Ezra Taft Benson

Birth Date
On 1811 February 22 (Born)
Death Date
On 1869 September 3 (Died)
Gender
Male

 

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. 

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Born in Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

1811 February 22
Mother
Chloe Taft
Father
John Benson

Date Details

Occurred On 1811 February 22

Married Pamelia Emma Andrus

1831 (Age 19)

Baptized

1840 July 19 (Age 29)
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Plurally Married
Priesthood Office
High Priest
Residence When Called
Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois, United States
Location Served
Massachusetts, New Jersey

Date Details

Ended On 1844
Released
Started On 1844 April 15
Called

Married Adeline Brooks Andrus

1844 April 27 (Age 33)

Served in Central States Mission

1844 October 8 (Age 33) See Missionaries
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Plurally Married
Priesthood Office
High Priest
Residence When Called
Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois, United States

Date Details

Started On 1844 October 8
Called
End Date Not Found

Married Desdemona Wadsworth Fullmer

1846 January 26 (Age 34)

Served in Early Church Mission: North America

1846 June 1 – July 4 (Age 35) See Missionaries
Mission Type
Other
Marital Status
Plurally Married
Priesthood Office
High Priest
Residence When Called
Mt. Pisgah, Mexico Territory
Location Served
Mt. Pisgah

Date Details

Started On 1846 June 1
Departed from Home
Ended On 1846 July 4
Arrived at Home

Served in Early Church Mission: North America

1846 July 25 – August 19 (Age 35) See Missionaries
Mission Type
Other
Marital Status
Plurally Married
Missionary Activity Notes

Served as traveling missionary and in leadership of branches in Zion.

Priesthood Quorum When Called
Quorum of the Twelve
Priesthood Office
Apostle
Residence When Called
Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States
Location Served
Pisgah, Harrison, Iowa, United States

Date Details

Started On 1846 July 25
Called
Ended On 1846 August 19
Released

To Organize a Company for the Westward Journey

1847 February (Age 35)

D&C 136:12-14 at Winter Quarters, Omaha Nation, Iowa

Date Details

Occurred Circa 1847 February

Married Eliza Ann Parry

1847 March 4 (Age 36)

Married Lucinda Burton

1847 March 18 (Age 36)

Traveled in Brigham Young Vanguard Company (1847)

1847 April 16 – July 21 (Age 36) Pioneers in Company

Date Details

Started On 1847 April 16
Joined Company
Ended On 1847 July 21
Company Arrived

Served in Eastern States Mission

1847 December 28 – 1848 April 30 (Age 36) See Missionaries
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Plurally Married
Priesthood Quorum When Called
Quorum of the Twelve
Priesthood Office
Apostle
Residence When Called
Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States
Location Served
Eastern States

Date Details

Started On 1847 December 28
Departed from Home
Ended On 1848 April 30
Arrived at Home

Called as Captain to Ezra T. Benson Company (1849)

1849 July 15 – October 29 (Age 38) Pioneers in Company
Roles
Captain

Date Details

Started On 1849 July 15
Joined Company
Ended Between 1849 October 25 – 29
Company Arrived

Married Mary Knight

1851 July 12 (Age 40)

Served in Perpetual Emigrating Company

1851 September 24 (Age 40) 
Mission Type
Other
Marital Status
Plurally Married
Priesthood Quorum When Called
Quorum of the Twelve
Priesthood Office
Apostle
Residence When Called
Great Salt Lake City, Great Salt Lake, Utah Territory, United States
Location Served
Perpetual Emigrating Company

Date Details

On 1851 September 14
Set Apart
Started On 1851 September 24
Departed from Home
End Date Not Found

Traveled in John Taylor Independent Company (1852)

1852 – 1852 August 20 (Age 40) Pioneers in Company

Date Details

Started Circa 1852
Joined Company
Ended On 1852 August 20
Company Arrived

Married Elizabeth Gollaher

1853 June 4 (Age 42)

Called as Captain to Orson Pratt/Ezra T. Benson/Ira Eldredge Company (1854)

1854 June 21 – October 3 (Age 43) Pioneers in Company
Roles
Captain

Date Details

Started Between 1854 June 21 – 22
Joined Company
Ended On 1854 October 3
Company Arrived

Served in British Mission

1856 – 1858 January 19 (Age 44) See Missionaries
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Plurally Married
Priesthood Quorum When Called
Quorum of the Twelve
Priesthood Office
Apostle
Residence When Called
Great Salt Lake City, Great Salt Lake, Utah Territory, United States
Location Served
Great Britain

Date Details

Started On 1856
Called
On 1856 July 13
Arrived in Field
Ended On 1858 January 19
Arrived at Home

Called as Captain to Orson Pratt/Ezra T. Benson Company (1857-1858)

1857 December – 1858 January (Age 46) Pioneers in Company
Roles
Captain

Date Details

Started Circa 1857 December
Joined Company
Ended Circa 1858 January
Company Arrived

Served in Hawaiian Mission

1864 March 2 (Age 53) See Missionaries
Mission Type
Proselytizing
Marital Status
Plurally Married
Priesthood Quorum When Called
Quorum of the Twelve
Priesthood Office
Apostle
Residence When Called
Logan, Cache, Utah Territory, United States
Location Served
Sandwich Islands

Date Details

Started On 1864 March 2
Set Apart
End Date Not Found

Married Mary Ane Marie Larsen

1866 September 15 (Age 55)

Died in Ogden, Weber, Utah Territory, United States

1869 September 3 (Age 58)
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Ezra Taft Benson (1811 - 1869) Profile
Ezra Taft Benson (1811 - 1869) Profile
Ezra Taft Benson (1811 - 1869)
Ezra Taft Benson (1811 - 1869)

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