Alma Dayer LeBaron, Sr.

Who was Alma Dayer LeBaron, Sr.?

Alma Dayer LeBaron, Sr. was a Mormon fundamentalist who was the father of a number of leaders and church founders in Mormon fundamentalism.

LeBaron was generally known as 'Dayer LeBaron' and was the grandson of Benjamin F. Johnson. who was a confidential secretary and part-time business partner to Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement

LeBaron was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints until he was excommunicated on February 17, 1924 for practicing plural marriage. LeBaron made a written request for permission to return to the church on March 24, 1934, but he died in 1951 without ever being readmitted to the LDS Church.

LeBaron’s childhood was spent in Mesa, Arizona, living not far from his grandfather Benjamin F. Johnson. He later moved to Colonia Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico, to continue his education and there met his first wife, Barbara Baily. Married in 1904, they had one son. However, LeBaron’s religious beliefs soon alienated his wife who left him, taking their child and moving to Salt Lake City to be with her mother.

Moving back to Utah, LeBaron met Maude Lucinda McDonald and the two were wed in 1910. Together they had thirteen children, five girls and eight boys. In 1923, Dayer approached Nathan Clark who performed his sealing to Onie Jones. The following year both he and his wives were excommunicated “for violative conduct,” the LDS Church court being held at La Verkin, Utah, Onie Jones’ hometown. In response, LeBaron and his two wives and eight children moved back to Colonia Juarez where he sought work as a painter and doing odd jobs and was described as an “energetic” and “hard-working” man. Purchasing a “fixer-upper” home, he rebuilt it little by little as his families expanded. Onie bore six children and eventually separated herself and her children from LeBaron and his fundamentalist activities.