Peter Whitmer, Sr.

Peter Whitmer, Sr. (1773–1854) was an early member of the church, and head of one of the most prominent families in church history.

Peter Whitmer, Sr. was born April 14, 1773, in Pennsylvania and married Mary Elsa Musselman. The Whitmers had eight children together: Christian, Jacob, John, David, Catherine, Peter Jr., Nancy and Elizabeth Ann. In 1809, the family moved to Waterloo, New York, where they joined a German Reformed church and where Peter became a road overseer and school trustee. After 1827, they moved to Fayette.

In June of 1829, Peter's sons and his son-in-law, Hiram Page became witnesses to the Golden Plates and when the early Latter-day Saint church was organized on April 6, 1830, the Whitmers were among the first members. Their Fayette home is the traditional site of the church's organization.

Peter later moved to Richmond, Missouri, where he lived until his death on August 12, 1854.