Philip Bessom Lewis (1804-1877)
16 Jan. 1804–13 Nov. 1877. Farmer, manufacturer, tinner. Born in Marblehead, Essex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Edmund Lewis and Abigail Prentiss. Moved to Pawtucket, Providence Co., Rhode Island, 1827. Moved to New Bedford, Bristol Co., Massachusetts, 1830. Married first Maria Theresa Bonney, 27 June 1837, in New Bedford. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 26 Nov. 1842, in New Bedford. Presided over New Bedford branch of church, 1842–1843. Ordained an elder, before 13 June 1843. Moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, fall 1843. Rented Joseph Smith’s red brick store with Daniel Butler, Dec. 1843–May 1844. Admitted to Council of Fifty, 26 Mar. 1844.Helped bury bodies of Joseph and Hyrum Smith in private, 29 June 1844. Ordained a seventy, 28 Sept. 1844, in Nauvoo. Moved to Iowa Territory, 28 Feb. 1846; to Garden Grove, Decatur Co., Iowa Territory, May 1846; and to Winter Quarters, unorganized U.S. territory (later Omaha, Douglas Co., Nebraska), 1847. Married second Jane Amanda Stevens, 13 May 1848, in Winter Quarters. Migrated to Salt Lake Valley, Sept. 1848. Left with George A. Smith to serve colonizing mission to what became Iron Co., Utah, Dec. 1850. Presided over Sandwich Islands mission, Aug. 1851–Nov. 1855. Moved to San Bernardino, San Bernardino Co., California, 17 Nov. 1855; returned to Salt Lake City, 6 Apr. 1856. Married third Mary Brotherson Scott, 6 Feb. 1857, in Salt Lake City. Moved to St. George, Washington Co., Utah Territory, before June 1870. Moved to Kanab, Kane Co., Utah Territory, before Sept. 1874. Ordained a patriarch, 17 Sept. 1874. Married fourth Emily Lewis, before June 1876, in Kanab. Died in Kanab.
Retrieved with permission from The Joseph Smith Papers.