David Whitmer Homesite

In the spring of 1838, David and his family moved from Far West to Richmond in Ray County, Missouri. There, David built a home one block East of the courthouse near the town center. David and his family lived in the house in Richmond until June 1, 1878, when a tornado destroyed it. After the tornado, the house was rebuilt.

David Whitmer and his family were among the first Latter-day Saints to settle in Missouri. In 1832, they established a small settlement outside of Independence. Missouri settlers drove David, and the branch he presided over, from their homes in November the following year. Finding refuge in Clay County in 1834, David accepted a call to preside over the second stake of the Church.

By 1837, David and his family had moved to Far West, Caldwell Co., Missouri. There, tensions surfaced between members of the Whitmer Family and Church leaders. Not long after his move to Far West, David lost confidence in Joseph Smith’s leadership and joined with other dissenters of the Church. David and his family eventually relocated to Richmond. Although no longer a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, David continued testifying of the Book of Mormon. He lived in Richmond, operating a livery stable until his death on January 25, 1888. There is a monument to the Three Witnesses, including David Whitmer, at the Richmond Pioneer Cemetery, a half mile (.8 km) northeast of the Richmond Cemetery.

Read more about David Whitmer’s life in Missouri in Volume 1, Chapters 26–27 and Volume 2, Chapter 30.

What to Expect

Today, the original David Whitmer home no longer exists. A one-story brick building occupies the site. A small bronze plaque on the portion of the building next to the Second Baptist Church marks the site of David Whitmer’s home. The building is privately owned.