Skip to main content

Clawson, Rudger, 1857-1943

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1857 - 1943

Biography

Rudger Clawson (1857-1943) was an apostle for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1898 to 1943.

Rudger Clawson was born on March 12, 1857 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to parents Hiram Bradley Clawson and Margaret Gay Judd. He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the South where he witnessed mobs murder his mission companion, Joseph Standing, in 1879. On August 1, 1882, he married Florence Ann Dinwoodey and the two had one child together. On March 29, 1883, he married another wife, Lydia Elizabeth Spencer, and they had nine children together. In 1884 Clawson became the first polygamist of the Church to be convicted and imprisoned for violating the Edmunds Act of 1882. He served his prison sentence from 1884 to 1887 and was released early by President Grover Cleveland. After his release in 1887 he was called as the Stake President of the Box Elder Stake in Utah. Eleven years later, in 1898, he was called by Lorenzo Snow to be an apostle for the Church and eventually became the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1921. He served in this capacity until his death.

He died on June 21, 1943, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Citation:
Cambridge Journals, via WWW, Jan. 23, 2015 (born on March 12, 1857 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to parents Hiram Bradley Clawson and Margaret Gay Judd; served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the South; witnessed mobs murder his mission companion, Joseph Standing, in 1879; August 1, 1882, he married Florence Ann Dinwoodey and the two had one child together; On March 29, 1883, he married another wife, Lydia Elizabeth Spencer, and they had nine children together; 1884 Clawson became the first polygamist of the Church to be convicted and imprisoned for violating the Edmunds Act of 1882; served his prison sentence from 1884 to 1887 and was released early by President Grover Cleveland; 1887 called as the Stake President of the Box Elder Stake in Utah; 1898, he was called by Lorenzo Snow to be an apostle for the Church; President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1921; served in this capacity until his death;died on June 21, 1943, in Salt Lake City, Utah) http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=2308480

Found in 6 Collections and/or Records:

Lydia S. Clawson postcards

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 7083
Abstract

Collection contains incoming postcards to the Clawson family and outgoing postcards from the Clawson family, dated 1908 to 1918.

Dates: 1908-1918

Marinda Goff autograph book from the Utah Territorial Penitentiary

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197225546487]
Identifier: MSS 2805
Abstract Contains autographs and personal notes written by various male LDS Church members and leaders convicted and incarcerated for polygamy, a violation of the Edmunds Act, at the Utah Territory Prison; also includes autographs and notes from friends, family members, and Church leaders from West Jordon, Utah Territory, where Marinda and Hyrum Goff resided; the last autograph and note was written as testimonial in 1900. The book contains testimonials, affirmation of LDS Church doctrine regarding...
Dates: approximately 1886-1887

Orson F. Whitney correspondence with general authorities and other dignitaries, 1912-1930

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 15 Series 1 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Materials include originals and transcriptions of correspondence between Orson F. Whitney and apostles David O. McKay, Heber M. Wells, John A. Widstoe, Horace G. Whitney, and Levi Edgar Young about matters relating to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dated 1882-1930.

Dates: 1912-1930

Orson F. Whitney correspondence with Rudger Clawson and Charles W. Nibley, 1921-1922

 File — Box 3: Series 1; Series 2; Series 3 [Barcode: 31197231038438], Folder: 23
Identifier: MSS 15 Series 1 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents Materials include a report from the European mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints written by Orson F. Whitney to President Rudger Clawson and members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In another letter, to Presiding Bishop C. W. Nibley and his counselors, Whitney says that he is returning home from the European mission after being honorably released as president so that he can recover from health problems. There is also a letter to Aloysius Linatello, rector at the...
Dates: 1921-1922

Rules of Pen Library

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233627519]
Identifier: MSS 7679
Scope and Contents

Manuscript was written by Rudger Clawson for the Utah Territorial Penitentiary. It describes the rules for checking out books within the penitentiary by the inmates. It is one page long and the only known draft. The document was created circa 1885. There is also a typescript included.

Dates: approximately 1885

Additional filters:

Type
Collection 3
Archival Object 2
Digital Record 1
 
Subject
Letters 3
Material Types 2
Apostles (Latter Day Saint churches) -- Correspondence 1
Autograph albums 1
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 1