Minutes, 9 November 1831

This mistake is likely based on the minutes of 8 November 1831, which contain this same list of names, except for Lyman Johnson’s name. McLellin’s name appears to have been stricken as Ebenezer Robinson was copying the minutes into Minute Book 2 in 1838. Up to McLellin, the listed participants of the 9 November conference are the same as those who attended the 8 November conference. Robinson may have mistakenly copied the roster of participants from the 8 November conference, realized his error, crossed out McLellin’s name, and then added the name of Lyman Johnson (who did not attend the 8 November conference) on the same line as Luke Johnson’s name. (Minutes, 8 Nov. 1831.)  

Possibly John Mathias Noah (1761–1849), but more likely his son John Storey Noah (1799–1857). John Mathias Noah, who was born in Germany, immigrated to the United States as a young man and moved to Nelson, Ohio, circa 1804. John Storey Noah was born in Pennsylvania. No baptismal record exists for either man, making it more difficult to determine which was the church member who petitioned the conference. However, John Storey Noah named two children, born in 1832 and 1834, Joseph and Emma, likely after JS and his wife. John Storey Noah’s sister Margaret was married to Charles Hulet, the brother of John’s fellow-petitioner Sylvester Hulet. John Storey Noah was also about the same age as Sylvester Hulet, further suggesting that he was the John Noah who appeared before the conference. (Johnson, Life History of Charles Hulet, 25, 32–33, 35, 53, 62; Simmonds, “John Noah and the Hulets,” 18; 1850 U.S. Census, Mentor, Lake Co., OH, 278[A]; Missouri State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death for Emma A. Williams, no. 16532, Birth and Death Records, MSA; Lake Co., OH, Probate Court, Probate Records, 1846–1860, vol. E, p. 371, microfilm 974,902, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)  

Johnson, Eldred A., comp. The Life History of Charles Hulet and His Wives, Anna Taylor, Margaret Noah, and Mary Lawson Kirkman. Lindon, UT: By the author, 1991.

Simmonds, A. J. “John Noah and the Hulets: A Study in Charisma in the Early Church.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Mormon History Association, Salt Lake City, 24–27 May 1979. Copy at CHL.

Census (U.S.) / U.S. Bureau of the Census. Population Schedules. Microfilm. FHL.

Missouri State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. Certificate of Death, no. 38758. Birth and Death Records. MSA.

U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

On 16 November, William E. McLellin and Samuel Smith visited Nelson and held a meeting with church members there. McLellin wrote in his journal that “the brethren were much animated and made known their good determinations and resolutions to serve the Lord.” It is possible that McLellin or Smith ordained Hulet and Noah at this time, although it is unknown to what office. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church listed preaching as a responsibility of a priest, while other revelations stated that elders were to proclaim the gospel. (McLellin, Journal, 16 Nov. 1831; Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:38, 46]; Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A [D&C 68:7–8].)  

McLellin, William E. Journal, Apr.–June 1836. William E. McLellin, Papers, 1831–1836, 1877–1878. CHL. MS 13538, box 1, fd. 6. Also available as Jan Shipps and John W. Welch, eds., The Journals of William E. McLellin, 1831–1836 (Provo, UT: BYU Studies; Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994).