Oliver Cowdery

the long version

Oliver Cowdery (1806-1850) was born in Wells, Vermont to William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. He became a school teacher and, later, a lawyer. While teaching school in Palmyra, New York, Oliver heard about Joseph Smith and his translation of the golden plates. He went to visit Joseph in Harmony, Pennsylvania and became involved in the work of the restoration of the Gospel. Oliver married Elizabeth Ann Whitmer and they became the parents of at least one daughter. Oliver left the LDS Church during the Missouri period and remained in that state until his death in 1850. However, he was rebaptized in about 1849 and, at the time of his death, was planning on moving west to Utah.