Ezra Taft Benson
22 Feb. 1811 - 3 Sept. 1869. Farmer, hotelier, postmaster, merchant. Born in Mendon, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. Son of John Benson and Chloe Taft. Married Pamelia Andrus, 1 Jan. 1832, in Northbridge, Worcester Co. Moved to Quincy, Adams Co., Illinois, by winter 1838. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, July 1840, in Quincy. Ordained an elder, Oct. 1840, in Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois. Ordained a high priest; appointed second counselor in Quincy stake presidency, 25 Oct. 1840. Served missions to eastern U.S., 1842–1843, 1844–1845, 1847–1848. Participated in plural marriage during JS’s lifetime. Ordained an apostle, 16 July 1846, at what became Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa. Migrated to Salt Lake Valley with Brigham Young pioneer company, arriving 24 July 1847. Served in Utah territorial legislature, 1851–1869. Served as counselor in British/European mission, 1856–1857. Appointed as president of Cache Valley stake, 1860, in Cache Co., Utah Territory. Served mission to Sandwich Islands, 1864. Died at Ogden, Weber Co., Utah Territory; buried in Logan, Cache Co.
Born in Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Mother
Father
Date Details
Occurred On 1811 February 22
Married Pamelia Emma Andrus
Baptized
Served in Joseph Smith Presidential Campaign Mission
Mission Type
Marital Status
Priesthood Office
Residence When Called
Location Served
Date Details
Ended On 1844
Started On 1844 April 15
Married Adeline Brooks Andrus
Served in Central States Mission
Mission Type
Marital Status
Priesthood Office
Residence When Called
Date Details
Started On 1844 October 8
End Date Not Found
Married Desdemona Wadsworth Fullmer
Served in Early Church Mission: North America
Mission Type
Marital Status
Priesthood Office
Residence When Called
Location Served
Date Details
Started On 1846 June 1
Ended On 1846 July 4
Served in Early Church Mission: North America
Mission Type
Marital Status
Missionary Activity Notes
Served as traveling missionary and in leadership of branches in Zion.
Priesthood Quorum When Called
Priesthood Office
Residence When Called
Served With
Location Served
Date Details
Started On 1846 July 25
Ended On 1846 August 19
Married Eliza Ann Parry
Married Lucinda Burton
Traveled in Brigham Young Vanguard Company (1847)
Additional Information
Called to help organize a company for the westward journey (D&C 136:12-14).
Date Details
Started On 1847 April 16
Ended On 1847 July 21
Served in Eastern States Mission
Mission Type
Marital Status
Priesthood Quorum When Called
Priesthood Office
Residence When Called
Location Served
Date Details
Started On 1847 December 28
Ended On 1848 April 30
Called as Captain to Ezra T. Benson Company (1849)
Roles
Traveling Group
Date Details
Started On 1849 July 15
Ended Between 1849 October 25 – 29
Married Mary Knight
Served in Early Church Mission: North America
Mission Type
Marital Status
Priesthood Quorum When Called
Priesthood Office
Residence When Called
Location Served
Date Details
On 1851 September 14
Started On 1851 September 24
End Date Not Found
Traveled in John Taylor Independent Company (1852)
Date Details
Started Circa 1852
Ended On 1852 August 20
Married Elizabeth Gollaher
Called as Captain to Orson Pratt/Ezra T. Benson/Ira Eldredge Company (1854)
Roles
Date Details
Started Between 1854 June 21 – 22
Ended On 1854 October 3
Served in British Mission
Mission Type
Marital Status
Priesthood Quorum When Called
Priesthood Office
Residence When Called
Location Served
Date Details
Started On 1856
On 1856 July 13
Ended On 1858 January 19
Called as Captain to Orson Pratt/Ezra T. Benson Company (1857-1858)
Roles
Date Details
Started Circa 1857 December
Ended Circa 1858 January
Served in Hawaiian Mission
Mission Type
Marital Status
Priesthood Quorum When Called
Priesthood Office
Residence When Called
Location Served
Date Details
Started On 1864 March 2
End Date Not Found
Married Mary Ane Marie Larsen
Died in Ogden, Weber, Utah Territory, United States
