Wikipedia Biographical Summary:

"...John Riggs Murdock (September 13, 1826 – November 12, 1913) was the leader of the most Down-and-Back companies in Latter-day Saint history..."

"...The son of John Murdock, he not only lead several down and back companies but also served several missions in the eastern United States. He was also a prominent leader of the church in Beaver, Utah..."

"...Murdock was born in Orange, Ohio to John Murdock and Julia Clapp Murdock. When he was five years old, his mother died and he was then raised in the home of Morris Phelps..."

"...The Phelps moved from Jackson County, Missouri to Far West, Missouri to Nauvoo, Illinois, where Murdock was reunited with his father. In Nauvoo Murdock worked on the farm of Joseph Smith. During the exodus from Nauvoo to the west Murdock lived with the Cornelius Lott family in Nauvoo, Murdock fell in love with and later married Lott's daughter Almira Henrietta Lott. The marriage of Murdock and Lott happened after the arrival in the Salt Lake Valley..."

"...Murdock later also married Mary Ellen Wolfenden and May Bain..."

"...In 1846, Murdock joined the Mormon Battalion and arrived in Salt Lake City in 1847. After marrying, he settled in Lehi, Utah in 1851. From 1861 to 1863, served as Mayor of Lehi. In 1856 Murdock was one of the rescuers of the Handcart companies. In 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864 and 1864 Murdock lead down-and-back companies across the plains..."

"...Murdock died in 1913. His is the largest grave marker in Mountain View Cemetery, Beaver Utah. Immediately adjacent are markers for Mary Ellen Wolfenden Murdock and May Bain Murdock, two of his plural wives. At the behest of second wife Wolfenden, the location is some distance away from the grave of Almira Henrietta Lott Murdock (d. 1878), her bitter rival who preceded her in death..."

SOURCE: Wikipedia contributors, 'John R. Murdock (Mormon)', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 27 September 2011, 13:17 UTC, <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_R._Murdock_(Mormon)&oldid=452690232> [accessed 6 January 2012]