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Phelps, William Wines, 1792-1872

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1792 - 1872

Biographical History

William Wines Phelps (1792-1872) was a publisher, scribe, and pioneer.

William Wines (W. W.) Phelps was born on February 17, 1792, in Hanover, New Jersey, to Enon Phelps and Mehitable Goldsmith. He married Sally Waterman on April 28, 1815, in Smyrna, New York. In June 1831, he traveled to Kirtland, Ohio, met the Prophet Joseph Smith, and was baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1832 he moved to Jackson County, Missouri, and began publishing the Church's first periodical, the "Evening and the Morning Star". However, mobs attacked his house and destroyed his printing equipment. Phelps eventually had to escape Jackson County into Clay County and was later called to work in Kirtland.

In 1835, the Church purchased Egyptian mummies and papyrus from Michael H. Chandler; Phelps acted as a scribe for Joseph Smith while the latter translated the manuscripts into what we now know as the Pearl of Great Price. In 1838 Church authorities accused Phelps of reneging on a financial deal for building a temple in Missouri and they excommunicated Phelps. However, he was rebaptized two days later and he regained full membership two years later and was sent on a mission to the eastern United States. He also married two more wives: Laura Stowell and Elizabeth Dunn. After Joseph Smith died in 1844, Phelps embarked on the trek to the West and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1848. In Utah, he was a member of the Utah legislature and an almanac maker.

Phelps died on March 7, 1872, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Citation:
Phelps Family History, via WWW, March 27, 2014 (Enon Phelps and Mehitable Goldsmith; married Sally Waterman on April 28, 1815, in Smyrna, New York; June 1831, he traveled to Kirtland, Ohio; baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on June 10, 1831; 1832 he moved to Jackson County, Missouri; publishing "Evening and the Morning Star"; mobs attacked his house and destroyed his printing equipment. Phelps eventually had to escape Jackson County into Clay County and was later called to work in Kirtland; scribe for Joseph Smith; In 1838 Church authorities accused Phelps of reneging on a financial deal for building a temple in Missouri and they excommunicated Phelps; regained full membership 1840 and was sent on a mission to the Eastern States; two more wives: Laura Stowell and Elizabeth Dunn; Phelps went on trek to the West and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1848; a member of the Utah legislature and an almanac maker)

Praise to the man, 1997: CIP galley (William Wines Phelps, pioneer; b. Feb. 17, 1792, Hanover, Morris Co., N.J.; d. 1872, Salt Lake City, Utah)

Light on free masonry, 1869: p. viii, 318 (W.W. Phelps)

Found in 15 Collections and/or Records:

An act authorizing the foreman of grand juries to administer oath

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 2029
Scope and Contents

Handwritten legislative act passed by the Utah Legislature on 28 Feb. 1852. The item was signed by Brigham Young (1801-1877), "Governor of Utah;" Willard Richards (1804-1854), "President of Council;" and William W. Phelps (1792-1872), "Speaker of the House of Rep." The act states that the "foreman" of grand juries is "authorized to issue process and compel the attendance of witnesses to give evidence" and "may administer oaths or affirmations to the witnesses thus in attendance."

Dates: 1852

An act creating a territorial and county revenue

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230325877]
Identifier: MSS SC 2721
Scope and Contents

Handwritten legislative act passed by the Utah legislature on 4 Feb. 1852. The act relates to the establishment of a system of taxation in territorial Utah. The item was signed by Brigham Young, Willard Richards, and William W. Phelps.

Dates: 1852 February 4

An act in relation marshalls and attorneys

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233289740]
Identifier: Vault MSS 415
Scope and Contents

Handwritten legislative act passed by the Utah legislature on 3 March 1852. The item was signed by Brigham Young (1801-1877), "Governor" ; Willard Richards (1804-1854), "President of the Council" ; and William W. Phelps (1792-1872), "speaker of the House of Rep." The act outlines the duties of the attorney general of Utah and marshals and deputy marshals.

Dates: 1852 March 3

An act in relation to the inspection of spirituous liquor

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230316538]
Identifier: MSS SC 2015
Scope and Contents

Handwritten legislative act passed by the Utah legislature on 5 March 1852. The item was signed by Brigham Young (1801-1877), "Governor" ; Willard Richards (1804-1854), "President of the Council" ; and William W. Phelps (1792-1872), "speaker of the House of Rep." The act states that all "spirituous liquor" either produced in or imported into Utah had to be inspected.

Dates: 1852

An act in relation to the judiciary

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233292934]
Identifier: Vault MSS 733
Scope and Contents

Handwritten legislative act passed by the Utah legislature on 4 Feb. 1852. The item was signed by Brigham Young, Willard Richards, and William W. Phelps. The act defines the function and responsibilites of courts and judges in the Utah Territory.

Dates: 1852 February 4

An act in relation to Utah Library

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233292041]
Identifier: Vault MSS 539
Scope and Contents Handwritten act of the Utah territorial legislature establishing the Utah Library. The librarian over the institution was under a two-year legislative appointment and was given a budget of $6000. The librarian was given authority to conduct all business relating to the library. The main purpose of the library was to provide materials for the legislature, but items could be made available to federal officials and private citizens of Utah at the discretion of the librarian. The document...
Dates: 1852

An act regulating elections

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230318625]
Identifier: MSS SC 1954
Scope and Contents

One handwritten document. The item is a draft of a law regulating the election procedures in the Utah Territory. It is signed by Brigham Young, Willard Richards, and William W. Phelps.

Dates: 1852

An act to create the office of a county treasurer in each county of the Territory of Utah and to define the duties thereof

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230321983]
Identifier: MSS SC 2368
Scope and Contents

Handwritten legislative act passed by the Utah territorial legislature on 3 Feb. 1852. The item was signed by Brigham Young (1801-1877), "Governor;" Willard Richards (1804-1854), "President of the Council;" and William W. Phelps (1792-1872), "Speaker of the House of Rep." The measure establishes the office of county treasurer in the counties of the Utah territory.

Dates: 1852

A bill for locating the county seat of Davis County in Utah Territory

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230319383]
Identifier: MSS SC 2072
Scope and Contents

Handwritten legislative act enacted by the Utah legislature on 18 February 1852. The item was signed by Brigham Young (1801-1877), "Governor;" Willard Richards (1804-1854), "President of the Council;" and William W. Phelps (1792-1872), "Speaker of the House of Rep." The act states that Farmington shall be the site for the County Seat of Davis County.

Dates: 1852

W. W. Phelps, Willard Richards, and Brigham Young legal act

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233292736]
Identifier: Vault MSS 711
Scope and Contents

Handwritten legislative act from Utah dated March 1, 1852. The item is signed by W. W. Phelps, Willard Richards, and Brigham Young. The act declares it to be unlawful to "use with disrespect the name of the deity," use unnecessary cruelty upon animals, and to be intoxicated in public. The item also declares that the breaking of these laws is to be punishable by a monetary fine or by a period of hard labor.

Dates: 1852 March 1