Daniel Spencer (1794-1868)
20 July 1794–8 Dec. 1868. Rancher, merchant. Born in West Stockbridge, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Daniel Spencer and Chloe Wilson. Moved to Savannah, Chatham Co., Georgia, ca. 1816. Operated a mercantile business in Savannah. Returned to West Stockbridge, ca. 1823. Married first Sophronia Eliza Pomeroy, 16 Jan. 1823, in West Stockbridge. Married second Sarah Lester Van Schoonover, 30 June 1834. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by James Burnham, 3 Mar. 1840, in West Stockbridge. Moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, 1841. Served mission to Canada, ca. 1841. Served mission to Cherokee Indian Nation, ca. 1842. Member of Nauvoo City Council, 1843–1844. Served mission to Canada, 1843. Served mission to Massachusetts, 1844. After murder of Joseph Smith, served as interim mayor of Nauvoo, Aug. 1844–Feb. 1845. Ordained a high priest, 6 Oct. 1844, in Nauvoo. Served mission with Amasa Lyman to reclaim Saints who followed James Emmett to vicinity of present-day Vermillion, Clay Co., South Dakota, Feb.–Mar. 1845. Admitted to Council of Fifty, 18 Mar. 1845. Moved to Winter Quarters, unorganized U.S. territory (later in Omaha, Douglas Co., Nebraska), 1846. Served as bishop at Winter Quarters. Migrated to Salt Lake Valley, 1847. Appointed president of Salt Lake stake, 1849. Member of Utah territorial legislature, 1851. Died in Salt Lake City.
Retrieved with permission from The Joseph Smith Papers.