Pratt, Orson

19 Sept. 1811–3 Oct. 1881. Farmer, writer, teacher, merchant, surveyor, editor, publisher. Born at Hartford, Washington Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Moved to New Lebanon, Columbia Co., New York, 1814; to Canaan, Columbia Co., fall 1823; to Hurl Gate, Queens Co., New York, spring 1825; and to New York City, spring 1826. Returned to Hurl Gate, fall 1826, and to Canaan, spring 1827. Moved to Lorain Co., Ohio, fall 1827; to Chagrin (later Willoughby), Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, spring 1828; and to Connecticut, fall 1828. Returned to Hurl Gate, winter 1828–1829, and to Canaan, spring 1829. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Parley P. Pratt, 19 Sept. 1830, at Canaan. Ordained an elder by JS, 1 Dec. 1830, in Fayette, Seneca Co., New York, and appointed to serve mission to Colesville, Broome Co., New York. With Samuel H. Smith, traveled from New York to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio; arrived, 27 Feb. 1831. Served mission to Missouri, summer 1831. Moved to Hiram, Portage Co., Ohio, Dec. 1831. Ordained a high priest by Sidney Rigdon, 2 Feb. 1832, in Hiram. Began mission with Lyman E. Johnson to eastern U.S. from Kirtland, Feb. 1832. Participated in Camp of Israel expedition to Missouri, 1834. Ordained member of Quorum of the Twelve by David Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery, 26 Apr. 1835, at Kirtland. Married Sarah Marinda Bates, 4 July 1836, at Henderson, Jefferson Co., New York. Served mission to Upper Canada, 1836. Served mission to Great Britain with other members of Quorum of the Twelve, 1839–1841. Appointed assistant chaplain in Nauvoo Legion, 3 July 1841. Member of city council, 1841–1845, in Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois. Member of Nauvoo Masonic Lodge. Excommunicated, 20 Aug. 1842, at Nauvoo. Rebaptized into church, 20 Jan. 1843, and ordained to his former office in Quorum of the Twelve. Admitted to Council of Fifty, 11 Mar. 1844. Served mission to Washington DC and eastern U.S., 1844. Moved to what became Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa Territory, 1846. Entered Salt Lake Valley with Brigham Young pioneer company, 1847. Presided over church in Great Britain, 1848–1849, 1856–1857. Member of Utah territorial legislature. Appointed church historian, 1874. Died at Salt Lake City.