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Crooked Creek/Ramus/Macedonia Branch/Stake

congregation #481221
created 2012-10-02 by bplewe
official name: Ramus Stake   (started: about Aug 1840, ended: 4 Dec 1841)
assertion #4003205 by mpra on 2017-07-12: confidence 100%.
official name: Macedonia Branch   (started: between 23 Jan 1843 and 13 Mar 1843)
assertion #3724989 by bplewe on 2017-07-13: confidence 100%.
official name: Ramus Branch   (started: between 15 Jul 1840 and Oct 1840, ended: between 23 Jan 1843 and 13 Mar 1843)
assertion #3723510 by bplewe on 2012-10-02: confidence 100%.
official name: Crooked Creek Stake?   (started: 9 Jul 1840, ended: about Aug 1840)
"Ramus" doesn't appear in official records until the town plat surveyed August 1840
assertion #4003216 by mpra on 2017-07-12: confidence 50%.
official name: Crooked Creek Branch   (ended: 9 Jul 1840)
assertion #3724988 by bplewe on 2017-07-12: confidence 100%.
is a(n): branch   (started: 4 Dec 1841)
assertion #4003201 by mpra on 2017-07-12: confidence 100%.
is a(n): stake   (started: 9 Jul 1840, ended: 4 Dec 1841)
Had a presidency, bishopric, and high council. Unclear if it had a regional jurisdiction.
assertion #4003200 by bplewe on 2019-10-03: confidence 100%.
is a(n): branch   (ended: 9 Jul 1840)
assertion #3723974 by bplewe on 2012-10-02: confidence 100%.
started: 7 Apr 1839   (source: Crooked Creek/Ramus/Macedonia Branch records)
Pres. Joel H. Johnston
assertion #4003189 by mpra on 2017-07-12: confidence 80%.
started: between 1835 and Feb 1836?   (source: M&A 2:5, 263)
Not sure if the earlier "church at Crooked Creek" is this branch
assertion #3721894 by bplewe on 2017-07-12: confidence 50%.
ended: between 5 Apr 1846 and Jul 1846
last entry in branch record April 5
assertion #3735894 by bplewe on 2024-10-05: confidence 100%.
description: The early membership was centered around the Perkins clan, who had been converted here in the 1830s. It is unclear whether a branch was organized prior to 1840. As membership grew, the members petitioned for a stake to be formed, which was done in July 1840 with Joel H. Johnson as president, Bishop William Wightman, and a high council. After a stake was organized in July 1840, a town site was determined and surveyed in August 1840, named Ramus (latin for "branch"). For a while, Ramus grew to become the "second city" of the Saints. In December 1841, long after most of the other outlying stakes had been discontinued, the Ramus Stake was reorganized as a branch. The town and branch were renamed Macedonia in early 1843. In the Spring of that year, Joseph Smith came to branch conferences and gave important sermons that would become D&C 130 and 131. In 1846, most of the branch emigrated to Iowa together and reformed a Macedonia branch in 1847.
assertion #4003215 by bplewe on 2019-10-03: confidence 100%.
description: The branch record has a substantial gap during the latter half of 1844 and the first half of 1845, which could have been due to the succession crisis. When it starts again in 1845 (with President Amos W. Condit), it is mentioned that some members had followed Sidney Rigdon. A few families are disfellowshipped for not "upholding the Twelve." On March 22, 1846, at least 14 members are cut off for following James Strang. Several others followed suit (not all choosing Strang, but questioning the authority of the Twelve) in the next several weeks.
assertion #4003236 by mpra on 2017-07-13: confidence 100%.
religion: Early
assertion #4001282 by bplewe on 2017-04-08: confidence 100%.
located at: Webster, Hancock, Illinois, United States
The town was renamed Webster after the Saints left
assertion #3713221 by bplewe on 2019-10-03: confidence 100%.
location: 40°27'59"N, 91°0'2"W
assertion #3718257 by bplewe on 2017-07-12: confidence 100%.
membership/population: 112   (on: 2 Jul 1840, source: HC 4:143-145)
assertion #4003185 by mpra on 2017-07-12: confidence 100%.
divided into: LaHarpe Branch   (source: Crooked Creek/Ramus/Macedonia Branch records)
Did it continue to be a part of the Ramus Stake, or was it divided to form a separate entity?
entity #480709, assertion #4003222 by mpra on 2017-07-12: confidence 100%.
divided into: Macedonia Branch [Iowa]
Most members emigrated en masse and settled together.
entity #480690, assertion #4003229 by bplewe on 2019-10-03: confidence 100%.
has member: Webster
entity #481274, assertion #3751262 by bplewe on 2012-10-02: confidence 100%.
in group: Ohio-Missouri Era
assertion #3726942 by bplewe on 2012-10-28: confidence 80%.
in group: Nauvoo Era
assertion #3726941 by bplewe on 2012-10-28: confidence 80%.
confidence in this page (0 to 1): 0.83
assertion #4022097 by bplewe on 2024-06-05: confidence 100%.
see also: JHC 9/16/1845
Letter sent to Ramus/Macedonia from Nauvoo warning of mob violence. Doesn't mention a congregation
entity #850219, assertion #3771113 by bplewe on 2017-07-12: confidence 80%.
see also: M&A 2:5, 263
report of work in Crooked Creek, Schuyler County. Different place downstream? Was there a branch?
entity #850282, assertion #3771301 by bplewe on 2017-07-12: confidence 80%.
see also: Times & Seasons 2:24 (15 Oct 1841), p.573
Advertisement for settlement in Ramus, from the Stake Presidency
assertion #4003219 by mpra on 2017-07-12: confidence 100%.
see also: T&S 1:5, 77
Joel H. Johnson reports on organizing a Crooked Creek Branch
entity #850506, assertion #4003182 by mpra on 2017-07-12: confidence 100%.
see also: T&S 3:3, 616
Disciplinary Court, 18 Nov 1841
entity #850559, assertion #3773110 by bplewe on 2017-07-12: confidence 80%.
see also: JHC 12/5/1841
Conference, Ramus Stake is discontinued 4 Dec 1841, reorganized as a branch
entity #850179, assertion #3771033 by bplewe on 2017-07-12: confidence 80%.
see also: HC 4:143-145
The branch resolves to become a stake 2 July 1840. The next day, Joseph Smith Jr. approves their request.
entity #850105, assertion #3770403 by bplewe on 2017-07-12: confidence 80%.
see also: T&S 2:2, 222
Ramus Branch advertising for settlers, Nov 1840
entity #700068, assertion #4003196 by mpra on 2017-07-12: confidence 100%.
see also: Messenger & Advocate V.2 #2 p.224
Report of early work on Crooked Creek, Schuyler County, by Solomon Wixom and Charles Rich
assertion #4003183 by mpra on 2017-07-12: confidence 100%.
see also: Crooked Creek/Ramus/Macedonia Branch records
entity #850015, assertion #3770120 by bplewe on 2024-10-04: confidence 100%.
appears in: Crooked Creek/Ramus/Macedonia Branch records   (image: catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org, source part: p.29)
4 Dec 1841: Hyrum Smith and apostles discontinue Ramus Stake, reorganize it as a branch, Presiding Elder John Lawson
entity #850015, assertion #4025669 by bplewe on 2024-10-04: confidence 100%.
appears in: History of the Church   (image: archive.org, source part: V.7 p.296)
7 Oct 1844: John Smith released as Macedonia Branch President to become Nauvoo Stake President
entity #800689, assertion #4025680 by bplewe on 2024-10-05: confidence 100%.
appears in: Crooked Creek/Ramus/Macedonia Branch records   (source part: p.35)
24 Sep 1843: Macedonia Pres. Almon Babbitt resigns, John Smith elected presiding elder
entity #850015, assertion #4025675 by bplewe on 2024-10-04: confidence 100%.
appears in: Crooked Creek/Ramus/Macedonia Branch records   (source part: p.50)
5 Apr 1846: Last record of Macedonia Branch before residents still loyal to the Twelve leave to cross Missouri
entity #850015, assertion #4025677 by bplewe on 2024-10-05: confidence 100%.
appears in: Crooked Creek/Ramus/Macedonia Branch records   (source part: p.32)
13 Mar 1843: Joseph Smith visits Macedonia (recently renamed from Ramus). President Lawson is replaced by Almon Babbitt
entity #850015, assertion #4025672 by bplewe on 2024-10-04: confidence 100%.
appears in: Crooked Creek/Ramus/Macedonia Branch records   (image: catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org, source part: p.8)
9 Jul 1840: stake organized at Crooked Creek, Pres. J.H. Johnson, Bishop William Wightman
entity #850015, assertion #4025666 by bplewe on 2024-10-04: confidence 100%.
appears in: Crooked Creek/Ramus/Macedonia Branch records
Early 1843
entity #850015, assertion #4025674 by bplewe on 2024-10-04: confidence 100%.

Leaders:

Stake President: Joel Hills Johnson
FamilySearch: KWNR-R4H , Started: 1 Jul 1840 , Ended: 4 Dec 1841 , Source Image , Source Record , Source: Macedonia Branch record, p.8, Church History Library LR 11808 21
assertion #1196 by on : confidence 0%.
Stake Bishop: William Wightman
FamilySearch: LYGQ-S3S , Started: 1 Jul 1840 , Ended: 4 Dec 1841 , Source Image , Source Record , Source: Macedonia Branch record, p.8, Church History Library LR 11808 21
assertion #1197 by on : confidence 0%.
Presiding Elder: John Lawson
FamilySearch: KWJG-445 , Started: 4 Dec 1841 , Ended: 13 Mar 1843 , Source Image , Source: Macedonia Branch record, p.25, Church History Library LR 11808 21 , Source Record
assertion #1198 by on : confidence 0%.
Presiding Elder: Almon Whiting Babbitt
FamilySearch: KWJ8-9GT , Started: 13 Mar 1843 , Ended: 24 Sep 1843 , Source Image , Source Record , Source: Macedonia Branch record, p.32, Church History Library LR 11808 21
assertion #1199 by on : confidence 0%.
Presiding Elder: John Smith
FamilySearch: KWJR-TZ9 , Started: 24 Sep 1843 , Ended: 7 Oct 1844 , Source Image , Source Record , Source: Macedonia Branch record, p.35, Church History Library LR 11808 21
assertion #1200 by on : confidence 0%.
Presiding Elder: Amos William Condit
FamilySearch: LV3S-KZ1 , Started: Nov 1844 , Ended: Apr 1846 , Source Image , Source Record , Source: Macedonia Branch record, p.43, Church History Library LR 11808 21
assertion #1201 by on : confidence 0%.