John Van Cott
Born: 7 September 1814
Called to Presidency of Seventy: 8 October 1862
Died: 18 February 1883
Called to Presidency of Seventy: 8 October 1862
Died: 18 February 1883
Biographical Articles
Biographical Encyclopedia, Volume 1
Biographical Encyclopedia, Volume 2
Biographical Encyclopedia, Volume 4
Biographical Encyclopedia, Volume 2
Biographical Encyclopedia, Volume 4
Jenson, Andrew. "Van Cott, John." Biographical Encyclopedia. Volume 1. pg. 198-199.
VAN COTT, John, one of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies from 1862 to 1883, was born Sept. 7, 1814, in Canaan, Columbia county. New York, and embraced the fulness of the gospel under the administration of Parley P. Pratt at Nauvoo, Ill., in September, 1845. He was ordained a Seventy Feb. 25, 1847, by Joseph Young, and was one of the early pioneers of Utah, arriving in Great Salt Lake valley Sept. 25, 1847. In 1852, agreeable to call, he went on a mission to Europe, and after reaching England, he was sent to Scandinavia to succeed the late Willard Snow in the presidency of the Scandinavian mission. He presided in that capacity nearly four years, and returned to his mountain home in 1856, after a most successful ministry. In 1859 he was called on a second mission to Scandinavia, and again presided over the mission, this time about two and a half years. He returned home in 1862. On these two missions he became very much endeared to the Scandinavian Saints, whose sterling qualities and integrity he learned to appreciate. He also acquired the Danish language to a considerable degree of perfection. After his return home from his second foreign mission, he was chosen as one of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies, being first sustained in that capacity at the October conference, 1862. Soon afterwards he was called on a special mission to the Scandinavian Saints in Utah, and while laboring in that calling made his home temporarily in Sanpete county. He continued his labors among the Seventies with zeal and fidelity until his death, which occurred at his home a short distance south of Salt Lake City, Feb. 18, 1883, after a lingering illness of several months. In an obituary notice published in the "Deseret News," the editor of that paper says: "It would be difficult to find a more exemplary or conscientious man than Brother Van Cott. He was a good man in the broad sense, not negatively so, but as a producer of the good fruits of a well spent life. He was one of those whose character and motives appeared so far beyond reproach that we doubt if they have ever been the subject of even suspicion. * * * At home and abroad, whenever Brother Van Cott sojourned, he was regarded with esteem and regard, his very presence and appearance inspiring sentiments of that nature."
VAN COTT, John, one of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies from 1862 to 1883, was born Sept. 7, 1814, in Canaan, Columbia county. New York, and embraced the fulness of the gospel under the administration of Parley P. Pratt at Nauvoo, Ill., in September, 1845. He was ordained a Seventy Feb. 25, 1847, by Joseph Young, and was one of the early pioneers of Utah, arriving in Great Salt Lake valley Sept. 25, 1847. In 1852, agreeable to call, he went on a mission to Europe, and after reaching England, he was sent to Scandinavia to succeed the late Willard Snow in the presidency of the Scandinavian mission. He presided in that capacity nearly four years, and returned to his mountain home in 1856, after a most successful ministry. In 1859 he was called on a second mission to Scandinavia, and again presided over the mission, this time about two and a half years. He returned home in 1862. On these two missions he became very much endeared to the Scandinavian Saints, whose sterling qualities and integrity he learned to appreciate. He also acquired the Danish language to a considerable degree of perfection. After his return home from his second foreign mission, he was chosen as one of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies, being first sustained in that capacity at the October conference, 1862. Soon afterwards he was called on a special mission to the Scandinavian Saints in Utah, and while laboring in that calling made his home temporarily in Sanpete county. He continued his labors among the Seventies with zeal and fidelity until his death, which occurred at his home a short distance south of Salt Lake City, Feb. 18, 1883, after a lingering illness of several months. In an obituary notice published in the "Deseret News," the editor of that paper says: "It would be difficult to find a more exemplary or conscientious man than Brother Van Cott. He was a good man in the broad sense, not negatively so, but as a producer of the good fruits of a well spent life. He was one of those whose character and motives appeared so far beyond reproach that we doubt if they have ever been the subject of even suspicion. * * * At home and abroad, whenever Brother Van Cott sojourned, he was regarded with esteem and regard, his very presence and appearance inspiring sentiments of that nature."
Jenson, Andrew. "Van Cott, John." Biographical Encyclopedia. Volume 2. pg. 727-728.
VAN COTT, John (Vol. 1: 198), descended from the first settlers of Long Island, N. Y., who came from Holland in 1640, and had for ten generations back belonged to the nobility of Holland. His parents were Losee Van Cott and Lavina Pratt (uncle and aunt to Parley P. and Orson Pratt). John Van Cott was the only boy in the family, and when only ten years old his father died after an illness of seven years, leaving his widow and children surrounded with peace and plenty. Becoming a convert to "Mormonism" he was baptized in Nauvoo in) 1844 or 1845, twelve years after he first heard the gospel; 'his sister never joined the Church. In 1835 (Sept. 15th) he married Lucy Sachett, a young lady of a very fine family, who also joined the Church. Together with his wife and mother, he left New York, Feb. 3, 1846, starting for Nauvoo, Illinois. While residing temporarily at Nauvoo to the home of Parley P. Pratt, he contributed $400 in gold to the Temple and also donated to the Church a number of lots which he had purchased in Nauvoo; he received his blessings in the Nauvoo Temple. In the fall of 1846 he left Nauvoo for Winter Quarters, where he spent the winter of 1846-47, having built a one-room log house. Here he became acquainted with Brigham Young, to whom he became greatly attached, their friendship terminating in the marriage of his daughter to the President. In the summer of 1847 Bro. Van Cott, together with his mother, wife and two children (Mary and Martha) left Winter Quarters for the West in Capt. Daniel Spencer's company; he fitted up an extra team and wagon which was driven by a hired man. In this wagon his daughter Martha, then about nine years old, rode across the plains. Bro. Van Cott and his family arrived in the Valley Sept. 25, 1847. Pres. Young sent Bro. Van Cott back to help into the Valley some of the saints, who were delayed on the journey. After his arrival in the Valley, Bro. Van Cott settled in what is mow the Farmer's Ward, on the corner of Tenth South street and West Temple street. In 1852 he was called on a mission to England, but in 1853 he was transferred to Denmark as president of the Scandinavian Mission. After his return, he yielded obedience to the law of celestial marriage and took five wives, by whom he became the father of twenty-eight children. At the time of the move in 1858, he was one of the men deputized to remain in the city and set fire to the property, in case the soldiers on their arrival in the Valley should prove hostile. In 1859-62 he filled a second mission to Scandinavia and in 1862 (he was chosen as one of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies. He also served as a member of the House of Representatives, a member of the Salt Lake city council, street supervisor and city marshal. He died Feb. 18, 1883, at his residence near Salt Lake City.
VAN COTT, John (Vol. 1: 198), descended from the first settlers of Long Island, N. Y., who came from Holland in 1640, and had for ten generations back belonged to the nobility of Holland. His parents were Losee Van Cott and Lavina Pratt (uncle and aunt to Parley P. and Orson Pratt). John Van Cott was the only boy in the family, and when only ten years old his father died after an illness of seven years, leaving his widow and children surrounded with peace and plenty. Becoming a convert to "Mormonism" he was baptized in Nauvoo in) 1844 or 1845, twelve years after he first heard the gospel; 'his sister never joined the Church. In 1835 (Sept. 15th) he married Lucy Sachett, a young lady of a very fine family, who also joined the Church. Together with his wife and mother, he left New York, Feb. 3, 1846, starting for Nauvoo, Illinois. While residing temporarily at Nauvoo to the home of Parley P. Pratt, he contributed $400 in gold to the Temple and also donated to the Church a number of lots which he had purchased in Nauvoo; he received his blessings in the Nauvoo Temple. In the fall of 1846 he left Nauvoo for Winter Quarters, where he spent the winter of 1846-47, having built a one-room log house. Here he became acquainted with Brigham Young, to whom he became greatly attached, their friendship terminating in the marriage of his daughter to the President. In the summer of 1847 Bro. Van Cott, together with his mother, wife and two children (Mary and Martha) left Winter Quarters for the West in Capt. Daniel Spencer's company; he fitted up an extra team and wagon which was driven by a hired man. In this wagon his daughter Martha, then about nine years old, rode across the plains. Bro. Van Cott and his family arrived in the Valley Sept. 25, 1847. Pres. Young sent Bro. Van Cott back to help into the Valley some of the saints, who were delayed on the journey. After his arrival in the Valley, Bro. Van Cott settled in what is mow the Farmer's Ward, on the corner of Tenth South street and West Temple street. In 1852 he was called on a mission to England, but in 1853 he was transferred to Denmark as president of the Scandinavian Mission. After his return, he yielded obedience to the law of celestial marriage and took five wives, by whom he became the father of twenty-eight children. At the time of the move in 1858, he was one of the men deputized to remain in the city and set fire to the property, in case the soldiers on their arrival in the Valley should prove hostile. In 1859-62 he filled a second mission to Scandinavia and in 1862 (he was chosen as one of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies. He also served as a member of the House of Representatives, a member of the Salt Lake city council, street supervisor and city marshal. He died Feb. 18, 1883, at his residence near Salt Lake City.
Jenson, Andrew. "Van Cott, John." Biographical Encyclopedia. Volume 4. pg. 374.
VAN COTT, John, president of the Scandinavian Mission from 1853 to 1856 and from 1860 to 1862. (See Bio. Ency., Vol. 1, p. 198, and Vol. 2, p. 727.)
VAN COTT, John, president of the Scandinavian Mission from 1853 to 1856 and from 1860 to 1862. (See Bio. Ency., Vol. 1, p. 198, and Vol. 2, p. 727.)