Alpheus Cutler
Encyclopedia
Alpheus Cutler was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement
who served in several church positions under Mormon founder Joseph Smith, Jr. including as captain of Smith's personal bodyguard and "Master Builder and Workman on all God's holy houses." Following Smith's murder in June 1844, Cutler at first followed the Twelve Apostles under Brigham Young
, but later left Young's organization to start his own church, which became the Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite)
. Cutler claimed that his church was the sole legitimate continuation of Joseph Smith's organization, and he served as its leader until his death.
Cutler was born in Upper Lisle, New York
. He married Lois Lathrop of Lebanon, New Hampshire
in 1808. Lathrop was a descendent of Rev. John Lathrop
(1584–1653), and thus a distant cousin of Latter Day Saint prophet
Joseph Smith, Jr.
Baptised into the early Latter Day Saint movement in 1833, Cutler was a member of the Nauvoo High Council
, the Anointed Quorum
, and the Council of Fifty
. By late 1847 Cutler had established a settlement along Silver Creek in Mills County, Iowa
, near present-day Silver City
. Increasingly dissatisfied with the leadership of Brigham Young
, Cutler next led his followers to a new settlement called Manti near modern-day Shenandoah, Iowa
where he established his own branch of the Latter-Day Saints before his death on August 10, 1864.
His wife Lois Lathrop Cutler and a number of his followers moved to Otter Tail County, Minnesota
and founded the settlement of Clitherall
, near Battle Lake
, in the autumn of 1864. The settlement thrived for a number of years.
Their daughter Louisa Elizabeth Cutler (1816–1854) married Tunis Rappleye (1807–1883), who led the second group of Mormon pioneers (after Brigham Young
's group) into the Salt Lake Valley
in 1847. Their marriage produced 10 children and hundreds of descendants.
Alpheus' and Lois' daughters, Clarissa (1824) and Emily (1828), married LDS Church Apostle Heber Chase Kimball
(1801) as polygamous wives. Both later divorced him.
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
who served in several church positions under Mormon founder Joseph Smith, Jr. including as captain of Smith's personal bodyguard and "Master Builder and Workman on all God's holy houses." Following Smith's murder in June 1844, Cutler at first followed the Twelve Apostles under Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
, but later left Young's organization to start his own church, which became the Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite)
Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite)
The Church of Jesus Christ is a denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement headquartered in Independence, Missouri. This church derives its epithet from its founder, Alpheus Cutler, a member of the Nauvoo High Council and of Joseph Smith's secretive Council of Fifty...
. Cutler claimed that his church was the sole legitimate continuation of Joseph Smith's organization, and he served as its leader until his death.
Cutler was born in Upper Lisle, New York
Lisle (town), New York
Lisle is a town in Broome County, New York, United States. The population was 2,707 at the 2000 census.The town is in the northwest part of the county and is north of Binghamton. The town also includes a village called Lisle.- History :...
. He married Lois Lathrop of Lebanon, New Hampshire
Lebanon, New Hampshire
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,568 people, 5,500 households, and 3,178 families residing in the city. The population density was 311.4 people per square mile . There were 5,707 housing units at an average density of 141.4 per square mile...
in 1808. Lathrop was a descendent of Rev. John Lathrop
John Lathrop
John Lathrop is the name of:* John Lothropp , British clergy* John Lathrop , of Boston, Mass* John Hiram Lathrop , educator...
(1584–1653), and thus a distant cousin of Latter Day Saint prophet
Prophet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
Joseph Smith, Jr.
Baptised into the early Latter Day Saint movement in 1833, Cutler was a member of the Nauvoo High Council
High council (Mormonism)
In Mormonism, a high council is one of several different governing bodies that have existed in the church hierarchy on many Latter-day Saint denominations...
, the Anointed Quorum
Anointed Quorum
The Anointed Quorum, also known as the Quorum of the Anointed, or the Holy Order, was a select body of men and women who Joseph Smith, Jr. initiated into Mormon temple ordinances at Nauvoo, Illinois, which gave them special standing in the early Latter Day Saint movement...
, and the Council of Fifty
Council of Fifty
The Council of Fifty was a Latter Day Saint organization established by Joseph Smith, Jr...
. By late 1847 Cutler had established a settlement along Silver Creek in Mills County, Iowa
Mills County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 15,059 in the county, with a population density of . There were 6,109 housing units, of which 5,605 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, near present-day Silver City
Silver City, Iowa
Silver City is a city in Mills County, Iowa, United States. The population was 259 at the 2000 census. The Wabash Trace--a railroad converted to a bicycle trail—passes through here. At trailside, there is a small park with a gazebo, and across from it, a small cafe.-Geography:Silver City is located...
. Increasingly dissatisfied with the leadership of Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
, Cutler next led his followers to a new settlement called Manti near modern-day Shenandoah, Iowa
Shenandoah, Iowa
Shenandoah is a city in Fremont and Page Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 5,546 at the 2000 census.Once referred to as the "seed and nursery center of the world," Shenandoah is the home to Earl May Seed Company and the radio station KMA, founded by Earl May...
where he established his own branch of the Latter-Day Saints before his death on August 10, 1864.
His wife Lois Lathrop Cutler and a number of his followers moved to Otter Tail County, Minnesota
Otter Tail County, Minnesota
Otter Tail County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 57,303. Its county seat is Fergus Falls.-History:...
and founded the settlement of Clitherall
Clitherall, Minnesota
Clitherall is a city in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 112 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, near Battle Lake
Battle Lake, Minnesota
-External links:*http://www.ci.battle-lake.mn.us/http://firstbaptistbattlelake.org...
, in the autumn of 1864. The settlement thrived for a number of years.
Their daughter Louisa Elizabeth Cutler (1816–1854) married Tunis Rappleye (1807–1883), who led the second group of Mormon pioneers (after Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
's group) into the Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley is a valley in Salt Lake County in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Utah. It contains Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs, notably West Valley City, Murray, Sandy, and West Jordan; its total population is 1,029,655 as of 2010...
in 1847. Their marriage produced 10 children and hundreds of descendants.
Alpheus' and Lois' daughters, Clarissa (1824) and Emily (1828), married LDS Church Apostle Heber Chase Kimball
Heber C. Kimball
Heber Chase Kimball was a leader in the early Latter Day Saint movement. He served as one of the original twelve apostles in the early Latter Day Saint church, and as first counselor to Brigham Young in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his...
(1801) as polygamous wives. Both later divorced him.