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Source: Church History Vol. 3 Chapter 39 Page: 764

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764 and remained in the Quorum of the Twelve until the spring of 1868, when he was cut off from the church. Subsequently he was rebaptized, and later reordained an elder. Since which he has officiated in that capacity. He is still living, and resides at Lamoni, Iowa.

EDMUND C. BRIGGS.

We regret to say that though the work has been delayed for several weeks waiting for the autobiography of Elder E. C. Briggs which he had promised to furnish us it is not yet in hand, and we must go to press without it. This is especially to be regretted because of the important links which his experience furnishes in the history of the Reorganization as he was the pioneer general missionary of the Reorganization, one of the special messengers sent by the early movers in the cause to Joseph Smith, and the first missionary intrusted by the Reorganization to represent it in Utah. Perhaps these valuable items of history may be furnished by Elder Briggs for a future volume of the History.-H. C. S.

JOSIAH ELLS.

Elder Josiah Ells, son of Thomas and Hannah Ells, was born March 4, 1806, at Lewis, County of Essex, England. While yet in his minority he left his father's house, and at the age of twenty united with the Methodist Church. At the age of twenty-four he was licensed by the Methodists as a local preacher. In 1831 he emigrated to the United States, and located in Philadelphia, where he again preached for the Methodists. In 1835 he removed to Monmouth County, New Jersey, where, in 1838, he first heard the doctrine taught by the Latter Day Saints, from Elders Benjamin Winchester and Orson Pratt. After a thorough investigation, including the reading of the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants, he was baptized on October 1, 1838, by Elder Benjamin Winchester, in Upper Freehold township, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Others in the same neighborhood were soon after baptized, and in the December following a branch was organized, and Josiah Ells was ordained and chosen presiding elder.

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