John Milton Bernhisel
Encyclopedia
John Milton Bernhisel was an American physician, politician and early member of the Latter-day Saint movement. He was a close friend and companion to both Joseph Smith, Jr. and Brigham Young
. Bernhisel was the original delegate of the Utah Territory
in the United States House of Representatives
(1851–1859, 1861–1863) and acted as a member of the Council of Fifty
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
. He graduated in medicine from the University of Pennsylvania
at Philadelphia, and began practicing medicine in New York City
. After becoming affiliated with the Latter-day Saint movement, he moved to Nauvoo, Illinois
in 1843. Bernhisel served as the personal physician to Joseph Smith, Jr. and lived in his home. He delivered some of Emma Smith's children.
In June 1844, Bernhisel accompanied Joseph Smith to the Carthage Jail
and spent some time with Smith and his brother Hyrum
in the jail, but Bernhisel was not present at the time of Joseph Smith's death
at the hands of a mob.
After Smith's death, Bernhisel followed Brigham Young
and moved west with the majority of the Latter-day Saints. He settled in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory
in 1848 and continued the practice of medicine.
Bernhisel was selected by Young to represent the interests of the Latter-day Saints before Congress when the Mormon settlers began to consider an application for statehood as the State of Deseret
. He was selected to the Thirty-second
and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1859). After returning briefly to his medical practice, he also ran and served in the Thirty-seventh Congress
(March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863). Bernhisel also served as regent of the University of Utah
.
Bernhisel was a bachelor until he was 46 years old (March 1845), when he married Julia Ann Haight, the widow of William Van Orden
and mother of five children. The couple had one child, also named John Milton Bernhisel (born in 1846). Like some early LDS Church members, Bernhisel went on to practice plural marriage
. He was married to seven women, but by 1850 all of them but Elizabeth Barker had left for various reasons. He died in Salt Lake City on September 28, 1881 and is interned at the Salt Lake City Cemetery
.
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
. Bernhisel was the original delegate of the Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
(1851–1859, 1861–1863) and acted as a member of the Council of Fifty
Council of Fifty
The Council of Fifty was a Latter Day Saint organization established by Joseph Smith, Jr...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
Biography
Bernhisel was born at Sandy Hill, Tyrone TownshipTyrone Township, Perry County, Pennsylvania
Tyrone Township is a township in Perry County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,863 at the 2000 census. The principal communities in the township are the villages of Green Park and Loysville...
, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
. He graduated in medicine from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
at Philadelphia, and began practicing medicine in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. After becoming affiliated with the Latter-day Saint movement, he moved to Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
in 1843. Bernhisel served as the personal physician to Joseph Smith, Jr. and lived in his home. He delivered some of Emma Smith's children.
In June 1844, Bernhisel accompanied Joseph Smith to the Carthage Jail
Carthage Jail
Carthage Jail, located in Carthage, Illinois, was the location of the death of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, and his brother Hyrum by a mob of approximately 150 men. Friends John Taylor and Willard Richards were also members of the incarcerated party, but were not...
and spent some time with Smith and his brother Hyrum
Hyrum Smith
Hyrum Smith was an American religious leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the original church of the Latter Day Saint movement. He was the older brother of the movement's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr....
in the jail, but Bernhisel was not present at the time of Joseph Smith's death
Death of Joseph Smith, Jr.
The death of Joseph Smith, Jr. on June 27, 1844 marked a turning point for the Latter Day Saint movement, of which Smith was the founder and leader. When he was attacked and killed by a mob, Smith was the mayor of Nauvoo, Illinois, and running for President of the United States...
at the hands of a mob.
After Smith's death, Bernhisel followed Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
and moved west with the majority of the Latter-day Saints. He settled in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
in 1848 and continued the practice of medicine.
Bernhisel was selected by Young to represent the interests of the Latter-day Saints before Congress when the Mormon settlers began to consider an application for statehood as the State of Deseret
State of Deseret
The State of Deseret was a proposed state of the United States, propositioned in 1849 by Latter-day Saint settlers in Salt Lake City. The provisional state existed for slightly over two years and was never recognized by the United States government...
. He was selected to the Thirty-second
32nd United States Congress
The Thirty-second United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1851 to March 3, 1853, during the third and...
and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1859). After returning briefly to his medical practice, he also ran and served in the Thirty-seventh Congress
37th United States Congress
The Thirty-seventh United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1861 to March 4, 1863, during the first two...
(March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863). Bernhisel also served as regent of the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
.
Bernhisel was a bachelor until he was 46 years old (March 1845), when he married Julia Ann Haight, the widow of William Van Orden
William Van Orden
William Van Orden was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint Movement.-Biography:He was born in New York where he joined the church founded by Joseph Smith Jr.. He married Julia Ann Haight and later moved to Nauvoo, Illinois.He was a member of the Nauvoo Legion and was assigned to guard the...
and mother of five children. The couple had one child, also named John Milton Bernhisel (born in 1846). Like some early LDS Church members, Bernhisel went on to practice plural marriage
Plural marriage
Polygamy was taught by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for more than half of the 19th century, and practiced publicly from 1852 to 1890.The Church's practice of polygamy has been highly controversial, both within...
. He was married to seven women, but by 1850 all of them but Elizabeth Barker had left for various reasons. He died in Salt Lake City on September 28, 1881 and is interned at the Salt Lake City Cemetery
Salt Lake City Cemetery
thumb|The northern section of the cemetery at night, looking towards Salt Lake CityThe Salt Lake City Cemetery is in The Avenues neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Utah. Approximately 120,000 persons are buried in the cemetery. Many religious leaders and politicians, particularly many leaders of The...
.
See also
- United States Congress Delegates from Utah Territory
- Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible: Publication and use