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Hosea Stout: Lawman, Legislator, Mormon Defender
Hosea Stout witnessed and influenced many of the major civil and political events over fifty years of LDS history, but until the publication of his diaries, he was a relatively obscure figure to historians. Hosea Stout: Lawman, Legislator, Mormon Defender is the first-ever biography of this devoted follower who played a significant role in Mormon and Utah history.
Stout joined the Mormons in Missouri in 1838 and followed them to Nauvoo, where he rose quickly to become a top leader in the Nauvoo Legion and chief of police, a position he also held at Winter Quarters. He became the first attorney general for the Territory of Utah, was elected to the Utah Territorial Legislature, and served as regent for the University of Deseret (which later became the University of Utah) and as judge advocate of the Nauvoo Legion in Utah. In 1862, Stout was appointed US attorney for the Territory of Utah by President Abraham Lincoln. In 1867, he became city attorney of Salt Lake City and he was elected to the Utah House of Representatives in 1881.
But Stout’s history also had its troubled moments. Known as a violent man and aggressive enforcer, he was often at the center of controversy during his days on the police force and was accused of having a connection with deaths in Nauvoo and Utah. Ultimately, however, none of these allegations ever found traction, and the leaders of the LDS community, especially Brigham Young, saw to it that Stout was promoted to roles of increasing responsibility throughout his life. When he died in 1889, Hosea Stout left a complicated legacy of service to his state, his church, and the members of his faith community.
Stout joined the Mormons in Missouri in 1838 and followed them to Nauvoo, where he rose quickly to become a top leader in the Nauvoo Legion and chief of police, a position he also held at Winter Quarters. He became the first attorney general for the Territory of Utah, was elected to the Utah Territorial Legislature, and served as regent for the University of Deseret (which later became the University of Utah) and as judge advocate of the Nauvoo Legion in Utah. In 1862, Stout was appointed US attorney for the Territory of Utah by President Abraham Lincoln. In 1867, he became city attorney of Salt Lake City and he was elected to the Utah House of Representatives in 1881.
But Stout’s history also had its troubled moments. Known as a violent man and aggressive enforcer, he was often at the center of controversy during his days on the police force and was accused of having a connection with deaths in Nauvoo and Utah. Ultimately, however, none of these allegations ever found traction, and the leaders of the LDS community, especially Brigham Young, saw to it that Stout was promoted to roles of increasing responsibility throughout his life. When he died in 1889, Hosea Stout left a complicated legacy of service to his state, his church, and the members of his faith community.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published July 15, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 24, 2022
This fellow led an eventful life and he’s related to me. He was a fighter who was accused of murder more than once (did he poison Jos Smith’s brother to help Brigham Young? It’s possible). He was the first Attorney General of Utah territory, appointed US Attorney by Abe Lincoln, bodyguard of Joseph Smith, a judge, a police chief, veteran of the Blackhawk War, a plaintiff in a case murder case settled by the US Supreme Court, and was adept at fistfights. And this is a fine biography. Mucho researched.
December 27, 2019
I really really enjoyed reading this historical account of Hosea Stout. I am interested in his life because he and my 3rd Great-grandpa, Theodore Turley were in many of the same places at the same time. I've read dozens of books about this time period and these places, and I gathered up lots of new information here. It was interesting to me. There are a few little editing glitches, and one chapter was a complete review of what had already been written in previous chapters, but it was well worth my time to read this. I enjoyed inserting mentions of Theodore in Hosea Stout's actual journal into this book (where he was not mentioned). It gave me additional context for Theodore's life.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews