Babbitt, Almon Whiting

Oct. 1812–Sept. 1856. Postmaster, editor, attorney. Born at Cheshire, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Ira Babbitt and Nancy Crosier. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ca. 1830. Located in Amherst, Lorain Co., Ohio, July 1831. Served mission to New York, fall 1831. Served mission to Pomfret, Chautauque Co., New York, fall 1833. Married Julia Ann Johnson, 23 Nov. 1833, in Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio. Participated in Camp of Israel expedition to Missouri, 1834. Appointed member of First Quorum of the Seventy, Feb. 1835. Disfellowshipped, Dec. 1835. Restored to fellowship, Jan. 1836. Served mission to Upper Canada, 1837–1838. Led company of Canadian Latter-day Saints to Missouri, 1838. Appointed to gather reports and publications circulated against church, 4 May 1839, at Quincy, Adams Co., Illinois. Appointed president of Kirtland stake, 3 Oct. 1840, at Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois. Disfellowshipped, 1840, 1841. Moved to Ramus (later Webster), Hancock Co. Restored to fellowship and appointed presiding elder of Ramus, 1843. Appointed commander of Ramus militia. Admitted to Council of Fifty, 26 Mar. 1844. Appointed by Council of Fifty to serve mission to France, May 1844; mission never fulfilled. Elected to represent Hancock Co. in Illinois legislature, Dec. 1844. Appointed one of five trustees responsible for financial and temporal affairs in Nauvoo, 1846. Appointed postmaster of Nauvoo, 1846. Participated in Battle of Nauvoo and signed surrender treaty, Sept. 1846. Migrated to Salt Lake Valley, 1849. Elected delegate to U.S. Congress for provisional state of Deseret, 5 July 1849. Disfellowshipped, 1849, 1851. Appointed secretary of Utah Territory, 1852. Excommunicated, May 1854. Was killed at Ash Hollow, Garden Co., Nebraska Territory.