Reynolds Cahoon (1790

Mormon History 1830-1844

Reynolds Cahoon (1790–1861)

Early convert, temple builder, Iowa stake presidency, guard and advisor to Joseph Smith in Nauvoo.

Born		April 30, 1790 in Cambridge, Washington Co., New York.	William F. Cahoon autobio
Died		April 29, 1861 in South Cottonwood Ward, Salt Lake Co., Utah.	FamilySearch Ancestral File v4.19
Father		William Cahoon Jr. (June 2, 1765–Oct. 1, 1828; born in West Greenwich, Kent, RI; died in Kirtland)	William F. Cahoon autobio
Mother		Mehitabel Hodge (Dec. 21, 1765– Mar. 28, 1809; born in West Greenwich, Kent, RI; md. July 5, 1787)	William F. Cahoon autobio
Western Reserve		Late 1811 moves to the Western Reserve, planning to farm.	William F. Cahoon autobio
War		1812 called to Buffalo, New York to drive the British out, but they had already left by the time the Americans arrive, so Reynolds returns and farms "about twelve years."
Harpersfield, Ohio		November 7, 1813 first child, William Cahoon, born in Harpersfield, Ashtabula Co., Ohio	Ancestry.com (subscribers)
To Kirtland area		1825 moves to Kirtland area, starts tanning leather, making shoes.	William F. Cahoon autobio.
Labor		1828 works for N. K. Whitney and Company enlarging the ashery.	¶ Newel K. Whitney
Baptized		[November] 12, 1830 baptized by Parley P. Pratt (h).	William F. Cahoon autobio
Elder		Ordained an elder shortly after baptism by Sidney Rigdon.	William F. Cahoon autobio
Shoemaker		Shoemaking shop close to the school in Kirtland.	J. J. Moss plays a trick on Reynolds' son, William.
Mission to Ohio, Indiana		May [13–14], 1831 tours Cuyahoga County (Orange, Warrensville, Bedford) with Joseph Wakefield and Parley P. Pratt.	Cahoon, 1–2.
		May [14–19], 1831 to Northfield, Wellington, Huntington, Sullivan, Orange, Ashland, Mansfield, Belville, Bloomfield, and on to Columbus, Ohio.	Cahoon, 2–3.
		May [19–??], 1831 preaches in Columbus, Ohio. Then west to Springfield, where he preaches in the court house at early candle light, south to Xenia (also court house at early candle light), south-southwest to Lebanon (where he has a conversation with a Baptist elder who is "full <of> prejudise & erors of the world."	Cahoon, 3–4.
		Late May 1831 arrives in Cincinnati and crosses the Ohio river into Kentucky, west to Burlington, where he crosses the Ohio again into Rising Sun, Indiana. Back to Kirtland in time to attend June [3–6] conference.	Cahoon, 4.
High Priesthood		June [4], 1831 ordained to the High Priesthood by Joseph Smith.	¶ Minutes of June [4], 1831
Jackson county		June 6, 1831 called to travel to Jackson county with Samuel H. Smith, preaching as they go. In August they are told not to part company until they reach their homes.	¶ D&C 52:30, ¶ 61:35 HC 7:218 incorrectly states they met and converted William E. McLellin. McLellin was converted by Harvey Whitlock and David Whitmer. McLellin journals, 29.
Independence		August 4, 1831 arrives in Independence, "And there my mortal [10] Eyes beheld grate and marvilous things such as my eyes never even Contemplated of seeing in this world we had a glorious meting on the Sabath with the Brethren."	Cahoon, 9–10. cp. Ezra Booth's account of the brethren's disappointment with Independence. ¶ Ezra Booth Letters (2)
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.	Cahoon, 10–11. ¶ John Murdock D&C 62
Fund-raising mission call		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
Go on mission!		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."	Minutes of November 11, 1831
Leaves on mission		November 9, 1831 leaves Kirtland on fund-raising tour with David Whitmer, during which David seals up entire branches to eternal life.	Cahoon, 11–12.
Rome, Ravenna		December 12, 1831 Reynolds and Hyrum Smith leave on a mission, east to Rome, then south to Hiram and Ravenna to hear Sidney Rigdon denounce Ezra Booth's letters on December 25.	Hyrum's diary has Monday, December 19, but he must be mistaken. Probably Monday, December 12. Hyrum's diary, {4–11}
Excommunications		January 2, 1832 visits "doubt<ing> members" in Painesville and Kirtland with Orson Pratt. Report to council in Kirtland, which excommunicates several.	Cahoon, 29–30. ¶ William E. McLellin
Excommunications		January 17, 1832 excommunicates several in Orange.	Cahoon, 30.
		January 23, 1832 (Monday) conference begins in Amherst school house. Thomas B. Marsh conducts, Joseph offers prayer.	Cahoon, 30.
Joseph ordained President		[January 25, 1832, conference resumes:] the first business ordained the President of the high Preas[t]hood and others.	Cahoon 31. Only contemporary account of the ordination. Origins, 40. Orson Pratt confirms in 1858. ¶ Orson Pratt (h)
Counselor to Bishop Whitney		February 10, 1832 Reynolds and Hyrum Smith are named counselors to Bishop Newel K. Whitney, Kirtland.	Cahoon, 32.
		May 5, 1832 visits the Isaac Morley farm and finds some are sick and most "very cold."	Cahoon, 35–36.
Phebe Rigdon moves in		May 18, 1832 moves Phebe Rigdon into his house. (Sidney returns on the 26th and moves to the Flats on the 31st. Presumably Phebe was with him.)	Cahoon, 36.
Sidney: kingdom taken		July [12], 1832 Br Sidney remarked that he had a revelation from the Lord & said that the kingdo<m> was taken from <the> Church and left with him.”	Cahoon, 38.
Joseph: will never be taken		July 13, 1832 Hyrum goes for Joseph, who returns to Kirtland and reassures the members that “the kingdom wos ours & never should be taking from the faithful."	Cahoon, 38.
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."	D&C 94 Minutes of 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
		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."	Minutes of June 6, 1833
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.	Minutes of August 23, 1834
Reynolds 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.	MS 15, no. 32 (Aug. 5, 1853): 521. Not in Diary-2 or MS history.
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, 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 HC 2:520.
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 at organization of the Adam-Ondi-Ahman stake. Lyman Wight, second counselor.	Elders Journal 1, no. 4 (Aug. 1838): 60–61; HC 3:38.
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 Higbee 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, William Clayton journals (Smith), 537–538; TS 1, no. 12 (Dec. 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."	TS 3, no. 23 (Oct. 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 Taylor, 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, William Clayton journals (Smith), 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.
Endowed		October 12, 1843 receives Nauvoo endowment.
Second anointings		November 12, 1843 receives second anointings.
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.
Council of Fifty		March 11, 1844 member, Council of Fifty.
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 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 because "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 journals (Smith), 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 exodus 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 William W. Major as his counselors.	HC 7:626.
		September 23 , 1848 arrives in the Salt Lake valley.
Predator hunt judge		Winter of 1848–1849 with Isaac Morley, judges the predator hunt in the Salt Lake valley.

		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.
Reynolds on guard Joseph and Hyrum flee during the night		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 -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.
		Waiting for a skiff to take them across the river, between 9 and 10 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.
Back to Nauvoo		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
		in a room by themselves, having flour and other provisions on the floor ready for packing.
	¶	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.
		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.
If my life is of no value		To which Joseph replied, "If my life is of no value to my friends it is of none to myself."
	¶	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."
Hyrum, what shall we do?		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."
		After studying a few moments, Joseph said, "If [550] you go back I will go with you, but we shall be butchered."
Go back		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."
	¶	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.
		June 26, 1844 early in the evening Joseph sends Reynolds back to Nauvoo to retrieve documents for the trial.	HC 6:599.

		Families
Wife		Thirza Stiles, Oct. 18, 1789 in Brandon, Rutland, VT md. Dec. 11, 1810 d. Nov. 20, 1867 in South Cottonwood, Salt Lake, UT	FamilySearch Ancestral File v4.19 (Thirsda)
Children		William F. (b. Nov. 7, 1813 in Harpersfield, Ashtabula, OH; d. Apr. 4, 1893 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, UT) Leroni/Lerona Eliza/Elizabeth (b. Oct. 25, 1817 in Harpersfield, Ashtabula, OH; d. June 18, 1840 in Nauvoo) Pulaski/Palaski Stephen (b. 1820 in OH; d. 1892 in LaGrange, MO) Daniel Stiles (b. Apr 7, 1822 in Harpersfield, Ashtabula, OH; d. Nov. 13, 1903 in Deseret, Millard, UT) Andrew (b. Aug. 4, 1824 in Harpersfield, Ashtabula, OH; d. Dec. 13, 1900 in South Cottonwood, Salt Lake, UT) Julia Amina (b. Sep. 24, 1830 in Kirtland; d. Jan. 9, 1831 in Kirtland)	FamilySearch Ancestral File v4.19 has ca 1842.
		Mahonri Moriancumer	¶ Oliver's History of the Church (3)
Wife		Lucina Roberts Johnson, b. Mar. 5, 1806 in Lincoln, Addison, VT md. [1842] sld. Jan. 16, 1846 d. [1861] in Brigham City, Box Elder, UT	Marriage year in Nauvoo polygamy, 14. FamilySearch Ancestral File v4.19 has ca 1842.
Children		Lucina Johnson (b. 1843 and died; Nauvoo) Rais Bell Clauson Reynolds (b. Oct. 13, 1845 in Nauvoo, d. Feb. 27, 1811 in Thatcher, Franklin ID) Truman Carlos (b. Jan.18, 1850 in Salt Lake, died Feb. 4, 1911 in Salt Lake)	FamilySearch Ancestral File v4.19
Wife		Mary Hilgrath, b. [1794] in Cambridge, Washington, NY sld. January 16, 1846.
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