Witnesses

BOOK OF MORMON WITNESSES

Witness	Early years	Church Activity	Later Years	Death
Oliver Cowdery (23) Born 10-3-1806 Wells, VT. Died 3-3-1850, Richmond, Mo.	School Teacher. Scribe for Joseph. Witness for restoration of Priesthood. 2nd Elder & Assistant Pres. of Church. Married Elizabeth Ann Whitmer.	Ex’d -1838. Attorney in non-member years in Ohio & Wisconsin.	Rebaptized 1838 in Kanesville, Iowa by Orson Hyde.	Died at home of brother-in-law David Whitmer. His last words were, “Brother David, be true to your testimony of the BoM.
David Whitmer (23) Born 1-7-1805 Harrisburg, Penn Died 1/25/1888 Richmond, Mo.	Friend of Oliver. Invited Joseph & Oliver to his home in Fayette to finish BoM translation. Married Julia Ann Jolly.	President of Church in Mo. Ex’d in 1838. Settled in Richmond, Mo. where he had  livery stable. Chosen as mayor of Richmond.	1847 organized Church of Christ (Whitmerite) Never joined w/ body of this church. It fell apart in 76.   Claimed to be  successor of Joseph  & started a 2nd Church in 1870.	In 1888, ordained  nephew to be his successor. Church survived till 1960s. Last living of 3 witnesses for 13 years. Interviewed the most. Died bearing testimony of BofM.. Despite  hostility to LDS.
Martin Harris (45) Born 5-18-1783 Eastown,  NY Died 7-10-1875 Clarkston, UT	Age 25 married 16 yr. old cousin Lucy Harris Farmer. Owned 300-400 acres. Religious, honest. Sought Joseph to ask of plates. Took characters & translation to NYC.	Scribe for Book of Lehi. Mortgaged farm to publish BoM. Baptized April 6, 1830. Baptized 100 on mission with brother Emer	D&C 3, 5, 10, 17, 19, 52, 58, 70, 82, 102, 104 all mention Martin. Out of Church 32 yrs. Joined 3 breakaway churches. Rebaptized in 1870 at age 86.	Spent last 5 yrs. of life in Clarkson, UT. Loved to share witness with physical objects to relate story. Buried with BoM in right hand & D&C in left.
Hiram Page (29) Born 1800 in Vt. Died  8-8-1852 Excelsior Springs, Mo	Married Catherine Whitmer, 1825 Used Seer stone (D&C 28)	Nearly whipped to death in Mo. when he posed as wife. Ex’d in 1838 w/ family.	Joined w/ McLellin’s Church in 1847.	Died on farm in Excelsior Springs, still affirming testimony of  BoM. Death by-wagon turning over, crushing him
Christian Whitmer (30) Born 1-18-1798-Penn. Died 11-27-1835 Clay County, Mo.	Eldest of Whitmer brothers. Moved with family to Fayette in 1809. Shoemaker	2-22-1825, married Ann Schott (1801–1866) He & Ann baptized,  4-11-1830.	By 1835, moved to Far West, on High Council	Died in faith at Far West in 1835, leaving no children. Widow Ann eventually returned to Fayette.
Hyrum Smith (28) Born 2-9-1800 Turnbridge, Vt., Died 6-27-1844 Carthage, Ill.	Farmer. Married Jerusha Barden (1805–1837) 11-2- 1826, 4 daughters & 2 sons. After Jerusha's death, married Mary Fielding in 1837. Had son-Joseph Fielding, daughter-Martha.	Baptized June, 1829 Eldest, at age 30 of original 6 members of Church. In 1st Presidency, 1837, Presiding Patriarch of Church in Nauvoo.	Chosen as Assistant President of the Church to replace Oliver Cowdery. Would likely have replaced Joseph as President had he not also been martyred.	Martyred with his prophet brother in 1844. Has literally thousands of descendants in the Church today. His posterity includes; Joseph F. and Joseph Fielding Smith and Russell M. Ballard of the Twelve.
Samuel Smith (22) Born 3-18-1808 Tunbridge, Vt. Died July 30,1844 Nauvoo, Ill.	1st to be baptized after Joseph & Oliver.	One of original 6 Church members. Married Mary Bailey (1808–1841)  August 13, 1834. Married Levira Clark (1815–1893)  4/29/1841	First missionary for Church. Left BoM which led to baptism of Brigham & Heber.	Chased by mob after death of his brothers. Got sick from the exertion  of his escape and died just over a month later.
Jacob Whitmer (28) Born 1-27-1800,  Penn. Died 4-21-1856, Richmond, Mo.	2nd of Whitmer boys. Married Elizabeth Schott in 1825. Nine children.	Jacob & Elizabeth baptized 4-11-1825 Served on Far West High Council.	Ex’d with brothers in 1838.	Lived in Richmond. Shoemaker and farmer.
Joseph Smith Sr. (58) Born 7-12-1771 Topsfield, Mass. Died  9-14-1840, Nauvoo, Ill.	Married Lucy Mack in Tunbridge, Vermont on January 24, 1795. 11 children.	First mortal to hear of Joseph’s visit by Moroni	Ordained first Presiding Patriarch on 12-18-1833. Assistant counselor to First Pres.  9-8-1837	Fled exterminating order of Gov. Boggs, in midwinter to Quincy, Ill. Then to Commerce in the spring of 1839. Exposures  suffered led to consumption, of which he died at age 69.
Peter Whitmer Jr. (20) Born 9-27-1809 Fayette, NY. Died 9-22-1836 near Liberty Mo.	6th child and 5th son in Whitmer family.	Served as missionary to Lamanites with Oliver, Parley, & Ziba Peterson in 1830.	Married Vashti Higley 3 children. Served on High Council in Far West.	Died of tuberculosis. Faithful to the Church.
John Whitmer (27) Born 8-27-1802  Fayette, NY Died 7/11-1878  Far West, Mo	Scribe for BoM, Bible and Church Historian. Took  Book of Commandments Revelations to Mo.	Purchased land for Church in Far West. Offered self as hostage to stop mobs in Mo.	Ex’d in March, 1838 for conduct related to sale of lands in Mo. Married Sarah Maria.	Bought cheap land in Far West after expulsion & stayed for rest of life. Last living of 8 witnesses. Great-great granddaughter Lorene Pollard joined LDS Church in 1963.