Heber C. Kimball

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Heber C. Kimball
Full name	Heber Chase Kimball
Born	June 14, 1801(1801-06-14)
Place of birth	Sheldon, Vermont
Died	June 22, 1868 (aged 67)
Place of death	Salt Lake City, Utah Territory
LDS Church Apostle
Called by	Three Witnesses
Ordained	February 14, 1835 (aged 33)
Ordination reason	Initial organization of Quorum of the Twelve
End of term	June 22, 1868 (aged 67)
End reason	Death
Reorganization at end of term	No apostles ordained[1]

Heber Chase Kimball (June 14, 1801 – June 22, 1868) was a leader in the early Latter Day Saint movement. He served as one of the original twelve apostles in the early Mormon church, and as first counselor to Brigham Young in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death.

[edit] Early life

Kimball was born to Solomon Farnham Kimball and Anna Spaulding in Sheldon, Franklin County, Vermont. Kimball's forefathers arrived in America from England in the early 1600s, and some family members participated in the Revolutionary War. His immediate family consisted of Charles Spaulding Kimball, Eliza Kimball, Abigail Kimball, Heber Chase Kimball, Melvina Kimball, Solomon Kimball and Daniel Spaulding Kimball. All were born in Sheldon. Daniel died at the age of seven months. Heber Chase was named after a Judge Chase, who had helped the family in their efforts to settle in the area.

Kimball writes of his parents in Synopsis of the History of Heber C. Kimball:

My father was a man of good moral character, and though he did not profess any religion, he taught his children good morals, and never would suffer them to swear, or play upon the Sabbath day without correcting them, but would have them remain at home and read good books or attend the church.

My mother was a Presbyterian, and agreeably to the strictest sense of their religion, she lived a virtuous life, and according to the best of her knowledge taught her children the ways of righteousness.

Solomon Kimball suffered the loss of his investments due to the embargo preceding the War of 1812. He left Vermont and moved west and eventually settled the family in West Bloomfield, New York, Ontario County, New York around 1811.

[edit] Education and training

Kimball began attending school in 1806, and continued until the age of 14. At that time, his father took him from school and taught him how to be a blacksmith. The year 1816 was particularly cold and he recorded that the family ate boiled milkweeds for three weeks. (See Year Without a Summer for an explanation.)

Around 1820, Heber set out on his own. His father had lost all of his property and Heber decided it was best to start making it on his own. His manner was timid and shy, and he would go for days without food rather than ask a neighbor. Eventually, his oldest brother, Charles C., took him under his wing. He taught Kimball the potter's trade. About this time he moved with his brother to Mendon, Monroe County, New York. He also enlisted with the local militia, and was never delinquent for 14 years. On November 22, 1822, he married Vilate Murray. Shortly after that, he purchased his brother's pottery business.

For ten years he worked as a potter in the summer, and as a blacksmith in the winter. He also chopped wood and cleared land. In the meantime, he accumulated five and a half acres (22,000 m²) of land, built a house and a barn, and planted an orchard.

[edit] Masonry

In 1823, Kimball received the three first degrees of Freemasonry in the lodge at Victor Flats, Ontario County, New York. In 1824, he and five others sent a petition to the chapter at Canandaigua, New York to receive the York Rite degrees of Royal Arch Masonry. Their petitions were accepted. Unfortunately, as Heber reported, Anti-Masons had burned down the chapter building in Canandaigua.

Many years later, Heber C. Kimball reminisced of his New York masonic experiences:

No man was admitted into a lodge in those days except he bore a good moral character, and was a man of steady habits and a member would be suspended for immoral conduct. I wish that all men were masons and would live up to their profession, then the world would be in a much better state than it is now.

When The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had established itself in Nauvoo, Illinois, Heber was one of the original petitioners to establish a lodge there, and served as Nauvoo Lodge U.D.'s first Junior Deacon. He remained active in Freemasonry throughout his stay in Nauvoo, but no serious effort was made in Utah by the Mormons to establish a lodge there.

[edit] Early family life

Kimball's first daughter, Judith Marvin, was born in Mendon on July 29, 1823. She died May 20, 1824 at almost 11 months of age.

His mother died in February 1824 from tuberculosis. His father moved from West Bloomfield to Mendon to live with Kimball. Roughly a year after that, in the spring of 1826, his father also died from tuberculosis. Shortly after that, his oldest brother, Charles C., and his brother's wife died from tuberculosis as well and were buried beside their father.

Kimball's son, William Henry, was born in Mendon, April 10, 1825.

[edit] Signs in the heavens

Kimball claims a miraculous event on September 22, 1827. He describes it in his autobiography.

Sept. 22, 1827, while living in the town of Mendon, I having retired to bed, John P. Greene, a traveling reformed Methodist preacher, waked me up calling upon me to behold the scenery in the heavens.

I called my wife and sister Fanny Young (sister of Brigham Young) who was living with me; it was so clear that you could see to pick up a pin, we looked to the eastern horizon and beheld a white smoke arise towards the heavens, and as it ascended it formed itself into a belt and made a noise like the rustling of a mighty wind, and continued southwest, forming a regular bow dipping in the western horizon.

After the bow had formed it began to widen out and grow clear and transparent of a bluish cast, it grew wide enough to contain twelve men abreast.

In this bow an army moved, commencing from the east and marching to the west. They moved in platoons, and walked so close, the rear ranks trod in the steps of their file leaders, until the whole bow was literally crowded with soldiers.

We could see distinctly the muskets, bayonets, and knapsacks of the men, who wore caps and feathers like those used by the American soldiers in the last war with Britain; also their officers with their swords and equipage, and heard the clashing and jingling of their instruments of war and could discover the form and features of the men. The most profound order existed throughout the entire army, when the foremost man stepped, every man stepped at the same time: I could hear the step.

When the front rank reached the Western horizon a battle ensued, as we could distinctly hear the report of the arms and the rush.

No man could judge of my feelings when I beheld that army of men, as plainly as I ever saw armies of men in the flesh it seemed as though every hair of my head was alive. This scenery was gazed upon for hours, until it began to disappear.

Subsequently I learned this took place the same evening that Joseph Smith received the records of the Book of Mormon from the Angel Moroni.

Kimball had two more children after this event. Hellen Mar was born August 22, 1828. Roswell Heber was born January 10, 1831. He died six months later on June 15.

[edit] Joining the LDS Church

Kimball writes that he had always contemplated aspects of religion and salvation since he was about 12 years old. The directions provided by the priests and teachers of the various churches never satisfied him. However, while in New York, Kimball joined the local Baptist Church. He attended several of their meetings, and eventually received baptism. He claims that many of the teachings he agreed with, but there were many he did not believe in as well. He counted the association as a good thing, however.

Only three weeks after receiving baptism in the Baptist Church, three elders from Latter Day Saint Church of Christ visited the house of his friend, Phinehas Young. Kimball visited the house at this time and was impressed with their teachings. He also witnessed the speaking of tongues and the interpretation of tongues during this visit. He claims to have been visited by the power of God.

During this time, he reported that, while he and several of the Young family were chopping wood, a vision opened up to them and they saw the "gathering of the Saints to Zion" and many other things. This and many other events led him to travel to Pennsylvania to visit with the elders some more, accompanied by some of the Youngs. They stayed six days with the elders and the church there. They witnessed more miracles such as speaking in tongues and the interpretation of tongues.

On April 14, 1832, Brigham Young was baptized by Eleazer Miller. Shortly thereafter, one of the elders called on Kimball while he was at work. During the conversation, Kimball jumped up and declared that he wanted to be baptized. They went immediately to a small stream in the woods and he was baptized in April 1832 by Alpheus Gifford. After the confirmation, the elder offered to give the priesthood, but Kimball refused it as he felt he was unready. Shortly after that, 30 more people were baptized in Mendon, and they formed a branch of the church.

About this time, people began calling Kimball "crazy", although he claims he was "clothed in the right mind". He claims the scriptures unfolded for him.

Local clergy and members of other faiths soon became antagonistic towards the small LDS branch and its members. Heber had several people make executions on his property to recall debt owed. Although the debt was great, he was able to secure the money necessary to pay them in full.

[edit] Church service

Shortly after his baptism, Kimball was ordained an elder by Joseph Young, and began proselyting in the neighboring areas with Joseph and Brigham Young. They were met with great success, baptizing many and building up churches. He reports one instance where Ezra Landon baptized some twenty people but wanted Kimball to confirm them. He did so, and immediately they began speaking in tongues and interpreting them.

In 1833, Kimball relocated his family to Church headquarters in Kirtland, Ohio. Kimball was ordained a member of The Quorum of Twelve Apostles on February 14, 1835. He was one of the original twelve members of the Quorum, being 4th in seniority. He marched with Zion's Camp in 1834.

Joseph Smith, Jr. called Elder Kimball to lead a group of missionaries to England in 1837. The mission began work in Liverpool, England and met with considerable success. Kimball was known as a simple and outspoken preacher who worked hard. He and the other missionaries brought many people to the new faith. The missionaries began organizing groups of British converts to travel to America, beginning in 1840, and join the main body of the church. Kimball returned with a small party to make travel arrangements for the groups and discovered the Latter Day Saints were undergoing considerable strife and pressure in the state of Missouri. While Joseph Smith was imprisoned in the Liberty Jail, Brigham Young (now ranking leader of the Quorum) and Kimball organized the removal of approximately 12,000 LDS refugees across the border into Illinois. There the Church founded the city of Nauvoo and built a temple. Kimball returned to his mission in England in 1840 and served until 1841.

After Joseph Smith's assassination in 1844, succession to the leadership of the Church was a divisive issue. Brigham Young, standing as the head of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, led the majority of church members across the state line into Iowa and eventually to the Salt Lake Valley. Heber C. Kimball stood next in leadership in the Quorum and was called to the new First Presidency in 1847. Kimball led one of three large companies to the Salt Lake Valley in the summer of 1848. He established his families in Utah and supported them by farming, ranching, milling and freighting, in addition to church responsibilities. While in the First Presidency, Kimball received special assignments to supervise the ongoing British Mission and to conduct temple ordinances. He also served in the Utah's Territorial legislature.

Heber C. Kimball died on June 22, 1868 in Salt Lake City, Utah, from the effects of a carriage accident. He was buried in the Kimball-Whitney Cemetery (40.772949, -111.889755), located on the south slope of what's now known as Capitol Hill, an area then called "Heber's Bench" after him.

[edit] Plural marriage

Kimball received private instruction from Joseph Smith on the new LDS commandment of plural marriage. Initially reluctant, Kimball accepted the responsibility and married a second wife, Sarah Noon. His first wife, Vilate Murray Kimball, accepted plural marriage and welcomed the additional wives as sisters. Heber and Vilate agreed and gave their 14 year old daughter Helen Marr as a plural wife of Joseph Smith. He considered the marrying of multiple wives an expression of his faith in and obedience to God. 'I have noticed that a man who has but one wife, and is inclined to that doctrine, soon begins to wither and dry up, while a man who goes into plurality [of wives] looks fresh, young, and sprightly. Why is this? Because God loves that man, and because he honors His work and word.' -Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses. vol 5, p. 22

[edit] Wives & Issue

Kimball eventually married a total of forty-three women, although it is claimed by some that not all of these marriages were intimate ones. Kimball had sixty-five children by seventeen different women.

• Vilate Murray (1 June 1806 Florida, New York– 22 October 1867 Salt Lake City). Married on 7 November 1822 in Mendon. They had 10 children;
  • Judith Marvin Kimball (29 July 1823-20 May 1824)
  • William Henry Kimball (10 April 1825-29 December 1907)
  • Helen Mar Kimball (20 August 1828-13 November 1896)
  • Roswell Heber Kimball (10 January 1831-15 June 1831)
  • Heber Parley Kimball (1 January 1835-8 February 1885)
  • David Patten Kimball (23 August 1839-21 November 1883)
  • Charles Spaulding Kimball (2 January 1843-2 December 1925)
  • Brigham Willard Kimball (29 June 1845-23 July 1867)
  • Solomon Farnham Kimball (2 February 1847-7 February 1920)
  • Murray Gould Kimball (20 January 1850-27 June 1852)

• Sarah (Peak) Noon (3 May 1811 Staffordshire,England– 3 December 1873). They married in 1842, she was his first plural wife, and had four children;
  • Adelbert Kimball (1842-1843)
  • Henry Kimball (1844- c.1868)
  • Sarah Helen Kimball (1 July 1845-1 December 1860)
  • Heber Kimball (1849-1850)

• Ann Alice Gheen (20 December 1827 Pennsylvania-12 October 1879 Salt Lake City), married on 10 September 1844.
  • Samuel Heber Kimball (9 December 1851-18 April 1943)
  • Daniel Heber Kimball (8 February 1856-26 April 1936)
  • Andrew Kimball (6 September 1858-31 August 1924), twin of Anne
  • Alice Ann Kimball (6 September 1858-19 December 1946), twin of Andrew
  • Sarah Gheen Kimball (31 May 1861-8 February 1913)

• Mary Ellen Abel/Harris (5 October 1818 New York-28 October 1902 Salt Lake City), married on 1 October 1844.
  • Peter Kimball (19 December 1855-27 September 1860)

• Martha McBride/Knight (17 March 1805 New York-20 November 1891 Ogden, Utah), married on 12 October 1844.
  • Infant Son (born and died in 1845)

• Ellen Sanders, born Aagaat Ysteinsdatter Bakka, (11 April 1823 Norway-22 November 1871 Salt Lake City), married on 5 November 1844.
  • Samuel Chase Kimball (13 February 1848-July 1848)
  • Joseph Smith Kimball (2 June 1850-29 November 1864), twin of Augusta
  • Augusta Kimball (2 June 1850-5 October 1861), twin of Joseph
  • Rosalia Kimball (25 November 1853-22 February 1950)
  • Jedediah Heber Kimball (10 March 1855-24 June 1927)

• Frances Jessie Swan (born June 1822 in Scotland), divorced 7 December 1851.
  • Margaret Jane Kimball (9 April 1846-10 August 1846); died at Winter Quarters

• Clarrisa Cutler (23 December 1824 New York-1852 Kansas), married on 29 February 1845 and separated in 1848.
  • Abraham Alonzo Kimball (16 April 1846-25 September 1889)

• Lucy Walker (Smith) (30 April 1826–1910), married on 8 February 1845.
  • Rachel Sylvia Kimball (28 January 1846-12 December 1847)
  • John Heber Kimball (12 December 1850-28 November 1918)
  • Willard Heber Kimball (25 January 1853-5 December 1854)
  • Lydia Holmes Kimball (18 January 1856-15 April 1928)
  • Ann Spaulding Kimball (18 March 1857-27 November 1932)
  • Eliza Kimball (14 May 1860 - 1906)
  • Washington Kimball (born 22 October 1862); Twin of Joshua
  • Joshua Heber Kimball (born 22 October 1862), twin of Washington, died in infantcy
  • Franklin Heber Kimball (born 28 August 1864)

• Sarah Ann Whitney (1825–1873). They married on 17 March 1845 and had 7 children;
  • David Kimball (8 March 1846-1847)
  • David Orson Kimball (26 August 1848-16 April 1849)
  • David Heber Kimball (born 26 February 1850)
  • Newel Whitney Kimball (born 19 May 1852)
  • Horace Heber Kimball (born 3 September 1853)
  • Sarah Maria Kimball (1858-August 1902)
  • Joshua Heber Kimball (born in February)

• Harriet Sanders, born Helga Ysteinsdatter Bakka, (7 December 1824 Norway-5 September 1896 Utah), married 26 January 1846.
  • Harriet Kimball (born & died 8 May 1852)
  • Hyrum Heber Kimball (6 July 1855-4 June 1943)
  • Eugene Kimball (born 15 January 1863)

• Emily Trask Cutler (23 February 1828 New York-1852 Kansas, married on 2 February 1846 and separated in 1848.
  • Isaac A. Kimball (13 October 1846-24 February 1914)

• Amanda Trimble Gheen (18 January 1830 Pennsylvania-4 November 1904 Salt Lake City), younger sister of Anne, who he married on 2 February 1846.
  • William Gheen Kimball (3 March 1851-24 March 1924)
  • Albert Heber Kimball (13 September 1854-2 March 1944)
  • Jeremiah Heber Kimball (15 August 1857-25 May 1887)
  • Moroni Heber Kimball (23 May 1861-23 May 1887)

• Ruth Amelia Reese (10 May 1817 Pennsylvania-26 November 1902 Salt Lake City), married on 3 February 1846.
  • Susannah R. Kimball (born & died 7 July 1851)
  • Jacob Reese Kimball (15 April 1853-30 May 1875)
  • Enoch Heber Kimball (29 September 1855-20 August 1877)

• Christine Golden (12 September 1823 Hopewell, New Jersey-30 January 1896 Salt Lake City). They were married on 3 February 1846 in Nauvoo, Illinois.
  • Cornelia Christine Kimball (7 June 1850-23 Dec 1853))
  • Jonathan Golden Kimball (June 9, 1853 – September 2, 1938)
  • Elias Smith Kimball (30 March 1857-13 June 1934)
  • Mary Margaret Kimball (30 April 1861-28 September 1937)

• Prescinda Lathrop Huntington (Buell, Smith) (7 September 1810 New York–1 February 1892 Salt Lake City), married on 4 February 1846 and had 2 children;
  • Prescinda Celestia Kimball (9 January 1849 Salt Lake City-8 May 1850); drowned in City Creek at age 16 months
  • Joseph Smith Kimball (22 December 1851 - 29 March 1936)

• Mary Smithies (7 October 1837-1880), married 25 January 1857.
  • Mary Melvina Kimball (29 August 1858-8 May 1933)
  • James Heber Kimball (1860-2 June 1866)
  • Wilford Alfonzo Kimball (6 October 1863-15 November 1928)
  • Lorenzo Heber Kimball (6 February 1866-2 July 1929)
  • Abbie Sarah Kimball (15 Jan 1868 England-23 February 1943)); first child born in England to Mormon parents

He was also married to, but did not have children with;

• Mary Fielding Smith (21 July 1801 England-21 September 1852 Salt Lake City), married on 14 September 1844.
• Charlotte Chase (11 May 1825 Vermont- 15 December 1904 Idaho), married on 10 October 1844 (separated 1849).
• Nancy Maria Winchester (19 August 1828 Pennsylvania-17 March 1876). Married on 10 October 1844. Separated in 1865.
• Sarah Lawrence (born 13 May 1826 Canada). Married on 12 October 1844 and divorce on 18 June 1851.
• Ruth Wellington (born 11 March 1809 Massachusetts), separated 1846
• Abigail Pitkin (17 July 1797 New York-15 May 1847 Winter Quarters). Married 7 January 1846.
• Margaret McMinn (born 7 April 1829 in Philadelphia). Married in February 1846.
• Ruth Pierce (11 February 1818-after 1861), who he married on 3 February 1846. They did not have children. They were separated in 1853.
• Hulda Barnes (1 October 1806 Massachusetts-2 September 1898 Utah). Married on 3 February 1846.
• Sophronia Melinda Harmon (5 April 1824 Pennsylvania-26 January 1847 Winter Quarters). Married on 3 February 1846.
• Mary Houston (11 September 1818 Ohio-24 December 1896 Salt Lake City). Married on 3 February 1846.
• Laura Pitkin (10 September 1790 Connecticut-16 November 1866 Salt Lake City). Married on 3 February 1846.
• Theresa Arathusa Morley (18 July 1826 Kirtland, Ohio-7 October 1855 Salt Lake City). Married on 3 February 1846 and Separated in March 1852.
• Abigail Buchannan (born 9 January 1802 in Massachusetts). Married on 7 February 1846. Separated in 1846.
• Elizabeth Hereford (born July 1789 in Herefordshire, England). Married on 7 February 1846 and divorced on 18 April 1852.
• Elizabeth Doty/Cravath (29 April 1808 New York-21 January 1889 Utah), married on 11 April 1846.
• Mary Dull (born 23 November 1807 Pennsylvania), married on 21 May 1848.
• Mary Ann Shefflin (separated in 1850)
• Dorothy Moon (born 9 February 1804 in Lancashire, England). Married on 14 March 1856.
• Hannah Moon (born 29 May 1802 in Lancashire, England). Married on 14 March 1856.
• Adelia Almira Wilcox (29 March 1828 New York-19 October 1896 Utah). Married on 9 October 1856.
• Rebecca Swain
• Sara Schuler

Grave marker of Heber C. Kimball.

[edit] Legacy

Kimball has a number of noteworthy descendants, including:

• Spencer W. Kimball, Grandson
• Orson F. Whitney, Grandson
• Natacha Rambova, Great-granddaughter
• Nick Udall, Great-grandson
• Edward L. Kimball, Great-grandson
• Quentin L. Cook, Great-great-grandson
• Richard Ian Kimball,

[edit] See also

• Kimball-Snow-Woolley Family
• John P. Greene

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Allen, James B.; Glen M. Leonard. The Story of the Latter-day Saints. Deseret Book Co., Salt Lake City, UT, 1976. ISBN 0-87747-594-6.
• Kimball, Stanley, editor. On the Potter's Wheel:The Diaries of Heber C. Kimball, Signature Books, Salt Lake City, UT. ISBN 0-941214-60-5
• Ludlow, Daniel H., A Companion to Your Study of the Doctrine and Covenants, Deseret Book Co., Salt Lake City, UT, 1978. ISBN 1-57345-224-6.
• Ludlow, Daniel H., editor. Church History, Selections From the Encyclopedia of Mormonism. Deseret Book Co., Salt Lake City, UT, 1992. ISBN 0-87579-924-8.
• Smith, George D., editor. The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books, Salt Lake City, UT, ISBN 1-56085-022-1

[edit] External links

• Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages: Heber C. Kimball
• On the Potter's Wheel: The Diaries of Heber C. Kimball, Kimball, Stanley B. ed. Signature Books and Smith Research Associates, 1987 (Full text online).
• Journal Excerpts, from Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball
• SaintsWithoutHalos.com sections of Heber C. Kimball's autobiography. [1]
• List of Kimball's speeches (Wikisource)

Wikisource has original works written by or about: Heber C. Kimball

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Heber C. Kimball