John Corrill
Born: 17 September 1794
Called as Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric: 6 June 1831
Honorably Released: 1 August 1837
Died: 26 September 1842
Called as Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric: 6 June 1831
Honorably Released: 1 August 1837
Died: 26 September 1842
Biographical Articles
Jenson, Andrew. "Corrill, John." Biographical Encyclopedia. Volume 1. pg. 241-242.
CORRILL, John, second counselor to Bishop Edward Partridge from 1831 to 1837, was born Sept. 17, 1794, in Worcester county, Mass. He resided in Ashtabula, Ohio, in the fall of 1830, when Oliver Cowdery and fellow-missionaries passed through that part of the country on their way to Missouri. Mr. Corrill became a convert a little later, being baptized Jan. 10, 1831. A few days later, he was ordained an Elder, and soon afterwards called on a mission, with Solomon Hancock as his missionary companion. They went to New London, about one hundred miles from Kirtland, where they built up a branch of the Church of thirty-six members, in the face of bitter opposition. June 3, 1831, after his return to Kirtland, he was ordained a High Priest, and at the same time blessed and set apart as second counselor to Bishop Edward Partridge, under the hands of Lyman Wight. Soon afterwards he was called by revelation to go to Missouri and preach the gospel by the way (Doc. and Cov., 52: 7). After his arrival in Missouri he became an important factor in the affairs of the Church in that land, and he was one of the High Priests who were appointed to watch over the several branches of the Church in Jackson county. In the famous agreement, signed by the Jackson county mob leaders and some of the brethren, in July, 1833, John Corrill and Sidney Gilbert were allowed to remain awhile at Independence to wind up the business of the Saints. During the persecutions which took place early in November, 1833. John Corrill and other brethren were imprisoned in the Jackson county jail; but were soon after liberated. After the expulsion of the Saints from Jackson county. Elder Corrill, as one of the leading men of the Church in Missouri, took an active part in public affairs, and his name is attached to nearly all the correspondence which passed between the Saints. Governor Daniel Dunklin and other officials, as well as the leaders of the mob. When Joseph the Prophet with Zions Camp visited Missouri in 1834, John Corrill (together with others), was chosen to go to Kirtland to receive his blessings in the Temple, which at that time was in course of construction at that place. After his arrival in Ohio, he was appointed to take charge of the finishing of the Kirtland Temple and was subsequently present at its dedication in March, 1836. Not long after this event, he returned to Missouri, where he became one of the founders of Far West, in Caldwell county, and was trusted with many responsibilities both of a spiritual and a temporal nature. At a meeting held at Far West Aug. 1, 1837, Titus Billings was appointed to succeed John Corrill as a counselor to Bishop Partridge. At a conference held at Far West Nov. 7, 1837, "John Corrill was chosen to be keeper of the Lord's Store House," and at a meeting held at the same place April 6, 1838, John Corrill and Elias Higbee were appointed Church historians, "to write and keep the Church history;" but as Bro. Corrill soon afterwards apostatized, he is not known to have magnified his calling as a historian. Joseph the Prophet, in his history of Auer. 31, 1838. writes as follows: "I spent considerable time this day in conversation with Bro. John Corrill, in consequence of some expressions made by him, in presence of several brethren who had not been long in the place (Far West). Bro. Corrill's conduct for some time had been very unbecoming, especially in a man in whom so much confidence had been placed. He said he would not yield his judgment to anything proposed by the Church, or any individuals of the Church, or even the Great I Am given through the appointed organ, but would always act upon his own judgment, let him believe in whatever religion he might." At the trial of prominent Elders of the Church at Richmond, Mo., in November, 1838. John Corrill testified with much bitterness against his former friends and associates in the Priesthood. He was finally excommunicated from the Church at a conference held at Quincy, Ill., March 17, 1839. In that year (1839) John Corrill served as a member of the Missouri legislature, and published a pamphlet of fifty pages, entitled "A brief history of the Church of Latter-day Saints (commonly called Mormons), including an account of their doctrine and discipline, with the reasons of the author for leaving the Church."
CORRILL, John, second counselor to Bishop Edward Partridge from 1831 to 1837, was born Sept. 17, 1794, in Worcester county, Mass. He resided in Ashtabula, Ohio, in the fall of 1830, when Oliver Cowdery and fellow-missionaries passed through that part of the country on their way to Missouri. Mr. Corrill became a convert a little later, being baptized Jan. 10, 1831. A few days later, he was ordained an Elder, and soon afterwards called on a mission, with Solomon Hancock as his missionary companion. They went to New London, about one hundred miles from Kirtland, where they built up a branch of the Church of thirty-six members, in the face of bitter opposition. June 3, 1831, after his return to Kirtland, he was ordained a High Priest, and at the same time blessed and set apart as second counselor to Bishop Edward Partridge, under the hands of Lyman Wight. Soon afterwards he was called by revelation to go to Missouri and preach the gospel by the way (Doc. and Cov., 52: 7). After his arrival in Missouri he became an important factor in the affairs of the Church in that land, and he was one of the High Priests who were appointed to watch over the several branches of the Church in Jackson county. In the famous agreement, signed by the Jackson county mob leaders and some of the brethren, in July, 1833, John Corrill and Sidney Gilbert were allowed to remain awhile at Independence to wind up the business of the Saints. During the persecutions which took place early in November, 1833. John Corrill and other brethren were imprisoned in the Jackson county jail; but were soon after liberated. After the expulsion of the Saints from Jackson county. Elder Corrill, as one of the leading men of the Church in Missouri, took an active part in public affairs, and his name is attached to nearly all the correspondence which passed between the Saints. Governor Daniel Dunklin and other officials, as well as the leaders of the mob. When Joseph the Prophet with Zions Camp visited Missouri in 1834, John Corrill (together with others), was chosen to go to Kirtland to receive his blessings in the Temple, which at that time was in course of construction at that place. After his arrival in Ohio, he was appointed to take charge of the finishing of the Kirtland Temple and was subsequently present at its dedication in March, 1836. Not long after this event, he returned to Missouri, where he became one of the founders of Far West, in Caldwell county, and was trusted with many responsibilities both of a spiritual and a temporal nature. At a meeting held at Far West Aug. 1, 1837, Titus Billings was appointed to succeed John Corrill as a counselor to Bishop Partridge. At a conference held at Far West Nov. 7, 1837, "John Corrill was chosen to be keeper of the Lord's Store House," and at a meeting held at the same place April 6, 1838, John Corrill and Elias Higbee were appointed Church historians, "to write and keep the Church history;" but as Bro. Corrill soon afterwards apostatized, he is not known to have magnified his calling as a historian. Joseph the Prophet, in his history of Auer. 31, 1838. writes as follows: "I spent considerable time this day in conversation with Bro. John Corrill, in consequence of some expressions made by him, in presence of several brethren who had not been long in the place (Far West). Bro. Corrill's conduct for some time had been very unbecoming, especially in a man in whom so much confidence had been placed. He said he would not yield his judgment to anything proposed by the Church, or any individuals of the Church, or even the Great I Am given through the appointed organ, but would always act upon his own judgment, let him believe in whatever religion he might." At the trial of prominent Elders of the Church at Richmond, Mo., in November, 1838. John Corrill testified with much bitterness against his former friends and associates in the Priesthood. He was finally excommunicated from the Church at a conference held at Quincy, Ill., March 17, 1839. In that year (1839) John Corrill served as a member of the Missouri legislature, and published a pamphlet of fifty pages, entitled "A brief history of the Church of Latter-day Saints (commonly called Mormons), including an account of their doctrine and discipline, with the reasons of the author for leaving the Church."