Solomon Wilbur Denton Sr. (1816–1864) was an early member of the Latter Day Saint movement.

Early life

Denton was born in Fitchville, Huron County, Ohio.

In the Latter Day Saint church

In 1831, Denton joined Joseph Smith's

Church of Christ Church of Christ may refer to: Church groups * When used in the plural, a New Testament designation for local groups of people following the teachings of Jesus Christ: "...all the churches of Christ greet you", Romans 16:16. * The entire body of Ch ...

and moved to Independence, Missouri to join the Latter Day Saints there. On March 1, 1835, he was ordained an

elder An elder is someone with a degree of seniority or authority. Elder or elders may refer to: Positions Administrative * Elder (administrative title), a position of authority Cultural * North American Indigenous elder, a person who has and tr ...

in the church. Denton worked with

Don Carlos Smith Don Carlos Smith (March 25, 1816 – August 7, 1841) was the youngest brother of Joseph Smith and a leader, missionary, and periodical editor in the early days of the Latter Day Saint movement. Smith was born in Norwich, Vermont, on March 25, 18 ...

in the Kirtland, Ohio printing office of the church. In 1835, he married Fanny M. Stanley (Smith's first cousin once removed). He reported "having seen a great vision during the time of the washings and the annointings" in the Kirtland Temple. Denton was also a helper in Smith's household. In 1835, Denton issued a sworn statement claiming that he had been part of a plot to murder Grandison Newell.

Later life

In 1837, Denton was excommunicated from the church for "lack of faith, non-observance of duties, and contempt of the quorum of High Priests." He moved to

Pontiac, Michigan Pontiac ( ') is a city in and the county seat of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 61,606. A northern suburb of Metro Detroit, Pontiac is about northwest of Detroit. Founde ...

, where he was co-editor of a newspaper and later postmaster. Denton died in Pontiac.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Denton, Solomon Wilbur 1816 births 1864 deaths American male journalists Michigan postmasters Converts to Mormonism Latter Day Saints from Ohio People excommunicated by the Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints) People from Huron County, Ohio People from Pontiac, Michigan 19th-century American newspaper editors Editors of Michigan newspapers