Cyrus H. Wheelock

Cyrus Hubbard Wheelock (February 28, 1813 – October 11, 1894) was an early missionary and leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He wrote the words to the Latter-day Saint hymn "Ye Elders of Israel."

Cyrus H. Wheelock
Cyrus H. Wheelock
Personal details
BornCyrus Hubbard Wheelock
(1813-02-28)February 28, 1813
Henderson, New York
DiedOctober 11, 1894(1894-10-11) (aged 81)
Mount Pleasant, Utah Territory
OccupationMissionary and hymn-writer
Notable works"Ye Elders of Israel"
Spouse(s)Olive Parrish
Jemima Rose
Mary Ann Broomhead
Mary Ann Dallin
Elizabeth Burgess Neslen
Louisa Godsall

Wheelock was born at Henderson, Jefferson County, New York.[1] He was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on September 1, 1839. Shortly afterward, he served as a missionary in Vermont.

In 1844, Wheelock tried to convince Governor Thomas Ford of Illinois to release Joseph Smith Jr. from Carthage Jail. Wheelock gave Smith the pistol which he had when the mob attacked the jail at Carthage.[2]

Wheelock served three missions to England. He presided over the Manchester, Liverpool and Preston Conferences.[3]

In 1853, Wheelock was a counselor to Isaac Haight, president of a camp of Latter-day Saints waiting to set out from Keokuk, Iowa. Wheelock was the captain of one of the pioneer companies that crossed the plains to Utah Territory.[4][5] In 1854, Wheelock became the president of the 37th Quorum of the Seventy.[6]

In 1856, Wheelock was part of a rescue party Brigham Young sent to assist the stranded pioneer companies including the Martin Handcart Company near the Sweetwater River in Wyoming.[7] He served as chaplain of one of the rescue companies

Wheelock settled in Mount Pleasant, Utah Territory. He wrote several hymns while living here.[8]

In 1878 and 1879, Wheelock served as president of the Northern States Mission which then consisted of the states of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois.[1] He died in Mount Pleasant, Utah Territory.[1]

References
  1. Jenson, Andrew (1936). Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia. 4. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret News Press. pp. 362–363.
  2. Thiriot, Amy Tanner (November 27, 2012). "Cyrus Hubbard Wheelock: In Desert, On Mountain, On Land, or On Sea". Keepapitchinin. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  3. Aird, Polly. "Bound for Zion: The Ten- and Thirteen-Pound Emigrating Companies, 1853-54", Utah Historical Quarterly p. 306
  4. Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, 1847-1868
  5. Hartley, William G., "LDS Emigration in 1853: The Keokuk Encampment and Outfitting Ten Wagon Trains for Utah", Mormon Historical Studies Fall 2003, 43-76.
  6. James Ririe: Autobiography of James Ririe, Part 2, Ririe.org Archived 2007-08-08 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Orton, Chad M. (2006). "The Martin Handcart Company at the Sweetwater: Another Look". BYU Studies. 45 (3): 4–37. Archived from the original on 2013-10-21. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
  8. Mormon Literature & Creative Arts
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