Kirtland in Lake County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Sidney and Phoebe Rigdon Home

Photographed by Craig Doda, May 2, 2026

1. Sidney and Phoebe Rigdon Home Marker

Inscription.
Born in Pennsylvania in 1793, Sidney Rigdon devoted most of his adult life to "restoring" primitive Christianity. Rigdon worked closely with Alexander Campbell as part of the Reformed Baptist (later Disciples of Christ) movement. By the late 1820s he was married to Phoebe Brooks, lived near Kirtland, and provided spiritual leadership to numerous congregations. Latter Day Saint missionaries visited the area in the fall of 1830, and Rigdon and many of his followers converted. Several of the more prominent converts lived in Kirtland, which soon became church headquarters.

Church founder Joseph Smith Jr. selected Rigdon to be his counselor, scribe, and spokesperson. His abilities as a powerful speaker were legendary. After Smith was killed in Carthage, Illinois, in 1844, Rigdon returned to Pennsylvania, where he led a small group of followers. He later moved on to Friendship, New York, where he died in 1876. The Rigdons' Kirtland home has been extensively remodeled.

Erected 2003 by Community of Christ.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1793.

Location. 41° 37.496′ N,

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81° 21.695′ W. Marker is in Kirtland, Ohio, in Lake County. It is at the intersection of Chillicothe Road and Maple Street, on the right when traveling south on Chillicothe Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9060 Chillicothe Rd, Willoughby OH 44094, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Cleveland,

on the Lake Erie Shore,

and in the Western Reserve.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Kirtland Temple (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Kirtland Temple (within shouting distance of this marker); Faith, Family, Community, and Industry (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Kirtland Schoolhouse

Photographed by Craig Doda, May 2, 2026

2. Sidney and Phoebe Rigdon Home Marker

(approx. ¼ mile away); Mormon Community (approx. ¼ mile away); Site of the Whitney and Gilbert Livery Stable (approx. ¼ mile away); Baptisms on the East Branch of the Chagrin River (approx. 0.3 miles away); Tannery (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kirtland.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Kirtland Temple (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Additional keywords. RLDS

Credits. This page was last revised on June 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 21, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 21, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.