Cyrus Hubbard Wheelock (February 28, 1813 – October 11, 1894) was an early leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Among other positions he was the first president of the Northern States Mission. He also wrote the words to the Latter-day Saint hymn "Ye Elders of Israel."
Wheelock was born at Henderson, Jefferson County, New York.[1] Wheelock was baptised a member of the Latter Day Saint church on 1839-09-01. Shortly afterward, he served as a missionary in Vermont.[1]
In 1844, Wheelock tried to convince Governor Thomas Ford of Illinois to release Joseph Smith, Jr. from Carthage Jail.[1] Wheelock had given Smith the gun which he had when the mob attacked the jail at Carthage.
In the early 1850s, Wheelock served a mission in England and presided over the Manchester, Liverpool and Preston Conferences.[2] In 1853, Wheelock was a counselor to Isaac Haight, president of the camp of Latter-day Saints waiting to set out from Keokuk, Iowa. Wheelock then was the captain of one of the pioneer companies that crossed the plains to Utah Territory.[3][4] In 1854, Wheelock became the president of the 37th Quorum of the Seventy.[5]
In 1856, Wheelock was part of a rescue party Brigham Young sent to assist the stranded Martin Handcart Company near the Sweetwater River.[6]
Wheelock settled in Mount Pleasant, Utah Territory. He wrote several hymns while living here.[7]
In 1878, Wheelock was made president of the Northern States Mission which then consisted of the states of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois.[1] Wheelock served as mission president for just over a year. He died in Mount Pleasant, Utah Territory.[1]