- Peter Whitmer, Sr.
Peter Whitmer, Sr. (1773–1854) was an early member of the
Latter Day Saint movement , and father of the movement's second founding family.Peter Whitmer, Sr. was born
April 14 ,1773 in Pennsylvania and married Mary Elsa Musselman. The Whitmers had eight children together: Christian, Jacob, John, David, Catherine, Peter Jr., Nancy and Elizabeth Ann. In 1809, the family moved toWaterloo, New York , where they joined a German Reformed church and where Peter became a road overseer and school trustee. After 1827, they moved to Fayette.In June 1829, Peter's sons and his son-in-law,
Hiram Page , became witnesses to theGolden Plates and when the early Latter-day Saint church was organized onApril 6 ,1830 , the Whitmers were among the first members. Their Fayette home is the traditional site of the church's organization.Oliver Cowdery , who had assistedJoseph Smith, Jr. in the translation of "The Book of Mormon " from the Golden Plates, married Elizabeth Ann Whitmer in December, 1832.Peter and the entire Whitmer family broke with Latter Day Saint leader,
Joseph Smith, Jr. , in 1838 inFar West, Missouri . Peter moved toRichmond, Missouri where he lived until his death onAugust 12 ,1854 .
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