John Farnham Boynton (1811-1890)

20 Sept. 1811–20 Oct. 1890. Merchant, lecturer, scientist, inventor, dentist. Born at East Bradford (later Groveland), Essex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Eliphalet Boynton and Susanna Nichols. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Joseph Smith, Sept. 1832, at Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio. Ordained an elder by Joseph Smith, 16 Nov. 1832. Served missions to Pennsylvania, 1832, with Zebedee Coltrin; to Maine, 1833–1834, with Evan Greene; and to Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio, Nov. 1834, with William E. McLellin. Ordained member of Quorum of the Twelve, 15 Feb. 1835, in Kirtland. Served mission to eastern states and Canada with Quorum of the Twelve. Married first to Susannah (Susan) Lowell by Joseph Smith, 20 Jan. 1836, at Kirtland. Disfellowshipped from Quorum of the Twelve, 3 Sept. 1837. Reinstated to church and membership in Quorum of the Twelve, 10 Sept. 1837. Excommunicated, 1837. Practiced dentistry in vicinity of Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, early 1840s. Graduated from St. Louis Medical College, 1845. Settled at Syracuse, Onondaga Co., New York, 1845. Wife died, 7 Aug. 1859. Married second Mary West Jenkins, Nov. 1865. Separated from wife, ca. 1869; divorced, 1880. Married third Caroline Foster Harriman, 20 Jan. 1883. Died at Syracuse.

Retrieved with permission from The Joseph Smith Papers.