Spencer, Daniel, 1794-1868.

Daniel Spencer was born in Westport MA, 20 July 1794. Converted to Mormon Church in 1840, moved to Nauvoo, Illinois in 1841. Served missions to Canada, to the American Indians, to state of MA. Member of Nauvoo City Council and served for a short time at the mayor of Nauvoo. He was among those initially selected by Joseph Smith to be a member of the Exploring Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, an assignment cut short by Joseph Smith's death in June 1844. Appointed by Brigham Young as a Captain of 50 in the Mormon Exodus from Nauvoo. This diary is his account of the trek from Nauvoo to Winter Quarters, Nebraska, March to December 1846. He was called to be a Bishop in Winter Quarters. In 1847 he was appointed a Captain of two companies of 50s. His group was the first pioneering company to enter the Salt Lake Valley following the arrival of the main group lead by Brigham Young. From 1849-1868 he served at the President of the Salt Lake Stake, except of a mission to England, 1852-56. He was a member of the Utah Territorial Legislature; and as Stake President served as a municipal judge in Salt Lake Valley. He died in Salt Lake City on 8 December 1868. He was a merchant by trade prior to his conversion to the Mormon Church; he was the younger brother of early Mormon author Orson Spencer.

From the description of Diary, 1846. (Brigham Young University). WorldCat record id: 53270030

Mayor of Nauvoo and president of the Salt Lake Stake.

From the guide to the MS 1566 Daniel Spencer diaries 1845-1857 (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Church History Library)

Daniel Spencer (1794-1868) served as a member of the Nauvoo City Council and mayor of Nauvoo. Daniel served missions to Canada, Massachusetts, and to the American Indians. He was instrumental in helping the Mormon Pioneers cross the plains and his was the first group to enter the Salt Lake Valley after Brigham Young.

Daniel Spencer was born in Westport, Massachusetts, on July 20, 1794. He converted to the Mormon Church in 1840 and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois in 1841. He served as a member of the Nauvoo City Council and for a short time as the mayor of Nauvoo. Brigham Young appointed Spencer as a Captain of 50 in the Mormon Exodus from Nauvoo. This diary is his account of the trek from Nauvoo to Winter Quarters, Nebraska, from March to December 1846. In 1847 he was appointed a Captain of two companies of 50's. His group was the first pioneering company to enter the Salt Lake Valley following the arrival of the main group lead by Brigham Young.

He was a merchant by trade prior to his conversion to the Mormon Church and was the younger brother of early Mormon author Orson Spencer. Daniel Spencer served missions to Canada, Massachusetts, and to the American Indians. He was among those initially selected by Joseph Smith to be a member of the Exploring Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, an assignment cut short by Joseph Smith's death in June 1844. Brigham Young appointed Spencer as a Captain of 50 in the Mormon Exodus from Nauvoo. This diary is his account of the trek from Nauvoo to Winter Quarters, Nebraska, from March to December 1846. He was called to be a Bishop in Winter Quarters. In 1847 he was appointed a Captain of two companies of 50's. His group was the first pioneering company to enter the Salt Lake Valley following the arrival of the main group lead by Brigham Young. From 1849 to 1868, he served as the President of the Salt Lake Stake, excluding time he spent on a mission to England from 1852-56. He was a member of the Utah Territorial Legislature; and, as Stake President, he served as a municipal judge in Salt Lake Valley. He died in Salt Lake City on December 8, 1868.

From the guide to the Daniel Spencer diary, 1846, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)