Alpheus Cutler

Alpheus Cutler (February 29, 1784 – August 10, 1864) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement who served in several church positions under Mormon founder Joseph Smith, Jr. including as captain of Smith's personal bodyguard and "Master Builder and Workman on all God's holy houses." Following Smith's murder in June 1844, Cutler at first followed the Twelve Apostles under Brigham Young, but later left Young's organization to start his own church, which became the Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite). Cutler claimed that his church was the sole legitimate continuation of Joseph Smith's organization, and he served as its leader until his death.

Cutler was born in Upper Lisle, New York. He married Lois Lathrop of Lebanon, New Hampshire in 1808. Lathrop was a direct descendent of Rev. John Lathrop (1584–1653), and thus a distant cousin of Latter Day Saint prophet Joseph Smith, Jr.

Baptised into the early Latter Day Saint movement in 1833, Cutler was a member of the Nauvoo High Council, the Anointed Quorum, and the Council of Fifty. By late 1847 Cutler had established a settlement along Silver Creek in Mills County, Iowa, near present-day Silver City. Increasingly dissatisfied with the leadership of Brigham Young, Cutler next led his followers to a new settlement called Manti near modern-day Shenandoah, Iowa where he established his own branch of the Latter-Day Saints before his death on August 10, 1864.

His wife Lois Lathrop Cutler and a number of his followers moved to Otter Tail County, Minnesota and founded the settlement of Clitherall, near Battle Lake, in the autumn of 1864. The settlement thrived for a number of years.

Their daughter Louisa Elizabeth Cutler (1816–1854) married Tunis Rappleye (1807–1883), who led the second group of Mormon pioneers (after Brigham Young's group) into the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. Their marriage produced 10 children and hundreds of descendants.

Alpheus' and Lois' daughters, Clarissa (1824) and Emily (1828), married LDS Church Apostle Heber Chase Kimball (1801) as polygamous wives. Both later divorced him.

See also

• Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite)