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Taylor, John, 1808-1887

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1808 - 1887

Biographical History

John Taylor (1808-1887) was the third president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

John Taylor was born November 1, 1808 in Milnthorpe, England to James Taylor and Agnes Taylor. John immigrated to Canada with his parents in 1832, where he met and married Leonora Cannon on January 28, 1833. On May 9, 1836 he was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Parley P. Pratt and 2 short years later joined the saints in Far West, Missouri. That year, on December 19, 1838 in Far West, John Taylor was ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve by Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball. John served a proselytizing mission to the British Isles from 1839–1841 and then again from 1846–1847. He worked to translate the Book of Mormon into French and German. Following death of Brigham Young, he presided over the church from 1877 to 1887 and was ordained president of church on October 10, 1880. He served in that position until his death on July 25, 1887 in Kaysville, Utah Territory. He was buried in Salt Lake City.

Citation:
Rasmussen, D.M. The illustrated story of President John Taylor, c1982 (1983 printing): p. 6, etc. (b. 11-1-1808; d. 7-25-1887; third president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 1992: p.1648(Taylor, John b.Nov 1, 1808, Milnthorpe, England; d. July 25, 1887, Kaysville, Utah; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints President Oct. 10, 1880-July 25, 1887; made an Apostle Dec. 19, 1838; occupation: farmer) p.1438-1439 (migrates with parents from England to Canada in 1832; baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1836; moves to Far West, Missouri 1838; misison to British Isles 1839; Nauvoo City Councilman; Nauvoo Legion; newspaper editor of Times and Seasons (1842-1846) and the Nauvoo Neighbor (1843-1846); pioneer-arrived Salt Lake Valley 1847; Utah territorial legislature, 1853-1876; Probate judge Utah County, 1868-1870; Territorial superintendent of schools, 1876; preside over missionary work in Fance and Germany, 1849; author; founded Deseret Manufacturing Company while in Europe)

Joseph Smith Papers, via WWW, March 21, 2018 (1 Nov. 1808–25 July 1887; Preacher, editor, publisher, politician; Born at Milnthorpe, Westmoreland, England; Son of James Taylor and Agnes Taylor; Migrated from England to Upper Canada, 1832; Married Leonora Cannon, 28 Jan. 1833, at York; Baptized into LDS church by Parley P. Pratt, 9 May 1836; Moved to Kirtland Ohio; Moved to Far West, Missouri, 1838; Ordained member of Quorum of the Twelve by Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball, 19 Dec. 1838, at Far West; Served mission to England, 1839–1841, 1846–1847; worked on translations of the Book of Mormon into French and German; Following death of Brigham Young, presided over church from 1877 to 1887; Ordained president of church, 10 Oct. 1880; Died at Kaysville, Davis Co., Utah Territory; Buried in Salt Lake City)

Found in 55 Collections and/or Records:

Samuel Bateman diary, book 1

 Digital Record
Identifier: MSS128_I1_B1_F1
Dates: 1886-1888

Samuel Bateman diary, book 1, 1886-1888

 Item — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197227633978], Folder: 1
Identifier: MSS 128 Item 1
Scope and Contents Original handwritten diary of Samuel Bateman, including entries while he served as bodyguard for Latter-day Saint Church President John Taylor until his death in July 1887. Diary includes nearly daily entries of his work as a bodyguard, and includes details of the last days of John Taylor while living in the "Underground" for plural marriage. Bateman later served as bodyguard to President Wilford Woodruff as well. Much of the diary is his interactions and travels with various Church leaders...
Dates: 1886-1888

John Smith papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Vault MSS 803
Scope and Contents

Collection contains papers related to Smith's mission to Denmark, life in Utah with family, and his position as Presiding Patriarch of the LDS Church. Includes diaries, letters, articles containing references to John, his personal patriarchal blessing, sheep accounts, family history notes, and copies of patriarchal blessings pronounced by himself. Dated 1848-1962.

Dates: 1848-1962

Joseph F. Smith letters

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 2497
Scope and Contents Handwritten and typewritten letters dated 6 May 1881 and 17 Dec. 1914. The handwritten item is addressed to Charles Coulson Rich of Paris, Idaho. Smith tells Rich about the activities of John Taylor, third president of the Mormon Church, and about financial matters. The typewritten item is addressed to Francis W. Kirkham who is called to be the president of the New Zealand Mission for the Mormon Church. This letter is signed by Smith and the other two members of the First Presidency of the...
Dates: 1914 December 17; 1881 May 6

Erastus Fairbanks Snow papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1419
Scope and Contents

Photocopies of handwritten diaries from about 1836 to 1857, a notebook from 1848, correspondence from 1847 to 1888, financial papers from 1855 to 1883, miscellaneous items from 1840 to 1879, and copy of a revelation given in 1836 which is now found in Doctrine and Covenants, Sec. 111. The materials relate to Snow's finances and activities.

Dates: 1836-1888

Utah court summons

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230318393]
Identifier: MSS SC 1979
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a handwritten summons. The item calls John Taylor (1808-1887), president of the Mormon church, and all the apostles of that church to appear in court on 15 Sept. 1887 to answer a complaint.

Dates: 1887

John Taylor agreement

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230349471]
Identifier: MSS 4130
Abstract

Agreement copied on one page for John Taylor to Lewis Robinson, 1878.

Dates: 1878

John Taylor correspondence

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233287082]
Identifier: Vault MSS 158
Scope and Contents

Two handwritten and signed letters addressed to John Taylor's son-in-law, Daniel Harrington, dated 31 July and 8 Sept. 1886. Also included is a letter from Harrington dated 1 Nov. 1886 congratulating Taylor on his 78th birthday. The items deal largely with personal matters.

Dates: 1886

John Taylor legal papers

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230244169]
Identifier: MSS SC 634
Scope and Contents

Mss. The collection includes legal documents concerning cases involving John Taylor which include writs of attachment, a declaration, an affidavit, a precipe, and an exemplification of record which originated in Lake County, Ohio and was transferred to the Hancock County, Illinois Circuit Court.

Dates: 1844-1846

John Taylor letter

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 2100
Scope and Contents

Handwritten letter addressed to Judge Elias Smith dated 14 March 1874 and signed by John Taylor. Taylor informs Smith of money owed him (Taylor) and others by the Caroline H. Debrowske estate.

Dates: 1874