| John R. Murdock | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Murdock c. 1909 | |
| Member of theCouncil of Fifty | |
| April 10, 1880 (1880-04-10) – November 12, 1913 (1913-11-12) | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Riggs Murdock (1826-09-13)September 13, 1826 Orange, Ohio, United States |
| Died | November 12, 1913(1913-11-12) (aged 87) Milford, Utah, United States |
| Resting place | Mountain View Cemetery 38°16′52″N112°37′50″W / 38.2811°N 112.6306°W /38.2811; -112.6306 (Mountain View Cemetery) |
| Organization | Members of the Council of Fifty |
| Spouse(s) | Almira Henrietta Lott Mary Ellen Wolfenden May Bain |
| Parents | John Murdock Julia Clapp |
| Signature | |
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John Riggs Murdock (September 13, 1826 – November 12, 1913)[1] was aMormon pioneer, Utah politician, and leader ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints inBeaver, Utah. He is sometimes credited as the leader of the mostdown-and-back companies inLatter-day Saint history, as he directed multiple ox-drawnwagon trains sent from Utah to bring back both merchandise and emigrating church members from back East.[2] Murdock also served severalmissions in theeastern United States.
Murdock was born inOrange, Ohio toJohn Murdock and Julia Clapp Murdock. When he was five years old, his mother died and he was then raised in the home of Philo Judd.[3] In Nauvoo Illinois, Murdock worked on the farm ofJoseph Smith. During the exodus from Nauvoo to the west, Murdock lived with theCornelius Lott family in Nauvoo; Murdock fell in love with and later married Lott's daughter Almira Henrietta Lott.[4] The marriage of Murdock and Lott happened after the arrival in the Salt Lake Valley.[5]
Murdock later married Mary Ellen Wolfenden and May Bain asplural wives.[6]
In 1846, Murdock joined theMormon Battalion and arrived inSalt Lake City in 1847. After marrying, he settled inLehi,Utah Territory, in 1851.[1] From 1861 to 1863, served as Mayor of Lehi.[7] In 1856, Murdock was one of the rescuers of theMormon pioneer handcart companies. In 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, and 1864, Murdock led down-and-back companies across the plains.
For a time Murdock served as the regional presidingbishop inBeaver County, Utah.[8] Murdock was called to this position in 1864 and it was then that he first went to Beaver.
Murdock was the firstpresident of the BeaverStake when it was organized in 1869. He served in this position until 1891.[9] He was later ordained apatriarch.[1] As stake president, Murdock essentially ran the government operations in Beaver County while the Mormon-backedPeople's Party was in control. For example, in the 1870s, John Hunt was appointed as sheriff of Beaver County largely because he was a People's Party supporter.[10]
Murdock served eight terms in theUtah Territorial Legislature. In 1895, he was a representative to theUtah State Constitutional Convention and was a member of the convention's apportionment and boundaries committee.[11] Murdock also served one term as a member of the Utah State House of Representatives.[5]
Murdock was closely involved with the movement to start a secondary school in Southern Utah, so when it was finally begun at Beaver, it was named the Murdock Academy.[12] This institution functioned as a branch of Brigham Young Academy, the predecessor ofBrigham Young University.[13]
Murdock died in Beaver at age 87. His is the largest grave marker in Mountain View Cemetery in Beaver. Immediately adjacent are markers for Mary Ellen Wolfenden Murdock and May Bain Murdock, two of his plural wives. At the behest of their second wife, Wolfenden, the location is some distance away from the grave of Almira Henrietta Lott Murdock (d. 1878), her bitter rival who preceded her in death.
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