Jeweler made for his 50th wedding anniversary, 2." long chased gold filled knob handle with floral scroll work, engraved on top: Feb. 25, 1890 B. Winchester 50th Anniversary, mounted on a tapered ebony shaft with 1.3" nickel and steel ferrule, total length 36.25". Condition Fine.Benjamin Winchester (August 6, 1817 – January 25, 1901) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. Winchester was the youngest adult member of Zion's Camp, an original member of the first Quorum of the Seventy, editor of the first independent Mormon periodical, the Gospel Reflector, president of a large branch of the church in Philadelphia, a zealous missionary who baptized thousands, a Rigdonite Apostle, and ultimately a dissenter who repudiated Mormonism altogether.[citation needed]The Gospel Reflector was published in Philadelphia, twice a month, between January 1, 1841, and June 15, 1841. Winchester moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, in October 1841 where he worked at the Times and Seasons until January 1842.Winchester also wrote pamphlets and two significant books on Latter Day Saint topics. His Synopsis of the Holy Scriptures, and Concordance, published in 1842, was the first categorization of Bible scriptures from a Mormon perspective and included a detailed analysis of the Christian apostasy. His A Brief History of the Priesthood from the Beginning of the World to the Present Time,[1] published in 1843, was the first book to focus on the topic of the Mormon priesthood.FROM JOE SMITH PAPERS6 Aug. 18171–25 Jan. 1901.2 Farmer, author, merchant, brick maker.3 Born near Elk Creek, Erie Co., Pennsylvania.4 Son of Stephen Winchester and Mary Case.5 Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, early 1833, in Elk Creek.6 Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, Nov. 1833.7 Participated in Camp of Israel expedition to Missouri, 1834.8 Received elder’s license, 14 Apr. 1836, in Kirtland.9 Ordained a seventy, 20 Dec. 1836, in Kirtland.10 Served missions to New England, 1837, and to mid-Atlantic U.S., Jan. 1838–June 1839.11 Appointed member of First Quorum of the Seventy, Feb. 1838.12 Married Mary Hannah Stone, 25 Feb. 1840.13 Presided over Philadelphia branch, Apr. 1841–Sept. 1842.14 Published church-based newspaper Gospel Reflector, Jan.–June 1841, in Philadelphia.15 Served mission to Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, 3–18 Sept. 1841.16 Arrived in Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, by 12 Nov. 1841.17 Worked in Times and Seasons office, Nov. 1841–Jan. 1842.18 Returned to Philadelphia, Jan. 1842, and published Synopsis of the Holy Scriptures, and Concordance, ca. Aug. 1842.19 Elder’s license taken and directed to move his family from Philadelphia to Nauvoo, May 1843.20 Returned to Nauvoo, by Nov. 1843.21 Elected chairman of board of trustees of Nauvoo Library and Literary Institute, 25 Jan. 1844.22 Appointed to preside over mission in southern U.S. to campaign for JS as president, 15 Apr. 1844.23 Returned to Philadelphia, by 10 Aug. 1844.24 Excommunicated in absentia, 26 Sept. 1844.25 Affiliated with Sidney Rigdon’s Church of Christ, Oct. 1844–Dec. 1845, and moved to Pittsburgh.26 Engaged in tobacco trade, ca. 1845.27 Appointed apostle in Rigdon’s movement, 8 Apr. 1845.28 Resigned membership in Rigdon’s church, by 13 Dec. 1845.29 Moved to Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa, May 1854, and served two years on city council.30 Died in Council Bluffs.31