Ziba Peterson
Encyclopedia
Ziba Peterson was an early American
Latter Day Saint best known as one of the four initial missionaries
sent by Joseph Smith
in 1830 to preach to Native Americans
in Indian Territory
. This mission brought in several influential converts and introduced the church to Kirtland, Ohio
and Jackson County, Missouri
, which would become religiously significant to Mormonism.
on April 18, 1830 in Seneca Lake, New York
and by June of 1830 he had been ordained an Elder. Peterson was one of six elders attending the first conference of the church on June 9, 1830.
(referred to as Lamanites by early Mormons) in Indian Territory
with Parley P. Pratt
, Oliver Cowdery and Peter Whitmer, and left Fayette, New York
on October 17, 1830. On this journey, they went through Kirtland, Ohio
where they met a Reformed Baptist pastor friend of Pratt's, Sidney Rigdon
. From their preaching, about 50 converts were baptized, including Rigdon, who became an important early leader of the Latter Day Saints. This early success in Kirtland led it to become a crucial gathering place for early Mormons, the headquarters of the church, and the place of the church's first temple
.
Peterson and the other missionaries continued to Jackson County, Missouri
, on the borders of Indian Territory, where they established a tailor
shop and baptized about 40 or 50 settlers. Joseph Smith would eventually come to Jackson County in 1831 and identify it as the place where Zion
, or the New Jerusalem
, would be built.
While still in Missouri, Smith delivered a revelation
that included a reprimand of Peterson for unspecified sins. Days later, on August 4, 1831, in public at a conference of the church, Peterson was again reprimanded and he confessed his transgression. Peterson's missionary call and reprimand are both recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants
, a book of Latter Day Saint scripture
, in sections 32 and 58.
Peterson was reordained an Elder by Lyman Wight
on October 2, 1832, but when the church was driven out of Jackson County in 1833, Peterson stayed and left Mormonism. He and his family left for California
on May 3, 1848, arriving in Dry Diggins (Placerville
), California in October 1848, where he was elected sheriff
. His hanging of three outlaws earned Dry Diggins the nickname “Hangtown.” Peterson died in 1849.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Latter Day Saint best known as one of the four initial missionaries
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
sent by Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith was founder of what later became known as the Latter Day Saint movement or Mormons.Joseph Smith may also refer to:-Latter Day Saints:* Joseph Smith, Sr. , father of Joseph Smith...
in 1830 to preach to Native Americans
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
in Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
. This mission brought in several influential converts and introduced the church to Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland is a city in Lake County, Ohio, USA. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census. Kirtland is famous for being the early headquarters of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Origins of Kirtland:...
and Jackson County, Missouri
Jackson County, Missouri
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. With a population of 674,158 in the 2010 census, Jackson County is the second most populous of Missouri's counties, after St. Louis County. Kansas City, the state's most populous city and focus city of the Kansas City Metropolitan...
, which would become religiously significant to Mormonism.
Biography
Peterson was baptized into the Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints) by Oliver CowderyOliver Cowdery
Oliver H. P. Cowdery was, with Joseph Smith, Jr., an important participant in the formative period of the Latter Day Saint movement between 1829 and 1836, becoming one of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon's golden plates, one of the first Latter Day Saint apostles, and the Second Elder of...
on April 18, 1830 in Seneca Lake, New York
Seneca Lake, New York
Seneca Lake is the largest of the glacial Finger Lakes of the U.S. state of New York, and the deepest lake entirely within the state. It is promoted as being the lake trout capital of the world, and is host of the National Lake Trout Derby. Because of its depth, Seneca Lake has been a testing site...
and by June of 1830 he had been ordained an Elder. Peterson was one of six elders attending the first conference of the church on June 9, 1830.
Mission
Peterson was called as a missionary to the Native AmericansNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
(referred to as Lamanites by early Mormons) in Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
with Parley P. Pratt
Parley P. Pratt
Parley Parker Pratt, Sr. was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from 1835 until his murder in 1857. He served in the Quorum with his younger brother, Orson Pratt...
, Oliver Cowdery and Peter Whitmer, and left Fayette, New York
Fayette, New York
Fayette is a town in Seneca County, New York, United States. The population was 3,643 at the 2000 census.The Town of Fayette is on the western border of the county and is southeast of Geneva, New York.- History :...
on October 17, 1830. On this journey, they went through Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland is a city in Lake County, Ohio, USA. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census. Kirtland is famous for being the early headquarters of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Origins of Kirtland:...
where they met a Reformed Baptist pastor friend of Pratt's, Sidney Rigdon
Sidney Rigdon
Sidney Rigdon was a leader during the early history of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Baptist background:...
. From their preaching, about 50 converts were baptized, including Rigdon, who became an important early leader of the Latter Day Saints. This early success in Kirtland led it to become a crucial gathering place for early Mormons, the headquarters of the church, and the place of the church's first temple
Kirtland Temple
The Kirtland Temple is a National Historic Landmark in Kirtland, Ohio, USA, on the eastern edge of the Cleveland metropolitan area. Owned and operated by the Community of Christ, formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , the house of worship was the first temple to be...
.
Peterson and the other missionaries continued to Jackson County, Missouri
Jackson County, Missouri
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. With a population of 674,158 in the 2010 census, Jackson County is the second most populous of Missouri's counties, after St. Louis County. Kansas City, the state's most populous city and focus city of the Kansas City Metropolitan...
, on the borders of Indian Territory, where they established a tailor
Tailor
A tailor is a person who makes, repairs, or alters clothing professionally, especially suits and men's clothing.Although the term dates to the thirteenth century, tailor took on its modern sense in the late eighteenth century, and now refers to makers of men's and women's suits, coats, trousers,...
shop and baptized about 40 or 50 settlers. Joseph Smith would eventually come to Jackson County in 1831 and identify it as the place where Zion
Zion (Latter Day Saints)
Within the Latter Day Saint movement, Zion is often used to connote a utopian association of the righteous. This association would practice a form of communitarian economics called the United Order meant to ensure that all members maintained an acceptable quality of life, class distinctions were...
, or the New Jerusalem
New Jerusalem
In the book of Ezekiel, the Prophecy of New Jerusalem is Ezekiel's prophetic vision of a city to be established to the south of the Temple Mount that will be inhabited by the twelve tribes of Israel in the...
, would be built.
While still in Missouri, Smith delivered a revelation
Revelation (Latter Day Saints)
Latter Day Saints teach that the Latter Day Saint movement began with a Revelation from God . They also teach that revelation is the foundation of the church established by Jesus Christ and that it remains an essential element of His true church today...
that included a reprimand of Peterson for unspecified sins. Days later, on August 4, 1831, in public at a conference of the church, Peterson was again reprimanded and he confessed his transgression. Peterson's missionary call and reprimand are both recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants
Doctrine and Covenants
The Doctrine and Covenants is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement...
, a book of Latter Day Saint scripture
Standard Works
The Standard Works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the four books that currently constitute its open scriptural canon.* The Holy Bible * The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ...
, in sections 32 and 58.
Later life
He married Rebecca Hopper on August 11, 1831, with whom he would have eight children. The Hopper family had been among the converts baptized by Peterson and the other missionaries in Jackson County.Peterson was reordained an Elder by Lyman Wight
Lyman Wight
Lyman Wight was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. He was the leader of the Latter Day Saints in Daviess County, Missouri in 1838. In 1841, he was ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. After the death of Joseph Smith, Jr...
on October 2, 1832, but when the church was driven out of Jackson County in 1833, Peterson stayed and left Mormonism. He and his family left for California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
on May 3, 1848, arriving in Dry Diggins (Placerville
Placerville
Placerville is the name of several places in the United States:* Placerville, California* Placerville, Colorado* Placerville, Idaho...
), California in October 1848, where he was elected sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
. His hanging of three outlaws earned Dry Diggins the nickname “Hangtown.” Peterson died in 1849.