McLellin, William Earl

18 Jan. 1806–14 Mar. 1883. Schoolteacher, physician, publisher. Born at Smith Co., Tennessee. Son of Charles McLellin and Sarah (a Cherokee Indian). Married first Cynthia Ann, 30 July 1829. Wife died, by summer 1831. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Hyrum Smith, 20 Aug. 1831, in Jackson Co., Missouri. Ordained an elder by Hyrum Smith and Edward Partridge, 24 Aug. 1831. Ordained a high priest by Oliver Cowdery, 25 Oct. 1831. Served two short-term missions. Married second Emeline Miller, 26 Apr. 1832, at Portage Co., Ohio. Left Ohio for Independence, Jackson Co., Missouri, 2 May 1832. Excommunicated, 3 Dec. 1832. Apparently reinstated; served mission to Missouri and Illinois with Parley P. Pratt, Jan.–June 1833. Fled with fellow Latter-day Saints from Jackson Co. into Clay Co., Missouri, Nov. 1833. Proselytized in Indiana on way to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1834. Appointed instructor in Kirtland School, 19 Nov. 1834. Ordained member of Quorum of the Twelve, 15 Feb. 1835. Disfellowshipped over difficulties arising during eastern mission with Quorum of the Twelve; reinstated 26 Sept. 1835. Wrote letter of withdrawal from church, Aug. 1836. Again sustained to Quorum of the Twelve, 3 Sept. 1837, at Kirtland. In Far West, Caldwell Co., Missouri, commissioned captain in First Company, Fifty-Ninth Regiment, Second Brigade, Third Division of Missouri state militia, 22 Nov. 1837. Excommunicated, 1838. Associated with factions organized under leadership of George M. Hinkle, William Law, Sidney Rigdon, James J. Strang, David Whitmer, and Granville Hedrick. Broke with all organized religion, 1869. Died at Independence.