Phelps, William Wines, 1792-1872
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 10 Collections and/or Records:
An act authorizing the foreman of grand juries to administer oath
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."
An act creating a territorial and county revenue
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.
An act in relation to the inspection of spirituous liquor
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.
An act regulating elections
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.
An act to create the office of a county treasurer in each county of the Territory of Utah and to define the duties thereof
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.
A bill for locating the county seat of Davis County in Utah Territory
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.
A resolution creating the office of superintendent of common schools
Handwritten legislative resolution passed by the Utah territorial legislature on 4 Oct. 1851. 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 school superintendent in the schools of the Utah territory.
Resolution in relation to distributing constitution
Handwritten legislative resolution by the Utah legislature on 30 Jan.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 resolution directs that copies of the constitution be distributed among the members of the legislature.
A resolution making appropriations to the assessor and collector and auditor of public accounts
Handwritten legislative act passed by the Utah legislature on 6 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 item relates to public finances.
Utah draft law 28
Handwritten legislative act proposed by the Utah legislature. 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 relates to the administration of property in Utah.