Calves Wilson

On October 25, 1831, Calves was baptized and ordained a priest in Orange County, Ohio, by Oliver Cowdery. Three months later on January 25, 1832 at the Amherst Conference held at the home of Gideon Carter, he was called by revelation to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ: “And again, 1 say unto my servant Asa Dodds, and unto my servant Calves Wilson, that they also shall take their journey unto the western countries, and proclaim my gospel, even as I have commanded them” (D&C 75:15). It is unknown whether either of these brethren fulfilled the assigned mission to the western countries.

In spring of 1832 Calves accompanied Lyman Wight on a mission to Cincinnati, Ohio. According to historian Andrew Jenson, on arriving in Cincinnati—

[Lyman Wight] called at a hotel and engaged his board for several weeks. The landlord asked him what his business was. He replied he was a preacher of the gospel after the order of Melchizedek. He created so much curiosity that they wished to hear him preach. He told them that was his business, and if they would open the court house he would do so willingly. They obtained the house, and he delivered a series of lectures and built up a branch of the Church and baptized upwards of one hundred.¹

It is assumed that Calves was with Lyman Wight at that time and enjoyed similar success in the Cincinnati area. From this point on, the whereabouts of Calves Wilson is unknown.

1. Andrew Jenson LDS Biographical Encyclopedia 4 vols. (Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History Company, 1901), 1:93.