John Van Cott

death_place=Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

John Van Cott (September 7 1814–February 18 1883) was a prominent member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving as a member of the Quorum of the Seventy, as one of the Seven Presidents of the Seventy, and also as president of the Scandinavian Mission.

Early Life and Conversion

John Van Cott was descended from a Dutch settler named Claes Cornelissen Van Cats who came from Holland to what is now New York [Nieuw Amsterdam] in 1662. His father died of illness when he was 10 years old. He first heard of The Book of Mormon and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from his cousin LDS Apostle Parley P. Pratt who was seven years his senior. (John's mother Levina Pratt and Parley's father Jared were siblings.) Some accounts put this first introduction as early as 1833 but, unlike his cousin, he did not join for some time. In 1835 he married Lucy Sackett and they had four children in Canaan, New York.

In 1843, Lucy joined the church. Historical material is somewhat sketchy here as most sources say that Van Cott himself was baptized by Pratt in Nauvoo in 1844 or 45, but others imply that the family moved to Nauvoo after he was baptized. Records are consistent in saying that the family was in Nauvoo in 1846 and stayed for a time at Pratt's home and that Van Cott donated about $400 towards the completion of the Nauvoo Temple.

Pioneer and Church Servant

The winter of 1846 was spent at Winter Quarters, where Van Cott became well acquainted with Brigham Young. According to historical records, he was chosen to be a bishop at this time to watch after the families of men who had joined the Mormon Battalion. He was ordained a Seventy on February 25, 1847.

As a Mormon Pioneer, John made the "trip across the plains" multiple times. In 1847 he, his wife, two children (their two other children died in New York), and 59 year old mother traveled with the Daniel Spencer/Perrigrine Sessions Company, wherein John was appointed to be a "captain of 10" and a marshall. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on September 25th.

After arriving in the valley, at the behest of Young, Van Cott went back out on the trail to assist other companies who were having difficulties. He assisted in the exploration of the new land. He was chosen to be the first marshal of Salt Lake City.

In 1852 Van Cott began a four year assignment as the president of the Scandinavia Mission, headquartered in Denmark. He was called to the same assignment again in 1859 and served for two and a half years. He became proficient in Danish as a result of his work there.

On the journey home to Utah, Van Cott led a group of church members from Scandinavia to the United States aboard the ship "Waldemar", and then on the journey across the midwest to Salt Lake. He is listed as being the President of the Madsen and Liljenquist companies, "leading a group of Scandinavian Saints" to Salt Lake in July-Sept 1862. This may be the same group he led on the "Waldemar", but further information is needed.

In 1862 Van Cott was sustained as one of the Seven Presidents of the Seventy. He died at his home a short distance south of Salt Lake City, Feb. 18, 1883, after a lingering illness of several months.

Family

Like several church leaders of his time, John Van Cott was instructed to practice plural marriage. He had 5 wives and many children. His oldest child was born in 1844, his youngest in 1878. Some did not live to see adulthood, others did and some became prominent members of their communities. There are 25 children listed here, but many narratives say had had 28. He has thousands of descendants

His wives and children with each of them.

Lucy Lavina Sackett

17 Jul 1815 Stephentown, Columbia, NY USA - 31 Jan 1902 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Ut USA.

*Mary Van Cott 2 Feb 1844 Elmira, New York, USA - 15 Jan 1884 Salt Lake City, UT (married Brigham Young)
*Martha Van Cott
*Fannie Van Cott 18 Apr 1850 Salt Lake City - 21 Dec 1930 Colonia Dublan, Chihuahua Mexico, Married Alexander Findlay Macdonald
*Lucy Van Cott 16 Dec 1839 in Canaan, Columbia, NY - 9 Sep 1843.
*John Losee Van Cott 23 Aug 1847 Independence, Rock, Wyoming -18 Mar 1851
*Byron Van Cott 2 Mar 1852 Salt Lake City - 19 Nov 1853.

Jemima Morris

4 Aug 1831 North Coleford, Gloucestershire, England- 23 Mar 1851 Salt Lake City

*Morris Van Cott

Laura Lund

26 Feb 1843 Amaya, Denmark - 1 Dec 1913 Salt Lake City
*Waldemar Van Cott 11 Dec 1859 Salt Lake City- 15 Jan 1940 Salt Lake City
*Frank Victor Van Cott 7 Aug 1863 Salt Lake City - 17 Aug 1938
*Lucy May Van Cott 5 May 1869 Salt Lake City - 28 Sep 1957
*Ernest Van Cott 18 Dec 1875 -27 Aug 1924.

Caroline Amelia Pratt

20 Jun 1840 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA - 10 Oct 1915 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Ut USA.
*Orson Van Cott 21 Apr 1859 Salt Lake City - 8 May 1859.
*Anson Van Cott born and died on 21 Apr 1859 Salt Lake City
*Viola Van Cott 19 Jun 1860 Salt Lake City - 17 May 1931 in Salt Lake City
*Oscar Van Cott 17 Sep 1863 Salt Lake City - 7 Jun 1955 Salt Lake City
*Marlon Van Cott 10 Oct 1867 Salt Lake City - 29 Jul 1941 Salt Lake City
*Ray Van Cott 27 Oct 1869 Salt Lake City - 18 Mar 1944
*Harold Van Cott Jul 1873 Salt Lake City - 15 May 1934
*Edith Van Cott 25 Mar 1875 Salt Lake City - 22 Aug 1941 Los Angeles, CA
*Lovina Van Cott 15 Jan 1877 in Ephraim, San Pete, UT - 27 Oct 1964 Salt Lake City

Caroline Lena Cassia Erickson

27 Jun 1833 Brevik, Skaraborg, Sweden - 14 Nov 1901 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Ut USA.
*Selma Van Cott 12 Nov 1863 Salt Lake City -5 Dec 1935 Salt Lake City (married William Whitaker Taylor, son of John Taylor)
*Nephi Van Cott 25 Feb 1865 Salt Lake City - 18 Sep 1865
*Albert Van Cott 25 Dec 1868 Salt Lake City - 10 Nov 1959 Salt Lake City
*Olive (or Olivia) Van Cott 27 Apr 1875 Ephraim, San Pete, UT - 27 Aug 1935 Salt Lake City
*Enoch Van Cott Jan 1878 Salt Lake City - 12 Aug 1952.

Gallery

Other People named John Van Cott

*According to historical records, a John Van Cott was "elected" a fireman in Brooklyn, NY on 1 April 1788. He held the post for 3 years. [http://www.panix.com/~cassidy/stilesv3/v3part6/600.html See this external link]
*John Waldemar Van Cott, a grandson of John Van Cott was a professor at Brigham Young University and an author; among his books is "Utah Place Names."

External links

* [http://www.xmission.com/~nelsonb/shist.htm Brief History of the Scandinavian Mission]
* [http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/pioneerdetails/0,15791,4018-1-998,00.html Mormon Pioneers Overland Travel Directory: John Van Cott]
* [http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/lhg/lhg051/67026230.html Van Cott book at the library of Congress]
* [http://genmayle.com/gen/showhistory.php?docID=2&PHPSESSID=69efeb01efb22cc8830ae0c5a4ea31c3 A narrative of the with jorney from Scandinavia to America by a passenger in the company of Van Cott]
* [http://www.signaturebooks.com/excerpts/rescue.htm Excerpt of a book about rescuing some stranded handcart companies, Van Cott was part of the rescue.]
* [http://www.mosesclawson.com/showdocument.asp?q=16&p=1 John Van Cott chosen as a Bishop]
* [http://www.xmission.com/~nelsonb/letters.htm A letter written to John Van Cott about the Scandinavian saints crossing the plains in America]
* [http://www.barkerdavis.org/FamilyHistory/barkerdav/pafg04.htm#223 He is number 14 on this family history chart]