Background
Aldrich was born in Lebanon, New Hampshire to Andrew H. Aldrich and Annis Sweetland.
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Hazen Aldrich
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On February 28, 1835, Joseph Smith ordained Aldrich to the office of seventy and chose him as the presiding president of the newly organized First Quorum of Seventy.
Career
After the death of Joseph Smith, Aldrich went on to lead a small denomination of Latter Day Saints known as the Brewsterites. On July 4, 1832, Aldrich was given the Melchizedek priesthood and ordained to the office of elder by Pratt. On June 8, 1833, Pratt ordained him a high priest.
In 1834 Aldrich participated in the Zion"s Camp expedition to Missouri.
However, when it was discovered by Smith that Aldrich had previously been ordained a high priest, he asked Aldrich to stand down from his position and join the quorum of high priests. Aldrich did so on April 6, 1837, which left Joseph Young as the presiding president of the Seventy.
Aldrich apostatized from the church in 1837 in Kirtland, Ohio. After the succession crisis, Aldrich joined the church led by James Strang.
On September 29, 1849, Aldrich became the president of this Latter Day Saint denomination, and edited a Brewsterite periodical entitled the Olive Branch.
Inadequate preparation and lack of supplies along the route led to dissension in the group. One dissenting family, the Oatmans, split from the main body of migrants, and were mostly slain by Apache Indians. Two surviving young girls were held in captivity several years, one eventually starving to death.
Olive Oatman, however, survived and was eventually recovered from the Mohave tribe, who had gotten her from the Apache.
Aldrich died in El Monte in 1873, and was buried in Rosemead, California.
Membership
Aldrich was baptized at the same time as future Apostle and member of the First Presidency Amasa M. Lyman.
