Thomas Grover
Encyclopedia
Thomas Grover was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement, polygamist, politician and pioneer.
to join the main body of Latter Day Saints. While in Kirtland, he was called to the first High Council
of the church in a revelation that now appears in the Doctrine & Covenants.
Thomas moved his family from Kirtland to Far West, Missouri
. After Governor Lilburn Boggs
issued an order for Mormons to be exterminated
from the State of Missouri, Thomas and his family fled to Nauvoo, Illinois
. Along the way, Caroline became ill. She eventually succumbed to illness and died on October 17, 1840. That same month, Thomas and Caroline's infant daughter Emma died. At age 33 Thomas became a widower with five young children to care for. While in Nauvoo, Thomas farmed for a living. He was also a bodyguard
to the Prophet Joseph Smith
and a captain in the Nauvoo Legion
.
From 1840 to 1844 Thomas served three missions
for the church in New York, Michigan and Canada.
Thomas was a Captain in Brigham Young's vanguard company of 1847 which lead the way for thousands of Mormons emigrating west. At the Platte River Thomas constructed and managed a ferry that would be used by thousands of emigrants.
Once in Utah
, Thomas helped settle the area that is now Centerville
and Farmington
. He was a member of the Territorial Legislature and a Probate Judge in Davis County, Utah
.
Biography
Thomas was born to Thomas and Polly Spaulding in upstate New York. At age 12 he worked as a cabin boy on the Erie Canal where he would eventually become a Captain. He married his first wife Caroline Whiting in 1828. In 1834 he joined the Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints). After joining the church, he and his family moved to Kirtland, OhioKirtland, Ohio
Kirtland is a city in Lake County, Ohio, USA. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census. Kirtland is famous for being the early headquarters of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Origins of Kirtland:...
to join the main body of Latter Day Saints. While in Kirtland, he was called to the first High Council
High Council
High Council may refer to:In fiction:* High Council , the leadership of the Alliance in the New Jedi Order series* High Council of the Landsraad, an inner circle of the Landsraad which arbitrated disputes among Houses in the Dune universe* Jedi High Council, an institution from the Star Wars series...
of the church in a revelation that now appears in the Doctrine & Covenants.
Thomas moved his family from Kirtland to Far West, Missouri
Far West, Missouri
Far West, Missouri, was a Latter Day Saint settlement in Caldwell County, Missouri.-Foundation and early history:The town was founded by Missouri Mormon leaders, W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer in August 1836 shortly before the county's creation. The town was platted originally as a square area,...
. After Governor Lilburn Boggs
Lilburn Boggs
Lilburn Williams Boggs was the sixth Governor of Missouri from 1836 to 1840. He is now most widely remembered for his interactions with Joseph Smith and Porter Rockwell, and Missouri Executive Order 44, known by Mormons as the "Extermination Order", issued in response to the ongoing conflict...
issued an order for Mormons to be exterminated
Extermination order
An Extermination order is an order given by a government sanctioning mass removal or death. The term is often associated with genocide.Extermination orders were issued in conjunction with the following events:* Armenian genocide...
from the State of Missouri, Thomas and his family fled to Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
. Along the way, Caroline became ill. She eventually succumbed to illness and died on October 17, 1840. That same month, Thomas and Caroline's infant daughter Emma died. At age 33 Thomas became a widower with five young children to care for. While in Nauvoo, Thomas farmed for a living. He was also a bodyguard
Bodyguard
A bodyguard is a type of security operative or government agent who protects a person—usually a famous, wealthy, or politically important figure—from assault, kidnapping, assassination, stalking, loss of confidential information, terrorist attack or other threats.Most important public figures such...
to the Prophet Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith was founder of what later became known as the Latter Day Saint movement or Mormons.Joseph Smith may also refer to:-Latter Day Saints:* Joseph Smith, Sr. , father of Joseph Smith...
and a captain in the Nauvoo Legion
Nauvoo Legion
The Nauvoo Legion was a militia originally organized by the Latter Day Saints to defend the city of Nauvoo, Illinois, . To curry political favor with the ambiguously-political Saints, the Illinois state legislature granted Nauvoo a liberal city charter that gave the Nauvoo Legion extraordinary...
.
From 1840 to 1844 Thomas served three missions
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
for the church in New York, Michigan and Canada.
Thomas was a Captain in Brigham Young's vanguard company of 1847 which lead the way for thousands of Mormons emigrating west. At the Platte River Thomas constructed and managed a ferry that would be used by thousands of emigrants.
Once in Utah
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
, Thomas helped settle the area that is now Centerville
Centerville, Utah
Centerville is a city in Davis County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Ogden-Clearfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 15,335 at the 2010 census...
and Farmington
Farmington, Utah
Farmington is a city in Davis County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Ogden–Clearfield, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 18,255 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Davis County...
. He was a member of the Territorial Legislature and a Probate Judge in Davis County, Utah
Davis County, Utah
Davis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2010 the population was 306,479, a 28.2% increase over the 2000 figure of 238,994. It was named for Daniel C. Davis, captain in the Mormon Battalion. The county is part of the Ogden–Clearfield Metropolitan Statistical Area as...
.