Dana (Denna), Lewis

1 Jan. 1805–8 June 1885. Farmer. Born in Oneida Co., New York. Son of Jonathan and Nelly Dana. Chief of Oneida Indian tribe, in New York. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by May 1840. Received elder’s license, 13 May 1840, in Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois. Preached in Indian Territory, summer 1840. Returned to Michigan or Wisconsin Territory, by 1843. Returned to Nauvoo, Jan. 1845. Admitted to Council of Fifty, 1 Mar. 1845. Appointed to explore western U.S. and select new location for Latter-day Saints to settle among Indians; left on expedition, 24 Apr. 1845. Married Mary Gont, 14 Oct. 1845, in Nauvoo. Arrived at Fort Leavenworth, unorganized U.S. territory, to confer with local Indian chiefs, 21 Nov. 1845. Moved to settlement on Silver Creek, Pottawattamie Co. (later in Mills Co.), Iowa, between 1847 and 1853. Present at organization of Alpheus Cutler’s Church of Jesus Christ, 19 Sept. 1853, in Fisher’s Grove (later in Shenandoah), Fremont Co., Iowa. Resided in Fisher Township, Fremont Co., 1860. Settled with group of Cutlerites at Clitherall, Otter Tail Co., Minnesota, 6 May 1865. Moved to Girard, Otter Tail Co., by 1885. Buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, in Clitherall.