Seymour Brunson
Seymour Brunson was an early Mormon convert. He is most noted since it was at a speech given at his funeral that Joseph Smith first presented the doctrine of Baptism for the Dead.
Brunson was born in Orwell, Vermont. In 1813, at the age of 14, he enlisted in the United States military as a 16-year-old and served during the War of 1812.
In 1823, Brunson married Harriet Matilda Gould. They eventually had seven children.
Brunson was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in early 1831. He served as a missionary in both Ohio and Virginia and then moved to Daviess County, Missouri just south of Far West. After a year he moved into the town. In April 1838 it was Brunson who brought the charges against Oliver Cowdery that led to Cowdery's excommunication. During that fall Brunson served as a major in the Davies County militia. After this he moved to Quincy, Illinois for a short time and then on to Nauvoo, Illinois.
At Nauvoo, Brunson served as a member of the High Council and as a lieutenant colonel in the Hancock County Militia. He also served as one of Joseph Smith's bodyguards.
