliver the message. | ||||
| Upon their arrival, they find Joseph, Hyrum, and Willard | ||||
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in a room by themselves, having flour and other provisions on the floor ready for packing. |
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| ¶ |
Reynolds Cahoon informed Joseph what the troops intended to do, and urged upon him to give himself up, inasmuch as the Governor had pledged his faith and the faith of the state to protect him while he underwent a legal and fair trial. |
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Reynolds Cahoon, Lorenzo D. Wasson and Hiram Kimball accused Joseph of cowardice for wishing to leave the people, adding that their property would be destroyed, and they left without house or home. Like the fable, when the wolves came the shepherd ran from the flock, and left the sheep to be devoured. |
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To which Joseph replied, "If my life is of no value to my friends it is of none to myself." |
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| ¶ |
Joseph said to Rockwell, "What shall I do?" Rockwell replied, "You are the oldest and ought to know best; and as you make your bed, I will lie with you." |
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Joseph then turned to Hyrum, who was talking with Cahoon, and said, "Brother Hyrum, you are the oldest, what shall we do?" Hyrum said, "Let us go back and give ourselves up, and see the thing out." |
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After studying a few moments, Joseph said, "If [550] you go back I will go with you, but we shall be butchered." |
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Hyrum said, "No, no; let us go back and put our trust in God, and we shall not be harmed. The Lord is in it. If we live or have to die, we will be reconciled to our fate." |
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| ¶ |
After a short pause, Joseph told Cahoon to request Captain Daniel C. Davis to have his boat ready at half-past five to cross them over the river. |
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| June 26, 1844 Early
in the evening Joseph sends Reynolds back to Nauvoo to retrieve documents
for the trial <. |
HC 6:599. | |||
| Biographical
sketch es Home |
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