I was born in 1811, a direct descendant from the Mayflower Pilgrims John Alden and Priscilla Mullins. I grew up in Hope, Maine. I learned the basics of agriculture and woodwork on my father's farm and attended Medical College in Ohio at age 25. While in Ohio I was taught the principles of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ by Henry G. Sherwood and was baptized in 1838. I returned to Maine for a short time and set up medical practice in the town of Bradford; however , I soon determined to gather with the saints in Nauvoo in 1839. I received my patriarchal blessing from Joseph Smith Sr. and was ordained an Elder the same day by Erastus Snow and was called to serve a mission to Maine 1840-1843. On my return to Nauvoo I purchased a lot next to Jonathan Browning, the gunsmith and we became lifelong friends. I learned much of metal work and gunsmithing from him. While in Nauvoo, I served as quartermaster in the Nauvoo legion, donated my time and means to build the temple and served as clerk to the High Council. I married Sally Ann Seavey in 1843 in Nauvoo and we were sealed in the Nauvoo Temple on its completion. We had two children in Nauvoo: Daniel Seavey Pendleton and Emmeline Pendleton who died at age 3 at Winter Quarters.

We left Nauvoo with the saints in February 1846 and made the 250 mile trek in mud and snow to council Bluffs, Iowa. I and my friend Willam McMullin built the first log cabin at Winter Quarters. Jonathan Browning and I were requested to stay at Winter Quarters to assist the saints on their journey. We stayed for 6 years. Soon after our arrival in Winter Quarters, our daughter Emmeline died and 6 months later my dear Sally Ann passed away. I married Phoebe Bowley a young widow a year later. Much of my time was spent in administering to the sick and mending wagons. Phoebe died one month after giving birth to our second child. I was left alone to care for 2 sons (a newborn and a 3 year old) and a daughter aged 15 months. I soon married Sarah Newberry who bore a daughter and a son prior to our emigration to Utah in 1852.

A month after our arrival in Parowan, I was called to serve as counselor to Bishop Lewis in Parowan and 3 years later served as 1st counselor to President Dame of the Parowan Stake and served in this office for 17 years until the day I died.

My life's occupations were varied and eclectic. I was set apart to care for the sick in Nauvoo and introduced the use of Quinine (Dr. Sappington's pills) to treat malaria in Nauvoo. I earned a living teaching school and doing machine work, gunsmithing and metallurgy . In Parowan, I manufactured flint lock pistols and rifles, invented a nail cutting machine for Francis Whitney and manufactured parts for cotton gins and various farm implements. The discarded wagons and machinery left by Johnston's Army were valuable materials to me allowing the production of machinery and implements that would have otherwise been unaffordable. I served on the Territorial legislature and as Probate Judge1853-1855, county commissioner 1853-1857 and County Recorder 1855-1865.
Adapted from a biography by Lane Pendleton