Interim Content

Backenstos, Jacob B.

Biography

8 Oct. 1811–25 Sept. 1857. Merchant, sheriff, soldier, politician, land speculator. Born at Lower Paxton, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania. Son of Jacob Backenstos and Margaretha Theis. Member of Lutheran Reformed Church. Married Sarah Lavina Lee, niece of Robert E. Lee, 15 Dec. 1835, at Sangamon Co., Illinois. Friend of JS and Latter-day Saints but never joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Commissioned aide-de-camp to major general in Nauvoo Legion, Mar. 1842. Moved to Carthage, Hancock Co., Illinois, by early 1842. Member of Nauvoo Masonic Lodge. Served as clerk of Hancock Co. Circuit Court, 1843–1845. Served as Hancock Co. representative in Illinois legislature, Dec. 1844–Mar. 1845. Served as Hancock Co. sheriff, 1845–1846. Served in Mexican War. Moved to Oregon City, Clackamas Co., Oregon Territory, ca. Nov. 1849. Moved to Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon Territory, by May 1857. Drowned in Willamette River, Multnomah Co.

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