Sidney S. Rigdon was born in Saint Clair township, Alleghany county, State of Pennsylvania, on the 19th of February, A. D. 1793...

In the month of May of the same year [1819], he left the State of Pennsylvania and went to Trumball county, State of Ohio, and took up his residence at the house of Admison Bentley, a preacher of the same faith. This was in July of same year. While there, he became acquainted with Phoebe Brook, to whom he was married on the 12th of June, A.D. 1820. She was a native of the State of New Jersey, Bridgetown, Cumberland county, and had previously removed to Trumball county, Ohio—After his marriage he continued to preach in that district of country until November, 1821, when he was requested by the First Baptist Church of the city of Pittsburgh, to take the pastoral charge of said Church, which invitation he accepted, and in February, A.D. 1822, he left Warren, Trumball county, and removed to that city and entered immediately upon his pastoral duties, and continued to preach to that Church with considerable success. At the time he commenced his labors in that Church, and for some time before, the Church was in a very low state and much confusion existed in consequence of the conduct of their former pastor.—However, soon after Elder Rigdon commenced his labors, there was a pleasing change effected, for by his incessant labors and his peculiar style of preaching, the Church was crowded with anxious listeners. The number of members rapidly increased, and it soon became one of the most respectable Churches in that city.—He was now a popular minister, and was much respected in that city, and all classes and persuasions sought his society. After he had been in that place some time, his mind was troubled and much perplexed, with the idea that the doctrines maintained by that society were not altogether in accordance with the scriptures. This thing continued to agitate his mind, more and more, and his reflections on these occasions were peculiarly trying; for according to his views of the word of God, no other church that he was acquainted with was right, or with him he could associate; consequently, if he was to disavow the doctrine of the Church with whom he was then associated, he knew of no other way of obtaining a livelihood except by mental labor, and at that time had a wife and three children to support.