John R. Murdock (Mormon)
Encyclopedia
.
John Riggs Murdock was the leader of the most Down-and-Back companies in Latter-day Saint history.
The son of John Murdock
, he not only lead several down and back companies but also served several missions
in the eastern United States
. He was also a prominent leader of the church in Beaver, Utah
.
Murdock was born in Orange, Ohio
to John Murdock
and Julia Clapp Murdock. When he was five years old, his mother died and he was then raised in the home of Morris Phelps. The Phelps moved from Jackson County, Missouri
to Far West, Missouri
to Nauvoo, Illinois
, where Murdock was reunited with his father. In Nauvoo Murdock worked on the farm of Joseph Smith
. During the exocus from Nauvoo to the west Murdock lived with the Cornelius Lott family in Nauvoo, Murdock fell in love with and later married Lott's daughter Almira Henrietta Lott. The marriage of Murdock and Lott happened after the arrival in the Salt Lake Valley.
Murdock later also married Mary Ellen Wolfenden and May Bain.
In 1846, Murdock joined the Mormon Battalion
and arrived in Salt Lake City in 1847. After marrying, he settled in Lehi, Utah
in 1851. From 1861 to 1863, served as Mayor of Lehi. In 1856 Murdock was one of the rescuers of the Handcart companies. In 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864 and 1864 Murdock lead down-and-back companies across the plains.
For a time Murdock served as the regional presiding bishop in Beaver County, Utah
. Murdock was called to this position in 1864 and it was then that he first went to Beaver.
Murdock served a total of eight terms in the Utah Territorial Legislature. He was a member of the Utah Constitutional Convention. He also served one term as a member of the Utah State House of Representatives.
Murdock was the first president of the Beaver Stake when it was organized in 1869. He served in this position until 1891. He was later ordained a patriarch.
Murdock was a member of the apportionment and boundaries committee of the 1895 Utah State Constitutional Convention.
Murdock was closely involved with the movement to start a secondary school in Southern Utah, which is why when it was finally began at Beaver it was named the Murdock Academy. This institution functioned as a branch of Brigham Young Academy, the predecessor of Brigham Young University
.
Murdock died in 1913. His is the largest grave marker in Mountain View Cemetery, Beaver Utah. Immediately adjacent are markers for Mary Ellen Wolfenden Murdock and May Bain Murdock, two of his plural wives. At the behest of second wife Wolfenden, the location is some distance away from the grave of Almira Henrietta Lott Murdock (d. 1878), her bitter rival who preceded her in death.
John Riggs Murdock was the leader of the most Down-and-Back companies in Latter-day Saint history.
The son of John Murdock
John Murdock (Mormon)
John Murdock was an early convert to the Latter Day Saint movement and was a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He is mentioned twice in the Doctrine and Covenants...
, he not only lead several down and back companies but also served several missions
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
in the eastern United States
Eastern United States
The Eastern United States, the American East, or simply the East is traditionally defined as the states east of the Mississippi River. The first two tiers of states west of the Mississippi have traditionally been considered part of the West, but can be included in the East today; usually in...
. He was also a prominent leader of the church in Beaver, Utah
Beaver, Utah
Beaver is a city in Beaver County, Utah, United States. The population was 2,454 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Beaver County.Settled by Mormon pioneers in 1856, Beaver was one of a string of Mormon settlements extending the length of Utah...
.
Murdock was born in Orange, Ohio
Orange, Ohio
Orange is a village in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It is an affluent suburb of Cleveland. The population was 3,323 at the 2010 census.-History:...
to John Murdock
John Murdock (Mormon)
John Murdock was an early convert to the Latter Day Saint movement and was a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He is mentioned twice in the Doctrine and Covenants...
and Julia Clapp Murdock. When he was five years old, his mother died and he was then raised in the home of Morris Phelps. The Phelps moved from Jackson County, Missouri
Jackson County, Missouri
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. With a population of 674,158 in the 2010 census, Jackson County is the second most populous of Missouri's counties, after St. Louis County. Kansas City, the state's most populous city and focus city of the Kansas City Metropolitan...
to Far West, Missouri
Far West, Missouri
Far West, Missouri, was a Latter Day Saint settlement in Caldwell County, Missouri.-Foundation and early history:The town was founded by Missouri Mormon leaders, W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer in August 1836 shortly before the county's creation. The town was platted originally as a square area,...
to Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
, where Murdock was reunited with his father. In Nauvoo Murdock worked on the farm of Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith was founder of what later became known as the Latter Day Saint movement or Mormons.Joseph Smith may also refer to:-Latter Day Saints:* Joseph Smith, Sr. , father of Joseph Smith...
. During the exocus from Nauvoo to the west Murdock lived with the Cornelius Lott family in Nauvoo, Murdock fell in love with and later married Lott's daughter Almira Henrietta Lott. The marriage of Murdock and Lott happened after the arrival in the Salt Lake Valley.
Murdock later also married Mary Ellen Wolfenden and May Bain.
In 1846, Murdock joined the Mormon Battalion
Mormon Battalion
The Mormon Battalion was the only religiously based unit in United States military history, and it served from July 1846 to July 1847 during the Mexican-American War. The battalion was a volunteer unit of between 534 and 559 Latter-day Saints men led by Mormon company officers, commanded by regular...
and arrived in Salt Lake City in 1847. After marrying, he settled in Lehi, Utah
Lehi, Utah
-Attractions:Lehi Roller MillsLehi Roller Mills was founded in 1906 by a co-op of farmers. George G. Robinson purchased the mill in 1910, and since then it has remained in the family. It is run today by grandson R. Sherman Robinson....
in 1851. From 1861 to 1863, served as Mayor of Lehi. In 1856 Murdock was one of the rescuers of the Handcart companies. In 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864 and 1864 Murdock lead down-and-back companies across the plains.
For a time Murdock served as the regional presiding bishop in Beaver County, Utah
Beaver County, Utah
As of the census of 2010, there were 6,629 people, 2,265 households, and 1,697 families residing in the county. The population density was 2.56 people per square mile . There were 2,908 housing units at an average density of 1.12 per square mile...
. Murdock was called to this position in 1864 and it was then that he first went to Beaver.
Murdock served a total of eight terms in the Utah Territorial Legislature. He was a member of the Utah Constitutional Convention. He also served one term as a member of the Utah State House of Representatives.
Murdock was the first president of the Beaver Stake when it was organized in 1869. He served in this position until 1891. He was later ordained a patriarch.
Murdock was a member of the apportionment and boundaries committee of the 1895 Utah State Constitutional Convention.
Murdock was closely involved with the movement to start a secondary school in Southern Utah, which is why when it was finally began at Beaver it was named the Murdock Academy. This institution functioned as a branch of Brigham Young Academy, the predecessor of Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
.
Murdock died in 1913. His is the largest grave marker in Mountain View Cemetery, Beaver Utah. Immediately adjacent are markers for Mary Ellen Wolfenden Murdock and May Bain Murdock, two of his plural wives. At the behest of second wife Wolfenden, the location is some distance away from the grave of Almira Henrietta Lott Murdock (d. 1878), her bitter rival who preceded her in death.