Cowdery, Oliver

Oliver Cowdery was born on October 3, 1806 in Wells, Vermont, the son of William Jr. and Rebecca Fuller Cowdery. While teaching in Palmyra, New York during the winter of 1828-29, Cowdery stayed with the family of Joseph Smith (1805-1844). It was during this time that Cowdery first heard of the visions of Smith and the Golden Plates. After meeting with Smith, Cowdery came to believe in the validity of his visions and agreed to help Smith transcribe the Book of Mormon. As a witness to the Book of Mormon and as the Second Elder, Cowdery played an instrumental part in the development of the Mormon Church. Subsequently though, Cowdery was excommunicated from the church in 1838. He praticed law until 1848, after which time he decided to return to the Mormon Church and was rebaptized. In 1850, Oliver Cowdery passed away.

From the description of Transcription of a letterbook from Oliver Cowdery to Warren and Lyman Cawdery, Far West, Mo. (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 226260571

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