Alpheus Cutler
| Alpheus Cutler | |
|---|---|
Photo of Alpheus Cutler
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| 1st President of The Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite) | |
| September 19, 1853 – June 10, 1864 | |
| Called by | Joseph Smith |
| Predecessor | Joseph Smith |
| Successor | Chancey Whiting |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Alpheus Cutler February 29, 1784 Plainfield, New Hampshire, United States |
| Died | June 10, 1864 (aged 80) Manti, Iowa, United States |
| Resting place | Manti Cemetery 40°43′23″N 95°23′56″W / 40.723°N 95.399°W |
| Spouse(s) | Lois Lathrop |
| Children | 10 |
| Parents | Knight Cutler Elizabeth Boyd |
John Alpheus Cutler (February 29, 1784 – June 10, 1864) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement who founded the Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite) in 1853. He had previously served in several church positions under Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter Day Saint movememnt, as well as captain of Smith's personal bodyguard and "Master Builder and Workman on all God's Holy Houses." Following the death of Joseph Smith in June 1844, Cutler at first followed the Twelve Apostles under Brigham Young, but later left Young's church to start his own sect. Cutler claimed that his was the sole legitimate continuation of Smith's organization, and he served as its leader until his death.
Cutler was born in Plainfield, New Hampshire, to Knight Cutler, a veteran of the American Revolution, and Elizabeth Boyd. He married Lois Lathrop of Lebanon, New Hampshire on November 17, 1808. Lathrop was a descendant of Rev. John Lothropp (1584–1653), and thus a distant cousin of Latter Day Saint prophet Joseph Smith. Cutler fought as a private in the War of 1812, serving in Cpt. E. Smith's company of New York Militia from September to December 1812. Although later Latter Day Saint sources would refer to Cutler as "Captain Alpheus Cutler" and say that he had fought at the battles of Chippewa Falls and Lundy's Lane, his service record does not support either assertion.
Cutler was a stonemason by occupation. He stood over six feet tall, and was described by one biographer as being "heavy set," "powerfully built," "critical" and "sarcastic," while generally expressing himself in "an extremely candid, sharp and brusque manner." Some of Cutler's contemporaries would later refer to him as having a "natural parabolical, allegorical, symbolical, mysterious, secretive way of telling things."
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