Orson was born 1802 in Massachusetts, he was the baptist minister in the late 1820's for 12 years. He was cast out among his congregation, his first wife and his friends when he was converted and baptized in the Church in 1830. He remarried to Catherine Curtis and had his first child who past away at the age of 2.
Orson was elected Mayor for Nauvoo on Feb 1845 and he rented an unfurnished room from Mercy Thompson a sister to Hyrum Smith’s wife. While living there, another daughter was born name Lucy in 1842.
Prophet Joseph Smith often came in for a visit and when he saw Lucy, he exclaimed “oh what a little black head”, because she had lots of hair. Then Joseph Smith laid his hands upon her and blessed her.
Orson and Catherine were one of the first saints to have their endowments done in the Nauvoo Temple. (Dec 11, 1845).
In February 1846 they made preparations to leave the stricken city with the saints. Catherine recovered from illness which followed the death of little Chloe and was ill prepared for hardships ahead.
When asked by her distant friends and relatives to stay with them, who were not members. She replied “no, if they will withhold from the supplies they readily granted to my sisters and brothers, because I adhere to the saints, let them. I would rather abide with the Church in poverty, even in the wilderness, without there aid, than go to my unbelieving father’s house.
After they cross the river to Iowa Plains, Orson wrote a letter to his wife’s parents if she could stay with them to established a home for his family. There reply was “let her renounce her degrading faith she can come back but never until she does.
She never would renounce. Her husband read this reply to her and she told him to read Ruth 1:16 then she closed her eyes for the last time while their wagon was in deep mud. Orson secretly took her body back to Nauvoo to rest next to his daughter Chloe. Now in the wilderness for the testimony of Jesus Christ and may the blessing of Almighty God rest upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ, in sincerity.
Orson and his children went to winter quarters where he built a cabin for his children and left them alone to travel to England on his calling and be the president for the millennial star. After that he went to Germany
Brigham Young and Wilford Woodruff found out about the conditions of his children and supplied them with food. Then Mr. Woodruff wrote an explanatory letter to their father in England. Orson returned to the Valley because his children went with Brigham Young. Orson was called do more mission work again had to leave the children.
Orson was called to mission work to the Cherokees; while staying with the Cherokees he was so ill with typhoid fever and he returned to St. Louis.
Mary Humphrey, his friend nursed him for weeks. One day Orson asked her if she still had a desire to go to Zion and she replied that she had never given up the idea.
He knew that he wouldn’t make it to see his children and that wishes his body to be taken to the valley. She gave him a solemn promise, the Lord being willing, that she would fulfill his wish. Orson died Oct 15 1855 and his body was buried in St. Louis and the next month his daughter Catherine married Brigham Young, Jr. on Nov 15 1855
After 1 year, the saints were ready to leave to the valley and Mary took Orson’s body from the cemetery and placed in a wooden box and put in the wagon along with her things. This faithful devoted mother and her fatherless children started the long weary trek across the plains with John Banks Company. Mary and her children walked and pulled the cart. Each night when they camped, the girl’s bed was made on top of the casket. They arrived in the Valley on October 1, 1856. Mary’s mission had been accomplished but being late in the fall many hardships lay ahead and the year filled with disappointments and poverty.
Orson's daughter Catherine Curtis Spencer married Brigham Young Jr in 1855 and had 11 children.
His daughter, Mrs. Aurelia Spencer-Rogers was the founder of the Latter-day Saints primary Association in 1878 at the age of 44 with 12 children of her own.
About 1946 Orson Spencer Hall college/laboratory was established and dedicated to Professor Orson Spencer. President Brigham was didicated to the Spencer children until his death. He has 4 wives but not in plural marriage, from his seed only, he had 13 children (8 of them survived the pioneer to Utah), 55 grandchildren, over great-great grand children, over 150 great-great-grand children from Utah and Alaska.
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